We’ll be covering as much of the San Diego Comic Con news as we can across our many blogs, so stick with the Starstore blogs for a unique British perspective on the latest developments from SDCC 2009!

We swear one day we’ll make it there and report to you live from the event itself, but until then, we’ll be scouring the net for the best news and announcements so that you don’t have to!

This year’s event runs from the 23rd to the 26th of July, with a preview night on the 22nd before the shenanigans commence for real. There are some suitably awesome panels, previews and product unveilings going on this year, and we’ll cover as many of the big ones as we can.

There are some fantastic workshops and signings right across the event, but the big ones for many fans will be the TV previews, movie previews and merchandise previews. We’re personally really looking forward to finding out what Sideshow Collectibles have on offer this year in the way of new products.

Other panels and stuff of note throughout the SDCC weekend? Summit’s Astro Boy preview, the reveal of details on the next Tetsuo movie, a preview of The Twilight Saga: New Moon, a look at the groundbreaking new James Cameron science fiction epic Avatar, the next developments in the Halo franchise, a presentation of material from Terry Gilliam’s Imaginarium of Dr Parnassuss, a Doctor Who panel with Russell T Davies and David Tennant, a panel on the Kick Ass movie, a talk with fantasy legend Terry Brooks, the premier of the animated Green Lantern movie, The Guild, Farscape’s 10th Anniversary, a look at the new version of The Prisoner, Star Wars Day, Sideshow Collectibles‘ panel, Dr. Horrible The Totally Rad Show Live, Ray Bradbury… gah, so much!!!

We’ll be covering as much as we can right here! It may not be as cool as actually being there, but we’ll be bringing you as much of the AWESOME as we can.

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Have a look and see some sneak previews of the greatest movie collectibles from Sideshow - Visit now!

The first set of action figures from the latest installment of the legendary Resident Evil video games is now in stock! Three figures have arrived in the first wave, and in keeping with previous figures in the Resident Evil line, they are pretty damn cool. The three figures in this first batch are Sheva Alomar, Chris Redfield and Executioner Majini.

Supplied in clamshell packages, the figures each come with character specific accessories and multiple points of articulation. The Shiva and Chris Redfield figures are superb, but the paint job on the Executioner figure could be a little better. That said, these new Resident Evil 5 action figures look set to be a big hit with fans of the rejuvenated genre icon.

Okay, the trailer for Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li has been around for a while, and the movie opens in the US this week I believe, but the more I see of the film, the less I like it. It’s getting hard to be enthusiastic about a video games movie that doesn’t resemble the Street Fighter video game all that much.

Maybe fans will flock to see Kristen Kreuk doing lots of wire work, but I’d rather have a full-blown Streetfighter movie instead of this, which looks ever more like a TV pilot.

You never see Chun Li in the actual outfit (The closest you get is seeing her in a blue dress and the hair buns in a club scene which degenerates into a cheap looking fight scene), there are few characters from the Street Fighter games, and the whole thing appears to be a build up to the last scene, which is a huge, blatant set-up for the next film.

Why a proper Streetfighter movie couldn’t have been made in the first place escapes me. I know some people still remember that godawful 90s version, but still, why focus on one character instead of going the whole hog (or indeed, Bison)? It doesn’t make sense to me, not with this franchise.

I did get excited upon hearing about the film going into production, but it looks like the outcome is doomed to the bargain bins. I hope I’m wrong, and that this isn’t just a huge missed opportunity. Can’t say I’m really holding my breath though. I look forward to bringing you a review.

The highly respected McFarlane Toys will be unleashing many more Halo figures this year, which is great news for fans of the all-action video games phenomenon. There are more regular action figures, more box sets, more helmets and a brand new ‘Stylized’ range. Let’s take a look at the merchandise to come…

July 2009 will see the release of more mini figures in the HALO WARS range. Supplied in packs of three, the new wave includes the following packs: UNSC Troops (Blue), UNSC Troops (Green), Alpha Base Pack, Covenant Troops (Silver and Bronze) and Covenant Troops (yellow). There is also the fifth wave of ‘Equipment’ edition figures coming. This is to include: Master Chief – Active Camo, Sgt. Avery Johnson, UNSC, Jump Pack Brute, Elite Assault – Silver, Spartan Soldier Scout – Cyan, Halo Wars Weapons Pack, Spartan Soldier Hayabusa.

A new addition to the Halo action figure range is the first wave of ‘Stylized’ figures, bringing a whole new look to the Halo merchandise scene. This awesome range will include: Master Chief, Brute Chieftain, Spartan Soldier EVA, Spartan Soldier EOD. A new line of box sets is coming too, with the ‘Team Slayer’ and ‘Deluxe Armour’ sets first in line for release.

Small replica Halo helmets will be released in September 2009, in packs of 3. There will initially be four box sets available. October will see the arrival of the 3rd wave of Halo Wars heroic scale mini figure packs, with another five packs to choose from and collect. That month will also see the release of wave 6 in the regular sized Halo action figures, and that wave is said to include: ODST Soldier , Brute Bodyguard, Spartan Soldier Recon, Grunt, Rtas ‘Vadum, Flood Pure Form.

Also on the agenda is a second batch of stylized figures, box sets and a deluxe boxed Mongoose vehicle with Spartan Soldier figure. In December, McFarlane will release the fourth wave of helmet replicas, with another four packs added to the line. It is an exciting time for Halo fans, and there will be more merchandise and halo news announced soon. Big things are coming, so watch this space!

The Spartan holds two Spiker weapons, or you can switch to the bonus arms and have him holding the M90 Shotgun. When not using the shotgun this can be stored on his back. Additional hands are also included in the Red Spartan statue‘s package.

Cast in sturdy PVC, the statue is fully assembled and ready to display out of the box. Alongside the previous ArtFX Halo releases, this is an excellent addition to any Halo 3 fan’s collection.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA SERIES 4 ACTION FIGURES
Action figures from the fourth series of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA’s triumphant rebirth will be released in February 2009! These latest Battlestar Galactica action figures include Admiral Adama, President Roslin, and the limited President Lee Adama. Each figure stands approximately 7″ tall and includes articulation and accessories.

HALO 3 HELMET REPLICAS
Triple packs of replica HALO 3 helmets will be made available by McFarlane Toys in February 2009. In scale with the 12″ Halo figures, these excellent pieces of Halo merchandise each include a custom display stand which interlocks with the others in the set! The helmets will include:

SET 1: Mark VI (Red), EOD (Red) CQB (Red)
SET 2: Hayabusa (White), EVA (Olive), Rogue (Tan)
SET 3: Master Chief, Rogue (Silver), CQB (Orange)
SET 4: EOD (Blue), Hayabusa (Red), EVA (Teal)

We now have a new internet Monkey colleague in the form of Jon, who out-geeks most of the rest of us by being an avid WoW player. Thankfully he isn’t quite so knowledgeable on comics and movies, so the balance is steady, for now at least. Anyway, the nerdometer is about ready to explode as it is right now, thanks to me frothing at the mouth with glee at the current series of Doctor Who (See our regular TARDISWATCH and TORCHWATCH features for proof of that), so my crown is still residing safely upon my shiny head. Anyway, welcome Jon!

The hot merchandise of late has been the Gears of War action figures, the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figures, the Halo 3 range. The AVPR range is still proving to be popular, so as long as you guys want the Hybrids, Aliens and Predators, we’ll do our utmost to get them in.

Everyone’s getting stoked for the imminent release of the new Batman film THE DARK KNIGHT, and quite rightly so. The posters and some of the merchandise has started to arrive, and we’re proud to have it on our shelves as we all love what Christopher Nolan has been doing with Batman. Its been quite a year for superheroes so far, what with Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk and Batman getting people excited about superhero cinema again. The direction the Marvel movies are taking is really quite brilliant, and things are coming together nicely for a coherent Marvel screen universe, which if course will lead nicely into the AVENGERS movie.

There’s been some shifting around of stock and shelves and the layout of the shop is mutating into something much cooler. The shop layout is something that never really stays still for long- like your home, there’s always something that would look ‘better over there’. We’re trying to get everything displayed nicely and keep the store fully accessible for visitors.

We’ve been trying to figure out which crossover event we’re more into at the moment- Secret Invasion or Dreamwar. It looks like Dreamwar is edging ahead in the Starstore popularity stakes as stuff actually happens in it. Secret Invasion is cool as hell but the pace has been a bit too slow in picking up to keep us guessing. Elsewhere on our comics racks, the new Tank Girl series has been picking up a bunch of new readers and keeping the iconic, foul-mouthed anti-heroine in the public consciousness, so that’s a good thing. On the graphic novels front, the reissue of Batman: The Killing Joke has been flying out, and there’s also the first collected volume of THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY out now for all of those My Chemical Romance fans who suddenly found themselves reading comics and discovering they’re actually rather good. My advice to those new comics fans? Get hold of WATCHMEN so you can be like the rest of us here and know all about the greatest comic series ever released, before the movie comes out next year. That way you get to say ‘I TOLD you it was brilliant’ once Zack Snyder’s adaptation hits the screens.

Anyways, I gotta get back to sorting out the new layout and mocking Greg’s scene kid hair.

The Hardy Daytona itself is presented in exact scaled detail, together with rotating rubber wheels, suspension pistons and a retractable bike stand. The features carried over onto the bike really are incredible, with every little nook and cranny filled with moving engine parts and game-accurate detail, right down to the grubby bandages holding the exhaust together!

This box set is a must have for any Final Fantasy fan, so grab one whilst you still can, whack on some extra hold hair gel and prepare to fight the forces of evil! Or, y’know, just put him on your shelf….

Cheers Rich. I’m starting to see why you love the character so much. This is a fantastic set. I just wish you’d offer us some tips on copying his hairstyle- you’ve mastered it!