Comic Book News

Saturday, July 25th San Diego Comic Convention

• 10:00-11:00 Writers' Guild Panel: PG-13 Animation— Is animation growing up, or is a PG-13 rating just an excuse for cartoon writers to use bad words and graphically kill off their characters? Alan Burnett (Green Lantern: First Flight), Matt Wayne (Hellboy Animated: Sword of Storms), Michael Jelenic (Wonder Woman), Charles Horn (Robot Chicken), Paul Dini (Return of the Joker), Greg Johnson (The Ultimate Avengers, The Invincible Iron Man, Doctor Strange), and Stan Berkowitz (Justice League: New Frontier, Superman/Batman: Public Enemies) will answer this as well as other, more serious questions about this new genre (if you don't count 1972's Fritz the Cat). Spoiler alert: Expect these writers to announce lots of exciting new projects. Room 3

• 10:00-11:30 The Black Panel— By now you must have heard about the massive amount of fun The Black Panel is! 2009's panel will be the one that puts all others to shame. This year's panel includes Ludacris, Michael Jai White (Black Dynamite), Kel Mitchell (Kenan & Kel, The Brash Brothers), Prodigal Sunn (The Wu Tang Clan), Reggie Hudlin (Black Panther animated series), Denys Cowan (Black Panther animated series), and as always some surprise guests! Moderated by Michael Davis. Room 5AB

• 11:30-12:30 Activision/Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2— Marvel and Activision have a long history of bringing some of the world's most popular and beloved comic book storylines to video games and their fans. That pedigree will continue with a number of Stan Lee's famed Marvel characters inspired by Mark Millar's Civil War storyline, brought to life in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2. Learn first-hand the various facets that go into transforming a comic book's storyline into a captivating video game, including voice work, writing, development, and creativity, all the while evolving with the high-definition environment of the gaming world. Join Stan Lee, game voice-over actors Armin Shimmerman and Fred Tatasciore, and members from Activision's development studio, Vicarious Visions, to gain insight and a preview of the imagination, creative process and technology used to develop some of the most advanced superhero games ever. Indigo Ballroom / Hilton Bayfront

• 1:30-2:30 Miramax: Extract— Mike Judge, the creator of such comedy classics as Office Space, Beavis and Butthead and King of the Hill is back with his latest film Extract starring Jason Bateman (Arrested Development), Mila Kunis (Forgetting Sarah Marshall), and Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live). Join Judge and his cast for a discussion and first look at scenes from their new film. Hall H

• 3:30-4:30 Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day— In the sequel to the cult classic The Boondock Saints, director Troy Duffy brings back Sean Patrick Flanery (Suicide Kings, Powder), Norman Reedus (American Gangster, Blade 2), and Billy Connolly (The Last Samurai) and introduces Carlo Berardinucci, Clifton Collins Jr. (Star Trek, Crank 2) as a new partner-in-crime, and Julie Benz (Rambo, Punisher 2, Saw) as the sexy FBI operative who is hot on their trail. Join Troy and the cast for a panel discussion about the new film and the world premiere of the trailer. Room 6DE

• 4:00-5:00 Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment: Iron Man 2— Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment present the sequel to the blockbuster film based on the legendary Marvel superhero Iron Man. Directed by Jon Favreau, Iron Man 2 stars Robert Downey Jr. Joining Downey in the cast are Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Jon Favreau, Clark Gregg, John Slattery, Mickey Rourke, and Samuel L. Jackson. Hall H

• 4:30-5:30 Mike Mignola: Hellboy— The creator of Hellboy talks about upcoming projects and what's next for the Beast of the Apocalypse. Mike Mignola and his long-suffering editor Scott Allie provide an overview of the coming year and an always frank Q&A session!

• 4:30-5:30 Top Cow: Comics & Multimedia— Marc Silvestri (Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia), Matt Hawkins (president of Top Cow), and Filip Sablik (publisher of Top Cow) hit you with a hurricane of exciting news and announcements from comics, film, television, anime, and much more! Joining them will be Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes, Berserker) and Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead)! Don't miss major announcements regarding the Witchblade feature film, Witchblade anime, and Darkness video game! Plus a major casting announcement for The Darkness film and a special surprise guest or two! Room 7AB

• 4:45-5:45 Spotlight on J. Michael Straczynski— Triple Eisner-nominated and Comic-Con special guest J. Michael Straczynski presents a freewheeling discussion about his work in comics (Brave and the Bold, Thor, Amazing Spider-Man), television (Babylon 5), movies (Changeling, Ninja Assassin, Forbidden Planet, Lensman and more) and anything else that comes to mind. Every year JMS's talks are a focus of heated conversation, and that's just between us and law enforcement when they show up midway through... Room 6A

• 5:15-6:45 Kevin Smith— Direct from New York City, where he's directing the new Warner Bros. film A Couple of Dicks starring Bruce Willis, Seann William Scott, and Tracy Morgan, Kevin Smith returns to the Hall H stage for his annual report to the masses. And remember: he flew in just for YOU. Hall H

• 6:00-7:15 Adult Swim Development: The Venture Bros. Panel— Fans will get the chance to hear from the Adult Swim development team and get a first look at upcoming Adult Swim programming. Nick Weidenfeld, director of development, and Matt Harrigan, executive producer/series writer, will give highlights of what's in the tube for fall 2009. Then Venture Bros. co-creators Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer, James Urbaniak (voice of Dr. Venture) and Mike Sinterniklaas (voice of Dean Venture), will also be on hand to discuss the hit series The Venture Bros. and give fans insight into its future. Vice president of production for Adult Swim Keith Crofford moderates. Room 6A

• 7:30-10:00 Torchwood/Doctor Who Screenings—

1. Torchwood: Children of Earth, an epic television event from BBC America's highest rated series, has the Torchwood team facing their fiercest threat to date—one that throws the future of Torchwood and the entire human race spiraling into danger. The finale finds Torchwood defenseless and Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles) standing alone, as the final sanction begins. As violence erupts and the world descends into anarchy, an ordinary housing estate becomes a battleground where the future of the human race will be decided. Torchwood: Children of Earth hits stores on Blu-ray and DVD July 28, 2009. In the first of the final four specials from Russell T Davies and starring David Tennant, Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead, finds the Doctor trapped on a desert alien planet with a red double-decker bus but no Tardis. He soon discovers the mysterious planet holds terrifying secrets hidden in the sand and is forced to team up with a mysterious, aristocratic thief, Lady Christina (Michelle Ryan, Bionic Woman), to get back to Earth. But time is running out, as the deadly Swarm gets closer. This is the first Time Lord adventure to be shot in HD. Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead hits stores on Blu-ray and DVD July 28, 2009. Room 6DE

• 8:00-9:00 Showtime: Weeds— If you are addicted to Weeds, this is the panel you don't want to miss! Find out everything you want to know with a Q&A and interview with the series creator and its stars! Featured panelists include Jenji Kohan (creator/executive producer), Hunter Parrish (Silas), Justin Kirk (Andy), and other cast members. Weeds airs on Mondays at 10:00 pm on Showtime. Indigo Ballroom / Hilton Bayfront

• 8:30-12:15 Watchmen: Director's Cut—Live with Zack Snyder! Plus Sneak Peek of Batman: Arkham Asylum with Mark Hamill & Kevin Conroy— Get the ultimate inside track on two landmark Warner Bros. releases with the world premiere screening of Watchmen: Director's Cut and a first-look panel for the breakout Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment game Batman: Arkham Asylum. The festivities will open with a Batman: Arkham Asylum panel led by the benchmark voices of Batman and the Joker, Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series) and Mark Hamill (Star Wars), as well as award-winning writer Paul Dini (Batman: The Animated Series). Then Watchmen director Zack Snyder, legendary illustrator Dave Gibbons and actor Jackie Earle Haley discuss the nuances of the film's Director's Cut— which hit stores on July 21. And for the pièce de résistance, Snyder will host a BD Live Community event—providing a real-time, in-person director's commentary for Comic-Con attendees (and BD Live viewers at home) as the film rolls. Audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions of Snyder via computer kiosks within the room, making for an entirely interactive viewing experience. Room 6BCF

• 8:45-11:45 HBO's True Blood Presents: The San Diego Comic-Con International Masquerade— Fabulous original and re-created costumes crafted by our talented attendees appear on stage before an audience of thousands, with impressive awards and cash prizes bestowed to those judged most outstanding. Doors will open for audience seating at 8:15 PM, but the line will start much earlier! Tickets will be required for seating and will be given out free to those lining up near Ballroom 20 beginning at 4:30 PM. Masters of Ceremony are writers/artists Phil Foglio and Kaja Foglio of Studio Foglio, and halftime entertainment will feature special advance movie previews, behind-the-scenes films, and more. (Overflow seating available in Rooms 5AB, 6A and in the Sails Pavilion.) Ballroom 20