Comic-Con 2007: It's a Wrap

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Here are a few of our personal highlights, low points and some of the projects we saw at Comic-Con that we look forward to catching in the future.

Con costume to beat: Orange CPDRC uiform

It's a little early to start campaigning for a winner in next Saturday's Comic-Con 2007 Masquerade. But check out this video and tell me if you don't think anyone resourceful and bold enough to wear a Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center prison uniform shouldn't win the costume competition hands down.

It looks like the whole thing was shot from a guard tower, and apparently CPDRC's warden is an aspiring Adam Shankman -- meaning an extremely ambitious choreographer who can get great performances out of non-professional dancers. Next up from Fox, if producers are paying any attention to hyper viral videos, a "So You Think You Can Dance" versus "Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center" showdown. (via BB)                     

-- Sheigh Crabtree

Artsy Bart Simpson toys debut at Con, Meltdown

Talk about a meta media moment.

Bart Simpson is getting the designer toy treatment. Dozens of Bart figurines custom-painted by noted artists will make their U.S. debut at the Toy2R booth in San Diego next week.

The artsy toy project must amuse "Simpsons" creator Matt Groening. Die-hard fans will recall "The Simpsons" episode in which Milhouse grills Comic Book Guy about the abundance of Bart Simpson masks in the shop.

Milhouse: Why do you have masks of Bart?
Comic Book Guy: One came free with every box of Bart Simpson action figures.
Milhouse: Why does Bart have his own action figures?
Comic Book Guy: They were a marketing tie-in with the comic book.
Milhouse: Why does Bart have a comic book?
Comic Book Guy: Your questions have become more redundant and annoying than the last three "Highlander" movies.

No surprise then that the big-screen launch of "The Simpsons" on July 27 should come with none other than Bart Simpson action figures. Of the many marketing tie-ins for the movie, the life-size promos known as Kwik-E-Marts may loom largest. But with their 'round-the-block lines and product sellouts, it's not that vexing to skip a Squishee. It's harder to resist the appeal of indie illustrators and artists -- even Groening himself -- transforming blank Bart Qees into personalized baby blue Barts or silver Bartbots.

Those not trekking to Comic-Con can take heart. The Bart Qees are scheduled to land in our neck of the woods at Meltdown Comics in Hollywood on Aug. 1.   

Update: More "Simpsons" product headed our way. Certainly, if Colbert and Willie Nelson deserve Ben & Jerry flavors, then naturally, the Simpsons do too. Ben & Jerry's Homer homage is called Duff & D'oh-Nuts. That's right, beer- and doughnut-flavored ice cream. For a short time the furry ice cream fellas are renaming their Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough as Chocolate Chip Cookie D'Oh!

-- Sheigh Crabtree