CA – Ceremony to Honor Bob Kane

Director Zack Snyder and DC Entertainment Co-Publisher Jim Lee will appear on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday October 21, 2015 at 11:30 a.m. PST in a ceremony to grant Batman co-creator Bob Kane with a posthumous star and commemorate Batman as the Guinness World Record holder for “Most Film Adaptations of a Comic Book Character.” The Batmobile from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice will be on display and unique fan giveaways are planned. Fans are encouraged to come dressed as Batman characters. Event will be live-streamed exclusively on www.walkoffame.com Details at the link…

Press Release: 

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that the late Bob Kane will be honored posthumously with the 2,562nd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday, October 21st, at 11:30 a.m. PDT. The star in the category of Motion Pictures will be dedicated at 6764 Hollywood Boulevard in front of GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS Museum. “Kane’s creation of American cultural icon Batman is every child’s dream Super Hero. We are excited to honor the man who gave life to this great character,” stated Walk of Fame Producer Ana Martinez. “Fans from all over the world have been waiting for this monumental day and we hope Kane’s shiny star forever inspires generations of creative minds.”

Helping emcee and Hollywood Chamber President/CEO Leron Gubler to unveil the star will be filmmaker Zack Snyder and DC Entertainment Co-publisher and acclaimed artist Jim Lee. Snyder is at the helm of the upcoming action adventure Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice due in theaters March 25, 2016, and will next direct the long-awaited Justice League feature film. Lee, who had the pleasure of meeting Bob Kane, will speak to the character’s enduring appeal and how Batman has captured the imagination of the entire world.

In 1939 in a New York art studio, Bob Kane created one of the most popular characters of the twentieth century – The Batman. Kane’s creation has become the star of comic books, Saturday afternoon movie serials, newspaper comic strips, a live-action TV series, several animated TV series, and several of the largest-grossing feature films of all time.

“I suppose I must have had printer’s ink in my blood,” Kane said of his childhood, “for as far back as I can recall, I’ve had a pencil in my hand. When I was ten, my dad was a printer for the New York Daily News. He’d bring home all the paper’s comics, and I copied them constantly. It got so eventually I could do them as well as the cartoonists themselves.” This informal training led the young Kane to create his own comics. By 1938, he was selling humorous stories to DC Comics, including the features “Professor Doolittle” and “Ginger Snapp.”

In 1939, one year after Superman’s debut, DC Comics editor Vincent Sullivan decided that he wanted another costumed hero. He asked 22-year-old Bob Kane for his ideas. “I went home that weekend,” Kane recalled, “traced some sketches of Superman, and started penciling different costume ideas. It was then that I got my first brainstorm: I remembered one of Leonardo da Vinci’s sketches – a drawing of a flying machine with bat wings. That’s what germinated the idea for Batman. The second influence on me was the hero with the dual identity in The Mark Of Zorro. And then I thought about ‘The Bat Whispers,’ a mystery movie written by Mary Roberts Rinehart.

“I realized I was getting closer. I drew a character with bird wings and called him Bird Man, but that wasn’t quite right. So I changed the wings, made them bat-like, and called him Batman. Almost every famous character ever created had a kind of simplistic, definitive design that was easily recognizable, and that’s what I was striving for with Batman.”

The first published appearance of The Bat-Man, as he was then known, was in the May 1939 issue of Detective Comics #27. Batman’s first adventure was called “The Case of the Chemical Syndicate,” and was written by Kane’s frequent collaborator, Bill Finger, who over the years would make many significant contributions to the Batman universe. The character was so successful that one year later the first comic book devoted exclusively to the popular caped crusader’s adventures, BATMAN #1, hit the newsstands. In that issue, Batman battled The Joker and Catwoman for the first time.

Bob Kane continued to illustrate Batman’s comic book adventures until his retirement in 1968. His work covered not only countless comic book adventures, but also three years of the “Batman and Robin” newspaper comic strip, which ran from 1943 to 1946.

The success of the Batman television show in 1966 brought Kane and his art back into the public eye. Kane was subsequently featured in various one-man art shows at galleries and museums nationwide. He served as a consultant on the 1989 Batman feature film and its three sequels. Kane’s autobiography, Batman And Me, was published in 1989. Seven years later, Kane was inducted into the Eisner Awards Hall of Fame in 1996. Bob Kane, the American cartoonist, died on November 3, 1998.

Bob Kane was generous with his time and resources. He often visited children’s hospitals and donated funds to such organizations as Feed the Children, Make a Wish Foundation, the Westside Children’s Center, the Bay Area Youth Center and many other agencies providing services to the hungry, homeless, abused or abandoned children. The creative philanthropist donated a portion of proceeds from his one-man exhibit of original Batman oil paintings at the Carlton House’s Paul Stooshnoff Gallery to the American Cancer Fund. He also wrote and illustrated numerous comic strips, cartoons and comic books in tribute to Batman with all proceeds to benefit the Child Welfare League of America.

CA – Hero Complex Film Festival 2012

Hero Complex Film Festival tickets go on sale today, Thursday April 26, 2012.

Friday May 18, 2012

Dawn of the Dead 7:00 pm
Special guests: Zack Snyder and Robert Kirkman

Shaun of the Dead 10:00 pm
Special guest: Edgar Wright

Saturday May 19, 2012

RoboCop 12:00 pm
Special guest: Peter Weller

A Clockwork Orange 4:00 pm
Special guest: Malcolm McDowell

SUPER 8:30 pm
Special guest: Rainn Wilson

Sunday May 20, 2012

WALL-E 2:00 pm
Special guest: Andrew Stanton Includes a special preview of Disney/Pixar’s ‘Brave’

Serenity 6:00 pm Special guest: Nathan Fillion

Monday May 21, 2012

An Evening with Stan Lee Screening TBA

2012 event poster designed by DC Comics co-publisher Jim Lee.

UK – Sucker Punch Signing

ZACK SNYDER signs on Tuesday 29th March from 6 – 7pm to promote the film Sucker Punch. He will be at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR.

B-52s, Bombs, Brothels & Babes! Welcome To The World of Sucker Punch!

Enter Zack Snyder’s fantastical world of warfare with this wonderful art book and have it signed by Mr. Snyder himself. There’s everything from samurai to serpents included and it’s a unique opportunity to grab yourself a very special copy of this official book. Snyder guides you through the many amazing worlds and characters of the film, with eye-popping production art and stunning photographs by Clay Enos (Watchmen: Portraits).

Due to the anticipated high turnout, limits may be placed on the number of items signed. Thank you.

Comic-Con International Programming: Saturday

The Saturday programming schedule for SDCC is now available.

While I suspect that Saturday may end up being a day of surprises, it nevertheless features such guests as Ludacris, Rebecca Romijn, Jim Lee, Joe Quesada, Stan Lee, Dave Gibbons, Mike Mignola, Dan DiDio, James Jean, Matt Groening, Gerard Way, Woody Harrelson, Ray Bradbury, J. Michael Straczynski, Kevin Smith, Zachary Quinto, Marc Silvestri, Zack Snyder, Mark Hamill, and Thomas Jane.

Here are some of the panels that got my attention:

10:00-11:30 The Black Panel— By now you must have heard about the massive amount of fun The Black Panel is! 2009’s panel will be the one that puts all others to shame. This year’s panel includes Ludacris, Michael Jai White (Black Dynamite), Kel Mitchell (Kenan & Kel, The Brash Brothers), Prodigal Sunn (The Wu Tang Clan), Reggie Hudlin (Black Panther animated series), Denys Cowan (Black Panther animated series), and as always some surprise guests! Moderated by Michael Davis. Room 5AB

10:00-11:00 IDW: Angel on the Rise— With L.A. back from Hell, what’s next for IDW’s Angel comics? Fans of the show and the tall, dark, and brooding fangster can find out who’s still fighting, who’s been eaten, and what sinister forces are still to come during this panel featuring Juliet Landau (Angel writer/actress), Brian Lynch (Angel: After the Fall), Peter David (Fallen Angel), plus the reveal of the all-new monthly Angelwriter and more! Room 7AB

10:00-11:00 Chuck Screening and Q&A— Chuck returns to Comic-Con! executive producers and co-creators Josh Schwartz (Gossip Girl) and Chris Fedak are joined by series stars Zachary Levi (upcoming Alvin and the Chipmunks ), Yvonne Strahovski (upcoming I Love You Too), Joshua Gomez (Without a Trace), Ryan McPartlin (Super Capers), Mark Christopher Lawrence ( The Pursuit of Happyness ), Vik Sahay ( This Is Wonderland ) , Scott Krinsky ( The O.C. ), Sarah Lancaster ( Everwood ) , and Adam Baldwin (Serenity) for a Q&A to discuss season three and screen an exclusive retrospective highlight reel. Plus, don’t miss a special surprise from some of your favorite characters! Produced by College Hill Pictures, Wonderland Sound and Vision in association with Warner Bros. Television, Chuck airs Mondays at 8:00 PM ET/PT on NBC. Ballroom 20

10:15-11:15 Eastwick Pilot Screening and Q&A— Be among the first to see the pilot of the highly anticipated series Eastwick. Based on the John Updike novel and the hit film The Witches of Eastwick, this sexy and bold comedic drama centers on three young witches whose powers are awakened when a mysterious man moves to town. Be careful what you wish for—the perfect man truly may be the Devil! Series stars Rebecca Romijn ( X-Men), Lindsay Price ( Lipstick Jungle), Jaime Ray Newman (Veronica Mars), and Paul Gross (Due South ) join creator/executive producer Maggie Friedman (Related) and director/executive producer David Nutter (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) to answer questions from the audience after this exclusive sneak peek. Produced by Warner Bros. Television, Eastwick airs Wednesdays at 10:00 PM ET/PT this fall on the ABC Television Network. Room 6A

11:00-12:00 Lost: The Final Season Begins, with Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse— In appreciation of all the fan support through five seasons of Lost, co-creator/executive producer Damon Lindelof and executive producer Carlton Cuse will pay homage to all the fans at their final Comic-Con appearance for Lost. Questions will be answered. Fun will be had. And you won’t want to miss the surprises in store for the audience! Hall H

11:30-12:30 The Stories of DC Universe Online featuring Jim Lee and Marv Wolfman— Jim Lee (Batman: Hush) and Marv Wolfman (The New Teen Titans) have joined forces to help create DC Universe Online. Jim, Marv, and key members of the development team from Sony Online Entertainment talk about how storylines are being built into this upcoming online action game at every level. Room 5AB

11:30-12:30 Marvel: Dark Reign— The Cabal has taken over the Marvel Universe and forever changed it. Now, Norman Osborn has his LIST and is taking everyone down who stands in his way. What lies on the horizon? Find out here as the creators behind the madmen and women putting the Marvel Heroes through their paces answer your questions and let you in on what happens next! Joe Quesada, Rick Remender (Dark Reign: The List), Matt Fraction (Invincible Iron Man), Jason Aaron (Dark Reign: The List), Frank Tieri (Dark Reign: Made Men), Joe Casey (Dark Reign: Zodiac), Marvel editor Alejandro Arbona, and others shed some light on Dark Reign! Room 6A

11:30-12:30 Activision/Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2— Marvel and Activision have a long history of bringing some of the world’s most popular and beloved comic book storylines to video games and their fans. That pedigree will continue with a number of Stan Lee’s famed Marvel characters inspired by Mark Millar’s Civil War storyline, brought to life in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2. Learn first-hand the various facets that go into transforming a comic book’s storyline into a captivating video game, including voice work, writing, development, and creativity, all the while evolving with the high-definition environment of the gaming world. Join Stan Lee, game voice-over actors Armin Shimmerman and Fred Tatasciore, and members from Activision’s development studio, Vicarious Visions, to gain insight and a preview of the imagination, creative process and technology used to develop some of the most advanced superhero games ever. Indigo Ballroom / Hilton Bayfront

12:00-1:00 CBLDF Master Sessions: The Heroic Figure with Dave Gibbons— As the co-creator of Watchmen and Martha Washington, Dave Gibbons established himself as a master of creating immediately iconic heroes. Bring your sketchbooks and follow along as he shows you his creative process for creating dynamic, heroic figures at this live art demonstration! The original art from this session will be auctioned off on Saturday night at the CBLDF’s auction! Room 30CDE

12:30-1:30 Spotlight on Gary Gianni— “Monsters, Cowboys, Ghosts and Pirates” is the theme of a chat and slide show presented by Comic-Con special guest Gary Gianni (The Monster Men). Geof Darrow (Shaolin Cowboy) and Mike Mignola (Hellboy) will also be on hand to add commentary. Comics, books, and movies will be discussed. Room 4

12:30-1:30 Sanctuary— Before Sanctuary returns for an all-new season, don’t miss your chance to go inside the action and behind the scenes. Join stars Amanda Tapping (Dr. Helen Magnus) and Robin Dunne (Dr. Will Zimmerman) as well as executive producers Martin Wood and Damian Kindler for an exclusive conversation about one of television’s most innovative shows. Moderated by Michael Logan, TV Guide. Indigo Ballroom / Hilton Bayfront

12:45-2:00 DCU Editorial Presentation— Senior VP/executive editor DCU Dan DiDio, senior story editor—DCU Ian Sattler, and countless DCU talent are gathering for a discussion that’s not to be missed. Now that Blackest Night is upon us, what lies ahead for your favorite heroes? Got a question for your favorite DCU creator? Come on by! There’s no greater gathering of top-tier creative talent! Room 6A

1:00-2:00 Spotlight on James Jean— The Eisner Award–winning artist and painter is a first-time Comic-Con special guest. James Jean has won multiple awards and acclaim for his work as a comics cover artist, on titles such as Fables and Umbrella Academy. Now he’s entered a new phase of his career, as he concentrates on gallery shows, book projects, and painting. Room 7AB

1:30-2:30 Miramax: Extract— Mike Judge, the creator of such comedy classics as Office Space, Beavis and Butthead and King of the Hill is back with his latest film Extract starring Jason Bateman (Arrested Development), Mila Kunis (Forgetting Sarah Marshall), and Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live). Join Judge and his cast for a discussion and first look at scenes from their new film. Hall H

1:30-3:00 Glee— When FOX aired a special preview of its subversive new comedy musical series Glee after the American Idol finale, the response was through the roof, and fans have hungered for another episode ever since. The wait is over! Stars Matthew Morrison, Lea Michele and Cory Monteith and the producers of the FOX hit present a sneak preview screening of a never-before-broadcast episode with panel discussion to follow. Don’t Stop Believin’, Comic-Con fans! Glee is here! Indigo Ballroom / Hilton Bayfront

1:45-2:30 The Simpsons— Now entering its record-breaking 21st season on the air, The Simpsons is the longest-running series in the history of American television and a household name around the world. Get a behind-the-scenes look at what’s coming up in the Simpsonverse, including never-before-seen highlights from the upcoming “Treehouse of Horror XX,” with a panel including Simpsons creator Matt Groening, showrunner Al Jean, executive producer Matt Selman, and supervising director Mike Anderson. Ballroom 20

2:15-3:15 Warehouse 13— This summer, the unknown has an address in the new Syfy Original Series, Warehouse 13. Stars Eddie McClintock (Pete Lattimer), Joanne Kelly (Myka Bering), Saul Rubinek (Artie Nielsen), Allison Scagliotti (Claudia Donovan), Jack Kenny (executive producer/showrunner) and David Simkins (executive producer) reveal confidential information. Room 6A

2:15-3:15 Gerard Way— The creator of The Umbrella Academy talks about the next arc of his award-winning series with Gabriel Bá, announces his new project, and fields questions from the audience. Room 6DE

2:45-3:45 V Pilot Screening and Q&A— Already one of the most talked-about new series of the upcoming television season, catch a special screening of the pilot episode of V, a re-imagining of the groundbreaking miniseries, followed by a Q&A with stars Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost), Morris Chestnut (The Cave), Joel Gretsch (The 4400), Morena Baccarin(Firefly), and Scott Wolf (Go), along with executive producers Scott Peters (The 4400), Jeffrey Bell (Alias), Steve Pearlman (Related) and Jace Hall (Chadam). From HDFilms in association with Warner Bros. Television, V will premiere midseason on the ABC Television Network. Ballroom 20

2:45-3:45 Sony Pictures: Zombieland and 2012— Sony Pictures previews two exciting new movies at Comic-Con!

Zombieland —What if the Zombies won? Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) has made a habit of running from what scares him. Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) doesn’t have fears. If he did, he’d kick their ever-living ass. In a world overrun by zombies, these two are perfectly evolved survivors. But now, they’re about to stare down the most terrifying prospect of all: each other. Also starring Emma Stone and Abigal Breslin as two sisters who seem to constantly cause even more trouble for our erstwhile heroes. Appearing on stage: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, and director Ruben Fleischer.

2012—Director Roland Emmerich has tried to destroy civilization before, but nothing you’ve seen will prepare you for what he has in store for the world in 2012. Never before has a date in history been so significant to so many cultures, so many religions, scientists, and governments. 2012 is an epic adventure about a global cataclysm that brings an end to the world and tells of the heroic struggle of the survivors. Roland will be onstage to reassure us it’s all make-believe…we hope.

Hall H

3:15-4:15 Heroes: Exclusive First Look at “Redemption” and Q&A with Tim Kring and Castmembers— Fasten your seatbelts and get ready for an amazing roller coaster ride as Heroes debuts a trailer for “Volume 5: Redemption.” Participate in a Q&A session with creator Tim Kring and some of the cast. Indigo Ballroom / Hilton Bayfront

3:30-4:30 Spotlight on Ray Bradbury— The legendary fantasy and science fiction writer is once again a Comic-Con special guest, as he was for the very first show in 1970. Ray Bradbury will discuss his new books, plays, and other projects with his long-time friend, writer and producer Arnold Kunert, and biographer Sam Weller. Room 6BCF

3:30-4:30 Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day— In the sequel to the cult classic The Boondock Saints, director Troy Duffy brings back Sean Patrick Flanery (Suicide Kings, Powder), Norman Reedus (American Gangster, Blade 2), and Billy Connolly (The Last Samurai) and introduces Carlo Berardinucci, Clifton Collins Jr. (Star Trek, Crank 2) as a new partner-in-crime, and Julie Benz (Rambo, Punisher 2, Saw) as the sexy FBI operative who is hot on their trail. Join Troy and the cast for a panel discussion about the new film and the world premiere of the trailer. Room 6DE

4:00-5:00 Fringe Screening and Q&A— Fringe cast members Anna Torv (upcoming The Pacific), Josh Jackson (Shutter), and John Noble (The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King) appear with consulting producers Alex Kurtzman and Robert Orci (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen) and executive producers Jeff Pinkner (Lost) and J. H. Wyman (Keen Eddie) for a Q&A with fans and an exclusive video presentation. Join the discussion of this critically acclaimed thriller, which explores the ever-blurring line between science fiction and reality, where hybrid monsters tear through sewers, thieves walk through walls and portals open to worlds unknown. From Bad Robot Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, Fringe airs Thursdays at 9:00 PM ET/PT this fall on FOX, premiering September 17. Fringe: The Complete First Season will be released on DVD and Blu-ray Hi Def September 8. Ballroom 20

4:00-5:00 Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment: Iron Man 2— Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment present the sequel to the blockbuster film based on the legendary Marvel superhero Iron Man. Directed by Jon Favreau, Iron Man 2 stars Robert Downey Jr. Joining Downey in the cast are Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Jon Favreau, Clark Gregg, John Slattery, Mickey Rourke, and Samuel L. Jackson. Hall H

4:30-5:30 Introducing the World’s First Digi-Novel: Level 26: Dark Origins— With his first major project since CSI, visionary creator and director Anthony E. Zuiker (creator, CSI), introduces the Digi-Novel, an industry redefining multiplatform media property that will revolutionize modern storytelling by allowing readers to move seamlessly from books to film to the web—an unprecedented undertaking in the publishing industry. Zuiker, designer Marc Ecko (founder, Ecko Enterprises), web creators Greg Goodfried and Miles Beckett (co-creators, lonelygirl15), and actors Daniel Buran (CSI) and Michael Ironside (Terminator Salvation) offer a preview presentation and Q&A session! Room 5AB

4:30-5:30 Top Cow: Comics & Multimedia— Marc Silvestri (Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia), Matt Hawkins (president of Top Cow), and Filip Sablik (publisher of Top Cow) hit you with a hurricane of exciting news and announcements from comics, film, television, anime, and much more! Joining them will be Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes, Berserker) and Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead)! Don’t miss major announcements regarding the Witchblade feature film, Witchblade anime, and Darkness video game! Plus a major casting announcement for The Darkness film and a special surprise guest or two! Room 7AB

4:45-5:45 Spotlight on J. Michael Straczynski— Triple Eisner-nominated and Comic-Con special guest J. Michael Straczynski presents a freewheeling discussion about his work in comics (Brave and the Bold, Thor, Amazing Spider-Man), television (Babylon 5), movies (Changeling, Ninja Assassin, Forbidden Planet, Lensman and more) and anything else that comes to mind. Every year JMS’s talks are a focus of heated conversation, and that’s just between us and law enforcement when they show up midway through… Room 6A

4:45-5:55 Human Target Pilot Screening and Q&A— Join Human Target stars Mark Valley (Fringe), Chi McBride (Pushing Daisies) and Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen), the show’s executive producers Jon Steinberg (Jericho), Brad Kern (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman) and Peter Johnson (Supernatural: Origins Comic Book Series), and co-creator of the original Human Target comic, Len Wein (Swamp Thing), for an exclusive Q&A and a screening of the highly anticipated pilot based on the popular DC Comics title about a mysterious agent for hire who assumes different identities, literally becoming a human target on behalf of his clients. From Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Wonderland Sound and Vision, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Television, Human Target will air Wednesdays at 9:00 pm ET/PT beginning in January 2010 on FOX. Room 6BCF

5:00-6:00 Adventures in Voice Acting Workshop— Here’s an opportunity for attendees interested in the voice-acting profession to get firsthand advice and experience from the pros in an intimate yet dynamic and exciting setting. Learn directly from some of the best voice actors and directors in the world. This one-hour class covers practical dubbing techniques, important issues such as studio protocol, and what to expect at your first audition. You’ll also get some inside information on how to break in and what the industry is really like. This truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for fans and aspiring voice actors to interact with some of the most accomplished members of the industry. Panelists include Michele Rodriguez (Lost), Steve Blum (Wolverine), Lance Henriksen (Aliens), and special surprise guests. Room 30CDE

5:15-6:15 True Blood Panel and Q&A session— Just as it seemed things were settling down in the backwoods Louisiana town of Bon Temps, deadly new twists and evil forces have begun to threaten Sookie Stackhouse and everyone around her. Mixing romance, suspense, mystery, and humor, True Blood kicked off its 12-episode second season on June 14 on HBO. The series, which earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Television Series—Drama for its debut season, follows the romance between waitress Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin, the X-Men films; Golden Globe-winner for True Blood season one; Oscar-winner for The Piano), who can hear people’s thoughts, and her soul mate, 173-year-old vampire Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer, The Starter Wife). Alan Ball (creator of the Emmy-winning HBO series Six Feet Under) created and serves as executive producer of the series, which is based on the best-selling Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris. The series also features Nelsan Ellis (The Soloist) as Lafayette Reynolds, Rutina Wesley (How She Move) as Tara Thornton; Sam Trammell (Medium, Law & Order: Criminal Intent) as Sam Merlotte; Michelle Forbes (In Treatment, Battlestar Galactica) as Maryann Forrester; Alexander SkarsgÃ¥rd (Generation Kill) as Eric Northman and Deborah Ann Woll (The Mentalist) as Jessica Hamby. Moderated by Kate Hahn of TV Guide. Ballroom 20

5:15-6:45 Kevin Smith— Direct from New York City, where he’s directing the new Warner Bros. film A Couple of Dicks starring Bruce Willis, Seann William Scott, and Tracy Morgan, Kevin Smith returns to the Hall H stage for his annual report to the masses. And remember: he flew in just for YOU. Hall H

5:30-6:30 Archaia: New Titles— Come hear about the great titles Archaia has in store, including Awakening (with writer Nick Tapalansky and artist Alex Eckman-Lawn), The Killer (with writer Matz), and The God Machine (with creator Chandra Free). Then: You’ve watched him for three seasons on NBC’s Heroes playing Sylar and on the big screen as Spock in the new Star Trek movie, but what do actor Zachary Quinto and his colleagues at media production company Before the Door Pictures have to do with Archaia? Find out exclusively at this panel, which will feature Quinto, Corey Moosa and Neal Dodson of Before the Door Pictures, plus appearances by top-secret special guests with additional announcements! Room 5AB

5:30-6:30 American Original: Birth of an Original— Jeff Katz (Booster Gold, Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash), president and founder of American Original, Marc Silvestri (Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia), and Matt Hawkins (president of Top Cow) give you the 411 on the genesis of their “Nerd Machine”! Find out what’s coming from American Original first, and get introduced to their mix of talent from a spectrum of comics, film, television, sports entertainment, and animation! Plus enough surprise guests to fill a three-ring circus! Room 7AB

5:55-7:00 The Vampire Diaries Pilot Screening and Q&A— The Vampire Diaries stars Nina Dobrev (Degrassi: The Next Generation), Paul Wesley (Killer Movie), and Ian Somerhalder (Lost) appear with executive producer/writer Kevin Williamson (Scream), writer Julie Plec (Kyle XY), and executive producer Bob Levy (Gossip Girl), as the series makes its Comic-Con debut with a screening of the much-talked-about pilot, followed by a Q&A. This edgy and romantic new drama, in which two vampire brothers—one good, one evil—are at war for the soul of one girl, is based upon the bestselling book series of the same name. Lynette Rice of Entertainment Weekly moderates. From Bonanza Productions Inc., Outerbanks Entertainment and Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios, The Vampire Diaries airs Thursdays at 8:00 PM ET/PT this fall on The CW, premiering September 10. Room 6BCF

6:30-7:30 Black Dynamite— He’s super cool and he knows kung-fu! When “The Man” murders his brother and floods the ghetto with adulterated malt liquor, Black Dynamite is the one hero willing to fight all the way from the blood-soaked city streets to the hallowed halls of the Honky House. Michael Jai White (The Dark Knight) stars as Black Dynamite, a gun toting, nunchuck-wielding ladies’ man and soul brother. Director and writer Scott Sanders (Think as Thieves) is joined by cast members including Arsenio Hall, Tommy Davidson (In Living Color), Byron Minns (Undisputed), Salli Richardson-Whitfield (I am Legend), moderator Elvis Mitchell, and more! Room 5AB

8:30-12:15 Watchmen: Director’s Cut—Live with Zack Snyder! Plus Sneak Peek of Batman: Arkham Asylum with Mark Hamill & Kevin Conroy— Get the ultimate inside track on two landmark Warner Bros. releases with the world premiere screening of Watchmen: Director’s Cut and a first-look panel for the breakout Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment game Batman: Arkham Asylum. The festivities will open with a Batman: Arkham Asylum panel led by the benchmark voices of Batman and the Joker, Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series) and Mark Hamill (Star Wars), as well as award-winning writer Paul Dini (Batman: The Animated Series). Then Watchmen director Zack Snyder, legendary illustrator Dave Gibbons and actor Jackie Earle Haley discuss the nuances of the film’s Director’s Cut— which hit stores on July 21. And for the pièce de résistance, Snyder will host a BD Live Community event—providing a real-time, in-person director’s commentary for Comic-Con attendees (and BD Live viewers at home) as the film rolls. Audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions of Snyder via computer kiosks within the room, making for an entirely interactive viewing experience. Room 6BCF

10:00-12:00 Give ‘Em Hell Malone Screening and Panel— Catch an exclusive early screening of the upcoming noir-action film Give ‘Em Hell Malone, followed by a Q&A with stars Thomas Jane (The Punisher) and Chris Yen, along with director Russell Mulcahy (Highlander) and writer Mark Hosack. Room 6DE