comic-con

SAN DIEGO -- The bad news about Comic-Con Day 2 was that there wasn't the usual, noticeable uptick in energy and chaos from Day 1. The good news is that it gave us a chance to check out some of the cooler homemade costumes from around the show floor.

From a professional seamstress sporting Victorian Wonder Woman threads, to the original suit that Marlon Brando wore as Jor-El in "Superman: The Movie," to the saddest Darth Vader you've ever seen, there was plenty to look at and admire.

SAN DIEGO -- Digital comics went boom last year, driven by as many reasons as there are varieties of Kryptonite. But defying the trend set by movies, music, and TV when they went digital, print comics sales in North America recently have been estimated at jumping nearly 18 percent since last year. How the heck did that happen?

Driven by a saturation of iPads and other tablets among people with disposable income, a massive line-wide reboot by DC Comics that encouraged other publishers to fully "go digital," and the obvious sales benefits of being able to buy a … Read more

The truest of believers spend months cutting, sewing, and taping together the perfect custom costume for Comic-Con in San Diego, and the opportunity to flex our geek cred is too tempting to resist, so The 404 hits the floor on the first day to talk with a handful of our favorite cosplayers.

Along the way, we'll poke around shops with costumes for sale and ask for recommendations on which duo would suit us best: Jay and Silent Bob? Wayne and Garth? Thor and Loki? OK, I just want to wear a blonde wig. Join us for a tour of … Read more

SAN DIEGO--In some ways, the first full day of Comic-Con can feel slower than the Preview Night. While a frenetic vibe feeds the panicked shopping of Preview Night, Day One has too many people for much sprinting.

But that doesn't mean that it's dead. Fan-favorite creator of Robert Kirkman was on the floor signing Walking Dead comics, there was a wide variety of cosplayers, discussion panels revealed the latest twists and turns for comics, movies and TV, and a woman outside the Con was vigorously rubbing her costume with a metal grinder to promote a VH1 event. In … Read more

SAN DIEGO--The first night of the 42nd annual Comic-Con brought in the hordes, giving attendees far more than a mere preview last night.

Originally a chance for exhibitors and professionals to enjoy the Con, fans who buy four-day passes can opt to get a Preview Night ticket, too. In turn, this gives vendors a chance to sell convention exclusives to an even wider audience, but it does cut down on the opportunities for those working the show to enjoy what's on display. Preview Night passes sold out within 90 minutes of going on sale earlier this year.

So what … Read more

July might mean summer doldrums to some, but if you love comics and pop culture, it can only mean one thing: San Diego Comic-Con. CNET's checking out the geekfest in full force, and we'll be on the hunt for the hottest news in comics, TV, and movies, and, yes, the best cosplayers.

Along with stories and galleries, CNET TV and The 404 are doing giveaways on location, and CNET's once again hosting its Base Station for the True Believers at the convention. If you're in San Diego, you'll be able to recharge your phones, play … Read more

Our guest today is documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, who joins us today to talk about his new film "Comic Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope."

He'll tell us about what it was like to meet geek royalty like Joss Whedon, Stan Lee, Frank Miller, Kevin Smith, and more. We also ask him about his own history with comic books and how sci-fi movies pushed him to create his own movies.… Read more

Calling all Jedis! Grab your lightsabers, lace up your running shoes, and come embark on what's sure to be an epic journey to Comic-Con 2012. Even better, you'll get to use the Force to help some young Padawans in need.

Lucasfilm, Nerdist Industries, Octagon, and Machinima have teamed up to put on an Olympic torch-style relay race called Course of the Force that will help kick off this year's Comic-Con in San Diego and benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

The 136-mile run/walk will begin in Santa Monica, Calif., on July 7. At every quarter-mile marker, participants will hand off the official Course of the Force lightsaber to the next runner until they reach San Diego on July 11, which just happens to be preview night for Comic-Con (the show officially kicks off on July 12). … Read more

Recently, I took a road trip from San Francisco, Calif., to San Diego and back. Yes, I was headed to Comic-Con 2011 and yes, I had a blast while I was there, but ask any real car lover and they'll tell you that the best part of any road trip is the getting there part. And if you're a technophile like I am, the getting there will usually include a few tech toys.

Partially by design and partially by accident, I used a different tech loadout for the two legs of the trip. Getting there, I used a … Read more