{"id":2555,"date":"2016-07-05T10:24:00","date_gmt":"2016-07-05T17:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comic-con.org\/toucan\/?p=2555"},"modified":"2024-01-09T10:31:07","modified_gmt":"2024-01-09T18:31:07","slug":"maggies-world-042-comic-con-college-or-campus-you-want-campus-you-got","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comic-con.org\/toucan\/maggies-world-042-comic-con-college-or-campus-you-want-campus-you-got\/","title":{"rendered":"Maggie\u2019s World 042: Comic-Con College Or \u2026 Campus You Want, Campus You Got"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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MAGGIE’S WORLD BY MAGGIE THOMPSON<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maggie\u2019s World 042: Comic-Con College Or \u2026 Campus You Want, Campus You Got<\/h1>\n\n\n
Maggie Thompson<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The Comic-Con 2016 Toucan Tip of the Day #8 is titled \u201cThe Comic-Con Campus,\u201d because Comic-Con is so big, it is engulfing San Diego to the point at which there are six different spots downtown that are officially part of the con. And there are actual educational events in town that are part of the con. The San Diego Central Library, for example, offers a focus on \u201ceducation and librarian programs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mind you, Comic-Con has offered educational programming for quite some time. In fact, it occurred to me recently that I have learned a variety of incredible lessons at each and every San Diego convention I\u2019ve ever attended. And that made me realize that, just as liberal arts colleges around the country have a number of educational departments, Comic-Con provides a number of its own lessons (aside from the more formal instructional events on the program).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You may never find a copy of New Comics<\/em> #1 for your own collection, but you can see treasures of comics history on display at Comic-Con. Some are on dealers\u2019 tables, some are in auction exhibits. Have you ever seen this 1935 gem (sadly missing a cover corner)? It\u2019s the first comic book-sized comic from what would later be called DC. The cover was drawn by assistant editor Vin Sullivan. \u00a9 2016 DC Comics<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Comics Literature<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Well, hey. We\u2019re talking about the vast variety of storytelling we\u2019ve all enjoyed over the years. Some of what we\u2019ve loved the most follows the basic narrative structure we learned about in introductory courses: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether the story starred The Spirit, Batman, Donald Duck, Dick Tracy, or countless others in decades past, you could find that structure in almost every tale. Now, many of our stories are serialized, but you can still find that structure and learn story-telling basics in countless works of comics art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, for that matter, you can find examples of how that structure is sometimes deliberately abandoned\u2014and determine whether that works for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Comics Foreign Language<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Not everyone explores the comics in other languages, but such comics are there at Comic-Con. And the comics format can be handy when it comes to reinforcing familiarity in a language, thanks to the picture clues. You might not know what a \u201cchaudron\u201d is, but, when the cover of Ast\u00e9rix et le chaudron<\/em> shows Ast\u00e9rix chasing a bucket of coins, you might guess that it\u2019s a cauldron. And when, in the story, he turns it upside down and shouts, \u201cLe chaudron est vide!!!<\/em>\u201d you may (correctly) guess that he\u2019s saying, \u201cThe cauldron is empty!!!\u201d Such comics can provide entertaining \u201claboratory\u201d sessions in other languages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, of course, it was the possibility of enjoying manga that led many comics fans to explore Japanese as a second language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Convention attendees have included many from outside America, and I have to say that Moebius spoke much better English than I ever spoke French\u2014which is to say that there are also opportunities to meet and learn from a variety of fans and professionals from a variety of countries and backgrounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Comics History<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Well, seriously. I learn more about the history of comics every time I attend Comic-Con. Maybe it\u2019s a conversation with a legend, maybe it\u2019s seeing some incredibly rare key issue, maybe it\u2019s discovering a reprint volume finally making a long-gone work available, maybe it\u2019s talking with today\u2019s creators about how they work on projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But there\u2019s history there\u2014and history being made\u2014throughout the show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I was delighted to add this to my collection. If you\u2019ve never seen the jolly tales of Roger Ramjet, well \u2026 Just saying. \u201cThe Martins and the Coys\u201d was as sophisticated as you might expect. \u00a9 2016 Classic Media, Inc.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Comics Math<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Many years ago, I noticed that among the longest lines at Comic-Con were those at the ATMs located near the show. You might save time by bringing more cash. Just saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a challenge. How much do I have left to spend after figuring in my costs? And there\u2019s geometry: I really want this gorgeous cel from one of my favorite sorta-animated shows, Roger Ramjet<\/em>! And it\u2019s clear that its height and width will easily fit my checked baggage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But there are many other stunning items available that may provide more of a problem for geometry-challenged purchasers. How big is that poster? How long is my suitcase? (You might want to include a small measuring tape in your gear.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh, and speaking of the math of dimensions: There are a few spots that let you ship home your purchases\u2014and, yes, your laundry (should you choose, as do I, to pack such a box so\u2019s to leave more room in your luggage for last-minute purchases). There\u2019s a FedEx office at the Convention Center and there are UPS Stores at the Marriott Marquis and the Hilton Bayfront, just to name a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Comics Science<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Start with basic biology lessons: Begin the day with a good breakfast, so your nutritional needs are met. (It wasn\u2019t at Comic-Con, but I\u2019ll note that my brother did faint at a convention long ago\u2014and, when he came to, realized he had forgotten to eat for a couple of days.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Figure out how much you can carry comfortably\u2014and how best to carry it. (A huge bag with a heavy load in the bottom can offer challenges simply from the physics involved in its swinging back and forth as you walk.) A many-pocketed vest can distribute the weight of a cell phone, notepad, business cards, and the like (maybe that measuring tape I mentioned earlier) evenly, leaving your hands free as a bonus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Comics Philosophy<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

What better way to figure out what is most important to you than to figure out which events should take priority each day? Do you want to learn from the pros? Understand the business? Unearth treasures you won\u2019t find elsewhere? Take photos to reinforce your memories? Get that one question answered from someone whose work you admire? Relax to enjoy whatever fun strikes you at the moment? Are you a student? Or an audience? Or a party-goer? Or a wanna-be? Or a smart consumer? This exercise can take you deep into self-realization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Comics Sociology<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

You can learn from some of the best business pros in the field. Some are buying and selling back issues. Some are preparing rarities for auction. Some are publishing a variety of material: books, magazines, software programs, art supplies. Some are producing collectibles. If you want to know more about a certain kind of comics business, you can get the proverbial \u201cup close and personal\u201d information right here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Who\u2019d have thought attending Comic-Con in 2002 would make me a media star? (Yeah, I didn\u2019t make the DVD packaging, but I\u2019m in Mark Hamill\u2019s 2004 film, Comic Book: The Movie,<\/em> which was basically a love letter to what you\u2019ll find at Comic-Con.) \u00a9 2016 Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Inc.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Comics Arts<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Well, hey. Study the working methods of the pros at the tables of Artists Alley. (I\u2019m not going to say that Artists Alley provides some of the same entertainment value as a zoo, where you can watch the animals in their natural habitat. Because actually, many of the finest artists ordinarily work in solitude, since they\u2019d otherwise never get their work done. Nevertheless \u2026)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And there are, of course, other creative media that interact with comics, including voice artistry, caricature, translation into other formats, and more. Here\u2019s a place to learn from all of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Comics Physical Education<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

We were told that gym classes\u2014whether in high school or college\u2014were about being physically fit. These days, many folks wear monitors, many of which count steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is an event for which the Exhibit Hall alone covers 12 acres. True, there are several escalators at strategic points. And there are shuttle buses. But it\u2019s somewhere in the neighborhood of half a mile or more from the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina to the Hilton San Diego Bayfront.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which is to say: Fitness, here we come! (Wear comfortable shoes. And consider that entry on physics.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bonus!<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Hey, one thing most colleges do not offer is \u2026 a break!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, if you\u2019re so inclined, let me suggest that you might decide to regard every moment of Comic-Con simply as Recess<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See you there!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Maggie\u2019s World by Maggie Thompson appears the first Tuesday of every month here on <\/em>Toucan!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Written by<\/p>\n\n\n

Maggie Thompson<\/div>\n\n\n

Published<\/p>\n\n\n