Preview night of Comic-Con is upon us and my years of going are approaching 30 years — which is wild to me — and I find myself reflecting on it. One of the things that suck out to me is how I used to wait entire days to get into Hall H for the panel for Marvel Studios. An entire day out in the hot sun, fighting dehydration and becoming hangry at everyone around me.
I remember the year of making it inside finally and just as I’m taking my seat, the lights come on and we see Tom Hiddleston on stage in full Loki costume and in character. I remember another year, my group and I were stopped just before getting inside Hall H, being told it’s full and we most likely weren’t getting in for Marvel, but at the last second spots opened up and we were quickly let through, taking a seat in the far back only to have Robert Downey Jr. appear behind us and dance down the aisle close enough to smell his cologne.
But there were also years that we didn’t get in for Marvel Studios, so there were always backup plans. I never stayed overnight, camping for Hall H. Okay, I lied. I never did that for Marvel, but I did do that for the insane Hall H schedule for Breaking Bad, Doctor Who, and Supernatural.
Thanks to Marvel Studios, getting into Hall H the day they are there only became more and more difficult. You gotta camp overnight on top of getting wristbands. It’s been years since I ever attempted at this point, and I don’t see myself ever trying to get into Hall H on a day they are there again. Which is a bummer, not because I wanna see their panel again, but because any panels scheduled for that day is going to be overtaken by Marvel fans who camped out to get inside. So Hall H just doesn’t exist to me on that day.
No, I’m not going to go into a tirade about how I lost interest in Marvel movies (which I did), but instead I will yell and shake my fist at the sky about the scheduling for Hall H. It’s been known for decades at this point that Marvel takes over Hall H on Saturday, that nearly every seat taken the entire day are fans there mainly for Marvel, and maybe, just maybe there for a panel before them. I know, I know, the studio wants the anticipation; being the main event for Saturday, but I think it just sucks for fans wanting to be there for other panels. They either have to get swept up in Marvel’s craziness or just miss out on their panels.
Marvel Studios should stop being selfish and put their panel first thing in the morning. They would still get their massive pop and fanfare. And afterward, the other panels will get their fans after Marvel diehards clear out.
Oh, to dream.
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