Comic-Con 2010 - Preview Night: And We're Off....

Comic-Con International held its preview night Wednesday (July 21), drawing tens of thousands, filling the aisles in search of free goodies, exclusives, and more.

Actually, there was fun to be had outside the San Diego Convention Center before even getting into the building. Various networks, films and such were handing out everything from t-shirts and visors to the SyFy channel's massive, oversize bags saying "Mega Tote" on one side and "Giant Backpack" on the other. "Where did you get that was a comm ly heard question.

As it did last year, SyFy also took over the Hard Rock Hotel's diner, converting it into "Cafe Diem" from it's show Eureka. Meanwhile, model-type girls in thigh-high boots, tighter green dresses with plunging cleavage and green fedora's stood in front a model of the Blackk Beauty sedan from the up coming Green Hornet film with invitations to see more over at the old Candy Factory building next to Petco Park where the San Diego Padres play.

The building was renamed "Britt Reid's garage" (named for Seth Rogen's character in the movie, who becomes the Green Hornet). Inside, there were numerous classic sports cars, a motorcycle, a shot-up "battle-damaged" Black Beauty and outside were a few versions of the car, tricked out with machine guns and rocket launchers, plus a model you could take a ride in around the block. The free T-shirts weren't pretty cool as well.
Once inside the Comic-Con exhibit hall, there was a wide array of evening giveaways, including scratchers from Intel based around Dreamworks upcoming November release, Megamind. Come up with all six characters on the various cards issued by forming a little "team" and you each got a gray Megamind zip-up fleece-like hoodie.

The Sony booth offered t-shirts, posters such as Salt with Angelina Jolie and until they ran out for the night (with more promised over the next few days) oversize Green Hornet bags, too. At the CBS booth you could get a copy of S*&^t My Dad Says, the book drawn from the hit webiste that inspired the new comedy show featuring William Shatner. Other booths had buttons, pins, magnets and more.
DC Comics was already a hub of comic book fan activity, veteranb writer-editor and one-time company president Paul Levitz just wandering about, talking to folks. There were lines to get books signed by a variety of writers and artists, including the Blackest Night and Brightest Day team of Geoff Johns and Ivan Reiss
Some dealers were already selling comics, vintage new, action figures and other toys, t-shirts and additional items.Though Thursday is considered "Day One" of Comic Con, you could call Wednesday's Preview Night, in comic book terms, "Day Zero." And the hype-fest and fun is on, the frenzy has begun.