Preview Night and Movie Deal for ComicCon

ComicCon International: San Diego 2011 opens tomorrow, following tonight’s exclusive preview event. The convention is something of a mecca for comic book fans of the world and continues to become increasingly popular among mainstream audiences.  Tickets to last year’s convention were sold out in the same day the 100,000+ registration slots were made available for sale.  Costumed cosplayers, graphic novel fans, and exalted stars of the comic, cartoon, television and movie industry will be swarming San Diego this week to get a glimpse of their favorite authors and illustrators as well as access to vast arrays of merchandise, premier screenings, and panels led by industry experts.  

Highlights of the convention include a DC talent search, a panel from sci-fi and fantasy legends about storytelling in videogame and other fringe genres, insights into the future of the Marvel Universe and its next year of comics, a Q&A by the creators of rising webcomic Penny Arcade, and the premier of Year One, one of DC’s first entries in its newly reset and re-launched comic dynasty.

Film Director Morgan Spurlock of Super Size Me fame recently told Publisher’s Weekly that a movie and book about the convention is in the works, with names such as Stan Lee, Harry Knowles, founder of Ain’t It Cool news, and Thomas Tull, chairman of Legendary Pictures, appearing on his list of producers.  The movie will take an in-depth look at ComicCon, from the crowded exhibit halls teeming with excited fans to the behind-the-scenes areas where order is imposed on the chaos.