The Girls’ Guide to Comic Con 2009

Comic-Con. It’s not just for nerdy guys anymore.

And it’s not all just about the influx of squealing “Twilight” girls, either. This summer’s event, taking place July 23-26 in the San Diego Convention Center, could shape up to be a smorgasbord for female fandemonium. (We say “could” because the official rundown of panels and events won’t be officially released until next month.) But we’ve got a pretty good idea of what eager girls can expect (aside from one heck of a line for the “New Moon” session). Other vampires will be in their midst (“True Blood” and CW’s upcoming “Vampire Diaries”) but also kick-ass TV heroines (“Dollhouse” and “Chuck”), the muscle behind “G.I. Joe” (Channing Tatum, anyone?), perhaps a return visit from Robert Downey Jr. (hawking “Iron Man 2") and, if we’re lucky, Brad Pitt himself (for “Inglourious Basterds”).

But wait, there may be more! Read on...


FOR THE RECORD: An earlier version of this caption reversed the first and last names of an actor featured in the film “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.” The actor’s correct name is Channing Tatum.)  (Summit Entertainment / Los Angeles Times / Weinstein Co.)

Women will be rushing the stage, offering to do star Jake Gyllenhaal‘s laundry on those washboard abs that he acquired for the film, since he spends much of it fighting, shirtless or both. Jake, we don’t want to know how to quit you.

-- Hanh Nguyen, Zap2it.com  (Jean Baptiste Lacroix / WireImage.com)

“Alice in Wonderland” alone would be a draw for many girls, but add in the fact that quirky hotness Johnny Depp, right, is set to play the Mad Hatter, and you could have a mad (crazy) crowd of women seeking a glimpse of him on stage.

-- Jevon Phillips, LATimes.com  (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

With any luck, her luscious-lipped holiness will be around to hawk her upcoming action film “Salt,” which is already being likened to a female-powered version of “The Bourne Identity.” What’s not to like?

-- Denise Martin LATimes.com  (Francois Guillot / AFP / Getty Images)

Denzel Washington, kind of grizzled (unlike in this picture), in a post-apocalyptic world that looks like the Old West. A rough-looking Denzel is just as much of a draw as a clean-shaven Denzel -- the suave never leaves. And he gets to be bad, which is often so very good.

-- Jevon Phillips, LATimes.com  (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

For the poor girls who couldn’t cram themselves into the “New Moon” panel, try on the upcoming CW series from “Dawson’s Creek” boss Kevin Williamson. Who knows if it will be any good -- it stars “Degrassi” alum Nina Dobrev, which makes us recall her fellow alum, “90210’s” Shenae Grimes, which makes us not-so-hopeful -- but there will be eye candy aplenty from the menfolk. Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder play the fanged siblings (one good and one evil) who will do battle for the lucky lady’s heart. Or blood.

-- Denise Martin, LATimes.com  (Evan Agostini / Associated Press)

Look around you: Everywhere in the entertainment world, the geek is getting the girl. And they don’t come geekier than the geniuses of “The Big Bang Theory,” whether it’s the kindhearted Leonard (Johnny Galecki) or the often off-putting (but very funny) Sheldon (Jim Parsons). And yes, Leonard got the girl (Kaley Cuoco) -- sort of -- by the end of last season. Aww.

-- Rick Porter, Zap2it.com  (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)