WonderCon is coming up very quickly! The three-day convention starts April 2 and runs through the 4th at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA. From what I hear, the conference is jam packed with amazing talks, cosplay and comics. Top Cow sent us an email that explains what they will be doing at the con, in case you are planning your schedule ahead of time.

Top Cow will be at booth #407 with the following creators stopping by to greet and sign: pencilers Michael Broussard (The Darkness, Artifacts), Nelson Blake II (Pilot Season: Murderer, Magdalena), Sheldon Mitchell (Pilot Season: Stealth, Witchblade Annual) and inker Rick Basaldua (Witchblade Annual). Stop by the Image Comics (#407) booth for signing times.

With Top Cow’s Pilot Season in the horizon (the event beings in November), the publisher has released Pilot Season: Declassified – a 32-page full color book that gives the readers a chance to take a sneak peek at their five upcoming properties. For those who might not know what Pilot Season is all about, the basic premise of the event is for the readers to vote on their favorite comic title (out of the given choices). The winner will have shot at getting its mini or ongoing series. For this year, fans of Robert Kirkman (best known for The Walking Dead and Marvel Zombies) and Marc Silvestri (Uncanny X-Men and Witchblade anyone?) will be thrilled to know that these two have joined forces and co-created the five new properties to choose from: Murderer, Demonic, Stealth, Stellar and Hardcore. Declassifiedfocuses on these five titles and for only a buck, fans can pick it up and get a taste of what’s in store for them. Thanks to a Top Cow insider, GamingAngels.com and I were able to get an advanced copy of the book and see what it’s all about. Undecided if you should get a copy? Then read on.

As I sifted through the book, it’s pretty much what you’d expect from a preview book – a collection of concept sketches, a couple of full-colored pinups and samples of storyline scripts. Most the artworks are done by Silvestri, and it’s pretty damn cool to see how much his drawing style has evolved since his days as a penciller for Uncanny X-Men. Don’t get me wrong, they weren’t terrible – in fact, his style back then definitely fit the chaotic world of the Inferno storyline. However, his current style is much more defined and detailed – as evident in the sketches that are showcased in Declassified. I only wish that the book also gave sneak peeks to the two other titles from the bunch. It was disappointing but we’ll get to that soon. Still, as a long time fan of his, it was definitely a treat to gawk at them!

The book also gives the readers a chance to see Kirkman’s thought processes, and it’s pretty clear that he’s bubbling with ideas for this year’s Pilot Season – as seen in the e-mail exchanges between him and the creators. Reading the back and forth messages from the creative team will give the readers an insight on how to conceive and put together a story. Fans of this writer will also be delighted to see a personal letter from him which relates to his readers his passion for comics and his excitement over the new upcoming project. While he didn’t suggest it directly, his message is clear to those who are passionate about comic books and want to work in the industry: score an internship with the publisher and put yourself out there.

Now, according to the publisher’s official press release, “Pilot Season: Declassified is filled with top secret design sketches, documents, along with trailer pages from the five properties.” Sadly, I found that it mainly applies to Murderer, Demonic and Stealth though the first two titles were given the most attention. If I was to decide which property should win, it would be a choice between Murderer and Demonicbut it’s only because the book basically dedicated most of the pages to them. What are these two about anyway? Murderer is about Jason Sparks, a young guy who’s cursed with the ability to hear the thoughts of everyone around him. But Professor X makes it look cool – why is this a curse? He can’t shut them out – at least not in the most conventional ways. The only way he can shut out the voices in his head and keep his sanity? Murder. Now what’s stopping him from being deemed as a serial killer? He’s using his curse for good. Demonic is about Scott Grave, a married man who just happens to have a demon in his head. The demon also happens to make him strong but there’s a price: Scott needs to kill for the demon in order to spare the lives of his wife and daughter.

As for Stellar and Hardcore, both are given brief descriptions in the beginning but pretty much ceased to exist after that. They didn’t even get a concept sketch or a preliminary script. Sadness. I would have loved to have seen at least the concept art for Stellar – a genetically enhanced super-human who’s been banished from Earth since she’s become toxic to humans. It’s a pretty ambitious concept, but I’m curious to see as to how Kirkman and Silvestri would have fleshed out her character and story.

The layout of the book towards the end also threw me off. After seeing some concept ideas and designs for Stealth (guy finds out his dad, who’s diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, is really a butt-kicking masked vigilante, and he’s forced to deal with his dad’s disease and his many enemies), I had expected to see tidbits on Stellar and Hardcore to follow but instead, came upon concept ideas and artwork for Top Cow’s other ongoing titles. “Huh? I thought this book was about the new properties!” I literally had to go back a few pages just to make sure I didn’t skip a page. Newp. I guess it’s their way of pulling a ninja-like move and promoting what’s also available for readers out there. Plus hey, it also paved the way for the advertisements that filled up the rest of the five pages of the book. I get it. Gotta promote your other products too. Yet in my honest opinion (and in the risk of sounding bitter), those last few pages could have been dedicated to the other upcoming titles. But that’s just me.

So is this book worth your dollar? Yes if you’re a major fan of Robert Kirkman and Marc Silvestri as well as a loyal follower of Top Cow’s Pilot Season. There’s plenty enough info to pore over – at least withMurderer, Demonic and Stealth. And let’s not forget that you can also drool over Silvestri’s concept sketches (I know I did). Just keep in mind that it’s a preview book and it only highlights three out of the five upcoming new properties. For those who aren’t any of the above, save your dollar for an actual comic book.

Kitamura previously directed “Midnight Meat Train” for Lionsgate and Lakeshore Entertainment, and he has directed numerous Japanese films including “Godzilla: Final Wars,” “Love Death,” “Sky High” and “Azumi” among many others.

Gale Anne Hurd and Platinum Studios’ Chairman and CEO Scott Mitchell Rosenberg are set to produce. Top Cow’s CEO Marc Silvestri (“Witchblade,” “Darkness”) would serve as executive producer as would former Universal Pictures senior executive Randy Greenberg of The Greenberg Group, who helped negotiate the deal. Matt Hawkins, President of Top Cow Productions, is set to co-produce.

“Both Kitamura and Brix bring very unique visions to ‘Magdalena,’” said Hurd. “Kitamura’s visual style coupled with Brix imaginative narrative will truly make ‘Magdalena’ a compelling film on screen” added Hurd.

“We have wanted to work with Kitamura for some time and his appetite for the material is infectious,” said Rosenberg. “Brix has been on our radar, and we are thrilled that she has agreed to be a part of this project.”

“Magdalena is a very complex but visually stunning world and we believe that Kitamura and Brix are the right talents to bring this to life” said Silvestri.

Top Cow has announced their finalized plans for San Diego Comic Con from July 23-26th. Top Cow will be at booth #2629 and will have exclusives, free copies of Berserker #0, preview books and more.

As far as panels, join Milo Ventimiglia, Robert Kirkman and others for tons of Top Cow announcements in room 7AB from 4:30-5:30 on Saturday, July 25th. Fans that want signatures from any of the guests should attend the panel to secure a free ticket.

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin will be on hand Friday from 1pm-2pm to sign free posters of his new film Damage.

Here is the Top Cow signing schedule:
Wednesday
6PM-7PM Witchblade
Eric Basaldua
Stjepan Sejic
7PM-8PM Top Cow All Stars
Michael Broussard
Joshua Hale Fialkov
Nelson Blake II

Thursday
9:45-10:45 Zero G
Alex Zamm
Jason Badower
11:00-12:00 Witchblade
Stjepan Sejic
Rick Basaldua
12:00-1:00 Pilot Season
Joshua Hale Fialkov
Marc Bernardin
Adam Freeman
1:00-2:00 Darkness
Michael Broussard
Phil Hester
Rob Levin
2:00-3:00 Darkness / Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer
Nelson Blake II
Kenneth Rocafort
Mark Waid (at the Boom! Studios booth)
Troy Peteri
3:00-5:00 Witchblade
Stjepan Sejic
Ron Marz
Eric Basaldua
5:00-6:00 Top Cow In-House Artists
Nelson Blake II
Rick Basaldua
Sheldon Mitchell

Friday
9:45-10:45 Big Trouble in Little China
Jason Badower
Evan Bleiweiss
11:00-12:00 Darkness
Phil Hester
Michael Broussard
Frazer Irving
12:00-1:00 Cyberforce/ Hunter Killer
Kenneth Rocafort
Mark Waid (at 12:30 PM; at the Boom! Studios booth)
Marc Silvestri
1:00-2:00 Stone Cold Steve Austin “Damage” signing (ticket required)
2:00-3:00 Pilot Season
Joshua Hale Fialkov
Marc Bernardin
Adam Freeman
3:00-4:00 Witchblade
Ron Marz
Stjepan Sejic
Eric Basaldua
Troy Peteri
4:00-5:00 Tracker/Berserker
Jonathan Lincoln
Francis Tsai
Rick Loverd
5:00-6:00 Witchblade
Nelson Blake II
Paul Jenkins
Rick Basaldua

Saturday
10:00-11:30 Image United (at the Image Booth)
Marc Silvestri
10:00-11:00 Beneath the Darkness
Paul Jenkins
Sheldon Mitchell
11:00-12:00 Pilot Season
Joshua Hale Fialkov
Marc Bernardin
Adam Freeman
12:00-1:00 Top Cow In-House Artists
Eric Basaldua
Neslon Blake II
Sheldon Mitchell
1:00-2:00 Witchblade
Ron Marz
Stjepan Sejic
Marc Silvestri
1:00-2:00 Photoshoot with Witchblade Through the Ages
2:00-3:00 Darkness
Marc Silvestri
Phil Hester
Michael Broussard
3:00-4:00 Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer
Kenneth Rocafort
Mark Waid (signing at Boom! Studios)
Eric Basaldua
4:00-5:00 Tracker
Jonathan Lincoln
Francis Tsai
Troy Peteri
5:00-5:40 Witchblade
Eric Basaldua
Rick Basaldua
5:45-7:00 Berserker (ticket required)
Milo Ventimiglia
Russ Cundliff
Rick Loverd

Sunday
11:00-12:00 Darkness
Michael Broussard
Nelson Blake II
Rob Levin
12:00-1:00 Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer/Witchblade
Stjepan Sejic
Kenneth Rocafort
Troy Peteri
1:00-2:00 Top Cow In-House Artists
Eric Basaldua
Rick Basaldua
Shedon Mitchell

Golden Apple comics on Melrose and La Brea.

Heroes star Milo Ventimiglia made an appearance at Golden Apple Comics on Saturday, June 27th to celebrate the release of a new comic series that he co-produced, Berserker. The series was originally written as a made for TV script by  Rick Loverd, which turned down by everyone, saying it was too edgy for television.

Milo, along with Russ Cundiff and Jeremy Haun, met and greeted anxious readers who were understandably excited about the new series. They graciously signed copies of Issue Zero of their comic adaptation for fans of the new series.

The comic will be released by Top Cow Productions, Inc.

In the past, Milo has helped other series come to fruition, such as his series Rest.

[picture courtesy of Golden Apple's flickr page]