PRESS RELEASE (if I was at Comic Con, I would be camping out here).

Alas, due to impending jury duty, I was unable to attend this year's Comic Con. But I'm printing this press release for two reasons. A) I think my readers would be interested and B) if anyone reading this does get to attend these events, I'd love a rundown of anything interesting that was discussed. Anyway... once again, the proceeding is 100% press release:

Batman Movie Reaches 20^th Anniversary Milestone at Comic Con in San Diego

Legendary Producer To Talk Batman, The Joker, Archie, Pop Culture and Comic Books in the Movies

He helped make Batman an international movie star, spawned a generation of serious comic book movies and now he is marrying Archie off to Veronica. Michael E. Uslan, the executive producer of the Batman movie franchise – including the record breaking blockbuster The Dark Knight – is coming to Comic Con International July 23-28, 2009 to talk about his 30-plus years in the entertainment industry, as well as a slate of new projects in comics and film.

This summer movie season marks the 20^th anniversary of the movie that spawned a modern explosion of comic book films. In 1989, Batman, starring Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson, was released, breaking nearly every box office record of the day. It made believers out of studio heads who began to see that you could make a movie about comic book characters without it being campy.

With Oscars and Emmys awarded to multiple projects, Uslan is the godfather of the modern comic book movie, and is currently being entrusted with icons like Archie, who he is marrying off to Veronica in September as writer of the comic books. As a speaker, his commencement speech to Indiana University (his alma mater) was named by USA Today as one of the top 10 commencement speeches of all time. Moreover, he has a slate of new projects that include live action movies such as Shazam! and The Shadow. His slate includes a multitude of writing and producing jobs, as well as a new film development firm called The Uslan Company, where Uslan will act as a “producer for hire” to help usher along other producers’ and companies’ projects.

Below is a list of the panels Uslan will be attending at Comic Con this year:

• 11:30-12:30 Archie Comics: Archie Marries Veronica. It's the wedding of the century, but that is just the start, with plenty of surprise announcements about the future of Archie Comics, including the latest news about Archie on television and in feature films! Panelists include legendary The Dark Knight movie producer and Archie writer Michael Uslan, new Archie Comics CEO Jon Goldwater, iVerse CEO Michael Murphy, IDW Publishing COO Greg Goldstein, Archie Comics president/director of circulation Fred Mausser, and Archie Comics vice president/managing editor Mike Pellerito. The panel is moderated by Archie's public relations coordinator Rik Offenberger and features a Q&A session. An "Archie Marries Veronica" poster will be given to everyone attending the panel. Room 4

• 6:00-7:00 Comics to Film with Michael Ulsan. Godfather of the modern comic book film Michael Uslan (Batman, Constantine, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight) celebrates the 20th anniversary of his landmark movie Batman (1989) by recounting what it took to make it happen and how the industry has changed since then, advising newcomers how to make their comic book movie dreams come true. Q&A and surprise announcements will cap off the hour. Moderated by Tony Panaccio. Room 7AB

• 10:30-12:00 Comics Arts Conference Session #9: Is the Joker a Psychopath: You Decide! Psychology professors Robin Rosenberg (The Psychology of Superheroes) and Travis Langley (Henderson State University) discuss the technical definition of a psychopath and review the criteria for antisocial personality disorder does the Joker fit the clinical definition? Is he more than just crazy? They are joined by Joker experts Jerry Robinson (The Superhero: The Golden Age of Comic Books, 1938-1950), famed "Joker-fish" scribe Steve Englehart (The Point Man), and film producer Michael Uslan (The Dark Knight). Room 30AB

I expect a full report from anyone attending the 'Is the Joker a psychopath?' round table. Thanks.

Scott Mendelson