Darth Vader At The Bus Stop? You Might Be At Comic-Con

SAN DIEGO (July 20, 2006) — When you see Darth Vader and Superman strolling through the city, you know you’re getting close.

Comic-Con, the nation’s largest celebration of comic books and pop culture, has descended on the San Diego Convention center. It’s when superheroes walk the streets, artists and animators are treated like A-listers and fantasy reigns.

“It’s fondly referred to as nerd prom,” says Blair Butler, a comic-book expert who hosts a show on cable’s G4 network. More than 100,000 are expected to attend the four-day event that began Thursday.

Toy companies (including Mattel and Hasbro), game makers (Nintendo and PlayStation) and comic-industry giants (such as Marvel and DC) come to share their newest creations and beloved collectibles with legions of loyal fans. Workshops throughout the event teach everything from animation to writing.

Filmmakers are here as well. Sony, Warner Bros., New Line and Universal are just a few of the Hollywood studios bringing top talent to the comic Mecca, where they can speak directly to the most dedicated moviegoers.

“Our demographics show that people who come to this event see movies on opening weekend,” says Comic-Con spokesman David Glanzer, a 22-year veteran of the event. “(Studios) have an opportunity to talk to the people who buy those movie tickets or who tune in every night of the week to watch those shows and get feedback.”

For comic-inspired films — like the much-anticipated “Spider Man 3,” due in 2007 — appearing at Comic-Con is a natural fit. But even non-comic movies, like this summer’s “Snakes on a Plane,” stand to benefit from the fan frenzy.

“It’s a great marketing tool for the studios to go down there and tout their wares to what they know is a very receptive audience,” says Stuart Levine, a senior editor at the trade paper Variety. “On the bad side, if the people down there don’t like what they see, it could spell bad news for the studios.”

But they’re clearly willing to take the gamble. Sony is bringing out “Spider Man” director Sam Raimi, along with key members of the cast, to build early buzz for the film. “Snakes” star Samuel L. Jackson and director David Ellis will be on hand to discuss their reptile adventure. Other movies getting a first look at Comic-Con include “Ghost Rider,” “The Reaping” and “Saw III.”

Filmmakers have enjoyed friendly relations with the comic-book fest for 30 years, Glanzer says. It was 1976, a year before the first “Star Wars” film was released, when George Lucas brought his company, Lucasfilm, to Comic-Con to promote the franchise.

“He realized that this was a market he could tap,” Glanzer says. “These people loved new information and they would talk to their friends and, way before the Internet, they could create a groundswell.”

Television networks are increasingly getting in on the action, too. ABC, NBC and Fox are among those promoting new shows. Film and television workshops have also been added to the roster, Glanzer says.

“It’s not just about comics anymore,” he says. “It’s about all things having to do with pop arts and pop culture.”

And, of course, costumes.

Maureen Dawson, a 26-year-old law student from San Diego, came to Comic-Con dressed as Hermione Granger from the popular “Harry Potter” films — for the third year in a row. She loves comics, sure, but she also attends for professional reasons.

“I’m good friends with some voice actors and I’m really trying to become their representative when I graduate next year,” she says. “And you have to have imagination and creativity whereever you go.”