Creators, promotionals, awards, and even more cosplay (photos)

More so than cosplayers, the ad is everywhere at Comic-Con. Publishers and studios rent out the backs of pedicabs, the sides of 30-story hotels, and even the inside of hotel elevators. This one reminds those trapped in the elevator that a second season of "The Walking Dead" is coming this October, as if the Con would ever let you forget that.

Enormous floppy bags that can double as makeshift backpacks are a modern staple of Comic-Con, handed out to all attendees when they pick up their badges and programs. It took only two days for these women to convert theirs into dresses, a walking embodiment of the convention.

Captain America as portrayed by Brendan McAnally, a 28-year-old Colorado Springs, Colo., resident who just moments before had proposed on stage at the Marvel Comics booth to Erin Redshaw, 29, also from Colorado Springs.

She accepted.

Dan DiDio, left, DC Comics' senior vice president/executive editor, and Jim Lee, right, co-chief creative officer at DC and fan-favorite artist, are two of DC's three-man brain trust behind the September relaunch of all its titles.

A multistory advertisement for the upcoming movie adaptation of the Cowboys and Aliens comic book dominates the Hilton, only one of many enormous movie ads dominating the San Diego Gaslamp District's skyline.

Artist Francesco Francavilla sketches at the DC Comics booth.

Marvel and DC Comics artist David Finch discusses with a moderator how he draws, while demonstrating his techniques to an audience through a projector.

Shannon Wheeler stabs himself in the neck with his Eisner award for Best Humor Publication, his book "I Thought You'd Be Funnier." Named for one of the most influential American comics creators, Will Eisner, the comic book equivalent of the Oscars also includes an award for a comics retailer that offers "outstanding support" for the comics community.

Comics creator Miriam Libicki shows off The Spirit of Comics Retailer Award, won this year by Israeli comics shop Comics and Vegetables. Her husband, Mike Yoshioka, stands on her left.

A few years ago, life-size or larger Lego statues of pop-culture characters were something of a novelty. But now at Comic-Con, it seems nearly every company with a booth has at least one. Still, somebody had to put all those pieces together in the proper order, right?

The view from the 22nd floor of the Hilton Bay View, next to the convention center, would indicate that San Diego offers more during Comic-Con than just a pop culture vortex.