10:00-11:00 75 Years of Doc Savage— Anthony Tollin (editor/publisher of Doc Savage and The Shadow double-novel reprints) leads a panel discussion on the pulp era's greatest superhero and the Man of Bronze's iconic influence on comic book superheroes, including Superman and Batman., Panelists will also discuss what's coming up next in Nostalgia Ventures' pulp reprint series. Panelists include movie producer/popular culture historian Michael Uslan. Room 5AB
Categories:  Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Superheroes

10:00-11:00 The Gene Roddenberry Legacy: Roddenberry in the 21st Century— Building on his father's legacy with Star Trek, Rod Roddenberry and Roddenberry Productions are bringing the Roddenberry philosophy into the 21st century, through their work on the forthcoming feature documentary Trek Nation, as well as the development of original content in webcomics such as Rod & Barry and Gene's Journal. This panel features exclusive Comic-Con looks at new Roddenberry content and projects currently in development. Featuring Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry, Trevor Roth (COO of Roddenberry Productions), and Allen Holzman (Emmy Award winning editor). Room 10
Categories:  Comic Books | Fandom | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Webcomics

10:30-11:30 Tripwire— The staff of Tripwire and some friends discuss Tripwire Annual 2008 and the future of genre fiction, with special panelists Pat McGreal, Jamie McKelvie, and others. Moderated by Joel Meadows (editor-in-chief) and Andy Grossberg (associate editor, U.S.). Room 3
Categories:  Comic Books | Fandom | Movies | Television

10:30-11:30 DC Talent Search Orientation— Learn what DC Comics looks for in artists and how to improve your chances of becoming a working professional! Panelists will discuss the different needs of the DC Universe, Vertigo, WildStorm, MAD magazine, Minx, and Zuda. This informative orientation session will explain how DC's Talent Search works and provide numerous tips and tricks on how to improve your work and explore opportunities. In order 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
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops

10:30-11:30 Spotlight on Noel Neill— She's celebrating her 60th anniversary as America's favorite superhero sweetheart! Comic-Con special guest Noel Neill first took on the role of ace reporter Lois Lane in the 1948 Superman serial from Columbia, and she went on to provide the definitive depiction of the character in the popular 1950s TV show, Adventures of Superman, with George Reeves. Superman historian John Field interviews Ms. Neill about her life with the man in the cape and the rest of her amazing career! Room 7AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Superheroes | Television

10:30-11:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #1: Guerilla Warfare and Sneak Attacks: The Politics of Representing War in Film and Comics of the 1950s— Rocco Versaci (Palomar College) discusses his book This Book Contains Graphic Language: Comics as Literature, in which he champions comics as a legitimate literary artform and argues that comics as a marginalized medium have been uniquely suited to subvert dominant ideologies in ways impossible for more highly regarded media. In the 1940s and 1950s, when both the comics and film industries were hard at work representing war, comics—because they were considered a marginal entertainment media—were "freer" to deliver subversive and even incendiary political messages. Room 30AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comics Arts Conference

10:30-12:00 Comic Book Law School 101: Let’s Get It Started— A very good place to start...to start learning how to protect your intellectual property rights, that is! Learn the basics of copyright and trademark law in this popular interactive lecture series brought to you by noted attorney Michael Lovitz, author of The Trademark and Copyright Book comic book. This first workshop covers the basics of protection and ownership of ideas, works of authorship, characters, and names from conception through publication and beyond. Attendees will participate in an interactive discussion about basic rights provided under U.S. copyright and trademark laws, as well as new decisions and changes in the law and how they could affect those rights. Along the way, there will be plenty to learn about the protections, and pitfalls, of the U.S. trademark and copyright systems. 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 one (1) credit of California MCLE.] Room 30CDE
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Comics Law School | Seminars & Workshops | Webcomics | Writers & Writing

10:45-11:45 Reinventing the Page: Stan Lee and Grant Morrison Talk Virgin Comics— Two of the most important creators in the history of comic books team up to discuss the bold new frontiers being explored in the art of storytelling. Legendary creator Stan Lee (Spider-Man, Hulk, Iron Man, X-Men) shares his insights on the world of comics and presents never-before-revealed hints of his new superhero universe with Virgin Comics. Joining Stan is prolific creator Grant Morrison (New X-Men, All Star Superman, Final Crisis), contemporary comics' most active mind, who will discuss his new Virgin Comics animated online series MBX while offering his own insights on comics and engaging with Stan in a once-in-a-lifetime conversation about the long history and boundless future of their beloved medium. Ballroom 20
Categories:  Animation | Comic Books | Webcomics | Writers & Writing

11:00-12:00 Indies in Comics— Do you intend to create the next great comic book, action figure, or the like? If so, you know that doing so as an independent can be difficult. What should you do? How do you get started? The Antidote Trust is here to answer many of your questions. TAT, the ultimate independent creators' collective, produces comics, action figures—nearly anything—and rivals the industry's top companies in quality and professional outlook. TAT is a diverse group, including men and women from across the country and from all ethnicities. Their projects range from sci-fi to standard superhero to Asian/Indian mythology to noir to twists on today's society. These trailblazers will discuss making independent projects that challenge the majors in production value, originality, and professionalism. Room 2
Categories:  Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Comic Books | Webcomics | Writers & Writing

11:00-12:00 Professional Writing: Threat or Menace?— Let's talk writing, creativity, and selling (and selling out), and what the world of professional writing is like. Questions that you've always wanted to ask? Creative blocks bugging you? Wondered what the H*O*L*L*Y*W*O*O*D life is really like? Show up and get answers to those questions. This no-holds-barred talk is moderated by J. Michael Straczynski. Room 5AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Movies | Seminars & Workshops | Television | Writers & Writing

11:00-12:00 The Comic Art of J. G. Jones— It's the summer of J.G.! Come celebrate with Comic-Con special guest J.G. Jones, the artist behind the summer blockbusters Wanted and Final Crisis as he discusses his work on everything from 52 and Marvel Boy to some hidden movements from earlier in his career. Hosted by DC Comics senior story editor Ian Sattler. Room 8
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Movies

11:00-12:00 LGBT Portrayals in Comics— With the increased number of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) characters in both mainstream and indie comics today, it's time to examine how they're faring. Has this increased presence meant better and more complex portrayals, or is there more to be explored? Has the call for "positive" portrayals been beneficial, or has it left LGBT characters one-dimensional? And what can we expect in the future? Join moderator Patricia Jeres (Prism board member and talent and industry relations chair) and panelists Perry Moore (author of Hero, winner of the Lambda Literary Award; executive producer of Disney's The Chronicles of Narnia series), Gail Simone (Birds of Prey, Wonder Woman), Judd Winick (Green Arrow and Black Canary), and Bob Schreck (group editor, DC Comics) for this insightful discussion. Room 10
Categories:  Comic Books

11:30-12:30 Spotlight on Neil Googe— From Welcome to Tranquility to WildCats: World’s End, it’s no secret that artist Neil Googe is a talent on the rise!  Find out all you want to know about this up-and-coming star artist with moderator and WildStorm senior editor Ben Abernathy, including plans that will surely change the WildStorm Universe! Room 3
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

11:30-12:30 From the K Chronicles to The Knight Life: Keith Knight— Help celebrate the release of Comic-Con favorite Keith Knight's The Complete K Chronicles, a 500-page omnibus collection of the Harvey Award–winning comic strip. Knight will present his hilarious slideshow, chronicling his jump from self-published zines to award-winning comic strip, ending with his new syndicated daily strip, The Knight Life, recently launched by United Features Syndicate. Room 4
Categories:  Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books

11:30-12:30 SPORE: One-on-One with Will Wright— Will Wright is best known for creating the SimCity and The Sims video game franchises, the latter of which has sold more than 100 million games to date. In 2007, he was given the Vanguard Award from the Producer’s Guild of America, making him the first person in the videogame industry to receive such an honor. Wright’s next video game, SPORE, is scheduled for release on September 7. Will Wright will be making his first-ever appearance at the San Diego Comic-Con, where he will be talking about one of the most anticipated games of 2008 – Spore. He’ll also highlight the MashON SPORE Comic Book Creator, a unique interactive tool which makes it easy to bring your SPORE creature to life in a comic book story. Room 6CDEF
Categories:  Comic Books | Gaming | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Webcomics

11:30-1:00 Comics Arts Conference Session #2: Comics Pedagogy— As comics find more mainstream acceptance, they are increasingly being incorporated into higher education. This panel looks at comics in the classroom both as texts and as tools. Jeffrey Kahan (University of Laverne) and David Baldizon (School of Arts and Enterprise) discuss their use of comic books to teach English composition and to foster greater cultural awareness more generally through the exploration of comics' social, historical and literary significance. Patrick Jagoda (Duke University) considers how to incorporate comics as a medium into an otherwise "high literary" and theoretical curriculum. Chris "Tof" Eklund, Aaron Kashtan, and James Reaves (University of Florida) present the innovative approaches to comics studies currently being practiced by graduate students in the University of Florida's Department of English, focusing on the uses of Lovecraft adaptations, Scott Pilgrim's video game logic, and art spiegelman's funny animals. A professional development certificate for teachers is available for this session. Room 30AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comics Arts Conference | Horror and Suspense | Writers & Writing

12:00-1:00 Spotlight on Paul Gulacy— One of the most exciting artists working in comics, Comic-Con special guest Paul Gulacy has a career spanning over 30 years. Famous for his cinematic style on books such as Master of Kung Fu, Gulacy talks about his work, past, present, and future. Room 8
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

12:00-1:00 How Not to Break into Comics— There have been countless articles and panels on how to break into comics, but very few on how not to. Randal C. Jarrell (managing editor at Oni Press), Jennifer de Guzman (editor-in-chief of SLG Publishing), and other industry insiders discuss the common and often-hilarious mistakes people make when trying to pitch or get work in the comics industry. This unique inside perspective will help any prospective creator learn how to navigate the potential pitfalls that doom far too many in their attempts to break into comics. If you want to work in comics, you do not want to miss this panel! Room 10
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops | Webcomics | Writers & Writing

12:00-1:00 Comics Experience: How to Build a Comic Book Art Portfolio— ComicsExperience.com owner and renowned comic book editor Andy Schmidt leads a panel with special guest star artists on how to build the perfect art portfolio. Topics include when is your artwork ready, what kind of work to include, how to conduct yourself with a portfolio reviewer, and much more, including Q&A. Room 30CDE
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops

12:00-1:00 Classics Illustrated— Classics Illustrated is back, and it's got company! Publishers ranging from Marvel to the Bible house Thomas Nelson are offering James Bond adaptations, manga versions of Shakespeare, and everything in between. How do writers and artists face the scary task of making the classics fresh while living up to the original works' greatness? Rick Geary, Roy Thomas, David Seidman, and Jim Salicrup (editor-in-chief, Papercutz) reveal how they've been doing it. Room 32AB
Categories:  Anime & Manga | Comic Books

12:30-1:30 Spotlight on Eddie Campbell— Comic-Con special guest Eddie Campbell talks about his books, including From Hell, The Fate of the Artist and his latest, due for release at Comic-Con, The Amazing Remarkable Monsieur Leotard, His co-writer on the latter, Dan Best, will also be on hand to answer questions. Room 3
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

12:30-1:30 DC: Superman: Man of Tomorrow— The groundwork is being laid now for the next phase of Superman's heroic career. The architects of Superman's future are here to give you a glimpse of what is to come. Featuring Superman senior editor Matt Idelson, Geoff Johns (Action Comics), James Robinson (Superman), Renato Guedes (Superman), and more! Room 6B
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Superheroes

12:30-1:30 William Katt: Greatest American Hero Comic— Join Alex, Justin, and Pete from Pulp Secret for one of the biggest announcements at this year's Comic-Con, an event that's been 25 years in the making. Catastrophic Comics' William Katt (Greatest American Hero), Christopher Folino (Gamers), and Derek McCaw (Fanboy Planet) along with Arcana Studios' Sean O'Reilly (The Clockwork Girl) are on hand for an interview and Q&A. Room 7AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Superheroes | Television

1:00-2:00 Modern Masters: Live!— Modern Masters editor Eric Nolen-Weathington brings together three of the greatest artists in comics—Frank Cho (Liberty Meadows, Mighty Avengers), Michael Golden (Micronauts, The 'Nam), and Mark Schultz (Xenozoic Tales, Superman: Man of Steel)—for a conversation about art, comics, and beyond! Room 5AB
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books

1:00-2:00 Activision with Stan Lee— From webslinging to forming the ultimate alliance of superheroes, Marvel and Activision continue to bring many of the world's most popular and beloved comic book heroes to life like never before. Explore, behind the scenes, how the teams draw inspiration from a generation of Stan Lee's legendary Marvel comics to re-create the most authentic heroes and advanced superpowers in high-definition for today's gamer. Stan Lee, members from Activision's development studios Shaba Games and Vicarious Visions, and former game designer and current comic writer Brian Reed present an engaging discussion and preview of the imagination, creative process, and technology used to develop the most advanced superhero games ever. Room 6A
Categories:  Comic Books | Gaming | Superheroes

1:00-2:00 Mark and Sergio— The world’s fastest cartoonist joins forces with the Comic-Con 2008 weekend record holder for panel moderation! Yes, it’s Mark Evanier and Sergio Aragonés together again. Expect lots of talk on Groo and anything else these two whirlwinds are conspiring to bring us in the near future. Room 8
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

1:00-2:00 Bongo Comics— Celebrate 15 years of mischief and merriment with Bongo Comics. Be a party to the party as managing editor Terry Delegeane and creative director Bill Morrison host a panel featuring the writers and artists who create the comics and books based on Matt Groening's phenomenal TV shows. Find out what's in the future for the upstart comic book company that Bart built. This is a "must-attend" panel for all fans of The Simpsons and Futurama. Room 10
Categories:  Animation | Comic Books | Humor & Satire

1:00-2:00 Comics Arts Conference Session #3: Comics and the Law— James Cooper (California Western School of Law) illustrates how legal scholarship can be presented in a comics format. Glenn Zucman (CSU-Long Beach) and Lee Le (CSU-Long Beach) address the question "Is Intellectual Property an Oxymoron?" in both the traditional comics medium as well as new forms of interactivity and distribution. Room 30AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comics Arts Conference | Comics Law School | Superheroes

1:00-2:00 Hi-Fi Coloring Workshop— Brian Miller (Superman) and Kristy Miller (Hi-Fi Color for Comics) share their tips, tricks, and techniques for coloring comics. Want to learn how to color? Join Brian and Kristy for a coloring demonstration and Q&A session. Room 30CDE
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops

1:00-2:00 The Future of the Comics Pamphlet— Are serialized comics in a death-spiral? Is the graphic novel the sole shape of comics to come? Retailers including Carr D'Angelo (Earth 2 Comics), publishing representatives including Joe Keatinge (Image Comics), Eric Shanower (The Age of Bronze), and cartoonists discuss the state of the periodical with moderator Douglas Wolk (Reading Comics). Room 32AB
Categories:  Comic Books

1:15-2:00 How to Tell a Story— Get a deep insight into the craft of storytelling from these masters in the field: David Gerrold (TV writer, author of 30+ novels), William F. Nolan (TV and film writer, author of over a dozen novels), George Clayton Johnson (Twilight Zone, Star Trek, Ocean's 11, Logan's Run), John Truby (owner, John Truby's Writer's Studio, author, Anatomy of Story), and Marc Scott Zicree (TV writer, executive producer, Sliders; author of The Twilight Zone Companion). Moderated by Chas Holloway with Shadowstar Games president Mark O'Bannon. Room 4
Categories:  Comic Books | Gaming | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television | Writers & Writing

1:30-2:30 Conan Comics and Beyond— Dark Horse Comics revitalized Conan in 2004—now it's set to launch stunning interpretations of Robert E. Howard heroes Kull and Solomon Kane in 2008. Conan editor Philip Simon moderates a discussion of the upcoming titles with creators who've worked on Howard comics past and present—Scott Allie (Solomon Kane), Will Conrad (Kull), Dave Stewart (Solomon Kane), and José Villarrubia (Conan)—focusing on the company's new series and adapting Howard's works to comics. Room 3
Categories:  Comic Books | Science Fiction & Fantasy

1:45-2:45 Marvel: X-Men— The X-Men have a new home and a new direction in Manifest Destiny. Join this star-studded, must-attend panel with the writers of the X-Verse, including Ed Brubaker (Uncanny X-Men), Matt Fraction (Uncanny X-Men), Chris Yost (X-Force), Craig Kyle (X-Force), C.B. Cebulski (X-Men: Manifest Destiny), Daniel Way (Deadpool), Marjorie Liu (NYX), Axel Alonso (X-Men group editor), Nick Lowe (X-Men editor, and more as they lay out the plans for this bold new direction! Room 6B
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Superheroes

2:00-3:00 The Middleman— Creator and executive producer Javier Grillo-Marxuach (Lost) and The Middleman actors Matt Keeslar (Dune) and Natalie Morales (CSI: Miami) discuss the bizarre world of The Middleman. Based on the graphic novels by Javier Grillo-Marxuach, The Middleman follows the surreal life of twenty-something Wendy Watson as she gets recruited by a top secret agency to fight comic book-esque criminals under the guidance of her straight-laced boss, The Middleman. Room 5AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Television

2:00-3:00 Spotlight on Todd Klein— Eisner Award-winning letterer and logo designer Todd Klein (Sandman, Fables) is joined by moderator Mark Evanier (Fanboy, Kirby: King of Comics) for a discussion of his 30-plus years in comics, from early days on staff at DC and lettering by hand to his present-day freelance career on many titles for DC, Marvel, and others, mainly on the computer. Focus will be on the intricacies of lettering, logo design, and more, as Todd and Mark show and discuss images of classic comics logos. Todd will also cover his recent self-published signed prints by Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman and give away several copies of each. Room 8
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

2:00-3:00 Spotlight on Jim Woodring: Please Stand By— Comic-Con special guest Jim Woodring (The Frank Book) presents a slide show with commentary providing a rare overview of his life, career, motivations, methods, and dark personal secrets. Q&A session to follow. Room 10
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

2:00-3:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #4: Superman’s 70th Anniversary— Price Hamilton (American Falls High School) compares three different versions of the Superman origin story and three versions of the Jewish folk tale "The Golem of Prague" to demonstrate how certain images begin to appropriate larger meanings through their consistent repetition. Liam Burke (National University of Galway) asks what makes some heroes "super," examining the superhero archetype to uncover the superhero secret identity and to discover who are the "Men of Tomorrow." Ben Saunders (University of Oregon) suggests that the essence of Superman's appeal—the core of his mythic significance—may have nothing to do with his superpowers and everything to do with the most serious and profound issues of philosophical ethics. Room 30AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comics Arts Conference | Superheroes

2:00-3:00 Clickwheel: On-Demand Digital Comics for iPod and iPhone— Is the new comic shop right in the palm of your hand? Join Clickwheel editor-in-chief Tim Demeter for a demonstration of the latest in mobile comics' technology. Tim will discuss the emergence of mobile content and digital delivery in the comic book industry and how it's changing the landscape of the business. Learn how to download and sync comics on your iPod or how to receive them on demand on your iPhone or iPod Touch! Creators interested in taking advantage of these new methods of distribution won't want to miss the site demonstration, as Clickwheel.net is free for anyone to use. Room 32AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Webcomics

2:30-3:30 Dumbrella— Artists from Dumbrella, one of the most popular online comics collectives, discuss webcomics, independent publishing, and subverting popular culture. Feel free to quiz Andrew Bell (The Creatures in My Head), Sam Brown (explodingdog), Jon Rosenberg (Goats), and Richard Stevens III (Diesel Sweeties), along with special guests M.C. Frontalot and Meredith Gran (Octopus Pie), about anything your Internet heart desires. Room 3
Categories:  Comic Books | Webcomics

3:00-4:00 Spotlight on Bill Willingham— Both a master storyteller and an incredible artist, Bill Willingham has created a huge following for his books. His credits range from DCU's Salvation Run and Shadowpact to the already classic Vertigo Fables and Jack of Fables and the new House of Mystery. Hosted by superstar Fables artist Mark Buckingham, this panel is sure to thrill! Room 2
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Writers & Writing

3:00-4:00 Spotlight on Ed Brubaker— The Comic-Con special guest Ed Brubaker is the Eisner Award–winning writer (Best Writer 2007, Best New Series 2007—Criminal) whose work on Captain America, Daredevil, X-Men, and Criminal has catapulted him into the upper echelon of today's best comic writers. Ed talks about what's next in this Spotlight presentation. Room 7AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Writers & Writing

3:00-4:00 TwoMorrows Publishing Today— Join the crew from TwoMorrows Publishing for a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into creating all their fan-favorite books and magazines on the art and history of comics! Publisher John Morrow, Modern Masters' Eric Nolen-Weathington, Write Now!'s Danny Fingeroth, Brick Journal's Joe Meno, and Keith Dallas, author of TwoMorrows' new Flash Companion book unveil new products and offer exclusive previews of upcoming items. Room 10
Categories:  Comic Books

3:00-4:00 How to Break into Comics: Freddie E. Williams II— A few years ago, Freddie E. Williams II (artist on Robin, The Flash, Seven Soldiers: Mister Miracle, and others) broke into comics through DC Comics’ Talent Search. Since that time, Freddie has worked on some of DC’s top-selling books. In this panel, Freddie lends his unique insights about breaking into comics by describing what editors are looking for, what you should include in your portfolio, and how to hang on to a job once you’ve gotten it. Room 32AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops

3:30-4:30 Entertainment Weekly’s The Visionaries: Comic Creators— Jim Lee (All-Star Batman & Robin), John Cassaday (The Astonishing X-Men), Matt Fraction (Casanova), Mike Mignola (Hellboy), Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead), Colleen Doran (A Distant Soil), and Grant Morrison (Final Crisis) are the writers and artists blazing a path into the future of comics. Coming from both the mainstream and the independent worlds, these men and women can provide unique insights into the comics landscape. Moderated by Entertainment Weekly staff editor Nisha Gopalan. Room 6A
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

3:30-5:00 Golden and Silver Age of Comics— It's the amazing annual gathering of the resident greats from the Golden and Silver Ages of comics! Moderated by Mark Evanier, this year's list of luminaries includes Comic-Con's special guests Al Feldstein (EC editor/writer/artist), Victor Gorelick (Archie Comics), Al Jaffee (MAD Magazine), plus Marvel comics writer/artist Larry Lieber, and artists Russ Heath (G.I. Combat, Sgt. Rock) and Jerry Robinson (Batman). Filled with personal reminiscences and anecdotes, this panel promises to be a treasure trove of comics history! Room 8
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

3:30-4:30 Bat-Manga! Chip Kidd and the Secret History of Batman in Japan— Chip Kidd (Mythology) lifts the veil on officially licensed, original Batman manga stories from 1966 Japan, not previously collected or translated in over 40 years. Narrated slide show, with Q&A to follow. Room 30AB
Categories:  Anime & Manga | Comic Books | Superheroes

4:00-5:00 Dark Horse Horror— Dark Horse Comics is home to some of the best horror comics ever produced, from Mike Mignola’s Hellboy and Steve Niles’ Criminal Macabre to upcoming collections of the classic horror magazines Creepy and Eerie. Dark Horse editors Scott Allie and Shawna Gore and a handful of our top creators take a look ahead at their spookiest projects for 2008, including a sneak peek at the 25th anniversary edition of Bernie Wrightson’s Frankenstein and a special appearance by the artist. Room 2
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Horror and Suspense

4:00-5:00 Minx: Your Life in Pictures— In its first year, Minx found a whole new audience by creating original graphic novels for teenage girls. This year, Minx is breaking all the rules with another onslaught of amazing books. Panelists include group editor Shelly Bond and creators Cecil Castellucci (Janes in Love), David Hahn (All Nighter), Ryan Kelly (New York Four), Deborah Vankin (Insta-Life), and Brian Wood (DMZ, New York Four). Room 10
Categories:  Comic Books

4:00-5:00 Star Trek Without a Blueprint: How Books and Comics Keep Expanding the Boundaries of the Star Trek Universe— Andy Mangels (moderator and Star Trek author), Margaret Clark (executive editor, Pocket Books), Andy Schmidt (senior editor, IDW) and Star Trek authors Kevin Dilmore, Dave Mack, Scott Tipton, Wil Wheaton, and Dayton Ward discuss the future of Star Trek publishing. Room 32AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television | Writers & Writing

4:15-5:15 Lionsgate/Marvel: Hulk vs. Wolverine— Alberta, Canada: Over the past week, the Incredible Hulk has been tearing a line across the Canadian wilderness, leaving a swathe of destruction in his wake. He has to be stopped, and there’s only one man up to the job. He’s the best at what he does, but what he does isn’t very nice. He’s Wolverine, an elite agent of Canada’s top secret Department H, and he’s been put on Hulk’s trail with a single objective: stop the green goliath...at all costs. Hulk and Wolverine are about to enter the fiercest battle of their lives. And they have no idea that there are a few unpleasant surprises waiting for them on the other side. Meet Craig Kyle (supervising producer/co-writer), Frank Paur (producer/supervising director), Christopher Yost (co-writer), and others involved in this Marvel Animation milestone and watch the complete Hulk vs. Wolverine months before its January 2009 Blu-ray and DVD release! Hall H
Categories:  Animation | Comic Books | Superheroes

4:30-5:30 UClick: Mobile Comics— GoComics, the leader in online and mobile comics and manga, looks at a market truly coming in to its own. Panelists will discuss the evolution of comic strips and comic books in the digital age and examine new publishing platforms that make mobile viewing part of a complete comics experience. They’ll introduce new content from their partners: Stan Lee, Tokyopop, Virgin Comics, IDW, Devil’s Due, Papercutz, TMNT and more. Learn about what the future of mobile comics promises for fans and creators alike. Room 30AB
Categories:  Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Webcomics

4:45-5:45 Marvel: Mondo Marvel— 2008 has already been a huge success for Marvel in all corners of the Universe. Now, join the industry's top editors and creators like Greg Pak (Skaar, Son of Hulk), Matt Fraction (Invincible Iron Man), Ed Brubaker (Captain America), Jeff Parker (Agents of Atlas), C.B. Cebulski  (Loners), Warren Simons (editor), Mark Paniccia (editor), Jim McCann (Marvel Publishing) and special guests to find out what's to come for Iron Man, Hulk, Daredevil, cosmic, the FF, and all things Marvel! Room 6A
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Superheroes

4:45-5:45 "SCREAM" Like a Girl— Spike loves women. And the coolest women on the planet are the ones who destroy aliens, defeat serial killers and battle evil villains with their superpowers! In honor of Spike's ScreamAwards 2008—the first and most important televised event that celebrates the genius creative talent behind the powerhouse Hollywood genres of comic books, science fiction, fantasy and horror—Spike brings you a candid discussion of these genres from the women they love, who are poised to rule the fanboy's universe! Moderator Kevin Smith (Clerks), the brilliant writer, director, and comic book genius hosts an all-female panel of actresses, artists, writers, directors, and producers, including Gale Ann Hurd (Terminator, Terminator 2), Lucy Lawless (Xena, Battlestar Galactica), Jaime King (The Spirit, Sin City), and Pia Guerra (Y: The Last Man), in a discussion about working in these genres from their unique point of view. Twenty lucky panel attendees will win tickets to the 2008 Scream Awards. Ballroom 20
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Movies | Television | Writers & Writing

5:00-6:00 The Making of the Vertigo Encyclopedia— Dig into the wealth of information DC Comics, Vertigo, and DK Publishing have and find out how a comic book imprint’s encyclopedia is created, from getting the material to organizing it and putting it out on the shelves. Get the down and dirty info from Karen Berger (senior VP/executive editor—Vertigo), Alastair Dougall (senior editor—DK Publishing), and Alex Irvine (author), and watch the world premiere of the documentary The Making of the Vertigo Encyclopedia. Room 2
Categories:  Comic Books

5:00-6:00 Spotlight on Mike W. Barr— What would comics in the '80s and '90s have been without Camelot 3000, Batman and the Outsiders, The Maze Agency, and Mantra. The creator of those titles, Comic-Con special guest Mike W. Barr, will answer that question and pretty much any others, as well as what he's up to nowadays. (Just don't ask him what the "W." stands for.) With a special guest moderator...maybe. Room 10
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Superheroes | Writers & Writing

5:00-6:00 Comics Experience: How to Write a Pitch!— Hosted by Andy Schmidt (IDW senior editor, GI Joe, Star Trek), panelists Mark Waid (BOOM! Studios editor-in-chief, Flash, Kingdom Come), James Lucas Jones (Oni Press editor-in-chief), Rob Levin (Top Cow Entertainment editor-in-chief), Chris Gage (The Authority, Invincible Iron Man), C. B. Cebulski (Drain, Wonderlost, X-Men: Divided We Stand) and Nick Lowe (Marvel X-Men editor) offer tips on writing pitches, pitching verbally, and getting your pitch read! Want to write a comic? Don’t miss this panel! Questions from the audience welcome. Room 30CDE
Categories:  Comic Books | Writers & Writing

5:00-6:00 The Third Annual Comics Podcasting Panel— The best of the best in comics podcasting returns to San Diego for the third annual discussion of comics podcasting and how it's affected the comics media. A no-holds-barred discussion with comics podcasters Bryan Deemer and Peter Rios (Comic Geek Speak), Charlito and Mr. Phil (Indie Spinner Rack), Joe Gonzalez and Jimmy Aquino (Comic News Insider), Josh Flanagan and Conor Kilpatrick (iFanboy), and John Mayo and Bob Bretall (Comic Book Page). Room 32AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Fandom

5:30-6:30 Comics Arts Conference Workshop: Language Arts and Cross Curriculum Comics Seminar— Lisa Vizcarra (Carquinez Middle School) demonstrates the application of comics in the K-8 environment in Language Arts classes as well as across the curriculum. Using a step-by-step approach, she explains how comics—both published and student-created—can be used as pedagogical tools to explain plot, setting, and dialogue; to demonstrate the laws of physics; to learn the operation of new technology; and to develop skills in public speaking. Room 30AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comics Arts Conference

5:30-6:30 Dark Castle: RocknRolla— Launched in 1999, Dark Castle Entertainment was founded to create a unique brand of horror movies inspired by the works of legendary filmmaker William Castle. Recently, Dark Castle entered into an arrangement with CIT Group Inc. to broaden the company into a full genre label encompassing feature films, Home Video and comic books. Under the supervision of producer Joel Silver, Dark Castle's upcoming roster includes the action film RocknRolla, directed by Guy Ritchie and starring Gerard Butler, scheduled for an October 2008 release; Ninja Assassin, directed by James McTeigue and starring Korean music sensation Rain; and Whiteout, directed by Dominic Sena and starring Kate Beckinsale. Its Home Video titles will include The Hills Run Red, starring Sophie Monk, William Sadler and Tad Hilgenbrink, and comic book projects will include Ferryman, by Marc Andreyko and Jonathan Wayshak. Appearing in person: Gerard Butler and Guy Ritchie (Rocknrolla), Rain (Ninja Assassin), and producer Joel Silver. Hall H
Categories:  Comic Books | Horror and Suspense | Movies

6:00-7:00 The Secret History of Manga in the U.S.— It's been 30 years since the first manga was translated into English. From MixxZine to Raijin, from Astro Boy to OEL, join Jason Thompson (Manga: The Complete Guide) on a visual time machine full of dreamers, censors, antiwar activists, and other weirdness. Including ninja. Lots of ninja. Room 4
Categories:  Anime & Manga | Comic Books

6:00-7:00 Spotlight on Frank Beddor— Comic-Con special guest Frank Beddor, author of the best-selling "Looking Glass Wars" series, and creator of the Hatter M graphic novel, talks about the creation of his books, gives the story behind the story, and presents concept art from a wide array of artists who have visualized his text: Ben Templesmith (30 Day of Night), Doug Chiang (Star Wars), and Stephan Martiniere (I, Robot). He'll reveal the new online game The Card Soldier Wars, show a special effects trailer for The Looking Glass Wars movie, and discuss how each of these mediums connect and extend The Looking Glass Wars universe. Room 5AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Gaming | Movies | Writers & Writing

6:00-7:00 DC Nation— DC Senior VP/executive editor Dan DiDio hosts this gabfest with Keith Giffen (Reign in Hell, Ambush Bug: Year None), Geoff Johns (Action Comics, Green Lantern), Brad Meltzer (DCU: Last Will and Testament), and some of the top talent in the industry, talking and teasing upcoming stories! Come learn the secrets behind the most talked about events of the summer! Room 6A
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Superheroes

6:00-7:00 Devil’s Due Presents: Hack/Slash and Beyond!— Hollywood screenwriter Justin Marks (Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li) joins Hack/Slash creator Tim Seeley (Halloween: Nightdance) to talk about the new H/S film and his new DDP/Capcom comic book series Bionic Commando. Also featuring director Todd Lincoln, Hack/Slash Annual stars from The Suicide Girls, and a blockbuster surprise guest you won’t want to miss! Room 8
Categories:  Comic Books | Gaming | Movies

6:00-7:30 From Fan to Creator: Goal Setting for Creative Types— Which side of the convention table do you want to be on: artist or fan? And what's keeping you from getting there? If you have an idea in your head that you've had trouble bringing into reality, you might benefit from this fun and practical goal-setting workshop, designed specifically for the Comic-Con crowd. Teacher and life purpose coach Douglas Neff will give you simple, proven techniques for achieving your most important goals. And this year, a surprise guest panel will fill your head with inspiration before you leave. Whether you want to write your own screenplay, draw your first comic, or shoot your independent film, you're sure to get something useful from this informative and energizing workshop. Room 30CDE
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops | Writers & Writing

6:00-7:00 The Comics Blogosphere— The blog explosion has opened up a new frontier for comics criticism. This lively (and inevitably bloggable) discussion features David Brothers (4thletter!), Jeff Lester (The Savage Critic(s)), Laura Hudson (Myriad Issues), Tim Robins (Mindless Ones) and moderator Douglas Wolk (Reading Comics). Room 32AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Fandom

6:25-8:00 Independents: A Guide for the Creative Spirit— What does it really take to be a successful comic book creator? This documentary explores the personality traits and driving passions of the successful writer/artist, through interviews with dozens of acclaimed comic book creators. Post-screening Q&A participants include Wendy Pini (Elfquest), Kevin Eastman (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Jim Woodring (Frank), Shannon Wheeler (Too Much Coffee Man), Keith Knight (The Knight Life), Dr. James Kaufman, and director Chris Brandt. Screening as part of the Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival (CCI:IFF). Room 26AB
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Movies | Webcomics | Writers & Writing

6:30-7:30 So You Want to Do a Graphic Novel— Writer and publisher Larry Young assembles a team of writers and artists to unlock the secrets and unveil the mysteries of completing your own graphic novel. Panelists Adam Beechen (Final Crisis), Steven Grant (Two Guns), Kirsten Baldock (Smoke and Guns), Matt Silady (The Homeless Channel), and Manny Bello (Dugout) kibbitz, cajole, and inspire you. Room 3
Categories:  Comic Books | Writers & Writing

7:00-9:00 Will Eisner: Portrait of a Sequential Artist— Get a look behind the mask of The Spirit creator in this feature-length documentary movie. With a triumphant world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, the production features the legendary writer/artist Will Eisner with Frank Miller, Stan Lee, Jules Feiffer, Jack Kirby, Kurt Vonnegut, and many others. Following this unique free movie screening, director/producer Andrew D. Cooke and writer/producer Jon B. Cooke will be available for a dynamic Q&A session. Room 7AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Movies | Nighttime Programming

7:30-8:30 Geek Roundtable Live— Be a part of a live podcast with the guys from GeekRoundTable.com, the coolest geek podcast on the Internet. The guys will discuss the latest and hottest in comics, movies, television, DVDs, and games. Put your two cents in and get free prizes to boot, and maybe the guys will let you sit in the empty chair! Featuring Ned Cato Jr., Jesse Lopez, Chris Sturhann, Mary Sturhann, Matt Jeffery, Wesley Strawther, and Johann Joseph starring as himself. Room 10
Categories:  Animation | Anime & Manga | Comic Books | Fandom | Gaming | Movies | Nighttime Programming | Television

8:00-8:30 Lionsgate and Marvel: Punisher: War Zone!— Producer Gale Anne Hurd (The Incredible Hulk) and stars Ray Stevenson (Rome) and Julie Benz (Rambo, Dexter) take you into the world of the Punisher for an exclusive first look. You won't be prepared! Room 6B
Categories:  Comic Books | Movies | Nighttime Programming

9:00-10:00 ComicsPRO "Fresh Start Friday"— ComicsPRO board members Joe Field (Flying Colors Comics, Concord, CA), Chris Powell (Lone Star Comics, Dallas, TX), Amanda Fisher (Muse Comics, Missoula, MT), and Carr D'Angelo (Earth-2, Sherman Oaks, CA) and other ComicsPRO members welcome retailers, publishers, creators, and fans to this event, which will include a buffet of pastries, fresh fruit, juices and coffee, as well as gifts from ComicsPRO. Note: The cost for "Fresh Start Friday" is $5 per person, payable in cash at the door, and requires advance reservations. Room 21
Categories:  Comic Books | Retailer Programming

10:00-11:00 ComicBase User Group Meeting— Attention all comics collectors! ComicBase, the world’s premier program for managing comic collections, will be on hand for a Comic-Con exclusive event. Don’t miss out on this once-in-a-year opportunity to hear creator Pete Bickford chat about special program features, learn ComicBase tips and tricks, and get all the inside dirt on the making of the program. Be prepared for the cutting edge of collection software as Pete unveils the secrets of ComicBase’s exciting “Atlas” release. And stay for the latest developments for Atomic Avenue—the world’s best place for buying and selling comics online—powered by ComicBase! With exciting limited-edition prizes for lucky attendees, drop on by and get your ComicBase questions personally answered. Room 3
Categories:  Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Comic Books

10:00-11:00 DC Talent Search 2— Learn what DC Comics looks for in artists and how to improve your chances of becoming a working professional! Panelists will discuss the different needs of the DC Universe, Vertigo, WildStorm, MAD magazine, Minx, and Zuda. This extremely informative orientation session will explain how DC's Talent Search works and provide numerous tips and tricks on how to improve your work and explore opportunities. In order 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
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops

10:00-11:00 Marvel: Your Universe— Become an integral member of the Marvel Creative Committee as Kevin Feige (president, Marvel Studios), Dan Buckley (president, publishing), Joe Quesada (editor-in-chief, publishing), and Craig Kyle (senior VP, creative development, Marvel Animation) sit down with you and get your thoughts on all things Marvel. They’ll reveal what’s on the horizon with Marvel Studios, Publishing, and Animation and ask for your feedback and insights on what Marvel has done and is planning to do. From the day that The House of Ideas was built, Marvel has been your universe and now more than ever they’d like to hear what you have to say about everything from Marvel cinematic continuity to the upcoming slate of new animated television series in 2009 to the Skrull infiltration of our world. Room 6A
Categories:  Animation | Comic Books | Movies | Television

10:00-11:00 Batman: Brave & Bold— Join producers Sam Register (Teen Titans) and James Tucker (Justice League Unlimited) as they discuss their latest take on the Dark Knight from their new show premiering this fall on Cartoon Network. Show story editor Michael Jelenic (The Batman), directors Brandon Vietti (Superman Doomsday), Ben Jones (Teen Titans: Trouble In Tokyo), Michael Chang (Teen Titans), voice director Andrea Romano (Superman Doomsday) and the new voice of Batman, Diedrich Bader (Surfs Up), will join Sam and James for an exclusive first look at the series, a brief discussion, followed by a Q&A session! Room 6B
Categories:  Animation | Comic Books | Superheroes | Television

10:00-11:00 Retail Relevance!— Comic book shops have always been the goldmine of popular culture—even more so as stores exist today. So how do you keep your store the center of excitement, the place to be and be seen? Join the discussion with publisher Dan Vado (Slave Labor Graphics) and retail comic divas Nancy McCann (Comics Unlimited, Westminster, CA) and Mimi Cruz (Night Flight Comics, Salt Lake City, UT) for the inside track of what to look for, how to look for it, and why you should stock it! Room 22
Categories:  Comic Books | Retailer Programming

10:30-11:30 10 Years of DC Direct— Celebrate DC Direct's tenth anniversary with the creative minds behind your favorite action figures, statues, and busts! Panelists including VP—design/DC Direct creative Georg Brewer, DC Direct design director Jim Fletcher, a sculptor Jim Shoop and others discuss the first ten years of DC Direct and take a look into the future with the DCU, Watchmen movie, and World of Warcraft. Room 8
Categories:  Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

10:30-11:30 One on One with Terry Moore— The creator of Strangers in Paradise talks about his popular new series Echo and writing the new launches of Runaways and Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane for Marvel. Q & A to follow. Room 10
Categories:  Comic Books | Writers & Writing

10:30-11:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #5: Focus on Mark Buckingham— Comics historian Alex Boney (Ohio State University) conducts a wide-ranging discussion of the comic book medium with artist Mark Buckingham (Miracleman, Fables, Peter Parker: Spider-Man). Room 30AB
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comics Arts Conference

10:30-12:00 Comic Book Law School 202: Why Can’t We All Just Get Along?— Noted attorney Michael Lovitz, author of the acclaimed The Trademark and Copyright Book comic book, deals with more advanced issues facing authors, artists, and designers, particularly once they've "broken through" and have started publishing and selling (and maybe merchandising too). Creators aren't the only ones facing potential problems and issues—publishers, distributors, retailers, and even the ultimate consumers can find themselves facing legal issues they never expected. Infringements, knockoffs, lawsuits, cybersquatters, blogs, and parodies are just a few of the potential problems that may arise once creative works come to market. This session explores how copyright and trademark rights are enforced, how one's legal muscles may be flexed, and what to do when finding yourself in a legal mine field. Plus discussion about significant recent legislation and legal decisions that are likely to affect the field of popular culture and how these issues play an important role in your creative and business plans. 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 one credit of California MCLE.] Room 30CDE
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comics Law School | Seminars & Workshops | Writers & Writing

11:00-12:00 Print The Legend: Mike Grell and Mark Ryan— Comic-Con special guest Mike Grell (Legion of Superheroes, The Warlord, Green Arrow: the Longbow Hunters, Jon Sable, Freelance) and actor-writer Mark Ryan (Robin of Sherwood, The Prestige, King Arthur, voice of Bumblebee in Transformers), swap outrageous yarns and discuss the secret world behind their new Comicmix.com project The Pilgrim with editor Mike Gold. Join Mike, Mark and Mike for a bit of insanity and Q&A session. Room 2
Categories:  Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Webcomics | Writers & Writing

11:00-12:00 Image Comics Studio Space— Howard Chaykin, Tommy Lee Edwards,  and Bryan Talbot discuss Image's hit Studio Space book, moderated by the book's editor and co-writer Joel Meadows. Room 3
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

11:00-12:00 Full Coverage: Making the Most of Media Coverage— ComicsPRO president Joe Field (Flying Colors Comics, Concord CA), newspaper writer and comics retailer Matt Price (The Oklahoman, Speeding Bullet Comics) and Diamond Comic Distributors’ Elissa Lynch (Free Comic Book Day coordinator) present ways to improve your relationships with the media to get better coverage for your store. Caution: There may be some role playing involved! Room 22
Categories:  Comic Books | Retailer Programming

11:15-12:15 Worlds Collide: The Making of Midway's Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe— Ed Boon (Mortal Kombat) and Jimmy Palmiotti (Painkiller Jane) discuss how two billion-dollar entertainment franchises collide as Mortal Kombat warriors battle DC superheroes for the first time in this highly anticipated video game. Ed and Jimmy provide an exclusive look at never-before-seen gameplay, unveil key characters on the game's roster, and answer your questions. Room 6B
Categories:  Comic Books | Gaming | Superheroes

11:30-12:30 Marvel Cup o’ Joe— Meet the EEK himself, Joe Quesada, and surprise guests as they unveil what’s in store for all your favorite Marvel characters and creators, make some surprising announcements, and take on any and all questions! As always, this is the one no-holds barred panel that everyone’s gonna be talking about and the one panel you don’t want to miss! Room 6CDEF
Categories:  Comic Books

11:30-12:30 Mattel and DC Comics: A Heroic Partnership— You've been a fan of Mattel's popular DC toy lines, now find out the latest news, sneak peaks, and behind-the-scenes scoop on your favorite Mattel/DC action figures, including DC Universe Classics, Justice League Unlimited, The Dark Knight, and Infinite Heroes,—plus exciting new lines like Batman Brave and the Bold—as well as the world premiere of new action figures. Be on hand as representatives from Mattel, DC Comics, and Warner Bros. Entertainment offer an insightful Q&A. Brought to you by Mattycollector.com. Room 8
Categories:  Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Comic Books | Superheroes

11:30-12:30 Spotlight on Jim Starlin— The most cosmic comics creator of them all is a Comic-Con special guest. In Jim Starlin's 30+ years in comics he's produced some of the great cosmic sagas—Captain Marvel, Warlock, Dreadstar—and shown a penchant for death—The New Gods, Robin, and...well, Captain Marvel and Warlock! Starlin talks about his career and what's coming up for this talented writer and artist. Room 10
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Writers & Writing

11:30-12:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #6: Comics Studies: Developing Canon and Theory— Douglas Wolk (Reading Comics) explores how the emerging field of comics studies can avoid the mistakes the study of literature and film made in the past century. Diana Green (Minneapolis College of Art & Design) puts Scott McCloud's theories about the comics form to the test by applying them in an examination of McCloud's own creative works (Zot, New Superman Adventures, etc.). Room 30AB
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comics Arts Conference

11:55-1:00 Warner Bros.: Watchmen— A complex, multi-layered mystery adventure, Watchmen is set in an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society, and the "Doomsday Clock"— which charts the USA's tension with the Soviet Union—is permanently set at five minutes to midnight. When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the washed-up —- but no less determined —- masked vigilante Rorschach sets out to uncover a plot to kill and discredit all past and present superheroes. As he reconnects with his former crime-fighting legion—a ragtag group of retired superheroes, only one of whom has true powers —- Rorschach glimpses a wide-ranging and disturbing conspiracy with links to their shared past and catastrophic consequences for the future. Their mission is to watch over humanity...but who watches the Watchmen? Guest appearances TBA. Hall H
Categories:  Comic Books | Movies | Superheroes

12:00-1:00 50 Years of Gay Legion of Super-Heroes Fandom— The fiftieth anniversary of the Legion of Super-Heroes gives the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) fans a reason to celebrate. Join Prism Comics president Roger Klorese, Interlac APA central mailer and HIV + ME cartoonist Chris Companik, and a "legion" of pros and fans in a freewheeling discussion to find out, among other things, which male Legionnaire coveted the name "Light Lass," how Matter Eater Lad consumed whole planets without gaining an ounce, and why removing the pink from Cosmic Boy's costume made him look somehow...gayer. And, what's up with Element Lad? Room 3
Categories:  Comic Books | Fandom | Superheroes

12:00-1:00 Prince of Persia— Jordan Mechner, the creator of the Prince of Persia video game and graphic novel and screenwriter on the upcoming movie, discusses the global phenomenon that is Prince of Persia, tying together the comics and the video game industry. Room 4
Categories:  Comic Books | Gaming | Movies

12:00-12:30 ComicsPRO Update and Cookie Break!— Hey, retailers! Find out all the latest news about your trade and advocacy group from board members Joe Field, Chris Powell, Carr D'Angelo, and Amanda Fisher. They’ll fill you in on what plans are in store for ComicsPRO members, what benefits you can reap by joining, and what a difference everyone can make when they pitch in to improve the state of comics' retail. All that and cookies, too? It's a no-brainer! Room 21
Categories:  Comic Books | Retailer Programming

12:00-2:00 Steve Rude Painting Workshop— Comic book artist Steve Rude (Nexus, The Moth, Worlds Finest) demonstrates his classical approach to portrait painting with writer and Nexus editor Anina Bennett. This two-hour panel will help you simplify this often difficult and misunderstood procedure, with Rude answering all your questions and explaining the process along the way. Room 30CDE
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops

12:30-1:30 The Art of Adapting Comics to the Screen— The cinematic renaissance of comic book-based films continues, and here's your chance to learn what it takes to adapt these dream projects to the screen!  Creative Screenwriting magazine's senior editor Jeff Goldsmith hosts an amazing panel of Stan Lee (co-creator of Iron Man), Zak Penn (screenwriter, The Incredible Hulk), and Mark Fergus (co-screenwriter, Iron Man). Room 5AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Movies | Writers & Writing

12:30-1:30 Spotlight on Jim Lee: The Art of DC Universe Online (DCUO)— Jim Lee (All Star Batman and Robin, The Boy Wonder, Batman: Hush, Superman: For Tomorrow) and Carlos D'Anda (Brass, WildC.A.T.S, Bionicle, The Outsiders, JLA: Classified, Deathblow) of WildStorm Productions fame join with Chris Cao, Jared Carr and Jason Smith of Sony Online Entertainment's DC Universe Online game development team to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities faced in adapting the rich comic book art of the DC Universe to a 3D game world and delivering the same emotional impact online as the brand evokes in its other mediums; moderated by Mat Broome (Batman: No Man's Land, WildC.A.T.S) Room 6B
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Gaming

12:30-1:30 Spectacular Spider-Man— Spend some time with the cast and creators of the renowned webslinger's newest animated adventures, The Spectacular Spider-Man, a Culver Entertainment Production. Ask your burning questions about the first 13 episodes of Season 1, learn about what's in store for the next 13 and catch an exclusive sneak peek at Season 2! Michael Vogel from Sony Pictures Television Animation moderates a panel that includes supervising producer Greg Weisman (Gargoyles); supervising producer/supervising director Vic Cook (Hellboy: Blood and Iron);—character designer Sean "Cheeks" Galloway (Hellboy animated films); voice director Jamie Thomason (2007's TMNT, Spirited Away);—the voice of Spider-Man, Josh Keaton (The Young & The Restless); the voice of Mary Jane Watson, Vanessa Marshall (Star Wars: Jedi Knights II); the voice of Eddie Brock and Venom,—Ben Diskin (Codename: Kids Next Door), and the voice of Adrian Toomes and Vulture, Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street). Room 6CDEF
Categories:  Animation | Comic Books | Superheroes | Television

12:30-2:00 That ’70s (Comics) Panel— It started with Nixon and ended with Carter, but in between the 1970s showcased an incredible influx of new comics talent unheard of since the beginning of the industry in the 1930s. Moderator Mark Evanier (who worked with Jack "King" Kirby on DC’s "Fourth World" books in the ’70s) hosts Comic-Con special guests Mike W. Barr (Camelot 3000, Batman), Howard Chaykin (American Flagg!), Mike Grell (Warlord, Green Arrow), Paul Gulacy (Master of Kung Fu, Sabre), Jim Starlin (Dreadstar, Captain Marvel), Joe Staton (Green Lantern, E-Man), Len Wein (Fantastic Four, Incredible Hulk), and Bernie Wrightson (Swamp Thing, Frankenstein). Wow! That’s almost one panelist for each year in the decade! Room 8
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

12:30-2:00 Showing of the Spirit— The Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award is the industry's "hall of fame" for progressive retailers. Spirit facilitator and award recipient Joe Ferrara (Atlantis Fantasyworld, Santa Cruz, CA) shows the video presentations for this year's award finalists, with discussion about each nominated retailer, the store’s display techniques, and the other notable features. Lots of lessons for retailers here! Room 22
Categories:  Comic Books | Retailer Programming

12:30-2:00 Comics Arts Conference Session #7: Visual Language— Neil Cohn (Tufts University) explores the visual language underlying the "manga style," how it works and how it differs from the visual languages in comics developed in other cultures. Robert O'Nale Jr. (Henderson State University) uses David Mack's Kabuki to illustrate how gestalt can be an important avenue for analyzing design and meaning in comics. Alec Hosterman (Indiana University South Bend) demonstrates the dominance of hyperreality in comic art and explains how it can be utilized for further study of the art form. Room 30AB
Categories:  Anime & Manga | Comic Books | Comics Arts Conference

1:00-2:00 Spotlight on Victor Gorelick— One of the most prolific editors in comics, Victor Gorelick has entertained readers since 1958. Victor started as an art assistant at Archie Comics, since then he has served as production manager, art director, and managing editor before being named editor-in-chief. On hand to provide a retrospective of Victor's career are Fred Mausser, Archie Comics, VP sales; Mike Pellerito, Archie Comics managing editor; Betty & Veronica writer/artist Dan Parent; "Archie Freshman Year" writer Batton Lash; Jughead writer Craig Boldman; and Archie inker Rich Koslowski. The moderator is Finger Award–winning Archie writer George Gladir. Room 4
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

1:30-2:30 Scott McCloud Zot!— Legendary comics theorist Scott McCloud (Understanding Comics) offers a funny and fascinating visual presentation about his very first comic book, Zot!, and the two amazing decades that followed, in celebration of HarperCollins' new 576-page omnibus Zot!: The Complete Black and White Collection. Room 10
Categories:  Comic Books

1:30-2:30 Joss Whedon— Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and the writers and cast of his new short film, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, will show never-before-seen clips while Joss also discusses Buffy Season Eight, the Fray crossover, and the upcoming Serenity comic focusing on Shepherd Book. Ballroom 20
Categories:  Comic Books | Fandom | Horror and Suspense | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television | Writers & Writing

2:00-3:00 The World of Graphic Novels— International is part of Comic-Con’s name for a reason! An impressive roster of worldwide talent who create graphic novels—Nick Abadzis (UK, Laika), Eddie Campbell (Australia by way of Scotland, The Amazing Remarkable Monsieur Leotard), Rutu Modan (Israel, Exit Wounds), Alex Robinson (U.S., Too Cool to be Forgotten), and Adrian Tomine (U.S., Shortcomings)— join moderator good ol’ American Tom Spurgeon (comicsreporter.com) to discuss graphic novels and why they make the world go ’round. Room 3
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

2:00-3:00 Broccoli Books— Broccoli Books brings quality Japanese manga to the United States. See what they have to offer currently and what is in store for the future. Broccoli—it is cheap and healthy for you-nyo! Room 4
Categories:  Anime & Manga | Comic Books

2:00-3:00 Atom! & Portlyn Pack ’Em In!— Use the power of event marketing to push the limits of your shop! When Portlyn and Atom! Freeman bought Brave New World Comics in Santa Clarita, California, it resembled most comics shops in most suburbs. Today it's a vibrant, family-friendly center of the pop culture and comics community of Los Angeles County. Find out how you can use the same techniques they have carefully stolen from smarter retailers to make your comics shop a Brave New World of Fun! This program focuses on community outreach, fun, and profitable events and the spectacular disasters that can overtake even the most well-thought-out event. Room 22
Categories:  Comic Books | Retailer Programming

2:00-3:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #8: Playing the Hero— Peter Coogan (Institute for Comics Studies), wrestler Diamond Dallas Page (Yoga for Regular Guys), actor John Newton (Superboy), City of Heroes gamer Jospeh Cohen (Justice Knights Yahoo group), and Matthew (Feedback) Atherton (Who Wants to Be a Superhero) discuss and explore how wrestlers, actors, and gamers understand, adapt, and apply the superhero genre. Room 30AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comics Arts Conference | Fandom | Gaming | Movies | Superheroes

2:00-3:30 Scribe Awards/Media Tie-in Writers Panel— The second annual presentation of the International Association of Media-Tie-in Writers (IAMTW) "Scribe" awards, honoring such notable franchises as CSI NY, Murder She Wrote, Criminal Minds, Stargate Atlantis, Star Trek, Resident Evil and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The awards presentation is followed by a panel of nominees, including William Dietz (Hitman), Stacia Deutsch (Nancy Drew), Kevin J. Anderson (Last Days of Krypton), Steven Paul Leiva (12 Dogs of Christmas), Alan Dean Foster (Transformers), Lee Goldberg (Monk), and moderator Max Allan Collins (American Gangster). Andy Mangels (Iron Man) will present the awards. Room 32AB
Categories:  Animation | Awards Ceremonies | Comic Books | Gaming | Horror and Suspense | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television | Writers & Writing

2:15-3:15 DC: Batman: No Rest for The Dark Knight— Batman is the original dark hero. He lives a life pledged to helping the helpless and punishing the guilty, but this summer everything is going to change. With a blockbuster hit in theatres and a darker storyline than ever before, now's the time to celebrate the minds behind the bat! Senior editor Michael Marts, Grant Morrison (Batman), Paul Dini (Detective Comics), Dustin Nguyen (Detective Comics), Brian Azzarello (Joker), and others discuss the mythos of the Bat and what looms ahead for our hero. Room 6A
Categories:  Comic Books | Superheroes

2:30-3:30 Hasbro: Marvel— Jerry Jivoin, Michelle Favaloro, and Scott George of Hasbro marketing and Brian Wilk, Josh Lamb, Steve Redinger, Dwight Stall, Dave Vonner, and Logan Lubera of Hasbro Design present the Hasbro Marvel line, including Spider-Man, Iron Man, Hulk, Marvel Legends and Super Hero Squad toy lines from 2008. Also, see a sneak peek into the 2009 line and a Q&A session! Room 5AB
Categories:  Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Comic Books | Superheroes

2:30-3:30 Radical Comics!— Radical Publishing will discuss 2008 and beyond with some major announcements. On board for the Comic-Con panel will be Radical's president and publisher, Barry Levine and editor-in-chief, Dave Elliott. In addition, Steve Niles (30 Days of Night), writer of both the comic and the screenplay for his upcoming Radical project, City of Dust; Ian Edginton (Stormwatch: Post Human Division), who discusses his dark, never before seen approach to Aladdin; Sam Sarkar, writer of Caliber; Edmund Shern, writer of Freedom Formula; and Hercules designer—and cover artist for issues #1 and #2—the legendary Jim Steranko! Room 10
Categories:  Comic Books | Horror and Suspense | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy

2:45-3:45 Lionsgate and Odd Lot Entertainment: The Spirit— Writer/director Frank Miller and producer Deborah Del Prete are joined by film stars Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson, and Eva Mendes in unveiling an exclusive preview of the new film based on the classic comic by Will Eisner. Hall H
Categories:  Comic Books | Movies

3:00-4:00 VIZ Media's Anime and Manga Publishing— Get the Comic-Con exclusive scoop from the VIZ Editorial and Marketing teams on what's new for 2009 from one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation, and licensing companies. Room 2
Categories:  Anime & Manga | Comic Books

3:00-4:00 An Introduction to Webcomics— The single largest explosion of new comics talent in history is happening online. Did you know that there are over 18,000 webcomics? Some of them have millions of readers. Most of these comics are free. Is this news to you? Then come and find out what you've been missing from Phil Foglio (moderator and writer/artist Girl Genius), Brad Guigar (Evil, Inc.), Dave Kellett (Sheldon), Scott Kurtz (PVP), and Kris Straub (Starslip Crisis).  Room 3
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Webcomics

3:00-4:00 World of Warcraft— Hear what’s next for World of Warcraft straight from the source! Representatives from Blizzard Entertainment will be joined by folks from Upper Deck, DC Comics and Tokyopop to reveal what’s in store for World of Warcraft gaming, comics, action figure, and manga fans. Plus, while supplies last, attendees will receive an exclusive World of Warcraft Comic-Con gift! Room 6CDEF
Categories:  Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Anime & Manga | Comic Books | Gaming

3:00-4:15 Remembering Rory: The Rory Root Tribute— When Comic Relief owner Rory Root passed away in May, a huge void was left in the comics' world. Please join Joe Field and many other of Rory's friends to pay tribute to a man who helped everyone in the world of comics—from publishers to creators to aspiring artists to retailers. Rory left a lasting legacy, so please join the tribute to share stories, anecdotes, and maybe some laughs and some tears along with memories of perhaps comicdom's most ardent supporter and best friend. Room 22
Categories:  Comic Books | Retailer Programming | Tributes

3:30-4:30 Spotlight on Geoff Johns— His ideas have breathed new life into Flash, Teen Titans, Green Lantern, the Justice Society of America, and now Superman. Is there anything writer Geoff Johns can't do? Probably not, but come ask anyway. Don't miss this panel hosted by Ian Sattler, senior story editor—DCU, interviewing one of the brightest minds behind the magic of the DC Universe. Room 5AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Writers & Writing

3:30-4:30 Marvel to the Nth Degree— In today’s world, comic-loving fans should be able to enjoy their graphic entertainment in the most thoroughly modern media. On Friday, Marvel will unveil a covert project that we have been seeding as part of a secret partnership for many months--including a sneak peek--of an unprecedented way to experience a new work by one of the biggest names in entertainment (we didn't say comic books, we said Entertainment). Featuring Joe Quesada (Marvel editor-in-chief) and Ruwan Jayatilleke (SVP, Marvel Strategic Development) and others that shall not be named at the moment. The game is about to be changed. Room 6A
Categories:  Comic Books

3:30-4:30 BOOM! Studios Panel— One of the fastest-growing independent publishers invites you to take a peek at what makes BOOM! so great. Editor-in-chief Mark Waid (Kingdom Come), co-founders Andrew Cosby (Eureka) and Ross Richie, marketing and sales director Chip Mosher (Left on Mission), and a few surprise guests will be making announcements about the upcoming year for BOOM! Studios. Come and watch us explode! Room 10
Categories:  Comic Books

3:30-5:00 Comic Book 102: The Ins and Outs of Collecting, Investing, and Writing— Designed to thrill and educate audiences from the 8-year-old novice to the millionaire financial advisor, this expert panel discussion details the comings and goings of the hobby. Learn about the history of comics, how to collect and successfully invest, detect restoration, discuss current and future community standards and even receive advice on how one becomes a published comic book writer. Panelists include noted restoration/conservation expert Susan Cicconi (The Restoration Lab/Network of Disclosure), Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide advisor Mark S. Zaid (EsquireComics.com/Network of Disclosure), executive editor and associate publisher J. C. Vaughn (Gemstone Publishing), Douglas Wheeler-Nicholson and Nicky Wheeler-Nicholson Brown (son and granddaughter, respectfully, of DC Comics founder Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson), and other prominent experts from publishing, services, and writing. Room 24A
Categories:  Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Comic Books

3:30-4:30 Comic Book Heaven: LIVE!— If you've ever wondered which superhero sleeps in his uniform, where the rudest place to shoot a giant space monster can be found, and what you really got when you ordered junk from ads found in old comic books, you'll love Comic Book Heaven: LIVE! Scott Saavedra (Comic Book Heaven, Java Town) shines a bright and affectionate light on some of the strangest stories and most twisted moments found in vintage comic books. Comic Book Heaven: LIVE! is like Scott's Comic Book Heaven blog (comic_book_heaven.blogspot.com) but without all the tedious pointing and clicking. Room 30AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Fandom

3:30-4:30 Toys, Comics and Characters: Illustrators as Entertainment Entrepeneurs— Abby Denson (Tough Love), Nora Krug (BLAB!), Tara McPherson (Lonely Heart), and Brian Wood (DMZ), all prominent professionals from among Parsons Illustration alumni and faculty, talk with Steven Guarnaccia (chair, Parsons Illustration) and Angie Wojak (director, Parsons Career Services) about how studying illustration was useful in achieving their creative and professional goals. Room 32AB
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books

4:00-5:00 All Hail the Transformers!— TF editor Denton Tipton hosts a panel of Transformers creators including writers Shane McCarthy (All Hail Megatron), Chris Mowry (The Reign of Starscream), Marty Eisenberg (TF Animated), artists Alex Milne (The Reign of Starscream), Marcelo Matere (TF Animated) and others. Advance art, surprise announcements, and pints of Energon all around! Room 2
Categories:  Animation | Comic Books | Kids | Movies | Television

4:00-5:00 The Image Comics Show— Featuring the biggest announcement Image Comics has made since the original seven founders formed the company! Be there as as Robert Kirkman (Walking Dead, Invincible), Marc Silvestri (Witchblade), Whilce Portacio (Spawn), Rob Liefeld (Youngblood), Erik Larsen (Savage Dragon) and Jim Valentino (Shadowline) get together to talk about where Image has gone and what the future holds. Room 7AB
Categories:  Comic Books

4:00-5:00 Spotlight on Al Feldstein— Continuing our mini "Al's at MAD magazine" programming theme, the dean of EC Comics, triple threat editor/writer/artist Al Feldstein returns to Comic-Con. Feldstein—who edited the EC line in its glory days and took MAD to new heights of popularity—talks with Mark Evanier about comics, painting, that magazine, and much more! Room 8
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Writers & Writing

4:15-5:15 Spotlight on Jim Butcher— In a short period of time, Comic-Con special guest Jim Butcher has become one of the most popular names in fantasy fiction. His two series of books, The Dresden Files and Codex Alera, are New York Times bestsellers. Butcher talks about his books and his recent foray into the comic book adaptation world with the Dabel Brothers. Room 6CDEF
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Horror and Suspense | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television | Writers & Writing

4:30-5:30 Vertigo: View of the Future— Vertigo is a more than a name. It’s the imprint that delivers smart, provocative, and edgy books. Be here to find out what’s in store for your favorite Vertigo titles as well as some major new projects that will be announced here for the first time! Hosted by senior VP—executive editor, Vertigo, Karen Berger, group editor Shelly Bond, and senior editor Will Dennis, this panel is not to be missed, especially considering the talent in tow: Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets, Joker), Mark Buckingham (Fables), David Lapham (Young Liars), Grant Morrison (Seaguy),—Matt Sturges (House of Mystery), Matt Wagner (Madame Xanadu), Bill Willingham (Fables, House of Mystery), G. Willow Wilson (Air), Brian Wood (DMZ, Northlanders), and others! Room 5AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

4:30-5:30 Spotlight on Keith Giffen— Comic-Con special guest Keith Giffen talks about his long career as writer and artist with friend and collaborator Robert Loren Fleming. Plus get the lowdown on their latest project: the return of Ambush Bug for DC Comics! Room 10
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Writers & Writing

4:30-5:30 Action Figure Insider: Behind the Plastic: The Golden Age of Marvel Toys/Toy Biz— True innovators in the world of action figures are few and far between. The Team at Marvel Toys/Toy Biz has been bringing articulation to American action figures in their groundbreaking lines: Marvel Legends, Spider-Man Classics, Lord of the Rings, Legendary Comic Book Heroes and other Marvel movie lines. The managers of these lines talk about what might have been and their future plans. You will see never-before-seen plans for unproduced figures from the Marvel, LCBH, and other lines. Moderated by Daniel "Julius Marx" Pickett of ActionFigureInsider.com. Room 30AB
Categories:  Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Comic Books | Superheroes

4:30-5:30 Resources for Creators— Panelists give an overview of legal, financial, and technical supports available to creators, including how to get a creative arts lawyer even if you don't have money, guilds and unions, health insurance, studio insurance, business licenses and working with your local municipal departments for networking and support, grants, artist retreats, and so on. Writer/artist Colleen Doran (A Distant Soil) moderates. Room 30CDE
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops

4:30-6:00 So You Want to Be a Comics Retailer— This is where the dream takes flight! You have questions—our panel of experts have answers. Joe Field (Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff, Concord, CA) hosts retailer Joe Ferrara (Atlantis Fantasyworld, Santa Cruz, CA), Annette Price (Speeding Bullet, Norman, OK), Jay Bardyla (Happy Harbor Comics, Edmonton, Alberta) and Dave Hawksworth (Diamond Comic Distributors field sales manager), as they discuss your future as a retailer of comics and graphic novels. Room 32AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Retailer Programming | Seminars & Workshops

5:00-6:00 Spotlight on Bernie Wrightson— Comic-Con special guest Bernie Wrightson brought a whole new face to horror comics when he broke into the industry in the late 1960s. He went on to co-create Swamp Thing and produce numerous work in both the horror and superhero genres. His magnum opus is his illustrated version of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, to be reprinted later this year by Dark Horse Comics. Room 3
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Horror and Suspense

5:00-6:00 Teaching Comics— A few years ago, there were almost no academic programs for young cartoonists. Now classes and textbooks are popping up all over. Instructors and authors including Phil Jimenez (Infinite Crisis), Steve Lieber (Whiteout), and James Sturm (Center for Cartoon Studies), will discuss their philosophies of teaching cartooning with moderator Douglas Wolk (Reading Comics). Room 4
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops

5:00-6:00 Comic Artists Guild: An Open Call for Members Nationwide— Trying to break into the comics industry? Need an outlet for telling interesting stories with words and pictures? Keith Murphey, the founder of the Comicbook Artists Guild (otherwise known as CAG), along with a panel of members representing the East and West coasts, invites all aspiring creators to take part in an enlightening discussion of how CAG can unite talent together for projects of their choosing and how talented people like you can benefit from membership! Never been published? Need to find your own "voice"? Want to start a CAG chapter in your own hometown? Come find out how! Room 24A
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops | Webcomics

5:15-6:15 Entertainment Weekly’s The Visionaries: Filmmakers— Kevin Smith (Zack and Miri Make a Porno), Frank Miller (The Spirit), Zack Snyder (Watchmen), and Judd Apatow (Knocked Up) are the filmmakers who are redefining what it means to have power in Hollywood. Because their power is derived from delivering high-profile entertainment to a hungry mainstream audience and from cultivating a rabid, pseudo-religious fan following. Listen as they engage in a free-wheeling conversation on the movie business, their upcoming projects, and what it means—to them—to be a geek. Moderated by Entertainment Weekly and EW.com senior editor Marc Bernardin. Hall H
Categories:  Comic Books | Movies

5:30-6:30 Spotlight on Kim Deitch— Underground and alternative comix legend Kim Deitch (Boulevard of BrokenDreams, Alias the Cat) presents work from his new book Pictorama and a sneak peek at an upcoming project. As Kim puts it, he'll be showing "a touch of the past, a whole lot of the present, and a pretty generous look at the future as well!" Room 10
Categories:  Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

6:00-7:00 Larry Marder: The Beanworld Is Back!— Legendary Beanworld creator Larry Marder is front and center in his first solo Comic-Con panel in 15 years. Learn how beans have been part of Marder's life since the day he was born! This rich visual presentation covers the entire history of his peculiar fantasy dimension including Marder's many influences. This is your opportunity to discover why Beanworld has captivated readers from grade school to grad school since its first publication as a series of comic books in the 1980s. Now Dark Horse Comics is publishing Beanworld for an entire new generation of fans. Hear all the details about Marder's many upcoming Beanworld projects! Room 2
Categories:  Comic Books

6:00-7:00 Indie Comics to Toys— Geoff Beckett and Lance Buttiglieri (Shocker Toys) bring you a discussion into independent comics and their translation into super posable action figures, vinyl products and Shockinis. Geoff, Lance, and comics creators present a Q&A on comic book toys such as Indie Spotlight, other products such as Dethklok, production schedules, new ideas, and giveaways! Room 4
Categories:  Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Comic Books

6:00-7:00 DCU: Final Crisis Management— The Final Crisis is here! Senior VP-executive editor Dan DiDio talks with Grant Morrison (Batman, Final Crisis), J.G. Jones (Final Crisis), Geoff Johns (Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds), Brad Meltzer (DCU: Last Will and Testament), Greg Rucka (Final Crisis: Revelations), Phillip Tan (Final Crisis: Revelations), and others! Catch a glimpse of what will be one of the most talked-about events of the summer! Room 6A
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Superheroes

6:00-7:00 How To Make Webcomics: Live!— The four authors of Image Comics’ breakout book How to Make Webcomics present a live version of their popular weekly podcast. Scott Kurtz (PvP), Dave Kellett (Sheldon), Kris Straub (Starslip Crisis), and Brad Guigar (Evil Inc) discuss some of the core issues in webcomics: making money and building communities. Room 8
Categories:  Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops | Webcomics

6:30-7:30 The Goon— A Q&A with Goon creator Eric Powell and Reno 9-11 writers and stars Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon about their new super secret super fantastic comics project! If you miss this panel, everyone will know more about this project than you and that makes you stupid and unattractive to women. Room 30AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Humor & Satire

6:30-8:00 Kevin Smith Makes a "Porno"— Well, not really, but for the umpteenth time, Smith is back at Comic-Con to talk movies, comics, and whatever else the audience wants to talk about. This year, he'll be highlighting his fall film, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, starring Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks. Expect some special guests. Hall H
Categories:  Comic Books | Fandom | Humor & Satire | Movies

7:15-9:15 Totally Rad Show— Hosts Alex Albrecht (Diggnation), Dan Trachtenberg, and Jeff Cannata bring their Webby Award–winning geek culture show to Comic-Con in their first ever live performance. 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 7AB
Categories:  Animation | Anime & Manga | Comic Books | Fandom | Gaming | Movies | Nighttime Programming | Television

8:30-10:00 Marvel/Lionsgate: Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow World Premiere!— Whenever the forces of evil threatened mankind, Earth's mightiest heroes, the Avengers, were there to stop them—until they made the ultimate sacrifice in their final fight with the indestructible robot Ultron. But all was not lost, for Tony Stark (Iron Man) kept the children of the Avengers safe and raised them to become the teenage heroes of tomorrow. But it will take more than five teens to destroy the machine that defeated their parents. If these young heroes have any hope of winning, they must find the missing Hulk and come together as...the Next Avengers! Meet Craig Kyle (supervising producer), Gary Hartle (producer/supervising director), Christopher Yost (writer), and others involved in this new animated film and watch Next Avengers before its September 2, 2008 Blu-Ray and DVD release. Room 6A
Categories:  Animation | Comic Books | Movies | Nighttime Programming | Superheroes

8:30-11:30 The Spirit Presents the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards— The 20th annual Eisner Awards, the "Oscars" of the comics industry, will be given out at a gala ceremony. This year's special them is "The Magic of Comics." Presenters include comics creator/director Frank Miller (Sin City, 300, The Spirit), Spongebob Squarepants creator Tom Kenney, and Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Gos, plus several other celebrities from comics, animation, and film. Other prestigious awards to be given out include the Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award and the Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award. The master of ceremonies is Bongo Comics' Bill Morrison. Admission to the Eisners is free to all Comic-Con attendees—just be sure to bring your badge. Doors open for pros and VIPs at 7:30 and for attendees at 8:15. Ballroom 20
Categories:  Awards Ceremonies | Comic Books | Nighttime Programming

10:00-11:00 Spirituality in Comics — Spiritual themes weave a significant pattern in the story arc of our comics worlds. Hear from distinguished guests Cory Edwards (writer/director, Hoodwinked, Fraggle Rock: The Movie), Holly Golightly (School Bites, Sabrina the Teenage Witch), Scott Wong (co-founder, Brethren Entertainment), and P.C. Hamerlinck (Alter-Ego). Moderated by Leo Partible (Behind the Screen: Insiders on Faith, Film & Culture). Room 2
Categories:  Comic Books

10:00-11:30 The Black Panel ’08— This is not the year to miss the Black Panel, and you know why! Featuring Method Man (The Wu Tang Clan), Reggie Hudlin (president, B.E.T.), Denys Cowan (B.E.T. Animation, “The Origin of the Joker”), Rusty Cundieff (director, Chappelle’s Show, Fear of a Black Hat) John Dokes (Marvel Comics), Dwayne McDuffie (Milestone Media, Justice League, Ben 10), and Faith Cheltenham (Tor.com). This is the definitive panel for what’s up in black and hip hop culture—and what a year it has been! Look out for some surprise guests. Hosted by Michael Davis (The Underground, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Black People, But Were Afraid to Ask). Room 5AB
Categories:  Animation | Comic Books | Movies | Superheroes | Television

10:00-11:00 Marvel: Iron Man: Armored Adventures Animated Screening— Tony Stark, heir to a billion-dollar corporation, lives a life of luxury, free to pursue his chief interests—seeking extreme thrills, solving scientific mysteries and creating mind-boggling inventions. But everything goes horribly wrong when a tragic accident robs Tony of his father and nearly costs him his own life. Now dependent on his own impressive technology for survival and dedicated to battling corruption, Tony must reconcile the pressure of teenage life with the duties of a superhero. Inside his remarkable invention, Tony Stark is geared for high-speed flight, high-tech battles and high-octane adventure! He is Iron Man. Meet Josh Fine (Marvel Studios), Christopher Yost (head writer), and others involved with this exciting new animated series and watch an episode of Iron Man: Armored Adventures before its Nicktoons 2009 premiere. Room 6CDEF
Categories:  Animation | Comic Books | Superheroes | Television

10:00-11:00 Emerging LGBT Voices— Prism Comics, the nonprofit organization that supports LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) comics, creators, and readers, also actively encourages and supports the movers and shakers who will shape tomorrow's comics industry. This year, Prism presents a panel of emerging LGBT comics powerhouses, including Ariel Schrag (Awkwar, Definition, Showtime's L Word), Joveth Gonzalez (editor, PinkKryptonite.com), Andy Hartzell (Fox Bunny Funny, The Book of Boy Trouble), Mari Morimoto (VIZ Media), Tommy Roddy (winner of the 2008 Prism grant for Pride High), and Rex Ogle (writer and DC Comics staff member). Room 10
Categories:  Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books

10:00-11:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #9: Authority and the Construction of Truth: Science, Justice, and the Media— Sabrina Starnaman (University of California-San Diego) and Adam Streed (UCSD) examine how truth is constructed and power reified in Jonathan Hickman’s The Nightly News. Matthew J. Brown (UCSD) and Adam Streed (UCSD) explore the problem of vigilante justice in Watchmen in the context of the relationship between state authority, legitimacy, and personal morality. Marisa Brandt (UCSD) and Evan Moreno-Davis (UCSD) assess the historical comics of Jim Ottaviani as a statement on the interplay between individual and collective authority within the scientific realm. Room 30AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comics Arts Conference

10:00-11:30 Comic Book Law School 303: Let’s Make Lots of Money!— Noted attorney Michael Lovitz, author of the sold-out The Trademark and Copyright Book comic book, covers some of the more complicated issues facing creators who are looking to actually market their creations and ideas, including transfers and licensing of rights, marketing, merchandising, and distribution agreements, and what to do when Hollywood comes knocking. This interactive seminar gives attendees the opportunity to participate in the discussions as Lovitz covers various means for profiting from your creations and discuss important elements that form the foundation of every contract (and time permitting, maybe participate in a mock contract negotiation). With in-depth discussions about the options and opportunities for profit, as well as the problems and pitfalls that go hand in hand with each decision, you can't afford to miss this seminar. 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 one credit of California MCLE.]. Room 30CDE
Categories:  Animation | Anime & Manga | Art and Illustration | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Comics Law School | Gaming | Seminars & Workshops | Writers & Writing

10:30-11:30 DC Talent Search 3— Learn what DC Comics looks for in artists and how to improve your chances of becoming a working professional! Panelists will discuss the different needs of the DC Universe, Vertigo, WildStorm, MAD magazine, Minx, and Zuda. This informative orientation session will explain how DC’s Talent Search works and provide numerous tips and tricks on how to improve your work and explore opportunities. In order 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
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops

10:30-11:45 Heroes: Exclusive First Look at “Villains” and Q&A with the Entire Cast, Tim Kring, and Tim Sale— Heroes chronicles the lives of ordinary people who discover they possess extraordinary abilities. Watch an exclusive first look at "Chapter 3: Villains." Moderated by co-executive producer/comic book writer Jeph Loeb, participating in a Q&A session with creator Tim Kring, comic book artist Tim Sale (Batman: The Long Halloween), and the cast: Jack Coleman (H.R.G.), Greg Grunberg (Matt Parkman), Ali Larter (Niki Sanders), James Kyson Lee (Ando Masahashi), Masi Oka (Hiro Nakamura), Hayden Panettiere (Claire Bennet), Adrian Pasdar (Nathan Petrelli), Zachary Quinto (Sylar), Sendhil Ramamurthy (Mohinder Suresh), Dania Ramirez (Maya Herrera), Cristine Rose (Angela Petrelli), and Milo Ventimiglia (Peter Petrelli). Hall H
Categories:  Comic Books | Superheroes | Television

11:00-12:00 Spotlight on Ethan Van Sciver— His stunning visions of the Flash and Green Lantern have made him one of the most popular artists working in comics today. Comic-Con special guest Ethan Van Sciver talks about his work and what’s next up on his drawing board. Room 2
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Superheroes

11:00-12:00 IDW Publishing: Ideas and Dreams 2008— DW publisher Chris Ryall presides over a superstar panel including writer Joe Hill; artists Gabriel Rodriguez (Locke & Key), Ben Templesmith (Welcome to Hoxford), and Darwyn Cooke (announcing a surprise new project and offering up an exclusive signature card available only at this panel); writers Brian Lynch (Angel: After the Fall), Steve Niles (Epilogue), Rick Remender (Legion of the Supernatural), and David Lapham; actors Shawnee Smith and Ken Foree; IDW special projects editor Scott Dunbier, and others. And they all guarantee at least a few surprise announcements of things to come! Room 3
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Writers & Writing

11:00-12:00 Watching the Watchmen— Author and artist Dave Gibbons (Watchmen) and Entertainment Weekly writer Jeff Jenson discuss the hugely anticipated Watching the Watchmen with the book’s designers Chip Kidd (Mythology, Jurassic Park, Batman Collected) and Mike Essl. Hear Dave Gibbons’ account of the genesis of Watchmen in this exclusive interview and Q&A session! Includes a presentation of rare material from the upcoming book. Room 7AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Superheroes | Writers & Writing

11:00-12:00 Hellboy— Mike Mignola (Hellboy) and his long-suffering editor Scott Allie are joined by Josh Dysart (BPRD 1946) to talk and answer questions about recent events in the Hellboy books, the future direction of the series, and the first new comic Mike's drawn in three years. Also, an announcement about the newest artists to join the team.  Room 8
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Horror and Suspense | Humor & Satire | Superheroes

11:30-12:30 Sam & Max, Strong Bad, and the Secrets Behind Turning Comics into Games— Sam & Max may have their roots in indy comics, but the crime-fighting duo is right at home starring in a successful series of episodic games. The cast of the popular Homestarrunner.com web cartoons are following suit this summer in Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People. Why do comics make for such great games? Telltale designers Mark Darin, Chuck Jordan, and Mike Stemmle, artist Mai Nguyen, and Sam & Max creator Steve Purcell will tell you all about the fun (and work) of bringing comics to life. Plus, get a first look at a third, completely new episodic game series! Room 4
Categories:  Animation | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Gaming | Webcomics

11:30-12:30 B.E.T. Animation— Don’t get up, it’s time for the second part of the “Black” block! Panelists include Reggie Hudlin (president, B.E.T.), Denys Cowan (senior V.P., B.E.T. Animation), Eric Rollman (president, Marvel Animation), Cort Lane (Marvel Animation), John Romita Jr. (way too many credits!) and some surprise guests who you will not want to miss. The Black Panther announcement was just the beginning... Room 5AB
Categories:  Animation | Comic Books | Superheroes | Television

11:30-12:30 Image Comics/Tori Amos— 17 years ago, history was made at Comic-Con, when a kid gave Neil Gaiman a tape of her music. Now, Indie music icon and multiplatinum recording artist Tori Amos comes to Comic-Con to talk about Comic Book Tattoo, the new 480-page coffeetable-format anthology from Image Comics containing over 50 stories based on songs and music from her entire discography. Tori is joined by project editor Rantz Hoseley, as well as some of the contributing creators, including David Mack, Elizabeth Genco, Ted McKeever, and Kelly Sue DeConnick. Seating is limited, so be there early to hear Tori, the panel, and moderator Douglas Wolk talk about the long journey that resulted in one of the most exciting comics projects of the decade! Room 6B
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books

11:30-1:00 Comics Arts Conference Session #10: Reinventing the Superhero— Charles Hatfield (CSU-Northridge) analyzes the tension between domestic storytelling and the technological sublime in Kirby and Lee’s Fantastic Four.  Dana Anderson (Maine Maritime Academy) examines how the popularity of the X-Men reflects an archetypal need for a reinvocation of mythic ideals of the Romantic Period.  Seth Blazer (University of Florida) investigates the popularity of the superhero on the silver screen in the post-9/11 ideological marketplace. Room 30AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comics Arts Conference | Superheroes

12:00-1:00 Dark Horse Comics— Dark Horse director of publicity Jeremy Atkins and a host of Dark Horse editors and creators present a firsthand look at the future of comics. You will be given insight into the next chapter of the breakout hit series The Umbrella Academy, as well as a look at what the future holds for all of your other favorite series and characters. With exciting announcements and surprise guests, you won't want to be anywhere else. Room 2
Categories:  Comic Books

12:00-1:00 Spotlight on Howard Chaykin— One of the most popular writer/artists in comics celebrates the 25th anniversary of his signature creation, American Flagg! Comic-Con special guest Howard Chaykin discusses his career in comics and can be counted on to be candid in his views on comics and the industry. Room 8
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Superheroes | Television | Writers & Writing

12:30-1:30 Spotlight on Rutu Modan— Rutu Modan exploded into North American comics with her 2007 graphic novel Exit Wounds which immediately made her one of the top literary cartoonists from around the world. A portrait of modern Israel, a place where sudden death mingles with the slow dissolution of family ties, Exit Wounds was selected by Entertainment Weekly as the best comic of 2007 and made countless “best of” lists. At this program, Modan will visually present how she made the book and her comics with an engaging slide show that focuses on both Exit Wounds and her new short story collection Jamilti. Room 4
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Writers & Writing

12:45-2:00 DC: A Guide to Your Universe— Dan DiDio (senior VP/executive editor, DCU), Jann Jones (senior coordinating editor, DCU), and Ian Sattler (senior story editor, DCU), and countless DCU talent gather for a panel that’s not to be missed. Now that the Final Crisis is upon us, what lies ahead for your favorite heroes? Join Keith Giffen  (Reign in Hell, Ambush Bug: Year None), Geoff Johns (Action Comics, Green Lantern), Aaron Lopresti (Wonder Woman), Brad Meltzer (DCU: Last Will and Testament), Grant Morrison (Batman, Final Crisis), Gail Simone (Wonder Woman), Phillip Tan (Final Crisis: Revelations), Peter Tomasi (Green Lantern Corps), Judd Winick (Titans), and others to get the answers. Room 6B
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

1:00-2:00 Aspen Comics in 2008 and Beyond— Join the Aspen Comics team of creators and artists as they highlight the upcoming Aspen products debuting in 2008 and beyond! Catch a exclusive glimpse of all the new Aspen Comics titles including Fathom, Soulfire, Shrugged, Executive Assistant: Iris and much much more! Featuring Peter Steigerwald (Soulfire), Ale Garza (Fathom), Micah Gunnell (Shrugged), JT Krul (Soulfire, Fathom), Vince Hernandez (Soulfire: Shadow Magic), Beth Sotelo (Soulfire), Mark Roslan (everything), David Wohl (Executive Assistant: Iris), and hosted by Frank Mastromauro (Shrugged). The Aspen crew will answer all your questions Aspen-related in a special Q&A session, so don’t miss your chance to meet and greet with Aspen’s finest. All fans in attendance will receive a gift courtesy of Aspen Comics. Room 2
Categories:  Comic Books | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Superheroes

1:00-2:00 Will Eisner Tribute— A tribute to and panel discussion about legendary artist, cartoonist, educator, and entrepreneur Will Eisner, who played an important role in the growth of comics and sequential art from the Golden Age of Comics through the acceptance and dynamic growth of the graphic novel. Panelists include Michael Uslan (producer, Batman, The Spirit), Paul Levitz (publisher and president, DC Comics), Denis Kitchen (cartoonist, publisher, Eisner's agent), Carl Gropper (Eisner's nephew), Jon B. Cooke (editor, Comic Book Artist, educator), and Andrew D. Cooke (director/producer of Will Eisner: Portrait of a Sequential Artist). Room 8
Categories:  Comic Books | Tributes

1:00-2:00 Podcasting Superheroes: The 10th Wonder and House of El Podcasts— Join hosts Derek Russell and Graham Hancock of the popular Starkville House of El (Smallville) and 10th Wonder (Heroes) podcasts for a discussion and Q&A session about producing fan-created podcasts and managing online communities. Room 24A
Categories:  Comic Books | Webcomics

1:00-2:00 Comics Arts Conference Session #11: Twomorrows Publishing and The Academic Community— TwoMorrows Publishing is known for celebrating the art and history of comics, and the company has been making inroads into the academic community with its line of "how-to" books, magazines, and DVDs. Now, you can have your chance to hear, and to participate in, a dialogue with TwoMorrows to find out how to strengthen the relationship between the publisher and the academic community. What TM publications do you feel speak to you and your students, and what educational niches do you see that TwoMorrows can fill for the academic world? Publisher John Morrow, Danny Fingeroth (Write Now!) represent Twomorrows in this freewheeling exchange of ideas. Peter Coogan (institute for comics studies) speaks from the academic viewpoint.  And Durwin Talon (Panel Discussions, Savannah College of Art and Design), and John Lowe (Working Methods, Savannah College of Art and Design) have a foot in both worlds. Q&A to follow. Room 30AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comics Arts Conference

1:30-2:30 Comic Book Law School Afterschool Special: Gone But Not Forgotten!— Welcome to a very special episode of Comic Book Law School, as panelists explore the world of public domain, orphan works, and the loss of rights under U.S. intellectual property laws. In recent years, publishers have uncovered the comic book equivalent to the elephants’ graveyard—characters long thought expired suddenly rising from ashes, spruced up and offered to the modern world. Trademarks abandoned or expired are now claimed by newcomers. The right of revocation places a cloud over previously clear ownership of intellectual property rights. Through the Orphan Works bill Congress has made a renewed attempt to provide guidance on works whose creators can’t be identified: the ever-present, and often misunderstood, fair use doctrine. A panel of attorneys—David Branfman, Alexander Harwin, and David Lizerbram—join moderator Michael Lovitz to shed light on these cutting edge issues facing companies and creators and discuss the impact on the creative community of recent decisions and pending legislation in these areas. 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 one credit of California MCLE.] Room 4
Categories:  Comic Books | Comics Law School | Writers & Writing

1:30-2:30 SLG Publishing— SLG publisher and president Dan Vado discusses current and upcoming projects from SLG/Amaze Ink. Gargoyles writer Greg Weisman will be on hand to discuss his two new upcoming non-Gargoyles projects. Other creators attending are to be announced. Room 10
Categories:  Comic Books

1:30-2:30 Writing 101: Creating Characters— Marv Wolfman has been writing comics for more than 40 years and has created such legendary characters as Blade, Bullseye, Black Cat, The New Teen Titans, Deathstroke The Terminator, and hundreds more. As he's done for the past four Comic-Cons, Marv conducts his personal writing seminar, this year discussing the art of creating characters. There will be time available for Q&A. Room 30CDE
Categories:  Comic Books | Superheroes | Writers & Writing

2:00-3:00 Attack of the Show!— Attack of the Show! is G4's irreverent interactive daily live "variety" show that paves the inside track to today's entertainment, technology and pop culture. Hosts Kevin Pereira, Olivia Munn, comic book expert Blair Butler and show producers give fans a rare opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at how this show brings tech-obsessed viewers all the up-to-the-minute news on Internet culture, technology, comic books, gadgets, live events and more. Get a glimpse of a day in the life of a daily tech show. Room 3
Categories:  Comic Books | Fandom | Gaming | Movies | Television | Webcomics

2:00-3:00 Comics: Across Every Medium— Paul Feig (creator of Freaks & Geeks), David Goyer (Batman Begins), Chip Kidd (The Learners), Whitney Matheson (USA Today’s Pop Candy blog), and Brad Meltzer (The Book of Lies) are five superstars who make headlines in television, film, the graphic arts, journalism, and novels. But they all have comics in common. This isn’t just a trend. Join them for a discussion on the influence comics play in their work. It’ll be like a 21st century Breakfast Club—but with better references. Moderated by audiobook master Scott Brick (The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant). Room 6A
Categories:  Comic Books | Movies | Television | Writers & Writing

2:00-3:00 Spotlight on Bryan Hitch— Superstar penciller Bryan Hitch, the artist with the wide-screen movie style, talks about his work on titles such as The Ultimates and Fantastic Four,  plus his design work on Doctor Who and Star Trek 2009. Room 7AB
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Science Fiction & Fantasy

2:00-3:00 Lettering Roundtable— Lettering is the invisible art's invisible art—a crucial element of comics that often tries not to call attention to itself. Potentates of penmanship, including 14-time Best Lettering Eisner Award winner Todd Klein (Fables), Jared K. Fletcher (The Spirit), John Roshell (Astro City), Tom Orzechowski (Spawn), and others will discuss what's new and what's constant in the world of drawing words with moderator Douglas Wolk (Reading Comics). Room 8
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

2:00-3:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #12: Poster Session— Want to go in depth with a comics scholar? On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday the PowerPoint presentations of the poster presenters will be available to read in printed “poster books” and then the scholars will be present at the poster session to discuss their presentations in small-group and one-on-one discussions.

Dave Chow (College for Creative Studies) argues for the importance of a post-secondary education for the visual artist. Anne Hoyer (University of Heidelberg) traces the linguistic and thematic changes of the popular Scottish comic strip Oor Wullie.  Anita McDaniel (University of North Carolina-Wilmington) traces the effect of female creators on the superhero genre, both on the page and behind the pen.  Clayton Moore (Apple Valley Unified School District) responds to the death of Captain America and the New Gods from a creator’s rights perspective. Jarod Shurtleff (Henderson State University) examines the thematic loss of humanity among zombie fighters in Robert Kirkham’s series The Walking Dead.

Geek Chic poster panel: Kom Kunyosying (University of Oregon) analyzes the role of the geek as melodramatic hero in Charles Burns’ Black Hole, R. Crumb's My Troubles with Women, and Chris Ware’s Jimmy Corrigan; and Carter Soles (University of Oregon) argues that Kevin Smith’s “dueling personas” of unapologetic comic book fan and aspiring cinematic artist have always worked together harmoniously to advance his career in both mediums.

Comics and Psychology poster panel: A group of students from Henderson State University explore the psychology of comic book characters, including the Martian Manhunter, Batman, the Winter Soldier, Jamie Madrox, Warren Ellis’ protagonists, and others; Erica Ash, Tommy Cash, Carly L. Cate, Mark Head, Nick Langley, Robert O'Nale, Justin Poole, Thomas Sepe, and Nicholas Ward present.

Room 30AB
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Comics Arts Conference | Superheroes

2:15-3:15 Grant Morrison and Gerard Way: Born Under a Black Sun— Grant Morrison (The Invisibles) and Gerard Way (The Umbrella Academy) discuss death, death, and everything: comics, culture, the war on youth, and how you can fight back. This panel will change your life! Room 6B
Categories:  Comic Books | Writers & Writing

2:15-3:15 A Look Back and Forward at DC Universe Animated Original Movies— From the heralded premiere of Superman Doomsday through the unparalleled launch of Justice League: The New Frontier and the blockbuster release of Batman Gotham Knight, the DC Universe animated original movies have ignited a new passion for comic book fare within the made-for-DVD realm. DC Comics, Warner Premiere, Warner Home Video, and Warner Bros. Animation presents the creative forces behind these acclaimed films for a glance back at their resounding success, and the inside scoop on future DCU releases—including a Comic-Con exclusive first look at the next film in this exciting series! DC Comics senior VP—creative affairs Gregory Noveck moderates a panel that includes DC Comics president and publisher Paul Levitz, DCU films executive producer Bruce Timm, director Lauren Montgomery (Superman Doomsday), voice director Andrea Romano and, quite possibly, members of the voice talent behind the next superhero to grace the animated screen—in full color (well, at least red, white, and blue)! Room 6CDEF
Categories:  Animation | Comic Books | Movies | Superheroes

2:30-3:30 Scott Shaw!: Oddball Comics— Now regularly seen in the pages of Geek Monthly, cartoonist Scott Shaw! (Captain Carrot and the Final Ark, Bart Simpson Comics) brings back his ever-popular digital slide show featuring “the craziest comic books ever published!” This year, Scott celebrates Herbie, The Fat Fury, now back in print from Dark Horse! See why Stan Lee said, “Wow, True Believers, I thought I'd seen it all, but Scott Shaw's hysterically hilarious Oddball Comics is the wildest, wackiest exposé of some of the craziest comic books I've ever seen! Or, to put it mildly, Scott's outrageous opuses are a blast, blast, blast!” [Okay, so I added those last two “blasts.” —SS!] Room 5AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Fandom | Humor & Satire

2:30-3:30 Del Rey Manga— Join Hiro Mashima (Fairy Tail), Dallas Middaugh (associate publisher, Del Rey Manga), and Mutsumi Miyazaki (director of licensing and acquisitions, Del Rey Manga), for a conversation on Mashima-sensei’s latest creation, Fairy Tail. Room 10
Categories:  Anime & Manga | Comic Books

3:00-4:00 Top Cow: Herd It Through the Bo-Vine— Members of the Top Cow Editorial staff and special guests will be on hand to discuss Pilot Season 2008, Broken Trinity, the Witchblade movie, The Darkness, and other exciting, upcoming projects. Panelists include Marc Silvestri (Cyberforce); Seth Green and Hugh Sterbakov  (Freshmen); Ron Marz and Stjepan Sejic (Witchblade); Phil Hester and Michael Broussard (The Darkness); William Harms (Bad Mojo), who will discuss his new Top Cow book, Impaler; and Randy Queen (Darkchylde), who will talk about his new series, Starfall. All attendees will receive a ticket for a special Freshmen signing with Seth Green and Hugh Sterbakov at the Top Cow Booth (#2329) after this program. Room 2
Categories:  Comic Books | Movies

3:00-4:00 The Launch of Abrams ComicArts— Abrams, the premiere art book publisher, debuts its launch of a new comics imprint, Abrams ComicArts. The panel consists of authors and representatives of each book on the initial list, including Jaime Hernandez (creator of Love and Rockets), Jordan Crane (designer), Craig Yoe (The Art of Mickey Mouse), Denis Kitchen (cartoonist, writer, editor, publisher), Brian Fies (Mom's Cancer), and Charles Kochman (executive editor, Abrams ComicArts) and will include a slide show and Q&A. Room 3
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books

3:00-4:00 Vertigo Voices Fables Forum— It's the Fables forum with extras: Featuring the creators behind Fables, Jack of Fables, and House of Mystery: Vertigo group editor Shelly Bond is joined by Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, and Matthew Sturges. It's a Q&A unlike any other, where you'd better come armed with your best questions, because all of the panelists are sure to be feeling giddy and very candid by day three of the big show. Room 7AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Science Fiction & Fantasy

3:00-4:30 MAD in the ’60s— Comic-Con special guests Sergio Aragonés, Al Feldstein, and Al Jaffee join Mark Evanier for this free-wheeling discussion about the go-go years of one of America's biggest publishing success stories, the one and only—but often imitated—MAD magazine! Room 8
Categories:  Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Humor & Satire | Writers & Writing

3:00-4:00 Little Lulu Fan Group— One of the most memorable kids' comics ever created, Little Lulu has generated a fan following around the world. Learn more about this classic comics character, and other works of the great John Stanley, and join in for the annual reading of a Golden Age Little Lulu story. All are welcome! Room 24A
Categories:  Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Fandom | Kids

3:30-4:30 Spotlight on Joe Staton— In this show-and-tell with Q&A, writer Mike W. Barr (The Outsiders) talks with fellow Comic-Con special guest, artist Joe Staton about Joe's nearly 40-year career, including his current project Femme Noir, his co-creation of E-Man, and lots of other stuff, including Hulk, JSA, LSH, GL, Guy Gardner, Batman, Huntress, those 100 issues of Scooby Doo, and the "New Look" Jughead. Room 4
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Superheroes

3:30-4:30 VIZ Media Shojo Beat Surprises— A The biggest shojo manga magazine ever published in the United States and source of the most addictive shojo manga from Japan has some exciting announcements and special surprises for fans. Room 10
Categories:  Anime & Manga | Comic Books | Fandom

3:30-4:30 The Society of Illustrators Los Angeles— The Society of Illustrators, Los Angeles (SILA) invites you to take part in a history-making announcement about comics and Illustration West 47, the largest illustration competition west of New York! Panelists include Scott Gandell (SILA president, illustrator), Tatiana EL-Khouri (VP/show chair, illustrator), Shiho Nakaza (VP/programs, illustrator), Vivian Nguyen (illustrator), Denys Cowan (B.E.T. Animation), and Mike Gold (editor, ComicMix.com). Moderated by Michael Davis. Room 30AB
Categories:  Anime & Manga | Art and Illustration | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Webcomics

4:00-5:00 Science of Superheroes— James Kakalios, physics professor, author of The Physics of Superheroes, and science consultant for Watchmen, will give a presentation and answer questions regarding the physics of superheroes, many of whom get their science right more often than you'd think! Room 2
Categories:  Comic Books | Movies | Seminars & Workshops | Superheroes

4:00-5:00 Costume Designers: Designing for Feature Films— Meet the women and men who are the costume designers on this year’s blockbuster films. Panel moderator Mary Vogt (Men in Black, Batman Returns) will talk to fellow members of the Costume Designers Guild, Local 892, Michael Wilkinson (Watchmen, 300), Michael Dennison (The Spirit, The Eye), Isis Mussenden (Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian), and Kym Barrett (Speed Racer). Room 3
Categories:  Comic Books | Costuming | Movies | Superheroes

4:00-5:00 Spotlight on Joe Hill— Comic-Son special guest Joe Hill, author of the New York Times bestseller Heart-Shaped Box, talks about his critically acclaimed comic Locke & Key (IDW) and why so many novelists are losing it for comics these days. Room 5AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Horror and Suspense | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Writers & Writing

4:00-5:00 Devil’s Due Presents: Milo Ventimiglia— Meet Heroes star Milo Ventimiglia and his Divide Pictures partner Russ Cundiff as they unveil pages from their new DDP series Rest. Writer Mark Powers joins them alongside a panel of DDP creators with big news about Devil’s Due’s expanding library of titles including Zen: Intergalactic Ninja, Spooks: Omega Team, and more. Room 7AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Superheroes

4:30-5:30 The Story of an Image— Comic-Con special guests Kim Deitch (Shadowland), Jim Woodring (Frank), Jim Ottaviani (Two-Fisted Science), and Kyle Baker (Nat Turner) will each show and discuss a single comics panel from their own work—how it came together and how it resonates in its context. Moderated by Douglas Wolk (Reading Comics). Room 4
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

4:30-5:30 Marvel: Secret Invasion— The best-selling event of 2008 is at its midpoint. Come get your first look at what’s in store and what’s to come in the Marvel U when the dust settles...assuming there is a Marvel Universe when it’s all done! Guests include Joe Quesada (editor-in-chief) and writers Greg Pak (Incredible Hercules), Chris Gage (Avengers: The Initiative), Chris Yost (Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers), Daniel Way (Deadpool), and others. Room 6A
Categories:  Comic Books | Superheroes

4:45-5:45 Spotlight on J. Michael Straczynski— Yes, it's him again. Somehow—we have no idea how—he's gone from writing comics and TV to working with Tom Cruise, Clint Eastwood, Ron Howard, Paul Greengrass, Tom Hanks, the Wachowski Brothers, and Angelina Jolie. His long career (he's also known for Babylon 5, Twilight Zone, and others) stands as proof positive that there is no such thing as a just God. What's he up to now? What's coming next? What secrets remain yet untold? How did he achieve this (well, okay, we know that and let's just say it has something to do with a contract signed with Ba'al)? Come and ask the man responsible—J. Michael Straczynski—for Thor, The Twelve, and such upcoming movies ass Changeling, World War Z, Proving Ground, The Flickering Light, The Grays, and Lensman. Room 6B
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Superheroes | Television | Writers & Writing

5:00-6:00 The Dead Space IP— Ben Templesmith (30 Days of Night) and Antony Johnston (Wasteland) lead a panel that includes Chuck Patton, AJ Jothikumar and Joe Goyette (Dead Space animated feature) to discuss how graphic novels have become a vital component for top-tier entertainment brands and how multiple mediums (comics, games, and movies) have come together to create a holistic story. While famous comics have spawned successful movies, TV shows, and games, Electronic Arts' new sci-fi horror brand Dead Space has developed a comics series and animated feature to first introduce the universe to key opinion leaders and influencers. Panelists will discuss these new developments, what it takes to develop a successful brand that speaks to audiences across a variety of multimedia, and the implications for the future of the entertainment industry. Room 2
Categories:  Animation | Comic Books | Gaming | Horror and Suspense | Movies

5:00-6:00 Oni Press Panelmonium 2008!— The most fun you'll ever have at a panel! See what all the hubbub is about at indy comics powerhouse Oni Press. Get sneak peeks at upcoming projects, news on new Oni Press initiatives, and Q&A with some of your favorite Oni Press creators. Oh, and did we mention prizes? There's going to be prizes and free comics, so come one, come all! It's panda—er, Panelmonium! Room 3
Categories:  Comic Books

5:00-6:00 Legion of Super-Heroes 50th Anniversary— Fifty years ago, a trio of new super-heroes appeared on the cover of Adventure Comics no. 247. That humble beginning spawned the first great super team of the Silver Age of Comics: The Legion of Super-Heroes. Set in the 30th and 31st centuries of a DC Universe that may—or may not—happen, the Legion captured the hearts and minds of comic fans right from the start. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of this legendary team are DC’s president and publisher—and Legion writer—Paul Levitz, who moderates the panel featuring fellow Legion storytellers Geoff Johns, Colleen Doran, and Comic-Con special guests Mike Grell and Keith Giffen. Room 5AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Superheroes | Writers & Writing

5:30-6:30 The World of Steve Ditko Panel Discussion— Author Blake Bell (Strange and Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko) presents a slide show and discusses the artwork and career of Steve Ditko (co-creator of Spider-Man and Dr. Strange) with panelists Jim Starlin (Captain Marvel, Dreadstar), Kim Deitch (Shadowland, The Stuff of Dreams), Carl Potts (Alien Legion), Dean Mullaney (IDW's Library of American Comics), and Gary Groth (co-publisher, Fantagraphics). Room 4
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Superheroes

5:30-6:30 Spotlight on Len Wein— The writer who gave us Swamp Thing, The New X-Men, Wolverine, Brother Voodoo, memorable runs on all the top DC and Marvel titles and many more, was one of the first fans to become a professional writer...and editor at both companies. Comic-Con special guest Len Wein joins moderator Mark Evanier for a discussion on Len's 30+ years in the industry as one of comics' most popular talents. Room 8
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Writers & Writing

5:30-6:30 Spotlight on Adrian Tomine— New Yorker illustrator and Optic Nerve cartoonist Adrian Tomine is the author of one of 2007's most critically lauded graphic novels, Shortcomings. For this Spotlight, Tomine will be interviewed by the first editor ever to give him an actual paying gig, Marc Weidenbaum, editor-in-chief of magazines at VIZ Media. The two will discuss what it was about the then UC Berkeley student's comic that attracted Weidenbaum to offer him a regular spot in Tower Records' Pulse magazine and how Tomine has matured over the last decade to become one of North America's leading literary cartoonists. Room 10
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

5:30-6:30 Comic Book Club: A Live Talk Show— Scott Adsit (30 Rock), Adam Rifkin (National Lampoon’s Homo Erectus), Eric Powell (The Goon), and Gabriel Rodriguez (Locke & Key) join Justin Tyler, Pete LePage, and Alex Zalben (The Stack) to wrap up San Diego Comic-Con in style. Featuring surprise musical guests, and more, this is the funniest panel at the Con. Not to be missed! Room 30AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Fandom

5:30-6:30 Character Design Workshop— An introductory workshop focusing on the creation of characters for any medium, including the importance of storytelling, as well as tools to make memorable character designs. Topics to be discussed in clued the use of silhouette, gesture, reference, and attitude will be discussed. This workshop is great for beginners and will provide insight into the world of character design. Information on The Art Institutes will also be presented. Patrick Ballesteros is a concept illustrator who has been working in the film and game industry for the past four years and is currently an independent concept artist in gaming and an instructor at The Art Institute of California—Orange County. Room 30CDE
Categories:  Animation | Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Gaming | Movies | Seminars & Workshops

5:45-7:15 Gays in Comics Panel: 21 and Legal!— Starting its third decade at Comic-Con, the long-running "Gays in Comics" panel takes a thrilling look at the diversity in the comics world today. With DC Comics leading the charge with the lesbian Question and Batwoman, the shadowy Obsidian, and Wildstorm's Apollo and Midnighter, where will they go next in the realm of superhero comics? And when will other companies substantially move forward to represent gay characters? Meanwhile, independent publishers and creators are building their own worlds that spotlight gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered characters, pleasing the thousands of fans who are out of the comic book closet. This all-star panel of GLBT creators (and one straight one) offer startling insights and glimpses of surprises to come! Joining founding moderator Andy Mangels (best-selling author of Star Trek novels and Iron Man: Beneath The Armor) are Roger Klorese, the president of PRISM Comics and longtime comic and internet trailblazer; Ariel Schrag, writer/artist of the critically acclaimed Potential, plus Awkward, Definition, and Showtime's The L Word; Greg Rucka, the writer of Final Crisis: Revelations, Checkmate, Daredevil, and many other hot titles; Jeff Krell, writer/artist of the long-running Jayson strip and new graphic novel Jayson Goes to Hollywood; Jack Mahan, executive director—editorial administration for DC Comics; and maybe a surprise panelist! Afterward, stick around for the hour-long gay comics fan mixer/social, hosted by PRISM Comics, with prizes and surprise special guests! Room 6A
Categories:  Comic Books | Superheroes

6:00-7:00 Capcom Presents: The Making of Bionic Commando and Bionic Commando Rearmed— Producer Ben Judd presents an exclusive, never-before-seen, behind-the-scenes peek at the making of the Bionic Commando Rearmed and Bionic Commando for the next gen game systems. Andy Diggle (The Losers, Swamp Thing) discusses writing the Bionic Commando webcomic. Select audience members will be invited to take part in a special Bionic Commando Rearmed gaming tournament to win exclusive Bionic Commando prizes! Plus, meet the real Bionic Commando in person for photos. Q&A session to round out the presentation. Room 2
Categories:  Comic Books | Gaming | Webcomics

6:00-7:00 Yen Press— Co-publishing directors Kurt Hassler and Rich Johnson and the staff of Yen Press discuss what's on the horizon for this exciting publisher. Room 3
Categories:  Anime & Manga | Comic Books

6:00-7:00 Marvel: The Ultimate Universe Must Die!— The end of the Ultimate Universe is coming, and only these guys know how it's going down. Join the men behind Ultimatum—writers Jeph Loeb (Ultimates and TV's Heroes), Aron Coleite (Ultimate X-Men), Joe Pokaski (TV's Heroes) and Joe Quesada (editor-in-chief)—as they reveal why this is the end. And you'll never guess who's returning! Room 6CDEF
Categories:  Comic Books | Superheroes | Writers & Writing

6:00-7:00 Impact University: How to Write and Draw Comics and Graphic Novels— Some of the biggest names in comics are on hand to teach you what it takes to make it in comics and graphic novels. The star-studded faculty includes Peter David (Dark Tower, X-Factor), Orson Scott Card (Ender's Game, Wyrms), Colleen Doran (A Distant Soil, Sandman), Brian Miller (Hi-Fi Color Design), and Comics Buyer's Guide senior editor Maggie Thompson. Find out the best way to submit your work, learn the dos and don'ts of the business, and participate in a Q&A session. Room 7AB
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops | Writers & Writing

6:30-7:30 Blatant Keenspot 2008— Pioneering webcomics powerhouse Keenspot returns for their 8th annual Comic-Con panel, and they're bringing high-concept funny-book factory Blatant Comics with ’em! Panelists scheduled to appear include Blatant president Bobby Crosby (Last Blood, Marry Me), R.C. Monroe (Out There), R. Smith (Funny Farm, Banished!), Keenspot CEO Chris Crosby (Sore Thumbs, Superosity), and surprise guests to be announced! Get the latest on the Last Blood feature film adaptation from producers BenderSpink (The Ring, A History of Violence), new developments at Keenspot and ComicGenesis.com, and more. Room 4
Categories:  Comic Books | Movies | Webcomics

6:30-7:30 WildStorm Brewing— Get the inside scoop on what’s coming up from DC’s wildest imprint from VP Hank Kanalz, superstar artist Jim Lee, editorial director Christos Gage (WildCats: World’s End), and creators Neil Googe (WildCats: World’s End), Wes Craig (Wildstorm Revelations), Brian Denham (X-Files), Joshua Ortega (Gears of War), and Jason Craig (Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash). Find out about WildStorm’s newest creator-driven books, plus the latest on The Authority, WildCats, Stormwatch, Gen 13, The Lost Boys, X-Files, J. J. Abram’s Fringe, and much, much more! Room 8
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Superheroes | Television

6:30-7:30 Troma, Supernatural Law, New Found Glory, Ghost in the Shell— Meet the diabolical minds behind your favorite comic books and films. George W. Bush Yale classmate and legendary Troma Studios founder Lloyd Kaufman once again mixes with the masses at this year's Troma, panel which features Batton Lash (creator, Supernatural Law), Chad Gilbert (New Found Glory band, www.moviescenester.com), and producer Steven Paul (Ghost Rider, Doomsday, upcoming Ghost in The Shell with Avi Arad and Steven Spielberg). Learn secrets about how the upcoming Ghost in the Shell got to be produced. See Lloyd and The Toxic Avenger in pages of the newest Supernatural Law comic. Hear New Found Glory's movie music. Get insights on Lloyd's creative process plus down-and-dirty secrets of filmmaking with n behind-the-scenes clips from his upcoming Direct Your Own Damn Movie DVD and from Troma's theatrical hit Poultrygeist, Night of The Chicken Dead! See exclusive footage of Toxie in Iraq! Moderating (and self-medicating as needed) will once again be Mimi Cruz from Eisner Retailer Award–winning store Night Flight Comics. Room 10
Categories:  Comic Books | Horror and Suspense | Humor & Satire | Movies

7:00-9:00 CBLDF Benefit Auction— This is the big one! The CBLDF holds its biggest auction of the year at Comic-Con, and this year brings some amazing one-of-a-kind items to raise money for free speech. Primo items include original art by Jack Kirby, Dave Gibbons, Walter Simonson, Jeff Campbell, Jeff Smith, and more! All this plus rare comics, signed graphic novels, and scripts. You will need a bidder number for this auction, which can be obtained, along with a full auction list, at the CBLDF booth or at the start of the event. Room 2
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comics Law School | Nighttime Programming

7:00-8:30 In Search of Steve Ditko Documentary— Strange & Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko author Blake Bell hosts a showing of the documentary In Search of Steve Ditko by UK television star Jonathan Ross. The hour-long documentary features such comics legends as Neil Gaiman, Alan Moore, and Stan Lee discussing Ditko's work and career along Ross' journey to find Steve Ditko in New York City. Room 5AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Movies | Nighttime Programming

7:15-8:15 Gays in Comics Mixer— Here’s your chance to mingle with other GLBT and open-minded fans and creators and bid on some fantastic auction items! Hosted by PRISM Comics. Room 6A
Categories:  Comic Books | Fandom | Nighttime Programming

8:00-10:00 Christian Comic Arts Society Networking— Christian comics creators and fans are invited to join together with CCAS members for a time of fellowship, networking and socializing.Limited freebies available! Come Saturday night and hang with other Christian comics fans. Hosted by the Christian Comic Arts Society. Room 10
Categories:  Comic Books | Fandom | Nighttime Programming

8:30-10:00 Marvel: Wolverine and The X-Men Animated Screening— When an explosive event shatters the lives of the X-Men and takes away their mentor, the beaten heroes walk away from it all. But then they're given a rare glimpse into the future, and see a world in utter ruin, ruled by mutant-hunting Sentinels. So now the most legendary of all X-Men takes the lead—Wolverine! Reuniting these broken heroes, Wolverine embarks on the ultimate mission—to prevent the world's destruction. To rescue us from ourselves. To save the future. Meet Boyd Kirkland (lead director), Craig Kyle (supervising producer), Greg Johnson (head writer), and others involved with this new animated series and watch the first three episodes of this epic new X-Men series before its Nicktoons 2009 premiere. Room 6CDEF
Categories:  Animation | Comic Books | Movies | Nighttime Programming | Superheroes

10:00-11:00 Smallville Screening and Q&A— Comic-Con favorite Smallville returns with series stars Allison Mack, Justin Hartley and the introduction of Sam Witwer alongside new showrunners Kelly Souders, Brian Peterson, Todd Slavkin and Darren Swimmer to talk about the year ahead, answer fan questions and give an exclusive sneak peek at clips featuring the new villains for season eight. Award-winning comic book writer, Emmy-nominated film and television writer/producer, and Smallville alum Jeph Loeb (Heroes) will moderate the session. From Tollin/Robbins Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, Smallville airs Thursdays at 8:00 PM on The CW. Room 6CDEF
Categories:  Comic Books | Superheroes | Television

10:00-11:00 Jack Kirby Tribute— As we do every year, friend and family of the great Jack Kirby to remember the man some call The King. Participating this year are animation producers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, and comic book legend Jerry Robinson. And it's all hosted by—who else?—Mark Evanier, author of the recent book, Kirby: King of Comics. Room 7AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Tributes

10:30-11:30 Spotlight on Jim Ottaviani— Join Jim Ottaviani (Levitation; Bone Sharps, Cowboys, and Thunder Lizards; Fallout; Two-Fisted Science) for a Sunday morning combination of interview and Q&A. He'll discuss nuclear engineering, comics about scientists, upcoming projects, how to stay calm when Buzz Aldrin calls (hint: you don't, but he's used to that), and what to do when the Nobel Museum asks you to speak (hint: you say yes). Room 3
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Science Fiction & Fantasy

10:30-11:30 Zuda Online Comics— Read. Vote. Create. With those three little words, Zuda is changing the face of webcomics. Panel participants include Zuda staff Richard Bruning, Ron Perazza, Kwanza Johnson, and Dave McCullough, along with creators Jeremy Love (Bayou), Bobby & Peter Timony (The Night Owls), David Gallaher & Steve Ellis (High Moon), Nick Doan (Pray for Death), Johnny Zito & Tony Trovarello (The Black Cherry Bombshells), Sheldon Vella (Supertron), and Caanan Grall (Celadore). Listen as they ramble incoherently, pausing occasionally to make a good point. Room 4
Categories:  Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Webcomics

10:30-12:00 CBLDF Live Art Jam— Did you ever want to look over a legendary artist's shoulder while he or she was making a great piece of art, and then add it to your collection? Well, here's your chance to do just that and support a great cause! See Whilce Portacio (Spawn), Terry Moore (Echo), and other special guests draw live art projected on the big screen at the first ever CBLDF Live Art Jam at Comic-Con! Watch comics legends make stunning drawings of your favorite comics characters that you can bid on to support the First Amendment legal work of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund! Don't miss this unforgettable event and your chance to walk away with some stunning art! Note: you will need a bidder number to bid on art in this event, which you can pick up at the CBLDF booth or at the start of the event. Room 5AB
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Comics Law School

10:30-11:30 Marvel: Women in Marvel— She-Hulk and Ms. Marvel are powerhouses in the Marvel U, now meet the real women powerhouses who work in Marvel Comics today! Writers Robin Furth (Dark Tower), Marjorie Liu (NYX), Sherrilyn Kenyon (Lords of Avalon), Jen Grunwald (editor), colorist Christina Strain (Runaways), and Occasional Superheroine's Valerie D'Orazio are here to answer your question about their titles, announce new projects, and explain how more women are breaking into comics every day! Room 6A
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Webcomics | Writers & Writing

10:30-11:30 Christian Comics Art Society— Hear about the 2008 explosion of Christian-themed projects from major publishers and network with other Christians. Featuring Michael Davis (co-creator, Static Shock), Sergio Cariello (The Lone Ranger), Jerrell Conner (Revelations: The Prophets), Clint Johnson (Faith Walker), and hosted by Leo Partible (Behind the Screen: Insiders on Faith, Film & Culture). A short sermon by Robert Luedke (Eye Witness) and worship music will precede the panel discussion. Room 24A
Categories:  Comic Books

10:30-11:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #13: Comics Construction: Literary and Visual Representations— Frank Verano (Temple University) compares Eddie Campbell's de/re-construction of the past in his Alec stories to the work of film director Alain Resnais. Jason Frank (Youngstown State University) discusses past and potential applications of Proust's iterative mode in the comics art form. Michael Harrison (University of California at Irvine) explores how the visual imagery in gay Spanish comics provides allows cartoonists to comment on various conceptions of gender, sexual, and national identity. Room 30AB
Categories:  Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Comics Arts Conference

11:00-12:00 Remembering Dave Stevens— The industry was shocked and saddened at the loss this year of one of our great creative talents. Emcee Mark Evanier chairs an hour of remembrance by Dave's fans and friends as they talk about the creator of The Rocketeer...a great artist who left us much too early. Room 7AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Movies | Tributes

11:30-12:30 Spotlight on Kyle Baker— Between the rich history of Nat Turner, the family hijinks of The Bakers: Babies & Kittens, and the wild war in Special Forces, it’s been a busy year so far for Kyle Baker! The Eisner Award–winning writer/artist talks about all this stuff and what’s next. Room 2
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Writers & Writing

11:30-12:30 Graphic Novel Help in Libraries— Graphic novel collections are booming in libraries. How can a librarian manage when there seems to be a new "must have" title coming out every week? Jill Patterson (La Habra Branch Library) Merideth Jenson-Benjamin (Glendale Public Library), John Shableski (Diamond), and Hillary W. Chang (McCully-Moiliili Public Library) discuss practical ways for librarians to survive their GN collection. Room 3
Categories:  Comic Books

11:30-12:30 Growing up with Archie— Archie Comics creative staff share inside perspectives on the creation of Archie, how Archie Comics has evolved, and why it dominates the newsstands and supermarkets in comic sales. Panelists include Victor Gorelick, editor-in-chief (celebrating his 50th year with Archie Comics); Fred Mausser, VP sales; Mike Pellerito, managing editor; George Gladir, Archie writer; Dan Parent, Betty & Veronica writer and artist; Tania del Rio, Sabrina writer and artist, Bill Galvan, “Archie Freshman Year” artist; Batton Lash, “Archie Freshman Year” writer; Craig Boldman, Jughead writer; and moderator Rik Offenberger, public relations coordinator. Room 4
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

11:30-1:00 Comics Arts Conference Session #14: Postmodernism and Revolution— Chris Field (Southern Illinois University) examines Ross and Krueger's work in Justice and Millar's Wanted as examples of a postmodern sensibility that recasts the stereotypical supervillain as a flawed anti-hero. Harry Althoff (Truman State University), Meredith Heist (TSU), and Lisa Miller (TSU) take a close look at three factors that make webcomics a revolutionary medium: author-text relationship, hypertextuality, and persistence of non-corporate ownership. Room 30AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comics Arts Conference | Webcomics

11:45-12:45 DC Nation: One Weekend Later— Did you think one DC Nation panel was enough? You thought wrong! So much has happened with the DCU during Comic-Con but right here senior VP—executive editor Dan DiDio saves one last blockbuster announcement for the Nation! This is the panel to be at! Room 6A
Categories:  Comic Books

12:30-1:30 Emily the Strange— What's black and white and strange all over? Emily the Strange comics from Dark Horse! This is your chance to get a behind-the-scenes peek at the world of Emily the Strange. Panelists cover everything from the inspired and slightly insane comic book series, the best-selling books, news from the movie front, and much more! Emily's legal guardian and creative monstermind Rob Reger will be there, along with artists Buzz Parker and Nix Turner, writer Jessica Gruner, Dark Horse editor Shawna Gore, and a two-headed kitty who lives on the moon. (Okay, so no promises on the kitty, but she said she'd try to make it.) Room 2
Categories:  Comic Books | Kids | Movies

12:30-2:00 The Secret Origin of Good Readers— The 8th annual Secret Origin of Good Readers panel features Dr. Robyn A. Hill (National University, San Diego), Mimi Cruz (Night Flight Comics, Salt Lake City), Bill Galvan (creator/artist, The Scrapyard Detectives; artist, Archie Comics) and Steven Seagle (creator/writer, Ben 10, It's a Bird, American Virgin). The panelists will discuss how teachers, librarians, retailers, authors, artists, and publishers can work together to bring comic books into the classroom for use as an innovative and motivating cross-curricular teaching tool and a vehicle for promoting reading and literacy. Through a multimedia presentation, personal remarks, and a question-and-answer session, the speakers will present an overview of the medium and highlight specific ways that comic books and graphic novels have been used to engage a variety of learners. Breakout sessions will follow the main presentation. The 70-page resource book The Secret Origin of Good Readers is available for free download it here courtesy of XMission.com. Room 3
Categories:  Comic Books

1:00-2:30 The Life of Michael Turner Tribute Panel— Celebrate the life and times of acclaimed artist, creator, and Aspen Comics president and founder Michael Turner, as Aspen Comics and a host of popular comic book creators pay special tribute to the creator of the best-selling titles Fathom, Soulfire, and Witchblade, and the cover artist behind the mainstream comic event hits Marvel's Civil War and DC Comics' Identity Crisis and Justice League of America. In honor of Turner's tremendous spirit and body of work, as well as his countless contributions to the comic book industry, Aspen Comics will return the favor by remembering Michael Turner's amazing life both in and outside of comics at this very special tribute event. Room 5AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Tributes

1:00-2:00 Marvel: TV Writers of Marvel— Heroes, Eli Stone, Carnivale, Underworld, and Big Love. You love these shows & films, but did you know the writers behind them are also at Marvel? Find out what’s in store for some of TV, movies, and comics’ biggest projects from the people behind them with Jeph Loeb (Ultimates), Aron Coleite (Ultimate X-Men), Joe Pokaski (Secret Invasion: Inhumans), Marc Guggenheim (Amazing Spider-Man), Daniel Knauf (Iron Man), Kevin Grevioux (New Warriors), and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (The Stand)! Room 7AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Television | Writers & Writing

1:00-2:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #15: Capes and Tights, Caps and Gowns— Travis Langley (ERIICA Project) and Randy Duncan (The Power of Comics) present Henderson State University students reporting on research ranging from studying fan behavior and self-image to the experience of creating their own workday comic book.  Danny Fingeroth (Disguised as Clark Kent; Write Now!) provides a response. Erica Ash, Tommy Cash, Katrina Hill, Alex Langley, Mark Head, Nick Langley, Justin Poole, Thomas Sepe, Nicole Smith present their findings. Room 30AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comics Arts Conference | Fandom

1:30-2:30 30 Years of Pointed Ears: Elfquest— Join Comic-Con special guest Wendy Pini (Elfquest, Masque of the Red Death), Richard Pini (CEO Warp Graphics) and Rawson Thurber (director/writer/producer) for a visual presentation celebrating Wendy's pioneering career as writer/artist, plus—of course!—the upcoming Elfquest movie! Q&A for sure! Room 2
Categories:  Animation | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy

1:30-2:30 CMX: Manga for the Masses— Manga is one of the hottest areas in literature, and DC Comics’ manga imprint, CMX, is right in the thick of it. Hear director of manga Asako Suzuki, CMX editor Jim Chadwick, and the CMX crewdiscuss the brilliance of their manga universe, including such books as Crayon Shinchan, Astral Project, Steel Fist Riku, Dorethea, Go West, Two Flowers for the Dragon, Zombie Fairy, and much, much more! Room 8
Categories:  Anime & Manga | Comic Books

2:00-3:00 The Secret Origin of Good Readers Breakouts— This year's Secret Origin of Good Readers program offers an extended opportunity for attendees to learn and network through select breakout sessions following the main presentation. Participants will be able to choose from two intriguing options: “Promoting Tolerance with the Scrapyard Detectives” with Bill Galvan (creator/artist) and Dr. Robyn A. Hill (teacher educator), and “Building Comics & Graphic Novels Collections in Classrooms and Libraries” with Mimi Cruz (Night Flight Comics). Room 3
Categories:  Comic Books

2:30-3:30 Sunday Conversation with Dan DiDio— Dan DiDio and friends invite you to join an intimate Sunday afternoon chat to talk about your favorite comic book memories and why we all love this medium. All are welcome; no RSVP required! Room 2
Categories:  Comic Books

2:30-4:00 Pro/Fan Trivia Match— The Purple Pros—Len Wein (Wolverine creator), Mark Waid (BOOM! Comics editor-in-chief), Kurt Busiek (Astro City), and Robert N. Skir (animated X-Men)—again take on the Black Ink Irregulars (Tom Galloway, Terence Chua, David Oakes, and John Sardegna), this time seeking to regain their youth by answering questions about young comics characters, those college age or below, including the convention theme Legion of Super-Heroes. This match is dedicated to longtime scorekeeper John Simpson, who passed away last October. Room 4
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Fandom | Superheroes

2:30-4:00 Cover Story: The Art of the Cover— It’s our annual soul-searching question: whether or not you can tell a book by its cover. Moderator Mark Evanier interviews four of the top cover artists in comics (and all Comic-Con 2008 special guests): Jim Starlin (Captain Marvel, Warlock), Bryan Hitch (The Ultimates, Fantastic Four), J.G. Jones (52, Final Crisis), and Ethan Van Sciver (Flash, Green Lantern). Evanier presents examples of each artist’s cover work and talks to them about the covers and the process of creating them. It’s a fascinating look at what many regard as the most important part of any comic. Room 5AB
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Superheroes

2:30-3:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #16: The Culture of Popular Things: Ethnographic Examination of Comic-Con 2008— Matthew Smith (The Power of Comics; Wittenberg University) and his students report on their observations of how popular culture is marketed to and practiced by the fans attending Comic-Con. Jessica Brewer (Wittenberg University), Sara McKinniss (Wittenberg University), Jacob Sigafoos (Wittenberg University), Christian Steinmetz (Georgia State University), Brian Swafford (Ohio University), Emily Elliott (North Carolina State University in Raleigh), Ally Datz (Lynchburg College) present their findings. Room 30AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comics Arts Conference | Fandom

2:45-3:45 Virgin Comics: Grant Morrison and Deepak Chopra: The Spirit of the Superhero— The tradition continues! As Virgin Comics gears up to launch the new animated on-line series MBX, series writer Grant Morrison (New X-Men, Superman, Final Crisis) once again teams with best-selling author and Virgin Comics co-founder Deepak Chopra (The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment) to talk...superheroes! Join the ongoing conversation investigating the id, ego, superego, and spirituality of the superhero—we’re talking social theory with sound effects, four colors fused with existentialism. Two of the greatest minds of comics and culture talking comics and culture—this is not to be missed! Ballroom 20
Categories:  Comic Books | Superheroes | Writers & Writing

3:30-4:30 Dave Gibbons— He's the artist behind the cult classic Watchmen, one of the writers behind Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps War, and the hidden genius behind countless other titles. We're talking about Dave Gibbons. Be front and center when Dave talks about his art, his writing, and his love for comics. Moderated by DC VP–sales Bob Wayne, this program is not to be missed! Room 7AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Superheroes