With the Comic-Con International convention on the horizon, Wired.com asked G4TV’s Attack of the Show host — and Comic-Con veteran — Kevin Pereira for some tips on necessary gear to make the most of the great nerd gathering in San Diego. Here’s his sage advice.

By Kevin Pereira, Attack of the Show

Comic-Con is a fanciful celebration of all things ink and spandex. Each year, thousands descend upon San Diego to meet idols, hunt for limited-edition thingamabobs, attend panels, don furry costumes for euro-techno-dance-parties-slash-orgies and otherwise mingle with like-minded folk.

It’s a beastly spectacle, and if you are not prepared, it can devour you whole: Often the littlest things make the biggest difference. So it’s time to make Batman “totes-jelly” by equipping your utility belt with five simple nothings that will help you dominate the convention.

1. Purell: No, really. As much as it sounds like a stereotypically cheap shot at fellow geeks, the nerd flu (as it’s affectionately referred to) is a very real thing. Many “plan” on being rundown the week following Comic-Con, but a few drops of waterless hand sanitizer may stop that sweaty creeper cosplaying as Carl from Aqua Teen from infecting your workweek.

2. Sharpies — black and silver: You will run into celebrities and industry icons at Comic-Con. You will become somewhat flustered and hold out a program or recently purchased trinket for them to sign. You will grope yourself, frantically patting down every pocket. You will come up empty-handed and defeated. And you will regret that the roller-ball blue-ink pen you borrowed from some kid in a Guy Fawkes mask is barely visible when said celeb is walking away. Don’t let this happen to you.

3. Point-and-shoot digital camera: I know, I know … your cellphone has a camera, it’s “just fine,” and you’re going to use that. Wrong. Cellphone cameras are still typically slow to load and tremble-sensitive, meaning you’re going to miss that Slave Leia nip-slip and Brian Michael Bendis is going to look like a smeared mess of pixels when he streaks by your lens.

Furthermore, and I’ve been on both sides of this scenario, it’s awkward at best when you hand your smartphone to a not-so-smart stranger to snag the perfect picture of you and Sam Jackson. When you have to shout, “No. No! Tap the button on the screen!” and they end up checking your e-mail, it’s a broken experience. For everyone. Simple, digital, point and shoot.

4. iPod, iPhone, iCan’tStandTheseLines!: There’s a lot you want to see and do at Comic-Con, but there are also thousands of people who want to do and see those exact same things. Brace yourself. No, really, ’cause you’re going to be in lines for hours. Make sure you don’t forget a freshly charged portable music or entertainment device. You’ll spot many people gaming and waiting on phones and Nintendo-branded whatnots, so don’t get left out. And don’t forget your headphones.

5. A plan: The schedules are out there, all the events have been posted, there’s no need to be scrambling about once you make it to the convention. Plan ahead, be flexible and allow for plenty of travel time. If you’re headed to anything within “a few blocks” of the convention center, walk it or take a pedicab. The San Diego streets are lousy with traffic during Comic-Con, so you might as well stay off them.

Also, if you enjoy eating anything other than bar food or convention hot dogs that have been rotating in their own sweat for hours, make a handful of reservations. Even if you don’t make them, there’s peace of mind knowing you can “make food happen” because you thought more than five seconds ahead of everyone else.