It’s good news for fans of superheroes and bad news for fans of Game of Thrones.
Winner: Deadpool
With Marvel Studios forgoing Comic-Con this year, 20th Century Fox swooped in to claim its prime Saturday afternoon slot in Hall H with an almost two-hour mega-panel showcasing several of the studios’ upcoming movies. And Deadpool — the R-rated adaptation of the profane and irreverent Marvel Comics mutant superhero — was, by far, the movie that won the biggest roars in the crowd. So much so, in fact, that they demanded as one to see the trailer again, and moderator Chris Hardwick was happy to oblige. Later, in the X-Men: Apocalypse panel, star Nicholas Hoult was totally distracted, admitting, "I can’t concentrate, because I’m still psyched about the Deadpool trailer." —Adam B. Vary
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Loser: Fantastic Four
By stark comparison, the panel that preceded Deadpool was for the reboot about Marvel Comics’ very first superheroes, Fantastic Four, which has been dogged by bad buzz for months — and the panel did very little to dissuade fans from that impression. Director Josh Trank (Chronicle) talked about the film’s focus on the team’s “tragic” origin, and called it a kind of prequel to when the Fantastic Four actually become the Fantastic Four. When it came time to screen a new trailer for the movie, the crowd’s muted applause was all you needed to know about fan enthusiasm for Fantastic Four. —ABV
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Winner: Joss Whedon
OK, yes, I know saying Joss Whedon is a winner at Comic-Con is a bit like saying the pope is a hit at Christmas, but the reigning lord of San Diego truly walked away from his Dark Horse: An Afternoon with Joss Whedon panel one of the weekend’s biggest winners — literally. The Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator was presented with the Icon Award, previously won by Ray Bradbury, Neil Gaiman, Matt Groening, Stan Lee, George Lucas, and Frank Miller. Additionally, his panel was charming and insightful, resulting in multiple standing ovations. —Jarett Wieselman
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Loser: Benedict Cumberbatch
Because he wasn’t there and we needed him. We always need him. —Keely Flaherty
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