This week, we see the triumphant comeback of one of our favorite stars, a look at the cigar industry’s biggest trade show, plus news and events for cigar lovers.

Arnold Schwarzenegger Returns as Cigar-Smoking Action Hero

Major movie star and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger turns 65 this month, so it would be totally understandable if he decided to retire and get some relaxation. Instead, the action hero is hitting the big screen with a bang!

The cigar-loving superstar was one of the most popular draws at last weekend’s Comic-Con in San Diego, appearing to promote his new film “The Expendables 2” with co-star Sylvester Stallone.





In the trailer for the film, which will hit theaters August 17, Schwarzenegger’s character Trench smokes a big, fat cigar while tearing the door off a Smart Car and plowing down bad guys with a machine gun. Not bad for a guy who “retired” from acting to run for Governor in 2003.

Schwarzenegger seemed to relish the response from the crowd, commenting “You wish you could do some of those things when you’re in politics, but you can’t.”

In a 1996 interview, Schwarzenegger recalled being introduced to cigars in 1977 by Sargent Shriver, the father of his estranged wife Maria. He revealed some of his favorite smokes, “Cohiba, Punch Punch. Punch Punch is actually my favorite size. It’s a good size for an after-dinner smoke or during the day. I used to love Davidoff, and there are still sometimes good ones around. Sometimes you get good Romeo y Julietas. And Hoyo de Monterrey is a great cigar. Milton Berle came over to my house one time—I think it was when I had my 40th birthday—and he brought over a box [of Hoyo de Monterrey Double Coronas] and gave me one. It was a spectacular smoke.”

“The Expendables 2” isn’t the only film appearance on Schwarzenegger’s schedule. He’s also signed to appear in “The Last Stand,” a film about border violence coming out in January, and “The Tomb,” due in fall of 2013.