...despite having once proudly been amongst the 'brethren species' of devotedly obsessed comic book 'geeks' (...although quite candidly, I DO occasional peek through the cracked-open door, to see how things...characters, exploits, format, etc, have since changed since my youth, my comic book collecting days...eh, pretty much snuffed, in the onset of my military stint) , this viewer has to readily admit really getting a brazenly giddy kick out of the crazed and outrageous visual spectacle that IS the yearly San Diego-based International Comic Book Convention...or quite simply, Comic-Con. The inspired, wildly imaginative, and...well, let's face it...quite lucrative costumes. The colorful, anticipation-building, cinematic advertising blitz of just about every major movie studio's upcoming offerings in the genre. The veritable cornucopia of vendors, eager to sell anything, from t-shirts to posters, from collectible toys & figures to that rare DVD-R of 'Ricochet Rabbit' cartoons, and everything in-between (...and of course, comic books). The cheer-inducing, star-studded forums, nostalgically reveling what has come to pass, and anticipatively revealing what is in the works, in the vast world of the popular arts. The progressively wide-spreading interactive-ness of the proceedings, as the city of San Diego itself, spectacularly adorns itself in genre-celebrative decor...
...and yet, take away all of the overwhelming commercialism of these proceedings...all of the immense star power and over-the-top regalia, that dazzlingly make up the sights and sounds beheld...all of the insanity and outrageousness of the event...and there still remains a most devoted passion for this annual burst of extravaganza...a venue where one can just about be whatever one wants to be, within the spectrum of the genre...a forum where dreams can be realized, inspiration can take root, and even careers can be built upon. It is this celebrative, inspirational...and occasionally quite jovial relevation, which is the focus of this humorously intriguing, heart-felt, and...well, let's face it, 'fun' behind-the-scenes documentary...director Morgan Spurlock's "Comic-Con, Episode IV: A Fan's Hope"...
...amidst random snippets of reveling humor, appreciation and inspiration, by associated celebrities and filmmakers, well-known for their work in the popular arts...artists, writers, film stars, and the like (...including THE master of ceremonies...the comic book maestro himself, Mr. Stan Lee), gleefully sharing their Comic-Con experiences...as well as amusingly spontaneous moments, showcasing the varied and eclectic crowd of attendees...proudly and excitedly exuding their comments, their passions, their costumes, their very reasons for embracing this event...this candid look at the convention goings-on, focuses intimately upon five unique and individually motivated individuals...each of different vocations, in life...each of whom are driven by different reasons...different purpose...in attending this yearly celebration of the fantastique...
...for Holly, the Comic-Con proves a most ideal venue: To display her extraordinary talent for costume design & special effects...and this playfully engaging and diversional on-the-spot social study intimately reflects her passions for the vocation, as well as the arduous process...from design, to the actual pageantry submission and display of her and her crew's remarkable work...which she very much hopes will get noticed at this event, and propel her to a much more professional level...
...having embraced the world of comic books, for most of their lives, Eric and Skip...both shown to be quite talented in the art of drawing...tote their wares, and their portfolios to the Con, with an unswerving and hopeful desire to become a contributive part of the world, which they have embraced; amidst the professionals at the convention, whom they display their work to, there's intrigue, there's motivating and appreciative accolades...and there's unflinching criticism and rejection...
...looking to...at best, clear a respectable profit, and at worst, clear his company of substantial debt, Chuck, the owner of Mile High Comics, herein brings to Comic-Con, several rare and classic treasures, in the respected annuls of published comic book-dom, which he has high hopes of getting a good price for...with that 'good price' being a minimum of $500,000 (...yes, it's true...some of these comic books garnish THAT much, sometimes). Generating interested 'nibbles' from notable collectors at the Con, will he get the valued worth of what he is offering??...
...for James, Comic-Con proves to be a mass of jovial frustration; you see, his intent...his sole purpose here (...besides his love of the venue, itself) is to covertly prepare and arrange just the right moment at the Comic-Con, to propose marriage to his accompanying girlfriend, Se Young...she being as much a comic book geek, as he. The problem before him?? He desperately needs to be able to break away from her, and make certain arrangements, in setting up his proposal event...and unfortunately, as the clock relentlessly ticks away at the convention, she refuses to leave his side. What will he do??...
...being one of the few productions where he actually DOESN'T appear, or at least offer his humorously narrative commentary, director Morgan Spurlock (..."Super-Size Me", "POM-wonderful Presents The Greatest Movie Ever Sold", "Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?", etc.), as well as producer Joss Whedon (...director, "The Avengers"), nonetheless gives the viewer here, a very satisfying, if not somewhat unevenly structured peek into the wows, whys and wherefores of those embraceably dedicated to attending the Comic-Con, year after year...reasoning which ultimately proves to be simultaneously undefining, and yet multi-faceted. Flawed in it's overall lack of a substance, which actor Bruce Campbell once coined in another fascinating documentary (...see one of the extras, on the 'Book of the Dead' edition of the original "Evil Dead"...it's a hoot), as 'f-analysis', this fun, engaging and attention-grabbing study, serves the viewer best, in exuding the outrageousness of the event, and to what lengths some folks will venture forth, to achieve their goals...be it the exclusive purchase of that rare and oh-so expensive collectible, or that arduous and far-reaching stepping stone, inspirationally leading toward one's possible future career. Insightful, inspirational, heart-felt and wholly entertaining...though admittedly, more than a bit envy-inducing, in the sense that the best way to experience the Con, is to actually be there...Uh, take it from THIS viewer.....
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