Usagi Yojimbo DojoBoard

hey everyone,
it's Joe again. i got a question about the comic-con. first off can you bring fake weapons there for your costume i thinking of bring my wooden broadsword. and about bring your ideas for a comic book series how many pages should it be and do you need to bring artwork with it too? well thanks again.

Actually, the odd thing about the SDCC is that you can carry REAL weopons around (swords and such, no firearms)... I know it sounds crazy, but they have vendors who sell all of those medieval/fantasy/Japanese swords and weoponry...of which I happen to be a collector of They are usually overpriced (with many of them blems) at the con, but that doesn't stop con goers from buying them...and wearing them with their costumes. I am very surprised the con has not regulated this, although I do know that many carry their weopons in sheaths and scabbards... I would contact them before bringning anything, as their policies could very well have changed since last year...

Another thing that is very popular are the Force FX and other "Lightsabers" out there...one company has even made a cool Darth Maul-style double-bladed lightsaber... awesome!!

You can bring your wooden sword, but believe me, everyone else will completely out do you!! especially those Klingons... with their "real" batleths!

You are "not supposed" to have real weapons.
While there are some that flaunt the rules, and some that get away with flaunting the rules, there is a no weapons policy. This is true at nearly all cons, though some are more flexible than others about enforcing it.
The San D ComicCon rules state it on their homepages and their booklets they send out or you can pick up in comic shops. Check the costume guidlines.

If you buy a real weapon from a vendor, they are supposed to wrap it up in plastic and tape, or a box, and you are supposed to leave the con and take it to your hotel room or car ASAP.

If security sees you have a real weapon, they can ask you to leave or maybe confiscate it. If you are getting carried away with a fake one, they will do the same thing.

Even with a fake weapon, I would suggest avoiding waving it about. Most true cosplay/costume fans make a fake weapon to avoid any risk of injury when wandering the con floor. Anyone could bump into you by sheer accident, due the crowds, and all the photo-taking that happens. And if you are wearing masks or a bulky costume this just increases the risk. It's not worth someone getting hurt.
I've seen some very nice replicas made of safe materials over my years of going to conventions.

If you enter the costume contest on Saturday night, the Masquerade, you are permitted real weapons if it falls in their guidelines for the time you are on stage.

You may disagree with me about a real weapon needing to be a part of your costume, but as a student of iado I have a distinct view of safety and respect with weapons, and as a part of a possible cosplay group next San D Con myself, I assure you I will be carrying safe fake weapons.

On the other hand, best wishes with your costume work! I enjoy seeing them all so much I am finally going to join my friends in their costume fun.

I believe facsimile weapons are supposed to be kept in their sheath or holster. To receive full information on the masquerade, including rules and entry forms, contact the con. You can do this through their website:

www.comic-con.org

Also, hotel reservations can be made from Jan 1, 2004. It is earlier this year than usual for some reason. If you're thinking of going, definitely make reservations early.

hey mr.sakai,
do you know what day your be in the comic con this year? i want to see you i think i'm going on the 22 of july. i'll talk the person who's taking me and see if we need advance tickets. well thanks again everyone. but i'm still wounding if it's ok to bring a wooden sword it will not hurt anyone. i just want to bring it because it's part of my outfit.

i'm still wounding if it's ok to bring a wooden sword it will not hurt anyone.

This seems a self-contradictory statement.

I can't help it. I'm a mean ol' English teacher.