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More than 125,000 converged on San Diego for four days of Comic-Con, ending Sunday, to get their geek on. They were treated to premieres of films such as Cowboys & Aliens previews of TV shows and games — and thousands of comics. USA TODAY's Bill Keveney, Mike Snider, Brian Truitt and John Geddes hit a few highlights.
Exceptional Tintin. Producer Steven Spielberg drew what may have been the most enthusistic reception of the weekend — and producing partner Peter Jackson (who flew in from New Zealand during a break from The Hobbit), wasn't far behind, as they introduced their 3-D animated flick The Adventures of Tintin.
Jackson grew up with Belgian artist Hergé's Tintin comics "before I could read." Spielberg first heard of Tintin when a French magazine compared Indiana Jones to the intrepid teenage reporter and his canine sidekick, Snowy. He, too, saw a kinship: "You're not supposed to do this when you're a journalist, but Tintin put himself in the story and often became involved in the adventure," Spielberg says.
Spielberg, who announced he has hired a writer for a fourth Jurassic Park, received Comic-Con's lifetime achievement Inkpot Award. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you," Spielberg told the crowd. "We're all in the same world together."
A darker White. Fairy-tale princess Snow White goes all Lord of the Rings in an epic retelling, Snow White and the Huntsman, one of two Snows on the horizon (the other is Tarsem Singh's untitled project).
Director Rupert Sanders presented concept art for each character, including lead Kristen Stewart (Twilight) decked out in armor, sword and shield as Snow White, warrior princess. Also appearing were co-stars Sam Claflin as the Prince, Thor's Chris Hemsworth as the Huntsman and Charlize Theron as the evil Queen of magic-mirror fame.
Snow is "the people's leader and not heavy-handed (but) sincere," Stewart said. "She doesn't let her mind get in the way of doing things she feels strongly about." Theron says it's important to understand what drove the Queen to where she is. "Trust me, she's dark. I'm preparing to play a serial killer. Watch out, Kristen."
The dwarfs are in the movie, too: Eddie Marsan, Bob Hoskins, Stephen Graham, Eddie Izzard, Ray Winstone, Ian McShane, Toby Jones and Nick Frost. Why eight? "There are a few great lines when one of them gets killed," Sanders teased.
Spidey sense. "I needed Spider-Man when I was a kid. He was a hero for me and all skinny kids," says star Andrew Garfield, who becomes the web-slinger in The Amazing Spider-Man due next July.
He paid tribute to the first film Spidey, Tobey Maguire, who gave Garfield his blessing — "I'm Team Tobey, personally," the British actor says. "It made me feel OK jumping into it." But he had some trepidation. "The 4-year-old inside me was like, 'You've gotta do this, man,'" says Garfield, who dressed up as Spidey for Halloween when he was 2. (He also showed up for the panel disguised as a fan in a cheap Spider-suit.)