ShockTillYouDrop.com

Source:Ryan Rotten,San Diego Comic-Con '08

July 13, 2008

Get your Thursday preview, Friday preview and Sunday preview.

Two names in horror get a lot of love this day: Forrest J. Ackerman, who needs no intro around these parts, and Joe Hill who spread himself out through three (!) panels. The former celebrates the 50th anniversary of Famous Monsters of Filmland while Hill, son of Stephen King, discusses his novels and latest comic book titles. Plenty of film preview this day, too!

10:00 - 11:00 Spotlight on Forrest J. Ackerman (Room 3)

The mayor of Horrorwood, Karloffornia returns to Comic-Con after a two-year absence. The beloved Forry celebrates the 50th anniversary of his seminal movie monster magazine, Famous Monsters of Filmland.

11:00 - 12:00 IDW Publishing: Ideas and Dreams 2008 (Room 3)

IDW publisher Chris Ryall presides over a superstar panel including writer Joe Hill; artists Gabriel Rodriguez (Locke & Key), Ben Templesmith (Welcome to Hoxford), and Darwyn Cooke (announcing a surprise new project and offering up an exclusive signature card available only at this panel); writers Brian Lynch (Angel: After the Fall), Steve Niles (Epilogue), Rick Remender (Legion of the Supernatural), and David Lapham; actors Shawnee Smith and Ken Foree; IDW special projects editor Scott Dunbier, and others. And they all guarantee at least a few surprise announcements of things to come!

11:00 - 12:00 Hellboy (Room 8)

Mike Mignola (Hellboy) and his long-suffering editor Scott Allie are joined by Josh Dysart (BPRD 1946) to talk and answer questions about recent events in the Hellboy books, the future direction of the series, and the first new comic Mike's drawn in three years. Also, an announcement about the newest artists to join the team.

11:00 - 12:00 50th Anniversary Famous Monsters (Room 10)

It's a celebration of your favorite movie monster magazine! Famous Monsters of Filmland started in 1958, spiraling out of the huge interest in classic monster movies being shown on TV to a brand new audience. Editor/writer Forrest J. Ackerman, who gave FM much of its charm and wit with his "punny" style of writing and amazing collection of photos and anecdotes, joins publisher James Warren, and Hollywood makeup artist Verne Langdon - whose incredible masks were a staple of FM's "company store," Captain Company, in the back of each issue - to talk about this big anniversary. Moderated by Phil Kim.

11:45 - 12:45 Spotlight on Dean Koontz (Ballroom 20)

Dean Koontz (In Odd We Trust) has had 48 novels on the New York Times bestseller lists, many in the number one position, and has been published in 36 languages. Find out more about what makes him tick in this talk and Q&A session.

1:30 - 2:30 Things That Go Bump (Room 5AB)

Monsters and haunts continue to fascinate authors and readers alike. Authors who’ll be talking about these supernatural themes include Joe Hill (Heart-Shaped Box), Max Brooks (World War Z, The Zombie Survival Guide), Adrienne Barbeau (Vampyres of Hollywood), Chris Marie Green (Vampire Babylon novels), Jeffrey J. Mariotte (River Runs Red), and Natasha Rhodes (Dante's Girl). Moderated by Maryelizabeth Hart of Mysterious Galaxy.

3:45 - 5:15 Universal: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor and Death Race (Hall H)

Universal Pictures presents key cast members, filmmakers, and previously unseen footage from its upcoming slate, including Summer 2008's The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor and Death Race. Additionally, the studio will showcase talent and materials from 2009 films such as Land of the Lost and more.

4:00 - 5:00 Spotlight on Joe Hill (Room 5AB)

Comic-Son special guest Joe Hill, author of the New York Times bestseller Heart-Shaped Box, talks about his critically acclaimed comic Locke & Key (IDW) and why so many novelists are losing it for comics these days.

5:00 - 6:00 The Dead Space IP (Room 2)

Ben Templesmith (30 Days of Night) and Antony Johnston (Wasteland) lead a panel that includes Chuck Patton, AJ Jothikumar and Joe Goyette (Dead Space animated feature) to discuss how graphic novels have become a vital component for top-tier entertainment brands and how multiple mediums (comics, games, and movies) have come together to create a holistic story. While famous comics have spawned successful movies, TV shows, and games, Electronic Arts' new sci-fi horror brand Dead Space has developed a comics series and animated feature to first introduce the universe to key opinion leaders and influencers. Panelists will discuss these new developments, what it takes to develop a successful brand that speaks to audiences across a variety of multimedia, and the implications for the future of the entertainment industry.

5:00 - 6:00 Join The Fight: Starship Troopers 3: Marauder (Room 7AB)

Join Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers), Jolene Blalock (Star Trek: Enterprise) and writer/director Ed Neumeier (writer of Starship Troopers and RoboCop) for a preview of the third installment in the wildly popular Starship Troopers franchise. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment invites you to "Join the Fight" and take part in an audience Q&A that will be recorded for download over Blu-ray's BD-Live network. Bring your Bluetooth phone and access exclusive content beamed directly to your handset during the panel!

5:30 - 7:00 Sony: Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, Quarantine (Hall H)

See the exclusive first look at footage and meet the stars of Underworld: Rise of the Lycans. The third film in the popular Underworld franchise delves into the origins of the centuries-old blood feud between the aristocratic vampires, known as Death Dealers, and the barbaric Lycans (werewolves). A young Lycan, Lucian (Michael Sheen), emerges as a powerful leader who rallies the werewolves to rise up against Viktor (Bill Nighy), the cruel vampire king who has persecuted them for hundreds of years. Lucian is joined by his secret lover, the beautiful vampire Sonja (Rhona Mitra), in his battle to free the Lycans from their brutal enslavement. On stage to take your questions will be Rhona Mitra, Bill Nighy, Michael Sheen and director Patrick Tatopoulos. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans is in theaters everywhere January 23, 2009.

Quarantine: Television reporter Angela Vidal (Jennifer Carpenter) and her cameraman (Steve Harris) are assigned to spend the night shift with a Los Angeles fire station. After a routine 911 call takes them to a small apartment building, they find police officers already on the scene in response to blood-curdling screams and soon learn that a woman living there has been infected by something unknown. After a few of the residents are viciously attacked, they try to escape only to find that the CDC has quarantined the building. Phones, Internet, television and cell phone access have been cut off, and officials are not relaying information to those locked inside. When the quarantine is finally lifted, the only evidence of what took place is the news crew's videotape. Quarantine opens in theaters everywhere October 17.

10:00 - 12:00 World Premiere! Mutant Chronicles (Room 6CDEF)

Special "work-in-progress" feature film screening hosted by stars Thomas Jane (The Mist), Ron Perlman (Hellboy II), and Devon Aoki (Sin City). This is the first public showing in our hemisphere of this steampunk action-adventure. A disparate squad of former enemy soldiers undertakes a suicide mission deep into the seething heart of the otherworldly mutant scourge bent on human extinction. Unrated, uncut, unreal. Q&A with cast, director Simon Hunter (Lighthouse), and producer Edward R. Pressman (The Crow).