It’s almost here folks: Comic-Con 2010! That shite kicks off in San Diego in just a couple weeks so I hope you’re ready for the Comic-Con onslaught that is sure to hit the internet soon. Well you better be ready… because it start’s today!
You see the scheduled events for the first day of Comic-Con have just been announced and boy oh boy will this thing be jam-packed! The listed events for Thursday July 22nd go on and on so I narrowed the list down a bit to only include genre projects you might be interested. There’s even an event from Friday July 23rd already announced! Some of the bigger projects mentioned in the scheduled events include DEAD RISING 2, “True Blood,” BATTLE: LOS ANGELES, THE GOON, “Battlestar Galactica,” “The Walking Dead,” THE EXPENDABLES, “Dexter,” NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD: REANIMATED, “Doctor Who,” “Being Human,” LOST BOYS: THE THIRST and DRIVE ANGRY 3D.
So what’re you waiting for? Not much more to say here folks, check out the list of events below! For a look at the complete list you can head right over HERE!
What do you guys think? Think anything listed here is going to be worth checking out? Hit us with your thoughts below and keep it here for all your Comic-Con needs!
Thursday, July 22
10:00-11:00 Anarchy In The USA: 2000 AD Invades Comic-Con— Pat Mills (2000 AD creator) and Keith Richardson (2000 AD graphic novels editor) discuss all things 2000 AD related with a focus on the new mass-market U.S. graphic novels line. Room 9
10:30-11:30 Danny Elfman— From Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure to Alice in Wonderland, composer Danny Elfman discusses his 25-year collaboration with director Tim Burton. Their legendary partnership includes such films as Beetle Juice, Batman, Edward Scissorhands, Nightmare Before Christmas, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Joining Mr. Elfman will be Warner Brothers Records executives to announce their plans to celebrate this quarter-century milestone. Room 6BCF
10:30-11:30 TheOneRing.net Talks The Hobbit movies— Chris Pirrotta, Cliff Broadway, and Larry D. Curtis, staff members from TORn (the gold standard of fansites and a consistent breaking news source) talk about the latest on the two coming Hobbit films, including mainstream news, spy reports, and rumors. Special guests are a possibility; audio and visuals are a given with a Q&A and all sorts of fun. Room 7AB
12:00-1:00 Caprica, Battlestar, and Beyond— Hosted by actor/author Richard Hatch (Tom Zarek, Capt. Apollo, So Say We All), this panel features composer Bear McCreary (Battlestar, Eureka, Caprica), producer/writer Michael Tayler (Battlestar, Caprica, Star Trek), science consultant Kevin Grazier (Battlestar, Eureka), and special guests. Richard and the panelists will proide reviews, discussion, and Q&A of Caprica, Battlestar Galactica, and the upcoming BSG movie, including trailers. Room 6A
12:00-1:00 Dead Rising 2— Dead Rising 2, the highly anticipated sequel to Capcom’s multi-million-selling zombie action video game is here! Dead Rising 2 executive producers Keiji Inafune and Shinsaku Ohara unveil development stories, provide a live demo of creating new weapons, and reveal other exclusive content. Followed by a Q&A session. Room 25ABC
12:00-1:00 Gamera, The Invincible!— Author August Ragone (Chronicle Books’ Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters) presents a visual tribute to Godzilla’s No. 1 rival, the original Mutant Flying Turtle himself: Gamera! This program celebrates the first official DVD release of the original 1960s–1970s film series from Shout! Factory, with commentary on how Gamera was created and how the films were made, as well as rare, behind-the-scenes photographs and clips. Find out if Gamera is really full of turtle meat in the Q&A and win copies of Shout!’s latest release Gamera vs. Barugon — all in one colossal presentation guaranteed to knock you right out of your shell! Room 32AB
12:30-1:30 Sci-Fi That Will Change Your Life— What makes sci-fi great, other than awesome explosions and hot aliens? Sometimes it makes you reimagine your place in the universe. Join io9.com staff and friends as they recommend sci-fi from the past year that will entertain you — and then change your life. Panelists include io9 staff writers Annalee Newitz, Charlie Jane Anders, Meredith Woerner, and Cyriaque Lamar, plus io9 pals Marc Bernardin (The Authority, The Highwaymen), Bonnie Burton (StarWars.com), and Douglas Wolk (Reading Comics). Room 7AB
1:00-2:00 Video Game Comics: The Next Big Thing— Are video games the biggest thing to hit comics since superheroes? Richard George from IGN explores this phenomenon, along with representatives from Dark Horse, EA, IDW, and WildStorm. Featuring some of the hottest video game properties in comics: Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Gears of War, Fallout: New Vegas, Army of Two, God of War and more, this is one panel fans of either medium won’t want to miss! Room 5AB
1:00-2:00 Spotlight on Charlaine Harris— Author and Comic-Con special guest Charlaine Harris gathered a huge fan base with her novels and stories featuring her characters mystery-solving librarian Aurora Teagarden; Shakespeare, Arkansas resident Lily Bard; and the telepathic barmaid who befriends vampires, werewolves, and various other odd creatures, Sookie Stackhouse. Once Sookie and company moved to the small screen with HBO’s True Blood, Harris entered the superstar realm. Be a part of the very first Spotlight panel devoted to Charlaine and hear what she has to say about what comes next for Sookie and everyone else! Room 6BCF
1:00-2:00 Hasbro GI Joe— The Hasbro design and marketing teams and representatives from Hasbro Studios — including Derryl DePriest (Hasbro Marketing), John Warden (Hasbro Design), Aaron Archer (Hasbro Brand IP Development), Jeff Kline (executive producer, G.I. Joe Renegades), and Michael Vogel (Hasbro Studios) — discuss new initiatives for Hasbro’s G.I. Joe brand. Fans won’t want to miss details from the showrunner and members of the creative team for the new G.I. Joe Renegades animated television series coming to The Hub network this fall! Also includes Q&A time. Room 25ABC
1:00-2:00 Digital Bits: Blu-ray Producers 2010— Bill Hunt, Adam Jahnke, and Todd Doogan (of TheDigitalBits.com) drill down on the latest DVD and Blu-ray developments with some of the leading special-edition producers in Hollywood! Panelists include Cliff Stephenson (Rambo: Director’s Cut, Expendables), Charles de Lauzirika (Robin Hood, Alien Anthology), Javier Soto (Predators, Mimic, The Devil’s Backbone), and Brian Ward (Transformers, G.I. Joe, Max Headroom). Don’t miss out on all the insider scoops, audience Q&A, and sneak peeks at great upcoming discs! Room 32AB
1:00-2:00 Sony Pictures Entertainment: Battle: Los Angeles and Salt— Two great new films from Sony Pictures Entertainment are showcased in this Hall H presentation!
Battle: Los Angeles—When unknown forces suddenly and mercilessly attack the City of Angels out of nowhere, it’s up to a local Marine staff sergeant (Aaron Eckhart) and a new platoon of unseasoned soldiers to meet the threat. As the invasion hits the streets of LA, these Marines become our first and last line of defense in an intense battle against an enemy unlike any they’ve ever encountered before. Appearing in person are Michelle Rodriguez, Aaron Eckhart, Neal Moritz, and director Jonathan Liebesman.
2:00-3:00 Hasbro Transformers— Aaron Archer (Hasbro Brand IP Development), Matt Proulx (Hasbro Marketing), and Hasbro Design’s Michelino Paolino, Brian Wilk, Eric Siebenaler, Alan Roach, and Miyaki Tomoya are joined by Activision’s Matt Tieger to talk about what’s new with Transformers. The design and marketing teams will present all the latest toys from the new line as well as details about the Transformers: War for Cybertron video game from Activision. Also includes Q&A time. Room 25ABC
2:00-3:00 Radical Publishing Panel— Hosted by Ain’t It Cool News’s very own Harry Knowles, Radical Publishing presents an all-star panel lineup with plenty of surprises, special announcements, and a free raffle ticket for everyone who attends. Panel guests include Jimmy Palmiotti (Jonah Hex), co-creator and co-writer of Time Bomb; Rick Remender (Punisher), creator and writer for The Last Days of American Crime, soon to be a major motion picture produced by and starring Avatar’s Sam Worthington; Peter Milligan (Hellblazer), writer for After Dark, co-created by director Antoine Fuqua and Wesley Snipes; Arvid Nelson (Rex Mundi), writer for the upcoming Oblivion from TRON: Legacy director Joseph Kosinski; Nick Percival (Judge Dredd), creator and artist for Legends: The Enchanted, soon to be a major motion picture from Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment; David Hine (Spider-Man Noir), writer of Ryder on the Storm and FVZA; Matt Cirulnick (True Crime: New York City), creator and co-writer for Earp: Saints for Sinners; and Keith Arem (Call of Duty series), one of the gaming industry’s leading director/producers as well as co-creator for the upcoming Exile. Room 32AB
2:15-3:15 World of Warcraft: Epic Loot— Get your game on outside of Azeroth! A panel of Blizzard Entertainment creative decision makers and licensed partners are on hand for a discussion and unveiling of World of Warcraft-inspired products. In attendance: Chris Metzen, Blizzard Entertainment SVP of creative development; Micky Neilson, Blizzard Entertainment publishing lead; Hank Kanalz, VP/GM of WildStorm and World of Warcraft comic editor; Julian Rignall, Future Plus editorial director of World of Warcraft Official Magazine; Jim Fletcher, DC Direct design director; and Cory Jones, Cryptozoic Entertainment president and chief creative officer. Moderated by Kat Hunter, Blizzard Entertainment licensing project manager and host of BlizzCon coverage on DIRECTV. Room 6BCF
2:30-3:30 State of the Geek Report: From Avatar to Zardoz— A panel of experts examine the state of science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film and TV, from the living-ever-longer-and-prospering Star Trek franchise to the future of Star Wars to what the success of Avatar means for the future of movies. Some of geekdom’s biggest luminaries, including Steve Melching (The Clone Wars), Ashley E. Miller (Thor, X-Men: First Class), Steve Kriozere (Elvis Van Helsing), Jeff Bond (former Geek Monthly editor), and Bill Hunt and Todd Doogan (Digital Bits), talk about the lackluster state of sci-fi film and television, the rise, fall and rise of Star Trek, and the hits and misses of 2010 that made their midicholorian (and cholesterol) counts rise to dangerous levels this summer. Room 4
3:00-4:00 Dark Horse Horror— The publisher that brings you the best stories in horror comics also delivers Comic-Con’s best panel on horror comics! Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, writer of the weird Steve Niles (Criminal Macabre, City of Others), and The Goon creator Eric Powell join Dark Horse editors Scott Allie and Shawna Gore for this behind-the-screams discussion. Plus, get a blood-curdling first look at the horror books Dark Horse will unleash in the coming year. Room 9
3:00-4:00 Kiss Them or Kill Them? Conflict Management for the Creatures Among Us— Urban fantasy and paranormal romance authors discuss when to kill the monster, date the monster…or both and in what order. Authors include J. F. Lewis (ReVamped), Maria Lima (Blood Line series), Adrian Phoenix (the Maker’s Song series), Kat Richardson (the Greywalker novels), Diana Rowland (Kara Gillian—Detective and Demon Summoner series), Samantha Sommersby (the Forbidden Series), Anton Strout (the Simon Canderous urban fantasy series), Linda Thomas-Sundstrom (Wolf Moons series), and Rob Thurman (author of the Cal Leandros Novels and The Trickster Novels). Moderated by Maryelizabeth Hart of Mysterious Galaxy. Room 25ABC
3:00-4:00 Masters of the Web— Hollywood Writer/Producer Roberto Orci (Star Trek 2, Cowboys & Aliens, Transformers, Star Trek, Alias, Mission Impossible 3) and writer/director Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Scott Pilgrim vs the World) moderate and AMC Theatres Blog Editor John Campea (AMCTheatres.com/network/scriptscreen) hosts a panel of the most popular movie website personalities as they come together to discuss how new media has influenced moviemaking and marketing, what it takes to run a popular site, and much more in a panel discussion and Q&A session. The panel consists of Jen Yamato (former senior editor of Rotten Tomatoes, now writing for Cinematical, Hitfix, Film.Com and FEARnet), Edward Douglas (Coming Soon.net), Vic Holtreman (Screenrant.com), Mike Sampson (Joblo.com), George “El Guapo” Roush (Latino Review.com), Erik Davis (Cinematical.com), and Devin Faraci (CHUD.com). Passes to the annual, highly anticipated “From Dusk til Con” party will be given out to a few lucky attendees, and one attendee will win a pass good for one year of free movies at any AMC Theatres location. Room 32AB
3:30-4:30 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II Exclusive Live demo— LucasArts’s executive producer Haden Blackman presents a thrilling look at the sequel to the fastest-selling Star Wars game of all time. Blackman will share the latest scoop on Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II and show attendees how to use the Force at a devastating level never seen before. Room 6BCF
3:30-4:30 Entertainment Weekly: The Visionaries— A discussion with geek gods J. J. Abrams (Star Trek) and Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) on the future of pop culture. EW presents an in-depth conversation with these two creative geniuses about how technology, gaming, and global culture are reshaping how we tell and consume stories on television, film and the web. Plus: Is the superhero movie waning, or is it on the cusp of reinvention? And what do they think the pop culture universe will look like a decade from now? Moderated by Jeff “Doc” Jensen. Hall H
4:00-5:00 Robert Kirkman— He examines survival among The Walking Dead. He makes superheroes relatable in Invincible. He made lycanthropy dramatic in The Astounding Wolf-Man. Join Image Comics for an in-depth discussion and Q&A with writing juggernaut Robert Kirkman. Moderated by Sina Grace. Room 5AB
4:00-5:00 From Screen to Comics— An in-depth look at what it takes to turn big-screen action into 32 pages. Talented creators from across the spectrum, including Max Brooks, Nancy Collins, Peter David, Tony Lee, and more, look behind the scenes at some of the biggest properties to come to comics, such as True Blood, Doctor Who, The A-Team, Transformers, and Star Trek. Room 9
4:30-5:30 Transformers Prime— The talent behind Transformers Prime — executive producers Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, and Jeff Kline — the new animated series from Hasbro Studios, showcase exclusive footage and character reveals followed by a Q&A session. This original series will premiere in 2010 on the new television network The Hub. Room 7AB
4:30-5:30 Behind the Music: Composing for Sci-Fi, Horror, and Fantasy Film & TV— Award-winning composers Michael Giacchino (Lost), Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman (Heroes), Nathan Barr (True Blood), Jim Dooley (Pushing Daisies), John Ottman (Superman Returns), and Jeremy Zuckerman (Avatar: The Last Airbender) have all composed for Comic-Con’s fan-favorite series and are here to share a behind-the-scenes perspective on creating music for television and film. Together they will discuss their respective projects and how they got their big break into the music composing industry. Q&A following the panel plus exclusive giveaways for attendees. Moderated by BMI executive Anne Cecere, director of film/television relations. Room 24ABC
4:45-5:45 Capcom 2010 and Beyond!— See the latest trailers and get the inside scoop on all of Capcom’s most highly anticipated games for 2010 and beyond: Marvel Vs. Capcom 3, Sengoku Basara, Okamiden, Bionic Commando Rearmed 2, Ghost Trick, Dead Rising 2, and more. On top of all that, hear details on an exciting new game announcement by Capcom legend Keiji Inafune, the father of Mega Man! Room 6BCF
4:45-5:45 Our Heroes Have More Fun: the Anti-Heroes of Showtime— The 21st century anti-hero has become one of the driving forces in recent pop culture. When it comes to the television anti-hero, Showtime has the winning formula. Hear firsthand from the showrunners, creators, and actors who have helped define this phenomenon. Dexter’s Michael C. Hall and showrunner Chip Johannessen (24) delve into the phenomenon of Dexter Morgan, the serial killer you can’t help rooting for; David Duchovny and Tom Kapinos of Californication discuss why Hank Moody is the “bad boy” we love despite his obvious shortcomings; and Mary-Louise Parker and Jenji Kohanof Weeds interpret pot-dealing soccer mom Nancy Botwin’s moral decisions, as the line between right and wrong is not always as simple as black or white. Plus: Nurse Jackie—despite a little pill-popping along the way—is a smart no-nonsense nurse, who if you’re ever taken to the hospital, you had better hope she’s the first person you see. With heroes like these, who needs villains? Breaking the occasional promise, law, or commandment is all in a day’s work, and one thing’s for sure – Showtime heroes never let doing the right thing get in the way of having a good time. Ballroom 20
4:45-5:45 Lionsgate: The Expendables— Prepare to have your ass kicked by The Expendables, the biggest action movie this summer! Lionsgate presents exclusive scenes and the inside scoop on every punch, kick, and bloodied lip from the most iconic cast of heroes and villains ever assembled, including the director, writer, and star Sylvester Stallone (Rambo), along with Dolph Lundgren (Universal Soldier), Steve Austin (The Condemned), Randy Couture (Scorpion King: Rise of the Warrior), and Terry Crews (Gamer). Hall H
5:00-6:00 SFX presents The British Invasion— Five top UK writers from the worlds of TV, comics, books, and movies discuss what makes modern British SF unique. Dan Abnett (Ultramarines), China Miéville (Perdido Street Station), Paul Cornell (Doctor Who), Kieron Gillen (Thor), Pat Mills (2000 AD), and Toby Whithouse (BBC’s Being Human creator) talk to SFX magazine’s Dave Bradley in this panel and Q&A session. Room 5AB
6:00-7:00 Abusing the Sci of Sci-Fi— Ever watched a science fiction movie and groaned when the science is spun, folded, and mutilated? Sure, outrageous science is fun, but so is making fun of it. Astronomer and Discovermagazine.com blogger Phil Plait moderates this panel of sci-fi movers and shakers as they pick their favorite moments in good and bad TV and movie science. Panelists include Jaime Paglia (Eureka), Zack Stentz (Fringe, Thor), Bill Prady (The Big Bang Theory), Kevin Grazier (NASA scientist and Eureka advisor), and Sean Carroll (physicist and Discovermagazine.com blogger). Room 5AB
6:00-7:00 Halo: Reach— Bungie hosts this discussion around the biggest game of 2010, including an in-person look at the campaign mode and a debut of some exciting Halo: Reach news. Room 6BCF
6:00-7:00 Showtime’s Dexter— What’s next for America’s Favorite Serial Killer? If the dramatic season finale left you in an, OMG-what-just-happened frenzy, you don’t want to miss this killer panel! You’ll see the exclusive world premiere of the new season’s trailer, then moderator Ralph Garman (KROQ entertainment reporter) presides over a revealing interview and Q&A session with the stars and executive producers of Dexter. Featured panelists include Michael C. Hall (series star/executive producer), Jennifer Carpenter (Deb), Desmond Harrington (Quinn), and executive producers John Goldwyn, Sara Colleton, Chip Johannessen (24), and Manny Coto (Star Trek: Enterprise). The new season premieres September 26, at 9:00 pm ET/PT only on Showtime. Ballroom 20
6:15-7:15 Vertigo: The New Classics— Over the years the Vertigo imprint has produced smart, shocking, and critically acclaimed series such as The Sandman, Preacher, Y: The Last Man, Hellblazer, and Fables, to name a few. Now, Vertigo’s latest ongoing series are poised to join those legendary ranks with The Unwritten, American Vampire, Sweet Tooth, and iZombie. Get a peek at these future classics with your host, senior VP/executive editor Karen Berger, plus Rafael Albuquerque (American Vampire), Peter Gross (The Unwritten), Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth), Chris Roberson (iZombie), Scott Snyder (American Vampire), and others. Room 6A
7:30-8:30 Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog— Sing along with your fellow fans at this screening of the original three acts of Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, hosted by the California Browncoats, complete with lyrics books and call backs! Dr. Horrible stars Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother), Nathan Fillion (Castle, Firefly) and Felicia Day (The Guild) and was written by Joss Whedon (Serenity), Jed Whedon (Dollhouse), Zack Whedon (Fringe), and Maurissa Tancharoen (Dollhouse). Room 6A
8:00-11:00 BBC America: U.S. Premiere Screenings of Doctor Who and Being Human— Catch the all-new season opener of Being Human, written by Toby Whithouse and starring Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow, Aidan Turner and Sinead Keenan and the two-part finale of Doctor Who, written by Steven Moffat and starring Matt Smith and Karen Gillan. Room 6DE
8:15-9:15 The Sushi Typhoon: The Best in Japanese Genre Movies— Horror, sci-fi, action, and splatter comedy films from Japan have become the most popular new genre in fandom. From the creators of Tokyo Gore Police, The Machine Girl, Suicide Club, Ichi the Killer, Battlefield Baseball, Meatball Machine, and many others comes The Sushi Typhoon, an all-you-can-eat smorgasbord of Japanese genre moviemaking about to hit U.S. shores in partnership with Funimation Entertainment! Director Yoshihiro Nishimura (Tokyo Gore Police), actor Masanori Mimoto (The Ultimate Versus), actress Mika Hijii (Ninja), and producer Yoshinori Chiba (Yatterman) are on hand for a special launch presentation introducing American audiences to the new label, featuring guest Q&A’s, trailers for Alien vs. Ninja and Mutant Girls Squad (both screening on Friday night at SDCC), and an exclusive preview of Nishimura’s upcoming zombie epic Helldriver, including an exciting first look at footage from the film! Room 5AB
9:30-11:45 Night of the Living Dead: Reanimated Screening and Panel Discussion— NOTLD: R is a collection of animated and illustrated responses created by nearly 150 international artists/animators and arranged to the original 1968 film’s audio track by curator Mike Schneider. Contributing artists John Chesnut and Josh Barnett (claymation and cut-out animation), Jacquelyn Bond (watercolor paintings), Grant Fuhst (mixed-media artwork), Sean Williams (hand-drawn animation), Zina Lahr (toy modification/ experimental animation), Brad Uyeda (stop-motion animation), Anthony Amos (digital animation), and Eric Schock (comic book illustration) meet to screen NOTLD: R (which comes out on DVD July 27), discuss their involvement with the project, and take questions. Moderated by Beth Accomando (KPBS film critic). Giveaways at the screening will include horror-hosted DVDs of NOTLD: R and limited-edition teaser posters. Room 5AB
10:00-12:00 World Premiere of Lost Boys: The Thirst— The Frog Brothers return to Comic-Con with holy water balloons ablazin’ for the world premiere of Lost Boys: The Thirst, the latest high-energy, action-packed adventure in the ongoing franchise. Original cast members Corey Feldman and Jamison Newlander present the first-ever screening of the cult classic’s third film, in which the lost boys and girls of San Cazador prepare to party under the Blood Moon — while an alpha vampire conspires to turn these unsuspecting ravers into an army of undead. The only thing that stands between him and the annihilation of the entire human race are the infamous vampire-fighting Frog Brothers. Expect some serious bloodsucker butt kicking. And Warner Bros. is providing the free popcorn! Indigo Ballroom, San Diego Hilton Bayfront
Friday, July 23
10:30-11:00 Drive Angry 3D— In a Comic-Con exclusive, stars of the film including Nicolas Cage and Amber Heard as well as director Patrick Lussier will debut footage from the high-octane, blood-spattered road trip through hell. In this newest action horror shot in 3D, a vengeful father hunts down the people who brutally killed his daughter and kidnapped her baby. In addition to its exciting panels, Summit Entertainment will once again have a booth set up in the Grand Hall at Comic-Con where the studio will showcase titles from its upcoming slate. Those who stop by will be able to answer a call at the Summit phone booth to speak live with Summit filmmakers and talent or customize a t-shirt at the live t-shirt press. In addition, the prize wheel never stops spinning with thousands of promotional giveaways and exclusive prizes to win throughout the convention! Hall H.
DRIVE ANGRY 3D’s Amber Heard