So once again, I’m going to the San Diego con. I mean, Comic Con International in San Diego.

Oh, I know what you’re thinking – the noise, the crowds, and oh all that non-comic book stuff. The cosplayers, the Twi-hards, the (gasp) movie and TV people. Well, I don’t care – I welcome them all. And if the hardcore funnybook fans need to bitch and moan that the con “isn’t about comics anymore,” well that just sounds like the nerd equivalent of “get off my lawn.”

Here’s a link to the con website that has all the programming events for each day. I took that list and sorted it by just comics-related programming and here’s the result. Honestly, there are so many that you’ll be the star of your own private Walking Dead mini-series before Friday’s over.

If the con hadn’t shifted its focus away from the spectacularly-wounded comics industry of the mid-to-late 1990s to bring in some new exhibitors, there might not have been a con for much longer. Remember that the mid-90s version of Marvel corporate pulled the plug on attending comic conventions for a while. So when the #1 publisher pulls out of the industry’s biggest annual event, shouldn’t something be rethought in order to survive?

I know old-time fans squawk about the con’s evolution and the back-issue dealers do too. But we’re rapidly approaching a generation that will have no understanding or interest in old comics as collectibles. If they want to, they’ll eventually be able to download a run of Wow Comics or Silver Age Green Lantern or Tales From The Crypt for just a few bucks without the near-mint fetish attached to it.

I do like the excitement of the con – it’s like being at the epicenter of a geek’s paradise where comic books, movies, and TV all intertwine and entangle. A place where I can bump into Howard Chaykin or Dave Dorman, see a guy dressed as a Klingon use the ATM and watch a girl in a Pokemon costume posing for photos with people who are as happy as if they just met Mickey Mouse.

My plan: I’ve bookmarked a few events that feel like must-see things to me. I’ve made some preliminary plans with friends. I’ll mix up my time between the floor, the panels and the great outdoors. I won’t let my super-power be the ability to let one event make or break my convention.

And out of the floor, there are plenty of comics all around. I’ll hit Boom! Studios, Avatar and Top Shelf to see what I’ve missed during the year. Then Bongo and Fantagraphics (I need a Tati fix). Then I’ll wander around for awhile and just see what happens.

Somewhere along the way, I’m going to track down the webcomics gang and see what they’re up to and which ones have collections out. Fortunately, Gary Tyrrell at Fleen has posted a list to help me out.

Tom Spurgeon has a list of helpful hints for con attendees. It totals 135 and it’s worth linking to again, and again. He’s also posted a list of panels that he’s moderating. He’s a good host and his stuff is always worth attending.

Con veteran Mark Evanier has posted a partial list of his panels, including my favorite, a Quick Draw panel that includes Sergio Aragones and about 100 laughs. He’s also moderating a Batman panel that looks terrific. Mark has an archival post of his own convention guide with worthy tips for how to survive the chaos.

And the always-reliable Heidi at Comics Beat is giving rundowns of what the various publishers will be offering and showcasing at the con. Now the thing I’m most looking forward to after reading about it? The new Rob Hanes collection by Randy Reynaldo!

See you at the con! And if not, don’t let it ruin your good time.

[Artwork: a little piece of Darkwing Duck, just one of the comics I plan on picking up this week from Boom! Kids, © Disney]