Studios take a read on comic book gathering

SAN DIEGO —  The two-page memo in David Goyer’s hands outlines how the “Batman Begins” screenwriter and costar Cillian Murphy should answer difficult questions about the caped crusader’s long-awaited return to the movies. The two also hold a long-distance review session with “Batman Begins” director Chris Nolan and producer Emma Thomas from London. Goyer and Murphy have to be prepared, because they are about to face an audience tougher even than Mike Wallace: thousands of comic book fans.

The 35th annual Comic-Con International is a festive convention of more than 75,000 self-described comic geeks. In a four-day gathering that concluded Sunday, fans queued for autograph sessions with obscure illustrators, attended presentations on everything from Tintin at 75 to intellectual property law, and snatched up the latest She-Ra action figures.

More than anything else, the multitudes crammed into giant meeting halls to pass judgment on Hollywood’s latest works in progress, often setting the tone for how the completed films will be received by the general public.

Some film series, such as “The Lord of the Rings,” and “The Matrix,” as well as “Spider-Man 2” initiated their rise to cultural prominence at Comic-Con, where the less fortunate, from “The Core” to “The Hulk,” began their descents. No matter the sharpness of its double-edged sword, Comic-Con has become an irresistible magnet for the studios, all of which presented clips, finished movies and filmmaker panels.

“Comic-Con has grown exponentially,” says Jeffrey Walker, a consultant who works with studios on convention presentations. “This is the biggest convention of its kind in the world, and it’s extremely influential.”

Paramount Pictures moved the release of its comic-influenced “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow” from the summer to September in part to steer clear of “Spider-Man 2” and in part to capitalize on a Comic-Con presentation (a convention “Sky Captain” screening yielded some positive Internet reviews).

“I am always amazed at how many different people from how many different walks of life are here,” says screenwriter Joss Whedon (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”). “And yet people wrote it off just like they wrote off comic books.”

Goyer has traveled to San Diego on behalf of two films: “Batman Begins,” on which he was a writer, and “Blade: Trinity,” which he wrote and directed. For one film, the Comic-Con throngs were ready to attack. For the other, they couldn’t wait to show their love. And Goyer had to juggle those competing agendas while his girlfriend traveled to the emergency room 1,000 miles away.

A flock of studios

Goyer is a lifelong comic book reader and collector, and he and his brother recently sold their 10,000-volume collection. He has visited Comic-Con several times over the last six years, as fan and filmmaker (he wrote the first two “Blade” movies, which are based on Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan’s comic book creation). But many studios only recently have discovered the convention. Scarcely visible on the Hollywood radar a decade ago, Comic-Con this year attracted representatives from not only every major studio but also independent distributors and filmmakers.

In addition to Paramount’s showing of its completed “Sky Captain,” Disney and Pixar previewed scenes from “The Incredibles.” Sony sent Sarah Michelle Gellar to promote “The Grudge,” and Fox introduced the lead cast of “Fantastic Four.” Other movies showcased included Focus Features’ “Shaun of the Dead” and “Seed of Chucky”; Warner Bros.’ “Constantine”; Dimension Films’ “Sin City”; 20th Century Fox’s “Alien vs. Predator”; and Universal’s “Serenity.”

Although most of the movies are either science fiction titles or hold some vague comic book connection (“The Incredibles’ ” Comic-Con poster was designed by “Hellboy” comic creator Mike Mignola), some studios chose to feature works with no relationship to either genre. DreamWorks previewed footage from its animated “Madagascar,” New Line Cinema screened the stoner comedy “Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle,” and Lions Gate promoted the shark thriller “Open Water.”

From the studio perspective, Comic-Con’s appeal is obvious. Despite their occasionally eccentric appearance (some attendees walk around in costume), Comic-Con’s visitors are both devoted moviegoers and hugely influential tastemakers. Thanks to the Internet and laptop computers, their reaction can start circulating around the world the second a forum concludes.

“It’s the Super Bowl for the fans,” says Jason Geffen, a manager of publicity and promotions for Columbia Pictures. “You see the reactions instantaneously. They have websites, and they talk to their friends. They can make a difference.”

A year ago, Sony premiered a Dr. Octopus sequence from “Spider-Man 2” at Comic-Con, with great success: The room cheered, and the praise quickly ripped around the Internet.

The Comic-Con fans are definitely rabid, some waiting in a long line just to get an autograph from “Battlestar Galactica’s” Richard Hatch. Yet they are far from pushovers.

“Film festival audiences can be one of the most receptive audiences you can ever get,” says writer-director Zak Penn, attending Comic-Con for two films, his “Incident at Loch Ness” and the upcoming “Elektra.”

“This is not a film festival audience. What’s interesting about Comic-Con is that comic book fans are by nature cantankerous,” Penn says. “If it’s not what they want, people are all over you.”

Goyer is well aware of that danger as he prepares for a Friday discussion of “Batman Begins,” which comes out next summer. Before he takes the stage in front of more than 6,000 fans, Goyer and Murphy, who plays the film’s villain, the Scarecrow, conduct interviews with Web journalists, print reporters and TV crews. He may be a screenwriter, but Goyer sounds like a diplomat.

He is, in fact, approaching a war zone. Thanks to “Batman & Robin,” many fans no longer trust Warner Bros. with one of their most beloved superheroes (the studio privately admits the savagely reviewed 1997 film nearly killed off its “Batman” franchise). So Goyer repeatedly tells interviewers how much time he and director Nolan spent meeting with “Batman” publisher DC Comics, and how respectful the filmmakers have been of the source material.

Goyer rolls up his shirt sleeves, revealing an array of interlocking tattoos, and climbs onto the stage in front of the thousands of Comic-Con visitors. Nolan and “Batman Begins” star Christian Bale send a videotaped greeting from London, but there is no early footage to show, which is certainly not what the audience wants to hear.

Goyer and Murphy welcome questions. The very first query is to the point: How can the studio that made the previous “Batman” movies and “Catwoman” possibly be counted on to resurrect the Dark Knight?

“That’s a totally fair question,” Goyer says. “And that’s why we’re here.” He then tells the crowd he has been reading comics since 1971, and repeats that everybody working on “Batman Begins,” including himself, is determined to honor the “Batman” legacy. “I wrote the movie I’ve always wanted to see,” Goyer says. “It’s sort of the cinematic equivalent of a reboot,” he says, a remark that gets strong applause.

By the time he leaves the stage half an hour later, Goyer appears to have made some progress, although an Internet critic wishes Warners had unveiled some footage, even a “Batman Begins” teaser trailer. Now he has to switch gears and start talking about “Blade: Trinity,” and check on his girlfriend, who has tripped and suffered a broken leg in Vancouver.

Raised on comics

The 38-year-old Goyer is among a new generation of filmmakers who grew up with their heads buried in comics. Goyer, Penn, Whedon, “Spider-Man’s” Sam Raimi, “Hellboy’s” Guillermo del Toro and “Daredevil’s” Mark Steven Johnson are all comic enthusiasts, and their respect for the genre has been paying off with ticket buyers.

The first “Blade” movie was a surprise hit, and the 1998 release helped usher in the current comic book movie craze. Goyer’s next installment, opening Dec. 10, doesn’t face the fan obstacles confronting “Batman Begins,” but there is work to be done. “We’ve got a built-in fan base,” Goyer says between the “Batman” and “Blade” presentations. “But we are introducing some new characters, and trying to broaden our audience.” He is accompanied by his additions to the “Blade” story, actors Jessica Biel and Ryan Reynolds.

Goyer shows attendees some of their scenes, and the reaction is thunderous. Near the end of his presentation, Goyer hears the best question possible: Might there be a spinoff with Biel and Reynolds? Quite possibly.

“This day has been crazy,” Goyer says. His work done, he heads back to Los Angeles, and to check in again with his girlfriend. “I’m tired. But I’m OK.”