I have personally helped to run several conventions and been on the planning staff of others and let me say that regardless of how good or bad the Con was depended on the staff and how well they did or did not do their jobs. When we did a good job we were congratulated but when it went bad we heard about it and rightly so. How else do you get better without knowing what to fix?

I have personally helped to run several conventions and been on the planning staff of others and let me say that regardless of how good or bad the Con was depended on the staff and how well they did or did not do their jobs. When we did a good job we were congratulated but when it went bad we heard about it and rightly so. How else do you get better without knowing what to fix?

I also don't think Watchmen took space away from any other movie. I think there was plenty of room for other movies — had those movies wanted to be included, but I don't think they did. It's like the way Star Trek has purposely not done any Cons until this one (not sure why they picked this one though). I thought there wasn't much to cover at WonderCon, but even though I already say the Watchmen panel at NYCC, I still enjoyed the WC panel and seeing the first 20 minutes of the film again. I think Warner Bros in part still trying to show people why they should give Watchmen a chance; on for those of us who already are on board, it's a big draw — people WANT to see Watchmen footage and get a chance to ask the cast questions.

I think you're approaching the Con from your movie reporter viewpoint and regardless of how many livejournal bloggers had press badges, the majority of attendees are NOT going there to provide "coverage" like we are and have not already seen these panels at other Cons. Many years ago before I started doing my site, when I went to Cons, I never thought of what was "missing" but was just happy to soak in what was offered up. There was no "searching" for a story in an otherwise non-news panel and a lot more time was spent just having a good time on the Con floor. How many attendees were there thinking "Hey, where's the Sherlock Holmes" panel? I doubt the average attendee really even has most of the movies you mentioned on their radar (at least not at the forefront of their mind).

I also don't think Watchmen took space away from any other movie. I think there was plenty of room for other movies — had those movies wanted to be included, but I don't think they did. It's like the way Star Trek has purposely not done any Cons until this one (not sure why they picked this one though). I thought there wasn't much to cover at WonderCon, but even though I already say the Watchmen panel at NYCC, I still enjoyed the WC panel and seeing the first 20 minutes of the film again. I think Warner Bros in part still trying to show people why they should give Watchmen a chance; on for those of us who already are on board, it's a big draw — people WANT to see Watchmen footage and get a chance to ask the cast questions.

I think you're approaching the Con from your movie reporter viewpoint and regardless of how many livejournal bloggers had press badges, the majority of attendees are NOT going there to provide "coverage" like we are and have not already seen these panels at other Cons. Many years ago before I started doing my site, when I went to Cons, I never thought of what was "missing" but was just happy to soak in what was offered up. There was no "searching" for a story in an otherwise non-news panel and a lot more time was spent just having a good time on the Con floor. How many attendees were there thinking "Hey, where's the Sherlock Holmes" panel? I doubt the average attendee really even has most of the movies you mentioned on their radar (at least not at the forefront of their mind).

You don't have to shut up now, you actually make some great points. I do have a piece coming up later this week on Pandorum and Alien Trespass… I'm waiting for the Pandorum trailer due in the next couple of days. I love Foster and the trailer looked interesting, but I didn't love it (or hate it) like everything else in the post above so it was cut.

Like I said, I've really enjoyed conventions in the past and I plan to again in the future. This one just didn't do it for me. Thanks for being reasonable and intelligent with your criticism.

You don't have to shut up now, you actually make some great points. I do have a piece coming up later this week on Pandorum and Alien Trespass… I'm waiting for the Pandorum trailer due in the next couple of days. I love Foster and the trailer looked interesting, but I didn't love it (or hate it) like everything else in the post above so it was cut.

Like I said, I've really enjoyed conventions in the past and I plan to again in the future. This one just didn't do it for me. Thanks for being reasonable and intelligent with your criticism.

But Wondercon DID have things NYCC didn't have – 9, Star Trek, Pandorum, more panelists for Alien Trespass & Terminator, etc.

As a HUGE Ben Foster fan, I LOVED that he was there for Pandorum and I trust that he only picks great material, so his presence plus the cool footage got me really excited. I don't understand why that isn't being covered more. Like, I've read about Terminator how many times, but nothing on the cool smaller movie? And so far I've only seen one write up on the Chuck panel, one of the best of the convention? If supposedly the place was filled with random bloggers…where's the coverage on the things that WEREN'T Trek, Terminator & Watchmen?

For the record, I think Fox blew a HUGE opportunity here. It was their last chance to have a substantial panel before the movie opens. Why didn't they have the new mutants on a panel? That would have been AMAZING.

But for what the studios decided to offer, I thought Wondercon was great and isn't quite deserving of so much hate. Did you get to do the floor? Because that was the best dealer's room experience I've had since Comic Con in the mid to late 90s. You could actually MOVE!!!! And I walked away with some really amazing & well priced stuff. The convention is about a lot more than "Hollywood" and my problem with the…hollywoodization of conventions in general is that everything else seems to be forgotten. I mean, Michael Chabon and Matt Fraction were on a panel together! For some odd reason, the cosplay at Wondercon was FAR superior to cosplay I've seen at most of the other conventions!

Anyway, I'll shut up now. These conventions are close to my heart, what can I say.

But Wondercon DID have things NYCC didn't have – 9, Star Trek, Pandorum, more panelists for Alien Trespass & Terminator, etc.

As a HUGE Ben Foster fan, I LOVED that he was there for Pandorum and I trust that he only picks great material, so his presence plus the cool footage got me really excited. I don't understand why that isn't being covered more. Like, I've read about Terminator how many times, but nothing on the cool smaller movie? And so far I've only seen one write up on the Chuck panel, one of the best of the convention? If supposedly the place was filled with random bloggers…where's the coverage on the things that WEREN'T Trek, Terminator & Watchmen?

For the record, I think Fox blew a HUGE opportunity here. It was their last chance to have a substantial panel before the movie opens. Why didn't they have the new mutants on a panel? That would have been AMAZING.

But for what the studios decided to offer, I thought Wondercon was great and isn't quite deserving of so much hate. Did you get to do the floor? Because that was the best dealer's room experience I've had since Comic Con in the mid to late 90s. You could actually MOVE!!!! And I walked away with some really amazing & well priced stuff. The convention is about a lot more than "Hollywood" and my problem with the…hollywoodization of conventions in general is that everything else seems to be forgotten. I mean, Michael Chabon and Matt Fraction were on a panel together! For some odd reason, the cosplay at Wondercon was FAR superior to cosplay I've seen at most of the other conventions!

Anyway, I'll shut up now. These conventions are close to my heart, what can I say.