Comic Con Highlights from Thursday, July 22

By San Diego Entertainer | July 22, 2010

Comic Con has taken over San Diego and festivities will continue throughout the night and into the coming days. For a full schedule of what the convention has to offer, check out our featured event coverage including Comic-Con 2010 Schedule and Program Highlights.

Day 1 at the San Diego Convention Center was jam packed of must-see celebrities and great panels that many spectators took advantage of. If you were lucky enough to score a ticket to Comic Con today, let us know what you thought in the comments section below or on our Facebook page or on Twitter. If you were not lucky enough to make it to Comic Con today, or if you want to know more about what happened today, keep reading.

Film:

10:00-11:00 Dreamworks Animation: Megamind—This hilarious and upbeat animated flick tells the time-honored tale of good vs. evil, superhero vs. supervillain, Superman vs. Lex Luthor—but with a twist. What if, for once, the bad guy actually got what he wanted and won? This is exactly what happens to Megamind (Will Ferrell), who, after years of having his dastardly deeds thwarted, accidentally manages to off the superhero, Metro Man (Brad Pitt). But after killing his arch-nemesis, Megamind realizes that he has destroyed his life’s purpose, and sets out to create a superhero that promises to be bigger and better than Metro Man—Titan. But Titan likes being evil more than he likes being good, and decides to destroy the world. Only Megamind can stand in his way—so will the supervillain change his ways and decide to save the world? Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, and Jonah Hill all appeared at the movie’s debut in Hall H, cracking jokes and entertaining the audience with their antics. Ferrell even came decked out in Megamind attire, complete with a huge blue dome sitting atop his noggin, and Fey jokingly issued a public challenge to former Golden Girl Betty White, yelling, “Betty White is my nemesis and one day I will fight her in a ball of fire!” Hall H.

11:15-12:45 Walt Disney Pictures: Tron: Legacy—Walt Disney Pictures presented a special inside look at this sequel to the hit 1982 film Tron. The story continues in Tron: Legacy, when Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund) gets sucked into a digital world as he searches for his father and the world’s former premier video-game developer, Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), who has been missing for twenty-five years. Father and son reunite and embark on a dangerous journey across the cyber universe that Kevin himself created, dodging obstacles and a dangerous enemy who wants to stop them from escaping at all costs. The film’s panel included a Q&A session with cast members Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Michael Sheen, and Bruce Boxleitner, producers Sean Bailey and Steven Lisberger, and director Joe Kosinski. About eight minutes of the 3-D film were shared with the audience, impressing the more tech-savvy fans, and the actors gushed about the amazing gadgets and costumes they used for production: “It was an honor to be able to wear something like that. It was really beautiful,” Olivia Wilde said at one point during the discussion. The panel took place in Hall H.

1:00-2:00 Sony Pictures Entertainment: Battle: Los Angeles and Salt—Both of these action-packed, suspense-filled films from Sony Pictures Entertainment were presented in the Center’s Hall H today to tremendous reception by fans and convention-goers. Hall H.

Battle: Los Angeles: An edge-of-your-seat nail biter, Battle: Los Angeles revolves around a local Marine staff sergeant (Aaron Eckhart) and his fresh-faced platoon, who are forced to come together and put their newly minted training to use when aliens suddenly and unexpectedly wage a violent attack on the City of Angels.  Director Jonathon Liebesman and cast members Neal Moritz, Michelle Rodriguez, and Aaron Eckhart appeared in person to support the film and mingle with fans.  Hall H.

Salt: Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie) learned the ins and outs of espionage and spywork as a CIA officer in order to protect the citizens of the United States. Now she must use those skills to protect a different entity altogether: herself. When she is accused of being a Russian spy, Evelyn flees, evading government capture and attempting to prove her innocence. But as the hunt to find her continues and Evelyn’s past unravels, will her efforts clear her name? Or will they serve as the evidence that condemns her once and for all? And get this: Angelina Jolie herself made an appearance in Hall H to promote this spy thriller! Hall H.

2:15-3:15 Summit Entertainment: RED—Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman, and John Malkovich shared footage and the final, never-before-seen trailer from their upcoming action-comedy RED, based on the DC Comics graphic novel by Warren Ellis, who was also in attendance. The movie depicts the story of four former top CIA operatives who have been targeted by the Agency because of the valuable secrets they learned during their work as spies. Director Robert Schwentke rounded out the movie’s panel. Hall H.

4:45-5:45 Lionsgate: The Expendables— Debuting this summer, The Expendables is an action thriller about a group of mercenaries hired to infiltrate a South American government and overthrow its dictator.  Upon embarking on their mission however, the men realize something is amiss and find themselves caught in a web of betrayal. With an innocent life on the line and their mission destroyed, the mercenaries must face a challenge bigger than they anticipated, one that threatens to create a rift in their brotherhood. Director, writer, and leading male Sylvester Stallone attended the movie’s Comic Con debut in Hall H, along with stars Dolph Lundgren, Steve Austin, Randy Couture, and Terry Crews. Hall H.

6:00-7:00 Universal: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World—This quirky, off-the beaten-track flick features Michael Cera as Scott Pilgrim, a 23-year old young man whose life is just about perfect—he’s in a rock band, he doesn’t really have a job (but that’s more than fine by him), and he’s dating a pretty young thing who’s still in high school. But suddenly Scott starts having dreams about a gorgeous roller-blading, seriously badass delivery girl that he always runs into at parties: Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). But in order to make Ramona his, Scott has to defeat Ramona’s seven evil exes. Can he win the day and the girl? Or will Scott fail and ruin his perfect life in the process? Director Edgar Wright and castmembers Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ellen Wong, Allison Pill, Mark Webber, Johnny Simmons, Kieran Culkin, Satya Bhabha, Brandon Routh, Jason Schwartzman, Mae Whitman, Anna Kendrick, and Aubrey Plaza provided a sneak of the film and participated in a following Q&A session. Hall H.

For more schedule highlights and information, please visit the official Comic Con 2010 website.

TV:

3:30-4:30 USA Network’s Psych— The most-watched comedy series on cable TV made a comeback to Comic Con with juicy tidbits from its 5^th season! Stars James Roday (Shawn Spencer), Dulé Hill (Burton “Gus” Guster), Maggie Lawson (Juliet O’Hara), Tim Omundson (Carlton Lassiter), Kirsten Nelson (Chief Karen Vick), and Corbin Bernsen (Henry Spencer), creator/executive producer Steve Franks, executive producers Kelly Kulchak and Chris Henze,  and comedian, co-executive producer, and writer Andy Berman provided an all-access pass to the show’s newest episodes, telling some secrets, outlining production processes, and answering all manner of personal questions. The team also debuted special video presentations created exclusively for Comic Con, a preview of Season 5, and never-before-seen outtakes from the show. Ballroom 20

6:00-7:00 Showtime’s Dexter— The show featuring the serial killer that won Americans’ hearts is back with a new season and an amazing panel at Comic Con.  Stars Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, and Desmond Harrington, as well as executive producers John Goldwyn, Sara Colleton, Chip Johannessen, and Manny Coto attended an exciting Q&A panel moderated by KROQ entertainment reporter Ralph Garman. The show’s panel also included the world premiere of the trailer for the upcoming new season, which premieres September 26 on Showtime. Ballroom 20

Panels:

3:00-4:00 Spotlight on Jenette Kahn, Former DC Comics President and Publisher—Paul Levitz (editor, writer, and himself a former DC Comics president and publisher) interviewed Jenette Kahn on her 27 years as the head of DC Comics and her momentous work in steering the company towards the brilliant future it is now enjoying. The youngest female executive in Warner Brothers history, Kahn oversaw the transformation of the company’s graphics and products, transforming the comics from children’s fare to sophisticated art for adults, and revitalizing many of the brand’s heroes into the legends they are today. Kahn is revered as one of the most talented and respected women in the entertainment industry today and has moved into the movie industry, producing films such as Gran Torino. Room 5AB.

3:30-4:30 Entertainment Weekly Hosts a Discussion with J. J. Abrams (Star Trek) and Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) on the Future of Pop Culture—Entertainment Weekly’s Jeff Jensen jointly interviewed production powerhouses and all-around industry geniuses J.J. Abrams and Joss Whedon, inquiring about topics ranging from their upcoming projects, to their opinions about the recent 3-D phenomenon that seems to be emerging in the film industry, to their stints as actors. In Hall H, with a few thousand fans looking on, Jensen got the answers to his burning questions. To learn more, visit http://popwatch.EW.com.  Hall H.

4:30-5:30 The Best and Worst of Manga 2010—Panelists and manga experts Deb Aoki (manga.about.com), Jason Thompson (Manga: The Complete Guide), Christopher Butcher (The Beguiling), Tom Spurgeon (comicsreporter.com), Shaenon Garrity (Skin Horse) and Carlo Santos (Right Turn Only) discussed the current trends in manga, from the freshest faces in publishing to their favorite (and not so favorite) series from the past year. Room 3.

4:30-5:30 A Celebration of 75 years of DC Comics—DC Comics celebrates its 75^th anniversary this year, and to celebrate, Comic Con held a panel with moderator Paul Levitz (writer, editor, and former president and publisher of DC) and panelists Dan DiDio and Jim Lee (co-publishers, DC Comics), Geoff Johns (chief creative officer), and Comic Con special guests Jenette Kahn (former president and publisher), Dennis O’Neil (writer/editor of Batman), and the legendary Jerry Robinson (Batman). Room 6DE.

For more schedule highlights and information, please visit the official Comic Con 2010 website.

Alternative:

11:30-12:30 Iron Man and Rocket Men: Is Stark Industries an Appropriate Model for Private-Industry Space Exploration?— We’ve all seen the movies with the crazy futuristic gadgets and the robotic men shooting through the rings of Saturn, but how much of what we see in the movies is actually feasible? Mark Street (XCOR Aerospace) and John Hunter (Quicklaunch) discuss this question and more in their Comic Con panel, presented by the San Diego Space Society (SD Space). The panel also includes Chris Radcliff (SD Space) and Dave Rankin (The Mars Society – San Diego cofounder) and is moderated by Jeff Berkwits (former Amazing Stories editor and two-time Hugo Award nominee). Room 24AB

2:00-3:30 Animation on a Shoe String—The author of Animation on a Shoe String, Larry Loc, held a panel at the Con today, offering tips and tricks of the animation trade designed to help you create your own animation studio on a low budget. Loc discussed topics such as assembling the necessary equipment, appropriate software, how to buy the right tools, etc. Room 30CDE

For more schedule highlights and information, please visit the official Comic Con 2010 website.

Much more is still happening at the Convention Center, and the Entertainer will bring you all the best information as the festivities continue. But if you’re interested in more, keep in mind that fun doesn’t stop at the Convention doors. Two words: After Party!

The fun doesn’t have to stop after the Convention Center closes its doors—in fact, one of Comic Con’s best traditions is the after party, and this Thursday, there’s plenty to choose from! You don’t have to attend the Convention to attend, and Comic Con after parties are always a blast—everyone will be decked out and ready to have some fun! For a full list, we recommend TheMixter.com as your source for great after party ideas. Our top picks are as follows:

Rusko and Bubblegum Sci Fi at Red Circle

Samurais and Schoolgirls at Mainline (1676 Main Street)

The Hard Rock Hotel hosts: G4 and Lucasfilm “Gphoria Strikes Back” Party, IGN.com party, and the Lionsgate: Sylvester Stallone and “The Expendables” Party

Tacos with the Crew of Machete Plus After Party

**This article was a collaborative work by Rochelle Emert and Pooja Bhatt

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After this year’s convention, Comic-Con organizers will be voting on whether the event will stay in San Diego. San Diego has been its home since its founding in 1970, but rumor is Los Angeles, Anaheim and even Las Vegas are vying for the next contract which will begin in 2013.

Put simply, San Diego is becoming less and less cost-effective for hosting Comic-Con, which is growing at exponential rates. The San Diego Convention Center has not been able to accommodate more attendees or exhibit vendors, which have since spilled out into temporary tents and nearby hotel ballrooms. Additionally, Hollywood studios and TV networks are pushing for the move closer to Los Angeles, which would more easily accommodate Comic-Con’s growing number of movie and TV representatives. Could the popular art take-over be changing Comic-Con too much? Should Comic-Con stay true to its roots—graphic novels and San Diego? You tell us!

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