Comic-Con Kicks Off With Action-Packed Preview Night!

First Published: July 12, 2012 11:54 AM EDT Credit: Getty Images

Caption Crowds begin to descend upon San Diego for Comic-Con 2012!

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- The lines outside the San Diego Convention Center were almost as long as the ones inside as Comic-Con guests queued up to collect freebies and collectibles during the four-day festival’s preview night.

The 43rd annual Comic-Con International pop-culture convention officially begins Thursday, but those with four-day passes got a peek at the convention-center floor Wednesday night.

Fans swarmed the massive space, filling their oversized convention tote bags with free souvenirs and limited-edition toys available only at Comic-Con. Meanwhile, others camped out on the grass near the convention center to be first in line for popular presentations, like ones dedicated to the final “Twilight” installment and the popular book “Fifty Shades of Grey,” planned for Thursday.

Comic-Con continues through Sunday.

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