By Tracy (and Shelby & Sarah) Edmunds
July 12, 2004
“We’ve got half a tank of gas, a full pack of juice boxes, it’s dark, and we’re wearing sunglasses. Hit it.” The annual launch of the family truckster southward toward San Diego is a major event around here. So much so that we have taken time out from our beach vacation to peruse the Con schedule give you our recommedations and warnings about kid-friendly panels and screenings. If you’re bringing your kids along to the Con, be sure to check the archives for our first article, Conning the Kids, which tells you everything you need to know about navigating the Nerd Prom with your little ones.
Friday
11:00 – 1:00 WARNER BROS. Presents
Okay, so they’ll have to sit through V FOR VENDETTA (you might want to bring a Walkman for them), but they must, of course see HARRY POTTER. I am looking forward to TIM BURTON’S CORPSE BRIDE.
Shelby says: HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE will be one of my favorite movies because I like all the books and movies already. I already read the book. I saw the trailer – it looks really good and really scary, hee hee hee. Kids who like Harry Potter should go to this panel because they might get to see a little part of the movie that nobody else has seen yet. I’ll be there for sure!
Sarah says: Does it show DANIEL RADCLIFFE in real life? Because he’s cool. If not, I don’t care that much. CORPSE BRIDE looks kinda like NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS and I like that. It might be good.
1:30 – 2:30 Bringing Back Comics for Kids
I’ll be here, obviously, but there might not be much for the kids. Mostly just grown-ups talking, which will bore them to tears. Guess Dad can take them down to the floor for a while…
3:00 – 4:30 DISNEY Coming Attractions
Previews and panels of CHICKEN LITTLE, SKY HIGH, CARS, and the TENTH ANNIVERSARY DVD OF TOY STORY – a kid fest if there ever was one.
Shelby says: If I go to this I might see if the movies are funny or not. I wanna see clips of the movies, but when the grownups talk about them, the kids are gonna be really bored, so bring comics to read.
Sarah says: I would go to this because I like animated movies.
4:00 – 5:30 WB Animation
Hmmm, we may have to split the family up between this and DISNEY. “Don’t miss an all-new episode of JLU and world-premiere footage from WARNER HOME VIDEO’s upcoming feature-length thriller, BATMAN VS. DRACULA!”
Sarah says: I like Batman and I like Dracula, so this looks good. JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED is cool because there are more superheroes than just the Justice League. I like Supergirl, the Question, Captain Atom, and Captain Marvel. I liked when Superman and Captain Marvel where fighting and wrecked the whole city!
Shelby says: I don’t wanna go to this one because I don’t like JLU, but THE BATMAN STRIKES is kinda good. I might like BATMAN VS. DRACULA. It sounds weird. Batman should never verse Dracula.
5:30 – 7:00 THE JIM HENSON COMPANY’s 50th Anniversary
This should be good – a look back at Henson’s career through “rare footage of Jim’s early performances”. And if your kids aren’t easily freaked out, they will also dig the sneak peek at GAIMAN’S MIRROR MASK. If you haven’t seen the trailer for this, you should.
Saturday
Unfortunately, Sarah’s dance recital is Saturday afternoon, so we’ll have to go home for the day. Too bad, because there’s some great stuff scheduled.
12:00 – 1:30 JETIX Original Animation
It’s never too early to be a fangirl and meet your favorite voiceover actors.
Sarah says: Last year I met the guy who plays Beast Boy and Chiro from SUPER ROBOT MONKEY TEAM HYPERFORCE, GO! He gave me a book about how to be a vegetarian. He gave me a hug and took a picture with me. When I left, he yelled, “Bye Sarah!” in front of everybody. I would like to go see him again and see the show.
Shelby says: SUPER ROBOT MONKEY TEAM HYPERFORCE, GO! has a long title and the song gets stuck in your head all the time. We went to its panel last year and they showed a part of it, we got t-shirts, and they guy who does Sponge Bob’s voice was teasing us. He said, “Look at those two little girls in capes; they look like they’re flying off to save the Barbie Dreamhouse!”
1:00 – 2:00 KEVIN SMITH
Do NOT take the kids to this one unless you want them to learn a lot of very colorful new words, but if you’re reading this, you’ll most likely be there. Remember, there is babysitting available downstairs!
1:30 – 2:15 NICKELODEON’s New Comedies (CATSCRATCH by DOUG TENNAPEL and THE X’S by CARLOS RAMOS)
Sarah says: The guy who drew TOMMYSAURUS REX (TENNAPEL), I like his drawings, so I would go to see his new show. Super-spy actions sound really cool.
Shelby says: That might be good because cats are cute and I like spy stuff.
2:00 – 3:00 ABADAZAD Lives On!
All of us literally jumped up and down when we saw this – ABADAZAD is hands-down everyone’s favorite comic and we couldn’t be happier that it will continue.
Sarah says: ABADAZAD is very cool because it’s magical and full of imagination. I hope they make a movie!
Shelby says: I liked ABADAZAD and I can’t wait until it comes back! I would go to this because I miss ABADAZAD and I wanna see the guys who make it.
3:00 – 4:00 GRAPHIX: Bringing Great Comics to Kids!
SCHOLASTIC, the kid’s publishing juggernaut, is putting out trades of JEFF SMITH’s BONE in full color. This panel will announce where they are going next. I’m glad to see CHYNNA CLUGSTON’s name on the list!
Shelby says: BONE was exciting. It might be cool to see what else they’re doing.
3:30 – 5:00 TEEN TITANS Live!
Sarah actually considered ditching her dance recital for this one, and Shelby is royally pissed that she’s going to miss it. The voice cast will be doing an entire script live, followed by Q&A and clips from next season. This is one of the best shows on TV for kids, but get in line early because I have a feeling it will be packed.
Shelby says: I really want to go, but I can’t. I wanna skip the dance recital and go to this! I like TEEN TITANS GO! and I wanna see the actual people do it. I’m mad!
Sarah says: I wanna go! I’d like to see all the guys and girls and get their autographs. I could get Beast Boy to sign the picture I drew of Beast Boy.
4:00 – 5:00 JEFF SMITH: The Origin of BONE
Too bad SMITH’s going up against the Titans! He’ll be sharing “side-by-side comparisons of BONE comics with photos of the natural world” and stories about his inspirations.
Sarah says: I would like to see the guy who wrote BONE because I would like to see the photos of beautiful landscapes and see how he made them into cartoony pictures.
Shelby says: It might be interesting because BONE was exciting. It might be cool to see pictures of where he got the ideas from for the book.
6:00 – 7:00 EMILY STRANGE
If your preteen to teen has any goth tendencies at all, they’ll know who EMILY STRANGE is. Promises of a sneak peek at the new comic and some special treats make this a good choice.
Sunday: Kid’s Day!
Various times: Kid’s Day Drawing Workshops
If you have a budding artist, be sure to attend a couple of the workshops – they’re first rate.
Shelby says: I went to one of the drawing classes last year. It was a little hard, a little easy. We drew different kinds of feelings. Kids should go to the drawing classes because they might need to learn more about how to draw, like my sister doesn’t draw as good as me (not to be mean, but I’m older anyways).
Sarah says: I would like to learn how to draw faces sideways and noses and animals.
10:30 -11:30 DEATH JR.
DEATH JR. was is one of my favorite comics ever, and TED NAIFEH is one of my favorite artists. Haven’t checked out the game yet and I’m looking forward to it.
Sarah says: I liked the comic because it’s about weird little children. I’m interested in seeing the videogame ‘cause it might be really cool.
Shelby says: DEATH JR. was kinda a cool comic and my dad might like the videogame ‘cause he’s always playing his Playstation. Kids who like videogames or goth stuff should go to this.
11:00 – 12:00 POWER RANGERS: SPACE PATROL DELTA
If your Con companions like POWER RANGERS, then by all means, go to this. We obviously won’t be there.
Shelby says: POWER RANGERS is for boys!
Sarah says: I’m not very into POWER RANGERS, but other kids might like it.
11:00 – 12:00 Brand New on NICKTOONS!
Shelby says: It’s just clips, so no talking – yessss!
Sarah says: I’ll like this if it doesn’t have SPONGEBOB.
12:00 – 1:00 SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS
Sarah says: I’ll go to see DANNY PHANTOM ‘cause I like that show, but I think SPONGEBOB is annoying (but I don’t wanna make the author feel bad, so don’t tell him, okay?)
12:30 – 1:30 THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE
The trailer for this is incredible, but too scary for little ones. I’d go if your kids are past the easily-gets-nightmares-from-movies stage.
Sarah says: This movie looks freaky, but I wanna see it very much. It will be fun if they show some effects and don’t just talk.
1:00 – 2:30 CARTOON NETWORK STUDIOS 5th Anniversary
Some great shows here; FOSTER’S HOME FOR IMAGINARY FRIENDS, THE POWERPUFF GIRLS, THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JUNIPER LEE (a household favorite), THE GRIM ADVENTURES OF BILLY AND MANDY, and a new offering – MY GYM PARTNER IS A MONKEY.
Sarah says: I like monkeys and I like JUNIPER LEE, it’s really funny, so this sounds cool.
2:00 – 3:15 Movie Premiere: LILO AND STICH 2: STICH HAS A GLITZ!
Another one we won’t be attending, but smaller kids will probably enjoy it.
Shelby says: I don’t like Stich – he’s annoying.
Sarah says: I don’t like it; it’s very annoying.
(Note: These statements were not made within earshot of each other– honestly.)
2:30 – 4:30 Mars: The Future Isn’t What It Used to Be
If you have an aspiring scientist of any type, but especially an astronomer or astrophysicist, this is a must. Nothing to do with comics, per se, but way cool science stuff.
NEXT TIME: Comic reviews and news from San Diego. I’m still waiting for my readers to chime in on OWLY, TOMMYSAURUS REX, MISTER O, and POWER PACK. Come on, people – someone must want to see their name in print!
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