Comic Con 2010 Invades San Diego

Jeri Jacquin, Movie Maven

It is that time of year as this week welcomes Comic-Con International 2010 at the San Diego Convention Center. Downtown San Diego will become the center of the universe for all comic book, film, television and animation fans.

From demonstrations in the main hall to panels discussing the history and artistry of comics, the topic of discussion is comics and those who love them. All of this began in the mid-1960 with the ‘Detroit Triple Fan Fairs’ started by Stel Dorf. In 1970 Stel moved to San Diego and organized the ‘Golden State Comic-Minicon’.

Using that as a dry run, in 1970 Dorf had the first three-day convention at the U.S. Grant Hotel in San Diego. For years after the convention shared locations with UCSD and Golden Hall before finding a home at the San Diego Convention Center in 1991.

Since then Comic-Con has grown into an amazing four-day adventure that takes over downtown San Diego. It is a phenomenon unto itself with the best and brightest in comics, animation, anime, film and television.

In comics, attendees will share space with the likes of animators from Marvel, Dreamworks and with them the new and upcoming artists who are creating new stories and new super heroes of all kinds.

This year with a play on words – ComiTron is running at full speed. For those who remember the 1982 original film “Tron”, “Tron: Legacy” will lure fans back with the next chapter of Flynn’s Arcade. At last years Comic-Con, fans could not get enough of the tease that the Disney studio presented to Hall H audiences.

Also in film will be the cast panels for such studios as Dreamworks with “MegaMind” and Summmit with its film “Red” with Bruce Willis. Lionsgate is bringing out its big guns with the highly anticipated Stallone offering of a red carpet and panel for “The Expendables”.

Hollywood will also be teasing fans with the likes of “The Green Lantern”. Wizards and muggles from all over will be there to get more of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”. Marvel Comics will also be there with their teasers for “Thor” and “Captain America”.

Cable stations have brought in their best with the smash STARZ hit “Spartacus: Blood and Sand” which will begin its second season. The SyFy channel is bringing it’s fan favorites of “Stargate Universe” and “Caprica” along with “Warehouse 13”, “Eureka” and “Sanctuary”.

Other cable shows include “Sons of Anarchy”, “Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and a cartoon favorite “American Dad”.

The CW, which has made its return to popular programing will showcase “Smallville” and the new series “Supernatural”. Of course the CW wouldn’t be complete without offering fans more of its recent hit “Glee”.

That is just a drop in the Comic-Con bucket! There is so much to see and do - and it’s impossible to see and do it all. But I will be there to make the attempt and running daily updates at http://moviemaven.intuitwebsites.com and live-blogging at www.moviejungle.com.

So come on down to the San Diego Convention Center and be a part of it all! For more information go to www.comic-con.org