By Nathan Cosby
[Editor’s note: It’s always somebody’s first time. As a veteran of 20+ San Diego Comic-cons, The Beat is hopelessly jaded. But for people going for the first time, it’s either a dream come true, or a job to be done. Or both. To get a handle on the human experience behind the hype, we’ve asked three first time San Diego con-goers to share their experiences with us. Meet Nate C., writer, editor, raconteur. ]
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NATE: mmh’lo?
THE BEAT: NATE COSBY?
NATE: it’s 4 ‘n th’ frgn mornin
THE BEAT: SORRY. WE ARE ALWAYS UP.
NATE: we…?
THE BEAT: WE ARE THE BEAT. THE NEWS BLOG OF COMICS CULTURE.
NATE: Why do you sound like more than one person?
THE BEAT: WE ARE A HIVEMIND, MADE OF LIKE-MINDED COMIC BOOK AFICIONADOS BOUND TOGETHER IN THE PURSUIT OF TOTAL ANALYSIS OF THE WRITTEN WORD PAIRED WITH THE DRAWN IMAGE.
NATE: So there’s like…twenty of you talking to me in unison right now?
THE BEAT: ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN.
NATE: Oh. Uh…what’s up?
THE BEAT: WE HAVE LEARNED THAT YOU ARE ATTENDING THE COMIC BOOK CONVENTION OF SAN DIEGO THIS YEAR, AND THAT THIS WILL BE YOUR FIRST TIME ATTENDING.
NATE: Uh-huh.
THE BEAT: WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO CATALOGUE YOUR EXPERIENCES DURING THE CONVENTION, AND GIVE US A BEHIND-THE-SCENES PERSPECTIVE OF PROJECTS YOU ARE ANNOUNCING. YOU WILL WRITE AN ENTRY A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE CON, AND THEN UPDATE US DURING THE CON.
NATE: But there’s 137 of you. Why do you need me?
THE BEAT: WE CAN’T GO. WE HAVE A DOG. KENNELING IS EXPENSIVE.
NATE: Right. Well, sure. I’m announcing a few things and –
THE BEAT: WHATEVER. WE’VE GOTTA GO. DC JUST ANNOUNCED A NEW KITE MAN RELAUNCH.
NATE: Oh. Ok, b-
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Nate Cosby was an editor at Marvel Comics for a while. He left and writes stuff for Image (like Pigs with Ben McCool!) and Archaia (like Jim Henson’s Storyteller!) and other stuff (you’ll find out in San Diego!). He still edits stuff a little (like Jim Henson’s Storyteller and Immortals: Gods & Heroes!) and sorta works in TV. He’s bald.
Hmm, the Ultimate Comic-Con Virgin Summer Event Crossover.
For example, Ali tells us that she has phoned her convention hotel approximately 137 times since September. Now, courtesy of Nathan, we read that the hive mind consists of 137 of you.
This is getting good!
Hmm. Ex-Big Two editor, Friend-of-BEAT (and past and present? NYCer) going to SDCC to catalogue his experiences there?
Color me intrigued…