Review: The chic of geek
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 20, 2011
Before reading Douglas Wolk's Comic-Con Strikes Again I'd always assumed that the annual confab in San Diego was a bit like the cantina scene in Star Wars. News coverage of the event tended to focus on its more "colorful" aspects: costumed participants channeling their favorite comic book, sci-fi and/or super hero movie characters. Likewise, the coverage in publications like Entertainment Weekly focused on the celebrity aspect, panel discussions on television shows and movies, and the buzz about coming attractions.But Wolk goes those sources one better. He goes beyond the stereotypes and the hype to cover not only what Comic-Con is, but what it means and how it affects the entertainment industry. Rather than take the easy route and laugh at the "geeks" who attend the event as so many media do, Wolk offers insight into fan culture and a bit of an overview of its history.From its humble beginnings forcusing only on comic books and artists four decades ago to the essential showcase that can make or break new films and television shows, Comic-Con has become - whether most of us are aware of it or not - a major player in determining what becomes part of our modern culture. Wolk has done the rest of us (who may not have picked up a comic book in years or who have no idea who Janga Fett is) a service in providing a clear-eyed look at an major annual event that plays a role in making pop culture pop.