Comic-Con International 2010: An event of gods and monsters
WORD BALLOONS
SAN DIEGO — Every year, Comic-Con: International is a window to a new world of gods and monsters — and this year was perhaps even more so.
While the convention was marred by an on-site stabbing incident, the parade of conventiongoers was overall friendly and outgoing. San Diego itself seemed more enamored of Comic-Con this year. With the convention having the option to move in the near future, downtown businesses seemed to be more welcoming to fans, perhaps realizing the value of the 126,000-plus attendees. For instance, an upscale hotel restaurant had tweaked its interior by covering its framed artwork with superhero posters, and clerks at the downtown grocery hot spot were wearing comic-book shirts to show support for the event.
Marvel Comics debuted its latest god, Thor, the god of thunder, who will be played by Chris Hemsworth in both the “Thor” movie and the superhero team-up film “The Avengers.”
And Marvel also has a new monster: Mark Ruffalo was announced as Bruce Banner, aka the Hulk, for the “Avengers” film, replacing Edward Norton in the role. Also set for “The Avengers” is Chris Evans as Captain America; he’ll star in “Captain America: The First Avenger,” which fans also got a brief glimpse of in a Comic-Con panel. Assembling all these “Avengers” will be Joss Whedon (“Serenity”), who was confirmed as the film’s director.
Con-goers got their first look at Ryan Reynolds as the emerald space warrior Green Lantern; Reynolds received an ovation for his recitation of the oath of the Green Lantern Corps for a young fan.
“In brightest day, in blackest night; no evil shall escape my sight,” Reynolds said to feverish crowd cheers. “Let those who worship evil’s might, beware my power! Green Lantern’s light!”
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