San Diego Comic Con Starts On Thursday, Uniting Nerds And Geeks Alike

The world's largest comic convention, Comic-Con International begins on Thursday and promises to draw fans from all over the world in a celebration of all things comic-related. Last year the convention drew 125,000 attendees and while fanboys acrosss the country eagerly glue on their Darth Maul horns in preparation for the event, ABC reports that the continued success of comic book movies this summer has Hollywood looking forward to this year's convention as well. Click here to read the story.

In the past decade, the convention transformed into a proving ground for the entertainment industry's most buzzed-about television shows and movies, said Mirko Parlevliet, editor in chief of Coming Soon Media, which tracks movie industry releases, in an e-mail.

"It's become so important, because if you can please the Comic-Con crowds, you can expect the general moviegoing public to follow suit," Parlevliet said. "Comic-Con attendees are a tough crowd."

While in the past, attendees were only able to meet the minds behind their favorite comic books, fans can now sit in on exclusive screenings and listen to star-studded panels for Hollywood's most anticipated new releases.

"Fans from all over North America, and, perhaps even, the world, flock to the event to try to get a close-up look at the stars and see new footage," Parlevliet said.

The New York Times reported on Hollywood at Comic-Con earlier in the year

Rumbling into its 39th year, this loose-jointed, four-day fan gathering has become the single most important promotional stop on Hollywood's annual circuit of festivals, awards shows and star-studded selling opportunities. But that doesn't make it easy to love, particularly for the studios, stars and writers and directors compelled to come.

The Con, as devotees like to call it, is disconcertingly large. Last year a capacity crowd of about 125,000 crammed into the San Diego Convention Center, while a ticketless 25,000 or so were left sweating in the hot sun. (The Sundance film festival, by contrast, draws 45,000, spread over 10 days.)

Click here to view a list this year's of special guests . Paris Hilton is even rumored to be planning and appearance.