If you can't attend the convention, you can still get a taste of what is happening via Sideshow's WebCams, which will be "broadcasting live" from their booth at the convention. They will also be posting interviews with celebrities and holding live chats in which participants can win some of Sideshow's Comic-Con exclusives.

Here are a few of the items announced recently:

- Lord of the Rings Sauron Helm - 1:4 Scale Replica

- 1:4 Scale Jason from Freddy vs Jason - including the base, this piece is 21 inches tall.

- Two new 12-inch X-Files action figures: Frank Black (shown above) and Special Agent John Doggett. Frank Black, later featured on the series Millennium, is also available in a limited edition (on Sideshow's web site) that includes a Bible for the figure. Agent Doggett also has a Sideshow web-store exclusive limited edition featuring a suit and trenchcoat instead of a tactical gear outfit.

- Three new Planet of the Apes pieces:

• The Lawgiver Statue - 18.5 inches tall, to tower over the 12-inch action figures
• Taylor in Astronaut uniform (from when he lands in the Forbidden Zone)
• Slave Taylor and Nova 2-pack

- Terminator 2: Judgement Day 1:4 Scale Endoskeleton - this version of the T-800 stands 19 inches tall and has light-up eyes.

- Willow from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, in her non-vampire form from the Dopplegangland episode. The first 750 orders through Sideshow's web site will include a backpack accessory for Willow.

- Wai Lin, Michelle Yeoh's "Bond Girl" from Tomorrow Never Dies. The first 500 orders through Sideshow's web site will receive an extra MP-5 accessory.

- Four new versions of the Art S. Buck artist model figures. The new figures are male and female African-Americans and male and female Caucasians. (The original Art S. Buck figures are gray.)

- Three new Brotherhood in Arms Civil War figures:

• President Abraham Lincoln (shown above)
• US Cav. 6th Michigan Cavalry
• CS Cav. 1st Virginia Cavalry

Sideshow Collectibles also announced several new licenses recently, most notably the following:

- 1:4 scale Marvel Collectibles, starting with a 1:4 figure of Logan/Wolverine.

- 1:4 scale Star Wars Collectibles - the Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader figures will be on display at the Comic-Con.

- Aliens Replicas - you've seen the Alien Head Replica which sold out quickly, and the 1:4 scale Alien Queen Bust (made from molds from Stan Winston Studios) was just announced.

- Predator Replicas - a lifesize Predator bust was unveiled recently, made with the guidance of Stan Winston Studios.

- Popbot - the first of several planned collaborations with IDW Publishing. Popbot is a creation of illustrator Ashley Wood.