The Kindness Superheroes outside the San Diego Convention Center.
Having Fun, Doing Good, at San Diego Comic-Con International
by Michelle "Ms. Geek" Klein-Hass
When you go to an event like San Diego Comic-Con International, the goal is usually to have fun, see panels that reveal news about your favorite geeky media, cosplay, and to get those Comic-Con exclusive collectibles.
Misha Collins as you usually see him...
However, there is more going on than just TV and Movie studios promoting their latest blockbusters, or Comic Book and manga publishers promoting their latest books. For Random Acts, a group of people organized by fan-favorite actor Misha Collins, (Castiel on the Supernatural TV Series) it's about getting people to think about how they can make a difference in the world and make their world better.
Outside the Gishbus, Random Acts volunteers show the aftermath of a whipped cream fight!
Random Acts spent the extended Comic-Con weekend running around doing several events. Some were conducted in conjunction with GISHWHES, the Greatest International Scavenger Hunt the World Has Ever Seen; and some were independent of this annual event which is also one of Collins' brainchildren. GISHWHES had their Gishbus on hand...this is a bus which will be driving across the country doing random acts of kindness.
Getting ready to face the protesters in front of Comic-Con.
In response to the sometimes rowdy and sometimes even insulting protests that go on every year, the Random Acts team counter-protested with signs encouraging kindness. A group of "kindness superheroes" also would show up randomly, unannounced, performing random acts of kindness.
The Random Acts team also helped local San Diego charities Community Resource Center, and San Diego Youth Services.
Finally, just before the Supernatural Hall H event on Sunday, Random Acts passed out granola bars to fortify the fans who had camped out for the panel overnight. This is a tradition which started with coffee for the fans two years ago, and pizza last year.
Collins even got into the act of throwing granola bars to the hungry lined up fans.
A personal note: TOKYOPOP Marketing heroine Kae Winters is a part of this organization, and we are happy to support her efforts. It's a very worthwhile endeavor, as you can see if you visit the Random Acts website at http://www.randomacts.org/ .
