Ahoy, squirts! Quint here. I've been covering the San Diego Comic-Con for this site for 7 years now. Each year seems to be getting bigger and crazier.

We're a week and a half out from Comic-Con now and all the schedules have been released. I'm going to go through and highlight all the film-related panels, or panels that make me geek out something fierce. I'll be there covering the Con, so hopefully I'll bump into a few of you along the way.

THURSDAY

I'm curious about this one. Hope it doesn't suck a nut:

12:00-1:00 A First Look at Flyboys— Inspired by a true story, the World War I action-adventure film Flyboys stars James Franco, Jean Reno, and Martin Henderson and arrives in theaters September 29, 2006. Producer Dean Devlin (Independence Day), director Tony Bill (My Bodyguard), actor David Ellison (The Chumscrubber), and VFX producer Mark Franco (Titanic) will present a sneak peak of the film with exclusive scenes, an original trailer, and more. The Q & A will be moderated by the editor-in-chief of iF Magazine.com, Anthony Ferrante. Room 6CDEF

Rosario Dawson in person talking about making a comic book = geekgasm.

1:00-2:00 Rosario Dawson: Occult Crimes Taskforce— Rosario Dawson, star of Sin City and Clerks 2, will be joined by her creative team members David Atchison and Tony Shasteen, as well as 12 Gauge Comics’ Keven Gardner (The Ride), for a Q&A session about their debut comic series, Occult Crimes Taskforce! Room 6B

Then there's this one, which doesn't really appeal to me all that much, but I still might drop in and give it a look:

1:00-2:00 Sony Animation— Join filmmakers and animators to see previews of the first two animated features coming out of the new Sony Pictures Animation division. First up, it’s Open Season, based on the humor of cartoonist Steve Moore (In the Bleachers), who, along with John Carls, serves as executive producer. The film is directed by Roger Allers (director of The Lion King) and Jill Culton (Monsters, Inc. and Toy Story 2). Legendary singer-songwriter Paul Westerberg is creating original songs and score. The CG animation is by Sony Pictures Imageworks. The film tells the story of Boog (Martin Lawrence), a grizzly bear with no survival skills, who has his perfect world in the tranquil town of Timberline turned upside down when he meets Elliot (Ashton Kutcher), a scrawny, fast-talking wild mule deer. Panel and footage presentation will include Jill Culton, Steve Moore, and Doug Ikeler (visual effects supervisor).

Then it’s Surf’s Up, which goes behind the scenes of the high-octane world of competitive penguin surfing. The film profiles Cody Maverick (Shia LaBeouf), an up-and-coming surfer as he enters his first pro competition and finds himself facing the legendary Geek (Jeff Bridges). Panel and footage presentation will include producer and Disney veteran Chris Jenkins (Aladdin, Hunchback of Notre Dame).

Plus, here’s your chance to see the new animated film Monster House in 3D! Screenings are Wednesday night at 10:00 PM, and Thursday 12:00, 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00, 10:00 PM and 12:00 AM at the United Artists Horton Plaza theater. Tickets are available at the Sony booth (#3945) on a first-come, first-served basis. Room 6CDEF

So, screenings of MONSTER HOUSE, eh? Pretty neat. I will definitely be checking this out, though:

2:00-3:30 Warner Bros. Presents a Trio of Animated Features— First up is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Director Kevin Munroe appears in person to preview this shell-raising return to the big screen of Laird and Eastman's classic quartet in a fully animated CGI feature film.

Next, The Ant Bully: Director John A. Davis (Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius) will appear in person to preview and discuss The Ant Bully—a witty and heartwarming story about a 10-year-old boy who embarks on a remarkable journey. New in town, friendless, and tormented by a neighborhood bully, young Lucas Nickle has been taking out his frustration on the innocent anthill in his yard. But one day the ants retaliate. Using a magic potion, they shrink Lucas down to ant size and sentence him to live like an ant in their colony. In this strange new world Lucas will learn important lessons about friendship, get a whole new perspective on life, and ultimately find the courage to stand up for himself. The voiceover cast features Julia Roberts, Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Paul Giamatti, Bruce Campbell, and Lily Tomlin

And finally, Happy Feet: See an exclusive preview of director George Miller's comedy adventure set deep in Antarctica. Into the land of Emperor Penguins, where each needs a heart song to attract a soul mate, a penguin is born who cannot sing. Our hero Mumble, son of Memphis and Norma Jean, is the worst singer in the world; however, as it happens, he is a brilliant tap dancer! The voice cast includes Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Brittany Murphy, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Hugo Weaving, and Anthony LaPaglia. Happy Feet also features the tap dancing of Savion Glover.

Exclusive promotional items for all three films will be given away to everyone attending the presentation. Room 6CDEF

Ninja Turtles and Happy Feet have my interest. I may be the only person in the world looking forward to HAPPY FEET, but those trailers and the footage I saw at ShoWest just make me smile something fierce. This panel looks pretty cool... but yet another DVD release for the Universal Monsters?

3:00-4:00 Universal Monsters 75th Anniversary— Those old boys never looked so good! It’s been 75 years since Universal’s take on Dracula and the Frankenstein Monster first startled audiences and set the stage for the incredible dynasty of good ol’ bad guys who followed: the Mummy, the Invisible Man, the Wolf Man, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon, to name just the most famous. Join CFQ magazine’s Jeff Bond as he talks to the king of Horrorwood, Karloffornia, Forrest J Ackerman, Famous Monsters cover artist Basil Gogos, actor and monster collector Dan Roebuck (Matlock, Lost), and author John Flynn (75 Years of Universal Monsters) about the enduring love affair between monsters and audience. Plus see exclusive footage from the upcoming Frankenstein and Dracula 75th Anniversary DVDs from Universal Home Video! Room 6B

Looks cool, but I will be at the Lionsgate panel. Word on the street is we'll see the premiere of the SAW 3 trailer.

3:30-5:00 Lionsgate Presents Crank, Skinwalkers, and Saw III— Meet the cast and filmmakers and be one of the first to see exclusive footage from three of Lionsgate's highly anticipated films. From Crank: Jason Statham (Transporter), Amy Smart (Road Trip), Efren Ramirez (Napoleon Dynamite), and writer/directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor. From Skinwalkers: director Jim Isaac (Jason X) and character/creature creator Stan Winston. From Saw III: director Darren Lynn Bousman, writer Leigh Whannell, producer Mark Burg, actress Shawnee Smith and Jigsaw himself Tobin Bell. Also included: a sneak peek of Neil Marshall’s The Descent. Room 6CDEF

For fans of Daniel Clowes' work (ie everybody who reads this) there's a nifty interview being done with the man himself at the Con. Here's the info:

4:30-5:30 Spotlight on Daniel Clowes— One of the most respected writer/artists in comics, Dan Clowes also has the distinction of being nominated for an Academy Award for best writing (screenplay based on material previously produced or published) for Ghost World in 2001. Art School Confidential, another film based on Clowes’s comics, hit indie theater screens earlier this year. Clowes’s evocative, character-driven work along with his distinctive drawing style has made books like Eightball, Ghost World, Ice Haven, and Caricature both fan and mainstream favorites. Fantagraphics’ Eric Reynolds interviews Dan in this rare programming appearance. Room 8

I'm a fan of Steve Niles' work and a horror film with Pee Wee Herman in it? I'm totally down for checking this out:

5:00-6:00 The Tripper Movie Preview/Q&A— Get an exclusive look at the upcoming horror film The Tripper with writer and director star David Arquette (Scream, Eight Legged Freaks), along with executive producer Steve Niles (30 Days of Night), Joe Harris (co-screenwriter), and others. Starring Thomas Jane (The Punisher), Jason Mewes (Clerks 2), Paul Reubens (Pee Wee's Playhouse), and others, The Tripper follows a group of hippies as they head to a weekend-long concert for some fun, only to be stalked by a deranged killer with an unnatural obsession with Ronald Reagan. An exclusive trailer will be shown along with clips and stills from the movie, followed by a Q&A. Room 6CDEF

If I wasn't checking out THE TRIPPER, I'd be at this panel. I'm a geek toy whore. Right now Neca and Sota are the best at putting out geeky shit. I like Sota, but Neca is the king at the moment. Bubba Ho-Tep, Romero's Dawn of the Dead and Shaun of the Dead toys? Hooray for Neca! Now they just need to get the Monster Squad line off the ground...

5:00-6:00 Action Figure Times Toymaker Q&A— Ever wanted to know why your favorite character figure was limited, or just what toy companies are thinking? How about the recent movement of toy licenses from one manufacturer to another? Here’s your chance to ask the manufacturers (both big and small) about their favorite figures and statues. What questions have been burning in your mind? Panelists include Jerry Malcaluso, president of SOTA, Randy Falk, head of product development for NECA, and Chuck Terceira, director of Diamond Select Toys and Collectibles. Room 7B

In my top 2 or 3 most anticipated movies for the last half of the year is Guillermo del Toro's PAN'S LABYRINTH, so you better believe I'll bee at this panel:

6:00-7:00 Guillermo del Toro: Pan’s Labyrinth— Famed director Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy) and Doug Jones (Hellboy) will discuss their latest collaboration, Pan's Labyrinth, a fanciful and chilling story set against the backdrop of a fascist regime in 1944 rural Spain. The film centers on Ofelia, a lonely and dreamy child living with her mother and adoptive father, a military officer tasked with ridding the area of rebels. In her loneliness, Ofelia creates a world filled with fantastical creatures and secret destinies. With postwar repression at its height, Ofelia must come to terms with her world through a fable of her own creation. Room 6CDEF

For the Asian Cinema fans out there:

6:00-7:00 The Spectacle of Azumi— Director Ryuhei Kitamura (Versus) and producer Mataichiro Yamamoto (Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust) have emerged as two of the most exciting filmmakers in Japanese cinema with the beautifully violent Azumi. Join the driving team behind the visually captivating action-adventure in a special Q&A session as they talk about the film and its U.S. theatrical release from AsiaVision! Room 9

There are a few screenings this night. AZUMI, some STAR WARS fan films, etc, but this movie is a must see. One of the most interesting and infuriating documentaries I've ever seen. IFC is putting it out, but you can see it early at Comic-Con:

10:15-12:15 CCI:IFF Extra: IFC Presents This Film Is Not Yet Rated— This Film Is Not Yet Rated, an IFC Original Documentary from Oscar-nominated director Kirby Dick (Twist of Faith), is an unprecedented investigation into the MPAA film ratings system and its profound impact on American culture. See what Entertainment Weekly calls "an irresistible muckraking documentary that might just shake up the world of movies, which would be good news for movie addicts everywhere," followed by a Q&A with Kirby Dick and producer Eddie Schmidt. Room 6B

FRIDAY

We had Guillermo ending Thursday with his PAN'S LABYRINTH panel and it seems he's also kicking off Friday morning with a panel on the animated HELLBOY adventure:

10:30-11:30 Hellboy Animated— Tad Stones (director) and Mike Mignola (creator) along with Hellboy movie director Guillermo del Toro, Phil Weinstein, Matt Wayne and Sean Galloway invite you to be one of the first to experience the new project Hellboy Animated from IDT Entertainment. Clips will be previewed, followed by Q&A session. Room 6B

I'm warming up to American Dad, but I'm still a huge fan of Family Guy. That show cracks me up, Cartman be damned.

11:00-12:00 Family Guy/American Dad— Fox TV Animation presents a Comic-Con double header! Join Family Guy and American Dad creators for a sneak peek at never-before-seen footage from this fall's season on Fox. A combined panel of writers, producers, and directors from both shows will be on hand to answer questions about upcoming episodes and fan favorites from seasons past. Panelists include David Goodman, Kirker Butler, Cherry Chevapravatdumrong, Zac Moncrief, and Dan Povenmire (Family Guy); Mike Barker, Matt Weitzman, Steve Hely, Chris McKenna ,and Matt McKenna (American Dad); and Kara Vallow (Family Guy/American Dad). Room 20

Then there's the Warner Bros panel. Last time Bryan Singer showed up after the release of one of his superhero movies (X-MEN), he brought along gag reels and lots of laughs. I'm hoping we'll get the same here... with maybe some presentation on the many scenes cut from the film.

11:00-12:30 Warner Bros. Pictures Presents— In person, stars Hilary Swank and Anna Sophia Robb, director Stephen Hopkins, and producer Joel Silver of The Reaping, a supernatural thriller in which Hilary plays a world-renowned expert in disproving religious phenomena. But when she investigates a small Louisiana town that is suffering from what appear to be the Biblical plagues, she realizes that science cannot explain what is happening. Plus: Bryan Singer Returns! Please welcome long-time friend of Comic-Con director Bryan Singer to answer your questions about Superman Returns and give you an idea of what's next. Hall H

Snoop Dogg at Comic-Con? With Lando and Winston Zeddmore in his posse? Bizarre.

12:00-1:00 Snoop Dogg’s Hood of Horror— It's ghouls gone wild as EC Comics gets the urban treatment in this hip hop horror anthology hosted by the Hound of Hell, Snoop Dogg. Join Snoop for an exclusive sneak peek and Q&A along with co-writer/producer Tim Sullivan (2001 Maniacs, Driftwood), producer Martin Shore, and cast members Billy Dee Williams (Star Wars), Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters), Danny Trejo (Devil's Rejects), Daniella Alonso (One Tree Hill, Wrong Turn 2) and Brande Roderick (Baywatch, Starsky & Hutch). Room 20

Ray Harryhausen is the man. Plain and simple. The man. Any chance to hear him speak about his passions is worth taking.

12:30-1:30 Ray Harryhausen: King Kong and the Colorization of Merian C. Cooper’s She— Legendary visual effects artist Ray Harryhausen discusses his career and current projects (including the revitalization of She) with Mark Cotta Vaz, author of the Merian C. Cooper biography Living Dangerously: The Adventures of Merian C. Cooper, and Joe DeVito, creator/illustrator of Kong: King of Skull Island. Moderated by Arnold Kunert, producer of the Saturn Award-winning DVD, Ray Harryhausen: The Early Years Collection. Room 6A

I'm not listing too much TV, but they screened the pilot for LOST 2 years ago with most of the cast there and I'm really cheesed I missed it. Heroes has gotten some interesting buzz and is an interesting concept. Here's a chance to see the pilot and meet the cast, including the scrum-diddly-umptious Ali Larter.

12:30-2:00 NBC: Heroes Pilot Screening and Q&A with Cast and Producers— Debuting on NBC this fall, the highly anticipated series Heroes chronicles the lives of ordinary people who discover they possess extraordinary abilities. Be the first to watch an exclusive 72-minute cut of the pilot episode, created specifically for Comic-Con. Join cast members Ali Larter (Final Destination), Greg Grunberg (Alias), Milo Ventimiglia (Gilmore Girls), Hayden Panettiere (Ice Princess), Sendhil Ramamurthy (Blind Guy Driving), and Masi Oka (Scrubs); creator/executive producer Tim Kring; executive producer Dennis Hammer; co-executive producer/comic book writer Jeph Loeb (Lost, Superman for All Seasons); and legendary comic book artist Tim Sale (Batman: The Long Halloween) for a Q&A session. Room 6CDEF

Who knows what the heck 20th Century Fox has up its sleeve? Can't be anything from FANTASTIC FOUR 2, can it? Maybe a Silver Surfer animation test? Hrmm... Any ideas what they could be planning? Let me know in the talkbacks below.

12:45-2:15 Twentieth Century Fox Presents— Twentieth Century Fox returns to Comic-Con in a big way, with a sneak peek at some of the studio's most anticipated 2006 and 2007 releases. It's a program so epic it couldn't be contained in one hour! Get ready for some very special guests, exclusive footage, screening announcements, and eye-opening—if not jaw-dropping—surprises. Hall H

This one really interests me. Can't wait to see what the more Donner-ish cut of SUPERMAN 2 looks like and it seems there will be an early peek here:

1:00-2:00 Warner Home Video's Superman Through The Ages— Featuring special guests from the film and television incarnations of Superman, including a special reunion with surprise guests and extended exclusive footage for Superman II—The Richard Donner Cut. Q&A with Marc McClure, Jack O'Halloran, Tom Mankiewicz (creative consultant), Michael Thau (editor in charge of the SII reconstruction), and more. Also in attendance super-secret special guests from the Adventures of Superman, Lois and Clark, Smallville, Superman The Animated Series, and Superman Returns! Room 20

I'm addicted to DVDs and here's another great looking panel on the future of the medium, hosted by the folks that run the awesome Digital Bits.com!

2:00-3:00 DVD Sneak Peek 2006— Bill Hunt and Todd Doogan, editors of The Digital Bits.com (recently named one of Entertainment Weekly's Top 25 Entertainment Sites of 2006) and a panel of some of Hollywood's leading special edition DVD producers will give you a first look at lots of great movie and TV DVDs on the way for 2006 and 2007! They'll talk about the new HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc high-definition formats and answer lots of audience questions. Scheduled to participate are Robert Meyer Burnett (Superman Returns, Free Enterprise: SE, Chronicles of Narnia), JM Kenny (Evening with Kevin Smith 2: Evening Harder, Zoom, Rocky Balboa), Charles de Lauzirika (Kingdom of Heaven, Twin Peaks, Blade Runner), Andy Mangels (He-Man, She-Ra, Dungeons & Dragons), and Javier Soto (Pan's Labyrinth, The 4400). Room 6B

I know people love the hell out of this show. One of these days I'll get around to checking out the DVDs...

2:00-3:00 SCI FI: Battlestar Galactica— "The #1 television show of 2005"—Time magazine. "One of the most original and provocative programs on television"—New York Times. "The toughest, smartest show on television"—Rolling Stone. “A wildly intense gem . . . riveting . . . not to be missed"—TV Guide. If you’re not watching it, you should be. See what the buzz is all about. Be sure to stop by the SCI FI booth for a chance to win the ultimate BSG prize packet! Panelists include stars Edward James Olmos (Admiral William Adama), Mary McDonnell (Laura Roslin), James Callis (President Gaius Baltar), and Lucy Lawless (D’Anna Biers), plus executive producers David Eick and Ronald D. Moore and SCI FI VP for original programming Erik Storey. Moderated by Lisa Chambers, features director, TV Guide. Room 20

Paramount's panel... and I see no TRANSFORMERS. I'm very much looking forward to STARDUST, but I'm tellin' ya', Paramount. Big mistake to not spring some TRANSFORMERS stuff here.

2:30-3:30 Paramount Pictures— Paramount Pictures is proud to present an early look at footage from the upcoming fantasy adventure film Stardust from director Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake) and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura (Constantine, Four Brothers and the upcoming Transformers). After captivating audiences in both novel and graphic novel formats, Neil Gaiman's Stardust makes its big-screen adaptation debut next March starring Claire Danes, Robert DeNiro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sienna Miller, Ricky Gervais, Peter O'Toole, Rupert Everett, and Charlie Cox. Neil Gaiman (The Eternals and co-writer with Roger Avery of the screenplay for the upcoming Beowulf), illustrator Charles Vess, co-screenwriter (with director Vaughn) Jane Goldman, and producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura will discuss the film, which is currently in production. (Credits not contractual.) Hall H

Richard Kelly talking about all things SOUTHLAND TALES. Expect cool stuff here... and tons of geek girls throwing themselves at Rich Kelly!

3:00-4:00 Richard Kelly’s Southland Tales— The cult-favorite writer/director of Donnie Darko is back with a new epic movie and a series of related graphic novel prequels, published by Graphitti Designs. Richard Kelly talks about Southland Tales, his story of Southern California on the brink of disaster in the not-too-distant future. Room 6CDEF

If I wasn't already committed to checking out the multiple film panels that are already overlapping each other, this is where I'd be. I'm a massive fan of Robert Kirkman's. His Walking Dead books are hands down the best comics out right now. Love 'em to death. I hope I'm able to bump into Kirkman and shake the dude's hand.

3:30-5:00 Spotlight on Robert Kirkman— One of the hottest writers in comics today comes to Comic-Con as a special guest. Robert Kirkman’s work on Invincible and The Walking Dead for Image Comics brought him industry-wide attention. For Marvel, Kirkman has written Marvel Team-Up and Marvel Zombies, and he is the writer of Ultimate X-Men and the upcoming Irredeemable Ant- Man. Join him for this special spotlight and Q&A session! Room 4

Too much cool shit happening between 3pm and 5pm! Roger Corman panel? This has to be just plain awesome.

3:30-5:00 Spotlight on Roger Corman: 50 Years of Filmmaking— Join the talented filmmaker of Rock 'n' Roll High School, Grand Theft Auto, Death Race 2000, Caged Heat, Little Shop of Horrors, and many more as Roger Corman discusses his 50 years of filmmaking with Cinefantastique's Mark Altman. Q&A session to follow. Room 6B

Universal's panel focuses on Alfonso Cuaron's CHILDREN OF MEN. Dying to see this one!

3:30-4:00 Universal: Children of Men— Academy Award–nominated writer/director Alfonso Cuarón (Y tu mamá también, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) will present scenes from his upcoming futuristic thriller Children of Men, starring Clive Owen, Julianne Moore and Michael Caine. The new trailer from Children of Men and never-before-seen clips from the film will be shown, along with a discussion of the filmmakers's work. Hall H

This film holds no interest for me, but I can't deny the eye-candy on this panel will be incredible:

4:00-5:00 D.O.A.: Dead or Alive— Jaime Pressly (My Name Is Earl), Holly Valance (Prison Break and international music sensation), Sarah Carter (new CBS show, Shark), and Natassia Malthe (Elektra) star in this new movie from Dimension Films, based on the hit video game series, D.O.A. Join the stars and some special guests for the premiere of exclusive footage from the new movie and a Q&A with the sizzling hot cast. Room 6CDEF

This is also part of Univeral's panel. They're going to show us some early looks at the Extended KING KONG DVD. Very cool.

4:00-4:15 Universal Home Video: King Kong Deluxe Extended DVD— A sneak peek from the upcoming King Kong Deluxe Extended Edition DVD will be introduced by a message from director Peter Jackson. Hall H

These STAR WARS panels are usually lame lame lame, focusing on book #2792 or whatever the new video game with a lightsaber in it is going to be. However, I'm hoping for a surprise involving the STAR WARS TV Show. Some snippet or test or announcement or something.

4:30-5:30 Star Wars Day: Lucasfilm’s Star Wars Spectacular— It wouldn’t be Comic-Con International without hearing the latest on Lucasfilm and Star Wars from Steve Sansweet, the company’s head of Fan Relations. Sansweet will top off Star Wars Day with previews of what’s coming next, plus special announcements that will be heard for the first time ever during this presentation. Once again, Sansweet will show that Lucasfilm means it when it says “Star Wars is Forever.” Hall H

This is too geeky cool:

5:00-6:00 Warner Home Video Sneak Peeks and Forbidden Planet: 50th Anniversary Celebration— A special presentation and Q&A with the stars from the landmark science fiction classic, Forbidden Planet, with Earl Holliman, Richard Anderson, Warren Stevens, and Robby the Robot! And stay for special sneak peeks of the upcoming DVDs V for Vendetta and Poseidon. Room 6B

Sam Jackson-Snakes On A Plane panel. 'Nuff said.

5:45-7:00 New Line Cinema Presents Snakes on a Plane— Sit back. Relax. Enjoy the fright. New Line Cinema will show exclusive footage from Snakes on a Plane. Samuel L. Jackson makes his first San Diego Comic-Con appearance, along with director David R. Ellis, to discuss his new film! And, watch out—snake wrangler Jules Sylvester will also be on hand with live snakes from the movie. Also included in the presentation will be a special preview of New Line Cinema's upcoming The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, while Final Destination 3 director James Wong and star Ryan Merriman demonstrate the unique "Change-Their-Fate" interactive feature on the upcoming DVD, available from New Line Home Entertainment on July 25. Hall H

This panel would take precedence over almost any other panel of the Con... I love Genndy Tartakofsky's work and I'm gaga for DARK CRYSTAL, but SNAKES ON A PLANE, man... with Sam Jackson... and motherfuckin' snakes!

6:00-7:00 The Jim Henson Company: Power of the Dark Crystal and Sneak Peeks— Lisa Henson (Power of the Dark Crystal), and Michael Polis (MirrorMask) from The Jim Henson Company will discuss current and upcoming productions. Panelists include Brian Froud (Labyrinth), Genndy Tartakofsky (Star Wars: The Clone Wars), and Scott Stewart (Superman Returns) will be on hand to talk about the much-anticipated sequel feature Power of the Dark Crystal. Other topics include the new puppet television shows for grown-ups as well as new DVD releases, manga books, and exciting new products from Jim Henson Designs. Room 6CDEF

Potential to see Triumph live and in person? Robert Smigel rocks the house. This is very, very cool:

7:30-9:00 SNL: Saturday TV Funhouse with Robert Smigel— Join the Emmy Award–winning writer, producer and creator of Saturday Night Live's hilarious animated "TV Funhouse" segments, Robert Smigel, for a presentation and discussion about the upcoming DVD release of SNL: The Best Of Saturday TV Funhouse. Featuring clips of "The Ambiguously Gay Duo", "X-Presidents", "Saddam and Osama", "Mr. T" and other favorites, as well as notable "lost" cartoons, banned from the airwaves forever. Q & A to follow! With appearances by animator/director Robert Marianetti and—possibly—Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog. Note: Ladysmith Black Mambazo will not be present. Room 6B

SATURDAY

I want to see this sooooo bad. Why did they have to put this up against the 300 and GRINDHOUSE panels?

10:30-12:00 Lost: Season 3— You won't want to miss this panel with Jorge Garcia (Hugo “Hurley” Reyes) and Daniel Dae Kim (Jin-Soo Kwon) from the cast of ABC’s hit show Lost as they are joined by co-creator/executive producer Damon Lindelof and executive producers Bryan Burk and Carlton Cuse to discuss the new season of Lost. They'll preview excerpts from the Lost Season 2 DVD box set, take questions from the audience, and perhaps even offer some surprises! Room 20

Very cool panel for a project that should be the cat's meow.

10:30-11:30 Warner Bros. Presents 300— Appearing in person: Creator Frank Miller, director Zach Snyder (Dawn of the Dead), and actors David Wenham (Faramir in Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Return of the King) and Gerard Butler (Phantom of the Opera; Lara Croft: Cradle of Life). Based on the epic graphic novel by Miller, 300 is a ferocious retelling of the ancient Battle of Thermopylae in which King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and 300 Spartans fought to the death against Xerxes and his massive Persian army. Facing insurmountable odds, the Spartans’ valor and sacrifice inspire all of Greece to unite against their Persian enemy, drawing a line in the sand for democracy. The film brings Miller’s (Sin City) acclaimed Dark Horse graphic novel to life by combining live action with virtual backgrounds that capture his distinct vision of this ancient historic tale. Hall H

I can't wait to see anything on this project. Rodriguez likes to make the geeks happy, so I expect we'll see lots of footage from his segment and maybe even a couple fake trailers that have been made for his team-up with Tarantino.

11:45-12:45 Grind House— Rose McGowan (Charmed), Marley Shelton (Sin City), Freddy Rodriguez (Six Feet Under), Michael Biehn (Aliens), and Jeff Fahey (Dark Hunters) star in Grind House, the new double feature from Dimension Films, directed by Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino, hitting theatres in April 2007. Join filmmaker Robert Rodriguez and members of the cast for a quick trip to Rodriguez's “Planet Terror,” and be the first to hear exclusive news about what to expect once Tarantino’s “Deathproof” cameras start rolling. Hall H

It's The Simpsons, man.

12:00-1:00 The Simpsons— Heading into their unprecedented 18th season this fall, and with their historic 400th episode airing next spring, The Simpsons continues to entertain and delight. Members of the team responsible for the longest-running comedy on television will be on hand to answer the questions everyone wants to know, including: how do you continue to keep it so good? Panelists include Matt Groening, creator and executive producer; James L. Brooks, executive producer; Matt Selman, executive producer; Al Jean, executive producer and head writer; Don Payne, co-executive producer; Bill Odenkirk, co-executive producer; Matt Warburton, supervising producer; Mike Scully, producer; and David Silverman, director. Moderated by Bill Morrison. Room 20

Dark Horse Indie films? Curious...

12:30-1:30 Dark Horse Indie Films— Mike Richardson presents Dark Horse's new independent film label along with never-before-seen footage and guests from its first three titles, including Edward James Olmos (Battlestar Galactica), Ricky Ullman (Phil of the Future), Talan Torriero (Laguna Beach), and Diamond Dallas Page (Devil’s Rejects). Room 6A

Another panel too geeky for words:

1:00-2:00 Bradbury, Harryhausen and Ackerman— Three legends. Three lifelong friends. Do not miss Ray Bradbury, Ray Harryhausen, and Forry Ackerman as they reminisce about life, science fiction, fantasy, movies, and more. Room 20

Can't wait to see Clerks 2, but I know even if it sucks donkeys for quarters this hour and a half will be comedy gold. Kevin Smith and the fans at Comic-Con are an explosive mixture. I always walk away from Smith's talks sore from laughing.

1:00-2:30 Kevin Smith— The moment is here. Kevin Smith’s Clerks 2 is in theaters now, and the man, the myth, the legend behind it is here at Comic-Con to talk about the making of the film and whatever else he damn well pleases. Hall H

Rogue Pictures is putting out this kind of tongue in cheek comic book adaptation called Hack/Slash. Could be awesome, could be tired. I haven't read the comic yet, but the guys behind it seem like cool people.

2:30-3:30 Devil’s Due Publishing: Hack/Slash— Hack/Slash, the cult hit comic book series sensation, is coming to theaters courtesy of Universal Studios genre division, Rogue Pictures. The film's director Todd Lincoln (The Fly remake) and his writing partner Martin Schenk (Road to Hell) will be on hand, along with series creator Tim Seeley (Hack/Slash, Loaded Bible), Devil's Due president Josh Blaylock (How to Self Publish), and movie producers Adrian Askarieh (Spy-Hunter) and Daniel Alter (Hitman), to discuss what's in store for Cassie Hack's big-screen adventure. Room 2

The Spirit movie. Old school comic fans and Will Eisner devotees will eat this panel up.

2:45-3:30 The Spirit Movie— Including a major announcement regarding the new movie featuring the beloved comics action hero! The Spirit will be coming to the big screen via a unique adaptation of Will Eisner’s engrossing story of a masked detective believed to be dead and operating out of a mausoleum, fighting crime in the dark shadows of Central City with his fists, cunning, and ingenious forms of punishment. Eisner, who originally introduced The Spirit in 1939, is considered the comic book’s master storyteller, with a name that graces the comic industry’s most prestigious awards at Comic-Con. The film will lend a modern perspective to these classic tales and will show the struggle and triumph of this powerful hero, who melts the hearts of many a femme fatale and escapes the clutches of many a super-villain using—in a unique twist to the genre—intellect and humor, without the assistance of any super powers. Participating panelists include Branded Entertainment’s Michael Uslan (Batman Begins, Constantine), Odd Lot Entertainment’s Deborah Del Prete, and Denis Kitchen, Will Eisner’s longtime agent. Hall H

Ah, the Marvel Movie panel. This one focuses on 2 Marvel properties: IRON MAN with Jon Favreau and ANT MAN with Edgar Wright, who will both be onhand to try to ease the fans' worries.

3:30-4:30 A Marvel Studios Production: The Future of Marvel’s Film Franchises— The next great era of comic book films begins as Marvel Studios launches its new slate. The studio is currently developing many of its landmark titles for adaptation to the screen, including Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Thor, Nick Fury, and Ant-Man. At this presentation, the directors of Iron Man (Jon Favreau), The Incredible Hulk, and Ant-Man (Edgar Wright) will share their visions for these highly anticipated films. Producers Avi Arad, Kevin Feige, and Ari Arad will join the panel and be on hand to answer questions from the audience. Moderated by Borys Kit of The Hollywood Reporter. Room 6CDEF

This panel sounds cool (and I'm curious about these so called "Comic-Con collectibles"), but Iron Man and Ant Man demand my attention.

3:45-4:45 Disney Previews: From Narnia to the Caribbean— Academy Award–winning producer Mark Johnson (Rain Man, Galaxy Quest, Young Sherlock Holmes) will preview never-before-seen footage from the upcoming four-disc limited-edition Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe DVD. You’ll see all-new scenes from the director’s cut of the film and hear some exciting details about this new release. Then join legendary ILM Visual Effects Supervisor John Knoll (Star Wars I, II, and III, Star Trek: First Contact, Pirates of the Caribbean) on board the Black Pearl and the Flying Dutchman for an insider’s look at the making of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. Exclusive Comic-Con collectibles from these films will be made available to all who attend. Hall H

Bruce Campbell! Brisco County Jr. DVDS! Hooray!!!!

4:00-5:00 Adventures of Brisco County Jr.— The cult-favorite TV show returns with a screening of a special feature from the Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.: The Complete Series DVD. Featuring a panel discussion and Q&A with the show’s star Bruce Campbell (Army of Darkness), Carlton Cuse (Lost), John McNamara (Fastlane), and Julius Carrey (The Last Dragon). Room 6B

The biggest panel of Comic-Con as far as I'm concerned is Sony's panel. Sure, we got lots of Ghost Rider stuff last year and I'm curious about the movie and all, but Sam Raimi and SPIDER-MAN 3. That's all I'm saying. This better be badass!!!!

5:00-6:30 Sony Presents— Sony Pictures proudly presents a pair of Marvels: The classic Marvel comic Ghost Rider comes to the big screen with Academy Award–winning Nicolas Cage playing Johnny Blaze. Appearing in person to answer your questions and show some previews will be the film's stars Nicolas Cage and Eva Mendes and director Mark Steven Johnson. Oh, and did we mention Spidey 3? Come find out why we don't have to say anything else . . . besides Sam Raimi! Hall H

This is the 2nd biggest panel of Comic-Con as far as I'm concerned:

6:30-7:30 Making Your Own Live Action Comic Book (that means movie!): Troma's Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead— Legendary indie filmmaker Lloyd Kaufman (The Toxic Avenger) and producer Steven Paul (Ghost Rider) examine the art of making your film into a live action comic book the Troma Way! Kaufman will also be screening never-before-seen selections from his newest film Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead and giving away Comic-Con exclusive Poultrygeist teaser DVDs. Don’t miss a special appearance by cartoonist Batton Lash (Supernatural Law). Moderated by Mimi Cruz of Night Flight Comics. Room 6B

SUNDAY

Sunday is typically light on the panels, which makes it a good day to sweep the massive floor and find last minute bargains on all sorts of goodies... art, comics, toys, posters... everything. This year is no exception. Only a few cool panels on this day.

12:00-1:00 Sony/Screen Gems— Those extremely vindictive Japanese ghosts are back to torment more beautiful young female American tourists in The Grudge 2. See the debut of the trailer and a panel with stars Amber Tamblyn (Joan of Arcadia) and Arielle Kebbel. Then, artist Tone Rodriguez will introduce the world premiere of the behind-the-scenes making of The Covenant graphic novel, along with the exclusive first look at the trailer for the new Screen Gems film The Covenant, which is scheduled to open this September in theaters everywhere. Room 20

Amber Tamblyn is cute as hell, but neither of these two films hold much interest for me. This next panel is the best panel of the day, though. Can't wait to see what Edgar brings for Hot Fuzz!

1:00-2:30 Rogue Pictures— Rogue Gallery will feature previews of upcoming Rogue Pictures movies, plus special appearances by filmmakers and actors from Balls of Fury (Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon, of Reno 911!) and Hot Fuzz (Edgar Wright and Nick Frost, of Shaun of the Dead), and more guests to be announced! Room 20

This one is alright, but I hope they don't start STAR WARSing the LOTR movies. Looks like they're trying, but I'll check it anyway.

3:00-4:00 New Line: Lord of the Rings— Find out the latest on upcoming DVDs and merchandise for The Lord of the Rings. Representatives from New Line Home Entertainment, Electronic Arts, and Sideshow Collectibles will be present with insight, sneak peeks, and Q&A. Room 5AB

That's it for the scheduling. You can click on any of the days above and see the full schedule for yourselves. I didn't touch much on the comic-book and TV stuff going on, of which there are plenty to keep TV and comic fans entertained.

The Comic-Con official site also has a great rundown of the Exclusive Toys at this year's Con. I've already got my Anakin and Dream Warriors Freddy pre-ordered from Sideshow! Gonna have to try to get me one of those Cannibal Island Jack Sparrows from Neca, too... CLICK HERE TO GET A LOOK AT ALL THE EXCLUSIVES!!!

Can't wait. I've already got a couple 1:1 interviews confirmed and am waiting on a few others to fall into place. I'll trying to decide if I should offer some higher-up at Sony a blowjob, hand-job or a free contract killing to chat with Raimi. I'll decide upon that soon. Keep your eyes on the site come July 19th. Planning on getting good looks at everything there is to see and I'll do my best to share the experience for those that can't make it.

-Quint
quint@aintitcool.com