I'm going to throw an observation on the table. And keep in mind that this is coming from someone who has never been to either a Comic Con or Star Wars Celebration so PLEASE CORRECT ME IF IM WRONG but, from what I've observed through TV coverage the last couple of years it seems like Comic Con is losing its identity. And by that i mean its becoming so big the original reason for the convention has been deluded and now accounts for but a small part of what Comic Con actually is.
Well, I've never been to a Celebration but to 6 comic-cons now with 7 this year. So take this for what its worth. It is more a entertainment type convention now but there are plenty of comic stuff there as well.
It would appear over the years they have broadened their subject matter to appeal to a wider range of "customers" and now its more of a Pop Culture Con instead of a Comic Con. The boners in Hollywood have taken over and made it all about marketing crappy movies and TV shows, and less about comics and collectibles.
For instance the reason its now become next to impossible to get tickets is because every Harry Potter/Twilight fan out there, who could give two _____s about comics or collectibles want to go watch panels all day. Which i guess is cool if your into that kind of thing, but if your like me and are more interested in meeting comic book artists and sculptors, then it would suck to not have that opportunity because they sold every ticket in less than 12 hours.
As I said its more of an entertainment convention comics as a part of it. Which honestly is fine by me. As far as marketing crappy movies and tv shows thats one persons opinion and I know a few get there but I've been to many panels for movies comic realted or not for movies I really enjoy. I'm glad they come and I get to hear from these actors and such that I and others want to see or hear from.
As far as getting tickets this was the first year it was a pain and it is more on the people running it than the type of people going. Most people there take plenty of time to look at the collectibles trust me getting around some of them is a real pain.
Now don't get me wrong. I was fortunate enough to get tickets this year, and I'm super pumped about going... like really really pumped. but only for the reasons listed above. It just crazy how it turned from being a haven for nerds to the coolest place in the world. Maybe we can expect a special appearance from P. Diddy next year to usher in the Hip Hop scene.
It still is a haven for nerds as you put it but its also the coolest place in the world. It allows all of us who enjoy all these kinds of things to be all in one place. I still find a way to talk to plenty of artist and sculptors all while still enjoying stuff like LOTR, The Hobbit, Harry Potter, King Kong, Lost, True Blood, Iron Man, 300, etc that have or will be there.
If you truly just want comic book conventions there are plenty of those that have just that. However, most are shifting towards more entertainment type events.
That would be the only reason i could see someone favoring Celebration over Comic Con, If you only loved Star Wars and could care less about the rest. Again I'm ready for Comic Con, but would love to go to Celebration one of these days too.
Sorry about the tangent.
Yeah, if you really only liked Star Wars celebration might be better but most of us are not just singular in what we like.
