Comic-Con is the mecca for everything nerd – where fanboys and girls flock to see their favorite heroes, super or ordinary. The more stage makeup and props to the outfit, the more popular the geek. 

And this year, more than 125,000 Batmans, Jokers, Supermans and civilians crammed into the San Diego Convention Center for a weekend jam-packed with graphic novels and comic book signings; interactive video games; television and movie sneak peaks and panels and – of course – revenge of the nerds. 

But as entertaining as it is admiring the epicness of Star Wars and Harry Potter, for the first-timer it is, well, overcrowded!

Here’s a deeper look between the pages of Comic-Con and a three-step guide on how to defeat the throng of villains impeding your way.

1. Prioritize!

For a television and movie buff, Comic-Con is a gold mine. Throughout the four-day weekend, major studios and networks present dozens of panels featuring the actors, writers and producers behind the silver screen. 

It’s exciting to come face-to-face with the creators of your favorite movie or show and simply ask why or what.  It’s even cooler when an upcoming episode or extended clip premieres three months before its scheduled airdate. This is one way to go back a winner: inform your friends the surprise plot twist mid-season you learned about, or be able to quote the funniest part of the latest anticipated film release. 

Unfortunately, admission to the panels is incredibly limited due to fire hazards, which means that thousands of eager aficionados will not get in, even if they wait patiently for multiple hours. (If only the event planners realized it was a convention center full of super powers!) 

To solve the issue of first-come-first-serve seating, one must prioritize. Stick to one conference hall for the entire day to ensure a spot in your desired ballroom. Sadly, that means you’ll likely miss out on the other awesome events elsewhere, but at least you won’t miss what you came for like the hundreds of "trubies" who waited from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. only to be told the "True Blood" panel was at capacity. 

2. Pre-meditated navigation

Artists, comic book fanatics, video game distributors, writers and attendees convene in the main hall each day where scores of booths are set up exhibiting everything from Marvel classics to collectable toys to superhero costumes. Simply put, it’s bedlam. 

Seeing thousands weave in and out of each vibrant, multi-colored kiosk is beyond visually stimulating. But the hall is constantly like a clogged artery. Human traffic comes from every direction and moves at every pace. No space goes unfilled.

The only way to manage is to know where you’re going before you enter the chaos (duh). If you’re meeting someone at booth 5545, look up at the ceiling before you start walking and find the 5500 flag. Now head in that direction. Sound easy?

Try finding one of 6,000-plus kiosks in a sea of confused and bedazzled people who stop every few steps to read a poster or pose with Darth Vader. Luckily everything is numbered. Unluckily, sometimes they vanish (magic?) onto someone’s shoe. 

Also, think of the main entrance hall as driving in L.A. traffic: it will most likely take you 30 extra minutes to get anywhere, so plan accordingly.

3. Bring an abundance of patience (or a really good book)

Most of Comic-Con is waiting in line. Obviously, a sold out convention center equates overcrowded, but just remember that everything will have a wait: the bathrooms, Starbucks, autographs, finding a seat in a lecture or panel and even crossing the street. Mind the time.

It’s best to approach this headache with a book – I hear they sell those in the main entrance hall if you’re willing to wait in line behind Jack Sparrow. 

But, overall, Comic-Con can be enlightening, if not inspiring. Where else can hundreds of people from across the globe come together in the same Super Mario costume to greet a scantily clad princesses or Wonderwomen? 

Oh, and one more piece of advice: register early because it will sell out and many of the nerds have already pre-registered. Or maybe you should just go to the convention center tomorrow and get a prime spot in line for Hall H. I know I will so I don't miss another True Blood panel with Vampire Bill.

Reach Senior Music Editor Holly Butcher here.