Comic-Con 2013

UPDATED: Thu, Jul 04, 03:11PM
For the first time in history two major international conventions meet live online, giving birth to a never-before-attempted event. Two stages, two audiences, two countries, one passion. If you miss it, you won't be able to say, "I was there."

Comic art, beginning in the early 20th century as comic strips before evolving into comic books, has always been a fount of incredible, and incredibly beautiful pure illustration. Comic book historian and member of The Society of Illustrators Arlen Schumer (author/designer of the award-winning coffee table book The Silver Age of Comic Book Art) presents a "VisuaLecture"-his super-graphic approach to staid art history presentations-that provides a historical overview of the twin mediums and how they've intersected.

BOOM! Studios creators Brian Stelfreeze (Wednesday Comics, The Day Men), Paul Jenkins (Wolverine: Origin, Deathmatch), and Eric Esquivel (Freelancers), along with editor-in-chief Matt Gagnon and editor Dafna Pleban, look into the editing secrets of one of the comic book industry's leading independent publishers and discuss editing dos and don'ts.

UPDATED: Thu, Jul 11, 05:36PM
Join Ball State University professor Christina Blanch as she moderates a sincere discussion on the topic of gender in comics with Alexa Dickman (Ladies Making Comics), Grace Randolph (Supurbia), Disney editor Janelle Asselin, BOOM! editors Shannon Watters and Dafna Pleban, and Archaia editor Rebecca Taylor.

Breehn Burns (writer/director of Bravest Warriors) and the cast of Bravest Warriors, Tara Strong (voice of Plum), Alex Walsh (voice of Chris), John Omohundro (voice of Danny), Ian Jones-Quartey (voice of Wallow), Michael-Leon Wooley (voice of Impossibear), along with Bob Boyle (storyboard artist), discuss season 1 and the upcoming season 2, moderated by Eric Homan (producer of Bravest Warriors, VP of development at Frederator). Don't miss sneak previews of new Bravest Warriors episodes and other exclusive news. Seven-year-old Sam Lavagnino (voice of Catbug) will make a special appearance. Natasha Allegri (creator, Bee and Puppycat) will talk about her first original cartoon and will present a sneak peak of Bee and Puppycat part 2, as will other Cartoon Hangover stars Miss Kelly Martin (creator, Dr. Lollipop) and Aliki Grafft (director, Dr. Lollipop).

Earlier this year, Lenore creator Roman Dirge was almost killed in a Sunset Boulevard hit-and-run that left him lying in hospital with a shattered leg. After months of painful physical therapy, Roman is back-better, stronger, but not necessarily faster-and here to discuss his long road to recovery, his return to the drawing board with Lenore issue #8, and his fourth Titan Lenore collection: Purple Nurples (which will be debuting at the show). One-on-one interview followed by Q&A.

Like sportscasters analyzing before a big game, the top comic book podcasters are on hand for their annual lively debate and audience Q&A about the current state of the comic book market. From the big publishers' story and editorial moves to the current creator-owned comics revolution, what does it all mean for today's readers? Featuring Heidi McDonald (PW Comics World Podcast), Pat Loika (Loikamania), John Siuntres (Word Balloon), Ben Blacker (The Nerdist Comic Writers Panel), Brian Christman (Comic Geek Speak), Conor Kilpatrick (iFanboy), John Mayo (Comic Book Page), and Jimmy Aquino (Comic News Insider).

Webcomics offer an instantaneous connection between artists and audiences-usually at a very low cost and without editorial interference. And the numbers of webcomics have grown steadily over the years. How has the proliferation of webcomics served LGBTQ creators and readers? Are webcomics serving the same purpose as the old underground "comix"? How can ambitious creators leverage the LGBTQ webcomics niche without getting pigeonholed in it? Join Prism Comics and moderator Nina Kester (tapastic.com) for a trip to the wild frontier of webcomics with panelists Tara Madison Avery (Dirtheads), Beth Dean (blackforestdraws.com), Kane Lynch (The Relics), Alex Woolfson (Artifice), and others to be announced.

In the last 20 years, lesbian and gay people have made great strides toward better representation in pop culture. The road for people who are bisexual, who have fluid sexuality and gender, or who otherwise fall outside of "gay" and "straight" has been much rockier. (Ironically, they are often met with the strongest mistrust and resistance from gay people.) The new comics anthology Anything That Loves assembles 30 creators to delve into the complex world of nonbinary sexuality and hopes to expose some myths, offer some new insights, and bring together an often-splintered LGBT community in a new way. Moderator Charles "Zan" Christensen and contributors to this anthology discuss the origins of the project, why it's important, and the challenges of being a bisexual storyteller. How can bisexual creators resist pressure from both straight and gay communities to put them in categories that don't truly fit? And how can creators effectively reach out to queer potential readers in a way that doesn't alienate straight ones? Find out the answers to these questions and many more! With Ellen Forney (Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, and Me), Lena H. Chandhok (Pony Tale), Josh Trujillo (The Provider), Kevin Boze (The Virgin Project), Randall Kirby (BOP! Comics), and Tara Madison Avery (Dirtheads).

A discussion of upcoming horror comics from Monsterverse featuring Bela Lugosi and classic undead monsters delivered with a modern twist. Learn of horror media projects from Scratch Lightning Productions. Sam F. Park (Monsterverse West Coast editor and Scratch Lightning executive producer) is joined by Hollywood concept, storyboard and Monsterverse comic artists Benton Jew (G.I. JOE) and Henry Mayo (Ted) and writer Ed Polgardy (From Dusk Til Dawn). Followed by a Q&A session and media presentation.

Last year, Chris Roberson (Edison Rex) and Allison Baker (co-publisher) launched Monkeybrain Comics at Comic-Con International. What has the digital comics imprint been up to in the meantime, and what's in store for the year to come? Join Paul Guinan and Anina Bennett (Heartbreakers), Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover (Bandette), Jen Vaughn (Avery Fatbottom: Renaissance Fair Detective), Joey Esposito and Benjamin Bailey (Captain Ultimate), and Bobby Timony (Detectobot) to find out.