Anybody else overwhelmed?
Back from San Diego and back at work. I didn’t get to write up everything I wanted to live and on the floor, but I’ll post anything I can share my take on in future Nerdage installments.
It was a fun show, and saw a lot of great people out there. It gets to be a bit much around Saturday, as those reading my “Con fatigue” post can tell!
This was my first time to attempt blogging, photos and video all at San Diego. In previous years I had attended, and returned back to write 2-3 stories for the newspaper about it. This way required a lot more effort to get articles up quickly. Overall, I’m not sure about the impact — with 5,000 outlets covering Comic-Con, I wonder if I’m better off trying to contextualize fewer things than writing more posts about more things. In any case, I have some time to figure it out! The next convention I’m planning on attending isn’t until Wizard World Texas, which is both much smaller and much closer to home. I am pretty re-energized about comics in general, however.
– Matt Price
He-Man relaunches online
Castle Grayskull at Comic-Con International in San Diego.
SAN DIEGO — At Comic-Con, Mattel announced a Web site for sales to collectors of exclusive figures, including a new line of “Masters of the Universe Classics” figures. A new figure will be available every month, starting with He-Man in October. The Web site is www.mattycollector.com.
– Matt Price
Larry Hama to relaunch GI Joe at IDW
GI Joe fans at Comic-Con International in San Diego.
Comic Book Resources has an interview with Larry Hama, in which the longterm “GI Joe” writer discusses his relaunch of the property with IDW.
With a movie coming out next year, IDW and Hama are taking “GI Joe” in a new direction.
“It sort of has to be rebooted,” Hama told CBR. “The problem with any of these things is that it builds up so much baggage. … I don’t have to stick to what happens in the movie, and I don’t have to stick with how the characters developed in the ’80s. I thought it all needed a revamping and retelling.”
Whatever happened to the Caped Crusader?
Batman at the Sony Online Entertainment Booth at Comic-Con International in San Diego.
Newsarama has the a rundown with DC’s executive editor Dan DiDio about a huge Comic Con International announcement: Neil “Sandman” Gaiman will write a two-part “Batman” storyline, with art by Andy Kubert.
The story, called “Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?” is an homage to “Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow,” the Alan Moore story that ended the “Silver Age” run of the character.
The issues are due out in January.
– Matt Price
Indiana Jones LEGOs
SAN DIEGO — Indiana Jones was on hand at Comic-Con International in brick form. Toymaker LEGO showcased the adventurer both as a giant LEGO figure, and in displays from the latest line featuring the character.
– Matt Price
Sneak peek at “The Spirit”
Director-Writer Frank Miller on the set of his film THE SPIRIT. (Lewis Jacobs)
SAN DIEGO — Fans in a packed-to-capacity Hall H at Comic-Con International were given a first look at three scenes from the upcoming “The Spirit.” A new, longer trailer was also shown for the first time.
Director Frank Miller and several others connected with the film were on hand as more about the Will Eisner adaptation was revealed. Miller described his longtime relationship with Eisner, who created the Spirit.
“Will and I never stopped debating the nature of comic books and how they work,” said Miller, who first came to prominence in the early 1980s as the writer-artist of the comic book “Daredevil.” Miller later wrote and drew “Batman: The Dark Knight Returns,” “Sin City” and “300.” He moved to film work on the movie adaptation of “Sin City,” where he was a co-director with Robert Rodriguez. “The Spirit” is Miller’s first work as a solo director.
Miller said he debated “for about three seconds” before accepting “The Spirit,” which has put many of his other creative endeavors on hold.
“I realized if I didn’t do it, someone else would do it,” he said.
Though it’s held up other graphic novel projects, Miller said “The Spirit” has been very rewarding for him.
“I’ve had moments of creative euphoria that I’ve not had before,” he said.
The scenes shown explore The Spirit (Gabriel Macht), his relationship with Ellen Dolan (Sarah Paulson) and his battle with the Octopus (Samuel L. Jackson). There’s also a scene featuring Sand Saref (Eva Mendes) underwater, in what Miller described as a new technique — the filmmakers shot the scene without using water.
– Matt Price
Meeting “Feedback”
SAN DIEGO — Ran into Matthew “Feedback” Atherton, the winner of the first season of Sci-Fi Channel’s “Who Wants to Be a Superhero?” while walking the hallways of Comic-Con International. He was about to shoot an online Webisode in full “Feedback” gear, and told me to keep an eye out for it. When I have a link, I’ll post it here.
He’s a gracious and fun guy, and I look forward to continued success for him. It’s great that the “Superhero” winners so far have been guys who understand and love the comics medium and the superhero genre.
– Matt Price
Flash gets Rebirth; Kevin Smith writes Batman
SAN DIEGO — DC’s executive editor Dan DiDio may have undersold what could be a sweeping change for a major DC character in his introductions for the DC Nation panel on Thursday at Comic-Con International.
As he introduced writer Geoff Johns and artist Ethan Van Sciver, DiDio almost casually mentioned the pair would collaborate on a miniseries starring Barry Allen: “Flash: Rebirth.”
Barry Allen was a police scientist who was DC Comics’ fastest man alive from 1956 until his death in the pages of “Crisis on Infinite Earths” in 1985. The period in the late 1950s and 1960s in comics is often called “The Silver Age.”
Johns and Van Sciver previously revived Hal Jordan, the Silver Age Green Lantern, in a series titled “Green Lantern: Rebirth.”
“If you liked what we did on ‘Green Lantern: Rebirth,’ hopefully you’ll check out ‘Flash: Rebirth,’ out in January,” Johns said.
The next-biggest surprise of the panel was an unnanounced appearance by writer/director Kevin Smith (”Clerks”). Smith, who previously wrote “Green Arrow” for DC Comics, announced he’d be writing a three-issue “Batman” miniseries.
Smith, who is a popular writer, but known for his chronic lateness, said the series would start in November.
“Batman: Cacophony” brings back the villain Onomonopoea from Smith’s “Green Arrow,” and will also feature villains the Joker and Mr. Zsasz.
“It’s fun to be back at DC playing in the sandbox again,” Smith said.
– Matt Price
Hulk vs. Wolverine
SAN DIEGO — Marvel and Lionsgate debuted the “Hulk vs. Wolverine” portion of the upcoming “Hulk Vs.” DVD, which will also feature a “Hulk vs. Thor” episode. The DVD will go on sale in January.
On hand to discuss the DVD were supervising producer and co-writer Craig Kyle, producer and supervising director Frank Paur, co-writer Christopher Yost and voice actor Fred Tatasciore, who portrayed the Hulk.
“This is the fight we’ve loved since 181,” said Kyle, referring to the first appearance of Wolverine in “Incredible Hulk” 181, where the Canadian mutant and the green Goliath first threw down.
“We’ve brought it together in a way I think you guys are gonna love,” Kyle said. “These are the kinds of films I think we should be making for you guys.”
Kyle focused on the fans during the presentation, saying the Marvel direct-to-DVD features were aimed at pleasing the comic-book fans first.
Co-writer Chris Yost, who also writes the comic-book “X-Force” with Kyle, talked about bringing the comic-book feel to the project.
“Everything that the fans like, the action and the edge, I’ve tried to bring to it,” Yost said.
Paur said the DVD can be more violent and action-oriented than broadcast television; there’s also some things that are more cost-effective on DVD.
“There are some things … that I wouldn’t even think about approaching (for TV) that we did on these features,” Paur said. “We did some things that would not be cost-conscious on a TV series.”
Kyle talked a bit about “Next Avengers,” a PG-rated animated DVD featuring the children of the original Avengers, and indicated it would be more kid-appropriate than the more violent “Hulk Vs.” He also mentioned some other kid-friendly properties he’d like to see.
“I think there’s room for ‘Power Pack,’ ‘New Mutants,’ and then there’s stuff where we need five amputations to make it right.”
– Matt Price
Convention fatigue sets in
While usually the throng of people and the lines and the lack of sleep eventually cause me to hit the “con fatigue” wall sometime on Saturday of Comic-Con International, today it set in early.
Arriving two hours early, I walked around the building — and around — and around — seeking the end of the line for Hall H, which is hosting the “Heroes” and “Lost” panels this morning. The hall seats 6,500. There were possibly twice that in line. After walking for maybe 30 minutes just trying to locate the end of the line, I decided “Heroes” and “Lost” weren’t in the cards.
I thought it’d be a good plan to work on the blog, so I walked up toward the retailer lounge in room 21, where I’ve been able to do some work the last two days. A security guard stopped me two yards from the door, and said I couldn’t proceed any further. He said I could, however, walk around the building and come to the room from the other side.
“You need me to walk a mile to go two feet?” I asked.
“Yes,” he replied.
So, I walked around the building again, and came to room 21 from the other side. (Along the way I bypassed the official press lounge, 28. I was involved in retailer programming this year, so I got my pass as a retailer. I’ve never found that getting a press pass at Comic-Con gets you anything; you have to wait in line like everyone else.)
I pulled on the door to finally get to work — and the door is locked. Several security guards couldn’t tell me why the door is locked, and their best solution was to scurry around the building several more times asking for someone to open the door for me. Instead, I am sitting on the floor across from room 21, trying to recharge.
On the positive side, I’ve seen a ton of cool stuff, much of which I haven’t been able to type up yet. (Last night was a late one, and the internet where I’m staying has been spotty.)
I hope to get more reports up today from the convention. Overall, Comic-Con is still a lot of fun — but man, it is a madhouse. And a little humanity and compassion instead of strict rule-following would go a long way to soothe the long line-waiting and mile-walking.
– Matt Price
