Episode 163: Toy Wizards, Pop Lurkers, and Running Mysteries.

Episode 163 is filled with reviews and interviews and comes in at one hour and 52 minutes!

Segments 1 and 2: Something Old/Something New

The "something new" for episode 163 are the Young Adventurer's Guides from Ten Speed Press. Weapons & Warriors and Monsters & Creatures are written by Jim Zub, Stacy King, and Andrew Wheeler as introductions to D&D fantasy tropes for younger readers who are interested in playing Dungeons & Dragons.

The books are described as "all the information you need to start building your own characters and putting together your adventuring party," but are they? Listen and find out.

The Supercrew by Tobias Radesäter is a rules light roleplaying game of superheroic action. Like the old Masters of the Universe Role Playing Game, the rules for the game are presented in a comic book format. Supercrew's central conceit is that the players are playing super heroic versions of themselves, which provides game masters with an interesting opportunity that I discuss in my review.

Does The Supercrew work as a role playing game, or is it a mere novelty item?

Segment 3: An Interview with the Toy Wizards 

Toy-Wizards is one of the go to websites for toy collecting news and we had the honor of interview to of the Toy Wizard crew, Loryn Stone and Scott Zillner, in this episode.

Image Source -- Toy Wizards

Loryn Stone is the Editor in Chief of Toy Wizards and has dedicated her life to the Word of the Nerd. She is most excited by collecting toys, writing about them, and infiltrating the convention scene. Loryn is also the writer of SyFy Wire’s ‘Important Toy News’ column, as well as the site owner and Executive Editor of Toy Wizard’s sister site, PopLurker.com.

Her writing has been published on other pop culture websites such as Cracked, LoadScreen, Nerdbot, That Hashtag Show, and Temple of Geek. Her toy collection is comprised of Megazords, Gundam, miscellaneous robots and trinkets, Sailor Moon, Snoopy, Otaku Garbage, and Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Image Source -- Toy Wizards

Scott Zillner is a world-renowned toy collector and the owner and founder of Toy Wizards. He grew up in the 1980s, the undisputed greatest decade ever. He truly believes in collecting, and his once hobby is now his lifestyle. A new world Renaissance man, he is a professional Artist, Toy Expert, and Convention promoter. He collects massive amounts of toys, games, and art. He also runs several pop culture conventions.

As a Professional Artist, he worked on Disney’s 2010 Tron Legacy film, painting the light bikes and toys in young Flynn’s room. The same year, his Tron Stich collectible vinyl sculpture from Disney was released.

Segment 4: Dungeons & Dilemmas -- Running Mysteries

In our second Dungeons and Dilemmas segment, writer/director David Nett and I discuss the challenges Dungeon Masters face when running mystery themed adventures in role playing games.  David came to the discussion with three key recommendations, but the conversation ended with five. Along the way, we make a number of pop culture adventures and give insight into our own personal game campaigns.

Episode Segments Featured Discussion of the Events and Products Listed Below:

• Toon Con (November 10, 2019) - A new convention that celebrates all genres and eras of animated entertainment.
• Powermorphicon - The largest convention dedicated to the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.
• Japan World Heroes (August 16-18, 2019) - A convention dedicated to Kaiju, tokusatsu, Giant Robots and more. 
• D&D Basic Set - This is the Tom Moldvay Basic Set that inspired a Generation of young kids.
• The Veiled Society - One of the first D&D modules to break out of the dungeon and into the city.
• The Tomb of Horrors - The dungeon Gary Gygax wrote to put power gamers in their place.
• Players Essentials: Heroes of the Fallen Lands - While the early 4th edition books didn't capture the imagination the way some hoped, the Essentials series was fantastic.
• The Dungeons & Dragons Essentials Kit - This game set is exclusive to Target. Hunt it down. It's worth it.
• The Dungeons & Dragons Starter Kit - All you need to start playing D&D.
• Monster Slayers: Heroes of Hesiod - An adventure for young players written by Susan J. Morris.
• Monster Slayers: Champions of the Elements - Another Susan J. Morris adventure for younger players.
• Warriors & Weapons -- by Jim Zub, Stacy King, and Andrew Wheeler.
• Monsters & Creatures -- by Jim Zub, Stacy King, and Andrew Wheeler.
• The Supercrew -- by  Tobias Radesäter
• A Study in Scarlet -- by Arthur Conan Doyle.
• Dune -- by Frank Herbert

We hope you enjoy your listening experience. We've got a lot of great interviews lined up in the future and you can leave us voice messages on our Anchor.fm page if you have any topics you'd like us to discuss.

2011 Gen Con -- An Experience to Remember

Each summer tens of thousands of gamers take over a Midwestern American city to experience the “Best Four Days of Gaming,” the Gen Con gaming convention.  Comic book and pop culture fans have San Diego’s Comic Con, Hobby gamers have Gen Con.  In 2001, the convention became so large that outgrew Milwaukee’s large MECCA convention center.   For the past nine years, Gen Con has been held in Indianapolis’ large Indiana Convention Center and they have been filling it to the brim.  Since last year the Indiana Convention Center has doubled in size.  But like the freeways of Southern California, the increase in accessible flow space has quickly been filled with excited gamers.  

Gen Con LLC won’t release official attendance figures until Sunday night, but those who had pre-purchased attendance badges with the expectation of quickly picking them up were in for a surprise.  Both the night before the formal festivities began, and the first morning of the convention, the line to pick up badges extended for blocks.  Wise where those who had their badges Fedexed to them before the show.

The event is filled with PR panels where publishers announce new product, industry pros discuss breaking into the industry, game auctions, two awards celebrations, and game design workshops.   Oh...and there is a ton of game playing going on as well.

In short, it's like Comic Con before Hollywood descended onto the occasion.  It's an event for Hobby Gamers and by Hobby Gamers.  Peter Adkinson, the Owner of Gen Con LLC, is a long time veteran of the gaming industry who says that "in recent years I've hungrily devoured many of the games that might be labeled 'indie RPGs' because I love how their designers are turning upside down so many traditional notions about how RPGs 'have to be.'"  This veteran's quote hits on something amazing.  In a downturned economy, the gaming industry is booming.  While sales figures for many games may be below record levels, there has never been a greater variety of excellent gaming product available for play.  What's more, the Indie Games are growing in their audience and pushing new demographic ground as well as new mechanical ground.

Speaking of Indie Games -- Wednesday Night, the Diana Jones Awards awards celebration was held.  The Diana Jones Awards are an annual award that is won by something that represents "excellence in gaming."  It's a broad award criteria that has allowed for a broad array of prior winners.  People have won the award for their contribution to the community, conventions have won for their charity work, websites have won, and yes games have won.  This year, the excellent Indie Game "Fiasco" 

by Jason Morningstar took home the prize.

Fiasco is inspired by cinematic tales of small time capers gone disastrously wrong – inspired by films like Blood Simple, Fargo, The Way of the Gun, Burn After Reading, and A Simple Plan. You’ll play ordinary people with powerful ambition and poor impulse control. There will be big dreams and flawed execution. It won’t go well for them, to put it mildly, and in the end it will probably all go south in a glorious heap of jealousy, murder, and recrimination. Lives and reputations will be lost, painful wisdom will be gained, and if you are really lucky, your guy just might end up back where he started.

Fiasco is a GM-less game for 3-5 players, designed to be played in a few hours with six-sided dice and no preparation. During a game you will engineer and play out stupid, disastrous situations, usually at the intersection of greed, fear, and lust. It’s like making your own Coen brothers movie, in about the same amount of time it’d take to watch one.

There is much more to report, but I am getting ready to head out to a panel hosted by Margaret Weis Productions where they will be announcing their new game license. They say it is a HUGE license.

Geekerati Discusses the Ins and Outs of San Diego Comic Con

Last Sunday, the Geeks at Geekerati hosted this year's first episode of their annual Comic Con episode series. The Geeks are all experienced attendees of the San Diego Comic Con and have witnessed it grow from a well attended comic book convention to the monolithic pop culture extravaganza that the event is today.

In last Sunday's episode, the geeks provided answers to some of the Frequently Asked Questions about the convention. The discussion used Shawna Benson's excellent Shouting at the Wind "REAL Guide to the San Diego Comic Con" as the outline for the conversation. Benson has been a member of the Geekerati crew for over two years and provides wonderful insight into the television and film aspects of the convention.

This Sunday, the Geeks will be discussing the lesser known aspects of SDCC. In addition to Comic Book and films about Comic Books, the SDCC has events and panels that span all pop culture interests. Whether you love SF/Fantasy literature, old horror movies, Pulp Fiction like HP Lovecraft and Robert E Howard, or have a deep affection for video games and table top gaming, the SDCC has events geared toward your interests. Stop by this Sunday night at 6pm Pacific at www.blogtalkradio.com/geekerati to offer your insights are to ask questions of our expert panel.

Joining the Geeks in their discussion this Sunday will be Dominic Crapuchettes, the game designer responsible for the award winning Wits and Wagers and Say Anything! party games.

Past guests on the show have included:

Film and Television writer John Rogers discussing the writer strike, LEVERAGE, and comic books.

Dave Goetsch (Co-Executive Producer on Big Bang Theory)

Television writer/producer Tim Minear (Angel/Firefly) discussing the writer strike.

Television writer/producer Rob Long(Cheers) discussing the writer strike.

Variety editors David S. Cohen and Peter Debruge discussing film animation and this year's crop of films, including the remarkable 3D animation on BEOWULF.

Game Designer and Author Matt Forbeck.

Science Fiction author Susan Palwick who discussed her excellent novel "Shelter"

Comic Writer/Reporter Marc Bernardin discussing his Highwaymen comic book.

Film Critics Luke Y. Thompson (The OC Weekly) and David Chute (The LA Weekly and Premiere.com)

Wold Newton Historian Win Eckert discussing pulps and the Wold Newton Universe.

Comic Book editor and author Jeff Mariotte

Game Designer James Lowder.

Many others, including Shelly Mazzanoble (Confessions of a Part-Time Sorceress)

New Iron Man Suit

Picture by Pat Ditton.

While at Comic Con, our intrepid reporter Patrick Ditton attended the Iron Man movie panel. Here are his thoughts:

It takes guts to screen a trailer made from raw footage (no special effects) for a film that will eventually be thick with special effects - but that's just what Jon Favreau did for 20,000 howling Comic Con fans.

Can we say "blockbuster" yet?

If the few minutes of IRON MAN screened for the San Diego crowd are any true indication of what audiences can expect from the film in 2008, then all of us are in for an incredible movie experience. Favreau clipped together a humorous, yet serious, Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark -- the billionaire inventor of military hardware -- and then blew the audience away with action sequences featuring a "nuts and bolts" Iron Man armor that definitely puts the IRON in Iron Man.

To cap it all off, the one shot Favreau gave the crowd that had finished special effects was that of the "updated" Iron Man 2.0 (red and gold) armor flying maneuvers alongside two F-18s only to suddenly kick in the jet-boot after burners and streak off beyond the horizon, leaving the F-18s as if they were sitting still - fade to black and to the roar of cheers from 20,000 thrilled fans.

This could be Marvel's best comic-to-film production yet.

Sounds exciting to me, and looking at the armor it appears that Favreau is once again using models and costumes supplemented with computer graphics rather than "mere" computer rendering on the effects. Both Zathura and Elf used model work in their effects adding wonderful verisimilitude to the fictional worlds that Favreau was presenting to audiences.

Photos from Comic Con

Pre-Comic Con Geekerati Radio Show

Your friendly panelists at Geekerati will be attending the San Diego Comic Con this week. Listen as we discuss the conference events we plan to attend and who we hope to recruit as future guests on the show.

While the name Comic Con immediately brings to mind DC, Marvel, and various independent comic book companies, the convention has become a broad popular culture experience in recent years. Yes, the comic powerhouses are all present, but so are the SciFi Channel and numerous film and television companies who use the con as a place to promote their movies and shows. This year that list includes the BBC's Torchwood series, Zack Snyder's upcoming Watchmen movie, a screening of the new TV show Chuck and a lot more.

Listen in tonight at 7pm to hear what panels we plan on attending and call in to let us know if you will be attending. Is there an interview you would like us to attempt to attain? A particular "exclusive" you would like us to acquire as a give-away on a future episode of Geekerati Radio? Let us know.

Comic Con Approaches and I Must Plan My Days

In two weeks, I'll be heading down to San Diego for my annual trek down to Comic Con International. The Con just released the schedule of events, and once again I am forced to make tough decisions as to what panels I will be attending. There is so much interesting going on, but only so much time in the day. The schedule also usually makes me choose between two or more panels that I want to attend. In short, until I become Madrox the Multiple Man there will always be some events that I will miss.

That being the case, I have to begin planning my days early. First step? Finding the events that really interest me. Here is a list, by day, of the events I'd really like to attend. In case you're wondering, there are events that I am interested in that aren't listed here, but those are typically events that I think would be "nice" to attend. The events listed below are events I really want to see.

For those of you who are wondering why I want to attend all of these podcasting and webcasting panels, it's because I have my own online radio show where my friends and I discuss geeky topics. Come join us at Geekerati, call in, chat, and get free stuff.

Thursday, July 26

11:00-12:00 G7 Animation and Bernie Wrightson: Biker Mice to Freak Show— Two years ago an artist-run animation studio, Gang of Seven Animation, brought in legendary artist Bernie Wrightson (Swamp Thing) to produce updated character designs for the revival of Biker Mice From Mars. The creativity continued as several horror feature projects emerged: an original concept and an adaptation of Wrightson and Bruce Jones’ graphic novel, Freak Show. Bernie Wrightson and top voice talent Ian Ziering (Dancing with the Stars), Rob Paulsen (Pinky and the Brain) and Jess Harnell (Animaniacs), along with directors Tom Tataranowicz (He-Man), Rich Arons (Freakazoid!) and executive producer Ted Bather talk about the creative process of series and feature production. The presentation will include the U.S. premiere of footage from Biker Mice From Mars and the world premiere of footage from Freak Show and a short based on Wrightson’s poster Change for a Dollar. The panel will be moderated by AACC President and head of G7’s business development, David Armstrong. Room 6B

11:00-12:00 Tor Books—Editors from Tor Books, the largest science fiction and fantasy publishing company in the U.S., fill you in on new and upcoming releases. Room 10

11:30-12:30 Episodic Games and Comics: Made for Each Other—With episodic gaming emerging as a new medium for storytelling, it's no surprise that comics licenses are a great fit. Telltale Games and Hothead Games are leading the way with episodic series based on popular comics—Telltale with Sam & Max: Season One and Hothead with the upcoming Penny Arcade Adventures. Members of both teams, along with Sam & Max creator Steve Purcell, describe the ins and outs of adapting a comic license into an interactive experience. Find out why playing your favorite comic series can be so much fun. Room 1AB

1:00-2:00 Hasbro Marvel—Hasbro marketing and design team members discuss what's new for the remainder of 2007 and give a sneak peak of what's in store for Spider-Man and Marvel products in Spring 2008. Question on all Hasbro Marvel products are welcome. Room 5AB

1:30-3:30 Paramount Pictures—Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, and Nickelodeon Movies present a bold new vision for the future of adventure. Be here for a one-of-a-kind presentation put together just for the fans at Comic-Con as you get a look at such highly anticipated films as Beowulf, The Spiderwick Chronicles, Stardust, Hot Rod, Iron Man, and the next installments of Indiana Jones and Star Trek, plus a few surprises. Appearing in person: JJ Abrams, Robert Downey Jr., Jon Favreau, Neil Gaiman, Roger Avary, and SNL's Andy Samberg. Hall H

2:15-3:15 BBC America: Torchwood—Writer Russell T. Davies (Doctor Who) has created a spectacular spin-off TV series from Doctor Who with Torchwood, about a rogue team of investigators who use scavenged alien technology to solve present-day crime—both alien and human. Catch an extended clip of the new series and a panel discussion with actor Eve Myles (Gwen Cooper), series writer Chris Chibnall, and executive producer Julie Gardner. TV Guide’s West Coast Bureau Chief Craig Tomashoff moderates. Room 6A

3:00-4:30 Starz Media: Harryhausen Returns and Hatchet—Two great new features are previewed in this event. First up it’s Harryhausen Returns, with motion picture special effects legend Ray Harryhausen talking about his upcoming feature film, Ares: God of War, a new adventure of Jason and the Argonauts, produced by Starz Media. Harryhausen will be joined by the film’s producers, Karen Bailey and Kevin VanHook. VanHook is also well known in the comic world as one-time executive editor for Valiant Comics and the co-creator/writer of the Bloodshot series and writer of the Flash Gordon Sunday comic strip. Also joining the panel will be actor/martial artist Ray Park, best know as Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode One and Toad in X-Men. With Hatchet, writer/director Adam Green celebrates old-school American horror with his upcoming film featuring the new slasher icon Victor Crowley! See what makes Victor tick with Green and stars of the film, including horror legends Robert Englund (Freddy Krueger), Kane Hodder (Jason Voorhees), and Tony Todd (Candyman), along with Tamara Feldman (Perfect Stranger), Mercedes McNab (Buffy The Vampire Slayer), Joleigh Fioreavanti (Nip/Tuck), and Deon Richmond (Not Another Teen Movie). Room 6CDEF

4:00-5:00 Where Did That Come From? Dark Fantasy and Suspense Authors Discuss Their Darkest Ideas—They’re the ones who made their parent/significant other/child/editor inquire, "Where did that come from?" Authors F. Paul Wilson (Repairman Jack novels), David Morrell (Captain America: The Chosen), Jeffrey J. Mariotte (Missing White Girl), Simon Wood (Accidents Waiting to Happen), Christopher Golden (The Myth Hunters), Stephen Woodworth (From Black Rooms), Mike Carey (The Devil You Know), and Richard Kadrey Butcher Bird) reveal their inner darkness with moderator Maryelizabeth Hart of Mysterious Galaxy. Room 2

4:00-5:00 Spotlight on Adam Hughes—Celebrating his 25th year in comics, Comic-Con special guest Adam Hughes is one of the premiere cover artists in the medium, and you need look no further than the cover of this year’s Souvenir Book to see what we mean. Adam will talk about his career and art, including the upcoming All Star Wonder Woman. Room 5AB

4:45-5:45 Spotlight on George Romero—George A. Romero (Night of the Living Dead) is the undisputed master of zombie genre films, and Max Brooks (World War Z, Zombie Survival Guide) has written the best-selling zombie novels. Join these two titans of the undead as Max sits down for a personal interview with George, talking about everything zombies! Room 6CDEF

5:30-7:00 Comic Book Podcasting: One Year Later—Since the first gathering of comic book podcasters last year, podcasting has become a mainstay in the comic book community. With more showing up every day, podcasts have become just as big a part of reading comics as going to the shop on Wednesdays. Hear from the voices behind some of your favorite shows. This year's panel includes podcasters Scott Hinze (Fanboy Radio), Jon Towry (Comic Talk Cafe), Jimmy Aquino (Comic News Insider), Mr. Phil (Indie Spinner Rack), Josh Flanagan (iFanboy.com), Ian Levenstein (Comic Timing), John Mayo (Comic Book Page) and will be moderated by comic book writer and retailer Vito Delsante (Stuck, JSA Classified). Room 8

6:00-7:00 How To Become an Internet Geek Super-Star—It is the age of video on the Internet, and geeks are leading the charge! If you have interesting stories to tell or a unique take on nerd culture, there is an audience out there for you. Ben Cote (DivX Stage6) will moderate a wide-ranging discussion on how some of the budding stars of the online world found a following of like-minded fans. Guests include Jarett Cale and Geoff Lapaire (“Jeremy” and “Kyle,” PurePwnage), Alex Albrecht (Digg/The Totally Rad Show), Jonathan London (Geekscape), and Zadi Diaz (JetSetShow). Room 30CDE

8:30-10:30 World Premiere! Superman Doomsday—Superman is dead—or is he? All will be revealed at Comic-Con’s world premiere of DC Comics, Warner Bros. Home Video, and Warner Bros. Animation’s Superman Doomsday. It’s the highly anticipated first DC Universe made-for-DVD release presented by Warner Premiere and produced by Warner Bros. Animation. Inspired by the best-selling graphic novel of all time, Superman Doomsday is an epic tale of heroism and tragedy, sacrifice and redemption. The film is rated PG-13 for action violence. The voice cast is led by Adam Baldwin (Serenity, Chuck) as Superman, Anne Heche (Men in Trees) as Lois Lane, and James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) as Lex Luthor. DC Comics’ Gregory Novek will moderate the post-premiere panel that includes executive producer/director/writer Bruce Timm (Justice League Unlimited, Batman: The Animated Series), directors Brandon Vietti (Legion of Super Heroes) and Lauren Montgomery (Legion of Super Heroes), writer Duane Capizzi (The Batman), and, quite possibly, members of the voice cast. And stay ’til the end—there might just be a glimpse of future DC Universe films. Ballroom 20

9:00-12:00 8th Annual Kung-Fu Superhero Extravaganza—Martial art movie master Ric Meyers is back with his annual clip fest of the wildest, craziest, funniest, and most amazing live Asian action you've ever laid your lacerated eye orbs on. As always, get ready to laugh, gasp, cheer, and maybe even grab a freebie or two. Last year was SRO, so don't miss out on the fun! Room 6CDEF

Thursday has a lot of events I want to see. I am a big Bernie Wrightson and Harryhausen fan, but I'm interested in Cloverfield and Spiderwick Chronicles as well. I might have to do some "half panel" attendance. Bill Cunningham, over at DISContent, says that Torchwood is so bad it causes retinal damage so I might be able to skip that panel. Choices, choices, choices.

Friday, July 27

10:30-11:30 Image Comics: The Founders—Jim Lee, Erik Larsen, Mark Silvestri, Jim Valentino, and maybe even a surprise guest panelist or two reunite for Image's remarkable 15th anniversary. Join the conversation as they explore Image Comics' beginnings, impact, and future in the comics industry. Moderated by George Khoury (author of Image Comics: The Road to Independence from TwoMorrow Books). Room 5AB

10:30-11:30 The Art of Adapting Comics to the Screen—As the cinematic renaissance of comic book–based films continues, here's your chance to learn what it takes to adapt these dream projects to the screen. Moderator Jeff Goldsmith (senior editor, Creative Screenwriting magazine) hosts a panel featuring Stan Lee (Fantastic Four), Don Payne (co-writer, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer), Mark Fergus (co-writer, Iron Man), Kevin Feige (president of production, Marvel Studios), and Mark Verheiden (Teen Titans). Room 6A

10:30-11:30 Pixar Short Films Collection: Volume 1—Join three of Disney•Pixar's most talented filmmakers—Ralph Eggelston (Oscar-winning director of For the Birds), Andrew Jimenez (Oscar-nominated co-director of One Man Band), and Gary Rydstrom (director of Pixar's newest animated Oscar-nominated short, Lifted)—as they discuss the studio's acclaimed short films, with a Q&A session to follow. Room 6CDEF

10:30-12:00 Warner Bros.—Warner Bros. presents a sneak peek at some of its upcoming major film releases!

The Invasion is a nightmarish journey into a world where the only way to stay alive is to stay awake. The mysterious crash of the space shuttle leads to the terrifying discovery that there is something alien within the wreckage. Those who come in contact with it are changing in ominous and inexplicable ways. Producer Joel Silver appears in person.

In the supernatural thriller One Missed Call, people receive terrifying cell phone messages of their own final fatal moments. Stars Edward Burns and Shannyn Sossamon will be on stage to introduce film footage and answer questions.

In Whiteout, Kate Beckinsale stars as Carrie Stetko, the lone U.S. Marshal assigned to Antarctica, whose investigation of the continent’s first murder draws her into a shocking mystery. Now, with only three days until winter, Carrie must solve the crime before Antarctica is plunged into darkness and she is stranded with the killer. Star Kate Beckinsale appears in-person.

From writer/directors Larry and Andy Wachowski, the creators of the groundbreaking The Matrix trilogy, and producer Joel Silver comes the live-action, high-octane family adventure Speed Racer. Based on the classic series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida, the live-action Speed Racer will showcase the kind of revolutionary visual effects and cutting-edge storytelling that have become the benchmarks of the Wachowski Brothers’ films.

In the all-new action comedy Get Smart, Maxwell Smart (Steve Carell) is on a mission to thwart the latest plot for world domination by the evil crime syndicate known as KAOS.

In Trick ‘R Treat, the tricks and treats of Halloween turn deadly as strange creatures of every variety—human and otherwise—try to survive the scariest night of the year. Mike Dougherty appears in-person to discuss his directorial debut produced by Bryan Singer.

Written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons, Watchmen was originally published by DC comics as a 12-issue comic book series between 1986 and 1987, before subsequently being collected into a trade paperback. It is the only graphic novel to win the prestigious Hugo Award or to be named among Time magazine’s “100 Best English Language Novels from 1923 to the Present.” Director Zack Snyder will appear in-person to discuss the upcoming film and answer questions. Hall H

11:00-12:00 She/He Who Understands History Gets to Rewrite It—Authors discuss how an appreciation of world history and modern events as well as mythology influences and colors their worlds of fantasy, science fiction, and alternate realities. Panelists Jacqueline Carey (Kushiel's Legacy series), David Anthony Durham (Acacia: Book One: The War with the Mein ), David Keck (In the Eye of Heaven), Harry Turtledove ( Settling Accounts: In at the Death), Peter David (Darkness of the Light), R.A. Salvatore (The Ancient), and Mel Odom (Quest for the Trilogy) adapt and build on world events for their own purposes. Maryelizabeth Hart of Mysterious Galaxy moderates. Room 8

11:00-12:00 Reaper: Exclusive Pilot Screening—Be among the first to see this special version of the Reaper pilot directed by Kevin Smith, introduced by Missy Peregrym (Heroes). For the first 20 years of his life, Sam (Bret Harrison, Grounded For Life, The Loop) has wondered why his parents went so easy on his slacker ways—until the day Sam turns 21 and discovers the ungodly reason his parents let him slide: They sold his soul to the devil before he was even born. Satan himself (Ray Wise, 24) drops by to personally explain that Sam must now serve as his bounty hunter, tracking down evil souls that have escaped and returning them to Hell. Bolstered by his love for co-worker Andi (Missy Peregrym) and with the goofball help of his friends and fellow slackers, Bert “Sock” Wysocki (Tyler Labine, Boston Legal, Invasion) and Ben (Rick Gonzalez, Coach Carter), Sam faces his destiny as the Reaper. Ballroom 20

11:30-12:30 IDW Publishing—What's coming up for IDW in '07 and '08? Find out in this informative panel that will features big announcements, big guests (Cory Doctorow, Mike Baron, and Brian Lynch, among others), discussions of upcoming Angel, 30 Days of Night, and Transformers, and more, all presided over by IDW publisher Chris Ryall. Room 4

12:15-1:15 Stargate SG-1: The Movie—It’s been barely a month since television’s longest-running sci-fi series aired its final episode, yet the SG-1 team is already embarking on a perilous new mission—to recover the Ark of Truth with the hopes that the power locked inside the ancient artifact will loosen the grip of the Ori army on our galaxy. Never-before-seen footage from the new direct-to-video movie (from Fox Home Entertainment) will be followed by a Q&A session. Participants include SG-1 stars Ben Browder (as Cameron Mitchell), Amanda Tapping (as Samantha Carter), Michael Shanks (as Daniel Jackson), Christopher Judge (as Teal’c) and executive producer/director Robert Cooper. Ballroom 20

12:15-2:00 Twentieth Century Fox—Twentieth Century Fox “jumps” into Comic-Con with exclusive looks at some of the most-anticipated movie events of 2007 and 2008. In the epic action-adventure Jumper, a genetic anomaly allows a young man to teleport himself anywhere. The film, opening February 15, 2008, starring Hayden Christensen, Rachel Bilson, Jamie Bell, and Samuel L. Jackson, is directed by Doug Liman. The cast and filmmakers will screen footage.

In Aliens vs. Predator, opening December 25, the iconic creatures from two of the scariest film franchises ever are back.

Agent 47 hits the big screen, as Fox present footage from the long-awaited movie adaptation of the legendary videogame franchise Hitman, opening October 12.

Vin Diesel stars in Babylon, A.D., the story of a mercenary hired to deliver a package from the ravages of post-apocalyptic Eastern Europe to a destination in the teeming megalopolis of New York City. Opening February 29, 2008.

From Fox-Walden comes The Dark Is Rising (opening October 5), based on the classic science fiction novel about Will Stanton, a young man who learns he is the last of a group of warriors who have dedicated their lives to fighting the forces of the Dark. Filmmakers and cast will present exclusive footage from the film.

City of Ember (opening October 10, 2008) is a mystical city of lights. But now the city is growing dark and two of its teenagers will need to unlock an ancient mystery and help the citizens escape before the lights go out forever. Director Gil Kenan (Monster House) has put together an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the film. Hall H

12:30-1:30 Alter Ego Magazine—Started by Jerry Bails in the early 1960s, Alter Ego was taken to new heights as the top fanzine of its time Roy Thomas. Roy resurrected the publication in the 1990s as a slick magazine on comics of the Golden and Silver Ages, and its celebrating its 70th issue this month from TwoMorrows Publishing. Roy will be on hand to moderate a lively discussion of Alter Ego's past, present, and future, featuring regular columnist Bill Schelly and Fawcett Collectors of America (FCA) editor P. C. Hamerlinck, plus a surprise guest or two! Room 4

12:30-1:30 Vertigo: I Am Legend—Top sf/comic book writers and artists Orson Scott Card, Richard Christian Matheson, Mark Protosevich, Steve Niles, Bill Sienkiewicz, David Levy, and Jason Chan unveil and discuss their contributions to the I Am Legend–inspired comic book, as well as master sf author Richard Matheson's enduring influence. The limited-edition comic will be available at the panel and at designated times in the DC Comics booth. Room 5AB

1:30-2:30 The Image Comics Show—Your friend and ours Brian Posehn (The Sarah Silverman Show) hosts a panel featuring all your favorite Image Comics superstars! See what Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead), Mike Oeming (Mice Templar), Erik Larsen (Savage Dragon), Matt Fraction (Casanova), Gerry Duggan (The Infinite Horizon), Phil Noto (The Infinite Horizon), and Jay Fotos (Frank Frazetta's Death Dealer) have planned for the future of creator-owned comics. Learn what gives them the drive to pour their energies into their own creations. You may get inspired to do some of your very own! Plus, some startling announcements and previews from many Image favorites! Room 5AB

2:00-3:30 Marvel in the 60s and 70s—The Marvel Age of Comics was a magical time for both the people who created the books and fans who read them. Mark Evanier talks to Roy Thomas (Avengers, Conan), Gary Friedrich (Sgt. Fury, Ghost Rider), Gene Colan (Daredevil, Tomb of Dracula), Dick Ayers (Sgt. Fury, Fantastic Four), Mike Ploog (Ghost Rider, Monster of Frankenstein), and Magazine Management’s David George, about that magical Marvelous era. Room 8

2:15-3:00 New Line Cinema: Shoot 'Em Up—A gritty, fast-paced action thriller, Shoot ‘Em Up kicks into high gear with a memorable opening scene and never relents. New Line Cinema will show exclusive footage from Shoot 'Em Up, and star Clive Owen, along with director Michael Davis, will be there to discuss the film! Also included in the presentation will be a special preview of New Line Cinema's upcoming films, including The Golden Compass. Hall H

2:45-4:00 Chuck Screening and Q&A—Coming this fall to NBC and one of the most talked-about new series of the upcoming television season, Chuck is a comedic spy thriller that follows a regular help-desk worker who must save the world after downloading the CIA’s database into his brain. Talk to executive producers Josh Schwartz (The O.C.) and McG (Supernatural), co-executive producer Chris Fedak, and cast members after a premiere screening of the pilot. Coming this fall to NBC, Chuck is produced by College Hill Pictures, Wonderland Sound and Vision in association with Warner Bros. Television. Room 6B

4:30-5:30 Demons, Devils, and Evil Dictators—Come on, villains are the best. Devising new and unique demons and devils is one of the best parts of a fantasy writer's job. Learn about some of the participants' favorite villains and what inspires their own evil imaginings. Watch authors Jon Lewis and Derek Benz (Grey Griffins series), Holly Black (Spiderwick, Ironside), DJ MacHale ( Pendragon: Pilgrims of Rayne), James Owen (Here, There Be Dragons), Frank Beddor ( Looking Glass Wars), Laini Taylor (Fairies of Dreamdark), Rebecca Moesta ( Crystal Doors #2: Ocean Realm), Nancy Holder (The Rose Bride), and William Boniface (The Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy) rub their hands and cackle gleefully. Room 1AB

4:45-5:45 Eureka—A small town with even bigger big secrets this season, Eureka is a community of geniuses assembled by the government to conduct top-secret research. What they've unwittingly created is a place where anything imaginable can happen . . . and does. Eureka started off with a bang and remained a must-see dramedy on SCI FI. The season 1 series premiere holds the distinction of being the highest-rated series telecast in SCI FI Channel history. See what all the buzz is about and get a sneak peak at the season ahead! Panelists include Colin Ferguson (Jack Carter), Salli Richardson (Allison Blake), Ed Quinn (Nathan Stark), Joe Morton (Henry Deacon), Jaime Paglia (co-creator and executive producer), and Tony Optican (VP, original programming, SCI FI). Room 6CDEF

6:00-8:00 Ray Harryhausen and 20 Million Miles to Earth: 50th Anniversary Edition—2007 marks the half-century milestone of one of the earliest films by stop-motion animation genius Ray Harryhausen, 20 Million Miles to Earth. The film, which depicts the destruction of Rome by a reptile from the planet Venus, has been colorized with Harryhausen’s personal supervision, and he wants to be with you while you watch it for the first time. Ray Harryhausen will speak briefly, answer a few questions, then do live commentary while the film is screened. He’ll also answer more questions as the screening proceeds. The film will be available on DVD July 31 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Room 6B

6:15-7:45 Kevin Smith—He’s back, and this time not even traffic can stop him! Comic-Con favorite Kevin Smith holds court in another of his no-holds-barred Q&A sessions, talking about just anything he damn well pleases. Hall H

7:15-9:00 Doctor Strange World Premiere Screening and Panel—Lionsgate and Marvel Studios present the world premiere of the newest Marvel Animated Feature, Doctor Strange, with a film screening and Q&A panel featuring Marvel’s senior VP of creative development animation Craig Kyle, plus members of the cast and production team. Room 6CDEF

8:15-10:15 SCI FI Friday Night: Eureka and Superhero Screenings—Don’t get SCI FI in your hotel room? Come to a commercial-free screening of Eureka and Who Wants to Be a Superhero! Come dressed as your favorite superhero! Colin Ferguson, star of Eureka, will open up the evening’s festivities. Catch up on Thursday’s premiere of Superhero and watch an all-new episode of Eureka before it airs on SCI FI. The first 1,000 attendees will receive Feedback’s Dark Horse comic book! Room 6B

Saturday, July 28

9:15-10:15 Special Early Screening: Pushing Daisies—Get to Comic-Con early to see this exclusive screening of one of the fall’s most eagerly anticipated new shows! The stars and creators, including executive producer/creator Bryan Fuller (Heroes), of this new series—about an ordinary guy who can bring people back from the dead with the touch of his finger—come together to screen the Pushing Daisies pilot and answer fan questions. Produced by The Jinks/Cohen Company in association with Warner Bros. Television, Pushing Daisies will air Wednesdays at 8 PM ET/PT this fall on ABC. Room 6CDEF

10:00-11:15 Bionic Woman: Exclusive Pilot Screening and Q&A—Be one of the first to see this special version of the Bionic Woman pilot and participate in a Q&A panel session with series star and newcomer Michelle Ryan (EastEnders); executive producers David Eick (Battlestar Galactica), Glen Morgan (The X-Files), and Jason Smilovic (Lucky Number Slevin); co-stars Miguel Ferrer (Crossing Jordan) and Will Yun Lee (Witchblade); as well as a special guest appearance by Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica), who portrays Sarah Corvis, and more. When a devastating car accident leaves Jaime Sommers (Michelle Ryan) at death's door, her only hope for survival is a cutting-edge, top-secret technology that comes at a hefty price. With a whole new existence and a debt to repay, Jaime must figure out how to use her extraordinary abilities for good, while weighing the personal sacrifices she will have to make. It's Jaime's journey of self-discovery and inner strength that will help her embrace her new life as the Bionic Woman. Ballroom 20

10:30-11:30 Who Wants to Be a Superhero?—SCI FI Channel has once again joined forces with Nash Entertainment (Meet My Folks, For Love or Money, Who Wants to Marry My Dad?) and legendary comic book creator Stan Lee's POW! Entertainment to present an all-new season of Who Wants to Be a Superhero? This year’s winner walks away with their superhero character immortalized in a new comic book from Dark Horse Comics created by Stan Lee himself and a Shocker Toy action figure! Panelists Stan Lee (star/executive producer), Andy Scheer (executive producer), Feedback (2006 winner), Hygena and Hyperstrike (both season 2 contestants), and Rob Swartz (VP, SCI FI alternative programming) talk about the second season. Room 1AB

1:30-2:30 Podcasting 101—Podcasting is becoming the premier way to share your thoughts with the world. Join podcasters Joe Gonzalez (Comic News Insider), Conor Kilpatrick (iFanboy.com), Ron Richards (iFanboy.com), and Jon Towry (Comic Talk Cafe) as they discuss starting a podcast from the ground up, with topics ranging from "What kind of podcast should I start?" to "How do I build an audience?" There will be a live podcast demo and an audience Q&A as well. Room 30CDE

2:30-3:30 Storytelling with and Without Pictures—Authors of prose and comics discuss how they write differently for different media—or do they? Find out with authors David Morrell (Captain America: The Chosen), Christopher Golden (The Myth Hunters, Talent), Mike Mignola (Baltimore, Or, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire, Hellboy), Richard Morgan (TH1TRE3N, Black Widow), Tad Williams (Shadowplay, Aquaman), Barbara Hambly (Renfield: Slave of Dracula, Garden of Emptiness), and Mike Carey (The Devil You Know, Lucifer). Moderated by Maryelizabeth Hart of Mysterious Galaxy. Room 1AB

2:45-3:45 Supernatural Screening and Q&A—Supernatural stars Jared Padalecki (House of Wax) and Jensen Ackles (Smallville)—along with executive producer Eric Kripke (Boogeyman), co-executive producer Ben Edlund (Angel), and co-executive producer Peter Johnson (DC Comics’ Supernatural: Origins comic book series)—answer questions from the audience, present a reel of highlights from Supernatural, and discuss the upcoming third season of this thrill-ride series with moderator Craig Tomashoff, West Coast Bureau Chief of TV Guide. Produced by Wonderland Sound and Vision in association with Warner Bros. Television, Supernatural airs Thursdays at 9 PM ET/PT on The CW. Room 6CDEF

4:00-5:00 Two Rays: Bradbury and Harryhausen—Two of the living legends of science fiction and fantasy reunite in this Comic-Con exclusive event! Author Ray Bradbury and filmmaker Ray Harryhausen share a life-long friendship and passionate interest in all things fantastic. Joining them are Bradbury biographer Sam Weller and Harryhausen producer Arnold Kunert. Room 6CDEF

4:30-6:00 Spotlight on Roy Thomas—One of the first big-time fans turned pro, Roy Thomas went from editing the seminal comics fanzine Alter Ego to a job at Marvel Comics that saw him produce memorable runs on Avengers, X-Men, Conan and just about every other Marvel character and group, including, at one point, editing the whole line. Mark Evanier interviews Thomas on his long and storied career in comics, including his return to the magazine that started it all, Alter Ego. Room 2

4:30-5:30 Spotlight on J. Michael Straczynski—It’s a big summer for popular writer/producer/director J. Michael Straczynski, as his new direct-to-DVD feature Babylon 5: The Lost Tales debuts and he brings back Thor to his rightful place in the Marvel universe. JMS talks about these projects and more, including his upcoming film Changeling for Imagine Entertainment, which is being produced by Ron Howard, starring Angelina Jolie, and directed by Clint Eastwood. And then there’s World War Z, and Goliath: The Story of David and that Silver Surfer movie, too . . . Room 6B

4:45-5:45 Dark Horse Presents: Joss Whedon—With the hugely successful release of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 for Dark Horse Comics, Joss Whedon (Fray, Astonishing X-Men) talks about picking up where the TV series left off, his other projects, future plans, and possibly even a few surprises. A sneak peek from the upcoming Serenity—Collector's Edition DVD will be shown. Ballroom 20

5:15-6:30 The Sarah Connor Chronicles Screening and Q&A—Catch the first-ever fan screening of The Sarah Connor Chronicles, the television incarnation of the Terminator franchise, followed by a Q&A with stars Lena Headey (300), Thomas Dekker (Heroes), Summer Glau (Firefly), and Richard T. Jones (Event Horizon), along with executive producers Josh Friedman (War of the Worlds), David Nutter (The X-Files), and James Middleton (of C-2 Pictures, producers of the Terminator trilogy). Produced by C-2 Pictures in association with Warner Bros. Television, The Sarah Connor Chronicles will air Sundays at 9 PM ET/PT on FOX, starting midseason. Room 6CDEF

5:15-6:45 Sony/Screen Gems—This panel showcases three great new films from Screen Gems and Sony! First up, it’s zombie action at it’s finest with Resident Evil: Extinction. See the world premiere of the new trailer and meet the stars of this third and final installment of the Resident Evil saga, based on the wildly popular video game series. Alice (Milla Jovovich), now in hiding in the Nevada desert, once again joins forces with Carlos Olivera (Oded Fehr) and L. J. (Mike Epps), along with new survivors, including Claire Redfield (Ali Larter). On stage in person to take your questions will be Milla Jovovich, in her first ever Comic-con appearance, along with co-stars Oded Fehr and Ali Larter. Resident Evil: Extinction is in theaters everywhere September 21.

30 Days of Night—Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith's vampire noir epic horror/thriller reaches the big screen under the banner of Sam Raimi's Ghost House Pictures. On hand to show clips and answer questions will be director David Slade, producer Rob Tapert, creators Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith, and stars Josh Hartnett (Sin City) and Danny Huston (Children of Men).

Superbad—Producer Judd Apatow follows his hit comedy Knocked Up with this highly anticipated look at the lives of several misfit guys on the eternal quest to find the right girl and prove that they’re not just bad, they're Superbad. Apatow discusses the outrageous comedy audiences have come to expect from him. Joining Apatow will be his Superbad entourage, including Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, director Greg Mottola, screenwriter and star Seth Rogen, screenwriter Evan Goldberg, producer Shauna Robertson, and possibly even Bill Hader, if he will only listen to reason. Hall H

5:30-6:30 Robert A. Heinlein: Centennial Man—Greg Bear (Quantico), Jackie Estrada (Eisner Awards administrator and long-time Comic-Con volunteer), Dr. Robert James (assistant editor, The Heinlein Journal), David Silver (president, The Heinlein Society), and Mike Sheffield (Blood Drive chair, The Heinlein Society) talk about Robert Anson Heinlein, who left an incredible literary and philanthropic legacy to the world. Help celebrate his 100th birthday with a lively discussion of his writing and his life. Room 10

5:45-7:00 Introducing The Film Crew: Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy, and Bill Corbett—Three of the brilliantly insane minds behind Mystery Science Theater 3000 finally reunite to unleash their warped sense of humor on the cinema of yesteryear as The Film Crew. Join Mike, Kevin, and Bill as they preview exclusive excerpts from three upcoming Film Crew DVDs: Killers From Space, Wild Women of Wongo, and Giant Of Marathon—followed by a Q&A session! Room 6B

Saturday is an enormously busy day filled with tough choices. Sunday, on the other hand is "Kids Day" though I do want to watch the Flash Gordon premiere at the end of the day.

Sunday, July 29

1:00-2:30 Masters of the Web—Hosted by Tom DeSanto (Transformers, X-Men), reps from the biggest genre and movie websites come together to talk about how new media have affected moviemaking today, what it takes to run a popular site, and much more. Panelists include Robert Sanchez (IESB.net), Garth Franklin (Darkhorizons.com), Berge Garabedian (Joblo.com), Patrick Lee (Scifi.com), Ed Douglas (Comingsoon.net/Superherohype.com), Brad Miska (Bloody-Disgusting.com), Steven Weintraub (Collider.com), Devin Faraci (CHUD.com), Drew McWeeney (Aintitcool.com), Paul Christensen (Movieweb.com), Kellvin Chavez (Latinoreview.com), and Eric Moro (IGN.com). Room 6A

2:00-3:30 Scribe Awards Media Tie-in Writers—Attend the first annual presentation of the IAMTW "Scribe" awards, followed by a panel of nominees, including Donald Bain (Murder She Wrote), Marv Wolfman (Superman Returns), David R. George III (Star Trek Crucible: McCoy—Provenance of Shadows), Jeff Mariotte (30 Days of Night: Rumors of the Undead), Nathan Long (Warhammer: Orc Slayer), Christina York (Alias: APO: Strategic Reserve), Alice Henderson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Portal Through Time), and moderator Max Allan Collins (The Pink Panther). Andy Mangels (Star Trek: Excelsior) will present the awards. Room 5AB

2:00-3:00 Nicolas and Weston Cage Talk Comics—Academy Award winning actor Nicolas Cage is one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, but he’s also one of us: a big-time comics fan. Nic and his son Weston Cage have created their own comic, Voodoo Child, published by Virgin Comics. Father and son will talk about their mutual love of comics and what it’s like to collaborate on this brand new book! Ballroom 20

2:30-3:30 SCI FI: Flash Gordon—Placing a 21st-century spin on a science fiction classic, SCI FI’s contemporized version of Flash Gordon follows the all-new adventures of Flash (Eric Johnson) and his companions, Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov. Ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances, they find themselves as Earth’s last line of defense against the forces of the merciless dictator Ming. Panelists include Eric Johnson (Flash), Gina Holden (Dale), Peter Hume (executive producer), and Mark Stern (executive VP, original programming, SCI FI). Room 6CDEF

Then it's back on the train and back to Glendale.