Photos by Chris Stone

What would Shakespeare make of Comic-Con? One could only only imagine Act II, Scene VII of “As You Like It” with a modern-day Jaques telling Duke Senior:

All the Gaslamp Quarter’s a stage,
And all the Star Wars villains and heroines merely cosplayers;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one Darth Vader in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first, Anakin Skywalker,
Mewling and puking in Emperor Palpatine’s arms.
Then the whining Padawan, with his satchel
And shining lightsaber, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the Jedi Knight,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a Sith Lord,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the Dark Force reputation
Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the Emperor’s aide,
In fair round belly with good helmet lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slippered pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank, and his big James Earl Jones voice,
Turning again toward his son Luke, pipes
And wheezes in his mask. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is spurning the Dark Side and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

Carolyn Michelson (left) and Callie Neilson of San Diego on bridge overlooking Comic-Con at the San Diego Convention Center.
Captain America is Alek Pilman of Chicago on bridge overlooking Comic-Con at the San Diego Convention Center.
Rachel Long and Natalie Dai on bridge overlooking Comic-Con at the San Diego Convention Center.
John Pollio (left) and Cary Lee of Redwoon City on bridge overlooking Comic-Con at the San Diego Convention Center.
Spidey is Sam Conley of Montebello on bridge overlooking Comic-Con at the San Diego Convention Center.
Superdog crossing bridge to Comic-Con at the San Diego Convention Center.
Sarah Nipwoda of Baltimore in the Gaslamp Quarter.
Superwoman Catherine Usery outside Comic-Con at the San Diego Convention Center. Photo by Chris Stone
Al Morillo of Granada Hills outside Comic-Con at the San Diego Convention Center.
Spooky horsemen outside Comic-Con at the San Diego Convention Center.
Dressed for excess outside Comic-Con at the San Diego Convention Center.