So you want to meet Stan Lee: A handy guide to the pop culture con experience

Keep calm, and we’ll tell you everything you need to know to get to meet the celebs and get the most out of your next pop culture convention! Above: A bird's eye view of last month's Tokyo Comic Con. Photos: Mikhail Lecaros

When Comic Con Asia was first announced last year, it wasn’t exactly groundbreaking news.

Over the last three years, the number of so-called “world-class” pop culture events in Manila had been on the rise, complete with merchandise, exhibits, cosplayers, and celebrity guests.  And not just any celebrity guests, we’re talking international stars of film and television.

But where Toy Con 2016 had “Game of Thrones’” Hodor, and AsiaPOP Comicon 2017 had members of the “Stranger Things” cast and “Justice League’s” Cyborg, it remained to be seen what Comic Con Asia could possibly be bringing to the table to justify yet another geek gathering on the calendar.

Earlier this month, Philippine geeks got their answer via a single word posted on the Comic Con Asia Facebook page—“Excelsior.”

Within minutes, the local community was abuzz. Could it be? Could it actually happen? Sure, “Excelsior” was comic book legend Stan Lee’s motto, but surely, this was too good to be true. Could the man who created Spider-Man, Iron Man, the X-Men, the Avengers, and the Fantastic Four actually be coming to Manila?

Two days later, at an official Comic Con Asia press conference, the announcement fans had been waiting to hear was made: The stars had aligned, and Stan “The Man” Lee, all of 95 years young, would indeed be coming to Manila for the event on March 24-25.

Given the popularity (and profitability) of Lee’s creations at the global box office since the release of 2005’s “Iron Man”—to say nothing of his cameos in each film—it seems as though the organizers of Comic Con Asia are seeking to attract an audience beyond the usual con goers.

Fortunately, with the rise of American-style cons, there’s no shortage of references from around the region to let first-time attendees reasonably know what they’re in for.

Just last month, this writer attended Tokyo Comic Con, where Lee was the guest of honor, alongside Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and a host of popular actors, including Mads Mikkelsen (“Casino Royale,” “Rogue One”), Karl Urban (“Star Trek,” “Thor Ragnarok”), Nathan Fillion (“Firefly,” “Castle”),and Michael Rooker (“Guardians of the Galaxy,” “The Walking Dead”).

So just what does it take to get an autograph and/or a photo with these people? And what else is there to see or do at these conventions?

Get your tickets and plan around the schedule

Fans peruse art prints for sale at Tokyo Comic Con's Artist Alley.

I can’t stress this enough, but believe me when I say you’ll want to get your tickets early! If you want to meet the big-name celebrities, pose for a photo, or get an autograph, all of those things will require separate tickets from the one that gets you in the door.

While some fans in Tokyo got lucky and caught selfies with “Guardians of the Galaxy’s” Michael Rooker while he toured the convention floor, event staff (and bouncers!) generally won’t allow fan photos beyond the official picture-taking times. At any rate, there’ll be a lot of events happening simultaneously, so be sure to check the schedules of who you want to meet and what you want to see, then plan accordingly!

There will be a lot to see, as major film studios, design houses, broadcasters, publishing firms, video game and toy manufacturers, and even major event sponsors like telcos will all have booths showing off their wares. Eager to catch your attention, there will be loads of toys, props, costumes (or replicas of said items), and artwork on display for you to admire and, in most cases, buy. Also, most booths will be handing out freebies, fliers, and promo items of some sort, so even if you don’t buy anything, you’ll never know what swag you might go home with!

Panels and previews

Panels from major studios and broadcasters are a great chance for fans to see previews of major films or hear from the people making and/or starring in them. Held at the same venue, these are usually held in rooms or halls blocked off from the hustle and bustle of the main convention floor.

At Tokyo Comic Con, we were treated to the world premiere of a jaw-dropping peek at the highly-anticipated sequel, “Pacific Rim: Uprising,” which had the whole crowd pumped up for another round of super robots VS giant monster action.  Who knows what we might be seeing at Comic Con Asia?

Artist alley

At Artist Alley, you can commission art, buy prints, or even chat with your favorite artists.

Artist Alley is always fun, as you get to interact with the folks who make some of your favorite comics, as well as check out the works of up-and-comers. Here, you can buy prints, commission art, or even chat up the artists in a casual setting that doesn’t require the purchase of another ticket.

Tokyo Comic Con’s Artist Alley was a mix of local and foreign talent from mainstream and online media, including the likes of Iron Man artist Adi Granov, illustrator Stanley “Artgerm” Lau, and “Sad Chewie” webcomic creator Luke McGarry, all of whom were happy to meet with fans and show off their skills.

Convention-exclusive merchandise

The Marvel booth at Tokyo Comic Con. Major studios, design houses, publishers, and toy manufacturers have their latest offerings on display.

A relatively new addition to the Philippine convention scene is event-exclusive merchandise. We’re not talking about even T-shirts or lanyards, we’re talking about merchandise and collectibles that are only available at the event itself, the sort of stuff that collectors in other countries salivate over and wish they could make the trip over to buy. Many toy manufacturers have gotten in on the game, as seen from these figures (from Hong Kong-based Hot Toys) that were only made available to Japanese collectors at Tokyo Comic Con.

Cosplayers

Cosplayers are always happy to have their photos taken if you ask nicely. Group cosplay can lead to creative photo ops.

Most events of this sort will feature attendees in costume, and Tokyo Comic Con was no different: From lightsaber-wielding Jedi to themed group cosplays, fans came dressed to the nines to pay homage to their favorite characters and franchises. And while most cosplayers will be happy to pose for photos if you ask nicely, be sure to keep everything safe and family-friendly!

Celebrity autographs and photo ops

Don't be intimidated by long lines. As long as you have your celebrity autograph or photo op ticket, you'll get there!

And now, finally, the moment you’ve all been waiting for! Having paid for your photo or autograph session beforehand, you’ll need to present proof of purchase and line up at the designated area. Don’t be intimidated by a long line—the process is generally quick and efficient, with event staff keeping everyone moving to ensure everyone gets their time with the celebs. You won’t be allowed to take stolen shots of the celeb while you’re in line, but that’s ok, you’ve already paid for your professional shot with them!

Now, the actual session doesn’t last more than a few seconds, so figure out your pose ahead of time! Once you leave the photo-taking area, you’ll be able to claim a print of your picture, along with an option to buy a download of the actual high-res file.

For autograph sessions, you’ll be able to have the celebrity sign anything you wish (within reason), but sadly, personalized dedications aren’t allowed. In the case of Stan Lee, members of his staff will have a booth just outside the autograph area, offering to certify his signature with a hologram sticker and numbered certificate.

Beyond the nostalgia

Beyond the pop culture nostalgia trip, this kind of experience is nothing short of priceless.

Now that you’ve got a feel for the modern pop culture convention, you have everything you need to make the most of your time. Of course, some of you may be wondering why anyone would go to this kind of trouble for a photo and/or a signature, and from a purely practical standpoint, you’d be somewhat justified.

But for fans who may have had their lives touched in any sort of way by the works of Lee or others like him, the ability to share and immortalize even a few moments with someone you’d only ever known on a page or on a screen—this kind of experience is nothing short of priceless, and one well worth the effort. — BM, GMA News