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If you haven't witnessed Spider-Man walking up Fifth Avenue in the Gaslamp Quarter in broad daylight, arm in arm with Blanka from "Street Fighter" on one side, and Gambit from "X-Men" on the other side, then you haven't lived. Come tomorrow, I want you to live, people. LIVE. Live, I say!

That's right, those of you hiding under a rock may not be aware that Comic-Con unleashes its four-day spectacle at the Convention Center, with celebrations and after-parties galore sprinkled about downtown, this Thursday thru Sunday. I love Comic-Con if only for two reasons: 1) the 125,000 people it brings to Downtown San Diego (and related spikes in business for our hotels, restaurants, etc.); and 2) witnessing tens of thousands of self-proclaimed geeks and nerds come together and bond like no other gathering could ever achieve.

Although all things comic, action, animated and fantasy never really defined my own geek-dom (I was more of a four-eyed, horseback-riding, Sweet Valley High book-reading inspiration for Judy Blume), I can appreciate a fellow geek's passions. And hey, if confirmed appearances by Angelina Jolie, Eva Mendes, Ryan Reynolds and a slew of other top celebs this week mean anything at all, they mean that being a geek has never been so hot.

Enjoy the festivities over the next four days, if only doing so means grabbing lunch in the Gaslamp on a sidewalk patio and doing some serious people-watching. Shoot me your favorite sightings. And anyone with proof of spotting a Spider-Man/Blanka/Gambit combo gets a special prize aside from feeling especially alive, that is! Because you will! Trust me.

Sarah Daoust

Senior Managing Editor

sarahd@944.com