BassGMan

I'm not familiar with the Torpedo show, but absolutely, if someone is just looking to buy comics and does not care for the rest of the hoopla then I would not recommend ANY big con.

Getting tickets is very tough, but after having been to San Diego, ECCC, Wonder Con and (the old) Chicago Con, nothing can compare to SDCC. Yes there are long lines for those who choose to stand in them, say get into some popular panel or line up for an exclusive, but I never stand in any line longer than five minutes the entire 4 1/2 day event. Remember, standing in a line anywhere is something people choose to do. Stand in line to get into a 10:00 show open, or walk up at 10:20 and walk right in? Stand in line for hours trying to see some celebrity speak or just not go? Line up at the food stands during lunch time or go in between meals when there are no lines. Yes there are crowds there in some of the popular areas, but if you are going for comics or Artist's Alley, no lines and very little crowds, except maybe at some hot artist's table where 10-15 people are surrounding it. ECCC can also get extremely crowded in some areas of the show, not unlike SDCC, but I just avoid those areas during those times. Remember, people choose to stand in lines, and in most cases they are not ever forced to. Granted, you'll miss out on some events or items this way, but for me at least, I'll pass the big crowd and long lines for all the other things that are easily accessible. Just like navigating Seattle traffic or SDCC (and other) con events, if you time it right and are fine missing some hyped events and items, the entire thing will be easy and comfortable. I'm also not into horror stories, long lines and crowds, and there is no way I'd endure that in SDCC or anywhere, and I never do. Anyway, just some suggestions. A con experience is often what you make of it.

Have you ever thought about SDCC? I know that tickets are almost impossible, but I'm just about to go for the 27th year in a row and there is nothing like it. Granted I haven't been to all the big shows, but this show is the highlight of my year. People complain about long lines, but if you know how to navigate it there are virtually no lines.

Now THAT is an accurate review of Seattle. Though I'm not as thrilled with the con though. But yeah, the Artist's Alley is the real deal.

He was wrong. The ocean is literally within walking distance of the convention center where ECCC is held. Maybe a 20 minute walk to all the piers. However this is not the open ocean and you'd need to take a 10-15 minute drive from there to west Seattle to hit the nearest sandy beach, Alki. Technically this is called the Puget Sound, but it is part of the Pacific Ocean.

No, that is downtown of course. But I was talking about the city as a whole. Above you said Seattle is overrun with homeless. Not at all. There is a homeless problem for sure, as there is in many large US cities. The cost of living here is crazy. And despite homelessness being a big problem in select pockets of the city (which gets a lot of press), most of the city is beautiful and safe. North Seattle is my favorite part of the city, followed by west Seattle. For the most part I avoid downtown, really just because traffic and parking is nuts.

Not hardly. There are some areas in Seattle where the homeless have run rampant, but the other 95% of the city is looking great. And I'm not just talking downtown where it is more prevalent in some areas. Seattle is a big city and mostly suburban neighborhoods.

I live just outside of Seattle and have gone to ECCC every year. The normal big show I go to every year is SDCC, but I went to the Chicago con twice when I think it was just called the Chicago con or something of the sort (before it was C2E2). While that was not SDCC by any means, it was a great show. Don't listen to those who talk about all the homeless in Seattle. I grew up here, and while there are certainly areas where the homeless have overrun the area and there are tents set up along parts of I-5 (and under, among some other places), MOST of the city is beautiful. Traffic is a bit dicey in downtown Seattle, but it is a big city and to be expected. With that said, I would not recommend to anyone to travel to ECCC, and especially not over the Chicago show. With one exception. The artist's alley at ECCC is spectacular, even better than at SDCC. But as far as a good selection of comic book dealers it is pathetic. Mostly toys, novelties and the usual pop culture. I live 20 minutes away from the show, but I find that half a day is good enough for me and I've seen everything. So unless you really enjoy artist's alley, then don't bother.

I hadn't noticed these before. The two pairs (without PN) have sold between $950 and $6,000! More recently they have been in the $1,000 range. The first legit after market passes I've seen being offered.

DC. Literally three seconds in a Google search is all that took. I was hoping for Seattle though, being a local.

Not me! I didn't get anything. Looking for two full passes if any exhibitors have any extra to offer.

Keep in mind that every line at SDCC is completely voluntary. People often gripe about the lines, but they choose to be in them. My general rule is that if a line is going to take more than 15 minutes for anything, I won't stand in line. Yes that means I miss out on some panels and exclusives, but I'd rather have that time than give it up to see a panel, get an autograph or buy a toy. There was one exception this year. I knew the Hall H presentation of Better Call Saul was not filling up so I decided I'd go to that one. Once there I saw that line to get in wasn't bad at all, but now in Hall H they are using metal detectors and bags are searched just like at the airport. So I dealt with that slow 30 minute line by choice. Next to that the longest line I stood in was 10 minutes for some great fish tacos in the flag pavilion. Some of the other panels fill up and some don't. Yes, most of the popular TV shows fill up but not all. Better Call Saul was only half filled, and my guess is that even though it is a great show, it is probably not prime viewing for an SDCC crowd. In years past I have gone to plenty of Room 20 TV show presentations and with some I walked right in, others I saw a huge line and heard it was filling up, so I passed. There is always something to do or see when you can't see a panel you were interested in. Also, no line at all to get into the show as long as you arrive 20-30 minutes after the open. EVERY LINE at SDCC is completely voluntary.

I just finished my 26th year in a row and I love every day of every year I go. I am also not a big spender. Heck, SDCC to me is really just 4 1/2 days full of cheap impulse buying. I spent more money on T-shirts than anything! Plus a few more silly things for fun. For comics, no way. Outside of buying some cool TPBs or HCs at 50% off cover, or full price at some of the tables like Drawn & Quarterly and Fantagraphics for books that just looked really cool, I'm not buying any actual comics, new or back issues of any kind. The selection is not that great and prices are often terrible. If these dealers price high in order to haggle, sorry I'm just not going to do it. Most of the prices for anything I see are ridiculous, so I keep walking. I did go to a golden age Wonder Woman panel that was fantastic. More about the backstory at the office than the character. So anyways, after that I headed downstairs to look into maybe buying a GA WW book from the period I was after. No way. Terrible selection and terrible prices. In the airport on the way home I bought one on Ebay, fantastic CGC graded book and great price, and earlier today I bought another on Ebay. So no, I would not suggest going to SDCC if you want to buy comics, or at least not anything pricey. You go for everything else that has nothing to do with money. I love Las Vegas too, but I am not a gambler. It is everything else to see and do. I would highly recommend going to SDCC, but you certainly do not need to go to spend money. Just go for fun, but sure, have some cash to take advantage of all the fun things you'll see there that you just have to have, and those things you always wanted that you never knew existed before. Sorry SDCC comic dealers out there, but most of you guys price too high, and that is fine for some buyers, but unless I see a fair price clearly posted on the books you are selling, I'll keep walkin'.

I can see why there was a problem with this lottery system, and why that in some cases it will save people time, but in other cases it makes the system worse. I see two people above signed up for things they really didn't even want. I imagine some people just signed up for everything to take a shot. And then when winning something they don't even want, then not even showing up to claim it, which is taking a chance away from someone who does really want the item. My guess is there will be a ton of no-shows from people who signed up for something they didn't want. We'll see how it goes. I'm sure the dealers will not have any problem figuring out another way to sell off what was being held out for those who won items they never intended to buy, but some fans who were genuinely interested in an item will have lost a chance due to others who signed up and won but were not even serious.

Oh I hear ya'. I like the new system too, and it is better than waiting only to possibly be disappointed when something sells out before you can buy one. With that said, I still expect a madhouse of buyers for each time slot. While this is a better system than before, it would need to be something mighty special for me to want to deal with the chaos even if I did win a time slot. If it goes more smoothly than I expect I'll give it a shot next year. Although I do miss out on a few events and items by not waiting or scrambling through crowds, it does make for a more pleasant con overall.