We will have loads of Comic Con details and news on the next Slice of Sci Fi show (#120) due to air on Saturday, August 4th…but, until then here are a few details that will not be mentioned during the news segment.

One of the most popular panels at Comic-Con was this year’s “Smallville” panel. A lot of the hype surrounded the first public appearance of the new Supergirl, Laura Vandervoot.

The guys from TV Squad were at the panel and related the following tid-bits about the upcoming seventh season.

Footage of Supergirl in action was previewed. Martian Manhunter, played by Phil Morris, will return. As will other Justice League members, though this won’t happen until later in the season. The first quarter of the season will be spent with Bizarro Clark and Supergirl. Green Arrow will back later this season. Dean Cain will play a bad guy in episode four.

Warner Brothers has nixed the idea of having Bruce Wayne on the show. And it’s not looking so good for Wonder Woman to appear either, though the producers are still trying.

“Smallville” kicks off it’s seventh (and possibly final) season in September.

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Ron Moore played his cards close to the vest during this year’s Comic-Con “Battlestar Galactica” panel. The producer for the hit series gave a few general hints out season four but wouldn’t give many specific details on where plotlines and characters arcs might be headed in the final season.

The biggest news of the panel was that actress Lucy Lawless will return for three or four episodes in season four. The last time we saw her character D’Anna, the Cylon was being boxed by the Brother Cavil model of Cylons. No word yet on how or why Lawless’s character will return.

TV Week also reported that the following revelations came out of the panel.

• We may not find out the identity of the final Cylon until the final episodes of the series…or possibly the series finale.
• Starbuck’s return leads to some tension between Starbuck and Adama. No one will be left saying “Gee, I wish there was more Adama/Kara scenes.”
• Baltar’s arc will be shocking and thrilling to fans of the character. Said Tricia Helfer (Number Six): “Baltar’s getting a lot of action this season, and I haven’t been involved.”
• Moore is hoping to bring back lawyer Romo Lampkin from the season-three finale.

Moore found it difficult to talk too much about the plot of “Razor” — November’s special extended episode intended to bridge the gap between seasons three and four — because it jumps around in the show’s chronology so much. He confirmed that in the scenes featuring the first Cylon attack 40 years ago, we would see the original Cylon centurions and raiders from the 1970s TV series.

Moore also clarified the plans for different versions of “Razor.” His original cut had to be shortened for broadcast, so various scenes were removed that helped set up the current chronology for the special. Sci Fi Channel will begin airing these six to eight weeks before the episode’s on-air debut as a way to stoke interest. Moore seemed unsure if they would be aired on Sci Fi as minisodes or online as webisodes. For “Razor’s” DVD release, these will be seamlessly edited back into the episode.

There are no plans to do a series of direct-to-DVD movies after “Battlestar” ends its run. While it can’t be ruled out as ever happening, Moore pointed out, “At some point we’re going to strike the sets, and it’d be very difficult to rebuild the Galactica on a TV movie budget.”

Moore and cast seemed pretty serious when asked about a potential SAG Award nomination for ensemble performance. “I think our cast absolutely deserves a nod,” Moore said. “It’s one of the strongest on TV. From guest stars to the regular cast, they’re amazing. “We’ve been relishing in the ensemble,” said actor Mary McDonnell.

Katee Sackhoff is able to star in roles on “Battlestar” and NBC’s “Bionic Woman” without conflict thanks to “Battlestar’s” atypical production schedule.

“From a production standpoint it works seamlessly,” Eick said. “From Katee’s standpoint, she just has to do a lot of amphetamines.”

SPOILERS

Katee Sackhoff eloquently discussed how differently she’ll play the character of Starbuck, now that she’s seen Earth. Initially the plan was to play Starbuck very serenely, but during shooting it became clear that wouldn’t work. So while Starbuck now does have moments of calm and peace, instead Sackhoff is playing Starbuck with heightened emotions. The most significant change to Starbuck’s character is that she has now found a purpose and role in life, whereas before she was always frustrated by her failure to find any.

“The decision was to end the show at the top of our game,” said Moore. “That choice precludes certain other choices. [Like wrapping up every possible loose end of plot]. We’ll always be able to say we could have done more.”

With the Chief now revealed to be a Cylon, it means there are two Cylon-human baby hybrids, Hera and Nicholas. Moore said Hera is crucial to the ongoing story and her arc will be concluded, but the ramifications of Nikki’s heritage may end up being ignored.

One plot point that may or may not be resolved on camera is, at the end of the miniseries, who left the note for Adama telling him there are 12 Cylons? Don’t despair, though, as Moore said he’s always considered it to be Baltar who left the note. Moore described it in the context of the adjacent scene in which Six and Baltar are walking down a corridor and Baltar is contemplating his guilt about playing a part in the human genocide. He expresses a desire to do something good, hence the note.