Informed Art - Comic-Con Revealed

Programming content is always news at Comic-Con, but this year Programming itself is newsworthy.  Why, you ask?  Because the Comic-Con staff has organized it like never before.  This includes established entrances and exists to programming rooms, and most panels being back to back without a break except in the larger rooms. Entrance and exit hallways are clearly marked.

So if you’re on the way down, be prepared.

Got registered at 9:30 in the industr y line which was really short and efficient.  Industry and pros got to wait inside while everyone else waited outside for the exhibit hall and convention to open at 10.  Industry and pro got in first, followed by everyone else.  Another change from past years.

Sampled some of the programming.  The first panel was on The Ar t of Adapting Comics to Screen, and included writers such as Don Paine, Mark Fergus, and Kevin Feige; I came in midway on this and it was all right but nothing too revealing in terms of filmmaking.  There was a lot of discussion as to what made good superheroes, which ultimately centered around their character flaws, faults, and personal struggles.

Immediately after that came a spotlight on animation and now comics fixture Paul Dini.  Paul’s a fun and entertaining guy to listen to who clearly has enjoyed the wide range of things he’s worked on in his career, from early days interning at Filmation to his best known work at Warner Bros. Animation on shows like TINY TOONS and BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES to his current work with DC Comics.  Interestingly, though moderated by his current DC Comics boss, the panel (particularly the fan questions) regularly returned to animation.

Then it was across the hall for the SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN panel with Supervising Producer Greg Weisman, Supervising Director Victor Cook, Character Designer Sean “Cheeks” Galloway and the voice of Spider-Man, Josh Keaton.  The first teaser clip was unveiled (twice!) leaving the audience cheering for more.  This new series returns back to the heart of the original 1962 comic with Peter Parker in high school, and from what concept art was shared promises to introduce many fan favorites (including Harry Osborne, Gwen Stacy, etc.) in what is admittedly a compression of time as many of these characters first met Peter in college.  Fans had many questions, including what villians would be featured - some are more expected than others, and surprises were hinted at, though all will come from the Spider-Man Rogues Gallery.  The audience also called for wanting to see the revival of the classic “web shooter” over the more organic web shooting as seen in the recent films, and as they are just looking for overseas studios now, there may be time in the production pipeline to take this to heart if not already done so… time will tell. THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN was announced as debuting March 2008 on Kids WB!

Now on a lunch break.  I’ll check back in later,

Shannon