Over the course of four days (July 23–27) more than 125,000 fans attended an endless succession of panels, events and celebrity appearances. Comic-Con has always attracted a diverse group of fans, but in recent years its ability to serve as a platform to launch major film and TV projects—this year it's the film adaptation of Alan Moore's acclaimed superhero graphic novel Watchmen—as well as videogames, toys, prose works and book-format comics, has made it a giant index to the Next Big Thing in popular culture, receiving media coverage around the world.

"It's been really important to us, and our presence there gets bigger every year," said Del Rey deputy publisher Scott Shannon. "For manga, we need to be there for outreach and feedback from the fans." This year Del Rey brought superstar manga-ka Hiro Mashima, the creator of the popular Fairy Tail manga series, from Japan.

Alan's War: The Memories of G.I. Alan Cope

Guibert writes and draws for American G.I. Alan Cope in this poignant and frank graphic memoir of young soldier who was told to serve his country in WWII and how it changed him forever. When he first enters Fort Knox at 18, he is young and impressionable, more of a dreamer than "the military type." Slowly, Cope grows through his experiences in the war. He forges candid friendships with his fellow soldiers and remains ever insightful in his recollections of the war and his life afterward. Together, Cope and Guibert forge a story that resonates with humanity. Guibert's illustrations capture the time period vividly. While the subject matter is familiar from many wartime memoirs, Guibert's fluid, simple but assured linework captures the personalities of Cope and his friends, elevating the material to a far more affecting level. (Oct.)

Hiro Mashima first burst onto the scene in Japan with the popular comedy/supernatural series, Rave, in 1999. His mix of fantasy, over-the-top slapstick, and down to earth irreverence led him to create Fairy Tail next, a comedy/fantasy adventure series licensed by Del Rey Manga in the U.S. The series immediately made PW's comics bestseller list after the Del Rey editorial team decided to get fans attention by releasing volumes one and two simultaneously—and to invite Mashima to the San Diego Comic-Con International for his first visit.

• S.S. Astro: Asasho Sogo Teachers Room Vol. 1 (Yen Press)
• Countdown Arena (DC)
• Spider-Man J: Japanese Knights (Marvel)
• Stinky (Raw Junior)
• Hell Girl Vol. 3 (Del Ray Manga)
• Croquis Pop Vol. 1 (Yen Press)
• Aspirin Vol. 1 (Tokyopop)
• Rosario and Vampire Vol. 2 (Viz Media)
• Grendel: God and the Devil (Dark Horse)
• Dark Metro (Tokyopop)

• Lolita Fashion at NYAF
  
• Online Symposium on Reading Comics
  
• Third Volume of Plain Janes
  
• Obama and McCain Bios from IDW
  
• Fantagraphics August Events
  
• David B. from NBM
  
• Typhon Signing at Jim Hanley's
  
• Sam Henderson at Desert Island