It's nearly time...
Comic-Con is a nirvana for fans of games, movies, TV shows and, well, comics. It's also increasingly one of the most important dates in the entertainment industry calendar. A good panel can transform the fortunes of a property and some events like the time Marvel Studios brought the entire Avengers cast on stage, for instance have become legendary.
There's lots going on over the four days of the 'Con, but which are the most exciting panels and what should you see if you're lucky enough to be going? Here's our top ten...
10. The Hunger Games
It's not yet been confirmed yet who will be attending the Hunger Games panel this year, but with the series coming to an end this November, expect a suitably explosive event.
Fans will get their first look at Mockingjay: Part Two plus the interviews with 'cast and crew'. Who that is, exactly, remains to be seen, but stars Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutchinson all attended San Diego in 2013. You'd expect they'd be back for the grand finale, right? Whoever it is, celebrating one of the most interesting modern franchises is surely a reason to go in itself.
9. Marvel Comics' plans for the future
Marvel's cinematic division may be shirking San Diego this year, but the comics team will be out in force across a number of different panels. This October sees a new, line-wide shake up of all the company's superhero titles including the launch of an incredible 45 new series. And there's some bold changes in store, including a new, female Wolverine; Warren Ellis writing a series for d-lister Karnark; Miles Morales becoming the official Spider-Man. And a new Howard The Duck title. Yes, really.
There's some seriously impressive talent lined up for these books (Al Ewing, Chip Zdarsky, Dan Slott and more) and it's clear that Marvel are going all out to redefine their range. Expect to see a lot of them at the 'Con.
8. The Walking Dead
You pretty much know what you're going to get from The Walking Dead by now: death, death, a couple of slow episodes and then a load more death. That's not stopped it from becoming one of the more compelling genre programmes on TV at the moment.
Panel-goers should expect a preview of the new season, with the likely introduction of new cast members and a trailer. Perhaps more exciting is the fact that this year sees the launch of new spin-off series, Fear The Walking Dead. Expect a first look at that too though it's presumably just some slightly cleaner people being eaten by zombies.
7: X-Men: Days Of Future Past The Rogue Cut
Yep, the new version of last year's x-cellent mutant movie will be getting its public premiere at Comic-Con a few days ahead of its commercial release.
Anna Paquin's Rogue is indeed in there (though reports suggest not as much as you might expect) and there's said to be more action for Magneto and Xavier. Perhaps more exciting, however, is the tantalising prospect that the director is going to show some footage from next year's X-Men: Apocalypse too...
6. DC's TV shows
There's little doubt that DC is lagging behind Marvel when it comes to big screen success. But on TV, however, it's a different story. They've done rather well, with both Arrow and The Flash having successfully made the leap from the comics page...
Comic-Con brings an airing of the complete pilot for the Supergirl TV show (and it's nowhere near as fluffy as that trailer made it look), a preview and Q&A for new team-up showLegends Of Tomorrow and online series Vixen as well as more on Gotham, The Flash and Arrow.
5. Hannibal
It's been a tough few weeks for 'fannibals', what with the show's cancellation and all. But while the series' future on other networks remains very much TBC (creator Bryan Fuller has decamped to work on American Gods for HBO), this panel should be entertaining and enlightening nonetheless. Fuller, star Hugh Dancy and executive producer Martha De Laurentiis will be attendance and are promising a few additional surprises. Can we hope for magnificent Mads Mikkelsen himself?
4. Game Of Thrones
Season five was controversial, but there's little doubt that most viewers are counting the days until Thrones' return. In the meantime, this panel should provide plenty of food for thought, as host Seth Meyers interviews Maisie Williams, Alfie Allen, Sophie Turner, Liam Cunningham (aka everyone's favourite Onion Knight), Natalie Dormer, Conleth Hill, Carice van Houten and Hannah Murray. Just don't expect any straight answers from the cast on if Kit Harington is coming back to the show. He is though, right?
3. Doctor Who
Peter Capaldi will be making his Comic-Con debut alongside Jenna Coleman, Michelle Gomez, Brian Minchin and Steven Moffat. The inclusion of Missy in that line-up hints at the character's renewed importance in the forthcoming season.
As well as introducing the stars and showrunners to US fans, the Con will likely see the debut of footage from season nine no doubt to the vocal frustration of British fans narked at missing out...
2. Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice
Say what you like about Zack Snyder's grungy approach to superheroes, he's certainly got people talking. That Dawn Of Justice teaser trailer provoked both praise and scorn, but now the man himself will be on hand to tell you why you should go see the film. He's bringing assorted cast members with him too, including burly new Batman, Ben Affleck, Super Henry Cavill, the Wonderous Gal Gadot and more.
There's also a persistent rumour that the first footage from next year's Suicide Squad will debut. With Marvel Studios sitting out this year's Comic-Con, this could really be a chance for Warner Bros to grab the headlines.
1. Star Wars
The big one. We know that Star Wars is going to dominate the back half of the year and, if Disney play their cards right, it will all start here...
What can we expect? Well, director JJ Abrams for a start, backed up by producer Kathleen Kennedy and screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan. Some "surprise guests" are promised. That could be any of the new cast, but hopes will naturally be for Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher. There's also the outside chance that we may find out more about next year's Anthology flick, Rogue One. Expect long queues into Hall H...
