Comics Party Comes West — News for 4/23/08

Now that the East Coast party known as New York Comic-Con is done, the nation's ongoing celebration of comics comes back west, where the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books sets aside for the first time a section called The Comix Strip that spotlights the art form. Exhibitors include Image Comics, Boom! Studios and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Three panels are planned: "Comics: Superheroes of the Stage and Screen" is Saturday at 10 a.m., with "Heroes" exec producer Jeph Loeb, "Hellboy" creator Mike Mignola and "30 Days of Night" creator Steve Niles; "Reading Manga: A Japanese Phenomenon Comes to America" will be held Saturday at 3 p.m., with Liza Coppola of Viz Media, Lillian Diaz Przybyl of TOKYOPOP, and manga expert Frederik Schodt; and "Graphic Novels: Every Picture Tells a Story" on Sunday at 3 p.m.  with moderator Deborah Vankin, "The PLAIN Janes" writer Cecil Castellucci, "Love and Rockets" co-creator Jaime Hernandez, and "Peepshow" creator Joe Matt. Check out the official site for The Comix Strip for details on times places and tickets (likely all sold out). ... The following weekend not only features Free Comic Book Day, but on Sunday, May 4, the Los Angeles Comic Book and Science Fiction Convention returns to the Shrine Expo Center with special guest Stan Lee, who's promoting his new book "Election Daze," original "Speed Racer" voice actress Corinne Orr and "Gumby" creator Art Clokey.

COMICS TO FILM: Frank Miller's been talking a lot as he promotes his upcoming solo directing debut on "The Spirit." Miller says he's written "Sin City 2," which he expects to be part of a trilogy, and he wants to direct a film adaptation of "Hard Boiled," which he wrote for Geof Darrow back around 1990. ... The Los Angeles Times' "Scriptland" column also talks to Miller about the explosion in films based on graphic novels, including the following fascinating hook: "In a faddish frenzy, no fewer than 22 film projects born of graphic novels or comics have been announced in the last six weeks." ... New posters have surfaced for "The Spirit" — head here if you missed the teaser trailer — and "Wanted," pictured below.

CHALLENGE VIDEO: Platinum Studios has put together a promo video for its annual Comic Book Challenge competition. Check it out below. Submissions open May 1, with judging set again for Comic-Con Intl. in San Diego.

MORE MARVEL NEWS: Fellow Variety blogger Anne Thompson reports midnight screenings are planned for the release of "Iron Man" next week, even as the studio attempts to tamp down possibly overhyped expectations for the pic. ... Marvel has lured Ira Rubenstein away from Sony Pictures to head up its growing online and digital ambitions. Formerly exec VP of Sony Pictures Digital, Rubenstein will oversee all the company's online sites, including Marvel Digital Comics and MarvelKids.com. ... Eric Rollman has been promoted to president of Marvel Animation. Rollman's previous title with the company was exec VP home entertainment and TV production. ... Marvel's plans for a theme park in the United Arab Emirates has switched developers as the company signs with Tatweer.