Beginning today, the eyes of nerds across the nation will focus on the San Diego Convention Center for the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con. Announcements made during the convention will ripple throughout the world of film, television and comic books.
It’s likely that plenty of Texas geeks are boarding flights to the West Coast to experience the fun firsthand. If you happen to be going, consider these top picks for fun stuff to check out that has little to do with the next Marvel movie trailer releases. And if you’re stuck in town for the weekend, this list is a valid reason to consider making the nerdy pilgrimage next year.
Mondo posters exhibition
Rest assured that there will be a little flavor of Austin tucked away on the floor of the convention center. Mondo Gallery has launched a presale of artwork from artists Martin Ansin, Olly Moss and even the legendary movie poster designer Drew Struzan.
This year’s lineup for Mondo demonstrates how the art boutique continues to grow in popularity in terms of the filmmakers they have become attached to. The Mondo artists released a series of prints for the recent release Pacific Rim, and actively worked with director Guillermo del Toro to get the right feel for the posters. The team also continued the giant monster theme by releasing a teaser poster for next year’s new Godzilla film.
On top of all that, Drew Struzan finally released his prints for the Dark Tower fantasy series by Stephen King via Mondo. Struzan will be at the Mondo booth to sign the prints for lucky fans.
Walking Dead 10th anniversary with Robert Kirkman
The television adaptation may have its ups and downs, but the original graphic novel series has cemented itself as one of the best of the current generation. Pop culture is awash with the hordes of the undead, and it’s Kirkman’s series that set the tone for the public’s insatiable appetite for all things zombie.
Kirkman will be discussing the birth and evolution of his epic series. Fans are understandably excited to see if anything new is teased for the TV series.
Congressman John Lewis discusses March graphic novel
Among all of the cosplay and Hollywood celebrities, it’s a little surprising to see a politician making an appearance at Comic Con, but U.S. Rep. John Lewis has a good reason to be in attendance. Lewis is a key figure of the American Civil Rights Movement and had a prominent role in the historic March on Washington and the Selma to Montgomery marches.
Lewis will now tell his story of those fateful years in the graphic novel trilogy, March, co-authored with Andrew Aydin and illustrated by Nate Powell. Comics and real world events have always gone hand-in-hand, and Lewis’ take on the importance of civil rights couldn’t come at a more necessary time.
Panels featuring the best in TV animation
Comic Con is now essentially a big PR push for the upcoming year in superhero movie releases, but underneath the blockbuster veneer is a core of the best in entertainment, and this year it’s all about the best in animated television.
Cartoon Network will host back-to-back panels of the best shows that kids and adults can watch together — Regular Show and Adventure Time — featuring each series’ creators and voice talents. For the more mature crowd, there will also be panels with the producers and talent of FX’s Archer and Fox’s Bob’s Burgers, two animated series that will make you forget that Family Guy is a thing. These shows also happen to employ some of the best in comedy, so even if they reveal little for upcoming seasons, seek them out for what should be some entertaining panel discussions.
Pacific Rim Comic Con poster by Kevin Tong.
