11:30-12:30 Writing with Mark Verheiden— Comic-Con special guest Mark Verheiden, co-executive producer of Battlestar Galactica and writer of the upcoming live-action Teen Titans movie, offers advice to aspiring writers in a lively Q&A session. Want to write for television? Features? Comic books? Bring your best nuts-and- bolts questions! Room 4
Categories:  Animation | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Movies | Television

12:00-1:00 Spotlight on Cory Doctorow— Blogger, journalist, and science fiction author Cory Doctorow is a pioneer in Creative Commons licenses, and his works include Overclocked: Stories of Future Present and Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town. He has recently moved into comics, too, with adaptations of some of his short stories coming from IDW Publishing. Room 5AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Science Fiction & Fantasy

12:15-1:15 DC Countdown...to the End?— The DC Universe survived 52, but will it survive Countdown Dan DiDio and senior group editor Mike Carlin, the panel includes Countdown writers Paul Dini (Detective Comics), Tony Bedard (Supergirl and The Legion of Super-heroes), Adam Beechen (Robin), Sean McKeever (Teen Titans), Justin Gray (Jonah Hex), Jimmy Palmiotti (Superman Confidential), and more. Room 6B
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

12:30-2:00 The Many Faces of the Graphic Novel— Graphic Novels come in many shapes, sizes, and formats, and they've been written about almost every topic under the sun! Six creators whose work explores very different aspects of the medium—Jeffrey Brown (Clumsy), Becky Cloonan (East Coast Rising), Renée French (The Ticking), Jim Ottaviani (Cowboys, Bone Sharps, and Thunder Lizards), Andy Runton (Owly), and Doug TenNapel (Creature Tech)—discuss the diversity of the form and the innovative places the graphic novel is going with moderator Mark Siegel (First Second Books). Room 4
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

12:30-1:30 Spotlight on Mike Ploog— One of the great artists at Marvel in the early 70s, Mike Ploog produced inspired work on books such as Werewolf By Night, and The Monster of Frankenstein. Ploog spent many years in the film industry as a production artist and storyboarder, working for Ralph Bakshi and The Jim Henson Company, among others. Most recently, he's been drawing the Abazad children's book series scripted by J. M. DeMatteis. Room 8
Categories:  Animation | Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

12:30-2:00 Drawing Style and Storytelling— In a classroom-style workshop, Darwyn Cooke (The Spirit), Cameron Stewart (The Other Side), Carla Speed McNeil (Finder), and Colleen Coover (Banana Sunday)—and maybe another special guest—discuss design, look-and-feel, and how they develop the visual style of specific projects. Moderated by Douglas Wolk (Reading Comics). Room 30CDE
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Seminars & Workshops

1:00-2:00 Spotlight on Morrie Turner— Legendary comic strip artist Morrie Turner (Wee Pals) talks with world's fastest cartoonist Sergio Aragonés about his award-winning career in comics. A new documentary is being prepared on Turner's incredible life and work. Room 3
Categories:  Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

1:30-2:30 Spotlight on Matt Wagner/25 Years of Grendel— Matt Wagner's signature anti-hero, Grendel, turns 25 this year. Wagner's rich history with the character, as well as his other comics work, is discussed in this session with Dark Horse editor Diana Schutz. Room 1AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

1:30-2:30 Spotlight on Gary Friedrich— The author of some of the most fondly remembered Marvel Comics of the 60s and 70s, Comic-Con special guest Gary Friedrich will be interviewed by Mark Evanier about his comics career, including a memorable and thought-provoking run on Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandoes, created during the height of the Vietnam War. Room 8
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

1:30-3:30 Paramount Pictures— Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, and Nickelodeon Movies present a bold new vision for the future of adventure. Be here for a one-of-a-kind presentation put together just for the fans at Comic-Con as you get a look at such highly anticipated films as Beowulf, The Spiderwick Chronicles, Stardust, Hot Rod, Iron Man, and the next installments of Indiana Jones and Star Trek, plus a few surprises. Appearing in person: JJ Abrams, Neil Gaiman, Roger Avary, and SNL's Andy Samberg. Hall H
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Horror and Suspense | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy

2:00-3:00 Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance: Sub-Genres Readers Love— Where are the borders between urban fantasy and paranormal romance? How did paranormal romance grow from a subgenre of romance to its current popular cross- genre status, and what does the future hold? Writers Laurell K. Hamilton (best-selling author of the Anita Blake and Merry Gentry series), Jeanne Stein (Anna Strong Vampire Chronicles), Laura Anne Gilman (The Retrievers series), Carrie Vaughn (Kitty Takes a Holiday), Marjorie Liu (Soul Song), and Samantha Sommersby (Forbidden: The Awakening) talk about love and monsters. Moderator: Maryelizabeth Hart of Mysterious Galaxy. Room 5AB
Categories:  Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Science Fiction & Fantasy

2:30-3:30 Spotlight on Darwyn Cooke — One of comics' most distinctive cartoonists, Comic-Con special guest Darwyn Cooke made his mark with the epic DC: The New Frontier. Now he's tackled an almost-impossible job with incredible skill and joy: updating Will Eisner's classic The Spirit for a whole new audience. Join Darwyn in this Q&A event as he discusses his work. Read our special extended interview with Darwyn Cooke. Room 1AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Movies

2:30-4:00 Sergio & Mark: Groo's 25th— It's hard to believe, but it's been 25 years since Sergio Aragonés' Groo first wandered into our lives. Many issues and seemingly just as many publishers later, Groo is still hale and hearty. Join creator Sergio Aragonés, colorist Tom Luth, letterer Stan Sakai, plus a Groo editor or two, along with Mark Evanier, whose involvement with the character remains a mystery to all of us. Room 8
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

3:00-4:00 Spotlight on Daryl Cagle— Meet the MSNBC.com cartoonist behind the huge political cartoon website (Cagle.msnbc.com) and the annual Best Political Cartoons of the Year books. Daryl Cagle's cartoons are seen by more people in more newspapers around the world than those of any other editorial cartoonist. Cagle also runs his own syndicate (Caglecartoons.com), and represents and syndicates over 50 editorial cartoonists and columnists. Join Cagle for a lively slideshow of his own work, an overview of the business of political cartooning on the web and in print, and the issues facing the editorial cartooning profession. Room 2
Categories:  Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Webcomics

3:00-4:00 Spotlight on Dan Brereton— One of the first painters in comics, Dan Brereton's rich art style perfectly compliments his storytelling. Brereton is celebrating the appropriate spooky 13th anniversary of his signature creation, The Nocturnals, this year and he'll talk about their return along with his other work in this special Spotlight panel. Room 3
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

3:30-5:00 Spotlight on Scott Kurtz— Comic-Con special guest Scott Kurtz (PvP) and his friends Kristofer Straub (Starslip Crisis) and Ryan Sohmer (Blind Ferret Entertainment) discuss turning PvP from a comic strip into an online animated series. You'll be treated to the first public screening of some of the webisodes. Scott discusses PvP's 10-year road from 700 readers a month to where it is today. Room 1AB
Categories:  Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Webcomics

4:00-5:00 Where Did That Come From? Dark Fantasy and Suspense Authors Discuss Their Darkest Ideas— They’re the ones who made their parent/significant other/child/editor inquire, "Where did that come from?" Authors F. Paul Wilson (Repairman Jack novels), David Morrell (Captain America: The Chosen), Jeffrey J. Mariotte (Missing White Girl), Simon Wood (Accidents Waiting to Happen), Christopher Golden (The Myth Hunters), Stephen Woodworth (From Black Rooms), Mike Carey (The Devil You Know), and Richard Kadrey Butcher Bird) reveal their inner darkness with moderator Maryelizabeth Hart of Mysterious Galaxy. Room 2
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Horror and Suspense

4:00-5:00 Spotlight on Guy Delisle— Guy Delisle is the cartoonist behind the bestselling and critically acclaimed Drawn & Quarterly graphic novels Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea and Shenzhen: A Travelogue From China. In his first U.S. appearance, Delisle will be interviewed about his work by comicsreporter.com editor Tom Spurgeon. Room 3
Categories:  Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

4:00-5:00 Spotlight on Christos Gage— It's no secret that Christos Gage is a talent on the rise Find out all you want to know about this rising star writer with moderator and WildStorm editor Ben Abernathy, including plans that will surely change the WildStorm Universe! Room 4
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

4:00-5:00 Spotlight on Adam Hughes— Celebrating his 25th year in comics, Comic-Con special guest Adam Hughes is one of the premiere cover artists in the medium, and you need look no further than the cover of this year's Souvenir Book to see what we mean. Adam will talk about his career and art, including the upcoming All Star Wonder Woman.  Moderated by Scott Klauder of Sideshow Collectibles. Room 5AB
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

4:00-5:30 The Golden and Silver Age of Comics— Comic-Con has a long tradition of seeking out talent from the early years of comics, and this year is no exception. Along with comics stalwarts Dick Ayers, Russ Heath and George Gladir, moderator Mark Evanier interviews first-time special guests Allen Bellman, Mel Keefer, and Lily Renée Phillips about their lives and careers in comics. Room 8
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

4:45-5:45 Spotlight on George A. Romero— George A. Romero (Night of the Living Dead) is the undisputed master of zombie genre films, and Max Brooks (World War Z, Zombie Survival Guide) has written the best-selling zombie novels. Join these two titans of the undead as Max sits down for a personal interview with George, talking about everything zombies! Room 6CDEF
Categories:  Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Horror and Suspense | Movies

5:00-6:00 Spotlight on Brian Wood— Critically acclaimed creator Brian Wood is front and center in his first Comic-Con Spotlight. Whether it's his hit series DMZ or the highly anticipated Northlanders, Brian is here for you! With VERTIGO editor Will Dennis, this Q&A session that promises to entertain. Room 1AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

6:00-7:00 Spotlight on Roman Dirge— Roman Dirge, creator of the hit comic book series Lenore, looks back on the 10th anniversary of SLG Publishing releasing issue #1. Moderated by Spookyland websmaster and Ghouly Boys creator Christopher. Room 1AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

6:00-7:00 Spotlight on Joe Jusko— One of the most dynamic painters working in sequential art today, Joe Jusko is most famous for his series of paintings based on the creations of Edgar Rice Burroughs and for his incredible Marvel Masterpiece collectible card sets. Joe will discuss his work, past, present, and future. Room 2
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

10:30-11:30 Spotlight on George Gladir— One of the most prolific writers ever in comics, Comic-Con special guest George Gladir has entertained readers with almost 50 years of stories for Archie Comics. Join Gladir as he talks about his incredible career in comics with friend and cartoonist Batton Lash. Room 3
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

10:30-11:30 The Art of Adapting Comics to the Screen— As the cinematic renaissance of comic book–based films continues, here's your chance to learn what it takes to adapt these dream projects to the screen. Moderator Jeff Goldsmith (senior editor, Creative Screenwriting magazine) hosts a panel featuring Stan Lee (Fantastic Four), Don Payne (co-writer, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer), Mark Fergus (co-writer, Iron Man), Kevin Feige (president of production, Marvel Studios), and Mark Verheiden (Teen Titans). Room 5AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Movies

10:30-11:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #5: Disguised as Clark Kent: Jews, Comics, and the Creation of the Superhero— Superheroes were created by Jews. Is that significant, or a complete coincidence and no big deal? In a reading from his provocative new Continuum book, Disguised as Clark Kent: Jews, Comics, and the Creation of the Superhero, longtime Spider-Man editor and author of Superman on the Couch Danny Fingeroth explores the backgrounds of the young, largely Jewish men from Eastern European backgrounds who created the most well-known superheroes. Fingeroth will discuss how the creators' Jewish backgrounds may have helped make superheroes the most familiar popular culture icons of all—on TV, in movies, and in electronic media, as well as in comics. Room 30AB
Categories:  Comic Arts Conference | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

11:30-12:30 Spotlight on Joe Matt— The original antihero Joe Matt (The Poor Bastard, Fair Weather) surfaces for a Q&A session guaranteed to be as side-splitting as his infamous autobiographical series Peepshow. The spotlight is moderated by Brian Doherty, a senior editor of Reason magazine, author of the books This is Burning Man and Radicals for Capitalism, and a lifelong friend of comics. Joe Matt's new graphic novel, Spent, is available from Drawn & Quarterly. Room 3
Categories:  Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

11:30-12:30 IDW Publishing— What's coming up for IDW in '07 and '08? Find out in this informative panel that will features big announcements, big guests (Cory Doctorow, Mike Baron, and Brian Lynch, among others), discussions of upcoming Angel, 30 Days of Night, and Transformers, and more, all presided over by IDW publisher Chris Ryall. Room 4
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

11:30-12:30 Spotlight on Paul Dini— From introducing Batman to a new generation of fans with the now-classic Batman: The Animated Series to the resurrection of tabloid-sized comics with Alex Ross, and from Detective Comics to the current classic-in-the-making Countdown, there is no doubt that Paul Dini is one of the modern masters of superhero storytelling. Joined by DC's senior VP/executive editor DCU, Dan DiDio, this is one Spotlight that is sure to thrill! Room 5AB
Categories:  Animation | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

12:00-1:00 Spotlight on Allen Bellman— Having started out doing backgrounds for Captain America in the 1940s, Allen Bellman went on to work on a number of other Timely Golden Age series, including Sub-Mariner and Human Torch. In the 1950s he worked with the legendary Charles Biro and Bob Wood and Lev Gleason Publications, before leaving comics for the newspaper world. Meet one of the unsung heroes of the Golden Age of Comics as Mark Evanier talks to Bellman about his career in comics. This is Mr. Bellman's first appearance as a Comic-Con special guest. Room 8
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

1:00-2:00 Spotlight on Mel Keefer — First-time Comic-Con special guest Mel Keefer spent most of his career in the world of newspaper syndicated comics, drawing strips such as Perry Mason, Mac Divot, and Rick O'Shay. Mark Evanier talks to Keefer about his work, including as a layout and character design artist in animation and his "starring" role as the artist behind Jack Lemmon's cartoonist in the 1965 movie How to Murder Your Wife. Room 8
Categories:  Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

1:30-2:30 Spotlight on Miriam Katin— Illustrator Miriam Katin's first graphic memoir, We Are On Our Own, chronicled her escape from Nazi-held Budapest with her mother during World War II and debuted to national fanfare from magazines such as Time and People. Cartoonist and editor Shaenon K. Garrity will interview Miriam about her life and work. Room 3
Categories:  Animation | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

1:30-2:30 Kill Your Darlings— Writers of mystery and suspense discuss the satisfaction in (fictionally) killing victims who provide the world with a wealth of suspects and alibis through their daily behavior. Try not to draw the authors' attention as F. Paul Wilson (Repairman Jack novels), David Morrell (Captain America: The Chosen), Max Allan Collins (A Killing in Comics), Richard Morgan (TH1TRE3N), Josh Conviser (Echelon), Joe Schreiber (Chasing the Dead), and Elizabeth Forrest (At Twilight's Fall) plan their next victims. Moderated by Maryelizabeth Hart of Mysterious Galaxy. Room 4
Categories:  Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Horror and Suspense

1:30-2:30 Spotlight on Jaime Hernandez/Love and Rockets’ 25th— Chat with Jaime Hernandez about his beloved comic book series Love and Rockets, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Fantagraphics publisher Gary Groth engages Jaime in a discussion (and audience Q&A) about L&R, Jaime's characters Maggie & Hopey (hailed as two of the great women characters in comics history) as well as other work, including his recent graphic novella, Maggie La Loca, serialized earlier this year in The New York Times Magazine. And what's going on with that long- discussed Love & Rockets movie?! Room 10
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

2:00-3:00 Spotlight on Neil Gaiman— One of Comic-Con's most popular guests returns to spend his weekend with you. Neil Gaiman talks about this busy year, including upcoming films Beowulf, Coraline, and Stardust (set to premiere Comic-Con weekend in L.A.), that little ditty called Death looming on the horizon, and tons of other great stuff he has in the works. Read our extended interview with Neil Gaiman. Room 6CDEF
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Horror and Suspense | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

2:00-3:00 Marvel in the 60s and 70s— The Marvel Age of Comics was a magical time for both the people who created the books and fans who read them. Mark Evanier talks to Roy Thomas (Avengers, Conan), Gary Friedrich (Sgt. Fury, Ghost Rider), Dick Ayers (Sgt. Fury, Fantastic Four), Mike Ploog (Ghost Rider, Monster of Frankenstein), and Magazine Management's David George, about that magical Marvelous era. Room 8
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

2:30-3:30 Spotlight on Rick Geary— Writer/artist and San Diego Reader staple Rick Geary talks to long-time friend David Wilson about his career in comics, including his ongoing series of graphic novels, Treasury of Victorian Murder, the latest of which, The Bloody Benders, is out from NBM in time for Comic-Con. Room 3
Categories:  Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Horror and Suspense

2:30-3:30 Legacy of Will Eisner— Even after his death, Will Eisner's legacy continues with the same intensity that marked his long and remarkable career. A major motion picture adaptation of The Spirit, new Spirit comic books and archival collections from DC Comics, new collections of Eisner's influential graphic novels from W. W. Norton, theatrical adaptations, art exhibitions and a never-before-published textbook are among the many projects in the works. Discussing this wide range of activity are Will's widow Ann Eisner, writer/artist Darwyn Cooke (DC Comics's Will Eisner's The Spirit), and movie producers Michael Uslan and Deborah Del Prete. Moderated by Eisner's long-time publisher and art and literary agent Denis Kitchen. Room 4
Categories:  Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Movies

2:30-3:30 Spotlight on Gilbert Hernandez/Love and Rockets’ 25th— In this 25th anniversary year of the legendary independent comic book Love and Rockets, co-creator Gilbert Hernandez sits down with his longtime publisher, Fantagraphics' Gary Groth, for a frank discussion of Beto's work and his opinions about comics, touching on his recent Vertigo graphic novel, Sloth, his forthcoming Dark Horse miniseries, and the just released Chance in Hell from Fantagraphics. Ask your own questions in an audience Q&A. Room 10
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

3:30-4:30 Spotlight on Alison Bechdel— Her autobiographical graphic novel Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic took both the comics and mainstream book worlds by storm late last year. Comic-Con special guest Alison Bechdel and Fun Home have been nominated for three 2007 Eisner Awards: Best Reality-Based Work, Best Graphic Album–New, and Best Writer/Artist. Alison talks about what's next for her and, of course, her Dykes to Watch Out For comic strip and collections, in this visual presentation. Room 1AB
Categories:  Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

3:30-4:30 Spotlight on F. Paul Wilson— Most famous for his novel The Keep and his Repairman Jack series, author F. Paul Wilson comes to Comic-Con for the first time as a special guest. Paul will discuss his work and his books, including adaptations for comics, in this special Spotlight event. Room 2
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Horror and Suspense | Science Fiction & Fantasy

3:30-4:30 Business of Web Comics— Scott Kurtz (PvP) and Robert Khoo (Penny Arcade) will create a brand-new webcomic, live on stage and show how the creative and business aspects of the property work (and don't work) in parallel. Q&A session to follow afterward! Room 8
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Seminars & Workshops | Webcomics

4:30-5:30 New Voices in Graphic Novels— The medium is exploding with new opportunities and new creative talent. Six graphic novel creators who have published their first books in the past year—Miriam Katin (We Are On Our Own), Leland Myrick (Missouri Boy), George O'Connor (Journey into Mohawk Country), David Peterson (Mouse Guard), Christian Slade (Korgi), and Jamie Tanner (The Aviary)—talk about their inspirations and about the place their books have in the changing graphic novel market. Moderated by Calvin Reid (Publisher's Weekly). Room 4
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

4:30-5:30 Vertigo: Looking Over the Edge— Vertigo is a name that you have come to trust to deliver smart, provocative, and consistent quality 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 for the first time! Hosted by senior VP/executive editor, Vertigo, Karen Berger, with group editor Shelly Bond, editors Will Dennis and Jonathan Vankin, and creators Jason Aaron (Scalped), Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets, Loveless), Mark Buckingham (Fables), Mike Carey (Crossing Midnight, Lucifer), Joshua Dysart (Swamp Thing), David Lapham (Silverfish), Simon Oliver (The Exterminators), Matt Wagner (Sandman Mystery Theatre), Steven T. Seagle (American Virgin), G. Willow Wilson (Cairo), Bill Willingham (Fables, Jack of Fables), Brian Wood (DMZ, Northlanders), and others! Room 5AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Horror and Suspense | Science Fiction & Fantasy

4:30-5:30 Spotlight on Mark Evanier— Sure, you've seen him moderate about a gazillion panels at Comic-Con, but have you ever heard the Evanier story? Comics and animation writer—and long-time ME friend—Paul Dini sits down and turns the mic on Mark Evanier for once. Learn about his life, his career, his popular blog, and what he really does when he's not moderating panels at Comic-Con! Room 8
Categories:  Animation | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Television

5:30-6:30 Spotlight on Dave Stevens/The Rocketeer’s 25th— The Rocketeer zoomed out of the sky 25 years ago in the pages of Pacific Comics Presents and took the comics world by storm! Dave Stevens' lush art and evocative 1930s setting—not to mention the Rocketeer's main squeeze, Bettie Page!—is still being talked about today. Mark Evanier talks to creator Dave Stevens about the legacy of The Rocketeer and what he's doing these days. Room 8
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy

6:00-7:00 Spotlight on Ben Templesmith— His evocative and downright scary art helped catapult 30 Days of Night into the major hit stratosphere. Now the vampire series is about to become a major motion picture, and the film's director, David Slade (Hard Candy), will interview Comic-Con special guest Ben Templesmith about his work. Templesmith, who has gone on to become one of comics' hottest young artists, will talk about his career and art with Slade, with special emphasis on those 30 Days that put him on the map. Room 2
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Horror and Suspense | Movies

6:00-7:00 Babylon 5: The Lost Tales— Created by J. Michael Straczynski in 1993, Babylon 5 became an sf cult fan favorite and a top rated show. Now in 2007, you are being taken to 2271 A.D. for Babylon 5: The Lost Tales, a made-for-video movie. See footage from the movie, with a panel to follow. Panelists include writer/director/executive producer J. Michael Straczynski and members from the original cast, including Bruce Boxleitner (President John Sheridan), Tracy Scoggins (Captain Elizabeth Lochley), and Peter Woodward (Galen) as well as executive producer Douglas Netter and producer Samm Barnes. Room 6CDEF
Categories:  Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

10:30-12:00 Quick Draw— We've said it before and we'll say it again: Quick Draw is just about the most fun you can have at any comics convention panel. Host Mark Evanier keeps artists Sergio Aragonés, Scott Shaw!, and Mike Kazaleh on their toes through this rollicking cartoon improv event, while you get to see them draw their hearts out live on the big screen. Room 6CDEF
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Fandom

11:30-12:30 Spotlight on Paul Pope— This popular writer/artist moves easily between self-published personal works and more mainstream material (Batman: Year 100). Comic-Con special guest Paul Pope talks to friend and DC Comics editor Bob Schreck about his career in comics, his upcoming projects, and more, including a visual presentation. Room 1AB
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

11:30-12:30 Reality-Based Graphic Novels— The rise of graphic novels in the past few years has seen the creation of some incredible work rooted in the real world. Some of these are personal autobiographical memoirs, while others are rooted in history. Moderator Andrew Farago (Cartoon Art Museum, San Francisco) interviews Comic-Con special guests Alison Bechdel (Fun Home), Guy Delisle (Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea), Rick Geary (The Bloody Benders), Miriam Katin (We Are On Our Own), and Joe Matt (Spent) about tales of their own lives and those of others. Room 3
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

11:30-12:30 Newspaper Editorial Cartoonists— MSNBC.com's Daryl Cagle moderates a panel of eight top newspaper political cartoonists who will discuss their own work and the state of the editorial cartooning profession, where interest in politics, world events, and the work of political cartoonists is exploding as the newspaper industry is shrinking. Panelists include Steve Breen (Pulitzer Prize–winning editorial cartoonist for the San Diego Union-Tribune), Mr. Fish (AKA Dwayne Booth, LA Weekly and Village Voice), Patrick O'Connor (Los Angeles Daily News), Monte Wolverton (syndicated editorial cartoonist, Mad Magazine artist, and son of legendary cartoonist Basil Wolverton), Brian Fairrington syndicated editorial cartoonist, co-editor of the annual Best Political Cartoons of the Year books), Lalo Alcaraz (syndicated editorial cartoonist, LA Weekly, and the syndicated comic strip La Cucaracha), and Steve Kelley (New Orleans Times-Picayune). Room 4
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Webcomics

12:00-1:15 Cartoon Voices I— Such a Comic-Con favorite, we're doing it twice this year! Mark Evanier hosts his yearly panel with some of the greatest voice talent in the cartoon business. Today's panel includes Neil Ross (GI Joe), Wally Wingert (Invader Zim), Kathy Garver (Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends), Will Ryan (Disney voice artist), Chris Edgerly (Harvey Birdman), and Joe Alaskey (Duck Dodgers). Stay tuned for Part II tomorrow at noon in this very same room! Room 6B
Categories:  Animation | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Television

12:00-1:00 Minx: Evocative and Fearless— Learn more about DC’s newest imprint Minx, with Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg, the creators of the very first Minx book, The Plain Janes! They are joined by Mike Carey (Re-Gifters, Confessions of a Blabbermouth), Sonny Liew (Re-Gifters), Aaron Alexovich (Confessions of a Blabbermouth, Kimmie66), Minx group editor Shelly Bond, and some surprise new faces! Room 8
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

12:15-1:15 Spotlight on Laurell K. Hamilton— With two incredibly popular book series going stronger than ever (Anita Blake, 15 books, over 6 million copies in print; Merry Gentry, 5 books, over 1 million copies in print), Comic-Con special guest Laurell K. Hamilton is one of the most popular fiction authors working today. Laurell tells us what's next for Anita, Merry, and herself in this exclusive event. Room 6CDEF
Categories:  Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Horror and Suspense | Science Fiction & Fantasy

12:30-1:30 Spotlight on J. H. Williams III— His Eisner Award–winning work with Alan Moore on Promethea made him one of the top artists working in comics today. Comic-Con special guest J. H. Williams is joined by writing partner Scott Johnson and writer Grant Morrison in this fully loaded panel moderated by Lauren McCubbin. Room 2
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

12:30-1:30 Spotlight on Lily Renée Phillips— She was one of the pioneer women cartoonists in the Golden Age of Comics, producing an impressive body of work for Fiction House in the 1940s, a period dominated by male artists. Comic-Con special guest Lily Renée Phillips talks about her life and career with cartoonist and noted comics historian Trina Robbins. Room 3
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

12:30-1:30 National Cartoonists Society Panel: What Do We Do All Day?— Five nationally syndicated cartoonists reveal the secret life behind daily deadlines and show pictures of themselves working in their pajamas: Lalo Alcaraz (La Cucaracha), Steve Breen (Grand Avenue), Daryl Cagle (msnbc.com), Andrew Feinstein (Girls And Sports), Michael Jantze (The Norm), Steve Kelley (New Orleans Times-Picayune editorial cartoonist) and Morrie Turner (Wee Pals). Moderated by Fred Bronson (writer, Star Trek: TNG). Room 4
Categories:  Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

1:00-2:00 Where Do They Get Those Marvelous Toys?— Whether it's contemporary superheroes, future private investigators, fanatical plague bearers, or zombie fighters in an alternate reality, technology can be a curse and/or a cure for the world's evils in stories. Come discuss gadgets and gizmos with authors Cory Doctorow (Boing Boing/Craphound), Greg Bear (Quantico), Austin Grossman (Soon I Will Be Invincible), Vernor Vinge (Rainbows End), Kevin J. Anderson (Sandworms of Dune and The Last Days of Krypton), and Mike Shepherd (Kris Longknife—Resolute). Room 8
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Fandom | Science Fiction & Fantasy

1:00-2:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #11: High Art and Low— Richard Becker (CSU Northridge) discusses the nature of the narrator and authorial self-insertions in comics, like those of Lee and Kirby, Gerber, and Morrison, and the schism between schools of storytelling in which the writer is very visible and another in which the writer seeks to be completely invisible. John A. Walsh (Indiana University) examines Grant Morrison’s Doom Patrol stories and their punctuation by appearances of and allusions to similarly fracture, damaged, and outcast artists and works and asks whether the members of the Doom Patrol are artists or heroes and if there’s a difference. Jason Mott (UNC-Wilmington) uncovers the history of comic book superheroes and traces their evolution from serving purely as devices of metaphor for poets to becoming the subject of extended development and progression by award-winning poets such as Brian Dietrich in Krypton Nights and Jeannine Hall in Becoming the Villainess. Room 30AB
Categories:  Comic Arts Conference | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

1:30-2:30 Spotlight on David Morrell— The popular author created a pop culture juggernaut with Rambo in his book, First Blood. David Morrell joins Comic-Con 2007 as a special guest for the first time. He’ll talk with fellow author Max Allan Collins about his career and his first-time venture into comics, writing Captain America: The Chosen for Marvel. Room 1AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

1:30-2:30 Spotlight on Renée French— Her strange and compelling art and stories have made her a popular indy comics mainstay since the early 1990s, with such disturbing books as Grit Bath, The Ninth Gland, Corny’s Fetish, and the multi-Eisner-nominated The Ticking. Comic-Con special guest Renée French talks about her work with Picturebox art director and editor Dan Nadel. Room 3
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

1:30-2:45 DCU: New Worlds Order— The crisis is over, isn’t it? With 52 finished, the DCU is counting down and the Monitors are watching closely. Come play catch-up, have your questions answered, and learn what lies ahead for the DCU in this extensive slide show presentation moderated by Dan DiDio (senior VP/executive editor DCU) and Bob Wayne (VP, sales). Joining them will be coordinating editor Jann Jones, senior group editor Mike Carlin, group editor Eddie Berganza, plus Tony Bedard (Birds of Prey,), Adam Beechen (Robin), Paul Dini (Detective Comics), Justin Gray (Countdown), Geoff Johns (The All New Booster Gold), Dan Jurgens (Booster Gold), Sean McKeever (Teen Titans), Jesus Merino (Superman), Carlos Pacheco (Superman), Jimmy Palmiotti (Countdown), Grant Morrison (Batman), Ivan Reis (Green Lantern), and Gail Simone (The All-New Atom). Room 6B
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

1:30-2:30 Oni Press Presents: Stumped!— Help celebrate Oni Press's 10th Anniversary with their first ever San Diego Quiz Show! Pit your wits against a gaggle of Oni Press creators and staff in a brain- battle covering topics far and wide—not just comics!—for a chance to win free comics! Plus, get an exclusive peek at Oni’s upcoming slate of exciting comic book and graphic novel projects from creators like Greg Rucka (Whiteout), Christos N. Gage (WWH: X-Men), and many more! Room 10
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

2:30-3:30 Storytelling with and Without Pictures— Authors of prose and comics discuss how they write differently for different media—or do they? Find out with authors David Morrell (Captain America: The Chosen), Christopher Golden (The Myth Hunters, Talent), Mike Mignola (Baltimore, Or, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire, Hellboy), Richard Morgan (TH1TRE3N, Black Widow), Tad Williams (Shadowplay, Aquaman), Barbara Hambly (Renfield: Slave of Dracula, Garden of Emptiness), Orson Scott Card (Ender’s Game, Ultimate Iron Man), and Mike Carey (The Devil You Know, Lucifer). Moderated by Maryelizabeth Hart of Mysterious Galaxy. Room 1AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Horror and Suspense | Science Fiction & Fantasy

4:30-5:30 Spotlight on Rowena— Comic-Con special guest Rowena Morrill, better known as Rowena, is one of the top cover illustrators in science fiction and fantasy. Her incredible body of work includes over 300 book covers. Rowena talks about her career and future projects. Room 1AB
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Science Fiction & Fantasy

4:30-6:00 Spotlight on Roy Thomas— One of the first big-time fans turned pro, Roy Thomas went from editing the seminal comics fanzine Alter Ego to a job at Marvel Comics that saw him produce memorable runs on Avengers, X-Men, Conan and just about every other Marvel character and group, including, at one point, editing the whole line. Mark Evanier interviews Thomas on his long and storied career in comics, including his return to the magazine that started it all, Alter Ego. Room 2
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

4:30-5:30 Spotlight on J. Michael Straczynski— It's a big summer for popular writer/producer/director J. Michael Straczynski, as his new direct-to-DVD feature Babylon 5: The Lost Tales debuts and he brings back Thor to his rightful place in the Marvel universe. JMS talks about these projects and more, including his upcoming film Changeling for Imagine Entertainment, which is being produced by Ron Howard, starring Angelina Jolie, and directed by Clint Eastwood. And then there's World War Z, and Goliath: The Story of David and that Silver Surfer movie, too... Room 6B
Categories:  Animation | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

4:30-5:30 Spotlight on Kent Williams— Comic-Con special guest Kent Williams talks about his dual career in comics and the art world. Comics artist and colorist Jose Villarrubia will interview Kent about his work, and Kent will present a visual presentation featuring his art. Room 10
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

5:00-6:00 WildStorm: Storm Front— The pieces are moving into place, as 2007 is shaping up to be a banner year for DC’s left coast imprint, WildStorm. Be here to see what’s on the horizon in the WildStorm Universe! Bob Wayne (DC Comics VP, sales) moderates, with Jim Lee (editorial director, WildStorm; artist, WildC.A.T.S), Hank Kanalz (VP/general manager, WildStorm), Ben Abernathy (editor, WildStorm), Scott Peterson (editor, WildStorm), and some of comics’ top talents, including Christos N. Gage (Stormwatch PHD), Gail Simone, (Gen¹³, Welcome to Tranquility), Jimmy Palmiotti (Countdown, Friday the 13th), and Justin Gray (Countdown, Friday the 13th). As a special incentive, a collectible comic will be distributed to fans at the panel! Room 5AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

5:00-6:00 NBM's 30th Birthday Party!— America's original graphic novel publisher—the company that has brought you fantasy by Ray Bradbury, classic tales by Will Eisner, best-selling art books by Luis Royo, and sexy stories by Milo Manara and Guido Crepax—is celebrating! Join the NBM gang for birthday cake and news about new books by Bryan Talbot, Eisner nominee Lewis Trondheim, and other stars. Scheduled to appear: Rick Geary (A Treasury of Victorian Murder), Chad Michael Ward (Autopsyrotica), Rob Vollmar (Bluesman and The Castaways), Bryan Talbot, and some surprise guests! Room 8
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

5:30-6:30 Spotlight on Joseph Michael Linsner— His incredibly lush style of painted art made Dawn an instant hit. Comic-Con special guest Joseph Michael Linsner talks about his almost-20 years telling tales of the goddess, what's next for both him and Dawn, and his long-time collaboration with writer/artist and co-colorist Eva Hopkins. Room 1AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

6:00-7:00 Spotlight on Mark Verheiden— The popular writer of movies (The Mask, Timecop), television (Smallville, Battlestar Galactica), and comics (Superman Batman, The American) comes to Comic-Con as a special guest. Mark Verheiden talks to writer and friend Jeff Gelb about his career storytelling on the big screen, the small screen, and the printed page. Room 2
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy

9:00-11:00 Spotlight on Warren Ellis— Warren Ellis (Authority, Black Summer) is not only one of the most critically acclaimed writers of comic books but also one of the most outspoken. Don't miss this chance to see him talk about everything from modern technology to how he crafts a tale, and get special sneak peaks of his new Avatar titles Doktor Sleepless, Black Summer, and some amazing surprise project announcements! Room 6CDEF
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Fandom | Nighttime Programming

10:30-11:45 Jack Kirby Tribute— Let’s face it: when it comes to comics, it’s Kirby’s World and we just live in it. 2007 has seen a bumper crop of Kirby projects, including the first volume of DC’s deluxe chronological reprinting of all the Fourth World stories, a major documentary about Jack on the Fantastic Four DVD, and Mark Evanier’s upcoming art book Kirby, King of Comics. Join Evanier as he talks to Neil Gaiman, Erik Larsen, Darwyn Cooke, Mike Royer, and members of the Kirby family about the lasting influence of the undisputed King of comics. Room 1AB
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

10:30-11:30 Archie Comics— Archie comics creators Craig Boldman (Archie newspaper strip, Jughead), Tania del Rio (Sabrina), Bill Galvan (Jughead & Friends), George Gladir (Archie, Betty, Betty & Veronica), Rich Koslowski (Archie & Friends, Jughead, Sonic), Dan Parent (Betty & Veronica, Veronica), Andrew Pepoy (Archie & Friends: Katy Keene, Betty & Veronica, Sonic) and staff members Victor Gorelick (VP/managing editor), Fred Mausser (VP/director of circulation), and Rik Offenberger (public relations coordinator) discuss upcoming plans at Archie Comics, talk about comics for kids, and take questions from the audience. At the conclusion of the panel there will be free copies of Archie Digest #236 for fans, while supplies last. Room 4
Categories:  Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

10:30-12:00 CBLDF Live Art Jam— Did you ever want to look over a legendary artist's shoulder while he or she created a great piece of art, then add it to your collection? Well, here's your chance to do just that and support a great cause! See Jim Lee (Batman), Matt Wagner (Grendel), Jeff Smith (Bone), and Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise) draw live art projected onto the big screen at the first ever CBLDF Live Art Jam at Comic- Con! Watch these 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! (Please note, you will need a bidder number to bid on art in this event, which you can pick up throughout the con at Booth 1831, or at the start of the event.) Room 5AB
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Comics Law School

10:30-11:30 DC Big Guns— Superman. Batman. Wonder Woman. Green Lantern. The Flash. They stand for more than Justice. Each, in his or her own way, is the archetypal hero. Listen in as their top creators discuss where they’ve been and—more important—where they’re going in the year to come. See what’s in store for the World's Greatest Super- Heroes with the new iconic architects Paul Dini (Detective Comics), Geoff Johns (Action Comics, Green Lantern), Grant Morrison (All Star Superman, Batman), Jesus Merino (Superman), Dustin Nguyen (Superman/Batman), Carlos Pacheco (Superman), Ivan Reis (Green Lantern), Mark Verheiden (Superman/Batman), group editors Eddie Berganza and Bob Schreck, and senior editors Matt Idelson and Mike Marts. Room 6A
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

11:30-1:00 Comics Are Not Literature— For years, comics have presented themselves as a new kind of literature—but cartooning isn't prose, and graphic novels aren't novels. What if conflating comics with "literary" storytelling is a terrible mistake? Douglas Wolk (Reading Comics) moderates what should be a contentious discussion with Cecil Castellucci (The PLAIN Janes), Dan Nadel (PictureBox Inc.), Austin Grossman (Soon I Will Be Invincible), Paul Tobin (Spider-Man Family), and Sara Ryan (The Rules for Hearts). Room 8
Categories:  Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

1:30-3:00 Cover Story: Art of the Cover— They lied. You really can tell a book by its cover, and Mark Evanier is going to talk to some of the best cover artists in the comics biz about it. Join Mark along with fellow Comic-Con special guests Adam Hughes (Catwoman, Wonder Woman), Joseph Michael Linsner (Dawn), Joe Jusko (Tomb Raider, Marvel Masterpieces), Rowena (renowned fantasy cover illustrator), Matt Wagner (Grendel, Batman),  J. H. Williams (Promethea), and others as they tell their own cover stories. Room 1AB
Categories:  Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Science Fiction & Fantasy