For about 4 or 5 years there has been a Comic Con in NYC at the Jacob Javitts Center. Every year it is a ridiculous, crazy circus of sights and sounds. Truth be told I have few criticisms of the Con or those who run it. Trying to contain, organize and herd hundreds or even thousands of people is no small task. Every year is seems that the Con has learned from the year before and has improved upon itself.
The only true criticism I have is that of space. there never seems enough. I am not sure this is due to the Con itself or the Javitts Center. I am waiting for the year though where an entire half if not more is completely dedicate to the Con, with no other venues occurring at the same time.
My other criticism of the Con, would have dealt with educational panels. As of the past Con though, this is no longer an issue. the February '09 Con people had plenty of excellent educational panels for people looking to break into comics. thus transforming Comic Con for some, into more of an educational event then a geek-tastic orgy.
Those are all the criticisms I have about the Con itself, but not all the criticisms I have about the Con. the rest of my criticism has more to do with the people there.
I have often said that one thing that I love about Comic Con is that I am easily one of the most socially adjusted individuals there. Often you will look around and see people that clearly have not left the basement since the last Con. That's fine, what isn't is that they might not have showered since the last Con as well. more often then not i am walking down an aisle in the Con and my nostrils are drop kicked by an odor that no human should have to stand. Mentally I am screaming "It's called deodorant! Buy some!" of course I remain civil, hold my breath and move along to a B.O. free zone.
Another thing that drives me up a wall are fan boys that stop in the middle of an aisle. Get out of the way! GET OUT OF THE WAY! Yes, that action figure of Namor, The Sub-Mariner is cool, but that is no reason to park yourself in the middle of the aisle when dozens of people want to get some where. of course it always happens to be the guy who is 6 foot 5 and as wide as a house. The urge to kick out their leg is sometimes almost too overwhelming to stifle. Its a simple concept, if you see something you want to look at further, move to the side.
Anyway, those are my problems with Comic Con. they could all be easily solved if 3 things are done. 1, get more space. 2, hand out Axe or somebody spray to those in need. Shouldn't be hard. get a couple of models down there with a ton of free samples and hand them out to the line. 3, instruct the crowd of proper traffic etiquette. Do these 3 things and my con experience will be even more amazing.