The Best part of Comic Con, Nerd HQ, Operation Smile and Zachary Levi

Comic Con is over and I missed it again. Now you would think that I would be depressed because I missed this awesome convention. I mean one of the greatest reasons for going to any convention besides cosplay characters created by the fans are the panels of celebrities that come to talk about their shows, movies or projects. I definitely missed out on the live panels but thanks to The Nerd Machine and Nerd HQ started by Zachary Levi from Chuck fame, I saw many of my favorite stars on special panels created by Nerd HQ for their fans at the convention and those fans not able to attend Comic Con. They streamed the panels live and then posted them on You Tube and Nerd HQ. It was like being there live.Here is an example from the Dr. Who Panel. Set your video slide bar to 2:32.

Now, I have been following Zachary Levi and his friends from Nerd HQ and The Nerd Machine  for the past two two years but it has been around for three. I missed the first year.

So,… what is Nerd HQ?

For the past three years, Zachary Levi has masterminded Nerd HQ, an epic gathering for fans and celebrities to play games, buy merchandise, recharge their literal and metaphorical batteries and engage in "Conversations for a Cause" during Comic-Con weekend.

The coolest thing about Nerd HQ for fans has always been Conversations for a Cause. This venue offers fans a special kind of intimacy and interaction with their favorite celebrities. This year the event is held at Petco Park, the home baseball stadium of San Diego's Padres, and the bigger venue comes with more opportunities for geek goodness over the course of the weekend.

The venue holds 250 seats at a cost of about $20 which if every seat is filled comes to about $5000. This money goes to Operation Smile an international charity for children, made up of medical professionals and caring hearts who provide safe, effective reconstructive surgery and related medical care for children born with facial deformities such as cleft lip and cleft palate. The $5000 equates to about 20 surgery’s for children born with facial deformities such as cleft lip and cleft palate

Not only do you get an hour long panel with some of your favorite TV and Movie celebrities but your money goes to a great charity to help children. Here are the few panels I've seen so far.