The Lovely Erica Recaps San Diego Comic Con 2012! With The Hobbit! Sons of Anarchy! Pacific Rim! Spartacus! Big Bang Theory! Game Of Thrones and More!

Ah Comic Con 2012! I still have one more day to report on but The Lovely Erica just did a great recap of her adventures in the gaslamp district. Every year it gets crazier and crazier and this year was no exception. I thought I did okay until I saw this… Erica got into everything! Talk about a golden ticket! Well, a ticket that consisted of a lot of hard work, let me tell me tell you I understand how much work goes into a con like this!

Erica was able to check out Sons of Anarchy, The Hobbit, Pacific Rim, Big Bang Theory and more!
Check out her recap after the jump!

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There are good years and there are bad years at Comic Con. This year, my con started out pretty crappy, but then my luck turned and it was a fantastic trip! Here are some of the key highlights of my trip:

The Hobbit

This is one of my most anticipated films of the year and one of the few shows where I was willing to get up in the dead of the night to try my luck at a lottery drawing. Luck was on my side and I got into the signing with Emmy-nominated Martin Freeman (adorable in his hat and humble when I complimented him on Sherlock),

Richard Armitage (gorgeous and amused when I told him how much I loved him in the BBC mini-series North and South)

and Andy Serkis (the happiest man at the con).

Game of Thrones

George RR Martin hosted the panel with some good questions, even if it was a bit tough to get the conversation free flowing.

George prompted a good-natured Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy) to relate a prank by some of the producers. They sent him a script where his character died a rather ignominious death, expecting Alfie to protest. Alfie took it in stride so the producers turned up a second script hoping to get a reaction. It wasn’t until a third draft, with Theon turning into a naked, mumbling zombie, did Alfie finally understand it was a joke.

Rose Leslie was a bit embarrassed when George singled her out as the only crew member to be born and raised in a real castle. She did confess it was home – complete with a dungeon. She also got a good laugh when George suggested a cross over with Downton Abbey. Rose confessed that Gwen would die rather quickly among the Wildlings, but Ygritte in Downtown Abbey would be hilarious. I, for one, would pay money to see Maggie Smith’s Dowager Countess encounter Ygritte. My money is on Maggie Smith…

Kristian Nairn (Hodor) was also in the house, but not on the panel. Wonder why they didn’t invite him up. Kristian is the nicest guy and well able to say more than “Hodor” in real life.

They reveal the casting for several new characters in season 3 including Thomas Brodie-Sangester (Liam Neeson’s son in Love Actually – and he hasn’t changed a bit!) and Dame Diana Rigg. Holy crap!!
During the signing, the entire cast is really friendly and so excited to chat with fans. I compliment Alfie on his big speech in the finale and he replied “yes, but it’s so great that I get knocked out! I love that!” Emilia Clarke is laughing the whole time.

Michelle Fairley is really friendly and so excited that I’m wearing a Game of Throne shirt. She and Richard Madden are dying to figure out where I got it (the uber-friendly HBO store in NY). Michelle keeps saying “That’s a great shirt” and adds “but it’s the wrong house!” since I’m wearing Targaryen. I point out that my sister is wearing Stark and when she gets to Richard and Michelle, they pounce on her by proclaiming “that’s a great shirt!” Honestly, mother and son are too cute!!!

And can I say, I’m a sucker for Richard speaking in his natural Scottish brogue…sigh!

Pacific Rim

Guillermo del Toro’s film that’s slated for release next year, the Pacific Rim cast was quite chatty at the signing. Guillermo summed up the film in six words: “Giant fucking monsters. Giant fucking robots.” It doesn’t get much clearer than that!

I was surprised to see how relieved the two Charlies (Charlie Day and Charlie Hunnam) were when I informed them that my friend in Hall H said the Pacific Rim panel was great and the footage was “awesome.” I could visibly see their shoulders relax after my positive report. I forget how intimidating it must be to promote a film that you just finished filming in front of 6500 people who can make or break the film’s buzz.

(Side story: David Goyer was chatting with Cillian Murphy before the panel to preview Batman Begins. Cillian peaks out and sees the darkened Hall H and asks David how many people are out there. When David says “6500,” Cillian blanches, says “Fuck me. I’ll be in the bathroom” and runs off.)

Guillermo del Toro is as friendly and as comfortable with fans as ever. I compliment him on moderating the Children of Men panel with Alfonso Cuaron a few years ago. He gets so excited that, even after security has whisked me forward, he’s still calling out “Thank you! Thanks for coming! Bye! Thank you!” He’s just the nicest, the biggest, most foul-mouthed teddy bear ever – I just want to give him a hug…

Spartacus

I just happened to be in the area when the ENTIRE CAST showed up at the Spartacus booth to wave to the crowd. It was great for so many cast members to come since, let’s face it, most of them are dead.

These folks are always so nice and they spent a few minutes pointing out costumes and talking to fans. A nice way to say farewell since this is their last trip…sniff!

Hunger Games

More dead people! Lionsgate held a signing for some of the dead male tributes. Alexander Ludwig (Cato) is friendly and apologized to me for ruining The Dark is Rising with the Seeker film. He says that they’ll re-make it right some day.

Jack Quaid (Marvel) went nuts when he saw the girl ahead of me in her Serenity shirt. Double fist pump and war cry kind of nuts. He was what, years old when the series first aired? Ah the power of DVD!
Dayo Okeniyi (Thresh) is one cool cat and amiable, if a bit quiet after Jack went nuts for Serenity. Then again, anything is more subdued in general…

Big Bang Theory

This is a cast who knows how to play Comic Con. It was breezy and the cast seemed to be having so much fun. This wasn’t really so much about giving sneaks into the upcoming season (they did mention Raj is getting another relationship – not sure what can top Siri!) – this panel is more an outpouring of love for the show.

Although Jim Parsons wasn’t there in person (he’s staring in Harvey on Broadway), he was present as the Virtual Jim and participated via satellite.

The cast sang ‘Soft Kitty” at the request of a fan…

…and they sent one fan into space. For real. They got a voucher to go 100,000 miles above the Earth!!

The Walking Dead

This is another cast that knows how to play to Comic Con. The trailer showed some great footage with a scene that confirms that Daryl’s deranged brother Merle will be back!

The cast really seems to get along and Steven Yeun will definitely remember this visit as several young preteen girls came up to ask questions during the panel. Each declared their love for Steven who started to turn bright red from all the pubescent adoration. Chris Hardwick, the moderator, also threatened to ship Steven to the Twilight panel .

Funny enough, the cast of Mythbusters rushed into the audience to watch the panel. I ran into them all weekend long – going to and from the con, seeing them drive by with the windows down in the limo so they can watch all the people and stuff…

Iron Man 3

Although thousands of people missed the panel, the wonderful Marvel booth unveiled the new iron suit in all it’s golden glory.

One fan was adamantly asking the Marvel booth guys “Who made that? Who made that?” When I answered: “Duh. Tony Stark” I got a dirty look from the fan and a laugh from the Marvel guy.

Don Cheadle and Shane Black did a signing for the new film. Don was chatty and fun while Shane looked rather bored.

I suppose when you have Jon Favreau and Robert Downey Jr, you don’t have to bring your personality – but he was rather rude in person. Maybe we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and we’ll say he was preoccupied with getting back to shooting the movie…

Merlin

This cute BBC series is back for a third year this time they have Colin Morgan (Merlin), Katie McGrath (Morgana) and Angel Coulby (Gwen) from the cast.

While waiting for the signing to begin, I spent some quality time with a rather talkative 8 year girl who was the self-professed biggest Merlin fan. It’s good to see some family bonding over shows like this!
The signing is easy and swift with the posters out well ahead of time. (Last year that were misplaced so there was a 20 minute delay.) Colin hopes to do theater again one day and Katie was laughing that she was not wearing her evil eye makeup so she’s “just Katie” today.

A fun cast to go with a fun fantasy show. I really hope they bring Richard Wilson one year…

Sons of Anarchy

This was one of the trips to Comic Con where I did keep an eye out since I kept running into people – like the Vampire Diaries cast. Daily. Seriously, I thought they were stalking me after a while.
But I also did encounter some of the Sons of Anarchy. I was with a friend in the elevator when half the cast got in! The next day, at the signing, Mark Boone Jr recognized me and did his impression of me and my friend as we tried not to stare while they were in the elevator. Apparently we were unsuccessful at not catching their eye…!

So that’s my trip in a nutshell!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you to all my friends who helped by telling me when something was happening or where to go or whatever! Was it worth the head cold, vertigo and 4 hours of sleep a night? Hell yes! (But I’m glad I have 11.5 months to recover!)