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And we’re off! Comic-Con 2014 got underway Wednesday (July 23), with TV media marketers on hand to tirelessly promote some 100 TV shows. Almost anywhere you look from the time you land, marketers have taken the opportunity to craft and deliver a message.
The first show most people will become aware of upon arriving in San Diego is TNT’s “Legends,” which is plastered all over baggage claim at San Diego International Airport, suitcases sliding over Sean Bean’s handsome visage. TNT also has mounted a huge “Legends” billboard in downtown San Diego and decorated cars with “Legends”’ logos.
Some of the shuttles deposit visitors at Petco Park, across from the stadium. There, visitors can take an Oculus Rift-aided tour through “Sleepy Hollow,” visit the Adult Swim fun castle, and charge their gadgets or just buy a Kindle at the Amazon café.
Past Petco park, it’s a bit of a walk to the Convention Center and on to the show floor. On the way, you’ll see sky-high billboards for ABC’s shows, “Resurrection” and “Once Upon a Time,” as well as a café converted into a promotion for NBC’s “The Blacklist.” Star James Spader’s image also can be frequently seen on a passing shuttle.
Once you get to the convention floor, you’ll find a huge array of offerings, from small booths actually selling comic books and comic-based merchandise, to game companies, such as Blizzard and Xbox; toy companies, such as Lego and Hasbro; huge comic brands, such as DC Entertainment and Marvel; and the TV and movie studios, such as Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros., Disney-ABC, A&E, AMC, Cartoon Network, Starz and others.
Off-site, there’s far more to explore, including a scavenger hunt in the Gaslamp District for USA’s upcoming event series, “Dig;” Fox’s “Gotham” zipline, which allows you to speed through the Gotham skyline on the lookout for criminals; “The Walking Dead Escape,” a combination of fun run, obstacle course and haunted house; the Dr. Who cosplay meetup and endless opportunities to dress up as your favorite superhero. (So far, Brief has seen Superman, Wolverine and multiple Star Wars characters.) A full list off off-site events, for which you don’t need to have a badge to attend, can be found here.
Meanwhile, Comic-Con’s diehard fans were already lining up outside Hall H to see the weekend’s biggest events, such as panels featuring the stars and creators of AMC’s “The Walking Dead” and HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” and Ballroom 20 to learn about such shows as Fox’s “24,” CBS’ “Under the Dome” and “Scorpion,” The CW’s “Reign” and TV Guide’s Tribute to “Community.”
Images courtesy of Paige Albiniak
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