Attention geeks, nerds, dorks, and fangirls of the world: prepare yourselves, because Comic-Con International kicks off  this Thursday, July 23! (Yes, I know it’s exciting. Grab a paper bag and breathe.)

For those not in the know, the San Diego Convention Center becomes a mecca every summer for fans of comics, science fiction, fantasy, and a lot of stuff in between. But even if you’re not a fan of any of those things (or a self-proclaimed geek like me!), Comic-Con has expanded over the years to encompass whatever’s hot in pop culture.

So if you’re going to be in SoCal from July 23-26 and can get yourself a pass, here are some reasons why you should check out Comic-Con (and if you can’t go this year, definitely mark your calendars for 2010):

1.   Check out upcoming films way before they’re released and hear from the filmmakers and cast.
The movie panels are a big hit each year, and 2009 isn’t going to be any different. Dozens of movies are going to be previewed at Comic-Con, but here’s just a sampling of what’s on the schedule next week: Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Avatar, Zombieland, 2012, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus (Heath Ledger’s last film), Astro Boy…and, of course, Twilight. Yes, the cast is going to be there. Including RPattz.

Cue fangirl screams.

2.    Sit in on discussions and upcoming season previews with the cast and crew of your favorite TV shows.
Get the scoop on TV’s most popular shows from the writers themselves (and the hott-with-a-double-“t” cast members!). Shows that will be represented include Smallville, True Blood, Heroes, Dollhouse, Family Guy, Chuck, Lost, 24, and Dexter. If I could just see Stephen Moyer, Milo Ventimiglia, Joss Whedon, and Kiefer Sutherland, I would be able to die a happy, happy woman.

3.   It’s not just about the shows, movies, and comics – there’s intellectual discussion to be found!
Comic-Con will be hosting several discussion panels with college professors, writers, and other experts on everything from parody in art to the anthropology of Star Trek. There are a number of panels relating to women in pop culture and comics specifically, so put your thinking caps on, ladies! Read More »

One thing you should know about me is that I’m a total dork. I obsess over TV shows, movies, books, and pretty much everything else you can obsess over. My poisons include graphic novels, Harry Potter, and everything Joss Whedon has ever made. I’ve got geek written all over me (especially when I wear my Gir t-shirt)

But the one hyped-up fantasy series I can’t understand is Twilight, the teen vampire romance by Stephenie Meyer. Well, since I haven’t actually read the books, it would be more accurate to say I just don’t get why my friends want to marry a pale, sunken-faced vampire by the name of Edward Cullen.

For the past few months, I’ve been receiving Facebook bumper stickers about it, the movie version of Twilight is slated for release in December (and already is generating an insane amount of buzz in the entertainment industry), and a library a couple of towns over from me is even hosting a freaking bridal shower for the two main characters when the fourth book, Breaking Dawn, is released on Saturday. Read More »

I had to keep reminding myself that I trust Joss Whedon to make great television shows out of unpromising-sounding premises while watching the trailer for his new show, “Dollhouse.”

“Buffy, the Vampire Slayer” is about a high school girl who slays vampires when she isn’t dating them, and “Firefly” is about cowboys in space in the future, so I think he might just be able to make “Dollhouse” work. The show is centered around a girl programmed to become different characters, from an assassin to a lover, without being conscious of the changes. Then she suddenly becomes aware, drama and conflict ensue, etc etc.

It sounds more like a movie (“Minority Report,” maybe?) than a TV show, and the show’s star, Eliza Dushku, is one of my least favorite actresses. You can watch her trying to act and it’s painful because she just can’t (watch what I mean in this clip.)

So, in order to get myself pumped up about this show, I’m repeating my new mantra: “I trust Joss Whedon, I trust Joss Whedon, I trust…” Well, you get the idea.