http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/7/26/52129/3039 Aaaah, July in San Diego.  The perfect waves for breaking out the fun - and fishboards.  The evenings to watch Sea World work through their <a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060825/news_7m25kaboom.html">leftover July 4th stock</a> of fireworks.  And at the end of the month, you can drop the cool attitude, team up with all the other geeks across America, and go get your nerd on at - no, not <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/shotlivephoto/sets/72157600830186931/">Over the Line< en-us Fri, 27 Jul 2007 08:56:19 EST Tue, 7 Aug 2007 13:31:28 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/7/26/52129/3039#14 Another few good ones that I just thought of: <ul> <li><a href="http://avexmovie.jp/lineup/claymore/">CLAYMORE</a> (still being broadcast, a lot of reviews I've read have claimed it's the best anime of 2007, and compare it favorably to Berserk). <li><a Tue, 7 Aug 2007 13:31:28 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/7/26/52129/3039#13 One in the Gantz line that you might like is a one shot short movie called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_leaves">Dead Leaves</a>. It's very frenetically paced, with some interesting art and animation. Berserk is pretty much one of a kind, un Sun, 5 Aug 2007 12:30:56 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/7/26/52129/3039#12 On the balance, I'd say I liked <i>Gantz</i>. The premise was pretty interesting, and they kept a good sense of sick humor. I can see what people mean by exploitative, but I think that anyone who liked the <i>Heavy Metal</i> would like <i>Gantz</i>, and Sat, 4 Aug 2007 15:17:02 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/7/26/52129/3039#11 It doesn't look like it <a href="http://www.marvelmasterworks.com/library_essentials.html">quite yet</a>, but thanks for the offer.  I've got about 4 feet of reading to do at the moment anyways. Thu, 2 Aug 2007 15:42:17 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/7/26/52129/3039#10    I think that the book is out, but IIRC, it was only in B&W. If I see another copy I'll drop you a PM; with my discount (half off of half off), I think I could get a copy and ship it to you for around $7. Of course, someone has to bring it Tue, 31 Jul 2007 22:48:47 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/7/26/52129/3039#9 T-Shirt worn: Commemorating the Don Hertzfeldt short <i>Billy's Balloon</i>. <br><br>Sundays tend to be the least interesting for me, panel-wise. I showed up for the San Diego Museum of Art's panel, because I was curious to see what they would talk ab Mon, 30 Jul 2007 05:00:29 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/7/26/52129/3039#8 I could have sworn I finished my summary of Day 3 this morning, but it's not in this thread.  Well, here's a shorter version:<p> Went to another Comics Arts Conference panel, this one on the value of comics as historical documents.  The speaker I Sun, 29 Jul 2007 20:55:44 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/7/26/52129/3039#7 <i># Boxed seasons of Berserk and Gantz, on the recommendation of a Japanese friend. I know as much about them as the Wiki pages.</i> <p> Berserk is quite good, but the anime doesn't wrap up the story line, so in some sense it's unfulfilling (especiall Sun, 29 Jul 2007 14:31:04 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/7/26/52129/3039#6 Having been through this a couple of times, I've developed a shopping strategy for ComicCon. To the uninitiated, realize the scale of the event. Last year there were 125,000 people and it took a good half-hour to walk from one side of the dealer room to th Sat, 28 Jul 2007 22:06:36 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/7/26/52129/3039#5 I'm trying to work on the theory that there's really only two days you should be buying stuff at Comic-Con.  Either Thursday, when you know you'll be able to find it <i>somewhere</i>, or Sunday, when you're betting that it'll still be there when selle Sat, 28 Jul 2007 12:48:22 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/7/26/52129/3039#4 T-Shirt worn:  Vintage <i>Milk and Cheese</i> shirt.<p> My digital camera has finally arrived in the mail, so I can show you guys some <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21482414@N00/sets/72157601051819464/">decent pictures</a> of what's going on h Sat, 28 Jul 2007 05:43:25 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/7/26/52129/3039#3 I spoke to a long-time convention goer who credits anime with making the con as big as it is.  Right now, I think about 40% of the floor is taken up by japanese culture in one form or another. Fri, 27 Jul 2007 14:37:10 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/7/26/52129/3039#2 T-Shirt worn:  <i>Comic Book Movie</i> promotional T-Shirt from 3 cons ago.<p> My secret parking spot for the downtown trolley is completely full, so I have to backtrack to the Fashion Valley lot and end up missing the first half of Sci-Fi author and Fri, 27 Jul 2007 14:35:33 EST http://www.treesandthings.com/story/2007/7/26/52129/3039#1 So, is Anime finally breaking into mainstream American culture? James Cameron is doing an adaptation of <a href="http://www.comingsoon.net/news.php?id=7877">Battle Angel</a>, <a href="http://www.salon.com/books/review/2007/07/26/death_note/">Death Note</a Fri, 27 Jul 2007 12:21:16 EST string http://www.treesandthings.com/search/