Iron Man 3, Halo 4, and a Complete List of Comic Con 2012 Events
Wednesday evening marked the preview night for Comic-Con 2012, taking place at the San Diego Convention Center. Now is the best time to catch up on what will actually be happening at this year's show.
Here is a list of notables from a variety of different fields. Be sure to tune in for PolicyMic's coverage over the course of the convention, starting Thursday and ending on Sunday.
1) Movies
Several major Hollywood studios are skipping Comic-Con this year after some of their previous films ended up flopping, despite their notable and expensive presence at the convention in the past. This comes as a disappointment to some fans. The studios which will not be making an appearance include: Paramount Pictures, 20th Century Fox, and Universal Pictures. However, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros., Lionsgate, and Walt Disney Pictures will still be present. Personally, I’m upset that The Wolverine will not be available (20th Century Fox holds the rights to movies based on the X-Men franchise), but Marvel will still want to demonstrate that they can top The Avengers and will be sure to show off Iron Man 3. Also, Warner Bros. will be demonstrating Man of Steel, even though The Dark Knight succeeded without ever showing up at the convention. Other hotshots included The Hobbit and Pacific Rim.
2) Video games
Considering the fact that several movie studios will be absent this year, Comic-Con will be more video game-focused than ever. Other than a few mandatory tournaments, video games that will be making an appearance include the science-fiction/historical adventure game Assassin’s Creed III, the psychological thriller Beyond: Two Souls starring Ellen Paige, and Microsoft’s eight-hundred pound gorilla Halo 4. Of course, it was just recently announced that the Assassin’s Creed movie is going to star Michael Fassbender so anyone with a low tolerance for drivel should avoid the franchise as if their life depends on it because, if you spend too much time watching Fassbender’s movies, it will seriously affect your health.
3) Television
Essentially, every major show imaginable will be present at this year’s convention. Notable panels for current shows include Glee, True Blood, Sons of Anarchy, Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, Bones, Nikita, Dexter, Big Bang Theory, Wilfred and Archer. The most interesting, however, is going to be a panel marking the tenth anniversary of the beloved and tragically short-lived Firefly, a panel that will include Nathan Fillion and other cast members. Also, considering Whedon’s recent mainstream success with The Avengers, do not be surprised if Whedon has something to say about his next superhero project, which could include a Hulk movie starring Mark Ruffalo or the lesser-known Guardians of the Galaxy, whose villain Thanos was referenced at the end of The Avengers, reportedly on Whedon’s insistence.
4) Comics
Struggling comic creators will be able to discuss career paths with notable writing personalities C. B. Cebulski, David Marquez (Ultimate Comics Spider-Man), and Sam Humphries (Ultimate Comics Ultimates). Also, toy makers Lego, Hasbro, and Diamond Select will be offering superhero collectables for purchase that are not available elsewhere. Hasbro will be announcing a new Transformers license and storyline. Other notable presences include Marjorie Liu from Joss Whedon’s truly amazing Astonishing X-Men and the David Gaider, writer for the video game Dragon Age.
The most notable thing to occur during Wednesday's preview was Warner Bros. Television's offering a sneak peak at the pilots for their upcoming shows 666 Park Avenue, Arrow, The Following, Revolution, and Cult. Also, considering his involvement in movies, comics and television, Joss Whedon might end up being the celebrity of the convention and others will finally see what his cult followers have been talking about for years.
For the complete programming, visit Comic Con International’s official website and be sure to tune in for complete coverage starting Thursday, July 12.
