A View From Comic-Con: Costumes, Comics, Crowds

Every summer, Comic-Con brings together thousands of colorful and costumed fans for four days of pop-culture indulgence.

Not all of the action is confined to the San Diego Convention Center, where the 40th annual event opened Wednesday. Fans’ comic-infused enthusiasm spills into the streets of downtown San Diego, where the hottest accessory in town is a pass to the sold-out event.

Here’s a peek at the scene from two reporters in the thick of it:

— A woman wearing a furry bunny suit and flip-flops is followed by a man carrying the costume’s oversized head.

— An armored alien-transport vehicle from the upcoming “District 9” film is parked outside the Marriott hotel.

— Seth Rogen is hardly noticed as he slips into the Hard Rock Hotel.