Every once in a while we hear about a protest outside of Comic-Con by some fringe (not to be confused with Fringe) group with some anti-something issue, but this year there is a protest planned for inside the Con. As we told you in the beginning of June, DC Comics is planning a reboot of all of their series to begin at the end of August. Some fans are not pleased with these plans, and have therefore scheduled a “Walk to protest against the new awful designs” scheduled for Saturday, July 23 from 2-3pm.
Here’s what it says on the event’s Facebook page:
Are you utterly baffled, disappointed and just ANGRY to see how DC ruins your favorite character’s design and wipes decades of comic history out of the mainstream universe? Well, you’re not alone!
And why not make some noise at the biggest pop-culture event this year, where creators, artists and writers appear in person – show them how fans – the fans of the classic characters, the (nevertheless slightly changing) designs, the character’s history and personality – really feel about it!
San Diego Comic Con 2011: DC Original Characters Protest Walk!
The page also states that this protest walk is in corporation (sic) with the Harleypalooza event, “a meet ‘n’ greet session for all Harley Quinn and Joker cosplayers.” That page states:
*UPDATE*
In response to DC Comics releasing the awful ‘redesign’ of Harley Quinn last week, a few of us have been discussing making part of Harleypalooza a little protest against it!
So! Bring your signs and posters proclaiming your displeasure!
PLEASE: no swear words, abusiveness or insults – remember SDCC is a family-friendly event and inappropriate signage will not go over well with con officials! They may confiscate or ask you to leave!
Since most people spend their Con time either in a line, in a panel, or on the crammed Exhibit Hall floor, it’s difficult to say where such a march would be most effective, and in fact both pages state that the place is “to be determined.” The Harleypalooza event is scheduled for 12-2pm, immediately preceding the protest walk, so it’s possible that we’ll be seeing four hours of protest.
Or none. One thing you learn quickly when attending Comic-Con is that you have to be flexible and allow for schedule changes, long lines, chance sightings of celebrities, and the ever-present OOOO-LOOK-AT-THAT-ness that is The Con.
Which was part of the reason that a counter-protest is now being planned:
Are you utterly baffled, disappointed and just CONFUSED to see how some DC fans are reacting to the changes in their favorite character’s design before they’ve actually read the comic in question? Well, you’re not alone!
And why not make some noise at the biggest pop-culture event this year, where obsessives, compulsives and comic book guys appear in person – show them how people who just read the comics for fun really feel about it!
San Diego Comic Con 2011: DC Original Characters Protest Protest Walk!
According to organizer Rich Johnston in his Bleeding Cool post:
There are currently 221 people maybe attending this protest. Which, considering most won’t actually be going to the San Diego Comic Con, may get down to around sixty people who actually might join the protest. So far.
And it’s just not enough. There will be more people in the zombie march, more people queuing outside Dick’s Last Resort, more people fighting with light sabres, more people crossing the tracks at any given time. Sixty people means squat at Comic Con. DC would really like more people to make a fuss.
Unless… there’s a counter protest.
Think about it, there were about four or five members of the Westboro Baptist Church protesting Comic Con. But hundreds protesting the protest, including yours truly. And that got coverage and I found myself on Fox News in the process.
Think about it. One bunch of fans protesting, another bunch of fans protesting in the other direction. That’s conflict, that is. That gets coverage. And that will get Dan Didio rubbing his hands.
Maybe they could have banners like READ THE COMIC BEFORE YOU CONDEMN IT, HARLEY QUINN DESERVES TO GET A TAN or GIVE SCOTT LOBDELL ANOTHER BOOK!
Well, if anything comes of any of this, SciFi Mafia will let you know. Unless we miss it because we’re standing in line or LOOK IT’S STAN LEE!!!!!
