Comic-Con becomes a TV proving ground

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES

Nine years ago, the inaugural episode of “Lost” captured Comic-Con attendees’ imaginations when it first premiered at the fan-driven extravaganza, and the surreal series about plane crash survivors went on to become a cultural phenomenon. This year, more than 10 new shows are angling to land similar success when they touch down in San Diego this week.

Such new live-action series as “The Avengers” spin-off “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” android buddy cop drama “Almost Human” and supernatural saga “Sleepy Hollow,” which stars British actor Tom Mison as Ichabod Crane, will be hyped with Comic-Con presentations. The mission? Attract cult followings akin to “The Walking Dead” and “Game of Thrones.”

Starz’s “Black Sails” isn’t scheduled to dock until next year, but the network is screening the first episode of the mature pirate drama for fans — make that potential fans — near the San Diego Convention Center. “Black Sails” creators Robert Levine and Jon Steinberg, who previously worked on “Jericho” and “Human Target,” think Comic-Con is the best way to build buzz. “Everybody’s attention is focused on Comic-Con, in terms of what they should be excited about over the horizon, not just genre stuff but everything,” said Steinberg. “There’s something exciting about bringing pirates there.”