Takashi Miike's Spy Kids

The man behind Ichi the Killer and Sukiyaki Western Django is delivering a blow-out kids action film with plenty of giant robot battling. The movie stars Sho Sakurai, a gigantic star in Japan, and apparently here too, as he had people gathering 30 deep just to see him walk in the room. Think about this: he neither signed anything, nor posed for pictures, yet drew a crowd bigger than anyone else at the show.
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Little Plastic Scientists

Continuing the science theme, Mattel is offering up some really nice Ghostbusters figures in the fall of '09. They'll come in 6 and 12 inch versions, and the sculpting work is impressive.
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Sexy Science

Though the reps didn't seem to know a lot about it, Cinemax's "Forbidden Science" series looks interesting for those into adult sci-fi, and the audience at ComicCon is the right target for the show. The booth featured a quartet of "cloning pods" with wearable screens allowing you to immerse yourself in a promo. I just don't know if I'd want to pop those earbuds in after a few hundred conventioneers. Or even 10.
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And the award for oddest swag...

Goes to Fox Home Entertainment, who promoted the new Dead Like Me movie DVD with dirty foam toilet seats (fans of the show understand why.) The fact that it's easily wearable and undeniably weird made it an excellent idea, as no one who saw it will forget it.
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Heading Back Home

I had planned to stay late tonight, but after striking out on the Yatterman screening (more on that later) and getting a "I need you home" call, I'm going to miss out on the late-night Wonder Woman DVD panel. But I'll be back in the morning for more, and have a few things left to post about tonight.
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It's Meerkat Manor Mixed with 300

If that doesn't do it for you, perhaps the attached photo will.

Dark Days in Monkey City premieres Feb. 24th on the Animal Channel.
Check it out here:
http://animal.discovery.com/tv/dark-days-monkey-city/

Ghostbusters on Wii

I didn't get to play it, but watched someone demo the new Ghostbusters game for the Wii (the XBox and PS3 are playable here) and it looks pretty impressive. I was watching the game played on PS3 and Wii, and otuside of the level of detail, they aren't too far off each other. Considering that, the Wii looks like far more fun, as you can control the stream more realistically and can throw your traps, not just push buttons.
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Taking a Lunch Break

Back with more later
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Hands-On: House of the Dead: Overkill (Wii)

I thought MadWorld would be the Sega game I enjoyed most at ComicCon, but HOTD:Overkill is (pun intended) a blast. The on-rails shooter is a prequel to the HOTD series, and has a distinct Grind House feel, right down to film scratches and dirt in the image. The play is simple, as expected, but with varying types of zombie attacks and an awesome atmosphere, it's a lot of fun to play.
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Hands-On: MadWorld (Wii)

This game is as fun as you'd hoped, and the black and white art style doesn't take away from the game play at all. If anything, it enhances it, as the indie-comic style lends itself to the twisted sense of humor. This is probably as adult as the Wii will ever get, with ultraviolence and more hardcore swearing than you've probably heard in a game. And yes, it's been confirmed, that is Greg Proops' voice.
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Hands On: GTA: Chinatown Wars (DS)

I got to spend a little time with the newest entry in the GTA series (these demo DS stands aren't made for tall people,) and the appeal of portable gabgbanging is obvious. Aside from the nice cel-shaded art, the game feels like GTA (just a smaller version.) Whether you'll want to put in the time slaving over these small screens though is a personal thing though.
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Hands-On: Tenchu Shadow Assassins (Wii)

Just played a demo here, and damn it is enjoyable to kill people quietly with the Wii controllers. But the graphics looked like ass on a big screen. Maybe they didn't hook it up right. The stealth moves with the Wii feel right though.
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Sensory Overload

There's just so much going on, I can't even keep up. More to come.
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"The Japanese Shaun of the Dead"

Toykyo Zombies came out a few years ago in Japan, mixing Kung Fu and Zombies. Now, Anchor Bay is releasing it in America, with a new "sillier" dub, done ala "MXC," direct to DVD in April. Fear not though, because the original subtitles will also be included.
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The Ink-(or Pixel)-Stained Wretches

For the press to get in, you must enter "The Waiting Area," a pile of humanity not unlike Woodstock '99, just with a touch less dirt and a touch more Battlestar Galactica t-shirts. Fun.
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It's Already a Madhouse

The show doesn't open until 1 and its already insane here.
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Irony Lives

On the left: Sign says "VIP Experience - No Need to wait on Line!"

On the right...

(This may not really be irony, but it's still early.)
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Better Off Ted

I should know better after they killed off my beloved Pushing Daisies, but ABC looks to have a pretty interesting new show on their hands with Better Off Ted, a series about product development, that seems to have a really off-beat sense of humor. I will be guardedly curious.
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Chinatown Wars at NYCC

There's plenty of demo stands for the new GTA game, which is certain to be a hot spot this weekend.
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Mixing with the Straights

One of favorite parts of the NY ComicCon is that it normally shares the building with another show with an audience that doesn't mix. This year, it's the nicely contrasting Travel Show. Watch as travel agents and cosplayers mingle...

The Gateway to Geekdom

Same place as last year, but it looks a little less flashy. The economy probably.
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The Main Room

This is where the big panels are going to be held, like Sunday's Dollhouse and Fringe panels.
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You Always Know When ComicCon is in Town

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Heading to NYC

It's been a while since I last grabbed the train into the city. So long, they had time to build a new overpass, it seems.

That it's dark in the picture is the biggest issue with a February show date (which won't be an issue anymore, as the show is moving to October for 2010.) It is crazy cold out (for NY) and the walk from MSG to the comiccon will be a bitch.
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