SDCC '11

In case you missed the memo, offsite events are a fast-growing aspect of the Comic-Con experience. This year the creator-focused Tr!ckster event joined the line-up but there's also a video-game focused event, Gam3rCon running July 19-24th at the 10th Street Theatre in downtown. A ticket is $5 for the day or $10 for the week but you can also register for a free one day pass. Events includes gaming -- both tabletop and video, panels, rooftop parties and a Dr. Horrible's Singalong Blog.

A super hero pub crawl, a StarTrek-themed dive, the Zombie Walk, Wil Wheaton's Wootstock, Geek Girl Network's Geek Out, Kevin Smith's SMODcast, entitled "Jay and Silent Bob get Old" -- dear gold, if you can't find something fun to do instead of standing in line for Hall H, you have a problem.

For some, Comic-Con will be another year in an annual tradition that evolves even as you do. For others, it's a be-all and end-all. Five steps for Comic-Con planning and how to deal with the shock of learning that you are not a precious snowflake.

Okay its official -- EVERYONE is coming to Comic-Con and putting on a show. If you thought it was already a three-ring circus, you were only half right Now it's a three-ring 3D circus. Cirque du Soliel the internationally renowned brand-name for acrobatics, swinging by your hair, juggling and other wonderment, will be bringing the finale of its Kâ show to Comic-con in a staging at Petco Park on Friday Night, which will be set against a 3D projections.

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: WAR IN THE NORTH is a new video game for multiple platforms which, as we've excitedly mentioned before, covers the war in the north between the various races of Middle Earth. They'll be marking a major presence Comic-Con with a big event Saturday night in the Gaslamp district.

Sunday programming for this year's San Diego Comic-Con has been released. Hollywood has left, except for a few stragglers, and Old Town comes out in full force:

Everything you need to know about the future of comics, the death of the pamphlet, webcomics, and the Britisdh invasion of comics.

True believers will have a lot to see and do at Comic-con.

People...places...comics...Eisners...

First Comics is coming back in a relaunch led by co-founder Ken Levin and Larry Young.

Top Shelf has shared their signings and book debuts with us and here's the list: Debuts/Signings: -- Craig Thompson (redesigned Blankets Hardcover & Softcover) -- Kagan McLeod (Infinite Kung Fu) -- Nate Powell (Any Empire) -- Robert Venditti/Mike Huddleston (The Homeland Directive) -- Ray Friesen (Pirate Penguin vs Ninja Chicken) -- plus the new Okie Dokie Donuts (Story 1) -- plus the new League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: 1969

Artist John Higgins is a crucial member of the Watchmen team -- he colored the original and the remastered Absolute edition. To mark 25 years of Watchmen -- and his appearance as part of the con's year of the Brit -- Higgins is releasing a limited edition Watchmen portfolio exclusively for San Diego Comic-Con 2011.