Attention all sci-fi geeks and music freaks!

The LA Times geekblog, Hero Complex, broke the news early Wednesday morning that Nine Inch Nails front man Trent Reznor is in talks with HBO to produce a two-season maxi-series based on the band’s concept album, Year Zero.

Reznor told Hero Complex during a backstage interview this week that, “It’s the most exciting thing on the horizon, it’s the thing that when I wake up in the morning it makes me say, ‘God it would be cool if that happened.”

But will it happen?

Attending my first ever San Diego Comic-Con, one of the activities on my long (and, sadly, mostly checkless) list of Things To Do check list was attending a few panels (which, like going to Pismo Beach for the clams, are the reason one goes to Comic-Con). Since my only full day at the Con was Saturday, I decided this would have to be my panel day, and, not even considering weathering the soul-killing lines of the popular movie panels, I decided that the two most interesting programs on the schedule for me were Grant Morrison & Gerard Way: Born Under a Black Sun, and the Spotlight on J. Michael Straczynski.

As luck would have it, both panels would be held in Hall 6B, which meant I only had to brave one line (and an hour-long Xbox panel in between, which turned out to not be so bad).

DISCLAIMER: I hate spoilers and the people who spout them. I most especially hate the people who spout them without acknowledging that there are other people in the world who might not want to have every detail of a movie revealed to them before they even buy their ticket. So, for anyone who has not been following the advertising campaign for the Batman Begins sequel, The Dark Knight… For anyone who may be visiting Geeks of Doom for the first time and maybe hasn’t seen all the headlines…

And for anyone who may still be in denial, unwilling to acknowledge the great big character spoiler that everyone else seems so eager to shout out at the top of their lungs… I advise you to read no further.

Don’t let the bastards ruin it for you, too.

(also, if you haven’t seen either of the X-Men sequels, you may want to avoid the first paragraph)

Hulk (2003)
Directed by Ang Lee
Starring Eric Bana, Jennifer Connelly, Sam Elliott, Josh Lucas, Nick Nolte
PG-13
Universal Pictures Distribution
Release date: October 28, 2003

Imagine a high concept science fiction story. Imagine heavy psychological drama. Imagine an intensely personal exploration of identity, family, and destiny. Imagine all of these elements wrapped up in an extremely bare-bones, classical-style film. And finally”¦ perhaps most importantly“¦ imagine that that film is not based on a comic book.

When Ang Lee signed on to direct the feature film adaptation of one of Marvel Comics’ most beloved characters in 2003, it was only because he saw something special in the material. Something deeper. Something buried beneath years and years of comic mythology and fan expectations. He saw to the heart of the Hulk.

Now, five years later, Hulk is still the most heavily debated comic book film among fans of comics and film alike. The lovers hail it for its cerebral depth and emotional complexity. The haters boo it for its meandering narrative and questionable performances and effects.

Alric the Wild
…The Wrath of Sticky Beard!
NY Comic Con Exclusive
Written by Miguel Guerra, Suzy Dias
Art by Miguel Guerra
Iberian Press
Cover price: N/A; Available now

Keeping every single promise the front cover makes — and then some — this Comic Con Exclusive issue is probably the best of the little clutch of titles entrusted to me by Our Lords And Masters, The Geeks of Doom. This all-ages adventure stars a perpetually clueless wild-child by the name of Alric, who has set out to become the world’s greatest hero (and is destined to eventually wear the crown of Eireann upon a troubled etc., etc”¦). He’s one part Hercules, one part George of the Jungle, one part Conan, and I’m even willing to bet there’s some Elric the Albino emulation going on in the name, but that’s all so far. What’s fun about the book is that every single one of those comparisons is entirely intentional. — OH! And also throw in a dash of Princess Mononoke“¦ he was raised by a two-headed god-wolf.