The mega hype-fest and promotional giveaway bonanaza known as Comic-Con International 2008 in San Diego at the city’s Convention Center proved to the usual crowd-crush and panel line-waits, yet full sensory overload fun of Movies, Television, Video Games, Action Figures, Trading Cards, and – oh yes, the whole thing that started it – Comic Books.

By the end of the four days, July 24th-27th, Thursday-Friday (not counting a Wednesday night preview), it was hard to imagine anyone who wasn’t wiped out…but with a big smile on their face. Whether you were into Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Horror, Action, games, toys, comics, or all of it, there was something there for YOU…which is what truly makes Comic-Con a fanboy/girl’s Disneyland, no rides needed.

The irony is the smaller business comic book dealers, toy sellers, and such were placed in just one area of the massive exhibit hall – the center featuring the big guns of comics – DC and Marvel – plus major indies such as Dark Horse, Image, and Top Cow. But it was the booths run by Warner Brothers, Paramount, Fox and others that brought one-way paths and strict crowd control at times, as the throng (some 125,000 or so attending this year) made the grab for everything from posters and t-shirts, to DVDs and flash drive USBs (like the one that said “Stark Industries”).

If you wanted to make most major panels about film and TV programs, it meant camping out in line along the walls on the third floor of the Convention Center for an hour, 90 minutes, or maybe even longer. Buzzine tips its hat to all those dedicated fans and congratulates producers, writers, and actors for generating such loyalty. One giant draw was surely a preview of The Watchmen, based on the acclaimed graphic novel series of the mid-’80s, with a panel featuring the film’s director Zack Snyder and the comic’s original artist, Dave Gibbons. Writer/creator Alan Moore was MIA, however, having disassociated himself with the film, though based on the teaser material shown, many fans thought the movie well may be true to the source material (which usually results in the best comics-to-big-screen adaptations). Sunday’s close actually brought one of the more thought-provoking beyond comics-and-fantasy panels, with a meeting of the minds between prolific comics writer Grant Morrison and spiritualist doctor and writer Deepak Chopra. And of course there was so much more…which can all be summed up here.

What else was hot? Too much to even comprehend: Screenings of The Punisher: War Zone, the animated direct-to-DVD Wolverine vs. the Hulk, previews of the upcoming seasons of Heroes (cast members putting in an appearance at yet another cram-packed panel), and Supernatural (the actors causing a mob scene at the WB booth for autographs). Obviously, Star Wars-related talks were a big draw – especially a taste of the new CGI animated Clone Wars – as were some of the appearances by top comics creators. But who’da thunk theIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia panel would bring a huge line snaking around corners? Or a big wait on the exhibit hall floors for an autograph from the star of ABC Family Channel’s Kyle XY (heavily promoted at Comic-Con 2007, so watch out for their Samurai Girl next year)? Well done. For children especially, there were fun and games at Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network.

And oh that SWAG! Free orange jumpsuits, while they lasted, were handed out over the four days. The Warner Brothers booth was the only place handing out huge mesh bags (from Wonder Woman to WB.com, to Pushing Daisies to Smallville/Supernatural); Sci-Fi Channel’s purple “Big Frakkin’ Bag” was snatched up every few hours every day, as were huge Astro Boy bags from Imagi. Next year’s Star Trek may have not offered any new footage beyond the teaser trailer, but those four character posters that match up to form a Starfleet Delta sure were mighty popular, as was the “build-your-own-starship-making crew with scratch-off game cards to win special prizes. (”Uh, anyone have a Welder?” It seems those were rare.) Wave your hands in front of the Stargate at that TV franchise’s dedicated area, and you could win a t-shirt, poster, or DVD (while supplies last, of course).

Now Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon, who truly understands and appreciates his fans, was all over the place, from a raffle-ticket-only meet-and-sign to showcasing his upcoming Dollhouse TV program, to hosting a screening of his web series sing-a-long Dr. Horrible, though it was placed in a room that was much too small, so many were turned away. Still an organizaed contingent of Whedon fans, not himself, have found a wonderful way to end the convention with a second annual late Sunday afternoon sing-along to his landmark (and should have so won a special Emmy) Buffy the Musical episode from the famous TV series.

In the actual world of comics, Israeli cartoonist Rutu Modan won the Eisner Award for best new graphic novel for Exit Wounds, and art book/coffee table tome specialists Abrams introduced Abrams ComicArts. Late artist Michael Turner, recently taken by cancer, was paid tribute in various areas, including a booth dedicated to his work, such as Fathom, also selling his original art. One small comic book and action figure dealer was even donating part of his own profits on Turner items to a special fund. DC and Marvel artists and writers signed at the company booth, as did creative types at the other comic imprint sites too. There were old TV stars, such as Robert Culp and William Katt helping to launch a new Greatest American Hero comic, and chesty models administering lipstick temporary tats to promote Liongate’s The Spirit. At a small booth run by Rod Roddenberry, the son of late Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, you could sit in charge in Captain Kirk’s chair from the original NCC-1701 starship – truly free Enterprise! From erotic, adult art to actual comics for kids, this event remains the ultimate gathering and marketplace of imagination.

There were all sorts of connecting lines of legacy, even if not international, such as the small booth selling a hardcover of the collected art of Doc Savage ’60s-’70s paperback artist James Bama – a true photo-realist – and comics superstar Alex Ross, another realistic illustrator, selling his stunning original art for thousands of dollars at his much larger space.

The best buys for comics and graphic novels (both hardcover and paperback) and toys came on Sunday, with 50% off sales all over that dealer’s area, making it just as crowded in those smaller aisles as the movie-TV giveaways on the other side of the hall had been, usually in the first halves of each day.

And finally, let’s hear it for the brave and the bold who came in costumes: Groups of friends as Star Wars Stormtroopers or Bounty Hunters; a cadre of folks who came as Dr. Who from various eras one day and then ’60s TV icons in the form of the original Star Trek and Batman the next day. From obscure or lesser-known-to-the-mass-public superheroes and fantasy/sci-fi characters, to plenty of Heath Ledger-style Jokers from The Dark Knight, numerous Harley Quinns from the animated Batman series of the ’90s and comics as well, to Wonder Women of all ages, different Green Lanterns, Batmans from Adam West TV show look-a-likes to the movie varieties, Captain Americas, X-Men, Iron Man, Hogwarts students, an actual family as The Incredibles (nice!), plus various professional models/actors in costumes, working for the major companies. On Friday and Saturday especially, it looked as though almost every 1 in 15 or 30 persons was costumed…and proud of it, as it should be. That’s what Comic-Con is all about at its best and has always been about: That celebration of heroes and, yes, villains too. Sure, it’s great to come home with oodles of free stuff promoting films and television. But let’s never forget it all started with comic books and fans of all ages who continue to believe in that wonder.