Comic-Con 2012: Let the swag giveaways begin!

In a few days several hundred thousand people will be hopping onto planes headed to San Diego for yet another stab at Comic-Con. Tension is mounting, as the complete SDCC programming schedules and exhibit floor maps are now available online, the really cool people on Twitter are fanning the fanbase flames, and anxious ticket holders are busy scouring the web this weekend for any last-minute announcements of events to add to their SDCC “Must See” lists. There simply won’t be enough time in only four days of the convention (five, if you count Preview Night) to do everything that an attendee might desire to do, but you can bet they’ll be giving it a darn good try.

Some of the swag being handed out at this year’s con may definitely be worth standing in those long lines to pick up. Warner Bros. gives away some of the best stuff, and every attendee will once again receive one of their huge, colorful body-sized bags. Returning SDCC con-goers know that these much sought after extra-large totes are really too unwieldy to lug around in the always crowded convention floor, especially after a ton of collected freebies weigh them down, but a few creative types are sure to re-purpose them in unique ways.

Special editions of the WB-themed Comic-Con “TV Guide Magazine” will be available for free at the Warner Bros. booth (#4545). These feature programming from the Studio and four sets of collectible flip covers emblazoned with the casts of “Supernatural”, “The Vampire Diaries”, “Fringe”, and “The Big Bang Theory” on both the front and back covers. These were a big hit last year and certain covers are always extremely popular, so attendees who want all four versions should plan to pick them up early. The sure to be jam-packed “Supernatural” Screening and Q&A with series stars Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles is scheduled for Friday, July 13 from 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. in Hall H.

Marvel Studios will be handing out character posters (presumably at their booth #2329) of new “Iron Man 3” concept art painted by artist Ryan Meinerding, who helped design visuals for all of the recent Marvel movies. Previous character poster editions from the last two Comic-Cons were snapped up very quickly, so fans should take note!

“Dexter” fans will want to snag these swag bags that promote the upcoming seventh season, compliments of SHOWTIME. A “Dexter” panel is taking place at the con on Thursday, July 12 in Ballroom 20 from 6:00 p.m – 7:15 p.m.

A limited edition vintage-style poster depicting both David Boreanaz as Booth and Emily Deschanel as Brennan and special “X-ray” gloves touted as being able to let people to show off their inner skeleton will be giveaways at the Fox booth (#4313). Boreanaz and Deschanel will also be signing on Friday, July 13 at 3:00 p.m. at the Fox booth, immediately following their “Bones” panel (which runs from 1:45-2:45 in Ballroom 20).

These items are only a mere taste of the hundreds of Comic-Con giveaways that will be available next week. It’s practically guaranteed that airlines will see a spike in checked luggage soon afterward as returning attendees try to haul home all of their freebies, but collecting swag is just part of the crazy fun of the largest multi-genre pop culture convention in the United States.