Saturday, May 18

TV Guide Comic-Con Special to Contain DCnU Sneak Peek

July 12th, 2011
Author Albert Ching

TV Guide is producing another Comic-Con special edition issue focusing solely on relevant Warner Bros. content, which includes DC Comics and what The Source is calling “An exclusive look at three superhero costume re-designs by bestselling artist and DC Entertainment Co-Publisher Jim Lee, for DC Comics The New 52, the upcoming historic renumbering of the entire DC line of comic books with 52 first issues.”

The issue will also cover Batman: Year One, Young Justice, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Green Lantern: The Animated Series and take a look back at Smallville, which wrapped its 10 year run this past May. The issue will be available at the Warner Bros. booth (#4545) during the con (and on newsstands starting July 21), with four covers: The Big Bang Theory, Fringe, Chuck, The Vampire Diaries.

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For Your Scheduling Convenience: Image’s Comic-Con Panels

July 11th, 2011
Author Albert Ching

The complete Comic-Con International: San Diego programming schedule is now up, but if your specifically interested in knowing what Image Comics/Top Cow has going on, we’ve got you covered. To find out where Robert Kirkman, John Layman, Marc Silvestri and more can be found — plus AMC’s The Walking Dead TV series panel — keep reading after the jump.

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Comic-Con Countdown: Sunday Programming Wraps Up the Weekend

July 10th, 2011
Author Albert Ching

And the four-day reveal of Comic-Con International: San Diego’s programming has come to a close, with the complete list of Sunday programming. As usual, it’s skewed a bit towards family-friendly fare for the final day. The full list can be found here, and here’s a peek at a few noteworthy happenings.

10:00-11:15 The Annual Jack Kirby Tribute Panel— As always, we gather to remember the man some still hail as The King of the Comics, Jack Kirby. If you don’t know who that is, you have no business being at this convention. Moderator Mark Evanier discusses the life and times of Kirby with Walt Simonson (Thor), Erik Larsen (Savage Dragon), Richard Kyle (Graphic Story World), and Mike Royer (inker of lots of Kirby comics). Room 5AB

Even though I think few would argue with the sentiment (or the obvious importance of Kirby to both the comic books industry and Comic-Con itself), “you have no business being at this convention” is surprisingly blunt for panel copy.

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Comic-Con Countdown: Gettin’ Down on Saturday

July 10th, 2011
Author Albert Ching

Rebecca Black may be saving all of her affection for Friday, but Saturday at Comic-Con International still has a lot to offer.

The full schedule is up here, and below are just a few highlights worth pointing out. Thursday and Friday schedules are here and here, Marvel’s list is here, and DC’s slate can be found here.

10:00-11:00 From Buddha to Batman: Deepak Chopra and Grant Morrison Discuss The Seven Spiritual Laws of Superheroes Five years ago, New York Times bestselling author and internationally renowned spiritual guru Deepak Chopra joined legendary comic book writer Grant Morrison (All-Star Superman, Supergods) at Comic-Con to discuss the role superheroes play in the social fabric. What started as a thought-provoking panel discussion has since become a profound new teaching manual for discovering the superhero within — Chopra’s new book, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Superheroes. Now Chopra and Morrison are back to elaborate on what the superhero archetype means for us today. Joined by Deepak’s son Gotham Chopra (founder of Liquid Comics) and moderated by Chris Carle (editorial director of IGN Entertainment), the discussion will cover the seven essential laws that govern the realm of superheroes and the cultural importance of superheros — why they matter, why they will always be with us, and what they tell us about who we are…and what we may yet become. Q&A to follow. Room 6A (more…)

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Comic-Con Countdown: Don’t Fear, Friday Programming Is Here

July 10th, 2011
Author Albert Ching

The Comic-Con International: San Diego programming train keeps rolling on, and the full Friday schedule is here for your perusal (and inevitable panic attacks about missing one awesome thing while you’re watching another awesome thing). The full shebang is here, and below are just a few selections that managed to catch our eye. Thursday’s schedule is here, DC’s full list here, and Marvel’s panels are here.

10:15-11:15 Star Trek: The Captains— William Shatner is joined by fellow Star Trek captain Avery Brooks to present a preview of the EPIX Pictures original documentary produced and directed by Shatner, in which he travels the world to interview all the actors who’ve played Starfleet captains. This lively discussion and Q&A session is moderated by Comic-Con fave Kevin Smith. Room 6BCF

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Marvel Announces Comic-Con Programming, with Quesada, Alonso, Hickman and More

July 8th, 2011
Author Albert Ching

Comic-Con International: San Diego’s programming has been officially half-revealed — Thursday and Friday’s schedules can both be found here — and now we know all of Marvel’s panel plans for the event, taking place July 21 to July 24. (That’s less than two weeks away, folks!)

In attendance from the publisher: chief creative officer Joe Quesada, editor-in-chief Axel Alonso, Marvel TV head Jeph Loeb and a roster of creators including Jonathan Hickman, Nick Spencer, Greg Pak, Rick Remender and Skottie Young. At 11 panels, it’s pretty much the company’s usual slate: some line-specific ones, and more broader happenings like the con staple “Cup O’ Joe.” There’s no Marvel Studios panel this year, as previously noted, but 2012′s Spider-Man and Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance films will be a part of Sony’s Hall H presentation at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 22.

Full list is after the jump, and if you’re looking for what DC has going on at Comic-Con, that is here. Of course, Newsarama will be covering all pertinent Comic-Con panels, with the vast majority of them coming to you LIVE!

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Marvel Gets Reborn (Again)

July 8th, 2011
Author Graeme McMillan

Start your guessing engines: The subject of Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness’ next collaboration – and apparent returnee from the land of the dead – will be revealed during Saturday’s Cup O’ Joe panel at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con in a couple of weeks. My bet? I think it’ll be Bucky, if he isn’t already alive again by December, when the series launches.

 

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Comic-Con Countdown: Thursday Programming Has Arrived

July 7th, 2011
Author Albert Ching

Following last year’s tradition, Comic-Con International: San Diego’s Thursday programming schedule has arrived exactly two weeks in advance, and like always, there’s no “easing into” things with this event — a staggering 16 panels are scheduled for the very first hour of the show, with the doors of the convention center barely open. We had all of DC’s programming earlier, so here are a few selected highlights of what to expect on July 21. The full, massive list is here, and check back in the coming days for the rest.

10:00-11:00 Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe For fans of USA’s hit series Burn Notice who’ve always wanted to know what happened before Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell) teamed up with Michael Weston and Fiona, Comic-Con attendees are invited inside the USA made-for-TV movie Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe, debuting on DVD exclusively at Comic-Con! The Burn Notice prequel chronicles what turned out to be the last military mission of former U.S. Navy SEAL Lieutenant Commander Axe and the expedition that took him from the jungles of Colombia to sunny Miami Beach. Go one-on-one with Bruce Campbell, star of Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe, and Burn Notice creator, writer, and executive producer, Matt Nix. Ballroom 20

Bruce Campbell and Comic-Con — a classic combination.

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DC Releases Full Comic-Con Schedule, With a ‘New 52′ Panel Each Day

July 7th, 2011
Author Albert Ching

Are you ready to hear a lot of questions and/or complaining about DC’s “The New 52″ revamp coming in September? Or maybe ask some of those questions or register some opinions yourself? Well, looks like you’ll get several prime opportunities to do just that in two weeks at Comic-Con International: San Diego. The convention hasn’t posted their programming schedule yet, but DC Comics has revealed their full slate of panels on The Source.

It’s 22 panels in all, including a “The New 52″-focused panel on each day — clearly, they’re not running from fan reaction on the topic — and appearances from Grant Morrison, Geoff Johns, Jim Lee, Dan DiDio and more. DC’s full schedule after the jump.

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No More Golden Age At SDCC?

July 6th, 2011
Author Graeme McMillan

Well, here’s some depressing news about this year’s San Diego Comic-Con from Mark Evanier:

There will be no Golden Age Panel this year. I kinda doubt there will ever be one again. To those who complain about this, I have a simple reply: “Fine. You find me 4-6 people who will be at the convention and who worked in comics before around 1960.” If there are such folks, I don’t know about their presence at the con. At the moment, I’m only aware of two…and two is not a panel, especially since one of them (Jerry Robinson) will be the subject of his own spotlight interview on the schedule. (The other, before anyone asks, is Ramona Fradon.)

Admittedly, this was inevitable, but that doesn’t make it any less sad: As time marches on, the number of creators who were around at the beginning of the industry grows smaller and smaller, after all. Evanier goes on to explain that the time that had been held for the Golden Age panel will be well-used, however:

Before a certain person I know starts blaming the convention, let me make clear that this was my recommendation. The con actually cleared room on the schedule for a Golden Age Panel and we’re instead using the time ‘n’ space for the Gene Colan Tribute.

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DC Fan Plans Protest of Revamp at Comic-Con

June 29th, 2011
Author Albert Ching

DC’s big shake-up in September has inspired plenty of reaction across fandom, both positive and negative. Someone squarely in the latter camp has decided to get organized, starting a Facebook event called “Walk to protest against the new awful designs,” thus far inspiring 163 spurned readers to join in on the demonstration.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, July 23 at next month’s Comic-Con International: San Diego, though the exact location is “TBA.” Here’s what the event description, credited to Laura Hornack, has to say:

Are you utterly baffled, disappointed and just ANGRY to see how DC ruins your favorite character’s design and wipes decades of comic history out of the mainstream universe? Well, you’re not alone! And why not make some noise at the biggest pop-culture event this year, where creators, artists and writers appear in person – show them how fans – the fans of the classic characters, the (nevertheless slightly changing) designs, the character’s history and personality – really feel about it!

The comments on the wall are pretty split on the whole idea (762 are currently marked down as “not attending”). Many of comments are along the line of Joe Kontor’s: “How about you read the first damn issue before you decide you don’t like it?” though some are supportive. If the protest does go indeed go down, we’ll do our best to be there and see who shows up.

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IDW To Screen Locke & Key at SDCC

June 22nd, 2011
Author Graeme McMillan

Wish that Fox has picked up the TV version of IDW’s Locke & Key? Going to San Diego Comic-Con? Then you’re in for a potential treat, as IDW will be screening the entire pilot at the con as part of its Locke & Key panel on Friday morning. Deadline Hollywood broke the news, noting that the screening comes from IDW themselves, and not producers 20th Century Fox. The studio is said to have loved the pilot, however, and started looking for another home for the show (Syfy is potentially in the mix); could this screening end up selling some potential new network on picking up the show for a try-out? Keep your fingers crossed.

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Movie Studios Skipping Comic-Con This Year?

June 13th, 2011
Author Albert Ching

Every year, Comic-Con International: San Diego has become increasingly important to movie studios looking to promote their splashy new genre features. Except maybe this year.

According to The New York Times, Warner Bros., Disney, DreamWorks and The Weinstein Company are all skipping Comic-Con this year, at least as far as major presentations go. The article states that even Marvel Studios is “on the fence” about their level of involvement, despite The Avengers coming in 2012. (And yes, that would presumably mean no Dark Knight Rises panel, but there wasn’t one for The Dark Knight, and that movie seemed to do OK.)

To borrow a phrase from Norm Macdonald — what the H? The article (while making the customary Ewok cosplay jokes) describes Comic-Con as a “treacherous place” for movie studios. Two main reasons: while good buzz always help, bad buzz from Comic-Con can irrevocably tarnish a product in the early going. Plus, promoting at Comic-Con is expensive, with the article citing the example of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World — a critically acclaimed and beloved by fans film that had a huge presence at San Diego last year, and nonetheless ended up earning $31.5 million domestically off of a $60m production budget.

Of course, there will be solid studio representation this year — Sony and The Amazing Spider-Man, 20th Century Fox and Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Universal and Cowboys & Aliens, and in what folks are surely already either lamenting or rejoicing, Summit and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1. So it’s not like Hall H is going to be a ghost town, and given where the event falls in the calendar, it’s still a definite priority for TV networks. But is Comic-Con’s exponential growth and influence starting to taper off a bit? Probably not a question that can accurately be answered for years — certainly it’s a hotter-than-ever prospect in terms of attendance — but will be interesting to see how things play out in the future.

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