First off, I have to give Phoenix Comicon 2012 a slow clap for a second…

::clap:: … ::clap:: … ::clap::

Thursday nights are supposed to be calm, chill, a “preview night,” if you will (I won’t). Last night was anything but. It was busy, it was fun.

Well done, PHXCC.

The Phoenix Ultimate Geek Smackdown started things off right, with some epic battles, almost completely filling up one of the larger panel rooms – three rooms combined, really. The feedback we got after the event was amazing. Some folks said they hadn’t laughed that hard in a long time. Those who attended may have a few new inside jokes about The Wrath of Khan’s Nipples.

Bob Leeper sat in the front row and apparently took crazy detailed notes, if you want to see the questions and results.

Tonight is the conclusion at 7:30, room 121! There can be only one champion.

Okay, here are some of our shots from Thurdsay:

Stacey from Dream Photography Studios is helping Darby and I with photos this weekend. She’s incredible!

This weekend, Arizona starts Phoenix Comicon, rocks out with Muppets, and records some big podcasts.

The wait is over, and the madness is upon us.

Thursday, May 24th

Want a taste of what this weekend may have in store for you?

My wife is the (brilliant) photographer ’round these parts, and she was gracious enough to join me for a little bit at last year’s Phoenix Comicon and take some pics.

(She’ll be with me a lot more this year since we’re pawning off our kids for most of the weekend. Woo hoo!)

These pictures can give you an idea of the scope of this event, if you’ve never been – and hopefully bring back some memories if you have.

Enjoy some of her shots of the main floor, some costumes, and the Geek Prom:

Most of us will be going to PUGS, the Star Trek TNG  Panel, and The Geek Prom this weekend. And few things will be able to make me skip Phil LaMarr on Friday. (Sorry Worf).

But one of my favorite things about Phoenix Comicon is breaking away from things I already know I’ll enjoy, and exploring the truly fascinating, the unarguably weird, and the obscenely obscure nooks and crannies found deep within the programming available.

Here are seven panels / events I found that piqued my interest, or made me laugh:

BLOOD CURDLING SCREAM WAR – ROUND 1

SATURDAY: 9:00PM – 10:00PM Location: 131A

• If the description for this event is to be believed, then this is exactly what it sounds like.
• A screaming war… for an hour!
• And this is just round 1! There are 2 rounds of nerds screaming at each other!

BEING NERD IN THE WORKPLACE

SUNDAY: 4:30PM – 5:30PM Location: 130

• “Is it cool to bring you legos to work? Can you put being a Dungeon Master on your resume?”
• Can these questions be definitively and universally answered in a panel?
• Also, did they mean being A nerd, or being Nerd? If so, who is Nerd?! Argh, I must know!

DRAMATIC FANFIC READING

A GLITCH IN YOUR SYSTEM

FRIDAY: 7:30PM – 8:30PM Location: 227BC

• Some glitches have become the stuff of gamer legend.
• (Oh hey, thanks for this sweet item, Diablo! I’m just going to go ahead and dupe that now.)
• Learn about and see some of the most famous glitches in history.

ASCENDING TO THE ISS

SATURDAY: 4:30PM – 5:30PM Location: 124B

• Listen to someone talk about being a finalist in NASA’s astronaut program?
• Yes, thank you.
• (I’m a bit of a space nut.)

IN SPACE, NO ONE CAN HEAR YOU SAY ARRRR!

SUNDAY: 10:30AM – 11:30AM Location: 124A

• So, when humanity finally starts moving around out there in space, you know we’re going to have space pirates, right?
• Might as well get ready now.
• I will stand up and walk out if they don’t talk about Ice Pirates. (And Metroid, obviously.)

This weekend, Arizona laughs at zombies, plays tons of video games, and does super-hero roller derby.

Time to poke boredom in the eyes and sidle out the front door, Zoidberg style.

(Whoop-whoop-whoop whoop!)

Thursday, May 17th