Your day at Comic-Con gets off to a friendly and professional start with ComicsPRO, the retailer trade association. Retailers, publishers, and distributors are welcome to kick off their convention day with colleagues, coffee, bagels, and conversation. Bring your business card!
The comics industry can be tough to break into. Get an inside look at how some of DC Entertainment's top talent made their careers crafting the tales of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and others. With Greg Capullo (Batman), Bernard Chang (Green Lantern Corps), Jim Lee (Superman: Unchained), Jimmy Palmiotti (All-Star Western, Batwing), Gail Simone (Batgirl, The Movement), Scott Snyder (American Vampire, Batman, Superman: Unchained), and others.
Friday July 19, 2013 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Room 6DE
Come hear from the authors of some of the best new graphic novels this year – including Beau L’Amour (The Law of the Desert Born), Matt Kindt (Red Handed), Jordan Mechner (Templar), Greg Ruth (The Lost Boy), and Steven T. Seagle (Genius). These five great authors will discuss their process, their books, and why you should read them.
Friday July 19, 2013 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Room 23ABC
Jeff Mariotte (Season of the Wolf) will be interviewed by actress and author Amber Benson (the Calliope Reaper-Jones series) about his 30 years of working at San Diego Comic- Con. During that time, Jeff has sold books at the show for Hunter's Books and Mysterious Galaxy (of which he's a co-owner) and worked as VP of marketing for WildStorm Productions/Image Comics, as senior editor for WildStorm Productions/DC Comics, and as editor-in-chief for IDW Publishing. As a novelist and comic book writer, he has also appeared on programming over the years to discuss his more than 50 books, including 47 novels, and almost 150 comic books and graphic novels. Throughout his various careers, the thread linking everything together has been Comic-Con, and he'll talk about the highs and lows, the famous and the infamous, over his long affiliation with the con.
Legendary comic book creator Christian Gossett appears in conversation with GEEK magazine editor-in-chief David E. Williams, as he discusses his pioneering award-winning comic book series The Red Star, soon to be a major motion picture from Chronicle director Josh Trank for Warner Bros. The duo will be joined by Ana Alexander, Catherine Annette, and Ashley Noel, who appear in an all-new Red Star adventure, Rapidfire, published exclusively in the pages of GEEK magazine. Gossett will also talk about his work on such films as Peter Jackson's King Kong and Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland as well as inventing the famous two-sided light saber for Tales of the Jedi.
Friday July 19, 2013 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Room 32AB
Comic-Con special guest Tony Isabella is the man who brought you Black Lightning, It the Living Colossus, The Shadow War of Hawkman,The Champions, and so many more memorable comics, plus his long-running column in Comic Buyer's Guide. He will be ruthlessly interrogated about them and other milestones of his career by his longtime friend Mark Evanier.
What is the current state of Star Wars comics? Join Dark Horse editor Randy Stradley and Star Wars creators Carlos D'Anda, Corinna Bechko, Gabriel Hardman, Doug Wheatley, Gabe Eltaeb, Tom Taylor, Zack Giallongo, and others for the lowdown on what's up, what's coming up, and why you should be reading!
Friday July 19, 2013 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Room 7AB
This year's panel once again brings together movers and shakers from a variety of entertainment mediums: Wayne Brady (The Wayne Brady Show, Let's Make a Deal, The Chappelle Show), Orlando Jones (Sleepy Hollow, Tainted Love, Black Dynamite), Tatiana El-Khouri (Dark Girls, The Milestones Show), John Jenning (BLACK COMIX, Octavia Butler's Kindred), Tony Rich (The Tony Rich Project, The Hidden Beach), and David Walker (Bad Azz MoFo, Super Justice Force). Moderated by Michael Davis.
Friday July 19, 2013 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
Room 5AB
Kick off your Comic-Con Friday inside the mind of the legend himself on a journey through the inimitable Stan Lee's World of Heroes. Stan Lee and several of his World of Heroes collaborators recap the YouTube channel's exciting first year. Enjoy a special performance by Cosplay Piano star Sonya Belousova, and catch a sneak peek of upcoming programing and announcements. Moderator Ben Gigli (Five Second Films) will guide panelists through discussions of popular shows like Bad Days, How It Should Have Ended Crossover, Cosplay Piano, Superhero and Supervillain Speed Dating, and several new shows. Remember, Q&A with Stan always provides some juicy surprises.
Friday July 19, 2013 10:15am - 11:15am PDT
Room 6BCF
FCBD 2013 is behind us, and the feedback from retailers has been overwhelmingly positive, with record turnouts being reported across the country and beyond. Join in for a review of this banner year, talk about the things that worked, discuss the things that maybe didn't, and pick up (and share) some ideas to make your next FCBD your biggest ever!
Friday July 19, 2013 10:30am - 11:20am PDT
Room 18
The most important Batman tales are not in comic books, TV shows, or Hollywood movies. They are within the people for whom the Dark Knight has become a symbol. Brett Culp will premiere segments from his documentary film Legends of the Knight and speak with Travis Langley (Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight), Vasilis Pozios (Broadcast Thought), Patrick O'Connor (Comicspedia), and Alan Kistler (Comic Book Resources) about how the modern myth of Batman inspires real people in areas of creativity, education, and overcoming adversity.
Friday July 19, 2013 10:30am - 11:30am PDT
Room 26AB
In the tapestry of human experience is the essence of myth. While life's common threads remind us of a shared heritage, our diverse backgrounds color these expressions. Thankfully, emerging technologies offer the chance to share perspectives and experiences. Moderator Sohaib Awan (CEO of Jabal Entertainment and creator of IDW Publishing's Jinrise) will lead a discussion centered on the challenges and potential stories global myths offer comic fans here and overseas. Joining Sohaib will be Chris Ryall (IDW Publishing's editor-in-chief and chief creative officer), Andrew Huerta (artist on IDW Publishing's Jinnrise), Tom Taylor (Creator of Gestalt Comics' The Deep and lead writer on DC Comics' Injustice), Alexis Kirsch (Editor of VIZ Media's Weekly Shonen Jump), Wolfgang Bylsma (Editor-in-Chief of Gestalt Comics) and Greg Broadmore (WETA Workshop Lead Concept Designer). Each attendee will receive a signed copy of IDW Publishing's Jinnrise and other items from our panelists' publishers.
Comic books and popular culture properties are hotter than ever. But actually making money from your creations that end up on screen requires understanding the legalities and pitfalls of contracts and license agreements in general, along with an understanding of the business models used by the companies looking to make you an offer. Attorney Michael Lovitz, author The Trademark and Copyright Book comic book, will tackle a number of the more advanced issues facing authors, artists, and designers, particularly once they've "broken through" and have started publishing and selling. This session is directed to some of the complicated issues surrounding marketing properties and creative ideas, including transfers and licensing of rights; production, merchandising, and distribution agreements; and key things you should know when Hollywood comes knocking. This interactive seminar gives attendees the opportunity to participate in the discussions as Lovitz covers various means for profiting from creative works, and explores the many important elements that form the foundation of every contract (and time permitting, contract negotiation role playing). With in-depth discussions about the options and opportunities for generating income from your creative endeavors, along with identifying some of the many problems and pitfalls that go hand in hand with each decision, you'll agree this session shouldn't be missed. Please note: The Comic Book Law School seminars are designed to provide relevant information and practice tips to practicing attorneys, as well as practical tips to creators and other professionals who may wish to attend. [This program is approved for 1.5 credits of California MCLE.]
Friday July 19, 2013 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 30CDE
It's the toy panel to beat all toy panels! Get the inside scoop on your favorite collectibles from Mattel: Masters of the Universe Classics, DC Comics Signature Series, Watchmen, Ghostbusters, and more. As a special bonus, attendees will have the opportunity to vote on an upcoming MOTUC monthly figure: Huntara vs. Lord Masque-you decide what gets made! And be there for a major announcement as Mattel partners with one of the biggest names in pop culture to bring you exciting new collectibles you will have to see to believe! The panel will also include a Q&A with Mattel toy designers, Mattel marketing manager Scott "Toy Guru" Neitlich, and guest panelists The Four Horsemen.
Friday July 19, 2013 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 25ABC
Cartoonist Ellen Forney presents her New York Times bestselling graphic memoir, Marbles: Depression, Michaelangelo, and Me, a darkly funny chronicle of her struggle with bipolar disorder. Nominated for a 2013 Eisner Award, "Marbles isn't just a great story; it's proof that artists don't have to be tortured to be brilliant. 'A'" -- Entertainment Weekly.
Come to a Q&A with Comic-Con special guest Jose Delbo. The Argentinean-born artist has worked on classics like Billy the Kid, Judge Colt, and The Lone Ranger, as well as illustrated the Beatles' Yellow Submarine. Some of his many other works include Twilight Zone, Brady Bunch, Hogan's Heroes, Monkees, Mod Squad, Superman, Batman, Aquaman, Green Arrow, Transformers, Thundercats, Brute Force, 101 Dalmations, Little Mermaid, Mighty Ducks, Raggedy Ann, Little Lulu, Barbie, and Wonder Woman. Delbo has illustrated cartoons for the past 50 years for comic book fans across the world!
Serial comic books rely on drawing readers back to find out what happens next. Louise Simonson (Superman: The Man of Steel), Gerry Conway (The Amazing Spider-Man), Joe Hughes (Comics Alliance), and Rachel Edidin (Wired.com), with moderator Douglas Wolk, talk about what makes for an irresistible "to be continued" moment.
Friday July 19, 2013 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 28DE
This is where you will get the chance to hear from some of the industry's most acclaimed creators! John Schork (director of publicity) and James Lucas Jones (editor-in-chief) talk with Joe Harris (The X-Files) about his debut graphic novel Wars in Toyland, as well as creators Ted Naifeh (Courtney Crumrin) and Natalie Nourigat (Between Gears). Also, don't miss a special announcement about a shocking new upcoming series from Rick Spears (Black Metal). Free Oni comics! Guaranteed by Oni Press's totally biased employees to be "the most fun you've ever had at a panel."
Friday July 19, 2013 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 32AB
Creator-owned comics have once again grabbed the imagination of the comic- reading community, and publishers are looking for fresh ideas from a new generation of talent. Listen closely as creators Matt Kindt (Justice League of America, Mind MGMT), Charles Soule (Swamp Thing, Strange Attractors), Rob Venditti (Green Lantern, The Surrogates), and moderator Jim Zub (Pathfinder, Skullkickers) discuss pitching their hit comic series to publishers and offer advice on how to climb to the top of the treacherous submission mountain, along with comic writing techniques and amusing anecdotes.
Friday July 19, 2013 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 23ABC
Think you know everything from Crisis on Infinite Earths to Blackest Night to Flashpoint? Test your knowledge of the DC Universe from its inception all the way to The New 52 against DC's finest minds to win some exclusive prizes! With DC Comics's group editors Eddie Berganza and Mike Marts, senior editor Brian Cunningham, and others.
Friday July 19, 2013 11:15am - 12:15pm PDT
Room 6DE
These are heady times in the comics business. Sales are up across the board and enthusiasm for all things comics-related seems to be at an all-time high. How do we work together as an industry to keep pushing ahead? What are the pitfalls to avoid and the paths to take? Join ComicsPRO and Diamond Comic Distributors to discuss just where we're at and how high we can go.
Friday July 19, 2013 11:30am - 12:15am PDT
Room 18
Join cartoonist and Comic-Con special guest Lincoln Peirce for a slideshow and discussion of Big Nate's journey from newspaper comic strip to bestselling children's book series. A lively Q&A session will follow.
Twenty years ago Denys Cowan had an idea to create a company whose goal was to represent people of color in the comics space and beyond. That idea brought together Denys, Dwayne McDuffie, Christopher Priest, Derek Dingle and Michael Davis. Today that idea is not only alive but being celebrated at the biggest pop culture event in the world! Join Comic-Con special guests Denys Cowan, Derek Dingle, Michael Davis, and a surprise guest or two at the 20th anniversary celebration of the company that changed the rules forever, Milestone Media. Moderated by Django Unchained producer Reginald Hudlin.
Friday July 19, 2013 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
Room 5AB
Sheila Malone (University of California, Los Angeles) investigates how Batwoman and Batgirl displace the male hero in order to fight crime and live out narratives that befit a superhero/ine in a contemporary non- hetero world where queer, disabled, and renegade motorcycling are super/powerful. Jaclyn Hymes (California State University Northridge) expands Sedgwick's theories of homosociality by applying them to Maggie and Hopey's fluid sexualities in Jamie Hernandez's "Locas" stories. Using the lens of queer theory, Eric Schlegel explores how Wonder Woman, Superman, and Batman's distinct experiences of identity can help LGBTQ individuals, and then in turn society as a whole, understand our own identities.
Friday July 19, 2013 11:30am - 1:00pm PDT
Room 26AB
An all-star panel of kids comics creators and educators discuss ways to get children excited about reading, encourage creativity, and cultivate a love of literature using great graphic novels and comics. Panelists include Jennifer Holm and Matthew Holm (Babymouse), Kazu Kibuishi (Amulet), Raina Telgemeier (Smile), Dave Roman (AstronautAcademy), Alex Fajardo (Peanuts), Charles Brownstein (CBLDF), and Meryl Jaffe (Johns Hopkins University). Q&A to follow.
Friday July 19, 2013 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Room 30CDE
UPDATED: Fri, Jul 05, 03:09PM Fan Art can be more than a hobby, pastime or training exercise. Learn how fan art can turn you into a contributor to the business world of comics and pop culture in this follow-up to last year’s highly popular Fan Art Law panel. Featuring Joshua Wattles, advisor in chief to deviantART and professor of copyright at USC, Brian Kesinger, renowned animator and author of Walking Your Octopus, Guy Brand and James Kim from Mighty Fine Inc., Bob Self, owner/publisher Baby Tattoo Books, Kay Purcell, also from deviantART and a Fandom expert, and Stanley Lau (artgerm), creative director and co-founder of Imaginary Friends Studios that produces artworks for the likes of Capcom, DC Comics, Square Enix and other giants in the entertainment and gaming industry.
Vera Brosgol (Anya's Ghost), Gris Grimly (Frankenstein), Faith Erin Hicks (Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong), Hope Larson (Who is AC?), and Paul Pope (Battling Boy) - five of the hottest YA graphic novel creators in the industry-discuss their current books, what's involved in creating graphic novels for young adults, and why words and pictures go so well together in books for teens.
Friday July 19, 2013 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Room 25ABC
MTV Comics executive editor Tom Akel conducts a live pitch competition between three of the top creators in the business. Last year's winner David Petersen (Mouse Guard) will be back to defend his crown against two new challengers. Creators are presented with a topic just a few weeks out from the convention and then develop original pitches that you, the fans, vote on to determine the winner!
Friday July 19, 2013 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Room 28DE
Science fiction runs the gamut from splashy space opera to dusty dystopias, and Image Comics has been on the forefront of releasing the newest and most exciting visions of the future in the market. Some of Image's finest futurists to talk about how they develop worlds and technology in comics like East of West, Great Pacific, Rocket Girl, Think Tank, and Aphrodite IX. Moderator David Brothers is joined by panelists Nick Dragotta, Joe Harris, Amy Reeder, Brandon Montclare, and Matt Hawkins.
Friday July 19, 2013 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Room 23ABC
Frank Mastromauro (co-owner), Peter Steigerwald (co-owner), Vince Hernandez (editor-in- chief), Mark Roslan (director of production), J. T. Krul (Jirni), David Wohl (Legend of the Shadow Clan), Mike DeBalfo (Soulfire), Beth Sotelo (Fathom), Jonathan Marks (Shrugged), and other creators will highlight the company's 10-year anniversary in the industry as well as discuss the future of Aspen, in addition to a Q&A with fans. All panel attendees will receive a gift courtesy of Aspen Comics.
UPDATED: Mon, Jul 08, 05:33PM Titan Comics, the bold new publisher offering the best original creator-owned comics alongside new and classic graphic novels, launches this year at SDCC! With all the buzz that's been generated by first-wave titles like Numbercruncher by Si Spurrier (X-Men Legacy), and First Kingdom by legend Jack Katz, 2013 looks to be the year of Titan Comics! Meet the key players behind the new line, go behind the scenes of new titles with creators, see exclusive preview art, and hear exclusive announcements about new originated titles by new and world- renowned talent. Panelists include Jack Katz, John Higgins, Dave Elliott, Steve White (Titan Comics senior editor), and more.
Friday July 19, 2013 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Room 32AB
Universal Pictures presents an all-star panel featuring talent from two of its highly anticipated summer films. In attendance will be stars and filmmakers from the action-comedy Kick-Ass 2. Attending from Riddick will be the action-adventure's star/producer Vin Diesel (Fast & Furious 6), along with actors Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica) and Dave Bautista (The Man with the Iron Fists) and Riddick's writer/director David Twohy (The Fugitive).
Find out what's happening in the Ultimate Comics Universe when editor-in-chief Axel Alonso and writers Joshua Hale Fialkov (Ultimate Comics Ultimates) and Brian Michael Bendis (Ultimate Comics Spider-Man)unveil the future of the Ultimates, the Ultimate X-Men, and everyone's favorite web-slinger Miles Morales! Plus: A startling announcement about the future of the Ultimate Universe!
Friday July 19, 2013 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Room 6DE
Comic-Con special guest Duane Swierczynski writes violent, bloody, pulpy comics (Judge Dredd, X, Bloodshot) and violent, bloody, pulpy novels (Fun & Games, Point & Shoot, Severance Package). But deep down inside, he's a sweetheart. Which is why he's inviting you to hang out with him for a special afternoon of prizes! Surprise guests! A soul-searching Q&A! And a hug. (Okay, maybe not a hug.)
Some of the most exciting Superman comics appeared in the 1980s and 1990s. After John Byrne's reboot of the character in 1986, the Super-books became a weekly ongoing saga of the life of the Man of Tomorrow. Comic-Con special guests Jon Bogdanove (Superman: Man of Steel), Dan Jurgens (Superman), Jerry Ordway (Adventures of Superman), George Pérez (Action Comics), Louise Simonson (Superman: Man of Steel), and Super-editor Mike Carlin talk to moderator Paul Levitz (75 Years of DC Comics) about that Super- era!
Friday July 19, 2013 12:30pm - 1:45pm PDT
Room 5AB
Sean Patrick O'Reilly and Erik Hendrix (creators/writers The Steam Engines of Oz) welcome you to SteamPunk Originals, Arcana Comics's imprint dedicated to the genre. They will be joined by The League of S.T.E.A.M. for a rowdy discussion on SteamPunk and will show off some current and upcoming projects, including The Steam Engines of Oz and SteamPunk Originals Anthology. They'll also discuss Arcana's upcoming Kagagi animated series, the Pixies animated film, and other projects. Special guests and giveaways galore!
Friday July 19, 2013 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Room 25ABC
In 1970 two Manhattan bookstore clerks were arrested and convicted of selling obscene material for Zap #4, featuring work by R. Crumb, Spain and other underground greats. Later in that decade, convention promoter and high school English teacher Phil Seuling was busted for selling a book in the same series, hastening a chain of events that would create the comics specialty market, where the CBLDF has been defending retailers since 1986. Learn the true story of how retailers have been prosecuted for selling comics and how their struggle changed the face of the medium from CBLDF executive director Charles Brownstein in the second part of CBLDF's Comics on Trial.
Friday July 19, 2013 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Room 30CDE
Civil rights leaders have long used the communicative power of the combined image and word to discuss voter registration, nonviolent resistance, and human rights. Inspired by the graphic novel trilogy March, co-written by Congressman John Lewis and Andrew Aydin and illustrated by Nate Powell, Joseph R. Givens (Louisiana State University), Andrew Aydin (March: Book One; Georgetown University), Stanford Carpenter (Institute for Comics Studies), Damian Duffy (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), and John Jennings (University of New York at Buffalo) will discuss the rich history of creative collaboration between civil rights leaders and comic creators.
Friday July 19, 2013 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Room 26AB
From Star Wars's little princess to marbles and depression, from jetpacks and goliaths to dirty dumb eyes, writer/artists Jeffrey Brown (Vader's Little Princess), Ellen Forney (Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, & Me,), Tom Gauld (You're All Just Jealous of My Jetpack), and Lisa Hanawalt (My Dirty Dumb Eyes) have the entire spectrum of humor-gag cartoons, self-deprecation, irony, to name just a few- covered in their graphic novels. Moderated by Andrew Farago (Cartoon Art Museum).
Neal Adams (Batman, X-Men, Green Lantern/Green Arrow) and Holocaust historian Dr. Rafael Medoff launch the new DVD of They Spoke Out: American Voices Against the Holocaust. Session includes screening of one of the episodes. Q&A moderated by veteran comics journalist SusanKarlin.
This lecture will provide clear technical insight into making figures and figurative decisions for the comic artist, storyboard artist, illustrator, or concept artist, offering guides to posing characters and creating believable actions, gestures, and expressions. Ron Lemen will cover several approaches to designing the character or facial expression that will facilitate a strong armature for any style of finish. This lecture is for everyone from the enthusiast to the working professional.
Secrets will be revealed and hints will be dropped, courtesy of the IDW editorial team of John Barber, Bobby Curnow, and Carlos Guzman, plus Hasbro's director for global publishing Michael Kelly. They'll be joined by a powerhouse lineup of fan-favorite creators, including artist Phil Jimenez, ready to answer your questions!
Series stars Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Steven Yeun, Lauren Cohan, Danai Gurira, David Morrissey, Scott Wilson, and Chad Coleman join executive producer and showrunner Scott Gimple, executive producer Robert Kirkman, executive producer Gale Anne Hurd, executive producer Dave Alpert, and special effects makeup supervisor and executive producer Greg Nicotero in a panel moderated by Chris Hardwick (The Nerdist, Talking Dead). The panelists will discuss the record-breaking third season of The Walking Dead and what to look forward to in season 4, debuting this fall on AMC. Join the panelists for a one-on-one Q&A session and an official sneak preview of season 4.
Trinity War rocks the DC Universe to its core in the comic book event of the summer! Get an inside look at the War of the Justice Leagues on a panel featuring the crossover's all-star creators Ray Fawkes (Justice League Dark, Trinity of Sin: Pandora), Geoff Johns (Aquaman, Justice League, Justice League of America), Matt Kindt (Justice League of America), Jeff Lemire (Green Arrow, Justice League Dark), and DC Comics's senior editor Brian Cunningham.
Trust No One...but IDW to bring back The X-Files in a big way. This special panel will feature series creator Chris Carter discussing 20 years of the X-Files, the new Season 10 comic, and more. Along for the ride will be IDW's Chris Ryall and Denton Tipton, X writer Joe Harris, and a surprise guest or two!
Jeph Loeb (Marvel's head of television), Joss Whedon (Marvel's The Avengers), and surprise guests reveal top-secret new information about the first live-action television series from the House of Ideas. No Comic-Con attendee can afford to miss this historic panel!
Friday July 19, 2013 1:45pm - 3:00pm PDT
Ballroom 20
Archie Comics introduced Kevin Keller, the first openly gay character in the Archie universe, in Veronica #202 in fall of 2010. Kevin's first appearance proved so popular that the issue sold out, prompting Archie to issue a reprint for the first time in its history. Kevin's stories as a teenager and as an adult in Life With Archie have made history in other ways by bringing LGBTQ issues and diversity to whole new audiences and winning the prestigious GLAAD Media Award in 2013. Kevin Keller writer/artist Dan Parent, Mike Pellerito (president, Archie Comics), Nina Kester (taptastic.com), Jeff Krell (Jayson Comics), and moderator Ted Abenheim (president, Prism Comics) discuss the creation of Kevin Keller and his impact on comics and fans.
Friday July 19, 2013 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 28DE
Gary Groth, Eric Reynolds, and Mike Catron of Fantagraphics Books are joined by Dark Horse's Diana Schutz and Love and Rockets co-creator Gilbert Hernandez to celebrate the life and career of Kim Thompson, whose legacy as co-publisher of Fantagraphics and bande dessinée's greatest ambassador in America spanned five decades.
Friday July 19, 2013 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 25ABC
Meet Edward Kenway, the surprising new Assassin in the epic franchise as we set sail in the true, gritty Golden Age of Pirates. See a live demo of Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag, and hear about what's in store for the Assassin's Creed world, from the acclaimed comic book series to the next wave of detailed figures from McFarlane Toys. Meet and ask questions of the current torchbearers for the Assassin's Creed franchise: Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag writer Darby McDevitt, comic book writer Brenden Fletcher, and legendary comic book artist Todd McFarlane!
Friday July 19, 2013 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 6BCF
Scott Daniel Boras (Winona State University) examines the sensory experience of reading comics, what it means to be a collector, and other aspects of materiality that might be lost or left behind when comic books go digital. Neil Cohn (University of California, San Diego) summarize what the latest research from cognitive neuroscience tells us about what happens in your brain when you read comics. Kay K. Clopton (Ohio State University) analyzes how speech, sound, and emotive effects feed into the experience of reading American and Japanese women's comics.
Friday July 19, 2013 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 26AB
Did you know that in 2008 the late Shotaro Ishinomori was named by Guinness World Records as the world record holder for the most comics published by one author? It's true! He created 770 individual stories that were collected into 500 volumes of manga, including Kikaider, Kamen Rider, and Cyborg 009. In a celebration of his legacy, Archaia Entertainment and Ishimori Production Inc. have teamed up to produce a groundbreaking new graphic novel that re-imagines Cyborg 009 for a new generation! Moderator Stephen Christy (Archaia's editor-in-chief) talks with writers F. J. DeSanto and Bradley Cramp and artist Marcus To (Red Robin, Adventures of Superman) about the process of bringing this graphic novel to life while also diving into Ishinomori's incredible legacy with manga/anime expert Deb Aoki (manga.about.com). Every attendee will receive a free copy of the Cyborg 009: Chapter 000 preview issue.
Music in my comics? Comics in my music? With classics such as R. Crumb's Heroes of Blues, Jazz & Country and the recent releases of Legends of the Blues by William Stout and the Eisner Award-nominated The Carter Family: Don't Forget This Song by Frank M. Young and David Lasky, the graphic novel is the perfect medium to tell a musical story. Charles Kochman (editorial director of Abrams ComicArts) moderates a conversation with William Stout (author and artist of Legends of the Blues) and David Lasky (artist of The Carter Family) about the history and intersection of music and comics.
Friday July 19, 2013 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 32AB
How does a graphic novel get made? Comic-Con special guest Christopher Shy (I Sleep in Stone) and writer Michael Easton (Vertigo's The Green Woman with Peter Straub) talk about the process behind the creation of such books as Soul Stealer (Ain't It Cool News' "Graphic Novel of the Year"), The North End of the World, their online tie-ins to the hit video games Dead Space and God of War, and much more in this session moderated by Zack Smith (Newsarama, MTV Geek). Includes visual presentation, audience Q&A, and more.
Nationally renowned artist and owner of Watts Atelier of the Arts Jeffrey R. Watts walks you through a drawing demonstration in the Watts Method. Jeff will be talking about how traditional training is an absolute must in today's increasingly competitive art markets. If you ever wanted to study at an atelier, Jeff will be announcing Watts Atelier's Online Program, launching this summer. Now you can train in these amazing techniques and methods from anywhere in the world. With Jeff's over 21 years of teaching experience you will not want to miss this opportunity to watch a captivating demo and get insight into your future training options.
Friday July 19, 2013 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 30CDE
UPDATED: Mon, Jul 08, 05:47PM Check out Nick’s latest mutation as Executive Producers Ciro Nieli (Super Robot Monkey Team Hyper Force Go!) and Peter Hastings (Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness) and Story Editor Brandon Auman (Iron Man: Armored Adventures) discuss the upcoming finale for Season 1 and get an exclusive look at what’s in store for Season 2. Meet members of the incredible Ninja cast: Sean Astin (voice of Raphael), Greg Cipes (voice of Michelangelo), Rob Paulsen (voice of Donatello), Mae Whitman (voice of April O’Neil) and Kevin Michael Richardson (voice of Shredder). Stick around for the “unmasking” of a fan-favorite character. Moderated by Peter Hastings.
"Digital First" comic releases have electrified fans by breaking print publishing conventions and pushing the boundaries of comic storytelling. Now you can join the major players in the "Digital First" movement-comiXology co-founder and CEO David Steinberger, SVP Vertigo & Integrated Publishing for DC, Hank Kanalz, Thrillbent co-founder and Eisner Award-winning creator Mark Waid, MonkeyBrain Comics co- publisher Allison Baker, and IDW director of ePublishing Jeff Webber -- to hear all about the future of the medium! Moderated by Rob Salkowitz, futurist and author of Comic-Con and the Business of Pop Culture.
The Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award is the industry's "Hall of Fame" for progressive retailers. Spirit Award facilitator and award recipient Joe Ferrara (Atlantis Fantasyworld, CA) presents the videos for this year's award finalists, with discussion about each nominated retailer, the store's display techniques, and other unique features every attending retailer can learn from. Hey, retailers! This is a great place for getting new ideas!
The ins and outs of rendering female superhero comic characters using Copic brand markers (also applicable to PrismaColors) are demonstrated by artist Mark Brooks. Mark will provide all attendees with a copy of an inked face and detailed instructions on grayscaling, shadows, and blending. Bring your markers! Also, there will be a Q&A covering any questions regarding art and business of comics. At the end of the session, Mark will raffle off his original inked and Copic-rendered artwork.
Comic-Con special guest Bruce Timm is a legend in the world of animation. Starting with Batman: The Animated Series in 1992, Timm's name on a Warner Bros. Animation project has become synonymous with a faithful- but entirely original-translation of DC Comics characters from the comic page to the TV screen. Timm's award-winning work includes Superman, Justice League, Batman Beyond, and Teen Titans, as well as executive producer of a series of original DC Universe animated movies whose premieres have packed Comic-Con panel rooms over the past six years, since Superman/Doomsday in 2007.
DC Entertainment is proud to have some of the brightest and most talented artists working in comics today. DC Comics artists share their unique approach to the page, with Chris Burnham (Batman, Incorporated), Gary Frank (Batman: Earth One, Justice League), Moritat (All-Star Western), and others.
Friday July 19, 2013 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 30CDE
Throughout comics' storied history, horror has been an important part of the medium. In 2012 Dark Horse released its most ambitious horror publishing slate to date. Now, Dark Horse unveils a whole slate of new titles guaranteed to have you running for the covers! Join Dark Horse horror line editor Scott Allie, along with Eric Powell (The Goon), Tim Seeley (Hack/Slash/Ex Sanguine), Paul Tobin (Colder), Gabriel Hardman and Corinna Bechko (Station to Station), and others, for an exciting look at this year's most promising thrills and chills!
Friday July 19, 2013 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 23ABC
Mattel toy designers Ruben Martinez and Bill Benecke, the Mattel marketing team of Jessica Sikca and Danielle McLachlan, VP Warner Bros. consumer products Julian Montoya, VP creative services DC Entertainment Kevin Kiniry, a member of the Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (WBIE) team, members of the Four Horsemen Toy Design Studios, and other surprise guests celebrate the Batman Classic TV Series and Man of Steel product lines, announce new product lines, reveal upcoming products, and give you a few special sneak peeks from the DC Comics and Batman toy lines. There will be a Q&A, a trivia game and an exciting toy giveaway for everyone who attends!
Friday July 19, 2013 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 25ABC
Carmine Infantino (May 24, 1925-April 4, 2013) was one of the most important men in the history of the comics industry. He helped create more characters than any living person other than Stan Lee, including The Flash, Black Canary, Batgirl, Human Target, Poison Ivy, Animal Man, Kamandi, and many, many more. After decades as a top penciler, Infantino became an innovative art director, editor, publisher, and ultimately, president of DC Comics. Longtime Infantino associate J. David Spurlock, moderates this panel remembering Carmine.
Paige Braddock (creative director, Schulz Creative Associates; creator, Jane's World), Lex Fajardo (managing editor, kaboom Peanuts; creator, Kid Beowulf), Gary Groth (co-founder, Fantagraphics) and Nat Gertler (writer, The Peanuts Collection and kaboom Peanuts; publisher, About Comics) discuss Snoopy: astronaut, beagle scout, novelist, flying ace, and much-misunderstood pet of Charlie Brown ("If I only had a normal dog"). Celebrate this unique character who debuted in papers on October 4, 1950, created by Charles M. Schulz. Snoopy began his career walking on all fours, and over the next 50 years practically stole the show from his fellow Peanuts cast members. Moderated by, Damian Holbrook (senior writer at TV Guide magazine whose Spirit Animal is Snoopy).
Friday July 19, 2013 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 28DE
Writer/artist Phil Jimenez interviews comic colorist and San Diego native Jeromy Cox. The discussion will include an overview starting with Image Comics at the outset of digital coloring 20 years ago, up until his present work on DC Comics Justice League Dark and Detective Comics. Jeromy will also discuss how contemporary technology allows for the production of art and self- publishing, from sketch to final colors. Technique discussion will highlight his own current comic creation Vampyrates.
Putting the "international" in Comic-Con International, panelists Cesare Asaro (creator, Finding Frank and His Friend), Harold Buchholz (senior VP, publishing and operations, Archie Comic Publications, Inc.), Adam B. Finer (chair of industry outreach and professional development, New York Film Academy), Rich Johnston (Bleeding Cool), and Kirstie Shepherd (author, Gadabout Time Machine User's Manual) explore how American pop culture is perceived and consumed outside of the United States. They'll be looking at how U.S. pop culture (from classic comics to film and entertainment properties) find its way to foreign markets, what qualities make an American property successful overseas, and how U.S. pop culture influences -- and is influenced by -- artists abroad.
Here is your chance to Q&A with Marvel's chief creative officer Joe Quesada, for this no-holds-barred exposé on everything Marvel. Got a question about a favorite hero? Want to hear groundbreaking news straight from the source? Need a rundown on breaking developments in Marvel comics, film, and TV? This panel is for you! Plus, don't miss out on the exciting developments in the biggest new series of the year, Guardians of the Galaxy! Featuring panelists editor-in-chief Axel Alonso, talent scout C. B. Cebulski, David Gabriel (SVP, print and digital publishing), writers Rick Remender (Uncanny Avengers) and Brian Michael Bendis (Guardians of the Galaxy), and some other Mighty Marvel guests!
Friday July 19, 2013 3:15pm - 4:15pm PDT
Room 6BCF
Comic-Con special guest Georges Jeanty takes you on an intimate journey through the life of the Scoobys as they continued on seasons 8 and 9 of the cult hit show. Anyone interested in Buffy, this panel is for you! Georges will be discussing his almost 20 years in the comic industry and talking about working with series creator Joss Whedon with stories and a Q&A about how these seasons came together...and maybe a little sing-along!
Friday July 19, 2013 3:30pm - 4:30pm PDT
Room 26AB
Fan favorite and Comic-Con special guest Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise, ECHO, Rachel Rising) talks about 20 years of living and writing with Francine and Katchoo. Terry is also sure to fill you in on the latest from his hit horror series Rachel Rising.Don't miss the opportunity to ask Terry about your favorite characters!
Friday July 19, 2013 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room 23ABC
In print or digital comic books need color, but do you know how comic books are colored? Learn about the creative art of comic book coloring as Hi-Fi's Brian Miller (Batman: The Dark Knight) and Kristy Miller (Spongebob Squarepants) demonstrate the step-by-step transformation of a comic book page from black and white to full color. Learn the basics of flatting, rendering, color holds, and special effects, along with top digital coloring tips. Q&A session follows.
Friday July 19, 2013 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room 30CDE
IDW's annual panel extravaganza is back! Hear what marketing guy Dirk Wood, CCO Chris Ryall, and CEO Ted Adams have coming your way! They'll be joined by writer/comedian Taran Killam (SNL), writer Marc Andreyko, writer/editor David Wohl, and other surprise additions.
Quite a bit has changed since Dark Horse first published Mass Effect in 2010, as the publisher has grown this line of books to include franchises like Last of Us, Dragon Age, Bioshock, The Legend of Zelda, and most recently, HALO and Tomb Raider! From canonical comics to beautiful hardcover art books, Dark Horse has firmly established that there is life for popular gaming franchises far beyond the games themselves. Dark Horse PR director Jeremy Atkins, creators Faith Erin Hicks and Neil Druckmann (The Last of Us), and some surprise guest writers and artists offer a look at what's to come.
The Thrilling Adventure Hour World Domination Tour Created in 2005 by Ben Acker and Ben Blacker,The Thrilling Adventure Hour (TAH) is a popular staged production in the style of old-time radio. It has since also become a much- downloaded podcast with Nerdist Industries, and-premiering here at Comic-Con-a stunning graphic novel anthology! Each show consists of a selection of genre- bending stories, advertisements from fictional sponsors, musical numbers, and more, performed by a core group of actors known as the WorkJuice Players, and featuring cameos by stars from Firefly, Doctor Who, Community, and many more. Last fall, Acker and Blacker launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund a TAH graphic novel, and they set a record at the time for the fastest graphic novel campaign to reach its goal. Now, almost a year later and with award-winning publisher Archaia Entertainment on board to publish the book, the graphic novel is ready to debut! Acker, Blacker, and panelists who may include editor Joe LeFavi; WorkJuice Players Paget Brewster, Mark Gagliardi, Marc Evan Jackson, Joshua Malina, Autumn Reeser, and Paul F. Tompkins; and artists Casey Crowe, Joanna Estep, Lar deSouza, Natalie Nourigat, Chris Moreno, and Jeff Stokely share behind-the-scenes stories about The Thrilling Adventure Hour show, podcast, and graphic novel.
Friday July 19, 2013 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room 32AB
ComicsPRO presents an opportunity for those interested in opening their own comic book specialty store. These veteran retailers know you have questions, and they can give you the answers! Joe Field of Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff (Concord, CA), ComicsPRO president Thomas Gaul (Corner Store Comics, Anaheim, CA), ComicsPRO vice president Carr D'Angelo (Earth-2 Comics, Los Angeles, CA), Jennifer Haines (The Dragon, Toronto, Ontario), and Chris Powell (vice president, retailer services-Diamond Comic Distributors) present a fun and informative peek behind the curtain of the magic of comic book retailing.
Friday July 19, 2013 4:00pm - 5:30pm PDT
Room 28DE
Meet the entire all-star creative team of the highly acclaimed Superman: Unchained, including the editor Eddie Berganza, writer Scott Snyder, pencilers Jim Lee and Dustin Nguyen, inker Scott Williams, and colorist Alex Sinclair. Get an unprecedented look behind the scenes at what's sure to be the most talked about comic book of the year!
Learn what it takes to present a proper pitch to a client or company. In this panel you will learn about presentation, body language, elevator pitches, standing out, interview skills and how to make an opportunity when there isn't one. Back by popular demand, this is the perfect panel for those who are looking to make a name for themselves or trying to get their ideas in front of their company of choice.
New York Times bestselling author and indie comics hero Jeffrey Brown (Clumsy, Incredible Change-Bots, Cat Getting Out of a Bag, Darth Vader and Son) speaks about his wide-ranging career and his three new books this year: the Star Wars parenting comedy Vader's Little Princess (Chronicle), the thrilling adventure Jedi Academy (Scholastic), and the heartfelt autobiography A Matter of Life (Top Shelf). Moderated by Leigh Walton of Top Shelf.
Comic-Con special guest Fred Perry (Gold Digger, Action Time Buddies, Zombie Kid Diaries) discusses his career, including how he got started in comics, key moments in his life and the story of his seminal series Gold Digger, and what it's like to solo-create a comic for over 20 years. Includes a Q&A session moderated by Antarctic Press office manager/editor Douglas Dlin.
Friday July 19, 2013 4:30pm - 5:30pm PDT
Room 26AB
Superstar creator Grant Morrison's (Batman, Action Comics, Dinosaurs Vs. Aliens) only panel at Comic-Con this year will unveil the launch, with Graphic India, of his YouTube animated series 18 Days, based on the epic eastern myth the Mahabharata. See exclusive clips from the series and enter the mind of one of the most groundbreaking creators in the world today in this engaging debate on Eastern versus Western storytelling archetypes. He is joined by series executive producers Sharad Devarajan (co-founder and CEO, Liquid Comics/Graphic India) and author Gotham Chopra (The Sadhu, Seven Spiritual Laws of Superheroes).
If you’re an aspiring comic book creator, this is a panel you don’t want to miss! Join some of comic book publishing’s top decision makers, including BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon, Dark Horse Editor-in-Chief Scott Allie, Avatar Press Vice President of Publishing and Managing Editor Jim Kuhoric, and Archaia Editor-in-Chief Stephen Christy as they give you the most up-to-date and practical advice on how to break into the comic book industry right now.
Friday July 19, 2013 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Room 32AB
If you're a writer or artist attending the Comic Creator Connection, this is your chance to practice giving your pitch before the big event and get some free coaching from a pro. Pitch Reviews will be conducted by Douglas Neff, an experienced presentation coach and professional public speaker who hosts the Comic Creator Connection and From Fan to Creator: Goal-Setting for Creative Types. This is not a panel. Instead, these are 3- to 5-minute individual coaching sessions for as many people as can be accommodated in the scheduled time. Please note that showing up is not a guarantee that you'll get a review session. Spaces are allotted on a first-come, first-served basis.
UPDATED: Mon, Jul 08, 05:33PM Sense a great disturbance in the Force? Don't worry, it's only the cover story of GEEK magazine coming to the stage of the San Diego Comic-Con as panelists convene their own Jedi Council roundtable to discuss their new hopes for the saga and the astounding developments in a galaxy far, far, away. Kyle Newman (director, Fanboys), Steve Melching (writer, The Clone Wars), Christian Gossett (artist, Tales of the Jedi), Jonathan Rinzler (author, The Making of Return of the Jedi), Sam Witwer (actor, Being Human, The Clone Wars) and GEEK founding publisher and Sith Lord Mark A. Altman (writer/producer, Free Enterprise) discuss the return of Han, Luke, and Leia; the prequels; the end of The Clone Wars; and J. J. Abrams's epic challenge as Star Wars strikes back.
Be the first to see a multimedia presentation about Frank Frazetta Jr.'s new book abouthis father and hear stories and anecdotes about this legend. Frank Frazetta, Jr. (author, Frank Frazetta: Art and Remembrances) shows off unpublished art and reminisces with never-before-told stories about his dad. Daniel Herman (publisher, Hermes Press), Steven Morger (Big Wow Art), Brian Peck (author, graphic designer, John Buscema Michelangelo of Comics), and Phil Kim (publisher, Famous Monsters of Filmland) discuss Frank Frazetta and his place in popular culture and fantasy/science fiction art, along with an extended Q&A session.
An in-depth conversation and open floor Q&A with Comic-Con special guest Nick Spencer, focusing on his creator-owned hits Morning Glories and Bedlam, his work for Marvel Comics on Avengers, Secret Avengers, and Superior Foes of Spider-Man, and future projects. Moderated by Josh Wigler.
Comics are a collaborative medium. Do you know how to bring out the best from your collaborators? Join former Marvel and IDW editor/writer and Comics Experience founder Andy Schmidt, artist Klaus Janson (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns), writer Josh Fialkov (The Ultimates, Echoes), and writer Brandon Siefert (Witch Doctor) as they discuss collaborative best practices, tips for writers and artists, and strategies for handling editor feedback. Become the kind of creator everyone wants to work with!
Friday July 19, 2013 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Room 30CDE
The creator of one of comics' great newspaper strips, Walt Kelly, would have been 100 years old on August 25th of this year. His magnum opus, Pogo, is now receiving its first ever complete reprinting in an Eisner Award-nominated series from Fantagraphics Books. So it's a good time to remember him with Kelly fans Jeff Smith (Bone), Paul Dini (Batman), comic historian R. C. Harvey, Maggie Thompson (ComicBuyer'sGuide), Carolyn Kelly (co-editor of the Complete Pogo series and Walt's daughter), and moderator Mark Evanier (GrootheWanderer).
Join ShiftyLook editor-in-chief and Bravoman producer-director Rob Pereyda as he shows what's next for everyone's favorite stretchy hero. Meet the cast: Bravoman and Alpha Man's Rob Paulsen (Animaniacs), Doctor Bomb and Anti-Bravo's Dee Bradley Baker (American Dad), and Waya Hime's Romi Dames (Winx Club), with a special appearance by Jennifer Hale (Mass Effect). Hear from the Bravoman creative team of writer Matt Moylan and character designer-artist Dax Gordine too! Bravo-tastic fun for all!
Friday July 19, 2013 5:30pm - 6:30pm PDT
Room 28DE
Learn what's coming next with the New 52 from Tony Daniel (Action Comics), Kyle Higgins (Nightwing), Geoff Johns (Aquaman, Justice League, Justice League of America), J.H. Williams III (Batwoman), Jeff Lemire (Animal Man, Green Arrow, Justice League Dark), Jimmy Palmiotti (All-Star Western, Batwing), Gail Simone (Batgirl, The Movement), Charles Soule (Red Lanterns), James Tynion IV(Red Hood and the Outlaws, Talon), Robert Venditti (Green Lantern, Green Lantern Corps), and others.
The artists and editors of UDON Entertainment discuss their latest titles and reveal upcoming projects in this announcement-packed panel. Topics will include debut titles like World of Warcraft Tribute and Street Fighter Origins: Akuma, plus revelations of new books from some of the hottest names in video games, manga, and animation.
Friday July 19, 2013 5:30pm - 6:30pm PDT
Room 26AB
Are you an aspiring artist trying to make a career in the arts? Learn the "Tricks of the Trade" from professional artists working in the entertainment industry. Discussions will include advice on how to get started and maintain a career, as well as tips in the art of self-promotion. Panelists include Randy Martinez (illustrator, Lucasfilm, Marvel, Topps Trading Cards), Vince Hernandez (editor, writer, art director at Aspen Comics), Alexis Cruz (actor, director, producer), Ashley Eckstein (actress, entrepreneur), Bonnie Burton (author, host of Geek DIY, crafter), J. C. Riefenberg (filmmaker), Jennifer Landa (actress, vlogger, crafter), Tone Rodriguez (artist, art director), Elisa Teague (editor-in-chief at Cupcake Quarterly, creative director for Gamesmith), and Michelle Smart (artist management and art publishing, Marvel Fine Art). Moderated by Denise Vasquez (actress, artist, designer, writer, musician, manager, promotions specialist, founder of WO+MEN 4 A CAUSE).
When digital comics first came on the scene everyone said it would be the end of print comics. Now not only are digital comic sales booming, but print sales are at highs not seen in a generation. So, are digital comics really a threat to print? Is digital the hero comics needs? Or can print and digital coexist? J. K. Parkin from Comic Book Resources and the Eisner Award- nominated blog Robot 6 moderates this panel with some of the comic industry's leading figures in print and digital, including comiXology co-founder John D. Roberts, Thrillbent co-founder and Eisner Award-winning creator Mark Waid, director of digital publishing at Top Shelf Chris Ross, IDW Director of ePublishing Jeff Webber, and legendary retailer and creator of Free Comic Book Day Joe Field from Flying Color Comics.
Max Allan Collins (Mike Hammer), co-founder of the IAMTW, will announce the winners of this year's Scribe Awards for excellence in tie-in writing, including honoring this year's Grandmaster Award "Faust" winner, Ann C. Crispin (Pirates of the Caribbean). Join panelists Kevin J. Anderson (Dune), Nathan Collins (Metal Gear), Peter David (After Earth), Glenn Hauman (Star Trek), Jeff Mariotte (Terminator), and Rebecca Moesta (Star Wars) for a freewheeling look at one of the most popular and yet underappreciated branches of the writing trade. Followed by a Q&A session.
Friday July 19, 2013 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Room 23ABC
Learn how a good business plan can lead to great creative results and how great creative can inform an even greater business plan. The minds behind Brand + Entertainment Solutions believe that the two go hand in hand—or more to the point—SHOULD go hand-in-hand, but often do not. Developing keys to successful business and creative execution are the focus of this panel. Featuring B+E Solutions’ Andy Schmidt (CEO, B+E Solutions), Jon Bresman (Star Wars/Mad Magazine veteran), Steve Drucker (VP of IP Development, Hasbro), Josh Fialkov (award-nominated screenwriter, graphic novelist, and video game writer), and Marc Guggenheim (Executive Producer, Arrow).
Friday July 19, 2013 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Room 30CDE
Word Balloon host John Suintres moderates a conversation with some of the brightest minds in independent comic publishing, including Image Comics's director of business development Ron Richards, Dark Horse's director of publicity Jeremy Atkins, BOOM! Studios's VP of publishing and marketing Filip Sablik, and IDW's VP of marketing Dirk Wood, discussing what they are doing to expand the marketplace.
Friday July 19, 2013 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Room 32AB
Joss Whedon has rewarded fans the world over with some of the most compelling characters and plotlines in the history of comics, television, and movies. Here's your chance to find out what he has in store next, and get exclusive insight into Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Serenity, and much more!
Friday July 19, 2013 6:15pm - 7:15pm PDT
Ballroom 20
Sean Patrick O'Reilly, CEO and founder of Arcana, and Vlad Yudin of The Vladar Company, offer a panel dedicated to the publishers' diverse books, and some amazing plans for the future. We will discuss properties such as Vladar's HeadSmash, the most anticipated graphic novel of 2013, which debuts at SDCC this year and features a cover from the legendary Tim Bradstreet and an exclusive variant edition from Kanye West's art director, Joe Perez. Roddenberry Entertainment's Worth and Days Missing: Enox, Bill Paxton's 7 Holes for Air, and Gene Simmons's Simmons Comics Anthology are some of the amazing titles being produced in conjunction with Benderspink. In addition to Sean and Vlad, other surprise guests will be attending. Meet creators, learn about properties, and get free Tim Bradstreet posters and free Arcana comics -- what else would you want?
Friday July 19, 2013 6:30pm - 7:30pm PDT
Room 26AB
Kurt Hassler (publishing director), JuYoun Lee (senior editor), and Tania Biswas (assistant editor) return to Comic-Con for their annual sneak peek at forthcoming projects, fan Q&A, and of course some sweet giveaways to spread the love!
Friday July 19, 2013 6:30pm - 7:30pm PDT
Room 28DE
Wendy and Richard Pini (ElfQuest, Masque of the Red Death), Paula Rhodes and Stephanie Thorpe (ElfQuest-A Fan Imagining), and Rob Beschizza (managing editor at Boing Boing) celebrate three and a half decades of "the first American manga" and longest-running fantasy graphic novel series. Even if you've followed ElfQuest from the beginning, prepare to be surprised by what's planned as the story builds to its most ambitious chapter yet, Final Quest. Plus, meet ElfQuest's newest partners in the worlds of publishing, licensing, and even academia in a visual presentation followed by Q&A.
What science fiction stories from the past year made you think, as well as entertaining you? Panelists talk about the year's smartest books, comics, movies, and TV with io9 staffers Annalee Newitz, Charlie Jane Anders, Meredith Woerner, and Lauren Davis, joined by Javier Grillo-Marxuach (Middleman), Marc Bernardin (Alphas), Austin Grossman (YOU), Phil Plait (Bad Astronomy), and Jose Molina (Vampire Diaries, Sleepy Hollow).
Outspoken actresses, models, writers, and entrepreneurs share their own journey with body image, discrimination, and the road to self-love. Panelists Miracle Laurie (Dollhouse), Adrianne Curry (America's Next Top Model), Helenna Santos-Levy (founder, Ms. In The Biz), Dani Lennon (Bite Me), Elisa Teague (editor-in-chief, Cupcake Quarterly), Gloria Shuri Nava (The Beauty Adjustment), and moderator Leah Cevoli (Robot Chicken) discuss such hot topics as the sexualization of women in film and TV, beauty myths and mainstream media's perpetuation of them, eating disorders, and an acceptance for women of all shapes and sizes in the entertainment Industry, while inspiring others to get out there and live their best life.
Friday July 19, 2013 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Room 32AB
UPDATED: Tue, Jul 16, 03:52PM Gerry Conway (The Punisher), Michael Kantor (filmmaker), Laurence Maslon(screenwriter) and Mark Waid (The Flash) explore the role superheroes have played in American culture over the last 70 years, leaping from the pages of comic books to become part of our national identity. Moderated by Damian Holbrook (TV Guide). The film premieres on PBS October 8 & 15.
Friday July 19, 2013 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Room 23ABC
Just as Jack Kirby, Moebius, and Robert Crumb influenced Western comics, many great Japanese manga artists have influenced many who have followed them. Yes, there's Osamu Tezuka, but there are many more worth discovering, such as Shigeru Mizuki, Shotaro Ishinomori, Go Nagai, Gengoroh Tagame, Taiyo Matsumoto, Moto Hagio, Takehiko Inoue, and much more. Christopher Butcher (director, Toronto Comic Arts Festival and manager, The Beguiling), F. J. DeSanto (Cyborg 009 from Archaia Entertainment), Giorgio Tsoukalos (Ancient Aliens), Graham Kolbeins (editor, The Passion of Gengoroh Tagame from Picturebox), Deb Aoki (MangaComicsManga.com), and possibly a surprise guest or two introduce you to some manga legends you may not know, including many that have recently released or soon-to-be-released works in English, and some that are long overdue to be recognized by Western comics fans.
Friday July 19, 2013 7:30pm - 8:30pm PDT
Room 28DE
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, DC Entertainment, and Warner Bros. Animation invite you to be the first to experience Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, the highly anticipated next entry in the ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies. When time travel allows a past wrong to be righted for Flash and his family, the event's temporal ripples prove disastrous, creating a fractured alternate reality where the Justice League never formed, and even Superman is nowhere to be found. Amidst a new world being ravaged by a fierce war between Wonder Woman's Amazons and Aquaman's Atlanteans, Flash must team with a grittier, more violent Batman and government agent Cyborg to restore the continuity of Flash's original timeline. Come for the film, but stay for the star-studded panel that features Grey's Anatomy stars Justin Chambers and Kevin McKidd as Flash and Batman, respectively, along with C. Thomas Howell (Southland), Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride), Sam Daly (The Daly Show), and a few surprise voice cast members, plus the filmmaking team of producer James Tucker (Superman: Unbound), director Jay Oliva (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns), dialogue director Andrea Romano (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns), screenwriter Jim Krieg (Green Lantern: The Animated Series), and character designer Phil Bourassa (Young Justice). Moderator Gary Miereanu will add to the fun with a special announcement of the 2014 DCU movie slate, as well as exclusive, cast-autographed prizes for a few lucky fans. Based on the landmark mini-series by Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert, Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox will be available as a digital download on July 19 and a Blu-ray Combo Pack on July 30.
Friday July 19, 2013 7:30pm - 9:30pm PDT
Ballroom 20
Join brothers Ethan Nicolle and Malachai Nicolle, the 32-year-old and 9-year-old creators of the Dark Horse comic series Axe Cop, with surprise guests to celebrate the premiere of the new Axe Cop TV series as part of Animation Domination Hi-Def, beginning Saturday, July 27 on FOX. Panel events will include a live Ask Axe Cop Q&A, a series of staged battles between cosplayers choreographed by Malachai, and a screening of the premiere episode of Axe Cop.
A team of Korea's prolific artists and animation studios represented by Jongmin Shin (Padak, Breakups, Demian) showcases the latest and greatest trends in Korean comics and animation. They will also showcase their recent and upcoming productions on some of today's hottest comics. Join Jongmin and crew for this Q&A session moderated by Austin Osueke (Publisher of eigoMANGA).
Friday July 19, 2013 8:00pm - 9:00pm PDT
Room 32AB
Futuristic insight into the next 100 years of comic cons, publishing, media, art galleries, and museums-what will history record and our legacies produce? Panelists include Steve Geppi (CEO, Diamond Comics Distributors), David Brin (SF author, scientist), David Gerrold (SF author/screenwriter, Star Trek), Missy Geppi (president, Geppi Entertainment Museum), Phil Yeh (mural artist, creator of Cartoonists across America), Ron Turner (publisher/founder of Last Gasp), David G. Brown (cartoonist/writer, 2009 winner of the NAACP Image Award), Mike Towry (SDCC co-founder, founder of San Diego Comic Fest), and William R. Lund (SDCC co-founder, actor/writer). Moderated by Greg Koudoulian (early SDCC film program contributor, producer of first minicons on West Coast).
The 25th annual Eisner Awards (the "Oscars" of the comics industry) honor comics creators and works in 30 categories. Presenters will include British talk show host/comics writer Jonathan Ross, bestselling author Neil Gaiman (The Sandman, Ocean at the End of the Lane, Neverwhere), actor John Barrowman (Doctor Who, Torchwood, Arrow), TV host Chris Hardwick (The Talking Dead, The Nerdist), nominee artist Becky Cloonan (Conan the Barbarian), Hall of Fame cartoonist Sergio Aragonés (Groo,MAD), writer/artist Bill Morrison (Bongo Comics), and voice actors Maurice LaMarche (Pinky and the Brain, Futurama), Lauren Tom (Futurama, King of the Hil), and David Herman (Office Space, Futurama), plus some special surprises! Other prestigious awards to be given out include the Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award, the Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award, the Bill Finger Award for Excellence in Comics Writing, and the Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award.
Once is really never enough, so stick around for a late-night encore screening of Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, the highly anticipated next entry in the ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies.
Friday July 19, 2013 9:30pm - 11:30pm PDT
Ballroom 20