The San Diego Comic Con is the birthplace of ideas when it comes to pop culture. In fact, the Con is, in no small way, responsible for the most popular genre movies that make their way to theaters and end up becoming the biggest films at the box office. This is where comics, novels and children’s books are discovered by TV and film executives to develop into movies.

Last year Comic Con attendees were greeted with this banner promoting the film Accepted.

It’s also where the creators of such properties can directly connect with fans and hear what they really think. Fans have plenty of opportunities to talk back and offer praise, positive feedback and sometimes, valuable negative comments in the interests of having an influence on their favorite genre characters and stories.

If you happen to be at the con, just for fun, mention that you absolutely loved that director Joel Schumacher put nipples on the Batsuit. In fact, you thought it was a fabulous idea. Do this while waiting in any random Comic Con line and prepare not only to get an earful, you will know the wrath of geeks and learn to fear them. In fact, my personal favorite memories of con’s past are those longwinded late night conversations in hotel bars discussing how Jar Jar ruined Star Wars or the death of the Star Trek franchise. Heck, I love the fact that I can make an obscure joke/reference to the movie Krull while taking a leak in the restroom, and 10 nerds at the urinals next to me will laugh and piss on themselves. For me, this is movie geek heaven. It’s the place I feel I can really fit in among all the misfits.

I remember a time when I would mention the words “Comic Con” and I'd receive a puzzled look along with a question, "Is this a convention for comedians?" Now, the con has grown nearly beyond the capacity of the enormous San Diego Convention Center and tops out attendance at 120,000 geeks, myself among them. The four day event actually had to stop admitting people for the very first time on Saturday last year. These are the most passionate from geekdom who have traveled from all over the world get to face to face with their heroes.

Costumes are not just for nerds...

The trip down south for Hollywood folks was once a well kept secret, but now mainstream outlets are covering the con, and even lonely creators and illustrators with Xeroxed books who are relegated to the far corners of the convention center are sought out for their stories. A hand-made stapled together comic book could be the next big movie franchise. This is exactly how properties such as Bob Burden’s comic Mystery Men and Men in Black were discovered and turned into films.

Now the con is incredibly important to the film studios as a launching pad for films. Buzz starts at Comic Con for all the big movies, and this year will be no different as fans will be treated to sneaks of movies coming to theaters in 2008. Presenting trailers, or rough cuts of scenes, passing out freebies like posters and buttons, starts fans talking to other fans and online about what will be hot next year.

I’m highlighting the films I’m personally excited about. It should be pointed out that all of these all began as either a comic book (Hulk, Iron Man, Batman), a children's books (Where the Wild Things Are), a cartoon/anime series (Speed Racer) or a TV series (Star Trek) – and all of them became popular among fans at Comic Con so that they could become films in the first place.

I’ll update this piece with additional details next week, once I’ve recovered, but for now, here’s a sneak peek at Comic Con’s movie offerings. Now, it’s time to get my geek on!


The Wachowski Brothers will bring Speed Racer to theaters in 2008 with Christina Ricci as Trixie and Emile Hirsch as Speed. As of this writing, Chim Chim has not been cast.


Robert Downey, Jr. is the man of steel in Iron Man.


Ed Norton will turn green in summer 2008 in the Hulk sequel. But will Hulk smash?


Can J.J. Abrams reinvent the Star Trek franchise?


Spike Jonze is sure to put a twisted spin on his adaptation of Maurice Sendak's beloved children's book Where the Wild Things Are.


Tim Burton takes a stab at dark comedy with Sweeney Todd.


The full title of the fourth Indiana Jones film is rumored to be revealed. Pictured in the center is Shia Labeouf from Disturbia, who plays a key role in the new adventure.


Will we get a glimpse of the Joker in action from Batman: Dark Knight?

NOTE: Check back for Comic Con updates... for now...
Gore gone!

Chris_Gore is more than geeks the eye.