JEPH LOEB and WONDERCON WRAP-UP Monday, March 5, 2007 9:36 AM PACIFIC: I went to the “Spotlight on Jeph Loeb” panel on Saturday at Wondercon. Mr. Loeb talked about how he came to write comics, SMALLVILE, his exclusive contract with Marvel, LOST, and also his work with “Batman.” Naturally, Mr. Loeb is known amongst Batman fans for his work on THE LONG HALLOWEEN, DARK VICTORY, and the “HUSH” storyline (now in TPB) while he was writing BATMAN. Mr. Loeb remarked how THE LONG HALLOWEEN was used by Chris Nolan, David Goyer, and company as a Batman source prior to BATMAN BEGINS. He said he also was award that the new Batman film, THE DARK KNIGHT, would have a lot of TLH in it. Unfortunately due to time restraints, I was unable to meet up with Mr. Loeb after his autograph signing. We’ll set up something else soon. Well, that’s about it for Wondercon 2007. My overall observation is that there were a lot more people attending this year than when I was there last year. The convention floor was just packed and the big room where all the movie and TV presentations were full of folks for each panel I attended. I met several BOF‘ers there as well -- so to all to you who came up to say hi and that you love the site, much appreciated! Now I’m looking forward to July and the San Diego Comic Con. From what I’ve heard, “they” have listened and THE DARK KNIGHT will have a big presence there! SPIDER-MAN 3 Sunday, March 4, 2007 6:24 AM PACIFIC: I went back to the ballroom where all the movie stuff takes place to check out a bit of the SPIDER-MAN 3 presentation. It was actually not that of a big deal as most of the footage shown we’ve all seen before. The joint was F’n PACKED and I had to sit on the floor. Hell, the only reason I got in was because I had a press pass. Anyway, what was significant was the Venom was finally revealed and he looks like, well, Venom. I’m curious how they are going to juggle three villains -- Venom, Sandman, and Harry Osborne/Green Goblin 2 (or whatever he’s called) -- in this film. And Sandman is quite lame IMO... I've got some other stuff that I'll post here when I get back to Texas later on today. 300 Saturday, March 3, 2007 3:22 PM PACIFIC: OK, I'm at the 300 panel -- which I'm going to see Monday night BTW in Houston -- and it looks F'n spectatular! It's question time so a bunch of BS questions yet again (not all, but most)... Chatted with Matt Wagner -- cool as hell dude. Got my BATMAN AND THE MAD MONK #1 signed (with a little drawing on it by Matt), as well as my TPB of BATMAN AND THE MONSTER MEN... Back to 300, I'm surprised no one has asked Zach Snyder about WATCHMEN yet... Spoke too soon. Someone finally asked about WATCHMEN and Snyder said that they are planning on starting filming at the "end of the summer" -- we'll see. And Zach, don't cast Tom Cruise in this film... I know that Snyder is from Green Bay, Wisconsin and all, but did dude HAVE to wear that Brett Favre cap? Not that I hate Favre, but I kept thinking about "The Ice Bowl" which sucks... OK, this panel is about over and I'm heading the hell out of here. Meeting with some publicists from a "certain studio." I think I'm skipping the SPIDER-MAN 3 panel 'cause I'm a "DC Guy" dammit! ;) TMNT, THE REAPING, & MATT WAGNER! 2:06 PM PACIFIC: I'm at THE REAPING presentation (I'm actually wanting to see this film), Zzzzzzzzzzzzz... But I did meet Matt Wagner! He was at the Dark Horse booth and I had to go cover the Warner Bros. presentation, but I'm meeting up with him in a bit. I don't think the Jeph Loeb thing is going to work out. We'll see... Just saw some footage of TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES -- this looks like it may kick ass! The film is true to their original incarnation in the comics -- much darker than that live-action movie and the cartoons. DC UNIVERSE: 2007 1:16 PM PACIFIC: I'm IN the friggin' "DC UNIVERSE" panel (Dan DiDio, Bob Wayne, Judd Winick, Matt Idelson, Jann Jones) as I write this... Dan DiDio opens up talking about “COUNTDOWN” -- which is, um, “counting down” to a really big event, according to the panel. Wow… Did I mention that Mr. DiDio and Mr. Wayne (that’s Bob, not Bruce) are having a few beers during the presentation? I wish I was… DiDio goes on and on about that “COUNTDOWN” publicity pic that’s been in all the comics. You know, the one in which Robin has that Red Robin costume on from KINGDOM COME and Batman has that desert/robe looking-thing going on… Some chick in a Danny Phanton costume (Yes, really) asks who designed the costume for Batwoman and why she’s a lesbian -- not that there is anything wrong with that. DiDio says that there are so many characters in the Batman universe, that they wanted to find ways to make them all a bit different -- as all the "Batman Family" have grief in common… I asked the panel about what they thought about the casting of Heath Ledger as The Joker and Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent; ALSO, what they thought about the direction that Chris Nolan is going with the BATMAN movies. DiDio deferred to Bob Wayne who had a great answer: “Well, Since we are all employees of Warner Bros., we LOVE all the casting decisions that Chris Nolan makes. “ *audience laughs and applauds* DiDio chimed in that he probably speaks for all Batman fans in that they love the direction that Nolan has taken with Batman on film (no pun intended) and that he gave us all a Batman film to be proud of… BATMAN BEYOND‘s Terry McGinnis may soon have a more up-front, so to speak, role in the DC Universe... In regards to killing Nightwing -- which was contemplated. DiDio said that he (Dick Grayson/Nightwing) was redundant. Bring a death in that everyone (in the DC Universe) could rally around -- Dick Grayson. “He's not really Batman, not really Robin,” says Didido. But of course, they didn’t do it in INFINITE CRISIS... Jim Lee shows up late and says he's sorry about ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN being late. He also says that the next several issues are done. And then he hauls ass. He flew in from San Diego (which is where I believe Jim lives) just for that? OK... That Frank Miller comic with Batman kicking terrorist's asses is "on Frank Miller time," according to DiDido... DC is proud that they made Batwoman a lesbian... GREEN ARROW -- the series -- is coming to an end... Cripe's, here we go with the "I've wrote a script" questions again. Dude says that he's "written a dynamite JUSTICE LEAGUE script," yada, yada, yada. Bob Wayne: "Get an agent." I just hope that he didn't include Batman in it... Basically, nothing is revealed about what the hell is coming up in DC, other than that have that big-ass "COUNTDOWN" weekly coming. Lot's of tease -- and that's cool. I'm off the the Warner Bros. presentation... I've Arrived! 1:16 PM PACIFIC: Alright, I've made my way around the convention as I was in there for about 45 minutes before they opened to the public. No sign of Matt Wagner yet, but I did find his booth. I'm heading for some lunch and then back to the convention for the DC Comics panel at 12:30. I'll report back afterwards if I have time -- got several things I'm covering this afternoon. 9:14 AM PACIFIC: So I’m walking through downtown San Francisco, right? And obviously I’m representing Batman by sporting one of Batman T-shirts. A panhandler is asking people passing him by for some coin and whatnot. I go by and he asks me if I have an extra $1,000 to spare and I basically ignore him. He then says something that was classic: “Bruce Wayne would do it!” I just picked up my badge and I’m heading into the convention. I’m going to hunt down Mr. Matt Wagner. Talk to y’all later…. 6:44 AM PACIFIC: Hey y’all, I’m here! Well actually, got here last night and made it to my hotel about 9:30 PM local time -- which of course is almost midnight down in Texas. I had planned on hitting the town, but I was worn out and knew I had a big day coming Saturday. So, I grabbed something to eat, had a few “pops,” and shut ‘er down for the night. I’m about to head to the gym and then go over to the convention when it opens this AM. Check back later as I’ll be updating here regularly. STILL IN THE LONE STAR STATE Friday, March 2, 2007 9:54 AM CENTRAL: I’m still in Texas, but I’ll be heading off to San Francisco and Wondercon in a few hours. I plan on doing the “fan thing” quite a bit Saturday, but I’ve got some cool stuff scheduled. For instance, I’m meeting up with both Matt Wagner and Jeph Loeb sometime tomorrow. I’ll also attend as many of the panels that I can and I’ll reporting back blog/scattershot-style ASAP. Anyway, check back here for a fan’s perspective on what’s going on at Wondercon 2007. And can anyone recommend a cool/good bar in downtown San Fran? :) If so, SHOOT ME AN EMAIL! I HATE THE 49'ers! (But I LOVE WONDERCON!) Saturday, February 10, 2007 9:44 AM CENTRAL: BOF is returning to San Francisco in 2007 to cover WONDERCON 2007! Wondercon runs from Friday, March 2nd thru Sunday, March 4th. I'll be there and will blogging updates here "Scattershots" style as events are covered. What I plan on doing is updating ASAP after I attend a presentation, meet someone, and/or do and interview, etc. Make sure to check back here the first weekend of March! "Jett" is the founder and editor-in-chief of BATMAN-ON-FILM.COM, BATMAN IN COMICS, and ON-FILM.NET.