SDCC '12

We're not going to post every little piece of PR about Comic-Con that's flooding our inbox, but...well...a lot is happening! Here's some of the most unlikely and exceptional events looming. Let's just say does a My Little Pony trolley ring your bell?

Last year we did snarky annotations. This year we're too tired.

We've been to a few parties over at the Children's Museum in SD, located right across the tracks from the Hyatt—notably a concert by Cheap Trick a few years back—and often wondered why it wasn't used more by party-givers. Well, what with the original Tr!ckster venue going to the studios, and now this, it seems "right across the tracks" is the new DUMBO, as Cartoon Network is taking over the Children's Museum for an Adventure Time exhibit and a "fully immersive" Adventure Time experience! That won't be popular, oh no. The exhibit opens on Wednesday of the con.

The local SD news confirms that there will be a crackdown on badge counterfeiting and trading at this year's San Diego con with the institution of random ID checks when entering the show—as well as the usual cosplay weapon checks.

Continuing their teasers for the CCI Amazing Spider-Man panel, here's the new one. Captain America, eh?

In the run-up to San Diego 2012, Marvel have released two teasers for an upcoming story called 'War'

Even comics news is coming out in advance of Comic-Con—in this case, new HEROIC SCALED booth art for Image (#2729). As past con-goers may be aware, Image's booth is anchored by a huge 16' x 32' "Wall of Art" which now features more of the new mega-creator themed stuff like SAGA, MIND THE GAP, AMERICA'S GOT POWERS, and something called THE WALKING DEAD.

With only a few weeks until this year's Comic-Con extravaganza, the big studios are rolling out their panel plans, and as we suspected, film studios are not going in pedal to the metal this year. Variety reports that Paramount, Fox and Relativity are definitely sitting things out, while Universal is iffy. Disney/Marvel sat out last year—they went to their own purpose built D23 show instead—but will be back. (Perhaps to announce the mystery 2014 movie?) WB is also expected to attend with Superman and (we pray) THE HOBBIT. Elsewhere, it's all a little sketchy:

Speak of the devil! Only hours ago we were making jokes about Chris Ware joining the Cirque du Soleil and now there is nows of an actual Cirque du Soleil comic! Sadly it is not from Ware—we can just imagine his version of Limber 12-year-old Chinese Acrobats Stories—instead, it's from Marvel, in a custom comic that ties in with the Vegas spectacle Kà which you will be able to get at this year's Comic-Con.

Our friends at Idle Hands have posted Diamond Select's SDCC exclusives. Yes, we're on a rolling avalanche that will end in about six weeks. All of these are available from Diamond Comic Distributors (Booth #2401) and Diamond Select Toys (#2607).

Anyone who was at last year's San Diego on the comics side probably remembers Tr!ckster as a highlight -- founded by cartoonist/animator Scott Morse and his friends as a comics-centric place to hang out, it featured books for sale, parties, concerts and an awesome spot right across the railroad tracks from the convention center where people could watch the madness and sit on the grass while drinking a glass of rose. Well, the venue is new this year (rumor has it a nasty old Hollywood studio stole the old spot) but it looks to be just as awesome :

Comic-Con has just announced a change to their terms and conditions regarding badges that indicate things are getting more real.