Comic-Con...it's not just about comic books

It's the ultimate. The extreme. The biggest event in the world if you're a sci-fi fantasy enthusiast, comic or video artist! It's the one and only Comic-Con in San Diego.

From July 20th through the 24th, over 100,000 attendees, industry professionals and countless exhibitors will converge in the San Diego Convention center. Aspiring artists will meet at Artist's Alley and take part in Comic-Con's Portfolio Review. Autograph hounds will mob the Autograph area to meet cast members from their favorite TV shows and movies.

On Saturday, the beloved and venerated Ray Bradbury will be signing autographs from 2 to three p.m. Bradbury is the author of such timeless classics as The Illustrated Man, Something Wicked This Way Comes, The Martian Chronicles, and Fahrenheit 451. Some of these great works have been adapted into comic book and cinematic form. His biography, The Bradbury Chronicles, The Life of Ray Bradbury, was recently released in paperback.

Also attending will be Roger Corman, an indie filmmaking legend and who has spent over 50 years in Hollywood. In addition to creating such iconic classics as Little Shop of Horrors film, Roger Corman also mentored some of Hollywood's top talent --including directors like Ron Howard and James Cameron.

Trekkers will gather around the autograph table of Walter Koenig, one of Star Trek's original TV crew members—Chekov. Besides creating an unforgettable character in the original series and the seven movies that followed, Koenig also appeared on Babylon 5 and is an accomplished writer and filmmaker.

Returning to Comic-Con International this year will be The Star Wars Fan Film Awards. The award ceremony scheduled for Thursday night at 8:30 in Ballroom 20 will showcase the best of this year's competition, plus an exclusive world premiere especially for Star Wars fans. For the fifth year, filmmaker finalists vied for recognition and prizes in the competition sponsored by Lucasfilm and Atomfilms.com.

George Lucas will judge which film entry is the best of the competition will present the prestigious George Lucas Selects top prize, receive $2,000 in cash and a distinctive Fan Film Awards trophy. Other category winners will be awarded one of the coveted trophies, plus $1,000. The Audience Choice Award will go to the highest number of votes from the fans themselves. The winner will take home one of the Fan Film trophies. Attendees will also be treated to the very first public showing of Return of Pink Five: Volume Two. Films entered in the Star Wars Fan Film Awards competition are required to meet set guidelines and performance standards, plus be less than 10 minutes long. The films can be a parody of the existing Star Wars universe, experimental, or a documentary of the Star Wars fan experience.

For Anime fans, Comic-Con is a true feast. Anime, or Japanese animation, as many know, has grown to become one of the fastest-growing aspects of Comic-Con. Screenings continue to gather record-setting crowds. This year, Comic-Con's anime will include over 130 different titles, including popular fan favorites, newer releases, and sneak previews of soon to be releases. As always, Comic-Con will provide a convenient guide to the schedule with room locations and brief synopses and titles.

So come one, come all to the greatest show on earth. Bring your costumes, dress up and be part of the fun. It's all happening at Comic-Con 2006 in San Diego!