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Comic-Con International => SDCC Exclusives, Floor, and Limited Editions => Topic started by: Vapors on July 06, 2022, 04:42:06 PM

Title: 2022 SDCC No Physical Souvenir Book and Daily Newsletter
Post by: Vapors on July 06, 2022, 04:42:06 PM
Per SDCC Unofficial Blog, no physical Souvenir Book for 2022. They did show off a Rocketeer cover for the digital publication. There is also promises of articles, pictures and retrospectives for various anniversaries and milestones just like in the past. Just no physical book

https://sdccblog.com/2022/07/san-diego-comic-con-2022-souvenir-book-cover-revealed-and-big-changes/

And I sadly get it. Of all the things the con provides guests, the souvenir book is probably the least appreciated. I always notice that once people pick up the book and realize its not a program guide or has any maps, a ton of folks dump it either on top of the garbage bins in the Sales or on some of the random tables there. Its pretty sad really since so much work must go into the book and its well put together with high quality standards. But I get it. Looks like another thing they are trying to cut down for expenses (and maybe due to supply chain issues, it was harder to get a printer to print all the books they need). Hopefully this is a one off year and not something they keep up, but I do feel like this may be a future thing they do unfortunately.

EDIT: Here is SDCC's official word too. https://comic-con.org/toucan/announcing-2022-comic-con-souvenir-book

Quote
This year’s Souvenir Book will be a downloadable pdf, filled with lots of full-color articles, including: centennial tributes to Charles Schulz, Stan Lee, Jerry Robinson, and William S. Gaines; a celebration of the 60th anniversary of Spider-Man; 50th anniversary articles on Funky Winkerbean, Ghost Rider, Kamandi, Swamp Thing, and Luke Cage; and 40th anniversary pieces on The Rocketeer, Groo, and Love and Rockets. Plus: a special look back at Comic-Con’s 1970s El Cortez years!

The cover, a salute to Dave Stevens’ Rocketeer, is by Comic-Con Special Guest Bill Morrison. Bill began his career painting movie posters, including many for Walt Disney, such as The Little Mermaid, Bambi, and The Jungle Book. He subsequently spent several years drawing The Simpsons for all kinds of merchandise, and writing, drawing, and editing The Simpsons and Futurama comics for Bongo Comics. Recently, Bill created a graphic novel adaptation of The Beatles' Yellow Submarine and was executive editor of MAD magazine.

EDIT 2: Retitled the thread name to include news of no Physical Daily Newsletter

https://comic-con.org/toucan/comic-con-newsletter-goes-paperless
Title: Re: 2022 SDCC No Physical Souvenir Book
Post by: Cut That Meat on July 06, 2022, 10:40:14 PM
Bummer. I do love my bookshelf of souvenir books. Hoping at the talk back panel, they won't rule out bringing back the physical version in future years.
Title: Re: 2022 SDCC No Physical Souvenir Book
Post by: hikanteki on July 07, 2022, 02:16:54 AM
This news is extremely disappointing, especially given how cool the cover is.
Title: Re: 2022 SDCC No Physical Souvenir Book
Post by: Michaelnaut on July 07, 2022, 03:41:32 AM
It makes sense, for all the points provided. I honestly would not be surprised if they stopped this going forward.  Maybe it'll be a 1-year thing? All I know is that if I was thinking about places to cut costs while still keeping the show, this'd be near the top of that list. And then anything paper.  They had the schedule printed on really thin newspaper-ish paper as well, yes? I be that's not gonna happen this year.
Title: Re: 2022 SDCC No Physical Souvenir Book
Post by: nootheroptions on July 07, 2022, 05:54:09 AM
I'll be honest, mine usually winds up in the trash.  I'd imagine there is a ton of paper waste with these and printing costs associated.  While I know some love to collect it, I get it just like I get why they didn't do pins this year (which I feel is the greater loss).
Title: Re: 2022 SDCC No Physical Souvenir Book
Post by: rabbitwarren on July 07, 2022, 06:21:38 AM
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I'll be honest, mine usually winds up in the trash.  I'd imagine there is a ton of paper waste with these and printing costs associated.  While I know some love to collect it, I get it just like I get why they didn't do pins this year (which I feel is the greater loss).

Yeah.  The books made great reading material when I was waiting in line and I didn't want to use up my juice, but it ultimately went in the trash on checkout day. 

Title: Re: 2022 SDCC No Physical Souvenir Book
Post by: Old Man Grey on July 07, 2022, 08:03:43 AM
Every day another announcement of the lessening of the con experience. R.I.P. Comic Con.
Title: Re: 2022 SDCC No Physical Souvenir Book
Post by: Michaelnaut on July 07, 2022, 08:11:30 AM
I wouldn't say less, it's just adapting to the times...who's to say if that's what they'll keep doing? Who knows...

This year's a test for them as much as it is for attendees...what worked...what didn't...how to address things...we'll see how it goes...
Title: Re: 2022 SDCC No Physical Souvenir Book
Post by: SteveD on July 07, 2022, 08:14:33 AM
So without having a physical Souvenir Program Book, will there still be a way of requesting free autographs in the Autograph Area this year?
It will be interesting to see what the new policy will be for those seeking autographs without the Souvenir Program Book.
Maybe a single personal item instead?

Title: Re: 2022 SDCC No Physical Souvenir Book
Post by: Transmute Jun on July 07, 2022, 08:16:38 AM
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So without having a physical Souvenir Program Book, will there still be a way of requesting free autographs in the Autograph Area this year?
It will be interesting to see what the new policy will be for those seeking autographs without the Souvenir Program Book.
Maybe a single personal item instead?

That's a really good point.

There should still be a printed program guide (IIRC, that is a separate book). Maybe that can be autographed for free?
Title: Re: 2022 SDCC No Physical Souvenir Book
Post by: nootheroptions on July 07, 2022, 09:30:58 AM
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I wouldn't say less, it's just adapting to the times...who's to say if that's what they'll keep doing? Who knows...

This year's a test for them as much as it is for attendees...what worked...what didn't...how to address things...we'll see how it goes...

I don't think it's a lessening.  Reduction of waste is not a negative.  What matters is what's on the floor and in the area.  At least IMO. 
Title: Re: 2022 SDCC No Physical Souvenir Book
Post by: Vapors on July 07, 2022, 12:13:27 PM
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I don't think it's a lessening.  Reduction of waste is not a negative.  What matters is what's on the floor and in the area.  At least IMO.

Agreed. I love the Souvenir Book but in all honesty, I read it once while in line on Preview Night or Day 1 and then that's it. It goes into my bin of prior Comic Cons and gets a glance once every few years at most. It probably would not surprise me if going forward, they elect to continue to make it a PDF if only to cut costs and environmental waste.
Title: Re: 2022 SDCC No Physical Souvenir Book
Post by: Transmute Jun on July 07, 2022, 12:36:26 PM
It sounds like there are some people who love it and some who barely look at it. Maybe they could compromise and print a small number, then offer it to anyone who asks.
Title: Re: 2022 SDCC No Physical Souvenir Book
Post by: semigeekgirl on July 07, 2022, 12:51:53 PM
Free would be lovely but they could also do a paper copy for, I don't know, $5ish and sell it with the SDCC merch.
Title: Re: 2022 SDCC No Physical Souvenir Book
Post by: Transmute Jun on July 07, 2022, 01:01:25 PM
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Free would be lovely but they could also do a paper copy for, I don't know, $5ish and sell it with the SDCC merch.

That's a good idea. Charge just enough to cover the printing costs.
Title: Re: 2022 SDCC No Physical Souvenir Book
Post by: hikanteki on July 07, 2022, 01:48:04 PM
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Free would be lovely but they could also do a paper copy for, I don't know, $5ish and sell it with the SDCC merch.

This is a good idea. A $5-10 cost would be reasonable while deterring people who have no use for it.

I liked to read through it while passing time in line, between panels, or during panels when I felt like I wanted a diversion that didn’t involve twiddling on my phone. It was also nice to read after the con at the hotel on Monday and at home the following weekend to mitigate PCD. For me it was one of the three physical pillars of the SDCC experience (the other two being the badge and the WB bag) — all of those from previous years I keep in a special
place, and the year I didn’t go (2015) I still went out of my way to acquire the souvenir book and bag, and I read the book to make me feel like I was still a part of it. Making the book PDF-only guarantees that I’ll never read any part of it.

I printed and bound the 2020 PDF and read it that weekend while navigating the virtual panels. It obviously was not as slick as the books during regular years but at the end it got an equal place with all my other books. Making it was fun, but it took a lot of time and resources. I don’t see myself doing this every year.
Title: Re: 2022 SDCC No Physical Souvenir Book
Post by: thewiredknight on July 07, 2022, 01:49:06 PM
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That's a good idea. Charge just enough to cover the printing costs.

I would pay for this as well.  I like having them in my collection of Con programs and usually enjoy spending time looking at it in line for panels or for Preview night to open.  I particularly enjoy the sections of commemorative artwork for whatever comic anniversary it is.
Title: Re: 2022 SDCC No Physical Souvenir Book
Post by: Vapors on July 11, 2022, 02:14:48 AM
Kinda scrolling through the Comic Con website, I caught this on the Toucan Blog. This apparently got buried under the Thursday program announcement, but there will now no longer be any physical Daily Newsletter. It's all digital now.

No word on whether the regular Program Guide and Maps will go full digital as well (TBD), but given the direction everything seems to be going, this would not surprise me if they did so. Kinda sucks, but again, seems like a move to cut costs and maybe help the environment as well.

https://comic-con.org/toucan/comic-con-newsletter-goes-paperless

PS, I have also changed the title of this thread now.
Title: Re: 2022 SDCC No Physical Souvenir Book and Daily Newsletter
Post by: Old Man Grey on July 11, 2022, 08:24:25 AM
I rely on that guide and its grid schedule. What's next. No badges, just a barcode on your forehead?