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All event and program rooms have limited capacity as set by the Fire Marshal. Even though your badge is needed to get into all events, it does not guarantee you access to any event if it has reached its capacity. We do not clear rooms between events. Most autograph signings are of a limited nature. Your badge does not guarantee autographs at any event.

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HBO's True Blood Presents the Comic-Con Masquerade

Photo of the late Robert A. Heinlein from 1977

What's In A Name?

A brief history of the
Robert A. Heinlein
Blood Drive

For science fiction fans, few names were as stellar as Robert A. Heinlein. From Star Ship Troopers to Stranger in a Strange Land, Heinlein was the dean of SF writers. Unfortunately, he rarely attended conventions, so his readers had few opportunities to meet the master in person.

Then in the early 1970s, Heinlein had a life-threatening illness and needed many pints of a rare blood type. He felt he owed his life to the donors, so when asked to be a guest at the 1976 World Con in his hometown of Kansas City, he agreed-but with one specific stipulation: that he would only sign autographs for people who donated blood.

Thus longtime Comic-Con committee member Jackie Estrada approached the author with an offer to hold a blood drive in San Diego if he would consent to being a guest. He agreed, and in 1977 Heinlein came to Comic-Con. He and his wife, Ginny, had a great time and Heinlein even drew a picture for the Sunday morning Art Auction.

"David Scroggy [now a Vice President at Dark Horse Comics] was the first blood drive coordinator," recalls Estrada. "We also had Theodore Sturgeon there signing his book, Some of Your Blood, which he gave to all of the blood donors. We also had entertainment for the people while they were [donating blood]. I remember that Leslie Cabarga played the piano, C. C. Beck played the guitar. It was a very fun event and Robert was delighted. We've had the blood drive every year since."

Robert A. Heinlein Blood Drive

Comic-Con's Robert A. Heinlein Blood Drive returns for its 34th big year in 2010. Our blood drive is San Diego Blood Bank's longest-running blood drive, and has collected a staggering 8,736 pints of blood over the last 33 years.

Everyone involved with the Blood Drive would like to thank Diamond Select Toys for their generous donation of exclusive toys, which helped make last year's event Comic-Con's most amazing success ever. We'd also like to thank all the exhibitors who donated so many fantastic raffle prizes for our daily drawings.

To all those who gave blood we want to express the biggest thank you of all! The San Diego Blood Bank tells us more than 2,200 lives were saved because of your compassion and generosity.

The growth of our blood drive over the years has been phenomenal. The Robert A. Heinlein Blood Drive began at San Diego Comic-Con back in 1977. That first year 148 pints of blood were collected, and as the convention has grown so has our blood drive. In 2010 you donated an incredible 1,198 pints of blood.

You can be a part of this year's Robert A. Heinlein Blood Drive. The Blood Drive opens at 9:00 am Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and at 10:00 am on Sunday. Sign up at the Blood Drive desk (upstairs in the Sails Pavilion near the Freebie Table). It only takes about 45 minutes of your Comic-Con day to save a life or two!