By Denise Martin, Special to The Times, and Jevon Phillips, Times Staff Writer
Comic-Con has come and gone. We braved the lines to bring you the highs (and the lows) from the five-day event, and we’ve got the battle scars to prove it. We fought our way through screaming “Twilight” girls. We got manhandled by costumed freaks on the packed exhibition floor. We were floored by an awesome “Watchmen” trailer. And we even smacked our own heads when we found out that Jennifer Love Hewitt was just too cool to show up to her own show’s panel.
So, without further ado, here are our picks for the best and worst of the Con 2008. (Sean Masterson / EPA)
“Twilight” girls, an awesome “Watchmen” trailer and a no-show by Jennifer Love Hewitt were just some of the high- and lowlights of this year’s Con.
BEST: “Twilight” fan-demonium
The girls were lined up outside the convention center at 8 p.m. Wednesday, the night before the “Twilight” session would get underway. Stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart along with the rest of the cast were visibly shell-shocked by the reception. The next 45 minutes sounded like a Miley Cyrus concert, as fans erupted into shrieks and squeals when anyone on stage spoke. We grabbed an overwhelmed Pattinson afterward to gauge his reaction; the words “looking into the gates of hell” were used at one point. (Denis Poroy / Associated Press)
WORST: Hall H is for hell, and ‘Wait, what line am I in?’
It’s been a major topic of conversation for the past decade or so: Comic-Con is outgrowing San Diego. Yes, it has been taken over by Hollywood flacks and star gazers. Let’s face it, after 39 years, it was bound to happen. But pushing out the comics folk and core Con fans (not just core genre fans, but the ones who live Comic-Con) is bound to backfire soon. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
BEST: “ Lost” giveaways”
Talk about playing to your nerdcore: a Dharma Initiative tub of ranch dressing; a life jacket signed by all of the writers; and a Jack Shephard doll ... hand-delivered by Matthew Fox. “Lost” executive producers Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindeloff used their Con appearance to reward the show’s most rabid fans with prizes from the set. We didn’t get any real season five scoops, but who really wants spoilers? (OK, we did find out that Danielle Rousseau’s story will finally be told and we’ll have closure ... soon.) (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
BEST: An exclusive ‘Watchmen’ trailer built just for The Con
Director Zack Snyder was the convention’s biggest fanboy, cutting an exclusive “Watchmen” trailer just for the crowd who trekked to San Diego. Cast members fielded over an hour of questions from fans where it was revealed that -- yes, it’s true -- every single actor had read the comic book (in addition to the script). Naturally, the fans were all blown away. (Denis Poroy / Associated Press)
BEST: Hugh Jackman’s real, and he rocks!
The guy is energy, and seems really genuine about his love for the Comic-Con fans who’s shoulders he’s standing on. His public acknowledgment of “Wolverine” creator Len Wein was a great touch. And the “X-Men origins: Wolverine” trailer? Fans should be talking about that just as much as “Watchmen” or anything else shown. (Denis Poroy / Associated Press)