Comic-Con: The Full Schedule for Friday, July 13

9:30-10:20 ComicsPRO “Fresh Start”— 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! Room 19

 

10:00-11:00 Comic-Con How-To: How to Create a More Realistic Fictitious World— Have you ever wondered how sci-fi and fantasy authors create vibrant, detailed worlds that suck their readers in and wrap them in a blanket so real, you question why our own world is not more like theirs? Award-winning author Maxwell Alexander Drake as he lets you in on some of the secrets he uses to create worlds. Drake teaches creative writing around the country as well as for the library district in Las Vegas, NV. Room 2

 

10:00-11:00 DC: Talent Search Orientation Session 2— DCE’s VP for art direction and design Mark Chiarello presents an informative orientation session to explain how DCE’s Talent Search works and discuss the different needs of the DC Comics, Vertigo, and MAD magazine brands. If you want to learn what DCE looks for in artists and how to improve your chances of becoming a working professional, this is the program for you! To have your work reviewed, attendance at this orientation session is mandatory. (Please note: Not all attendees are guaranteed a one-on-one review.) Room 4 

 

10:00-11:30 The Black Panel— Michael Davis (The Littlest Bitch) returns to moderate the wildest panel at Comic-Con, the Black Panel! Expect industry insight and outrageousness when Shaquille O’Neal (NBA On TNT, Shaq Entertainment), Jamie Kennedy (The Jamie Kennedy Experiment), Missy Geppi (president, Geppi’s Entertainment Museum), Reginald Hudlin (Django Unchained), E. Van Lowe (Earth Angel, the sequel to Boyfriend from Hell), and Steve McKeever (president, Hidden Beach Records), field questions from you, the audience. The most entertaining and informative Q&A you’ll ever be a part of. It’s African American Pop Culture and then some! Room 5AB 

 

10:00-11:00 DC Comics: From Concept to Page— What does it take to create a new comic book? Find out at this amazing panel, where for the first time DC has assembled the entire creative team of a comic book, including the editor, writer,  penciler, and inker. Learn how a new project is developed before the script is even written, and the many steps that happen after the artwork is complete, with DCE’s group editor Mike Marts, editor Brian Cunningham and the creative team behind Flash — Brian Buccellato and Francis Manapul. Room 6DE 

 

10:00-11:00 Star Wars: Collectibles Update— Join eFX, Gentle Giant Studios, Kotobukiya, and Sideshow Collectibles for product development insights and exclusive previews of the latest in Star Wars collectibles. Moderated by Chris Spitale of Lucas Licensing. Room 7AB 

 

10:00-11:00 Remembering Jerry Robinson and Joe Simon— Jerry Robinson was a key artist on Batman in the 1940s, the co-creator of The Joker, and later an accomplished newspaper strip artist and political cartoonist. Joe Simon was half of the legendary team of Simon and [Jack] Kirby, the co-creator of Captain America and other Simon-Kirby classics, and later the creator/editor of Sick magazine. We’ve recently lost both of these legendary figures in comics, so let’s pause to remember them along with Paul Levitz, Michael Uslan, Anthony Tollin, Marv Wolfman, Paul Dini, Batton Lash, and moderator Mark Evanier. Room 9 

 

10:00-11:00 Community: School is Back in Session— Joel McHale (The Soup), Gillian Jacobs (The Box), Danny Pudi (Chuck), Yvette Nicole Brown (Family Guy), and Alison Brie (Mad Men) from the hit Sony TV comedy have graduated to the Convention Center in advance of their fourth season. Join your favorite Greendale study group for a panel and Q&A to find out firsthand what surprises are in store for the show’s return to NBC this fall. Ballroom 20 

 

 10:00-11:00 Hasbro Studios: My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic— Panelists from Hasbro Studios and The HUB TV Network’s My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic share details of the making of the animated series and how the “friendship” and “magic” are brought to life. Fans won’t want to miss it! Also includes Q&A time. Room 23ABC 

 

10:00-11:00 Art of the Thrill Kill— From psychokillers and sociopaths to the vast unknowable emptiness of deep space, these authors know that it takes more than just blood and gore to keep their readers awake at night. Their novels are all well crafted, imaginative, and more often than not…downright terrifying. Top horror and thriller novelists discuss how they balance ratcheting suspense with perfectly paced creepiness to create stories that are both psychologically and atmospherically disturbing. Participants Barry Lyga (I Hunt Killers), Michelle Gagnon (Don’t Turn Around), Johan Harstad (172 Hours on the Moon), Dan Wells (I Am Not a Serial Killer), James Rollins (SIGMA Force novels), Mark Z. Danielewski (The Fifty Year Sword, House of Leaves), Jeffrey J. Mariotte (The Devil’s Bait), and Chase Novak (Breed) discuss their delicate art with moderator Lauren Beukes (Zoo City). Room 24ABC 

 

10:00-11:00 How to Break into Television Writing— Spiro Skentzos (Grimm) and Karen Horne (NBC executive/Spawn co-producer) share their experiences as a TV writer and as the vice president of NBC’s writing programs, respectively, on topics including basic script mistakes, getting representation, using writing programs, staying motivated, and negotiating today’s turbulent TV terrain. There will be lots of time for questions. Room 25ABC 

 

10:00-11:00 Comic-Con Film School 102: Production— Day 2 of this four-day course on microbudget moviemaking focuses on the specifics of production, from shooting techniques, lighting on the cheap, and crew positions you need (and don’t need) to costuming, props, and set decorating for as little money as possible. Panelists include Valerie Perez (producer/star, Paula Peril-Midnight Whistle), Nick Murphy (writer/director, Pizza and Bullets), Jack Conway (writer/producer, Fear News), Vera Vanguard (producer/star, GothGirl), and Sean Rourke (writer of Ballistica). Marriott Hall 2, Marriott Marquis & Marina 

 

 10:15-11:15 Go Green! With the Lean, Mean, Ninja Team -Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!— Experience Nickelodeon’s very first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Comic-Con panel, as executive producer Ciro Nieli (Super Robot Monkey Team Hyper Force Go!) sets up the new series and unveils never-before-seen footage. Meet the incredible Ninja cast: Jason Biggs (voice of Leonardo), Sean Astin (voice of Raphael), Greg Cipes (voice of Michelangelo), Rob Paulsen (voice of Donatello), Kevin Michael Richardson (voice of Shredder), Hoon Lee (voice of Splinter), and Mae Whitman (voice of April O’Neil). Hear and see the radical undertaking of this 25-year-old property and some of the creative insights that have taken it to new and reinvigorating heights. Prepare to be shell-shocked! Moderated by Rich Magallanes, senior VP of current series for Nickelodeon. Room 6BCF 

 

 10:30-11:30 Special Live Exclusive Table Read of Dan Vs.— Making its debut at Comic-Con is The Hub Television Network’s animated series Dan Vs., which follows lovable curmudgeon Dan (Curtis Armstrong, Revenge of the Nerds) on a misguided quest for justice that leads him and his pals, Chris (Dave Foley, Kids in the Hall) and Elise (Paget Brewster, Criminal Minds), into misadventures and catastrophes. Join the cast, co-creators Chris Pearson and Dan Mandel, supervising producer/director Brian Sheesley, and moderator Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants) for a live table read of a written-exclusively-for-SDCC script and a behind-the-scenes look at the series. Audience Q&A to follow. Room 6A 

 

 10:30-11:30 Dan Piraro and Bizarro: 10,000 Cartoons and Counting— Comic-Con special guest Dan Piraro (Bizarro) presents an overview of his 27-year career, including his favorite cartoons, some unpublished sketchbook images, travel stories, and anecdotes about his auxiliary career as a stand-up comic. The talk will conclude with a short Q & A session. Room 8 

 

10:30-12:00 Comic Book Law School 202: Royalties, Residuals and (No) Regrets— With record-setting box office returns comes renewed interest in comic book and popular culture properties. Don’t be dazzled by the prospect of having your name up on the big screen or big potential paydays without the legal background necessary to understand what the contract actually says. And even the most brilliant negotiators cannot hope to succeed without an understanding of the business models used by the companies making an offer. Noted attorney Michael Lovitz, author of the acclaimed The Trademark and Copyright Book comic book, is back and ready to 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 (and maybe merchandising or media, too). This second Comic Book Law School session addresses some of the complicated issues surrounding marketing properties and creative ideas, including: transfers and licensing of rights; production, merchandising, and distribution agreements; and the key things you should know when Hollywood comes knocking. This interactive seminar gives attendees the opportunity to participate in the discussions as Lovitz (ably assisted by entertainment attorney Mona Metwalli) covers various means for profiting from creative works and explores the many important elements that form the foundation of every contract (and time permitting, maybe participate in a mock contract negotiation). This year they are joined by CPA/CFF Dean Bower, who will be presenting tales of Hollywood and big business audits. (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.]) Room 11AB 

 

 10:30-11:20 Retail Optimism— How are retailers responding to the growing market in 2012, and how can they use the momentum to carry their stores into the next year? ComicsPhRO president Joe Field (Flying Colors Comics, Concord, CA), executive director Amanda Emmert (Muse Comics + Games, Colorado Springs, CO), and directors Carr D’Angelo (Earth-2 Comics, Sherman Oaks, CA), Thomas Gaul (Corner Store Comics, Anaheim, CA), and Calum Johnston (Strange Adventures Bookshop, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada) discuss ideas for capitalizing on the current market upswing. Room 18

 

 10:30-12:00 Comics Arts Conference Session #5: Images of Nations— Antonio S. Thompson (Austin Peay State University) delves into the meaning of Captain America and his books, discussing whether the character is a “court jester” or an iconic symbol encompassing what it means it to be American. Matthias Harbeck (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin) looks at the evolution of Germany and Germans in comic books from 1945 onward to discuss how, through their combination of visual and textual elements, comic books can influence the composition of stereotypes on many levels and to determine if there such a thing as a coherent developing image of German-ness embedded in the historical, cultural, and political context of its time. Amanda Murphyao (Carleton University) looks at fan responses in letter columns and online forums to Alpha Flight and the debate over the Canadian-ness of the series to demonstrate how Canadian patriotism and anti-Americanism are expressed in subtle and direct ways through the comic books themselves as well as by the fan community. Room 26AB 

 

10:45-11:45 ParaNorman: Behind the Scenes— Kodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Travis Knight, Chris Butler, and Sam Fell discuss making their new stop-motion-animated comedy thriller, ParaNorman, made in 3D. Never-before-seen footage will be shown from the Laika movie that Focus Features is opening nationwide on August 17. Hall H 

 

11:00-12:00 Comic-Con How-To: Don’t Tell Your Story, Show It!— Ever wonder how the really good books suck readers in and hold their attention page after page? It’s not the characters, nor the plot of the book. It’s the author’s style that separates his or her story from the pack. Award-winning author Maxwell Alexander Drake offers insight into how to put your story together in a compelling way that will have your readers turning page after page to see what happens next. Room 2 

 

11:00-12:00 Mike Mignola and Friends— As we watch the world collapse in the pages of B.P.R.D.-Hell on Earth and gear up for the most-anticipated series in Hellboy’s history later this year, this may be the most important panel in the history of one of modern comics’ most storied series. Join creator Mike Mignola, editor Scott Allie, Cameron Stewart, James Harren, B.P.R.D. artist Tyler Crook and others, for exclusive news and insight into why the world of Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. is truly “going to hell in 2012”! Room 4 

 

 11:00-12:00 Hasbro: Star Wars— Hasbro’s Derryl DePriest (VP, global brand marketing), Jeff Labovitz (director, global brand marketing), Michelino Paolino (senior director, product design), Brian Merten (senior manager, product design), Adam Pagano (senior art director), and Erik Arana (Star Wars product designer) discuss the popular Hasbro Star Wars line. Attendees will also get a sneak peek at upcoming, never before seen items. The panelists will also host some Q&A for your burning Star Wars action figure questions. Room 7AB 

 

11:00-12:00 Siegel and Shuster and Finger— Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster created a character you may have heard of. Bill Finger co-created one or two himself. These men are the subjects of two new books that unlock many secrets as to how some young men gave the world some of the greatest icons of fantasy ever. Hear Larry Tye (author of Superman: The High-Flying History of America’s Most Enduring Hero) and Marc Tyler Nobleman (author of Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman) as both discuss their works with moderator Mark Evanier. Room 9 

 

11:00-12:00 The Artist’s Way— You’ve seen their work. How did they get there? Comic-Con 2012 features an incredible line-up of special guests who are artists: Tim Bradstreet, Gary Gianni, Joe Jusko, Mark Schultz, Jim Silke, and Tom Yeates. This panel explores the artist’s way, delving into technique, tools, inspiration, and more. Find out how these artists deal with deadlines, blank pages, and clogged pens in this casual and immensely informative conversation moderated by Comic-Con’s director of print and publications, Gary Sassaman. Room 23ABC 

 

11:00-12:00 Avatar Press: Hero Worship in Film and Comics— Zak Penn, screenwriter and director extraordinaire, discusses his long career in bringing comic superheroes to film. From his work with Marvel’s mutants on X2 and X-Men: The Last Stand, to the development of his Alphas television series for Syfy, to his countless other big-screen successes (including Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk, and the summer’s biggest blockbuster, The Avengers), he’ll cover it all. Also, Scott Murphy (writer on Star Wars: The Clone Wars) will join Zak on stage to discuss Hero Worship, their groundbreaking new superhero comic published by Avatar Press. Room 24ABC 

 

11:00-12:00 JManga: The Future of Digital Manga— It’s been one year since the launch of JManga.com, the world’s first official and legal manga portal website. Find out where the international manga scene is headed. See what’s new on JManga and what’s on the way. Panelists to be announced. Room 25ABC 

 

 11:00-12:00 Spotlight on Herb Trimpe— Comic-Con special guest Herb Trimpe carved out his own legendary place in the Marvel Universe starting in the 1960s. His incredible work on the Incredible Hulk, along with his other art on series such as G.I. Joe, Transformers, Godzilla, and many more, have made him a fan-favorite artist. Trimpe talks about his career in this special spotlight panel. Room 32AB 

 

11:00-11:45 Adult Swim: The Venture Bros.— Show creators Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer, with the voice of Dr. Venture James Urbaniak, discuss the original series and answer fan questions. Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront 

 

11:15-12:15 DC Comics: Superman— Since the launch of the New 52, Superman has been flying higher than ever. Group editor Matt Idelson and super talents Shane Davis (Superman: Earth One), Scott Lodbell (Superman), and Bryan Q. Miller (Smallville Season 11) take fans new and old up, up and away with a sneak peek at what’s in store for Superman. Room 6DE 

 

 11:15-12:15 Join the Revolution! Nickelodeon’s Legend of Korra— The cast and crew of Legend of Korra offer an in-depth discussion of Nickelodeon’s hottest new series. Executive producer and creator team Bryan Konietzko and Mike DiMartino (Avatar: The Last Airbender) are joined by co-executive producer Joaquim Dos Santos (Avatar: The Last Airbender) as they discuss the creative process that brought the first book in the Korra series to life. You’ll also get to hear from your favorite characters as talented voice actors Janet Varney (Korra), David Faustino (Mako), P. J. Byrne (Bolin) and Seychelle Gabriel (Asami) will be featured on the panel and renowned voice director Andrea Romano (Avatar: The Last Airbender) will direct the actors in a live performance from the series. And if you’re extra nice, Mike and Bryan may even drop a hint or two about Book 2. So don’t miss out! Moderated by Rich Magallanes, senior VP of current series for Nickelodeon. Ballroom 20 

 

11:30-12:30 Remixed Fairy Tales and Superhero Lore— Between this year’s Mirror Mask and Snow White and the Huntsman and forthcoming retellings of Beauty and the Beast and Hansel and Gretel — not to mention recent reexaminations such as Soon I Shall Be Invincible and The Magicians — the mythology of fairy tales and superheroes is embedded in our popular culture. But some of the characters aren’t quite what they used to be. Discuss the enduring power of these archetypes and how they can also be reinterpreted with panelists Sarah Maas (Throne of Glass), Marissa Meyer (Cinder), Rae Carson (The Girl of Fire and Thorns), Paul Tobin (Prepare to Die), Tom King (A Once Crowded Sky), Michael Scott (The Enchantress), Tracy Hickman (Wayne of Gotham), and Cecil Castellucci (The Year of the Beasts). Moderated by David Mariotte of Mysterious Galaxy. Room 5AB 

 

11:30-12:30 Cult Pilot Screening and Q&A— There is television…and there is the world we live in. In the shadows where they meet, there is Cult. In this visceral thriller, a young reporter teams up with a television researcher to investigate a series of disturbing disappearances connected to a wildly popular new television show called…Cult. With everyone a suspect and no one to trust but each other, they follow an obscure trail of tantalizing clues deeper into the cult of Cult. Moving from the real world into the labyrinthine world of the series and its two characters-a detective and a charismatic cult leader-events inside the show begin to bleed into the outside world and vice versa as the certainty of what’s real and what’s illusion crumbles into dust. Be among the first to see a special pilot screening, followed by a Q&A with creator and executive producer Rockne S. O’Bannon (Farscape) and series stars Matt Davis (The Vampire Diaries), Jessica Lucas (Psych), Alona Tal (Supernatural), and Robert Knepper (Heroes). Cult will air midseason on The CW and is produced by Fake Empire and Rockne S. O’Bannon Television in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios. Room 6BCF 

 

 11:30-12:30 Spotlight on Lynn Johnston— The award-winning cartoonist and Comic-Con special guest reflects on her long career with her “family” of characters in For Better or For Worse, the mega-popular syndicated comic strip. Lynn Johnston talks about the strip and what she’s doing now. Room 8 

 

 11:30-12:15 Experiments in Distribution— Retailers, be here for the opportunity to shape Top Cow publishing plans while getting more information on an idea that has been called “the most innovative push ever attempted for a Top Cow series launch.” Room 18 

 

 11:45-12:45 Cartoon Network: Annoying Orange— Boasting more than 1 billion YouTube views to date, Annoying Orange is the web sensation transformed into a new Cartoon Network television series that follows Orange and his buddies as they go on a wide range of adventures taking them from the fruit stand to parts unknown and everything in between. Join series creator Dane Boedigheimer (Orange), Toby Turner (Nerville), and others for a delightfully annoying time. Room 6A 

 

12:00-1:00 Comic-Con How-To: Examining Fan Art Under the Law – A Counter-Cultural Disconnect?— Is fan art a secret obsession or is it okay to do it in public? This presentation lays down the law and includes a review of the impact of new technologies on the genre, commentary on the fantastic fan art event of the century in 50 Shades of Grey, as well as the confessions of fan art fanatic. Joshua S. Wattles is the former acting general counsel of Paramount Pictures, a past president of the LA Copyright Society and an adjunct law professor at Loyola and Southwestern University law schools in Los Angeles. He is currently Advisor in Chief to deviantART. His panel will be joined by a mystery fan artist. Room 2 

 

 12:00-1:00 Spotlight on Larry Hama— Comic-Con special guest Larry Hama’s incredible diverse career-in comics, illustration, and acting-could fill hours of spotlight panel time. Join the writer/artist/actor as he talks about his career and his latest work on his signature series, G. I. Joe. Room 4 

 

12:00-1:00 A Quirky Point of View: The Fun Star Wars Books of Matthew Reinhart and Jeffrey Brown— New York Times bestsellers Matthew Reinhart (Star Wars: A Galactic Pop-Up Adventure) and Jeffrey Brown (Darth Vader and Son) discuss writing and illustrating the world of Star Wars for two generations of fans. Matthew will discuss the joys and challenges of creating Star Wars pop-up vehicles, aliens, droids, and Jedi, while Jeffrey will discuss finding inspiration in fatherhood for his humorous graphic novel that puts a new spin on the classic saga. Moderated by author Pablo Hidalgo (Star Wars: Head to Head). Room 7AB 

 

12:00-1:00 The Official Aspen Comics Panel 2012— Frank Mastromauro (Soulfire, Shrugged), Peter Steigerwald (Lady Mechanika, Soulfire), Vince Hernandez (EA Assassins, Fathom Kiani, Charismagic), Mark Roslan (Broken Pieces), JT Krul (Soulfire, Mindfield), Joe Benitez (Lady Mechanika), Mike DeBalfo (Soulfire), Beth Sotelo (Fathom, Shrugged), Alex Konat (Fathom, Mindfield), Nei Ruffino (Soulfire), David Wohl (Fathom, EA: Iris, Homecoming), David Schwartz (Idolized), Micah Gunnell (Idolized), and Jonathan Marks (Soulfire) discuss Aspen’s upcoming titles and reveal never-before-seen projects and artwork. Aspen will also be offering a Q&A session with fans. All fans in attendance will receive a gift courtesy of Aspen Comics. Room 9 

 

 12:00-1:00 CBLDF: The History of Comics Censorship— Learn the shocking history of comics censorship and how even today comics and the people who make, sell, and read them are threatened. CBLDF executive director Charles Brownstein tells the sordid tale, from the public book burnings and Senate hearings that led to the Comics Code Authority in the 1950s through the attacks on Underground comix in the 1970s and retailer busts in the 1980s up to modern attacks on readers and artists. This program includes the latest research on comics censorship, including new cases developing this year. Come learn about your rights and how the CBLDF works to protect them. Room 11AB 

 

12:00-1:00 Lenore Turns 20— Celebrations are in order! Lenore is 20 years old in 2012. Roman Dirge discusses his new Lenore collection Swirlies, upcoming comics, merchandise, and more. Join the artist/magician himself for this exclusive journey into the unique world of Roman Dirge, with a one-on-one interview with moderator Andrew Sumner plus a Q&A session. Room 23ABC 

 

12:00-1:00 FUNimation— All the latest news and information from FUNimation, one of North America’s leaders in anime.  Room 24ABC 

 

 12:00-1:00 Mattel: Mattypalooza 2012-Masters of the Universe Classics, DC, Ghostbusters, and New Mystery Line— Get all the latest info on your favorite Mattel collector lines, like Masters of the Universe Classics, DC Universe, Ghostbusters, and a new mystery line from MattyCollector.com. For all the insider intel, don’t miss the Q&A with Mattel toy designer Ruben Martinez, Mattel brand manager Scott “Toy Guru” Neitlich, and special guest panelists, The Four Horsemen. It’s the place to be for the world premiere of tons of new toys and collectibles, including the unveiling of the 30th Anniversary MOTU Create a Character contest winner! Room 25ABC 

 

 12:00-1:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #6: Revolution and Reaction— Trina Robbins (Lily Renée, Escape Artist) details the art and amazing life of Holocaust survivor Lily Renée Wilheim, one of the most successful women cartoonists during World War II and Fiction House’s only woman cartoonist to draw covers as well as interior stories. Eyal Amiran (University of California, Irvine) examines Winsor McCay’s public side, in which he quit comics in 1914 to draw xenophobic and anti-immigrant editorial cartoons for Hearst newspapers, arguing that McCay’s reactionary sense of the collapse and contamination of culture and civilization mirrors his exploration of infantile fantasies in Little Nemo in Slumberland, Little Sammy Sneeze, and Dream of the Rarebit Fiend. Matt Yockey (University of Toledo) examines the ways in which Richard E Hughes’ and Ogden Whitney’s Herbie ironically deconstructs the transcendent promises of mass consumerism in postwar America. In the comic’s subversive take on popular culture, and its (sometimes literal) dismantling at the hands of its protagonist, Herbie allows readers a symbolic mastery and control over their own subjectivity, itself a textual construct of both civic identity and mass culture. Cori Knight (University of California, Riverside) and Sean Sagan (University of California, Riverside) present joint research on aspects of the gospel tracts of Jack T. Chick, an author whose comic-book-style evangelical tracts have circled the globe and have been translated into over 40 languages, and consider the tracts’ status as sacred objects and as warnings to the world at large. Room 26AB 

 

12:00-1:00 Oni Press: RevolutiONIze Comics— Often imitated but never duplicated! Get up close and personal with trend-setting indie comic powerhouse Oni Press. Join in the Q&A with your favorite Oni creators Brian Hurtt, Cullen Bunn, Rich Stevens, Scott C., Matt Dembicki, and Brahm Revel and get a sneak peek at upcoming Oni projects with news on Oni Press fan initiatives. There’ll be free Oni comics, prizes, and more. Guaranteed by Oni Press’s totally biased employees to be “the most fun you’ve ever had at a panel.” Room 32AB 

 

12:00-12:45 Adult Swim: NTSF:SD:SUV:: (National Terrorism Strike Force: San Diego: Sport Utility Vehicle::)— Watch a sneak peek at NTSF:SD:SUV:: season 2 and hear from the show’s creative team led by creator and star Paul Scheer (The League), executive producer Jonathan Stern (Childrens Hospital, Newsreaders) and co-executive producer Curtis Gwinn (Fat Guy Stuck in Internet). They will be joined by members of their ensemble cast, including Martin Starr (Party Down, Freaks & Geeks), Rebecca Romijn (X-Men, Ugly Betty), Brandon Johnson (Funny or Die) and June Diane Raphael (Players). Rob Corddry (Childrens Hospital, Hot Tub Time Machine) moderates. Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront 

 

12:05-1:05 The Big Bang Theory Screening and Q&A— Boldly go Big Bang Theory! For the first time ever in Hall H, the mega-popular TV series returns to Comic-Con for a special screening and a lively discussion. Will Howard (“Froot Loops”) Wolowitz return from space? Where do things stand with Penny and Leonard? And will unscheduled handholding affect “The Relationship Agreement”? From Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television, The Big Bang Theory airs Thursdays at 8/7c on CBS. The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Fifth Season will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on September 11. Hall H 

 

12:30-1:30 Paranormal Love Potion— From super-hot vampires to seductive Fae and beyond, authors divulge the secrets behind crafting steamy love scenes in their action-packed novels. Whether characters be vampiric, ghostly, faierie, witchy, shape-shifting or angelic, these authors know how to keep the passion sizzling between them. Find out more from the writers themselves, and you’ll learn what makes these books red hot! Participants include Tessa Gratton (The Blood Journals), Andrea Cremer (The Nightshade series), Marjorie Liu (The Mortal Bones), Sylvia Day (The Renegade Angels series), Shawntelle Madison (Coveted), Aprilynne Pike (Wings series), and Kelley Armstrong (Thirteen), led by moderator Stephanie Perkins (Lola and the Boy Next Door). Room 5AB 

 

12:30-1:30 Marvel: Ultimate Comics— The Ultimate Universe will be shaken to its core in the mega-event Divided We Fall. But what happens after the fall? Find out with writer Sam Humphries (Ultimate Comics Ultimates), Ultimate Comics editor Sana Amanat, editor-in-chief Axel Alonso, and others as they detail the shocking revelations surrounding Divided We Fall. Room 6DE 

 

12:30-1:30 Judge Dredd 35th Anniversary— It’s an exciting year for Judge Dredd-not only does he turn 35 but he has a big-budget movie coming, a brand-new IDW series launching, and more. IDW’s Chris Ryall, Dredd movie concept artist Jock, 2000 AD’s Matt Smith and Ben Smith, and some very special guests join moderator Douglas Wolk to announce the creative team of IDW’s series, talk about the return of the Dark Judges, and much more. Room 8 

 

12:30-1:30 Firefly 10-Year Anniversary Reunion— Calling all Browncoats to unite! It has been 10 years since the crew of the Serenity took flight in the now infamous show Firefly. Science Channel will reunite, for the first time ever, Captain Mal Reynolds and the crew from the ship. Join Joss Whedon, Nathan Fillion, Adam Baldwin, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Sean Maher, Summer Glau, and many more for a trip down memory lane, some special surprises, and exclusive Science Channel giveaways. SHINY. Ballroom 20 

 

12:45-1:45 666 Park Avenue Pilot Screening and Q&A— Spend Friday the 13th getting to know the residents of the historic-and otherworldly-Manhattan apartment building The Drake, during this special screening of 666 Park Avenue. Sexy, seductive, and inviting, The Drake maintains a dark hold over its residents, tempting them through their ambitions and desires, in this new drama that’s host to an epic struggle of good versus evil. Series stars Terry O’Quinn (Lost), Vanessa Williams (Desperate Housewives), Rachael Taylor (Charlie’s Angels), and Dave Annable (Brothers & Sisters), along with executive producers Matthew Miller (Chuck) and David Wilcox (Fringe), will be on hand for a special Q&A following the screening. From Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Alloy Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television, 666 Park Avenue will air Sundays at 10/9c on ABC this fall. Room 6BCF 

 

1:00-2:30 Comic-Con How-To: Advanced Digital Inking Technique— Learn how to digitally ink and take all your black-and-white artwork to the next level. Comics artist Brian Haberlin will delve into Photoshop’s treasure trove of features that not only enhance comic applications but make possible countless creative pen and ink opportunities rarely seen before. If you’re serious about your black-and-white artwork, this session is a must. Room 2 

 

1:00-2:00 Graphic Novel Library Awards— What goes into the process of awards like the YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens list or the Texas Maverick Reading List? Find out as librarians from both committees discuss establishing, supporting, and handling the day-to-day work of graphic novel library awards on both the state and national levels. Room 4 

 

1:00-2:00 Cartoon Network: Regular Show— Yeaaauuhhh! It’s Regular Show at Comic-Con 2012!Series creator J. G. Quintel (Mordecai, High Five Ghost), Bill Salyers (Rigby), Sam Marin (Benson, Pops, Muscle Man), and others offer an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the comedy, drama, and tomfoolery that make this Regular Show so jolly good. Come for the merrymaking, stay for songs, sneaks, and surprises. Room 6A 

 

1:00-2:00 From Imagination to Screen-The Art Department of Industrial Light & Magic— Creative director David Nakabayashi and the art directors of ILM — Christian Alzmann (Cowboys & Aliens, The Last Airbender), Yanick Dusseault (Star Trek 2, The Avengers), Alex Jaeger (Pacific Rim, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen) and Aaron McBride (Noah, Battleship) — discuss the legacy of ILM’s first art director, Ralph McQuarrie. The team will also cover some of the most memorable moments to come through their department during the company’s history, spanning over 35 years and more than 350 films. Room 7AB 

 

 1:00-2:00 Spotlight on Michael E. Uslan, The Boy Who Loved Batman— Comic-Con special guest Michael Uslan is the originator and executive producer of the Batman movie franchise, from Tim Burton’s Batman to Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises and such animated Batman films as The Dark Knight Returns and Batman Year One. An original fanboy who attended the world’s very first comic con 49 years ago, he went on to write such comic books and graphic novels as Batman: Detective #27, Detective Comics, The Shadow, Archie Gets Married, The Spirit Black & White, and The Question. He won an Emmy Award for bringing Where Is Carmen San Diego to television. His memoir, The Boy Who Loved Batman, tells the story of his life-long quest to bring a dark and serious version of The Dark Knight to the Silver Screen. Q&A and a book signing following. Introduction by David Uslan of Graphicly. Room 9 

 

 1:00-2:00 CBLDF Master Session: Jason Shiga— With the publication of his graphic novel Meanwhile, Jason Shiga’s years of innovating an interactive practice for creating comics reached popular audiences. Now go behind the scenes with the author as he showcases his working methods and shows you the secrets of creating interactive choose-your-own adventure comics! The pieces created in this Master Session will be auctioned off at CBLDF’s Art Auction on Saturday night. Room 11AB 

 

1:00-2:00 Bongo: Mylo Zyloto— Every album begins with the germ of an idea, every song tells a story, and now it is finally revealed that there is a secret narrative behind Coldplay’s newest hit album and its enigmatic title Mylo Xyloto. Three years ago, frontman Chris Martin teamed up with Mark Osborne (Kung Fu Panda, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, and the upcoming The Little Prince) to develop the epic story that has gone on to inspire such chart-toppers as “Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall,” “Paradise,” and “Princess of China.” Join the creative team behind the new comic miniseries Mylo Xyloto — Alejandro Fuentes, Steve Hamaker, and Dylan Haggerty — and prepare to experience the sights and sounds of Coldplay in a whole new way. Room 23ABC 

 

1:00-2:00 Horror on the Paneled Page— Some of comics’ biggest horror creators share their most frightening nightmares, talk about lines that even they won’t cross, and comment on the current horror trends in comics and other media in this in-depth discussion lead by AICN Comics/AICN Horror editor Mark L. Miller (The Jungle Book). Joshua Hale Fialkov (I, Vampire), Alan Robert (Wire Hangers), Brandon Seifert (Witch Doctor), David Quinn (Faust), Matt Pizzolo (Godkiller), and some surprise guests talk about what does and doesn’t work in horror comic books. Room 24ABC 

 

 1:00-2:00 Spotlight on Brandon Sanderson— Author, educator, and Comic-Con special guest Brandon Sanderson talks about his growth from a nonreader in his youth to become one of the most popular fantasy writers working today. Sanderson’s books include his own Mistborn trilogy and his continuation of the late Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series, which wraps up this year. Room 25ABC 

 

1:00-2:00 The Cartoon Fantasy Organization San Diego 30th Reunion— CFO San Diego was the first Japanese Animation (Anime) group here in San Diego. Holding monthly meetings on the second Saturday of each month, it started in March of 1982, led by Dan Davis and Jamie Long. This reunion features members Dan Davis, Raymond Rappaport, and others. Room 28E 

 

1:00-2:00 Neon Alley: The Newest Destination for Anime— The word is out on Neon Alley, but there’s more to be unveiled! A 24-hour anime channel launching this fall on the game console, Neon Alley will feature the world’s best anime titles, including blockbusters Naruto Shippuden, Tiger & Bunny, Berserk: The Golde Age Arc Trilogy, and Blue Exorcist! Get the scoop straight from Brian Ige, VIZ Media’s VP of animation, on upcoming series and more! Attendees are entered to win special prizes on the spot! Room 32AB 

 

1:00-1:45 Adult Swim: Childrens Hospital— Watch a sneak peek of Childrens Hospital season 4i and hear from the show’s creative team, led by creator and star Rob Corddry and executive producer Jonathan Stern. They will be joined by members of the show’s ensemble cast of comedic heavyweights, including Lake Bell (How To Make It In America), Erinn Hayes (Parenthood), Rob Huebel (The Descendants), Henry Winkler (Happy Days), and Ken Marino (Party Down, The State). Childrens Hospital explores the emotional struggles and sexual politics of a group of doctors charged with healthy libidos. Paul Scheer (NTSF:SD:SUV::) moderates. Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront 

 

 1:15-2:15 From Fanboy to Filmmaker: A Case Study on How to Make a Successful Animated Film— Learn how one filmmaker turned a poem he wrote to his kid sister into an international cinematic sensation by enlisting his childhood heroes — Back to the Future’s Christopher Lloyd, Academy Award winner Kathy Bates and musical legend Neil Young — to tell a seven-minute, animated love story, now being developed as a major motion picture. Follow the journey of this hand-drawn animated film from the living room to the Cineplex, and learn how you can leverage your creative project to launch the life you want to lead. Featuring writer/director Jonah D. Ansell, composer Chris Thomas, art director Eric Vennemeyer, lead animator Abe Dieckman, and a screening of the animated film Cadaver, hailed by MTV as “darkly beautiful.” Marriott Hall 2, Marriott Marquis & Marina 

 

1:25-2:25 AMC’s The Walking Dead— Andrew Lincoln, Sarah Wayne Callies, Norman Reedus, Laurie Holden, Steven Yeun, Lauren Cohan, and introducing Danai Gurira as Michonne and David Morrissey as The Governor join executive producer and showrunner Glen Mazzara, executive producer Robert Kirkman, executive producer Gale Anne Hurd, and special effects makeup supervisor and co-executive producer Greg Nicotero in a panel moderated by Chris Hardwick (The Nerdist, Talking Dead). The panelists will discuss the wildly successful second season of The Walking Dead and what to look forward to in season 3, debuting this fall on AMC. Join the panelists for a one-on-one Q&A session and an official sneak preview of season 3. Hall H 

 

 1:30-2:30 Spotlight on Kate Beaton— Comic-Con special guest Kate Beaton, the cartoonist behind the wildly popular webcomic Hark! A Vagrant and the New York Times bestseller of the same name, presents an overview of her work. Room 5AB 

 

1:30-2:30 Comic Book Entrepreneurs— Get a rare look behind the scenes as the comic book industry’s leading entrepreneurs share their secrets of building successful businesses around the love of comic books. Author and futurist Rob Salkowitz (Comic-Con and the Business of Pop Culture), CEO and co-founder David Steinberger of comiXology, Dark Horse Comics publisher Mike Richardson, Peter Levin of Nerdist Industries, and comics retailer Joe Field of Flying Colors Comics (who also founded Free Comic Book Day and helped run WonderCon for 15 years), offer a unique view of the business side of comics. Room 8 

 

 1:30-2:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #7: Jack Kirby and the Auteur Theory of Comics— Comic book historian Arlen Schumer (author, The Silver Age of Comic Book Art) and Randolph Hoppe (The Jack Kirby Museum & Research Center) present their theory that, just like a film’s director, not its screenwriter, is considered its true author (auteur in French), so should a comic book artist be considered the auteur of any comic book work done in collaboration with a writer (or a script in any verbal form) and therefore a de facto co-creator and co-author, with the credited writer, of that work. Joining them are editor/publisher John Morrow (The Jack Kirby Collector), comics scholar Charles Hatfield (Hand of Fire), and auteur theorist Craig Fischer (Appalachian State). Room 26AB 

 

1:45-2:45 DC Comics: Justice League and Green Lantern— Comics’ top talent-writer Geoff Johns and artist Jim Lee-continue their historic team-up on DC Comics’ bestselling Justice League, while Geoff continues his epic run on Green Lantern. Johns, Lee, Tony Bedard (Green Lantern: New Guardians), Brian Buccellato (Flash), Jeff Lemire (Animal Man, Justice League Dark), Francis Manapul (Flash), James Robinson (Earth 2), and Nicola Scott (Earth 2) explore some of DC Comics’ spectacular titles. Room 6DE 

 

1:45-2:45 Bones— Creator and executive producer Hart Hanson, executive producer Stephen Nathan and stars David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel are on hand to discuss the shocking finale of season 7 as well as what’s in store for Booth and Brennan in an exciting season 8. The panel will be followed by a fan Q&A. Ballroom 20 

 

 2:00-3:00 Spotlight on Ben Saunders— Comic-Con special guest Ben Saunders is part of a growing group of comic book scholars. Saunders is a professor of English at the University of Oregon, the author of Do The Gods Wear Capes?: Spirituality, Fantasy, and Superheroes, a founder of the University of Oregon Undergraduate Minor in Comics and Cartoon Studies, and a 2012 Eisner Awards judge. He’ll talk about all that and more in this special spotlight event. Room 4 

 

2:00-3:00 Gears of War: Past, Present, and Future— G4 TV host and video game goddess Morgan Webb moderates as panelists from video game developer Epic Games come together to discuss the past, present, and future of the Gears of War franchise. The creative and technical minds behind one of the most successful game franchises in history will be on hand to share experiences with attendees. Panelists include Epic Games’ design director Cliff Bleszinski and director of production Rod Fergusson, writers Tom Bissell and Rob Auten, and the voice of Baird, Fred Tatasciore. Expect an extended Q&A session. Room 6BCF 

 

 2:00-3:00 Star Wars Origami— Master folder Chris Alexander (Star Wars Origami) will demonstrate and teach the master folding techniques to make Star Wars origami figures. Attendees will fold an exclusive Comic-Con model along with other art from the movies. Materials included. Room 7AB 

 

 2:00-3:00 Spotlight on Nate Powell— Writer/artist and Comic-Con special guest Nate Powell (Any Empire, The Silence of Our Friends, Swallow Me Whole, The Year of the Beasts) offers a presentation and Q&A session of his work and its content, influences, and early glimpses of several newly announced book projects. Room 9 

 

2:00-3:00 Comics: Painting Comics on the iPad— The iPad has transformed the way you read comics, but did you know you can create comic art on the iPad too? See a comic book character come to life as Hi-Fi’s Brian Miller (The Mighty Avengers) and Kristy Miller (The Amazing Spider-Man Storybook Collection) demonstrate step-by-step how to paint comics on the iPad. Learn the basic tools and techniques, including which apps work best and how you too can transform your iPad into a portable art studio. Q&A session Room 11AB 

 

2:00-3:00 BOOM! Studios: Adventure Time Comic Book— What time is it? It’s Adventure Time! The top-rated Cartoon Network show is now a bestselling comic book published by KaBOOM! You won’t want to miss this all-star panel featuring the show’s creator Pendleton Ward, along with series artists Shelli Paroline and Braden Lamb (Ice Age) and writer/artist Meredith Gran (Octopus Pie) of the new miniseries Marceline and the Scream Queens, as they discuss what’s next for the Land of Ooo in the world of comics. Room 23ABC 

 

2:00-3:00 Nappy Hour— Keith Knight (the K Chronicles, The Knight Life) returns with his lightning quick roundtable discussion, armed with his trusty kitchen timer! This time around the gentleman cartoonist grills Publishers Weekly’s Calvin Reid, professor/artist/graphic designer John Jennings (Black Comix), and, back by popular demand, the force of nature known as C. Spike Trotman (Templar, AZ, Poorcraft). Room 24ABC 

 

2:00-3:00 No Straight Lines: Four Decades of Queer Comics— Queer cartooning has been one of the most vibrant artistic and countercultural movements of the past 40 years, tackling complex issues of identity and changing social mores with intelligence, humor, and an irreverent imagination. No Straight Lines, a massive anthology published by Fantagraphics Books, is the most definitive collection to date of this material, showcasing everything from lesbian underground comix, to gay newspaper strips, bi punk zines, and trans webcomics. The editor of the book, Justin Hall (Glamazonia the Uncanny Super Tranny, Hard To Swallow) moderates an all-star panel of some of the true greats of LGBTQ comics: Alison Bechdel (Fun Home, Dykes to Watch Out For), Paige Braddock (Jane’s World), Ed Luce (Wuvable Oaf), Trina Robbins (Wimmen’s Comix), and Eric Shanower (Age of Bronze). Room 25ABC 

Tags:  Art and Illustration | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Comics

 

2:00-3:00 ASIFA: Hollywood’s State of the Industry— What do the pros think of the animation scene today? Is 2D ever coming back? Is there a Stop-Motion Renaissance? How do I get a job? Panelists include Tom Sito (Beauty and the Beast, Shrek), Jamie Kezlarian Bolio (Lion King, The Illusionist), James Parris (Spider Man, Benjamin Button), Ramin Zahed (editor Animation Magazine), Josh Scherr (Uncharted III: Drakes Deception, Jax & Daxter), and a stop-motion animator from Laika’s upcoming ParaNorman. Join the discussion! Room 32AB 

 

2:00-2:45 Adult Swim: Aqua Something You Know Whatever/Squidbillies— Show creators Dave Willis and Jim Fortier discuss their original series, show footage from the new seasons, and answer questions. Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront 

 

 2:15-3:15 Tron: Uprising— Disney XD is bringing the Grid to Comic-Con! Join the noteworthy voice cast Elijah Wood (Beck), Bruce Boxleitner (Tron), Emmanuelle Chriqui (Paige) and Tricia Helfer (The Grid), along with executive producer/director Charlie Bean and consulting producers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz (Once Upon a Time, LOST), to see exclusive footage and find out everything you want to know about this ground-breaking animated series. The panel will also feature never-before-seen clips of Disney XD’s turbo-charged original series Motorcity and a sneak peek of the upcoming animated series Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja. The panel will be moderated by Daily Variety film editor Josh Dickey. Room 6A 

 

2:30-4:30 Comic-Con How-To: Moneyshot-Drawing Comic Covers and Pinups— Mark Brooks presents an interactive session of drawing as well as a Q&A on the ins and outs of drawing eye-popping comic covers and pinups. This session will be hands-on, but pencil and paper aren’t required though welcomed. Mark Brooks is a Marvel exclusive illustrator and the current cover artist for the highly popular and critically acclaimed X-Men Legacy. Room 2 

 

2:30-3:30 Dave McKean: My Two Years with Dawkins, Christ, and a Small Crab Called Eric— Dave McKean, illustrator of many books with Neil Gaiman, Ray Bradbury, John Cale, Heston Blumenthal, Grant Morrison, and occasional artist,photographer, director, musician, writer, and singer of forgotten songs, talks about two intense years spent exploring both sides of the theological divide. He illustrated and collaborated with evolutionary biologist and Darwin’s Rottweiler Richard Dawkins on the New York Times bestseller The Magic of Reality-an introduction to skeptical thinking and science for young readers and old. McKean then directed, edited, designed, and scored a film adaptation of Michael Sheen’s extraordinary live three-day Passion of Port Talbot-a contemporary retelling of the Easter story in locations throughout a town in Wales, in front of an audience of over 20,000 people. And Eric? Eric is one of the smaller stars of Dave’s new film Luna. Still in postproduction but inching closer to a 2013 release, it stars Stephanie Leonidas (from MirrorMask and Syfy’s new Defiance), as well as Michael Maloney (In the Bleak Midwinter, Babel), Ben Daniels (Merlin, Doom), and Dervla Kirwan (Dr. Who, Ondine). Room 5AB 

 

2:30-3:30 Spotlight on Chew: John Layman and Rob Guillory— Writer/letterer John Layman and artist Rob Guillory discuss the past, present, and future of their New York Times bestselling and multi-Eisner Award-winning cannibal cop crime comedy Chew from Image Comics. Marvel over Layman’s preternatural handsomeness, while Guillory engages the audience with his sardonic wit. Room 8 

 

 2:30-4:00 Eisner Spirit Award Video Viewing— 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! Room 18 

 

 2:30-3:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #8: Jack Kirby, Modernism, and Abstraction— Jack Kirby is increasingly emerging as an important 20th century American artist even beyond the realm of the comics world. His art provided pen-and-ink counterparts to the formal concerns of Abstract Expressionist painting, formalizing compositions and graphic rhythms with as much sophistication as artists such as Jackson Pollock or Franz Kline. Even “Kirby crackle” can be compared to the notion of “all-over” mark-making in abstract art as championed by Clement Greenberg. Outer-space scenes especially, requiring innovative graphic forms to suggest sublime and unrepresentable space phenomena, provided occasions for some of Kirby’s most powerful abstract compositions. This panel will discuss the relationship of Kirby with abstract art, his deeply modernist artistic achievement, and his influence on art and abstract comics. Andrei Molotiu (Indiana University, Bloomington; Abstract Comics: The Anthology) will give a presentation on the topic, then will discuss the subject with artist Mark Badger (Batman: Jazz, Martian Manhunter) and other surprise guests. Room 26AB 

 

2:45-3:45 Game of Thrones Panel and Q&A session— Based on the bestselling fantasy book series A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin, HBO’s Game of Thrones series concluded its 10-episode second season on June 3. Created and executive produced by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, the series follows kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars and noblemen as they vie for power in a land where summers span decades and winters can last a lifetime. Season 2 of the hit series told an epic story of duplicity and treachery, nobility and honor, conquest and triumph, set in an enthralling world of intrigue, seduction, and magic. Based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, production of season 2 also took place in Croatia and Iceland. Some of the cast featured in the second season and appearing on this panel are (in alphabetical order) Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy, Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen, Michelle Fairley as Catelyn Stark, Kit Harington as Jon Snow, Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister, and Richard Madden as Robb Stark. George R. R. Martin, who also serves as a co-executive producer and writer on the series, moderates with executive producer Carolyn Strauss. Hall H 

 

3:00-4:00 Mattel and DC Comics: A Heroic Partnership— Fans of Mattel’s popular DC toy lines will find out all the latest news, sneak peeks, and behind-the-scenes scoop on their favorite Mattel/ DC action figures, including the upcoming The Dark Knight Rises film, kid and collector releases from Batman, and more. Get a look at how a toy line is created, and participate in the Q&A with a special panel of Mattel toy team members. Room 4 

 

 3:00-4:00 Walt Disney Animation Studios: Wreck-it Ralph: The Art of Story— Join Walt Disney Animation Studios story artists Josie Trinidad (Wreck-It Ralph, Tangled), Raymond Persi (Wreck-It Ralph, The Simpsons), Leo Matsuda (Wreck-It Ralph, Princess and the Frog), Nancy Kruse (Wreck-It Ralph, The Simpsons) and writer Jennifer Lee (Wreck-It Ralph) as they discuss the art of story for the upcoming feature Wreck-It Ralph, in theaters November 2nd. Room 6DE 

 

3:00-4:00 The Future of Star Wars Publishing: Dark Horse & Del Rey— Find out what’s coming up in the Expanded Universe of Star Wars publishing. Editors Randy Stradley and Dave Marshall from Dark Horse Comics discuss what’s next for Agent of the Empire, Dawn of the Jedi, Lost Tribe of the Sith, and Darth Maul, as well as reveal a new secret title that’s on the horizon. From Del Rey Books editors Frank Parisi and Erich Schoeneweiss, along with author Troy Denning (Apocalypse), look at new novels coming later this year from fan-favorite authors Timothy Zahn and Aaron Allston, as well as give a peek into 2013. Also on the panel is Jennifer Heddle, senior editor at LucasBooks. Moderated by author Pablo Hidalgo (Star Wars: The Essential Reader’s Companion). Room 7AB 

 

 3:00-4:00 Spotlight on James Robinson— Comic-Con special guest James Robinson has constantly put a new spin on superheroes. From his early work on The Golden Age and Starman to his current reworking of DC’s Earth 2 concept, Robinson is one of comics’ most thought-provoking writers…and he gives great panel, too. Hear James talk about his career, and ask him your own questions. Room 9 

 

3:00-4:00 Drawing DC— There are as many ways to draw comics as there are comics artists-and at this panel, you’ll see some of DC’s top talent draw while they discuss their work. Mark Chiarello, DC’s VP for art direction and design chats with artists Rafael Albuquerque (American Vampire), Tony Daniel (Detective Comics), Dustin Nguyen (American Vampire: Lord of Nightmares, Batman Beyond), and others. Room 11AB 

 

3:00-4:00 Arrow Screening and Q&A— Oliver Queen lives! The iconic DC Comics character will be the subject of a hard-hitting new drama series on The CW this fall. Arrow makes its Comic-Con debut with a screening of the full Arrow pilot, followed by a Q&A with series stars Stephen Amell (Private Practice) and Katie Cassidy (Supernatural), executive producers Marc Guggenheim (Green Lantern) and Andrew Kreisberg (Fringe), and pilot director/executive producer David Nutter (Smallville). After being marooned for five years on a remote island, former billionaire playboy Oliver Queen returns to his home of Starling City with a mysterious agenda and a lethal set of new skills that he uses in a war on crime. From Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television, Arrow will air Wednesdays at 8/7c on The CW this fall. Ballroom 20 

 

3:00-4:00 Drawing on Your Nightmares: Horror in Comics— Throughout comics’ storied history, horror has been an important part of the medium. In the fall of 2012, Dark Horse unveils a whole slate of new titles guaranteed to have you running for the covers. Dark Horse horror line editor Scott Allie is joined by actor-turned-comics writer Lance Henrikson and creators Eric Powell (The Goon), Steve Niles (30 Days of Night, Criminal Macabre), Tim Seeley (Hack/Slash), Paul Tobin (Colder), and others for an exciting look at this year’s most promising four-color thrills and chills! Room 23ABC 

 

 3:00-4:00 Monster High: Freaky Is About to Get Fabulous in San Diego— Celebrate a freaky fab Friday the 13th with the Monster High team. Dress up as your favorite ghoul and get a chance to win best-costume prizes and see exclusive scenes from the show’s first ever DVD-Ghouls Rule (this fall from Universal Studios Home Entertainment). Garrett Sander, Rebecca Shipman, and Natalie Villegas (Monster High toy designers) and Eric Hardie (Monster High copywriter) are rumored to be revealing new ghouls in school and their inspiration for them. Additionally, Ghouls Rule producer Ira Singerman and voice actors Debi Derryberry (voice of Draculaura) and Erin Fitzgerald (voice of Abbey and Cupid) will discuss the making of Monster High webisodes and other content. Moderated by Emmy Award-winning director/producer Audu Paden. Room 24ABC 

 

3:00-4:00 Warner Archive Collection: Shazam!— Join ever-informed, fancentric WAC Podcast hosts George Feltenstein, Matthew Patterson, and DW Ferranti as they give fans a look at the upcoming DVD release of the popular 1970s series Shazam! The series’ own Billy Batson, Michael Gray, will be on hand, and an exclusive, limited-edition Shazam! LEGO figure will be awarded to a lucky number of fans in attendance. WAC panelists will also offer sneak peeks of Gene Roddenberry’s “other” TV series, The Lieutenant, and some highlights of WAC’s wildly entertaining upcoming slate of releases. And don’t be surprised if a few unannounced guests appear with the bold shout of a single word! Room 25ABC 

 

 3:00-4:00 LEGO Fan Community and What They Build— Jim Foulds (community relations manager for the LEGO Group), Joe Meno (editor of BrickJournal Magazine), Mariann Asanuma (author of modelbuildingsecrets.com), and Steve Decraemer (model builder for LEGOLand California) discuss the LEGO Fan community, what they build, how they build it, and what it takes to become a member of this growing community. Room 28E 

 

 3:00-4:00 Peanuts: The New Comic Book Series— Discover the origins behind KaBOOM!’s new Peanuts comic book series. The creative talent behind the new adaptations of Charles M. Schulz’s classic comic strip offer an in-depth look at how the project began, the challenges of adapting the comic strip master, and the exciting new places Charlie Brown and Co. are going next. Participants include Paige Braddock (Jane’s World, The Martian Confederacy), Alexis E. Fajardo (Kid Beowulf), Shane Houghton (Reed Gunther), Vicki Scott (Happiness Is a Warm Blanket), Adam Staffaroni (BOOM! Studios), Justin Thompson (Mythtickle), and Matt Whitlock (Family Guy). Room 32AB 

 

3:00-3:45 Adult Swim: Robot Chicken/Robot Chicken DC Comics Special— Co-creators/executive producers Seth Green and Matthew Senreich are joined by co-head writer/executive producer Tom Root, actor/writer Breckin Meyer, and writer Matthew Beans to discuss the Emmy-winning series. DC Entertainment chief creative officer Geoff Johns joins to the panel to share insider scoop about the Robot Chicken DC Comics Special. Watch a sneak peek and get your questions answered about Season Six. Keith Crofford, VP of production for Adult Swim, moderates. Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront 

 

3:15-4:15 Marvel: Cup O’ Joe— This is it, Mighty Marvel fans-the no-holds-barred, anything goes, full-of-surprises panel you wait all year for! Marvel’s chief creative officer Joe Quesada takes on all questions, shocks the audience with jaw-dropping announcements, and keeps you guessing, along with guests including Marvel’s head of television Jeph Loeb, SVP of creator and content development C. B. Cebulski, and editor-in-chief Axel Alonso. You never know who will show up, but you’d better be here, because this is the panel that everyone will be talking about! Room 6BCF 

 

3:30-4:30 The Art of Death and Darksiders II— A lively demonstration on bringing 2D comic art to 3D graphics and back again-Joe Madureira (Vigil Games Darksiders creator; artist for Avenging Spider-Man, Ultimates, X-Men), and Han Randhawa (Vigil Games, Darksiders I and II creative director) use exclusive examples from the creative development process to show how they bring a unique comic inspired vision to 3D life in the new Darksiders II video game from THQ, where you become Death, the most feared rider from the legendary Four Horseman of the Apocalypse. In part two, representatives from Dark Horse Comics demonstrates how they took this highly stylized universe in 3D, converted it back to a 2D comic book series, and expanded on the mythos, revealing scenes and storyline threads that complement the events of the video game. Working closely with the Darksiders team at Vigil Games, Dark Horse Comics is creating an important component to complete Joe Mad’s original vision. Room 5AB 

 

3:30-4:30 Epic Fantasy War— We’ve all seen the signs: war is coming; and this winter, hobbits will learn that one should never laugh at live dragons. The top names in fantasy fiction discuss how the key to writing a real epic fantasy novel lies in the word epic-which doesn’t just mean ambitious in scale, scope, and size. Epic fantasy helps us decipher the bigger mysteries of life. Even though there might be dragons (and magicians, horselords, and warlords), every word, and every detail of the world, must resonate on a fully human plane. Legendary editor Betsy Mitchell gets epic with panelists Brandon Sanderson (Alloy of Law), Raymond E. Feist (A Crown Imperiled), Robin Hobb (City of Dragons), N.K. Jemisin (The Inheritance Trilogy), Christopher Paolini (The Inheritance cycle), Rachel Hartman (Seraphina), Patrick Rothfuss (KingKiller Chronicles), Heather Brewer (The Legacy of Tril), and Lynn Flewelling (Casket of Souls). Room 6A 

 

3:30-4:30 75th Anniversary of Prince Valiant— Seventy-five years ago artist Harold R. Foster partnered with King Features to tell the epic adventures of Prince Valiant in the Days of King Arthur. After years of working on Tarzan, Foster wanted his own strip to write and draw, with his own characters fulfilling their destinies according to him. Today the strip is still going strong. Writer Mark Schultz, artists Gary Gianni and Tom Yeates, and comics historian R. C. Harvey talk to Tom Spurgeon about the enduring legacy of Foster’s creation, still present in the Sunday funnies and more popular than ever in reprints of the original strips. Room 8 

 

3:30-4:30 The Need for a “Serious Comics” Community of Interest: Lessons Learned From “Serious Games”— Constance Steinkuehler Squire (White House Office of Science and Technology Policy), Alan Gershenfeld (founder and president, E-Line Media), and Zander Cannon (owner, Big Time Attic; freelance artist and writer for DC Comics) discuss the need for an organized Community of Interest for “Serious Comics” similar to the successful “Serious Games” movement which has focused on health, education, and social awareness while building a market for “Serious Games.” Join this discussion and Q&A session moderated by Capt. Russell Shilling (Information Innovations Office, DARPA). Room 26AB 

 

4:00-5:00 The IDW Show (55 min, TV-MA)— Hosts Chris Ryall and Dirk Wood welcome special guests Duane Swierczynski, Brea and Zane Grant, John Layman, Zach Howard, Conor McCreary, and Anthony Del Col. Plus special announcements by Bobby Curnow, Stupid Audience Tricks, and musical guest Alan Robert and The Grants. NEW (CC) Room 4 

 

4:00-5:00 The Titans of Fighting Games— With a third-party fighting expert leading the discussion, the Titans of the fighting game genre, Katsuhiro Harada (Tekken series director), Yoshinori Ono (producer of the Street Fighter franchise), and Omar Kendall (Playstation All Stars Battle Royale game director, SuperBot Entertainment), come together for the first time in this exclusive panel to talk about fighting games past, present and future. Be among the first to see surprise reveals from upcoming titles. Room 7AB 

 

4:00-5:00 A Tribute to Richard Alf— Comic-Con began that day in 1969 when Richard Alf, age 17, drove his 1954 VW Bug to the San Diego community of Clairemont for a meeting with Shel Dorf. Accompanying Richard were two teenage comic dealer friends, and two more young comic fans joined them at Shel’s place. They liked Shel’s idea of a comic convention for San Diego, and soon Richard was devoting himself to the challenge of creating it. While co-chairman for the first Comic-Con, chairman for the second, and again co-chairman for the third, Richard provided business sense, funds, transportation, energy, hard work, enthusiasm, good cheer, and social vision that proved essential to establishing Comic-Con as a viable institution. Join moderator Mike Towry and panelists Earl Bookhammer, David Clark, William Clausen (Alf the Elf-Sized Epic), Ed Cormier, George Clayton Johnson (Twilight Zone), Greg Koudoulian, David McGlone, Clayton Moore, Paul Sammon (Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner), Dennis Smith, David Glanzer (Comic-Con International director of Marketing and PR), and Rob Ray (SDSU Comic-Con History Project) in paying tribute to Richard Alf. Room 9 

 

4:00-5:00 Digital Art, Part 1— Digital artist pros David Marquez (Ultimate Spider-Man) and Brian Haberlin (Spawn, Anamoly) join former Marvel and IDW editor and Comics Experience founder Andy Schmidt (X-Men, G.I. Joe) for the first of two in-depth panels on how to create digital comics and how to use the medium to its full effect. In part 1, they take a deep dive into creating comics using digital tools and media as well as making effective storytelling decisions in a digital medium. This is a panel no artist can miss. Part 2 is at 7:00. Room 11AB

 

4:00-5:00 Archaia: Transmedia in Graphic Novel Publishing— In this information-filled panel, fans will be treated to exclusive announcements, images, and videos on three sci-fi properties poised for a transmedia explosion, with Archaia’s upcoming graphic novels providing a cornerstone in each campaign.

Hawken is a free-to-play mech first-person-shooter game from developer Adhesive Games’ and publisher Meteor Entertainment. Archaia will debut the original hardcover graphic novel taht will serve as a prequel to the storyline in the game, and will feature the talents of Khang Le (Flight), Jeremy Barlow (Mass Effect: Homeworlds, Star Wars), Greg Tocchini (Last Days of American Crime), Francisco Ruiz Velasco (conceptual artist on The Hobbit, and Pacific Rim), Nathan Fox (DMZ, The Haunt), Christopher Moeller (JLA: League of One), Moritat (Elephantmen, Transmetropolitan), Bill Sienkiewicz (Electra: Assassin), Michael Gaydos (Alias, True Blood), Brian Thies (Winter Soldier, Dark Tower), Bagus Hutomo (Shrapnel, Heavy Metal), Stefano Gaudiano (Daredevil, Amazing Spider-Man), Alex Sanchez (Star Wars: The Old Republic), and Federico Dallocchio (Modern Warfare 2: Ghost). Featuring executive editor Joe LeFavi (Immortals: Gods and Heroes). 

 

Cyborg 009 was created by the legendary Shotaro Ishimori (Power Rangers, Kikaider) and is considered one of the most influential manga series of all time. Since its debut in 1964, it has remained in print all over the world, including here in the U.S. As part of a new resurgence of original Cyborg 009 material, including a new animated feature film being released in Japan this fall, Archaia will publish an original hardcover graphic novel that reimagines the classic story from a modern, Western aesthetic, featuring artwork from the incomparable Trevor Hairsine. Preview art and previously unseen materials will be showcased for the first time at the panel. Featuring writers F. J. DeSanto (Immortals: Gods and Heroes) and Brad Cramp (Invertigo).

 

Space: 1999: Aftershock and Awe is the first of a series of hardcover graphic novels based on the late-1970s science fiction TV series. Author Andrew Gaska (Conspiracy of the Planet of the Apes) and artists David Hueso (GI. Joe: Storm Shadow), Gary Morrow, and Miki team up to reignite this classic property about the inhabitants stranded on a moonbase after a disaster sends the moon hurtling out of Earth’s orbit and into space. The panel will feature never-before-seen artwork and a preview of remastered artwork from legendary creators such as John Byrne that has not been seen in nearly three decades.

Room 23ABC 

 

4:00-5:00 Motion Picture and Television Illustrators of the Art Directors Guild— Film starts with an idea that must be brought to life by a team of creative men and women. The illustrators and storyboard artists use their skills and imaginations to develop the transcendent visuals of the big screen, be it adventure son distant worlds or earthly hovels. Meet the artists as they discuss their craft and answer questions: moderator Tim Burgard (Rise of the Planet of the Apes), Benton Jew (G.I. Joe: Retaliation), Dave Lowery (Oz the Great and Powerful), Derek Gogol (Pirates of the Caribbean franchise), Trevor Goring (Real Steel), and Chris Baker (War of the Worlds). Room 24ABC 

 

4:00-5:00 Bob’s Burgers— Creator and executive producer Loren Bouchard and executive producer Jim Dauterive and cast members H. Jon Benjamin, John Roberts, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman and Kristen Schaal are on hand to screen never-before-seen footage, followed by a panel discussion and fan Q&A. Room 25ABC 

 

4:00-5:00 Valiantfans.com: The Unofficial “Summer of Valiant”— Valiant fans from across the world welcome you to the celebration of the landmark return of the Valiant Universe. What’s next after “The Summer Of Valiant”? Exclusive info and special panelists. Expect an exciting hour in an ask-anything panel, up close and personal. Q&A session moderated by Brian Wells (valiantfans.com). Room 28E 

 

 4:00-5:30 So You Want to Be a Comics Retailer?— ComicsPRO presents an opportunity for those exploring opening their very own comic book specialty store. This panel of veteran retailers know you have questions, and they can give you the answers! ComicsPRO president Joe Field of Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff (Concord, CA), ComicsPRO executive director Amanda Emmert (Muse Comics + Games, Colorado Springs, CO), Brian Peets (A-1 Comics, Sacramento and Roseville, CA), and Calum Johnston (Strange Adventures, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada), along Dave Hawksworth (Diamond Comic Distributors’ outside sales manager) offer a fun and informative peek behind the curtain of the magic of comic book retailing! Room 32AB 

 

4:00-4:45 Adult Swim: Black Dynamite— Creators and voice talent from the new animated series, based on the 2009 feature film will give an exclusive preview of the show and answer questions. The Black Dynamite animated series further chronicles the exploits of Black Dynamite and his crew. Panelists include executive producer Carl Jones (The Boondocks) along with Michael Jai White (For Better or Worse, The Dark Knight, Why Did I Get Married?), Tommy Davidson (In Living Color), Kym Whitley (The Cleveland Show, Brian McKnight Show), Byron Minns (Mongo Wrestling Alliance), Debra Wilson (MadTV), Orlando Jones (Rules of Engagement), and Cedric Yarbourgh (The Boondocks). Moderated by Gary Anthony Williams (The Boondocks). Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront 

Tags:  Action/Adventure | Animation | Humor & Satire | Television

 

4:05-4:35 Screen Gems: Resident Evil: Retribution— In Resident Evil: Retribution, we learn more about Alice’s mysterious past as she continues to hunt those at The Umbrella Corporation responsible for the T-virus outbreak, a chase that takes her from Tokyo to New York, Washington and Moscow, culminating in a mind-blowing revelation that will force her to rethink everything she once thought to be true. Aided by newfound allies and familiar friends, including the return of Michelle Rodriguez as Rain Ocampo, Alice must fight to survive long enough to escape a hostile world on the brink of oblivion. Appearing in person: Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Oded Fehr, Boris Kodjoe, Mika Nakashima and writer/director Paul W. S. Anderson. Please join them for a preview and discussion of this highly successful film franchise, based on the popular video game series, and watch never before seen footage from the latest installment, Resident Evil: Retribution, in state-of-the art 3D. Hall H 

 

4:15-5:15 DC Comics-The New 52— DC Comics-The New 52 and The New 52 Wave 2 are the industry’s most talked about industry-shattering events. Although the landscape has changed, we’re not done making news! Be a part of history as panelists discuss what’s coming next in this exciting time for DC Entertainment. Featuring Chris Burnham (Batman, Incorporated), David Finch (Batman: The Dark Knight), Adam Glass (Suicide Squad), Geoff Johns (Justice League, Green Lantern, Aquaman), Dan Jurgens (Superman, Justice League International), Paul Levitz (Legion of Super-Heroes), Rob Liefeld (Deathstroke, Grifter, Savage Hawkman), Scott Lobdell (Teen Titans, Superboy, Red Hood and the Outlaws), Jimmy Palmiotti (All-Star Western), Gail Simone (Batgirl), Scott Snyder (Batman, Swamp Thing), and others. Room 6DE 

 

4:15-5:15 Entertainment Weekly: Powerful Women in Pop Culture (aka Women Who Kick Ass!)— Fan-favorites Kristin Bauer van Straten (True Blood), Sarah Wayne Callies (Walking Dead), Kristin Kreuk (Beauty and the Beast), Nikki Reed (Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn-Part 2), and Anna Torv (Fringe) open up about the power and privilege of playing characters that have redefined the rules for women. Basically, a discussion with women who kick ass. Moderated by EW’s Lynette Rice. Ballroom 20 

 

4:30-5:30 Comic-Con How-To: Sculpting— The Shiflett Brothers-Brandon and Jarrod-started their professional sculpting careers with maquette work on the hit video game Oddworld: Abe’s Odysee. For Bowen Designs they have sculpted statues of iconic Marvel characters such as Juggernaut, the Incredible Hulk, Thanos, Spider-Man vs. Venom, The Rhino, Wolverine, and Black Panther. In 2010, the brothers released the instructional DVD Fantasy Sculpting: The Dragon of Argos. Room 2 

 

4:30-5:30 50th Anniversary of Marvel Superheroes— Fifty years ago Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Dick Ayers, Don Heck, and Larry Lieber created the Marvel Age of Comics when they introduced the Incredible Hulk, the Amazing Spider-Man, the Mighty Thor, the Astonishing Ant-Man, and the Invincible Iron Man, all in the course of one short year, 1962. Those characters have shown incredible endurance and staying power, still thrilling audiences today, on both the page and screen. Mark Evanier talks to Comic-Con special guests Stan Goldberg (a Marvel cartoonist and colorist in that storied year) and Incredible Hulk artist Herb Trimpe about the heroes that still thrill us five decades later. Room 5AB 

 

4:30-5:30 Falling Skies: The Battle Is Just Getting Started— Continuing the fight against alien invaders, TNT’s Falling Skies follows a band of human survivors on their quest to outrun and outwit the powerful alien force that invaded Earth. Join stars Noah Wyle (ER), Moon Bloodgood (Terminator Salvation), Will Patton (Armageddon), Drew Roy (Secretariat), Collin Cunningham (Living in Your Car), Sarah Carter (The Vow), and Connor Jessup (The Saddle Club), executive producer Greg Beeman, and show runner Remi Aubuchon (Caprica), with Q&A hosted by Wil Wheaton (Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Big Bang Theory). Watch never-before-seen clips and be treated to an in-depth discussion on Falling Skies season 2. Room 6BCF 

 

 4:30-5:30 Babymouse: Inside the Bubble!— Babymouse swept onto the graphic novel scene in 2005 and now has over 1.6 million copies in print. Comic-Con special guests Jennifer and Matthew Holm discuss how they create their critically acclaimed graphic novel series Babymouse and their bestselling pond scum-green series, Squish. Q&A session moderated by Scott Robins (A Parent’s Guide to the Best Kids’ Comics). Room 8 

 

4:30-5:30 UDON 2012— Catch up on the latest releases and get the scoop on upcoming projects from the UDON crew, including comic and art book announcements you won’t want to miss! Included will be sneak peek artwork, insight into the recruiting process for new artists, and a chance to win some of the company’s hottest new books. Moderated by Chris Butcher (Toronto Comic Arts Festival, UDON’s director of marketing), with participants Erik Ko (UDON CEO), Jim Zubkavich (project manager), Matt Moylan (managing editor), and UDON artists Joe Ng (Street Fighter IV) and Omar Dogan (Street Fighter Legends). Room 26AB 

 

4:35-6:35 Sony: Total Recall, Looper, and Elysium—

Total Recall-Welcome to Rekall, the company that can turn your dreams into real memories. For a factory worker named Doug Quaid (Colin Farrell), the mind-trip sounds like the perfect vacation from his ordinary existence. But when the procedure goes horribly wrong, Quaid becomes a hunted man. The line between fantasy and reality gets blurred and the fate of his world hangs in the balance as Quaid discovers his true identity, his true love, and his true fate. Based on Philip K. Dick’s classic story “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale,” this brand new take on some of his most visionary ideas is directed by Len Wiseman, who will join stars Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel, and Bryan Cranston on stage.

 

Looper-In the futuristic action thriller Looper, time travel will be invented-but it will be illegal and only available on the black market. When the mob wants to get rid of someone, they will send their target 30 years into the past, where a “looper”-a hired gun, like Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt)-is waiting to mop up. Joe is getting rich and life is good…until the day the mob decides to “close the loop,” sending back Joe’s future self (Bruce Willis) for assassination. Writer/director Rian Johnson will join Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Emily Blunt to discuss the film.

 

Elysium-Ever since writer-director Neill Blomkamp broke through with his first feature film, District 9, people have been wondering what he has in store for an encore. Be a part of the first audience anywhere to get a first look at his new movie, Elysium, as stars Matt Damon and Jodie Foster join Neill and producer Simon Kinberg on stage.

Hall H

 

4:45-5:45 The Writers’ Room with Jonathan Ross— Some of comics’ best writers talk with the UK’s famed radio/television presenter and comic book writer Jonathan Ross (Turf, America’s Got Powers) about the challenges, triumphs, and idiosyncrasies of the comics creative process. Find out how Image Comics titles like Fatale, Chew, Morning Glories, and The Walking Dead are conceived, written, and brought to the printed page from the writers who knew them from “PAGE ONE, PANEL ONE.” Panelists: Ed Brubaker, John Layman, and Robert Kirkman. Room 6A 

 

5:00-6:00 SLG Publishing— SLG president Dan Vado talks about the company’s ongoing shift to digital first distribution. Vado will also be previewing upcoming titles, joined by artists Jef Bambas (Model A) and Stephen Coughlin. Room 4 

 

5:00-6:00 Sci-fi That Will Change Your Life— Sometimes science fiction does more than mangle your eyeballs with awesome explosions — it can also make you think. Come discuss the year’s most brain-expanding sci-fi with io9 staffers Annalee Newitz, Cyriaque Lamar, and Charlie Jane Anders, plus amazing guests Phil Plait (writer/scientist, Bad Astronomy), Deric A. Hughes (producer/writer, Warehouse 13), and Sarah Kuhn (writer, One Con Glory). Room 7AB 

 

5:00-6:00 Breaking into Comics Right Now!— If you’re an aspiring comic book creator, this is a panel you don’t want to miss! Some of comic book publishing’s top decision makers, including IDW chief creative officer Chris Ryall, BOOM! Studios editor-in-chief Matt Gagnon, Dark Horse managing editor Scott Allie, and Top Cow publisher Filip Sablik, give you up-to-date and practical advice on how to break into the comic book industry. Learn what you need to do to make your comic book dreams come true in a world where the Internet and social media have changed everything. This won’t be your grandfather’s “breaking into comics” panel. Room 9 

 

5:00-6:00 Old Masters Art Lessons for Comic Artists— Marshall Vandruff (marshallart.com) will show the work of great artists such as Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Goya, Heinrich Kley, Frank Frazetta, and Winsor McCay to explain the three disciplines of picture-making mastery. He will showcase their high standards of craft and explain how the old disciplines of composition, draftsmanship, and technique apply to artists of modern media. Room 11AB 

 

5:00-6:00 International Association of Media Tie-in Writers: Scribe Awards— 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. He will be joined by this year’s Grandmaster Award “Faust” winner, Kevin J. Anderson (Dune), Stacia Deutsch (Batman), Glenn Hauman (Star Trek), Jeff Mariotte (CSI), Deborah Lynn Smith (Dark Shadows), and Dayton Ward (Star Trek) for a freewheeling look at one of the most popular and yet underappreciated branches of the writing trade. Followed by a Q&A session. Room 23ABC 

 

5:00-6:00 Business of Webcomics— The forces behind Webcomics.com — Robert Khoo (Penny Arcade), Scott Kurtz (PvP), and Brad Guigar (Evil Inc) — present a primer on webcomics from the aspects of creativity, technology and a special focus on business. Room 24ABC 

 

5:00-6:00 The Last of Us: Behind the Scenes with Naughty Dog— Creative director Neil Druckmann, game director Bruce Straley, and actors Troy Baker (Fullmetal Alchemist, Batman: Arkham City) and Ashley Johnson (Marvel’s TheAvengers, The Killing, Ben-10: Alien Force) discuss the upcoming post-pandemic, survival-action PlayStation 3 videogame from Naughty Dog, developers of the critically acclaimed Uncharted series. The panelists will provide an exclusive reveal of a new in-game cinematic featuring a special guest. Moderated by veteran games industry journalist Adam Sessler. Room 25ABC 

 

5:30-7:00 Comic-Con How-To: Art Demo with Jeffrey Watts— Accomplished fine art painter and owner of Watts Atelier of the Arts Jeffrey R. Watts returns for a seminar addressing the value of traditional art training and how it will benefit you as you look to break into or further your career in the entertainment industry. Jeff will touch on various training methods and options for schooling and why the Atelier method is far superior to training at larger institutions. He will also be demonstrating the importance of training from life and its benefits by doing a variety of quick demonstrations from a live model using various oil palettes. Great for aspiring professionals. Room 2 

 

 5:30-6:30 Spotlight on Scott Snyder— Scott Snyder is arguably the hottest writer in comics today. His work on DC Comics-The New 52 Batman has propelled it to the top of the sales list. His reworking of the classic horror character Swamp Thing has put a whole new spin on the series while staying true to its roots (no pun intended). And his ground breaking Vertigo series with artist Raphael Albuquerque, American Vampire, is an award-winning fan favorite. Snyder makes his first appearance as a special guest at Comic-Con this year, and here’s your chance to find out what’s next for him and his books. Room 5AB 

 

5:30-6:30 Vertigo: Get Jiro!— In a not-too-distant food-obsessed future, they all want to Get Jiro! Renowned chef and New York Times bestselling writer Anthony Bourdain (Kitchen Confidential, Medium Raw), artist Langdon Foss (Get Jiro!), and Vertigo senior VP/executive editor Karen Berger talk about this exciting-and savory-Vertigo original graphic novel. Room 6DE 

 

5:30-6:30 Marvel: The All-Winners Squad— Over the years Marvel has been known to assemble some of its greatest superheroes at SDCC. This year fans are invited to witness the introduction of an entirely new team (at least, they think they are great) as they take to the stage for the first time ever. You won’t believe your eyes (or ears) when you see this collection of awesomeness gather and share the inside scoop on what it’s really like to be a Marvel Superhero. Who are these mysterious superheroes? Welcome them to the Marvel A-List with moderator Morgan Spurlock. Plus, there’s always the promise of swag…but don’t hold Marvel to that! Room 8

 

5:30-6:30 Dark Horse: Joss Whedon— Long before directing the biggest superhero film in history, Joss Whedon 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 for us next, and hear exclusive insight into Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the ever-expanding number of titles in Dark Horse’s line of Season 9 comics. Ballroom 20 

 

5:30-6:30 D+Q & Fantagraphics— North America’s two most influential independent comics publishers, which have defined the literary comics medium for the past 25 years, preview their upcoming lists. Jacq Cohen (publicity director) and Eric Reynolds (associate publisher) of Fantagraphics, and Julia Pohl-Miranda (editorial marketing manager) and Tom Devlin (creative director) for D+Q present their 2012 and 2013 lists, with a few surprises. Room 26AB 

 

5:30-6:30 Berserk— At long last, the dark fantasy epic Berserk, by creator Kentaro Muira, comes to the silver screen! Join Dark Horse Comics and VIZ Media in a rare interview with Eiko Tanaka, founder and CEO of Studio 4°C (Tekkonkinkreet, Animatrix, Batman). Find out what it really takes to transform this stark manga into an animated feature. Room 32AB 

 

5:45-6:45 Spartacus: War of the Damned— Liam McIntyre (McLeod’s Daughters) returns to Comic-Con, along with Manu Bennett (30 Days of Night), executive producer Steven S. DeKnight (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), and a few surprise appearances to show footage from the final season of Spartacus: War of the Damned, airing on STARZ in January 2013. They will also discuss some of the bonus features on the Spartacus: Vengeance DVD, available September 11. Room 6BCF 

 

6:00-7:00 Hermes Press: Buck Rogers: Past, Present, and Future— Be the first to see Howard Chaykin’s new Buck Rogers. Howard Chaykin (American Flagg, Time2, Black Kiss) premieres his new concept design for Hermes Press’s new Buck Rogers comic book series. Chaykin, Daniel Herman (publisher, Hermes Press), Flint Dille (Transformers and G.I. Joe), and Erin Gray (Wilma Deering from the Buck Rogers TV show) will discuss the history of the character, the classic TV show, the tie-in comic books, and the all-new version of this iconic feature, along with a Q&A session. Room 4 

 

6:00-7:00 Brickleberry— From creators and executive producers Waco O’Guin and Roger Black, and executive producer and voice actor in the series Daniel Tosh (Tosh.0), this hilarious new series premieres on Comedy Central in September after Tosh.0. Voice cast members David Herman (Office Space), Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants), and Jerry Minor (Anchorman) will be on hand for a panel discussion following a screening of the highly anticipated premiere episode. Room 6A 

 

6:00-7:00 Girls Gone Genre— Listen to and talk with women who write, read, game, and perform in arenas that are statistically dominated by men. What happens when traditionally “male” genres are reinvented by female writers and embraced by female fans? Sex and the City (or for that matter, Girls), it ain’t. Meet the women who like to play with trucks and Barbies. And Wolverine action figures. And flux capacitors. Panelists: Marti Noxon (Buffy, Angel), Jane Espenson (Battlestar Galactica, Torchwood), Karyn Kusama (Jennifer’s Body), and Angela Robinson (True Blood). Room 7AB 

 

6:00-7:00 Are Digital Comics Expanding the Market?— Digital comics are the hottest trend in publishing today, exploding onto the screens of iPads, tablets, and phones everywhere. How is digital distribution transforming the industry and the market? Is digital opening the medium to a vast new global audience, or is it the death knell of comics as we know them? Author and futurist Rob Salkowitz (Comic-Con and the Business of Pop Culture) leads a provocative, no-holds-barred discussion with the leaders of the digital comics revolution: comiXology co-founders David Steinberger and John D. Roberts, Dark Horse publisher Mike Richardson, and IDW publisher Ted Adams. Room 9 

 

6:00-7:00 Drawing Made Easy from Science— Dr. Wei Xu (author, artist, mathematician, and computer graphics scientist) talks about an innovative approach for observational drawing and shows you how to draw with ease by using basic science knowledge. Room 11AB 

 

6:00-7:00 Optimus Prime: Up Close and Personal— The incomparable Larry King, one of the most recognized broadcast interviewers in the world, goes one-on-one with voice actor Peter Cullen (Optimus Prime), a talent who is practically synonymous with Comic-Con itself. In this panel, “The King of Interviews” salutes the beloved Cullen and takes attendees through the actor’s early days on the original 1984 animated TV series Transformers Generation One, the three box office smash Transformers movies, and his current work on The Hub TV network’s Daytime Emmy Award-winning animated series Transformers Prime from Hasbro Studios. Audience Q&A to follow. Room 23ABC 

 

6:00-7:00 What’s New with Magic: The Gathering— Members of Magic R&D, Mark Rosewater (WotC R&D), Aaron Forsythe (WotC R&D), Mark Purvis (Magic Brand), Scott Larabee (Premier Play), and Matt Cavotta (Magic senior creative art director) discuss everything Magic, including previews of new products, and a glimpse at the fall 2012 release Return to Ravnica. After the presentation there will be a Q&A with the panel, so come ready to talk about the world’s premier trading card game. Room 24ABC 

 

6:00-7:00 Resident Evil 6: The Fear and Horror!— The latest installation of the blockbuster Resident Evil video game franchise arrives this October! Get a behind-the-scenes look at the most ambitious CAPCOM title to date from Hiroyuki Kobayashi (executive producer), Yoshiaki Hirabayashi (producer), andMiguel Corti (localization director). Arrive early and receive access to exclusive information, live gameplay demos, a trailer premiere, and some surprises. Q&A session to follow. Room 25ABC 

 

6:00-7:00 Simpsons Collectors Group— Simpsons collectors of the world, unite! Take a break from the busy Comic-Con floor and get a chance to meet some of your fellow collectors of Simpsons merchandise from all over the country. Meet the other Simpsons collectors you see on the message board and put faces to names. This gathering, hosted by the staff of the SimpsonsCollectors.com website, is a great chance to network with other collectors and share your experiences in the hobby with others. Room 28E 

 

6:30-7:30 Spotlight on Jeff Lemire with Scott Snyder— Acclaimed writer and cartoonist and Comic-Con special guest Jeff Lemire (Animal Man, Sweet Tooth, Essex County) discusses his newest graphic novel The Underwater Welder as well as the end of Sweet Tooth and his upcoming work for DC Comics. The interview will be moderated by his friend, frequent collaborator, and comics superstar Scott Snyder (Batman, Amercian Vampire). Followed by a Q&A session in which Lemire and Snyder spill the beans on their upcoming Rotworld crossover in Animal Man and Swamp Thing. Room 5AB 

 

6:30-7:30 Yen Press— The Yen Press crew return to San Diego for their annual sneak peek at forthcoming projects, fan Q&A, and of course some sweet giveaways to spread the love! Room 8 

 

6:30-7:30 Arcana Comics— Get a sneak peek of The Clockwork Girl, featuring the voice talents of Jesse McCartney, Alexa Vega, Carrie Anne Moss and others, and Arcana’s new imprint, Steampunk Originals, featuring the most unique steampunk tales around, Arcana is set to explode into the steampunk world. Find out about other special projects, including a new line of books with the one and only Gene Simmons, featuring the return of Zipper, Dominatrix, and Gene Simmons’ House of Horror. Learn more about the ArcanaBenderspink line, being developed with the production company behind The Hangover and The Butterfly Effect. Sneak peeks, special guests, and free comics and posters-don’t miss out! Room 26AB

 

6:30-7:30 Designing for the Undead— Costume designers guild members Chrisi Karvonides (costume designer, American Horror Story, Carnivale), Audrey Fisher (costume designer, True Blood), and Alexander Welker (costume designer, Grimm) and costume illustrator Imogene Chayes (True Blood, American Horror Story) talk about creating all those great paranormal television characters we know and love. Room 32AB 

 

6:45-7:45 Defiance— Syfy and Trion unite television and gaming in the biggest entertainment event of 2013: Defiance. Grant Bowler (Nolan), Julie Benz (Amanda Rosewater), Tony Curran (Datak Tarr), Jamie Murray (Stahma Tarr), Kevin Murphy (executive producer), Nick Beliaeff (SVP, development, Trion Worlds), Rob Hill (senior producer, Trion Worlds), and Mark Stern (president, Syfy original content and co-head UCP) discuss how Defiance defies everything you know about conventional storytelling. Moderated by Geoff Boucher (Los Angeles Times). Room 6DE 

 

6:45-7:45 AMC’s Breaking Bad-— Executive producer and showrunner Vince Gilligan appears with the cast of Breaking Bad, including Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn, Dean Norris, Betsy Brandt, R. J. Mitte, and Jonathan Banks. In a panel moderated by TV Guide’s Mike Schneider, Vince and the cast talk about what it’s like to shoot one of the boldest and most intense dramas on television, and how they are preparing for the final 16 episodes of the series. Join the panelists for a one-on-one Q&A session and an official sneak preview of Breaking Bad season 5, premiering Sunday, July 15 at 10ET/PT. Ballroom 20 

 

7:00-8:00 MonkeyBrain Comics— Co-publishers Chris Roberson (Memorial) and Allison Baker reveal all about MonkeyBrain Comics, a creator-owned digital comics imprint. Joining them are moderator Bill Willingham (Fables) and creators Chris Schweitzer (Crogan’s Adventures), D. J. Kirkbride (Popgun), Brandon Seifert (Witch  Doctor), Joe Keatinge (Hell Yeah!), Colleen Coover (Small Favors), and Paul Tobin (Gingerbread Girl). Room 4 

 

7:00-8:00 Blade Runner 30th Anniversary Celebration— In 1982, Blade Runner, director Ridley Scott’s classic adaptation of SF master Philip K. Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? was released to theaters and forever changed the face of cinematic science fiction. Filmmaker, BR expert, and acclaimed author Paul M. Sammon (Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner) hosts a 30th anniversary celebration of this influential masterpiece. Sammon (who was present throughout BR’s filming and met Philip K. Dick) will interview numerous BR cast and crewmembers, including BR art director David Snyder and BR: The Final Cut producer Charles de Lauzirika. Be there to meet these and other very special BR guests. Room 6BCF 

 

7:00-8:00 And Then What Happened? Serialized Shows That Ended Too Soon— You saw every episode, you followed every storyline, you hoped against hope that they’d get another season…and they didn’t. What would have happened if the show had kept going? Hear writer/producers Andrew Chambliss (Once Upon a Time), Scott M. Gimple (The Walking Dead), Ian Goldberg (Once Upon a Time), Javier Grillo-Marxuach (Lost), and Jose Molina (The Vampire Diaries) talk about the stories that weren’t to be on such shows as Dollhouse, FlashForward, Firefly, and The Middleman. Room 7AB 

 

7:00-8:00 What’s Up with Penguin— Anne Sowards (executive editor, Ace/Roc), Ginjer Buchanan (editor-in-chief, Ace/Roc), Erin Dempsey (Penguin Young Readers Group), and Mia Garcia (Penguin Young Readers Group) give you the dish on forthcoming books from their exciting authors and licensed properties, such as Charlaine Harris, Patricia Briggs, Jim Butcher, S. M. Stirling, Rachel Caine, Richelle Mead, Ally Condie, Marie Lu, Andrea Cremer, Heather Brewer, Adventure Time and many more. You can expect lots of giveaways you won’t see anywhere else at the convention, including free advance reading copies. Room 9 

 

7:00-8:00 Digital Art, Part 2— David Marquez (Ultimate Spider-Man) and Comic-Rocket.com founder Tim Shields join former Marvel and IDW editor and Comics Experience founder Andy Schmidt (X-Men, G.I. Joe) and comiXology co-founder John Roberts for this final panel on how to create digital comics and how to use the medium to its full effect. In part 2, they discuss the future of comics and how digitally generated art can craft comics specifically for digital devices and how that differs from print. In other words, they illuminate how to get the most out of creating digital comics. Hosted by Comics Experience. Room 11AB

 

7:00-8:00 The 99: The Controversy Continues— President Barack Obama said The 99 are “superheroes who embody the teachings and tolerance of Islam,” while the New York Post responded, “Cancel The 99 before it starts.” Neither has actually seen this unexpectedly controversial animated TV series, but you can see the world premiere of a new episode of The 99 and come to your own conclusions. Then join tentatively scheduled panelists Naif al-Mutawa (executive producer), Stan Berkowitz (story editor), Alan Burnett (writer), Henry Gilroy (writer), and Marie Javins (managing editor, The 99 comics) for what will undoubtedly be a lively Q&A. Room 23ABC 

 

7:00-8:00 The Making of Kaijudo— From the producers of Transformers Prime, G.I. Joe Renegades, and My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic, comes a new animated TV series, Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters, seen on The Hub TV Network. Listen as key players from the cast, including Scott Wolf (V), David Sobolov (Beast Wars: Transformers), Ryan Miller (WotC R&D), Andrew Nolosco (WotC R&D), Hasbro Studios show stewards, and talent and the creative and R&D teams from Wizards of the Coast discuss how they brought the immensely popular card game to life in this fantastical new series. You gotta see these creatures! Room 24ABC 

 

7:00-8:00 Stripped: The Comics Documentary— It’s the documentary film that comic strip fans have been waiting for. Stripped sits down with the world’s best cartoonists to talk about how comic strips work, why they’re so loved, and how artists are navigating this dicey period between print and digital. Set to music by Stefan Lessard (Dave Matthews Band), and with notable interviews from Jim Davis (Garfield), Scott McCloud (Understanding Comics), Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins (Penny Arcade), Kate Beaton (Hark A Vagrant), Bill Amend (Foxtrot), Lynn Johnston (For Better or For Worse), Jeannie Schulz (Charles M. Schulz Museum), and over 70 others-this film will be an incredible experience for comics fans. Join the directors, twice Eisner-nominated Dave Kellett and twice Sundance-nominated Frederick Schroeder, and editor Ben Waters for exclusive sneak peeks of the film, a Q&A, and news of one secret participant that comics fans will go nuts for.  Room 25ABC 

 

7:15-8:15 Dark Matters: Twisted But True— John Noble (Fringe, Lord of The Rings) serves as host of the fan-favorite series on Science Channel, Dark Matters: Twisted But True. Was Charles Lindbergh an American Nazi? What prompted doctors to attempt a live organ transplant? Was a Hungarian song responsible for a mass suicide epidemic? Join the cast and production of Dark Matters for exclusive Science Channel giveaways, surprises, and an inside look into some of history’s most sordid scientific stories. Room 6A 

 

7:30-8:30 Resident Evil: Damnation Worldwide Trailer Premiere, 7-Minute Sneak Peek, and Filmmaker Q&A— The next action-packed installment in the Resident Evil franchise continues. Fans will have the opportunity to watch the worldwide 2D trailer premiere (in English) of Resident Evil: Damnation, the all-new, 3D sequel to the full-length CG animated feature Resident Evil: Degeneration, based on the Resident Evil (known in Japan as Biohazard) series of games. Fans will also get an exclusive look at the first 7 minutes of the Japanese theatrical version of the film, followed by a Q&A with Hiroyuki Kobayashi (Japanese producer of the Resident Evil franchise) and Makoto Kamiya (Resident Evil: Damnation director). Room 5AB 

 

7:30-8:30 Making a Living in Manga— Now that Japanese comics have been available in English for over 30 years, several generations of artists inspired by manga are trying to live the Bakuman dream of being full-time comics creators. But in the superhero-centric North American comics market, are they fighting the odds? Comics creators Adam Warren (Empowered), Becky Cloonan (Demo, Conan the Barbarian), Fred Gallagher (Megatokyo), and Audra Furuichi (Nemu-Nemu), along with industry pros Christopher Butcher (blogger, Comics212.net; director, Toronto Comic Arts Festival), JuYoun Lee (senior editor, Yen Press), Erik Ko (editor-in-chief, UDON Entertainment), and moderator Deb Aoki (Manga editor, About.com), explain the ins and outs and ups and downs of making a living as a manga creator in North America. Room 8 

 

7:30-8:30 Moving to the Web: Be Your Own Producer— Actors Yuri Lowenthal (Ben 10), Tara Platt (Resistance: Burning Skies), Phil Morris (Smallville), and Stephanie Thorpe (Elfquest: A Fan Imagining) and director Steven Calcote (Shelf Life) discuss how producing content for the web has liberated them from an often obstructive studio system. Room 26AB

 

7:30-8:30 Showcasing the Best in Korean Animation— Korea’s leading animation studios such as NSAC, Goindol, KOMACON, and e-Dehi introduce and showcase the latest and greatest trends in Korean animation. They will also give an exclusive world premiere of their latest productions. Room 32AB 

 

8:00-9:00 Meet the New Geek Roundtable— What happened to Geekdom’s most diverse podcast? Hear what the group has been doing in the last year and a half. Hilarious stories, heartwarming anecdotes, and the usual rants that the show is famous for. Meet the cast, which will have some of the same old faces and a few new ones to entertain and educate. Show host Ned Cato Jr., executive producer Jesse Lopez, and a cast of thousands will challenge your geek cred. Prepare for the geekiest panel at Comic-Con. Room 4 

 

8:00-9:00 The Vacationeers are a Disaster— It’s a Disaster is a new end-of-the world comedy from the twisted minds of The Vacationeers comedy group. The film-which also stars Julia Stiles, David Cross, America Ferrera, and Erinn Hayes-is about four couples gathering for Sunday brunch unaware that the apocalypse is happening outside their door. It recently world premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival to rave reviews (The Hollywood Reporter calling it “the funniest film of recent vintage”). Writer/director Todd Berger along with actors Jeff Grace, Kevin M. Brennan, Blaise Miller, and Erinn Hayes (Children’s Hospital) will be on hand to look back at some of the comedy group’s favorite sketches and give an exclusive sneak preview of the film. Room 6BCF 

 

8:00-9:00 Strike Back— Hit action series Strike Back kicks off its second season with stars Sullivan Stapleton (300: Battle for Artemisia, Gangster Squad, Animal Kingdom), Philip Winchester (Crusoe, Finge, Camelot), and new cast member Rhona Mitra (Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, Doomsday, SGU Stargate Universe). The drama follows stealth counterterrorism unit Section 20 as they span the globe to stop potential threats. The panel will feature cool insights about the show, giveaways, and exclusive clips from the new season, which begins in August. Moderated by HitFix TV critic Alan Sepinwall. Presented by HBO/Cinemax. Room 6DE 

 

8:00-9:00 The Aquabats! Super Show! Inside the BattleTram— Hey Aquabats fans! The band of five heroes out to save the world from boredom — Ricky Fitness, Jimmy the Robot, Crash McLarson, EagleBones Falconhawk, The M.C. Bat Commander and directors Jason Devilliers and Matt Chapman — plan to arrive at Comic-Con 2012 ready for battle! Fans can anticipate a special guest moderator and meet the stars of The Hub TV Network’s new hit series. Grab your goggles and join the legions of fans for a gnarly time with the awesomest superhero, rock music band ever to hit San Diego! Room 7AB 

 

8:00-9:00 “geekEd.2” Bringing Geek Back to Higher Education (Now with Data)— The geekEd. folks are back for another year. A panel of college professionals — including Alex Belisario (UC Santa Cruz), Alfred Day (St. Mary’s College), Ryan McRae, Tyler Miller (Fresno State), and Emily Sandoval (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo) — discuss how geek culture and college life can enhance one another. This year, student Julie Crippen (Fresno State) joins the panel. Learn how colleges can reach out to geeks, how geeks can use their identities to increase college success, and what partnerships are being formed between colleges and pop culture. Participants will be presenting research on college geek students compiled since last year’s panel. If you are an industry or marketing professional, work at college, go to college, or desire to do any of those, this panel is for you. Room 9 

 

8:00-9:00 CCAS (Christian Comics Arts Society) Mixer— Join the Christian Comic Arts Society for their annual fellowship mixer. Open to all comics, media, and pop culture fans. Room 23ABC 

 

8:00-9:30 The Totally Rad Show Live: 5-Year Anniversary— Hosts Alex Albrecht (Four Points), Dan Trachtenberg (Portal: No Escape), and Jeff Cannata (Weekend Confirmed) bring their Webby and Podcast Award-winning geek culture show back to Comic-Con for the fifth year. Join the guys for an explosion of movie, video game, TV, and comic book news and reviews, and see what makes this Revision3 show such an Internet phenomenon. Room 24ABC 

 

8:00-11:00 Hall H and Ballroom 20 Friday Panel Playback— Didn’t get into either Hall H or Ballroom 20 today? We feel your pain! In this three-hour block, Comic-Con will rebroadcast some of the day’s popular panels from those two giant rooms. Best of all, those in attendance will get to vote on what they want to see. It’s democracy at its finest AND it’s a second chance to see these panels. (Please note: these playbacks will include only the panel discussions. None of the film clips or footage shown at the live events will be shown here.) Room 25ABC 

 

 8:00-10:30 Syfy Presents the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards— The 24th annual Eisner Awards (the “Oscars” of the comics industry) honor comics creators and works in 28 categories. Presenters will include British talk show host/comics writer Jonathan Ross, actor Phil LaMarr (Futurama, Family Guy, Pee Wee’s Playhouse), and special guests Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard (The Walking Dead), Lynn Johnston (cartoonist, For Better or For Worse), Eric Powell (The Goon), Sergio Aragonés (cartoonist, MAD), Bill Morrison (creative director, Bongo Comics), Michael Uslan (movie producer, Batman films), 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. Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront 

 

8:30-9:30 Space Command: Bold Adventures in the Far Reaches of Space— Science fiction legends Marc Scott Zicree (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Doug Drexler (Battlestar Galactica), Neil Johnson (Humanity’s End), Michael Reaves (Star Wars, Batman), and Ian McCaig (Star Wars) premiere footage from the highly anticipated epic adventure series that spans 200 years of Galactic History. Stars Doug Jones (Pan’s Labyrinth), Katherine McEwan (Humanity’s End), Christina Moses (Star Trek New Voyages), and Amber Benson (Buffy) discuss their roles. The visionary team gives you an early look at the stunning character design and visual effects, plus the epic score from David Raiklen. Inspired by heroic science fiction of the ’50s. A revolution in film funding and distribution, made by A-list creators for the fans free from studio restrictions. Room 5AB 

 

8:30-9:30 Klingon Lifestyles Presentation— Last year saw Admiral K’Han Den shot while in the Mirror Universe. With life in the balance, the crew of the IKV Stranglehold are forced on a mission to save him. All life forms and alien cultures are welcome to the latest episode in the ongoing adventures of life aboard the Klingon vessel Stranglehold. Room 6A 

 

8:30-9:30 35 Years of Heavy Metal— Heavy Metal lets you peek behind the curtain of 35 years of publishing with an incredible hour of conversation with Kevin Eastman as he and many of the iconic artists look back over the years of groundbreaking storytelling as well as let you in on plans for the future. The pages of the magazine opened the doors for artists like Royo, Moebius, and Serpieri and has led the way to Heavy Metal’s 35th anniversary release of Michael Mendheim’s Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and the 3D Animated Epic War of the Worlds: Goliath. Panelists include Eastman, Michael Mendheim, Dave Elliott, Lorenzo Sperlonga, Bernie Wrightson, and Steve Niles, with additional surprise guests. Moderated by Brad Hatfield of MTV Geek. Room 8 

 

8:30-9:30 Toy Masters and the 25th Anniversary of Masters of the Universe— To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the release of the live-action He-Man feature Masters of the Universe, the “Seacrest of Sci-Fi,” Robert Meyer Burnett (Femme Fatales, Hills Run Red, Free Enterprise) brings you a powerful discussion of Toy Masters, the first ever feature-length documentary on the worldwide phenomenon that inspired an entire generation of children and became a billion-dollar franchise. The film features interviews with the key creative personnel behind every version of the bestselling toy line and all incarnations of Masters of the Universe on television, film, stage, and print, tracing the inception and ups and downs of the fantasy juggernaut. Everyone involved in the 30-year history of this historic franchise makes appearances in the film, including such genre figures as J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5, Thor), Richard Edlund (Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark), William Stout (Conan The Barbarian, Pan’s Labyrinth), Lou Scheimer (Filmation), Michael Westmore (Star Trek franchise), Don Glut (The Empire Strikes Back, Transformers Animated), and even Dolph Lundgren, who played He-Man in the live-action film. Panel participants include Roger Lay, Jr. (director/producer), Cory Landis (producer), Gary Goddard (director), J. Michael Straczynski (writer), Mark Taylor (visual designer, Masters of the Universe toy line 1980s), Ted Mayer (visual designer/product engineer, Masters of the Universe toy line 1980s), Jack and Leslie Wadsworth (live-action He Man and She Ra, Masters of the Universe: Power Tour), and a special surprise guest! Room 26AB 

 

8:30-10:30 Berserk Screening— Comic-Con exclusive! See Berserk: The Golden Age Arc I-The Egg of the King with a special intro by Eiko Tanaka, founder and CEO of Studio 4°C (Tekkonkinkreet, Animatrix, Batman). Experience the start of an epic anime trilogy, and catch a special sneak peek of Berserk: The Golden Age Arc II-The Doldrey War. Room 32AB 

 

9:00-10:00 Worst Cartoons Ever!— Presented by ASIFA-Hollywood, animation historian Jerry Beck (Cartoon Brew) returns with an all-new program of some of the worst cartoons ever made, including the Phys Ed superhero Mighty Mr. Titan, space cadet Johnny Cypher, and some of those 1960s Marvel Super Heroes cartoons. Have a ball with the best/bad animation ever! Room 6BCF 

 

10:00-12:00 Spike and Mike’s Sick and Twisted Gauntlet of Animation— You, the lunatic fringe, vote for the films you love and hate. Which films will survive? Only you can say. See our 2012 collection of great animated sick and twisted shorts, with enough craziness and hilarity to make your stomach churn with delight!. 18+ only. Creators of Dr. Tran will be there to answer questions, along with Bill Plympton. Featured are award-winning shorts from the Annecy Animation Festival in France: Tram and Pythagasaurus from Aardman Animation. Meet Spike in person and Gary Sohmers “King of Pop Culture” and Antiques Roadshow celebrity. Free DVDs to attendees while supplies last. Room 6BCF