Conventions

While the mental journey to Comic-Con 2012 started on the very last day of Comic-Con 2011 for some of us, an actual physical journey is kicking off this weekend: The Course of the Force, an Olympic-style charity relay run from the Santa Monica Pier to the gates of Comic-Con — with a Lightsaber as the torch — begins its real-life epic journey this Saturday. To kick off the kick-off, a new short film featuring Nerdist Chris Hardwick shows the origins of the journey— and reveals that the ILM lot is inhabited by real Ewoks, Boba Fett tools around in a van and one particular comics superstar likes to see people on their knees singing "Yub nub."

Over the holiday, the actual, real Comic-Con International page rolled out some vital info including autographs times, portfolio review schedule and the film festival schedule.

An amazing assortment of artists and creators attended the American Library Association annual conference in Anaheim last month, and ALA interviewed twenty-five creators, posting the video to YouTube!

Concerned that Comic-Con International won't have some awesome comics? IDW announces their convention exclusives!

Holy crap, the Con offsites are getting more and more elaborate and entrancing! From a few brave souls setting up a statue or two in the sandy lot next to the Gaslamp Hilton 7 years ago to this year's explosion of theme parks and exhibits, even without a con badge you'll have a lot to see and do. The Wb, NBC and Yahoo are all planning major set-ups. Other offsites: at least five art exhibits, the Cryptozoic pop-up store, and many other things we've forgotten. Here's what's going on:

Three new titles. A relaunch/reboot/facelift/makeover for the Marvel Universe. Hickman. Bendis. Remender. Wolverine, Spider-Man, Hulk, Cable and.... Jean Grey? We're going to have to really get in-depth with these new Marvel titles, you guys.

While EW is rolling out Marvel comics secrets, it's also revealing the true multimedia triumph of Marvel these days: the way that studio head Kevin Feige and crew have truly been able to replicate the continuity obsession of the comics into a major motion picture environment. And now they're using short films as a kind of "Marvel Showcase" for the movies.

We already told you about the big Adventure Time display and interactive adventure at the Children's Museum during Comic-Con. For those who are inside the con, there's also a big scavenger hunt with maps and stamps and prizes. WE WANT ONE. In case you haven't figured it out, Adventure Time is this year's Scott Pilgrim!

Via PR, some info on this year's Eisner Award ceremony, including the fact that the event will start one half-hour earlier than usual, at 8 pm, meaning the ceremony should wrap up before 11 pm. Presenters include Jonathan Ross, whose making out with Neil Gaiman a few years provided perhaps the best Eisner ceremony moment ever. This year's fest is being sponsored by Syfy, meaning we'll probably see the stars of some Syfy show presenting an award or two.

The nominees for this year's Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailing award have been revealed and they are as follows:

Marvel's newest teaser suggests that Jean Grey is coming back! That's right -- AGAIN

So there you have it. Obviously some hot sexiness or sexy hotness will be announced by Image at their Image Experience panel.