Tired of debating on the campaign trail, Obama & McCain face-off in a whole new arena: the pages of a forthcoming comic book.

Here’s a mash-up only found a Comic-Con: mostly-nude Spartans from 300 and the quartet of Sexy Jesus’s from Hamlet 2.

Hanging out at the Comic-Con Freebies Table.

Look! It’s a Dalek!

Another notable costume from Comic-Con 2008.

Superheroes in remarkable costumes walk among us at Comic-Con.

A suggestion for the next installment: Indiana Jones and the Crowded Comic-Book Festival.

Behold the massive Saturday crowds at Comic-Con.

The Caped Crusader and his Boy Wonder, made out of Legos!

Live at ABC’s Lost Panel: special surprise guest Matthew Fox joins Exec Prods Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof.

Just your average Storm Troopers guarding the Men’s Room.

How you know you’re at Comic-Con.

It ain’t nothin’ but… Stormtrooper Elvis??!

Shoppers stock up at the BBC America booth.

Saturday at Comic-Con - Crazier Costumes and Even Bigger Crowds

Salutations, readers. Your friendly neighborhood Comic-Con blogger here, checking in one last time before departing your fine planet for destinations unknown (though most likely, the humid East Coast). Even though there weren’t any BBC America panels or signings at the fest today, after losing my Comic-Con virginity earlier this week, I couldn’t resist one last dip in the pool of manic fandom before heading up to galaxies beyond. And so it was with a few notches on my Comic-Con belt that I trekked back to the swarming Convention Center this morning, mentally prepared for the onslaught of madness brought by the weekend.

And yet, even after 4 days here amongst the most ardent fans, admirers and all-out addicts, i”s hard not to still stand and stare in true amazement when you first burst on to the Exhibition Floor, or chuckle when you encounter elves, superheroes or storm troopers (in full regalia) standing in line for the men’s room or for a nacho pretzel dog (gross as it sounds, it’s your best form of nourishment when strapped for time and options, trust me).

After acclimating and checking in at the BBCA Booth, I pushed my way through the jam-packed crowds to check out some of the other stands that had caught my eye earlier in the week, like the truly brilliant Lego sculptures of Batman, Robin and Indiana Jones (holding his latest treasure, the crystal skull), and the forthcoming animated strip starring graphic representations of Obama and McCain. And I finally got to swing by the Freebie Table and check out the scores of postcards, shopping bags, posters and other goodies generously donated by many of the fest’s participants (including your fave BBCA, who sent over a couple thousand of Primeval magnets).

Then, it was time to brave the lines and check out the panel for ABC’s Lost, held in the cavernous Hall H. After waiting for close to 90 minutes outdoors (and ignoring the rants of a self-proclaimed Messiah who was eager to rescue the comic fans from their false idols and fantasy lifestyles… which, needless to say, didn’t go over very well!), 6,500 of my closest friends and I headed inside, where Exec Producers Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof held court, answering fans questions with a unique mix of humor and gratitude. In a truly inspired moment, they opened a Dharma Initiative box and bestowed an appropriate gift upon each inquirer… most remarkably a Matthew Fox action figure, which was then compared to Mr. Fox himself, a surprise guest that blew the crowd away.

Another memorable moment came when stumbling upon a nearly-naked Spartan warrior straight out of “300” posing alongside a posse of Sexy Jesus’s from the upcoming Steve Coogan buzzy comedy “Hamlet 2.” Talk about a pairing you never thought you’d see!

Also, a quick note about the upcoming BBCA premiere, Primeval: Juliet Aubrey and Karl Theobald had a full day yesterday with a packed panel session, signings, press interviews and a night out. They are now off from scenic San Diego, but they leave behind lots of new fans excited & eager for the series premiere on August 9. So don’t forget to mark your calendar: 2 weeks from tonight!

And on that note, I’m afraid it’s time for me to switch off and fly out. It’s been a true pleasure guiding you through the manic maze of Comic-Con this past week. I’d say, “It’s been real,” but I’m afraid there’s been little that’s been rooted in reality here in San Diego… so maybe let’s just say, it’s been unreal, yah? Thanks for coming along for the ride!

Primeval’s Juliet Aubrey and Karl Theobald, at their BBC America booth signing.

I give you, Frankenhooker. A surefire pick for 2009 Best Picture.

Hey, look! It’s ’70s cheeseball icon Erik Estrada!

At the official Comic-Con Spaced signing with Jessica Hynes and Simon Pegg.

The crowd at the Primeval panel watching some sneak peak clips of the sci-fi adventure series, premiering August 9 on BBC America.

Live with the Primeval panel: stars Juliet Aubrey and Karl Theobald.

More with the beloved Spaced panel.

Inside the Spaced panel.

The line for the Spaced panel even stretched outdoors.

The line for the Spaced screening stretches seemingly for miles, as fans queued up to celebrate the hit cult comedy.

Day 2 of Comic-Con '08 Reaches New Heights - Part 2

No sooner had the three left the stage after a jam-packed 45 minutes of unadulterated love from a panting & drooling crowd of thousands, then came the lovely BAFTA Award-winning Juliet Aubrey and the sleek Karl Theobald, the conniving baddies from BBC America’s big summer premiere, Primeval. Judging from the large crowd that gathered for the yet-to-air series (due to make its U.S. debut in just over 2 weeks, on Sat Aug 9), we may just have another sci-fi phenomenon on our hands.

Aubrey and Theobald walked a delicate tightrope line, teasing fans with snippets of storylines and character arcs and cuing up gripping clips, without giving too much away from the 2 seasons set to air as BBCA’s jumbo premiere. As Aubrey put it, “there are no rules with a show like this, anything can happen at any time, and it really does!” The two also laughed about the challenges of shooting such an action-filled series without the monstrous reptilian costars (added months later via expert CGI). Apparently, they’re used to men with balls on the end of sticks and assistant directors riding around on motorbikes and roaring at them, as they react to unseen creatures in some very exotic and still-prehistoric locations like the Canary Islands. The two stars also joked about doing such an action-packed series following their very disparate backgrounds (including a stint for Theobald on past BBCA comedy cult hit Green Wing), but acknowledged that even with all the supernatural special effects and fantastic plot lines, it’s still a show rooted in truth with multi-dimensional characters and complex relationships.

Following the 2 panels, both groups of stars headed to the Covered Atrium for Official Comic-Con signings, where fans lined up for hours to share a brief moment and grab an autograph. Later, Aubrey and Theobald trekked down to the Exhibition Floor to further mingle and sign for their adoring fans. Meanwhile, the Spaced bunch rested up for tonight’s late-night screening of 3 Fan Favorite episodes, which was already earning a reputation as a Must-See among both the attendees at the morning’s panel and hundreds of others who couldn’t get a seat at the packed session. Clearly, Spaced Fever has only grown in the 8 years since cameras started rolling on the show, a true testament to the series’ greatness.

And as for your faithful blogger, amidst all the true madness of the insanely crowded hallways, ballrooms and booths, a good chuckle was had by the bizarre sighting of ’70s icon CHiPs’ Erik Estrada, signing DVD sets and headshots - and especially by a larger banner advertising the straight-to-DVD gem “Frankenhooker,” starring a long-forgotten Playboy Playmate from 1982. Clearly, I’ve got a new must-rent title on my Netflix queue, huh?

Signing off now. I’ll be back tomorrow, with lots more from the brilliant craziness of the Exhibition Floor and the head-turning costumes of my future convention goers. Beam me up, Scottie, over and out.

Day 2 of Comic-Con '08 Reaches New Heights - Part 1

Greetings, fans! I have just returned from the swirling funnel of absolute mayhem and enthusiastic energy that is the Friday of Comic-Con. After yesterday’s excitement, I think we all assumed that things had reached their peak… but if at all possible, today seemed to bring even larger crowds of passionate and buzz-craving attendees, who have traveled remarkably long distances to join us in celebration. (I’ve been hearing rumors all week that Days 1 & 2 of this year’s Fest far-and-away top last year’s busiest weekend days - and though I’m an admitted Comic-Con Virgin, it’s not hard to believe!)

Even after such a jam-packed Thursday, the kind & devoted folks at BBC America didn’t let up even an ounce for Day 2, concentrating today on smash comedy cult hit Spaced and the imminently-premiering sci-fi adventure thriller Primeval. Much like yesterday, lots to share… so let’s get into it, shall we?

Making my way into the Convention Center early this morning, it was hard not to be totally distracted by some of the truly jaw-dropping costumes that goers unveiled, including some gasp-inducing (and, frankly, a bit frightening) masks & make-up jobs - and even some full-on body suits that left, well, very little to the imagination. Not sure I have the courage to try one on myself… but certainly kudos to all who dared to bare so much!

Not much time to stand around and gawk, though - as I headed up to Room 6A for the Spaced panel. From all the talk we’d heard at the BBC America booth (and the tremendous response from the press and at screenings this week in NYC & LA), we had a feeling it was going to draw a big crowd… but I think everybody did a complete double-take when we first saw the truly ginormous line of fans (apparently, one of the largest lines at this year’s Comic-Con, I’ve heard from several sources). Stretching across several hallways and wings of the buildings (and even going outside!), there was no doubt that Comic-Con-ners had worked themselves into a fervor for this much-loved series, finally being released on DVD after years of patient waiting and much praying.

After a kick-ass clip reel that repeatedly drew applause from the enormous crowd at favorite lines, gags and inside jokes, the holy trinity of Spaced took the stage: Actor/Creator Jessica Hynes, Actor/Creator Simon Pegg and Director Edgar Wright. And from the moment the applause died down enough to start the long-awaited dialogue, true hilarity ensued, as the attendees sent forth vibrations of pure adoration at the geniuses behind this cult fave. Proudly waving the Geek Flag high, the three talked about the pride in finding such success in writing about their own lives and loves, deeply rooted in a rare authenticity. Lucky to be working on a smaller budget that allowed them to produce the show without unwanted network interference or participation, they proudly proclaimed that upon reading the first episode’s script, the original executive producer said, “I don’t understand any of it… and I love it!”

The three also chatted about the inclusion of lots of future UK comedy superstars, like Ricky Gervais and David Walliams, in guest spots (which Pegg humorously compared to “a Marvel/DC Comics crossover!”), as well as the phenomenal audio commentaries from some of the Gods of American Geek-dom, like Quentin Tarantino, Kevin Smith, Matt Stone and Diablo Cody, on the just-released Complete Series DVD set. The scoop was, they recorded 9 commentaries on 1 day… which also happened to be Hynes’s first day of her very first trip ever to LA, leaving her to expect all future trips to LA to be full of adoration from such Creative Elite.

The three answered scores of fan questions too, notably requests for a third season (they’re not sure what’s left, though the series was originally conceived as a three-part story - and they have a huge fear of producing a subpar final season, which would be compared to “The Phantom Menace” Star Wars debacle!).

Is that you, David Tennant? Or just a particularly good lookie-likey of the 10th Doctor?

Ardent fans recreate their favorite characters from the Torchwood team.

Exec Producer Julie Gardner signing away for eager fans, next to Steven Moffat.

The Official Doctor Who/Torchwood Comic-Con Signing.

The Torchwood panel, on the huge video screens.

The Torchwood panel: Executive Producer Julie Gardner, John Barrowman, Gareth David-Lloyd, and Naoko Mori.

Up close (or, closer) with the Doctor Who panelists.

Live at the Doctor Who panel, Executive Producer Julie Gardner, and Executive Producer and lead writer Steven Moffat.

Though different in so many ways, BBC America fans found plenty to chat about while waiting for the start of the Doctor Who session.

Anxiously awaiting the start of the Doctor Who panel.

Thongs of fans lined up hours early, for access to the Doctor Who and Torchwood panels.

Um, is there a Doctor in the house?

A collection of Doctor Who’s congregate at the BBC America booth.

Day One of Comic-Con Blasts Into Orbit

Hello again, earthlings. Sorry to have kept you waiting (patiently, I hope!) for my detailed report from Day 1 of the wild phenomenon known as Comic-Con San Diego. It’s been a hell of a day, with some really awesome & exciting events to report - so let’s just dive right in, shall we?

After the massive crowds and pulsing enthusiasm at last evening’s Preview Night, I had a feeling it was going to be absolutely packed today, but riding in on the official Comic-Con Shuttle to the Convention Center, I was truly taken aback by the size of the crowds swarming around the building (and so many in full-on costume & make-up - trust me, it’s a sight to behold!). By the time I hit the Exhibition Floor early this morning, things were already in full-effect, with thousands of fans floating from booth to booth, checking out the latest and greatest. For a Comic-Con virgin like yours truly, it’s a whole lot to take in, and my head was spinning from swirling around, taking in all the sights.

By the time I made it to good ol’ Booth #3629, things were buzzing along, with DVD sets and Doctor Who collectibles flying off the shelves and into eager sweaty hands of some of our most loyal viewers. But there wasn’t time to stand around and chat with our favorite shoppers - a line was already starting to form for the tickets for the exclusive signings at the BBC America booth, taking place later today and tomorrow. In barely 45 minutes, passes were completely snatched up for both the Doctor Who and the Torchwood booth signings, and Primeval was quickly picking up steam and building buzz. Clearly, y’all heeded my warnings and stopped by right upon arrival.

By the time the last ticket was grabbed from my giving hands, it was up to the enormous Ballroom 20, site of the hugely anticipated Doctor Who and Torchwood panels, featuring an intriguing mix of cast members, exec producers and writers from two of BBC America’s fan favorites and biggest hits. I heard rumors that fans were already saving seats in the banquet hall, sitting through sessions with such comic book icons as the legendary Stan Lee, but I think we were all blown away by how quickly we packed the room with literally thousands of fans quivering in anticipation of the masterminds behind their favorite shows live, in-person and spilling exclusive scoop a mere hundred feet away. And my beloved blog readers, trust me when I proclaim that the panels didn’t disappoint in the slightest!

To thunderous applause, Doctor Who exec producer Julie Gardner and Executive Producer & lead writer Steven Moffat took the stage (though, sadly, without the great Mr. Russell T Davies, who we quickly learned was, in the words of Ms. Gardner, “literally taped to his desk for a good cause: writing the new season of Torchwood,” a revelation that quickly earned a massive cheer from the adoring crowd.) The crowd was in stitches for much of the hour, as they bantered back and forth about the experience of shooting in Cardiff, the process of transferring the magically imaginative stories to the screen, and, humorously, Moffat’s own dating advice, which quickly became an overarching metaphor for the entire panel. Some other interesting tidbits to share:

* Though Gardner admits to not having been a huge fan of DW as a child (gasp!), she’s quickly become an absolute fanatic, calling the job “the best time ever!” and admitting to still experiencing huge pangs of joy when she first sees each new script on the page. Moffat, an obvious life-long fan, compared the gig to having “an enormous toy to play with.” He also suggested that because not getting to watch DW is such a common punishment for children across Britain every weekend, there’s a feeling that lingers through adulthood that when you watch DW, “you’ve been a good boy.”

* Both Moffat and Gardner refused to give out even the tiniest hint about the forthcoming season 5, Moffat’s own struggles with U.S. Customs when arriving in California earlier this week almost brought him to breakdown and spill all to the cranky immigration officials… a revelation that I imagine will send hundreds of attendees to apply for new jobs at the airport, in the hopes of scoring scoop from worrying writers & producers!

But, by far, the highlight of the Doctor Who panel was the exclusive world-premiere screening of the extended Christmas Special 2008 trailer - which drew such acclaim from the rabid crowd that it was played twice, to standing ovations! Without giving away too much, a quick recap of what we know so far: it’s set on Christmas Day in 1851, with the return of the Cybermen (described by a character as “creatures coming out of the shadows”). Clearly, let’s all set our DVRs now, shall we? Can’t miss a minute of this!

Moffat had barely exited the stage, before the beloved Captain Jack himself, Mr. John Barrowman, came bounding on stage and up on his chair, to earth-shattering screams from fans still pouring into the Ballroom, followed shortly thereafter by Gareth David-Lloyd and Naoko Mori (who all dramatically locked lips with Barrowman in a hysterical tribute to TW’s sexed-up attitude). They joined Exec Prod Gardner to spill secrets, stories and teasing sexual innuendos from the set, especially about Barrowman and David Lloyd’s hot-‘n-steamy love scenes from season 2 and Mori’s heart-breaking death (which drew tears from stars & fans alike as clips played on the big screens).

But without holding back, let’s get to the most important revelation of the session: Torchwood season 3 is indeed bound for BBC America, looking likely to premiere in Spring 2009! A huge sign of relief and applause flooded the room, as Gardner described the special 5-episode season as “one huge meaty story, with a ticking clock and a huge event that forces the Torchwood team into new territory and even greater jeopardy!” Barrowman, who’s started reading the script (set to begin filming in Cardiff next month), described it as incredibly action-packed, with some really bad things happening to the crew. It’s being written as I type, by Russell T Davies, and looks to be truly ground-breaking television for this beloved show (and BBCA’s biggest hit ever)!

By the afternoon, it was time for these stars to get up close & personal with their oh-so-devoted fans, with attendees lining up in gigantic queues for some facetime with Moffat, Gardner and Mori, both at official Comic-Con signings and in the cozy environment of the BBCA Booth. Though lines stretched long at times, fans kept a smile on their face, trading stories and trivia and making new friends. After shepherding the lines for many hours, if this ol’ blog things doesn’t work out, I’m opening a Comic-Con branded dating service & social networking site. It’s awesome to see so many passionate and enthusiastic fans, gathering together to celebrate their love of BBC America’s shows and spend some time with their favorite characters - even amongst all the absolute madness of Comic-Con, quickly escalating to Defcon-5, swirling all around. To have this much fun in such chaos is truly a feat that Comic-Con pulls off effortlessly!

Tomorrow’s looking jam-packed also, with big panels, autograph signings and late-night screenings for cult hit comedy Spaced and BBCA’s big summer sci-fi premiere series Primeval - so your favorite on-the-scene blogger is going to rest up and sign off, with lots more coming straight from Comic-Con Central tomorrow. Plus, my light saber needs charging, to glow brightly and proudly tomorrow… Stand by for more, later.

The massive swarms of fans, awaiting entry into the Exhibition Floor.

Rows of fab Doctor Who toys, all for sale at the BBCA booth.

Exclusive video clip set to play during the BBC America panels

Good ol’ booth #3629.

The booth begins to take shape.

Look to the sky to find the BBCA Booth, #3629.

Magical things are being unpacked for the BBC America booth!

Comic-Con Building to Furious Roar!

Greetings, Comic-Con-ners. My spaceship has touched down in scenic, picturesque and frankly all-out gorgeous San Diego, where it’s an ideal 73*, with not a cloud in the sky or an ounce of humidity. Clearly, the heavens are shining on us fans, because not even Yoda could have predicted better weather.
From my East Coast flight out here yesterday, my antennae were starting to pick up on the buzz-y vibrations (honestly, I stopped counting once I hit double-digits on the number of comic book-inspired t-shirts of fellow plane passengers alone!), but I had no idea just how insane things would get from even this morning, once we hit the San Diego Convention Center. The halls wouldn’t even open up to the lucky few with Preview Night tix until 7pm that evening… and already, fanboys and girls were lining up for the exclusive panels, sneak previews and autograph signings that have made this four-day convention such a Can’t Miss stop. That’s some dedication, folks!

Wielding my special Green Exhibitor Pass around my neck (and feeling very backstage pass-y!), I headed straight down to the Exhibitor Floor, to check out the BBC America booth, good ol’ #3629. Wow, it’s lookin’ great - definitely a must-see, especially for anybody craving some exclusive “Doctor Who” action figures (and really, who doesn’t want a 6” David Tennant on your bookshelf at home?!) Plus, it’s real easy to find, next to the Dharma Initiative booth (for all you Lost addicts out there) and right smack-dab across the aisle from the mammoth automatronic Jabba The Hut statue - so shouldn’t be a problem for y’all to swing by first-thing Thursday am to pick up your tickets to the special signings with Torchwood’s Naoko Mori and Doctor Who’s executive producer and lead writer Steven Moffat on Thursday, and Primeval’s Juliet Aubrey and Karl Theobald on Friday. Also picked up a fab Primeval magnet at the booth, to help me count-down to the big premiere on August 9. Will look great next to my “Call your mother” one on my fridge at home.

Later on, managed to grab a very special sneak peak of some of the video clips that’ll play at the 4 (count ‘em, 4!) BBC America panels - and let me tell you, prepare to be impressed! There’s some very cool exclusive footage that’ll unspool during these sessions, so be sure to get your butt in a seat, ‘cuz you won’t want to miss a second.

Headed out late this evening, into an absolute unbelievable swarm of fans, thousands of folks pressed up against the glass outside the Convention Center and lining the sidewalks for blocks. And it hasn’t even “officially” opened yet, folks - so I have a feeling, we’re heading into some unchartered and seriously chaotic few days. But not to worry, I’m stepping into official Captain Jack mode to help navigate us through these perilous waters, and bring you all the stuff you can’t afford to miss or just need to relive again.

Oh, and before I beam out, one last memorable note. Major props to the gal wearing my favorite new t-shirts, featuring a photo of Captain Spock and the text, “Pointy ears turn me on.” Me too, sweetie… so give me a call later, yah?
Signing out now. More tomorrow morning, from the eye of the storm.

HOT News - Tix Giveaways for BBCA Booth Signings!

Attention Comic-Con-ners! I know I promised the blog wouldn’t be heating up until next week… but just got word of some major news about the signings at the BBC America booth at Comic-Con and had to start spreadin’ the word, ASAP!

Dying to come face-to-face with Steven Moffat? Trembling at the thought of sharing a few words with Simon Pegg? Brushing your hair in anticipation of a little face time with Naoko Mori? Then be sure to load up on coffee and hit the restrooms before hitting the Convention Center, because you’ll want to head straight to the BBC America booth (#3629 - just check your map once you hit the convention center) first-thing on Day #1, Thurs July 24, to grab a ticket for all the special signing sessions at the booth later on Thursday, and Friday. Tix will be given out on a first-come, first-serve basis, one per person, to guarantee your favorite star’s ol’ John Hancock, so I promise you, this is one stop you don’t want to miss. And remember: Tickets will start flying at 10:00am, so this is one date you don’t want to be late for.

Okay, beaming on out now, to go put the finishing touches on my top-secret costume. Stay tuned for more on Wednesday, from San Diego.