There are fewer things more empowering than being a crowd of people almost exactly like you. Comic conventions are almost like the gay pride parade with their feeling of community and acceptance. No matter how many times I go to conventions over the years (or Pride for that matter), that feeling never leaves me. That feeling is especially palpable on the first day. The first day of a convention is always a little less busy in terms of events and a little less crowded in terms of people, which makes it the perfect day to get the lay of the land. Here are some of my highlights from the first day of C2E2: