San Diego Comic Con 2009

Twilight had tremendous lines at Comi-Con...

2009-11-01T12:19:00.001-08:00

And now Twilight inspired shirts and more are available over at CafePress:

Farscape Panel acheived its goal at Con - I'm EXCITED about the DVDs!

2009-07-30T12:24:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK, NY – When a freak accident during an experimental space mission catapulted Astronaut John Crichton (Ben Browder) across a thousand galaxies to an alien battlefield, a groundbreaking cult classic was born with the epic, adventure-filled TV series “Farscape”. On November 17, the award-winning fan favorite show, which ran from 1999-2003 on Sci Fi and was named by TV Guide as one of television’s best cult shows ever, will commemorate its 10th Anniversary with the very first complete packaging of the series. Featuring all 88 episodes on 25 discs, with original aspect ratios (4x3 for Seasons 1-3, anamorphic 16x9 widescreen for Season 4) and 5.1 surround sound, FARSCAPE: THE COMPLETE SERIES MEGASET™ delivers the venerated program to its legions of loyal fans and a new generation for the collectible price of $149.95srp.

An imaginative fusion of live action, state-of-the-art puppetry, prosthetics and CGI, “Farscape,” produced by The Jim Henson Company in association with RHI Entertainment, featured mind-boggling alien life forms, dazzling special effects, edge-of-your-seat thrills, irreverent humor and unforgettable characters -- all brought to rich life by the creative minds at Jim Henson’s Creature Shop™. Strap in and hold on tight for the extraordinary adventures of John Crichton, as he finds himself surrounded by hostile aliens and soaring through the cosmos aboard Moya, a glorious living space ship. Hunted by the relentless Peacekeepers, he allies himself with Moya’s crew -- Aeryn Sun (Claudia Black), Luxan warrior Ka D'Argo (Anthony Simcoe), azure priestess Zhaan (Virginia Hey), spritely Nebari thief Chiana (Gigi Edgley), Dominar Rygel, the deposed royal ruler of the Hynerian Empire and Pilot – to search for a way out of this inconceivably alien world and return home.

FARSCAPE: THE COMPLETE SERIES MEGASET™ contains amazing surprises, including over 15 hours of bonus programming:

29 Episode Commentaries, including “Premiere” with Rockne S. O’Bannon, Brian Henson and Ben Browder; “Jeremiah Crichton” with Claudia Black, Producer/Writer David Kemper, Browder and O’Bannon; “Bone to Be Wild” with Anthony Simcoe; “Relativity” with Lani Tupu (Crais/Voice of Pilot) and Director Peter Andrikidis; and, “Bad Timing” which features Browder, Black and Kemper discussing the series’ final episode.
Multiple featurettes and documentaries including “In the Beginning: A Look Back with Brian Henson”; “Making of a Space Opera” and “Inside Farscape: Save Farscape,” on which fans, cast and crew discuss the fate of their beloved series.
Multiple video profiles featuring archival clips and cast/crew discussing their characters and roles on Farscape.
Over 90 minutes of deleted scenes.
Slideshows and archival photo galleries, including character concepts and promo photos.
Production design galleries featuring screenshots, rough drafts and concept slide shows.
Behind-the-Scenes interviews with Ben Browder, Claudia Black, Anthony Simcoe, Virginia Hey, Gigi Edgley, Paul Goddard (Stark), Wayne Pygram (Scorpius) and more.
Original TV promos and trailers

Having seen some wonderful footage of Ben Browder and Claudia Black talking about their characters and introducing some scenes from the show, I am beyond excited about the bonus materials that have been brought together for this DVD megaset.

G4 covering Comic Con

2009-07-24T20:27:00.000-07:00

For those who couldn't come to Comic Con - G4 offers a chance to catch a glimpse of the action:

Star Wars Spectacular! - The Official Lucasfilm Panel
Saturday, July 25, 2-4PM ET/PT – only on G4
The Star Wars Spectacular! will be hosted by Kevin Pereira and Olivia Munn, and broadcast on G4 for TV audiences, for the first time in Comic-Con history. The panel will feature never-before-seen footage, breaking news, surprise announcements, guest stars, a live table read of an exclusive new Clone Wars script and much more. The panel will feature a wide array of exciting panelists, including Steve Sansweet (Lucasfilm’s Head of Fan Relations), Star Wars: The Clone Wars supervising director Dave Filoni, voice actors Matt Lanter (Anakin Skywalker), Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka Tano), James Arnold Taylor (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Catherine Taber (Padmé Amidala), Tom Kane (Yoda), and several other surprise guest stars.

“Comic Con ’09 Live” – Three Hours of Live Coverage
Saturday, July 25, 4-7PM ET/PT, only on G4

Hosts Kevin Pereira and Olivia Munn will be joined by comic book maven Blair Butler, correspondents Alison Haislip, Blair Herter and others, to deliver some of the most exciting news from the convention. The team will interview James Cameron, Peter Jackson, Megan Fox, Ben Foster, Rob Zombie, the cast of 24, the cast of the upcoming Sherlock Holmes movie, the cast of V and many other celebs and stars. In addition, this year’s show will include an exciting array of costume changes and surprise characters.

Friday at Comic Con - SPARTACUS

2009-07-23T23:57:00.000-07:00

Eagerly anticipated, by at least a few of us who love the sword and sandals era is Spartacus: Blood and Sand

So far, we know what they say:

Fans will be able to enter the arena of the eagerly anticipated Starz original series “Spartacus: Blood and Sand,” at the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con July 24 from 12:45 PM – 1:45 PM PT (room 6BCF). Starz is bringing some of the leading creative and on-air talent for fans and critics to meet in person to the leading industry fan event. Set to debut exclusively on Starz in January 2010, the violent and epic gladiator tale will have a graphic novel look and style unlike any other series on TV.

Join Lucy Lawless (“Xena: Warrior Princess,” “Battlestar Galactica”), actor Peter Mensah (300, Avatar), Executive Producers Rob Tapert (Evil Dead 1-2, Drag Me To Hell) and Steven S. DeKnight (“Angel,” “Smallville, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), and actress Erin Cummings (“Dollhouse”). They will discuss the fresh narrative approach to the ancient legend and offer exclusive first look footage at the ground-breaking series. Andy Whitfield, who plays the title character, will deliver a video message and Comic-Con greeting from New Zealand.

Tomorrow, after the panel (we hope to be able to get in to), and hopefully being one of the lucky ones to get there in time for a "fan pack" we'll have more to say.

And for those looking forward to the comic book tie-in: On July 24, DeKnight, along with the comic book’s editorial consultant R.H. Stavis, will sign limited edition copies of issue No. 1 in the “Spartacus: Blood and Sand” comic mini-series, with an exclusive Comic-Con cover. The autograph session will be from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM at the Devil's Due Publishing (DDP)’s booth (#2229).

Comic-Con attendees can swipe their electronic credentials at Starz’ Anchor Bay/Manga booth (#3345) and “enter for a chance to win a one-of-a-kind shield; an authentic prop from the battlefield of “Spartacus: Blood and Sand.

AMC's The Prisoner

2009-07-23T20:41:00.000-07:00

Having heard nothing of "the Prisoner" prior to Comic Con, this one has me more than a little intrigued. The premise sounds interesting, and the id cards being issued at the booth, which feature the con attendees photo along with a number they have been assigned in the village has me looking forward to their panel.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll have more of my own to say, but for now, I know what they have to say:

Stars of AMC’s highly anticipated mini-series “The Prisoner,” including Jim Caviezel (The Passion of the Christ, Thin Red Line, Pay It Forward), Jamie Campbell-Bower (Sweeney Todd, The Twilight Saga: New Moon) and Lennie James (“Jericho”) descend on Comic Con 2009 for a panel event and exclusive sneak preview of the highly anticipated six-part series. “The Prisoner” panel, scheduled for Friday, July 24 at 11:30am, also features “The Prisoner” writer Bill Gallagher (Conviction, Clocking Off) and AMC’s Vlad Wolynetz, vice president of production, and will be moderated by producer and director Robert Meyer Burnett. “The Prisoner,” a re-imagination of the 1960s cult classic created by the late Patrick McGoohan, premieres this November on AMC.

During the hour-long event, Burnett will lead panelists in a discussion about their personal experience making “The Prisoner,” shooting the series in Namibia and South Africa, and the various themes explored in the re-imagination, among other topics, followed by an exclusive first look at the mini-series, and a Q&A session with attendees.

Psych -- and the crowd CHEERED!

2009-07-23T18:13:00.000-07:00

What they said before we went in:

Making its Comic-Con debut is the hit original series PSYCH, which will have the entire cast present including James Roday; Dulé Hill; Corbin Bernsen; Maggie Lawson; Timothy Omundson, along with creator/writer/executive producer Steve Franks. Executive producers Chris Henze and Kelly Kulchak will also be on the panel. The panel will be moderated by E! Entertainment’s Jennifer Godwin. PSYCH fans will have their chance to ask the panelists what it really takes to put together a show about a fake psychic

And now... what I have to say:

Over the years a LOT of actors have participated in panels at comic-con. Some have turned to the show creator/writer sitting next to them and requested a script so they could indeed describe the prop they had been asked to show the audience, while others, ad lib, give hilarious off the cuff answers... and get the audience to help them let the powers that be know what is working, and what is wanted.

Dule Hill was the quieter half of the Shawn and Gus duo when he and James Roday were on stage... and James Roday was extremely subdued when compared to his Shawn character, but both had a clear respect for the fans, and an enjoyment of their characters that came out during the panel.

Somewhat obvious highlights, for the crowd, were James Roday's answer to the question about what genre would you LIKE to spoof, but have not yet had the chance to. When he answered that he felt he could speak for everyone and say, Porn, Dule Hill picked up the name plackard in front of him and read from the back the notice that this is an all ages venue and please keep answers appropriate to the environment. The audience laughed, at each in turn, and had a chance to see how well the two play off one another off screen as well as on it.

The topic of a musical episode came up, and everyone on the panel said there had been talk of doing one, but the higher ups at USA were nervous about the idea... while the audience was clearly in favor of it that might not be enough to tempt such execs into making the episode, so perhaps they should consider that this year's comic con schedule includes Sing-Along sessions for Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog (Joss Whedon's internet phenom. from last year) and the Musical episode of Buffy. Both are expected to be highlights for the fans -- and the Buffy Musical Episode has become an annual tradition at the convention.

So the crowd wished a Happy Anniversary to one panelist and his wife, who spent their ninth anniversary today at con, not long before treking, en mass, down the hall to the fullfillment room (the magic place to take tickets given to attendees during panels that they are told are good for show related swag) where each fan was given a magic 8 ball, a Psych Comic, and a fun t-shirt.

Syfy Street Team!

2009-07-22T22:29:00.000-07:00

On the streets of San Diego -- well, perhaps just in the gaslamp quarter, at intersections near the Hard Rock Cafe Hotel and the Convention Center, the Syfy Street Team was handing out postcards with a run down of Syfy related info - including when and where their panels would be this year, and packets that had in them one t-shirts that, with the help of the iron nearly every hotel room has in it these days, con attendees can turn into a shirt for one of their favorite Syfy shows using the iron-ons included.

Decisions, Decisions!

If I go with the suggestion of Syfy, and suit up this Saturday in my Syfy shirt will it simply tout the channel and their motto "Imagine Greater" or can I imagine something greater for myself, like a Stargate Universe logo, Warehouse 13... or Eureka... which might serve me well should I wander up the street to the Hard Rock Cafe Hotel where one of the restaurants has been made over in the image of Cafe Diem... or at least inspired greatly by it, including a special Syfy menu.

I willingly, and perhaps eagerly, admit I was blown away when I stepped into Cafe Diem this afternoon. From the stools at the counter, to the fun menu, it was easy to leave San Diego behind when the doors closed behind me, forget for a moment that Comic Con is a great chance to impersonate a chicken with their head cut off, and just take a nice deep breath and enjoy Cafe Diem.

On my list of recommendations to folks I encounter on the Comic Con exhibit hall floor this year is Cafe Diem, and the Syfy Street Team.

AMC's The Prisoner

2009-07-12T15:05:00.000-07:00

Stars of AMC’s highly anticipated mini-series “The Prisoner,” including Jim Caviezel (The Passion of the Christ, Thin Red Line, Pay It Forward), Jamie Campbell-Bower (Sweeney Todd, The Twilight Saga: New Moon) and Lennie James (“Jericho”) descend on Comic Con 2009 for a panel event and exclusive sneak preview of the highly anticipated six-part series. “The Prisoner” panel, scheduled for Friday, July 24 at 11:30am, also features “The Prisoner” writer Bill Gallagher (Conviction, Clocking Off) and AMC’s Vlad Wolynetz, vice president of production, and will be moderated by producer and director Robert Meyer Burnett. “The Prisoner,” a re-imagination of the 1960s cult classic created by the late Patrick McGoohan, premieres this November on AMC.

During the hour-long event, Burnett will lead panelists in a discussion about their personal experience making “The Prisoner,” shooting the series in Namibia and South Africa, and the various themes explored in the re-imagination, among other topics, followed by an exclusive first look at the mini-series, and a Q&A session with attendees.

“The Prisoner” panel will be complemented by a number of on-the-ground activities taking place throughout Comic Con:

Attendees will have an opportunity to obtain their own Village identity by visiting “The Prisoner” booth to pick-up an official Village ID badge, on which they will be identified by number only.
AMC will distribute a mini comic book created by Marvel Comics, based on the mini-series first hour.
AMC will distribute limited edition items featuring the original series’ iconic taglines such as “Be Seeing You,” “You Only Think You’re Free” and “I Am Not A Number.”

Exhibitors list -- and exhibit hall map available now

2009-07-12T15:01:00.001-07:00

Last year Eagle Eye sponsored free Wifi... iGoogle this year?

2009-07-12T14:57:00.000-07:00

In looking through the list of sponsors for this year's Comic Con in San Diego, I can't help but think iGoogle would make a lot of sense for sponsoring free wifi -- if we have it again.

Note to those getting the Comic Con Dollhouse Exclusive DVD

2009-07-09T14:42:00.001-07:00

Looks like the Whedonverse fans overwhelmed Foxstore when they rushed the proverbial gates at 10 am this past Monday in an effort to pre-order Dollhouse DVDs to pick up at Con. Several hours after the site opened, a note went up stating they were dealing with cliches... nearly 12 hours later people were able to place orders... but two days later new notes went up, they say:

Ordering Problems? Call 888-223-4369, we are actively addressing all issues. If you have been dbl charged, please call Customer Service and you will be refunded promptly.

I placed my order, where is my confirmation email?

Due to the heavy volume of traffic, the confirmation emails can be delayed upto 3 hours or more. It could also be the case that the confirmation email might have gone into your spam folder. We advise you please print the confirmation page just to be on the safe side. You can also call 888-223-4369 and one of our representatives will confirm the order for you. If we are able to confirm your order and pick up person, you need not worry about bringing your order confirmation email to Comic Con.

At least two people who called the number with the confirmation number they had gotten off the confirmation screen that came up at the end of trying to place their order on Monday were told that confirmation number was attached to a different person's name, and their order had not been placed... so... we suggest calling the number for foxstore and checking on your order before heaing off to con... just in case.

Also, keep in mind...

What limited edition number will I be getting?
Distribution of the DVD and Blu-ray will begin on Wednesday, July 22 at 6:00 PM (Preview Night). They will be distributed in blocks for each day (ex. Weds 1-700, Thurs: 701-1401, etc...). Upon pickup, please do not ask for a lower number.

So the chance exists, if you wait until late on any given day to pick your DVD/blu-ray copy up, that they will have distributed all the copies they have on hand for that day.

BBC as lots of Plans for Comic-Con!

2009-07-09T14:01:00.000-07:00

Friday, July 24

4:45-5:45pm The Mighty Boosh: creators-stars Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding along with actors Michael Fielding, Rich Fulcher and Dave Brown will be on stage to discuss the magical, bizarre and exciting world of The Boosh, currently airing on Adult Swim and released on DVD by the BBC two days before the convention begins. The San Jose Mercury News describes the show as “an acid-trip fantasy-comedy [that] is seriously deranged and seriously funny.” Room 6A

11:00pm The Mighty Boosh: The Mighty Boosh Bash hosted by creators-stars Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding along with actors Michael Fielding, Rich Fulcher and Dave Brown featuring a full cast DJ set. Tickets are $5 in advance/$10 at the door and currently available at Ticketmaster and Club Box Office. Guests must be 21+ for admittance. Fourth and B, 345 B Street.

Saturday, July 25

10:30-11:30am Doctor Who/Torchwood: writer/executive producer Russell T Davies signing at the BBC AMERICA booth (#3629).

3:00-4:00pm Being Human: creator Toby Whithouse and actors Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow and Aidan Turner signing at the BBC AMERICA booth (#3629).

4:30-5:30pm The Mighty Boosh: creators-stars Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding along with actors Michael Fielding, Rich Fulcher and Dave Brown signing at the BBC AMERICA booth (#3629).

7:30-10:00pm Torchwood/Doctor Who: Key talent from both shows introduce the last episode of the five part series Torchwood: Children of Earth and an advance viewing of Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead, the first of four specials starring David Tennant. Room 6A

Sunday, July 26

10:00-11:00am Doctor Who: actor David Tennant, writer/executive producer Russell T Davies, director Euros Lyn and executive producer Julie Gardner discuss their creative process and experiences working on BBC AMERICA’s Doctor Who with exclusive clips and a Q&A session. Ballroom 20

12:00-1:00pm Doctor Who: writer/executive producer Russell T Davies, director Euros Lyn and executive producer Julie Gardner signing in autograph area 8. Line ticket drawing to be held 9:30am in the autograph area.

2:15-3:45pm Being Human/Torchwood: Being Human creator Toby Whithouse and cast members Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow and Aidan Turner, are on stage to give an inside look at BBC AMERICA’s U.S. premiere sci-fi drama about the lives of three twenty-somethings and their secret double-lives – as a werewolf, a vampire and a ghost. Following that actor John Barrowman, creator/writer/executive producer Russell T Davies, executive producer Julie Gardner and director Euros Lyn talk about the making of the epic five-night television event Torchwood: Children of Earth as well as take questions from the fans. Ballroom 20

SPECIAL PREVIEW NIGHT PROGRAMMING Wednesday, July 22

2009-07-09T12:33:00.000-07:00

6:00-9:00 Special Sneak Peek Pilot Screenings— Comic-Con and Warner Bros. Television proudly present exclusive pilot premiere screenings of some of the most buzzed-about new TV series of the 2009–2010 season—Human Target, V, and The Vampire Diaries—as well as an exclusive preview trailer for additional upcoming shows.

Based upon the popular DC Comics title and starring Mark Valley (Fringe), Chi McBride (Pushing Daisies), and Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen), the highly anticipated Human Target is an action-packed thrill ride about a mysterious private contractor who will stop at nothing, even if it literally means becoming a human target, to keep his clients alive. Executive produced by McG (Terminator Salvation), Jonathan Steinberg (Jericho), Brad Kern (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman), Kevin Hooks (Prison Break), and Peter Johnson (Supernatural), the series is from Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Wonderland Sound and Vision, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Television. Human Target will air Wednesdays at 9:00 PM ET/PT on FOX, beginning in January.

Already one of the most talked-about new shows of the upcoming season, V is a thrilling reimagining of the groundbreaking miniseries, starring Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost), Morris Chestnut (Boyz n the Hood), Joel Gretsch (The 4400), Lourdes Benedicto (24), Logan Huffman (America), and Laura Vandervoort (Smallville), with Morena Baccarin (Firefly) and Scott Wolf (Party of Five). Scott Peters (The 4400), Jace Hall (The Jace Hall Show), Steve Pearlman (Related) and Jeffrey Bell (Angel) are the executive producers for HDFilms in association with Warner Bros. Television. V will premiere midseason on ABC.

Writer/producer Kevin Williamson (the Scream movies) is back with The Vampire Diaries, an edgy and romantic new drama in which two vampire brothers—one good, one evil—are at war for the soul of one girl. Based on the best-selling book series of the same name by L.J. Smith, the show stars Nina Dobrev (Degrassi: The Next Generation), Paul Wesley (Everwood), Ian Somerhalder (Lost), Steven R. McQueen (Everwood), Katerina Graham (17 Again), Sara Canning (Smallville), Candice Accola (Supernatural), Zach Roerig (Friday Night Lights), Kayla Ewell (Entourage), and Michael Trevino (The Riches). Williamson, Leslie Morgenstein (Gossip Girl), and Bob Levy (Gossip Girl) are the executive producers for Bonanza Productions Inc., Outerbanks Entertainment, and Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios. The Vampire Diaries will air Thursdays at 8:00 PM ET/PT this fall on The CW, premiering September 10.

all in Ballroom 20 Wednesday night. :)

Farscape at 2009 Comic Con

2009-07-01T14:16:00.001-07:00

Blasting off in November 2009, as the show marks its 10th Anniversary, the treasure of the newly re-packaged DVD line will feature a Farscape home entertainment first: THE COMPLETE SERIES MEGASET™. Never before available in one package, A&E Home Entertainment brings together all four out-of-this-world seasons with countless hours of absorbing bonus programming featuring multiple commentaries, interviews with cast and crew, behind-the-scenes featurettes and much more! Single season collector’s sets will also be released, offering genre fans of all walks the opportunity to sample this superlative sci-fi classic.

To launch this eagerly-anticipated re-release, there will be a Farscape panel convening at this year’s Comic-Con International in San Diego. Executive producer Brian Henson, creator Rockne O’Bannon, and stars Ben Browder and Claudia Black (Officer Aeryn Sun) will be in attendance to discuss their favorite moments from the series and the DVD re-release

There is no single reason to attend Comic Con International in San Diego

2008-07-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

If you go around asking people why they have come to San Diego Comic Con (aka Comic Con International in San Diego) you'll get a wide variety of answers.

Some come to see what is "hot" in entertainment in general.

Some come to meet creators of comic books, whether they are current books, or books they've loved for years and wish were still putting out new issues.

Some come to go up under the sails and get auotographs, this year new autograph signers included Eric Estrada and Lindsay Wagner.

Some come for the schwag, the freebies at the booths that vary from day to day, and cover the range of everything from dogtags (a popular give-away this year, I think I got dogtags from at least three different booths), t-shirts, bags (ranging from grocery size plastic bags to nearly four foot square canvas bags), bobble heads, pins, posters (by the dozens of designs and thousands of copies) and a great many of other items.

Some come to sit in the panels for the once in a lifetime experience of hearing someone they respect tremendously talk about a project them enjoy emmensely.

And others, like myself, come to get hooked on things they had not otherwise discovered... whether it's new tv shows just starting to get buzzed about (like Fringe), new Comic Books, or independent and small press comics they aren't familiar with (Greatest American Hero, Justice For Hire, Bushi Tales come to mind) or novelists... yup, Del Rey is no longer the only publisher on the floor, and I've got books a plenty to tempt me into becoming an avid reader of a wide variety of authors.

As a result of admitting that the novels/novelists are why I come to con, I've been asked to post a list of books I picked up this year (and that friends gave me after getting and deciding I was more likely to read than they were), so {in no particular order} here goes:

Raintree: Inferno by Linda Howard
Raintree: Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones
Hard Contact (Star Wars: Republic Commando) by Karen Traviss
The Guns of the South by Harry Turtledove
His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire, Book 1) by Naomi Novik
The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer
Pleasure Unbound: A Demonica Novel by Larissa Ione
Grailstone Gambit (Outlanders) by James Axler
Passage by Connie Willis
The Devil's Right Hand (Dante Valentine, Book 3) by Lilith Saintcrow
Snake Agent: A Detective Inspector Chen Novel by Liz Williams
Exit Strategy (Nadia Stafford Series, Book 1) by Kelley Armstrong
Wild Hunt by Lori Devoti
The Powers That Be (Room 59) by Cliff Ryder
Out Of Time (Room 59) by Cliff Ryder
Aim And Fire (Room 59) by Cliff Ryder
Killing Trade (The Executioner) by Don Pendleton
For Love of Mother-Not (Adventures of Pip and Flinx) by Alan Dean Foster
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Kitty and the Midnight Hour (Kitty Norville Series, Book 1) by Carrie Vaughn
Seize the Night (Dark-Hunter, Book 7) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Witchling (Sisters of the Moon, Book 1) by Yasmine Galenorn
Shadows Return (Nightrunner) by Lynn Flewelling
Kushiel's Scion (Kushiel's Legacy) by Jacqueline Carey

And thus ends the list of Mass Market Paperbacks I picked up... as in, that doesn't include the larger size paperbacks, the hard backs, the children's books I picked up out of curiosity, and with an eye towards young people in my life, or the reviewer galleys, or for that matter, review copies such as Deborah Pratt's The Vision Quest Book One: The Age of Light (Vision Quest Book 1).

Booth 1832 - Deborah Pratt and The Vision Quest

2008-07-26T09:46:00.000-07:00

Making time to read a novel during Comic Con is a challenge, but I am VERY glad I have taken some time each evening, since first discovering Deborah Pratt's The Vision Quest to read several chapters.

I have been drawn into a future that I grow more and more curious about with each page I turn... and the author pays attention to some of the minor details of life that we take for granted, and has updated them along with civilization in this book.

When I was in college I first encountered a professor who wanted years denoted not as BC or AD but as BCE or CE, as in Before the Common Era, and the Common Era. In Deborah Pratt's The Vision Quest we are discovering a world that exists After the Quakes that reshaped the continents of Earth. Some have sunk, others have risen, and everywhere people are adapting and living in the years AQ.

NBC/SciFi have a Busy Saturday planned for this year

2008-07-26T07:05:00.000-07:00

10:45-11:45am Heroes panel
Location: Hall H (Holds 6,500 people)

12:45-1:45pm The Office writers panel
Location: Room 6A (Holds 1,000 people)

2:15-3:15pm Battlestar Galactica panel
Location: Ballroom 20 (Holds 4,250 people)

2:15-3:15pm Chuck cast signing
Location: Warner Bros. booth

3:30-4:30pm Chuck panel
Location: Ballroom 20 (Holds 4,250 people)

4:45-5:45pm Eureka panel
Location: Room 6CDEF (Holds 2,000 people)

6:00-7:00pm TV Guide panel
Location: Room 6B
* This panel will feature several showrunners and stars from different network series. TV Guide has agreed to include Jason Smilovic and Christian Slater from My Own Worst Enemy and Ron Moore for the studio's Virtuality (for fox).

Comic Con, a great place to get hooked on novels!

2008-07-25T22:16:00.001-07:00

Years ago Del Rey was the only book publisher to come to this predominantly comics convention, but as the convention embraced more and more of the popular arts, more and more publishers of the traditional novel have started appearing. As a result, one of my favorite parts of comic con is picking up the samplers, and novels that are being given away at these booths and getting hooked on a wide-range of authors I might not have otherwise given a try.

MST3K fans... a dvd set you'll wanna watch for

2008-07-25T22:03:00.000-07:00

Celebrating 20 years after MST3K’s premiere on television, Shout! Factory proudly presents the MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000: 20th Anniversary Edition DVD box set due in stores October 28, 2008. A sumptuous ode to this cult-classic series, the 20th Anniversary Edition DVD box set features four of the show’s most requested unreleased film episodes (the four titles will be revealed at Comic-Con panel and look to have been sent out this evening, after the panel in a press release, so I've tossed them in below...) and boasts exclusive DVD bonus content that explore the genesis, life and afterlife of MST3K.

Fans will thrill to watch all new interviews with the entire MST3K family – including Joel Hodgson, Jim Mallon, Trace Beaulieu, Mike Nelson, Bill Corbett, Kevin Murphy, J. Elvis Weinstein, as well as footage from the 20th Anniversary Reunion panel (to be taped at the 2008 Comic-Con convention) and much more! Moreover, this lavishly packaged 4-DVD box set contains collectible lobby cards and a figurine of the world famous Crow T. Robot – all assembled in a collectible embossed tin and only available with the purchase of the DVD box set.

FIRST SPACESHIP ON VENUS
In the 1960 sci-fi thriller First Spaceship On Venus, a mysterious magnetic spool found during a construction project is discovered to have originated from Venus. A rocket expedition to the mysterious cloudy planet is launched to discover the origin of the spool and the alien race that created it.

LASERBLAST
In 1978’s Laserblast, young actor Kim Milford plays an ostracized teenager who stumbles upon the remains of murdered mutated alien in the California desert. Along with the alien’s remains, a high-tech laser gun and power source are accidentally left behind by the extraterrestrial murderers. While examining the equipment, the teen inadvertently mutates himself with a laserblast, and embarks upon a murderous rampage.

WEREWOLF
1996 horror flick Werewolf begins with an archeological dig in an Arizona quarry. The Native Americans at the dig site recognize an unearthed skeleton as the remains of a werewolf, yet the team of archeologists are skeptical. When a dig assistant becomes infected and transforms into a werewolf, the ambitious team leader begins a horrific experiment, infecting the oblivious townspeople with the werewolf virus.

FUTURE WAR
In 1997’s action-packed Future War, a race of evil cyborgs kidnap humans from Earth’s future to use as slaves, and take dinosaurs from the past to use as trackers. A determined slave, the “Runaway”, escapes and makes his way to present-day Los Angeles. There he must fend off the cyborgs and their trackers, the police, and the government, befriended by a prostitute-turned-nun who runs a halfway house.

Why let the NBC Booth scan your badge's barcode?

2008-07-25T20:52:00.000-07:00

NBC Universal (NBCU) Digital Distribution has partnered with Microsoft Zune and MobiTV to offer attendees of Comic-Con the chance to win prizes from NBC’s hit series “Heroes” and “The Office” in two promotional sweepstakes to be communicated via street teams. Together with NBCU, Microsoft will offer attendees the chance to win a “Heroes” branded Zune device, while MobiTV will give away 25 limited edition Dwight Schrute bobbleheads from NBC’s “The Office.”

To enter the Zune give-away, Comic-Con attendees can visit NBCU’s Booth (#3919) during the convention and swipe their Comic-Con badge for the chance to win the “Heroes” Zune, complete with the “Heroes” logo etched onto the back and pre-loaded with the “Heroes” soundtrack artwork that was created by Steven Parker. To enter the Dwight Schrute bobblehead give-away, fans of “The Office” can text DWIGHT to 62288. Winners will be notified by phone, mail and/or e-mail. *No purchase necessary, standard text rates apply.

Proud Owner Of A Big Frakkin Bag

2008-07-25T20:24:00.000-07:00

During the last hour the hall was open today I was trying to make my way from one end to the other to meet up with a few folks, and stumbled across the SciFi booth handing out Big Frakkin Bags, and Fox handing out poster tubes with AWESOME straps that make them easy to sling over your shoulder (though I have seen a few folks with those who could use a few etiquette lessons in how to avoid poking a fellow fans eye out) both had fast moving lines, with very happy fans, and some very relieved fans when it came to the big frakkin bag, as it was big enough to condense their smaller bags into for the great trek across Harbor Blvd, the Train tracks, and finally the Trolley tracks into the gaslamp quarter for dinner.

Sanctuary with Amanda Tapping

2008-07-25T11:19:00.000-07:00

I can't help but hope the line is around the block for Amanda Tapping's Sanctuary panel today. I've seen her on the stargate panels many times over the years and she is not only very entertaining, but she is a genuine and nice person... a true joy to listen to.

Last year she spoke to the press briefly about the filming of Continuum (that panel is in progress as I type this elsewhere) and mentioned having to learn how to notice if the people around you had frostbite, being warned that humans look like upright seals and polar bears (as I recall) might come after you... and being left alone with Ben Browder on HUGE ice flows, to walk, and talk, and film a scene.

This year, her web-based show has been picked up by SciFi channel, and Sanctuary is going to start reaching a larger audience, starting with whatever crowd finds the Sanctuary panel, upstairs on the back side of the convention center in Room 30AB from 5:30-6:30PM Amanda Tapping is scheduled to be in attendance, and to be joined by Martin Wood and Robin Dunne. with Michael Logan of TV Guide moderating.

30AB is one of the smaller more out of the way rooms, though it isn't located all that far from Ballroom 20 where the Stargate Panels are happening back to back to back this morning (Continuum, MMOG, then Atlantis), so hopefully Amanda's fans will scope out room 30 and remember to come back in a few hours.

time flies when you're having fun...

I am proud beyond words of the Sanctuary / Amanda Tapping fans! The line was so long 30 minutes before the panel began that I knew there was no way I was getting near it, and all I could think was GOOD! With a line like this, hopefully, the fans will find this show as it airs on SciFi and it will last.

Down at the SciFi booth after the panel I heard one person say they sat through the panel before Amanda's to make sure she was there to hear all about Sanctuary... with dedicated fans like that, a bright future for Sanctuary seems a very real possibility.

Before you even cross the trolley tracks to harbor blvd.

2008-07-25T11:17:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time you had to go into the exhibit hall and find the booth for the show/comic you were interested in, then look around for any promotional give aways... now, on 5th street, before you even cross the trolley tracks you can get a bag from History Channel promoting "jurasic fight", can get a pin, and a card for free downloads of two episodes at itunes from Dexter / Californication, be handed tickets to a showing of a movie on the jumbotron at Petco Park (that may have been yesterday only, as I didn't bump into that guy on my way to the convention center today) and today in the drop off area of the trolley was the KITT car reveal for the new Knight Rider Series!

And all that, without having made it across the trolley tracks, much less the train tracks or harbor blvd and into the convention center, where more goodness, both for free, and for sale, awaits.

In the for sale category, Joss Whedon fans should be sure to hit the SoCalBrowncoats booth (as should Neil Patrick Harris fans and Nathan Fillion fans) as they have the OFFICIAL Dr. Horrible and The Sing-Along Blog shirts... and this is a case where official isn't just a cool thing to get, but the way to go, as Dr. Horrible was released via the web, and itunes sales, and shirt sales are part of the master plan to bring in enough money the cast and crew can be paid for the work they've done. (And as an added bonus it is actually cheaper to get your shirt at con, since you don't have to pay for shipping, than from the online distributor, Jinx)

More And More You Don't Have To Attend Con To Enjoy Con

2008-07-25T10:15:00.000-07:00

There are several panels on the slate for today that I have a personal interest in, but it occurs to me where once if you missed a panel you were simply out of luck, that is no longer the case.

NBC and SciFi channel have places on their websites where people will be able to view panels, once posted, in the comfort of their own home. While they will miss out on the joy of being there IN PERSON, they will also miss out on the mass of 100,000+ people trying to make their way throughout one very large building.

Today, within 20 minutes of the exhibit hall floor opening, lines had reached capacity and been capped, and there were several places where you just had to hope the blob of people would surge forward, carrying you along with the tide, and if you were very lucky, in the direction you wanted to go.

Looking Ahead To Friday

2008-07-24T20:14:00.000-07:00

More and more booths / panels are making it simple to look forward tomorrow... the SCIFI booth had postcards for their panels tomorrow, Stargate Atlantis at 12:15 Ghost Hunters at 3, Sanctuary at 5:30, and of course, the ever popular SciFi Friday at 8:30 with Eureka, Stargate Atlantis and Scare Tactics!

But such postcards are no replacement for the event guide and website, which also note the stargate Continuum and Stargate MMO panels going on just before the Atlantis one kicks off.

Hmm, I wonder if the Stargate Worlds booth had a postcard for all of them?

For those who come for the television segment of the spectrum of programming, there are some true highlights coming your way, and you don't even have to wait until Saturday for them to start.

Preview Night... and Day 1 of the mob

2008-07-24T20:11:00.000-07:00

Having spent all of Preview Night on the convention hall floor I was faced with the very real fact that not only is San Diego Comic Con a lot bigger than it once was, but the crowds that preview night now draws rivals the crowds a busy Saturday drew 5 years ago.

And that was with a portion of the crowd (6,500 people) being in Hall H for either of two screenings of Fringe!

I can't help but wonder just how incredibly large the crowd would have seemed had there been no diversions.

As for the goodies being handed out at booths... a part of me thinks they've gone to extremes, smaller easier to hand out pins/buttons, stickers and temporary tatoos, and HUGE, massive, impressive, colorful, bags... and by huge I mean so large a child could fit in them! Last year children were being towed around in some of these bags.

But, so far (ie 1 day in) I'm seeing fewer flashlights with a compas on them, and more character pins, where the ever diligent fans can try and get as many of the characters from Atlantis (for example) as possible.

I am curious to see what tomorrow brings... today I've heard Hugh Jackman made a surprise appearance, and for those of us for whom the Greatest American Hero was also the coolest teacher to ever live, William Katt was in the house!