Know a place where you can see previews of the upcoming movies ''Spider-Man'' and ''The Time Machine,'' talk to ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' creator Joss Whedon, and buy your very own light saber? The Comic-Con International, held every year in San Diego, has exploded into a four-day festival of all things pop culture. Here are a few of this year's highlights from the biggest comic-book convention in the country.
SPIDEY'S WEB
The big draw for nearly 2,000 fans was a peek at world-premiere footage from ''Spider-Man,'' presented by director Sam Raimi. The clip -- which Raimi said he hadn't yet shown to distributor Sony Pictures -- introduces the teenage trio Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire), Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst), and Harry Osborne (James Franco) as they take a high school class trip to a genetic research lab. While dweeby Peter bores Harry with his knowledge of spiders, he's actually trying to figure out a way to talk to Mary Jane. But Peter's too slow: Harry turns right around and uses the same arachno-ledge to break the ice with MJ. Some friend!
As the tour moves on to the genetically altered spiders, MJ notices that one of the critters is missing (the tour guide says it is probably being experimented on, elsewhere in the lab). Peter, already the budding photographer, works up the nerve to ask MJ if he can take her picture in front of the spider cage. She obliges, then wanders off right before the errant spider drops from the ceiling and -- we don't think we're giving anything away here -- bites Peter on the hand. Fade to black.
Though Raimi is best known for the kinetic camerawork of films like ''The Evil Dead'' and ''Darkman,'' he says ''Spider-Man'' -- due in May 2002 -- is NOT going to be wildly stylized, like Tim Burton's ''Batman,'' or even like his own earlier movies. He says he doesn't want style to obscure the story. But Raimi devotees will be happy to know that fan favorites Bruce Campbell (''The Evil Dead'') and Ted Raimi (''Xena: Warrior Princess'') will both be making appearances in the film. Of Campbell, the director hinted that ''people enjoy his performance in films in relation to the amount of damage which he sustains.'' Of younger brother Ted he would say only, ''My mother made me give him a part.''
JOSS KIDDING
Though ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' creator Joss Whedon was in San Diego to promote his new comic book, ''Fray,'' most fans wanted to know about upcoming developments on ''Buffy.'' When asked whether the show will change next season on its new network, UPN, Whedon deadpanned, ''It's going to get more wrestle-y.'' He then clarified that he won't change the tone of the show, even though UPN has no ''standards & practices department.'' Though Whedon warned that he'd be giving nothing away, he did let slip that the ''Buffy'' spinoff he'll be producing for the BBC, starring Anthony Stewart Head as Rupert Giles, will be a ''mystery show with classic ghost-story tones.'' The six-episode-per-season spinoff is initially slated for a U.K.-only run.
TO THE BATMOBILE
One of five original Batmobiles -- a modified 1950s Futura -- was on display to promote a 35th Anniversary Special Edition DVD of the 1966 ''Batman: The Movie'' (on sale August 21). The DVD contains a tour of the vehicle, as well as commentary by original Caped Crusaders Adam West and Burt Ward.
ROCK & DROLL
KISS frontman Gene Simmons -- out of makeup, with tongue firmly in cheek -- wandered about the exhibition floor with an entourage of beautiful women. Meanwhile, Kevin Smith, a Comic-Con favorite, spent three hours answering questions and showing outtakes and clips from ''Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'' (Aug. 22). He also talked about directing a documentary for Prince.
'TIME''S UP
The vehicle of the future, and the past, had to be the title conveyance from ''The Time Machine'' (due in theaters Dec. 25). Director Simon Wells (''The Prince of Egypt'') set up shop in front of the retro-high-tech vehicle to talk about adapting his great-grandfather's novel for the big screen (yes, he's kin to THE H.G. Wells). Even director Bryan Singer, currently supervising script development on the followup to his ''X-Men,'' couldn't resist gawking at this impressive device. But the security folks still wouldn't let him sit in it. We bet they'd change their minds in a second if he had Magneto and Sabretooth backing him up.
