The great thing about Morgan Spurlock's latest documentary, Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope, is that you don't have to be some comic book fanboy with stacks of funnybooks up to your eyeballs(like yours truly) to get it. Spurlock, the innovative and fun loving documentary film maker behind investigative pieces like Super Size Me and The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, isn't trying to expose much of anything here. He just seems content to revel in the geeky pop culture goodness, and that's why this is undoubtedly his most fulfilling film to date.
That's not to say this is Spurlock's most insightful work, because clearly it isn't. At it's core, this is a celebration of all that the San Diego Comic-Con stands as now, and that is the holy Mecca for lovers of...well, anything pop culture related. Comic books, anime, role playing, you name it and it's there. But the event has also come to be a place of opportunity for many others, and besides highlighting the adults who walk around dressed up like Darth Maul or Sailor Moon, the main focus is on a handful of people who are relying on Comic-Con to change their lives.
There's the two wannabe comic books artists looking to impress an editor and hopefully get a job at a major publishing company. The harsh reality of the comic book industry is that maybe 1% of all art submissions gets approved and lead to careers, and Spurlock, who usually takes a tongue in cheek approach to even the most serious subjects, doesn't flinch away from the truth. The film also shows us a young, nerdy(we nerds can call one another that) couple attending the event, with the guy planning to pop the big question at a Kevin Smith Q&A. And then there's Holly, a remarkable costume designer who hopes to impress at the annual masquerade event with a dramatic re-creation of the Mass Effect video game.
By far the most intriguing story of all is that of Chuck, a veteran of the comic book retailer wars. As owner of Mile High Comics, the largest online retailer for comics, he counts on Comic-Con to get him through the year and turn a profit. While the bulk of the film is basically one big nerdgasm, Chuck's story presents the simple truth of the comic book industry and it's relation to San Diego Comic-Con, and that's that the industry is dying and those who run the event don't seem to notice or care. Comic-Con has become about much more than comic books now, and as the seller booth dwindles and fewer people show up, more and more retailers like Chuck are falling by the wayside.
For those who have watched Comic-Con grow basically at the expense of the comic book industry, Chuck's storyline may be a bit of a downer, but you'll instantly feel better when icons like Kevin Smith, Eli Roth, and Joss Whedon start sharing the crazy experiences they've had that can only happen at a place like Comic-Con. Smith, in particular, seems especially in tune with what makes the attendees tick, for they make up a sizable portion of his fan base. Oh, and of course there's Stan Lee, the unquestioned king of all things Marvel Comics, looking spry and boisterous as ever.
Unlike Spurlock's other movies, he keeps himself out of the camera, choosing to simply be an observer and not a participant. Plenty of other directors, some very high profile documentary film makers, would have tried to become the focus in some way and been totally out of place in that environment. If anything, this proves Spurlock's growth that he knows when to back away, and let the guys in the Stormtrooper outfits run the show.
