Comic-Con returns to roots as Hollywood strikes

SAN DIEGO - Comic books, video games and colorful "cosplay" outfits took center stage at Comic-Con as the giant pop culture event kicked off without its usual A-list stars due to the Hollywood strike.

Braving the soaring heat, tens of thousands of fans dressed as characters from Wonder Woman to Barbie and Ken flocked to San Diego, California.

While Comic-Con typically draws headlines for glitzy movie announcements and panels featuring stars like Tom Cruise and Dwayne Johnson, fans told AFP they welcomed the chance to focus on costumes and comics -- the event's original focus.

The convention center's huge Hall H, where Hollywood stars and studios typically unveil the latest superhero movies to screaming fans who camp in line for days to get in, was markedly more relaxed than in previous years.

Early presentations included Paramount's new "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem" animated film, India's first-ever Hall H presentation for "Kalki 2898-AD," and an eagerly awaited look at video game "Marvel's Spider-Man 2."

With actors last week joining writers on strike, A-listers are banned from promoting movies and shows.

That has forced Hollywood studios, still eager to reach Comic-Con fans, to get creative.

Paramount brought out "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" director Jeff Rowe -- directors are not part of the strike -- and played a video message from actor Seth Rogen, pre-recorded before the strike.

"Spider-Man" voice actor Yurie Lowenthal told the audience that his branch of the profession is not on strike as it has a different contract, but "stands in solidarity" with those on picket lines.

"Kalki 2898-AD" put on a presentation featuring Indian mega-stars such as Prabhas and Kamal Haasan -- plus Amitabh Bachchan via video -- who are not members of the striking US-based Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA).

The uncertainty over this year's line-up also created logistical headaches for organisers.

Talks between Hollywood actors and studios went right down to the wire last week, giving Comic-Con just a few days to pivot since the strike was called.

Sorting the event's sprawling schedule is "like a Rubik's Cube" every year, said Comic-Con marketing chief David Glanzer, but this installment has required more contingency plans than usual. 

"We're all rolling with the punches," he told AFP. 

"We really wish that a resolution could have been found before this." 

Comic-Con began more than 50 years ago as a tiny event where fans could connect with each other and meet their heroes -- the comic book creators.

But it has ballooned to become North America's largest pop culture gathering, drawing 130,000 annual visitors.