Angry Web

Last season we left off with celebrity playboy Vincent Chase being fired off the production of “Smokejumpers” and returning to NYC with the rest of the gang – Johnny Drama, E, and Turtle.  As E attempts to negotiate with director Gus Van Sant into offering Vince a role, Vince reconnects with his high school sweetheart, Drama proposes to invest in a neighborhood bar, and Turtle maintains a relationship with former Sopranos actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler.  Agent Ari Gold finally manages to connect Vince with director Martin Scorsese, who offers him the lead role in a reimagining of “The Great Gatsby” to be set in New York.

Season 6 begins several months after last season as we see Vince promoting his new movie, “Gatsby”, on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno – oops, looks like they must’ve filmed this episode quite a ways back.  Oh well, what’s it matter when you consider the stretched level of realism already portrayed in the series.  It’s a great show and let’s hope the new season kicks off with a bang.

“Drive”  - Season 6, Episode 1 – 7/12
Writer: Doug Ellin; Director: Mark Mylod

“Vince is back in the fast lane, preparing for his driving test and an appearance with Jay Leno to promote the premiere of his new movie “Gatsby,” directed by Martin Scorsese. Meanwhile, with a nudge from Sloan, Eric considers moving into his own house, but worries about the impact on Vince and the gang. Looking for career advancement, Lloyd confronts Ari with an ultimatum, which Ari counters with a proposition of his own.”

The 6th season of “Entourage” premieres this Sunday on HBO. Tell us about your anticipations for the new season!

Warner Bros has narrowed the casting of Hal Jordan aka Green Lantern down to 3 contenders: Bradley Cooper, Ryan Reynolds, and get this…Justin Timberlake – all who made it through 2 rounds of auditions.  Oh boy.  Other candidates who auditioned included Michael Fassbender, Henry Cavill, and Jared Leto.

Director Martin Campbell, producer Donald De Line, and the studio, however, have been unable to agree on a final casting choice, each favoring a different candidate.  Is one of the parties actually considering Ryan Reynolds aka Deadpool to play the Green Lantern?  And who’s bright idea was it to bring Justin Timberlake into the running?  Can anyone honestly look at a Green Lantern theatrical poster with the name Justin Timberlake printed across the bottom without ROTFL-ing?  This has to be a joke.

Well, I suppose there’s no one else to root for here except Bradley Cooper, which I’ll say is a tolerable choice for Hal Jordan.  There certainly could be better candidates though.

Apparently, Warner Bros is also worried about the $150-200 million budget and plans to cut back on it.  Wow, and I thought this project would be leveled up to “Dark Knight” quality.  From what we’ve heard here, it looks like it is far from it.

“Green Lantern” is scheduled for a December 2010 release.

San Diego Comic-Con International has released the schedule for the Friday the 23rd events.  We have posted the full schedule below:

Friday, July 24
Last changed: Fri, Jul 10, 11:25am

10:00-11:00 Spotlight on Charles Vess— Comic-Con special guest Charles Vess presents “Part Seen: Part Imagined,” a visual presentation spanning his 35-year career as a freelance artist in the comics and book publishing industries. Featuring cover work ranging from National Lampoon to Spider-Man and Sandman comics, plus Peter Pan stage sets, illustrated books with Charles de Lint and George R.R. Martin, Stardust the movie and Neil Gaiman, and all the way up to his latest project, a 16′ Midsummer bronze sculpture fountain. Room 2
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Science Fiction & Fantasy

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! DC Representatives discuss the different needs of the DC Universe, Vertigo, WildStorm, MAD magazine, and Zuda. This informative orientation session explains how DC’s Talent Search works and provides numerous tips and tricks on how to improve your work and explore opportunities. 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 Batman: The Brave and the Bold Screening and Q&A— Gotham takes over San Diego as Diedrich Bader (Surf’s Up), the voice of Batman, returns to Comic-Con alongside John DiMaggio (Futurama), the voice of Aquaman, and executive producer Sam Register (Teen Titans), producer James Tucker (Justice League Unlimited), producer and story editor Michael Jelenic (The Batman) and voice director Andrea Romano (Superman Doomsday). Fans can catch the world premiere screening of the upcoming “Mayhem of the Music Meister” episode—featuring the voice of Neil Patrick Harris (Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog) as the Music Meister—and enjoy a lively discussion and Q&A with the show’s dynamic creative team. From Warner Bros. Animation, Batman: The Brave and the Bold airs Fridays at 8:30 pm ET/PT on Cartoon Network. Batman: The Brave and the Bold Volume 1 will be released on DVD August 25. Room 6DE
Categories: Animation | Comic Books | Superheroes | Television

10:00-11:00 Star Wars Day: Hasbro— Derryl DePriest (Hasbro Global Marketing), Brian Parrish, Mark Boudreaux, Brian Merten, and Vickie Stratford (Hasbro Design), and Chad Donvito (Hasbro US Marketing) reveal what’s in store for Star Wars for the remainder of 2009. Catch a special sneak peek into some 2010 secrets, too! Room 7AB
Categories: Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

10:00-11:00 Spotlight on Mike Allred— Comic-Con special guest Mike Allred (Madman) makes a rare San Diego Comic-Con appearance to discuss his entire body of work, from Dead Air to Madman, Red Rocket 7 to X-Statix and his recent Image Comics series, Madman Atomic Comics. The discussion will give fans a rare look into Allred’s creative process, including never-before-seen art and a unique chance to pick the brain of one of comics’ most creative minds! Moderated by Stardust the Super Wizard collaborator Joe Keatinge (PopGun) and featuring a number of surprise guests! Room 8
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

10:00-11:00 How-To Session: Tom Hodges— Tom Hodges attended the Art Institute of Philadelphia, where he majored in computer/traditional animation. He left for the West Coast and took film classes in San Francisco, then worked for a few years doing freelance artwork before he was picked up as a regular working on licensed artwork for Lucasfilm. He is currently finishing up work on a graphic novel for Platinum Studios, Secret Identities, written by Marv Wolfman. Hodges is the creator of a three-issue miniseries, M. Top that off with random work for Star Wars Insider, daily webstrips for Lucasfilm, and other work, and Tom is a very busy artist. He will present information on working on daily comics in a web environment. Room 18
Categories: Animation | Art and Illustration | Seminars & Workshops | Webcomics

10:00-11:00 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 coach Douglas Neff offers simple, proven techniques for achieving your most important goals. 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 32AB
Categories: Animation | Anime & Manga | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Comic-Con Film School | Fandom | Movies | Seminars & Workshops | Television | Writers & Writing

10:00-12:30 Warner Bros.— Join WB for a look at their much anticipated slate of upcoming genre films, including Where The Wild Things Are, The Book of Eli, A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Box, Jonah Hex, and Sherlock Holmes. Hall H
Categories: Horror and Suspense | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy

10:15-11:15 Farscape 10th Anniversary Panel— Brian Henson (executive producer/ director), Rockne O’Bannon (creator/writer), Ben Browder (John Crichton) and Claudia Black (Aeryn Sun) reunite to celebrate the beginning of this landmark series, share exciting news, and answer questions Room 6BCF
Categories: Fandom | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

10:30-11:30 LEGO and BrickJournal: Brave New World— See what grown-ups and “big kids” are doing with LEGO today and what fuels them to never put the brick down! Panelists include Joe Meno (editor and creator of BrickJournal, the magazine for adult fans of LEGO); expert builders Bryce McGlone, Brandon Griffith, and Mark Stafford; and former LEGO designer Megan Rothrock. They’ll be showcasing amazing examples of how they put their LEGO building talents to use! Dust off those old bricks in your basement and join the brave new world of LEGO builders! Room 3
Categories: Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Fandom

10:30-11:30 Meet The Guild— Come chat with the creators and performers from the hit online video series The Guild. Felicia Day (Codex), Vincent Caso (Bladezz), Jeff Lewis (Vork), Amy Okuda (Tinkerballa), Sandeep Parikh (Zaboo), and Robin Thorsen (Clara) talk about the series and answer questions from the audience. They’ll also give attendees a sneak peek at Season 3 coming to Xbox LIVE this fall, plus a bonus Comic-Con exclusive video! Room 5AB
Categories: Fandom | Games

10:30-11:30 Coraline— Visionary director and screenwriter Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas) and Newbery Medal-winning author Neil Gaiman discuss the making of the LAIKA/Focus Features 2009 breakout animated hit film Coraline. In celebration of Universal Studio’s Blu-ray Hi-Def and DVD release of the critically acclaimed stop-motion film, Selick and Gaiman will be joined by lead animator and LAIKA CEO/president Travis Knight, producer Bill Mechanic (CEO of Pandemonium and producer of Dark Water and The New World), character fabrication supervisor Georgina Hayns (Corpse Bride), and voice talent Keith David (Crash). Panelists will offer an in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpse at how this astonishing and suspenseful adventure—the first stop-motion animated feature originally produced in stereoscopic 3D—was painstakingly brought to life. The panel wis moderated by IGN movies/DVD editor-in-chief Eric Moro. Room 6A
Categories: Animation | Movies

10:30-11:30 VIZ Media: Shonen Jump— Get the latest updates on the world’s most popular manga magazine, plus the first look at new content and not-to-be-missed events. As a special treat, comics legend Stan Lee talks about the new series Ultimo! Room 10
Categories: Anime & Manga | Comic Books

10:30-11:30 Stargate Universe— A new chapter of the Stargate saga begins with the Syfy original series Stargate Universe. Stars Robert Carlyle (Dr. Nicholas Rush), Brian J. Smith (1st Lt. Matthew Scott), Elyse Levesque (Chloe Armstrong), David Blue (Eli Wallace), Alaina Huffman (1st Lt. Tamara Johansen), Jamil Walker Smith (Master Sergeant Ronald Greer), and Ming-Na (Camile Wray) join series co-creators Brad Wright and Robert Cooper to take you through a gate you’ve never seen before. Ballroom 20
Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

10:30-11:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #5: Fan Power— Daniel Debowy (MGH and McLean Hospitals) argues that the Millennial generation, represented by Hiro and Ando of NBC’s Heroes, has moved away from Oedipal narratives of individuals desiring parental power toward quests that end with abandoning it. Andrew Friedenthal (Dartmouth University) examines the 1968 revision of Wonder Woman into a kung-fu superspy and the push by second-wave feminist activists to “rescue” Wonder Woman, and finds she is ultimately a moneymaking commodity and fan appropriation can only go so far. Room 30AB
Categories: Comic Books | Comics Arts Conference | Superheroes | Television

10:30-12:00 Comic Book Law School 202: Money Changes Everything!— 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). This Comic Book Law School session 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, production, 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 to explore those 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. (Please Note: The Comic Book Law School seminars are designed to provide relevant information and practice tips to practicing attorneys, as well as practical tips to creators and other professionals who may wish to attend. This program is approved for one credit of California MCLE.) Room 30CDE
Categories: Art and Illustration | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Comics Law School | Webcomics | Writers & Writing

11:00-12:00 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 peeks and behind-the-scenes scoop on your favorite Mattel/DC action figures, including DC Universe Classics, Justice League Unlimited, Infinite Heroes, and exciting new lines like Batman: The Brave and the Bold, as well as the world premiere of new action figure lines announced here first! Join Mattel Toy designer Bill Benecke, Mattel marketing brand manager Scott Neitlich (AKA “Toy Guru”), The Four Horsemen, and representatives from DC Comics and Warner Brothers for an insightful Q&A. Room 2
Categories: Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Comic Books | Superheroes

11:00-12:00 Spotlight on Darick Robertson— Whether he’s illustrating Leatherface, reigniting super-teams like The Authority, or launching videogame adaptations like Prototype, artist Darick Robertson has become synonymous with gritty, exhilarating artwork. Now’s your chance to hear the fan-favorite creator talk about his process and career alongside WildStorm senior editor Ben Abernathy. There’s no telling what these two might say! Room 4
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Games

11:00-12:00 Star Wars Day: The Clone Wars: Building the Universe— The Clone Wars expanded the scope of Star Wars beyond anything seen in the feature films, but Season One was just the beginning. Get a rare glimpse into the epic scale of the ongoing galactic conflict with supervising director Dave Filoni and key production staff from the series. Find out insider secrets about building the Star Wars galaxy, making the first season of the groundbreaking series, and what’s to come in Season Two! Room 7AB
Categories: Animation | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

11:00-12:00 Spotlight on Gene Colan— He’s the dean of comic book artists, the master of shadows and a hallmark of the Marvel Age of Comics! Comic-Con special guest Gene Colan is back at the big show, talking with Mark Evanier and co-host Marv Wolfman about his legendary career in comics. Room 8
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

11:00-12:00 How-To Session: Chuk Wojtkiewicz— Chuk Wojtkiewicz has penciled comics for DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, Acclaim, and many others. He’s now lead concept artist at the award-winning animation house Blur Studio, where he designs characters, props, vehicles, and environments and produces copious storyboards for high-end computer animation. Chuk will present the dynamics of graphic arts design and the transition from comic books to animation. Room 18
Categories: Animation | Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops

11:00-12:00 Masquerade 101— This overview of convention costume competitions offers a mixture of history, info on what goes on behind the scenes, costuming and presentation tips, and more. Thinking about taking your costume creations onto the stage? Looking for ideas on how to enhance your presentations? Curious how it all works? Comic-Con’s Masquerade director Martin Jaquish, award-winning fan costumers Allan Lavigne and Jeff Dullum, and Masquerade assistant John Ruff discuss on-stage costume competitions and present insider tips for getting the most out of this unique, fun, and ever-advancing artform. Room 32AB
Categories: Costuming | Fandom | Seminars & Workshops

11:15-12:15 Marvel: X-Men— The streets have erupted in violence and the safe haven that mutants thought they’d found is in turmoil. The Dark Avengers have put Daken in Wolverine’s place, and there’s an all-out war tearing through space and time with a certain red-haired green-eyed girl at the center of it. You’ve got questions and these people have answers! X-Men group editor Axel Alonso is joined by a host of creators to lay out what’s going on and resurrect a beloved—well, that would be telling! You need to hear it for yourself! Panelists include Matt Fraction (Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia), Craig Kyle and Chris Yost (X-Force), Marjorie Liu (Dark Wolverine), Daniel Way (Deadpool), Jason Aaron (Wolverine: Weapon X), and more on this all-new, all-deadly panel! Room 6DE
Categories: Comic Books | Superheroes

11:30-12:30 Disney Press: Comics and Graphic Novels— Jordan Mechner, Prince of Persia creator and writer of the upcoming Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time graphic novel, and artists Todd McFarlane (Spawn), Cameron Stewart (Seaguy), Bernard Chang (Wonder Woman), and Tommy Lee Edwards (Daredevil) for a discussion and Q&A session. Plus, get a sneak peek at the upcoming Prince of Perisa: The Sands of Time graphic novel, and an advance look at the book’s connections to the secrets within the upcoming Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time movie. Panelists will also look into the future and announce some of Disney Book Group’s upcoming graphic novels for 2010. Room 3
Categories: Comic Books

11:30-12:30 Image Comics Show— The world’s greatest creator-owned comics publisher returns to San Diego with a flurry of announcements, including an exclusive look at the biggest crossover event of the year: Image United by creators Robert Kirkman (Walking Dead), Todd McFarlane (Spawn), and Rob Liefeld (Youngblood). In addition, Image superstars Frank Cho (Liberty Meadows), Tyrese Gibson (Mayhem), and Ben Templesmith (Fell) give you the first word on many of their upcoming projects. The Image Comics Show will be the first place to get your first sneak peek at Whilce Portacio’s superhero series emerging from Image United, Fortress! Room 5AB
Categories: Comic Books

11:30-12:30 AMC: The Prisoner— Jim Caviezel (The Passion of the Christ), Jamie Campbell-Bower (Sweeney Todd, The Twilight Saga: New Moon), Lennie James (Jericho), writer Bill Gallagher, and Vlad Wolynetz (VP, production, series & movies for AMC) discuss the making of AMC’s miniseries The Prisoner, a re-imagining of the 1960s cult classic by the late Patrick McGoohan, premiering in November on AMC. Join Jim, Jamie, Lennie, Bill and Vlad for a one-on-one Q&A session and an official sneak preview of the six-part mini-series The Prisoner. Room 6BCF
Categories: Fandom | Horror and Suspense | Television

11:30-12:30 True Confessions: LGBT Slice-of-Life Comics— Demonstrated by the success of Alison Bechdel’s acclaimed Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic, LGBT autobiographical comics have come of age. But telling the truth is as much art and craft as it is confession. Join moderator Roger Klorese (Prism’s Publication Chair) as he leads a slice-of-life discussion with panelists Lee Marrs (The Further Fattening Adventures of Pudge, Girl Blimp), Ariel Schrag (Likewise), Jeff Krell (Jayson Goes to Hollywood), Robert Triptow (Gay Comix), and Justin Hall (True Travel Tales). Room 10
Categories: Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books

11:30-12:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #6: Can College Prepare Creators for Comics Careers?— Hope Larson (Chiggers), David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Nick Langley (Rocket Llama), Jaque Nodell (Super Human Resources), Marko Head (Marko’s Corner), and Steve Lieber (Whiteout) discuss whether college education can really help people pursuing comics careers. Room 30AB
Categories: Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Comics Arts Conference

11:45-12:45 FlashForward— Be among the first to see exclusive, never-before-seen footage and scenes from upcoming episodes of ABC’s new show FlashForward presented by David S. Goyer (Batman Begins), Brannon Braga (24), and Marc Guggenheim (Eli Stone). Joining them on the panel are cast members including Joseph Fiennes (Shakespeare in Love) and John Cho (Star Trek). And look for a surprise guest that you won’t want to miss! Room 6A
Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

11:45-12:45 Caprica/Battlestar Galactica: The Plan— The present meets the past as the makers of Battlestar Galactica deliver the highly anticipated Syfy original series, Caprica and the 2-hour event, Battlestar Galactica: The Plan, directed by Edward James Olmos. This is your chance to get the inside scoop on these exciting projects and see two generations of Adamas on stage together for the first time. Executive producers Ronald D. Moore, David Eick, and Jane Espenson sit down with Caprica star Esai Morales (Joseph Adama) and Battlestar Galactica’s Edward James Olmos (Admiral William Adama), director of The Plan, to reveal the truth about these two new chapters in the mythology of BSG. Ballroom 20
Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

12:00-1:00 Comic-Con in the ’80s— Comic-Con moved to the Convention and Performing Arts Center in the 1980s and added a trade show. What was it like to be there during these growth years? Panelists include Lance Geeck, Mike Pasqua, David Scroggy, Barry Short, Mark Stadler, Jim Valentino, and Phil Yeh, with Janet Tait as moderator. Room 2
Categories: 40th Anniversary | Fandom

12:00-1:00 Radical Publishing Creators Panel— Radical Publishing presents an all-star lineup with plenty of surprises and special announcements, courtesy of president and publisher Barry Levine. Panel guests include the legendary Jim Steranko, cover artist for the flagship Hercules series, which will soon be a major motion picture from Spyglass Entertainment and Peter Berg’s (Dune, Hancock) production company Film 44; Arthur Suydam (Marvel Zombies), creator and writer for Cholly & Flytrap: Center City; Steve Niles (30 Days of Night), creator and writer for the science fiction/horror hybrid hit City of Dust: A Philip Khrome Story; Jimmy Palmiotti (Jonah Hex), creator/co-writer for Time Bomb; David Hine (Civil War: X-Men), writer of FVZA: Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency; Rick Remender (Punisher), creator and writer for the futuristic crime thriller The Last Days of American Crime; Nick Simmons (A&E’s Gene Simmons Family Jewels), son of Gene Simmons as well as the creator, writer and artist of Incarnate; Zombie Studios CEO Mark Long, novelist Nick Sagan (Idlewild trilogy) and M. Zachary Sherman of the critically acclaimed science fiction epic Shrapnel: Aristeia Rising; Sam Sarkar, creator and writer for Caliber, soon to be a major motion picture produced by Johnny Depp’s Infinitum Nihil; and Steve Pugh, writer and illustrator of the supernatural science fiction series based on a story by Warren Ellis, Hotwire: Requiem for the Dead. Room 4
Categories: Comic Books

12:00-1:00 Star Wars Day: The Clone Wars: Behind the Mic!— Season Two of Star Wars: The Clone Wars is coming in hot, and you can believe that the talented voice cast has something to say about it! Supervising director Dave Filoni talks with the actors behind your favorite Clone Wars characters, and offers an intimate look at the animated antics inside the recording studio—as well as some unique and exclusive insights into what’s coming this fall! Room 7AB
Categories: Animation | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

12:00-1:30 That ’70s Panel— Comic-Con started in the nostalgic decade of the 1970s, and this panel—moderated by Mark Evanier—takes a look at the comics industry way back then. Joining Mark are comic book superstars writer/editor Marv Wolfman, and Comic-Con special guests Steve Leialoha (Howard the Duck), Mike Royer (inker, Jack Kirby’s Fourth World books), Doug Moench (writer, Moon Knight, Master of Kung Fu), Nicola Cuti (writer, co-creator, E-Man), and a few surprises. Bell-bottoms optional. Room 8
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Writers & Writing

12:00-1:00 How-To Session: David Yardin— David Yardin is a comic book illustrator based in Sydney, Australia. He got his start in the industry in 1999, studying under acclaimed comic book artist Whilce Portacio. David has since worked on a variety of titles at Image, DC, and Marvel Comics, collaborating with such writers as Eric Jerome Dickey (Storm), Reginald Hudlin (Black Panther), and David Hine (District X). He has also worked on properties for Stan Winston (Realm of the Claw) and Stephen King (The Dark Tower: End World Almanac and The Dark Tower: Guide to Gilead). He has most recently illustrated full tonal art for X-Men Origins: Gambit and is currently the regular cover artist for X-Factor. David will cover how to create a comic book cover breakdown. Room 18
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops | Superheroes

12:00-1:00 CBLDF Master Sessions: Expressionistic Atmosphere with Mike Mignola— No one establishes visually sophisticated atmosphere like Hellboy creator Mike Mignola. Utilizing a unique sense of design and composition, Mignola’s dark environments have earned him the acclaim of artists and fans around the world. Bring your sketchbooks and follow along as he walks you through his creative process at this live art demonstration! The original art from this session will be auctioned off on Saturday night at the CBLDF’s auction! Room 30CDE
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comics Law School | Seminars & Workshops

12:00-1:00 The Great Transformers/G.I. Joe Crossover— Giveaways and announcements pack this panel with more excitement than Snake Eyes versus Starscream! If you’ve ever enjoyed G.I. Joe or Transformers, then come on down and learn about all the cool new things going on with both—from comics to video games to cool movie prop memorabilia! Flint Dille (G.I. Joe, Transformers original cartoons), Robert Atkins (G.I. Joe artist), Mike Costa (G.I. Joe, Transformers writer), and others present a look at the road ahead for both franchises, courtesy of IDW. Room 32AB
Categories: Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Animation | Comic Books | Fandom | Games | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

12:00-1:00 The Middle Special Pilot Screening— Emmy winner Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond) makes her Comic-Con debut to introduce a special screening of The Middle, a new comedy about raising a family and lowering your expectations. Frankie Heck (Heaton) is a superhero. Well, no, not an actual superhero—but sometimes it seems as though getting her kids out the door for school every morning is a superheroic act. Middle aged, middle class, and living in the middle of the country, this harried wife and working mother of three uses her wry wit and sense of humor to try to get her family through each day intact. The Middle will air Wednesdays at 8:30 PM ET/PT on the ABC Television Network this fall, premiering September 30. Indigo Ballroom / Hilton Bayfront
Categories: Humor & Satire | Television

12:30-1:30 Future Fond Memories— Narnia, Oz, Neverland—we all have our favorite memories of stories from our youth. How do today’s authors create works that will be beloved by tomorrow’s adults? Young adult authors Michael Spradlin (Keeper of the Grail: The Youngest Templar), Michael Reisman (Simon Bloom: The Octopus Effect), Sara Rees Brennan (The Demon’s Lexicon), James Owen (The Indigo King), Mary Pearson (The Adoration Of Jenna Fox), P. J. Haarsma (The Softwire: Wormhole Pirates on Orbis 3), and Alyson Noel (Blue Moon: The Immortals) discuss their process and passion. Moderator: Maryelizabeth Hart, Mysterious Galaxy. Room 3
Categories: Fandom | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Writers & Writing

12:30-1:30 Nickelodeon’s The Fairly OddParents: More Magical Mayhem!— Get an exclusive sneak peek at what’s coming up next for your favorite fairy family. Creator Butch Hartman (Danny Phantom), along with story editor Ray DeLaurentis (Shaggy and Scooby-Doo: Get a Clue!), art director George Goodchild (Danny Phantom), and producer Dave Thomas (El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera) present some highlights from the brand new episodes. Moderated by Rich Magallanes, executive director for Nickelodeon. Room 5AB
Categories: Animation | Kids | Television

12:30-1:30 DC: Batman: New Dynamic— Now that the Battle for the Cowl has ended, what adventures lie ahead for the new Dark Knight? Join group editor Michael Marts, Paul Dini (Detective Comics), Dustin Nguyen (Detective Comics), Greg Rucka (Detective Comics), and others as they discuss the legend of Batman and what the future holds for the newest man behind the bat. Room 6DE
Categories: Comic Books | Superheroes

12:30-1:30 Spotlight on Fábio Moon— Meet Eisner Award–winning Brazilian cartoonist Fábio Moon (Sugar Shock!, 5) as he shares his love for comics and talks about working with his twin brother Gabriel Bá (Umbrella Academy), collaborating with high-profile creators Matt Fraction (Casanova), Joss Whedon (Buffy), and Mike Mignola (Hellboy) and what’s next. Lots of images to show, with a fun Q&A to follow. Room 10
Categories: Art and Illustration | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

12:45-1:45 Spartacus: Blood and Sand— The world of gladiators comes to life as the Roman Republic’s most brutal fighters clash in the ultimate arena. Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess, Battlestar Galactica) introduces star Andy Whitfield, along with actor Peter Mensah (300, Avatar) and executive producers Rob Tapert (Evil Dead 1-2, Drag Me to Hell) and Steven S. DeKnight (Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer). They will discuss the fresh narrative approach to the ancient legend and offer exclusive first look footage, which utilizes virtual environments to give the show a unique graphic novel look and style. Debuting exclusively on Starz in January 2010. Room 6BCF
Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

12:45-2:15 DisDisney: Animation Panel— Walt Disney Pictures, Disney•Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios present a director panel with previously unseen footage from its upcoming animated slate, including Toy Story & Toy Story 2 – Double Feature, Beauty And The Beast, Toy Story 3, Prep & Landing, The Princess and the Frog and Ponyo. Special guests include Lee Unkrich, Kirk Wise, Ron Clements, John Musker, and Hayao Miyazaki. John Lasseter hosts the panel, with Patton Oswalt moderating. Hall H
Categories: Animation | Kids | Movies

1:00-2:00 Mattypalooza: Masters of the Universe Classics, Ghostbusters and More!— Are you a Mattel Matty Collector? Last year at Comic-Con Matty Mattel announced a new website to sell collector toys straight to fans around the world. This year find out the latest information on your favorite Masters of the Universe Classic, Ghostbusters, DC Universe, and other exciting MattyCollector.com exclusive product for 2009 and beyond! Panel includes an insightful Q&A with Mattel toy designers Bill Benecke and Terry Higuchi, as well as Mattel marketing brand Manager Scott Neitlich (AKA “Toy Guru”) and special guests The Four Horsemen. As an extra bonus, Matty, the original Mattel Toy Guru, may even make an appearance to reveal a major announcement about a new line available nowhere else! Room 2
Categories: Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles

1:00-2:00 Archaia/The Jim Henson Company: The Perfect Publishing Partnership— Learn about the fantasy titles the publisher has in store, including a new Mouse Guard volume (with creator David Petersen), Artesia (with creator Mark Smylie), Okko, and Primordia. Then find out more about the partnership The Jim Henson Company and Archaia have formed to create comics and graphic novels based on such beloved properties as Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, MirrorMask, and Fraggle Rock, as well as all-new, original concepts! Hear more about this venture with Henson’s director of publishing and development Joe LeFavi, Archaia’s director of development Stephen Christy, and a few surprise guests as creative teams are announced and publishing plans are discussed. All attendees will receive a free Archaia/Henson poster featuring a new piece of art! Room 4
Categories: Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Science Fiction & Fantasy

1:00-2:00 Spotlight on Patrick Oliphant— Comic-Con special guest Patrick Oliphant—one of the world’s leading political cartoonists—is interviewed by well-known cartoon authority and author Harry Katz, in a freewheeling one-on-one discussion of the political cartoonist’s work, interspersed with live drawing demonstrations (including unpublished cartoons) and the interviewer’s exhibition of slides. Room 6A
Categories: Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

1:00-2:00 Star Wars Day: Behind the Scenes: The Making of Star Wars: The Old Republic— Jake Neri (producer, LucasArts) speaks with Hall Hood (senior writer, BioWare), Alexander Freed (managing editor, BioWare), Dallas Dickinson (senior content producer, BioWare), and Jeff Dobson (art director, BioWare), about the making of the new massively multiplayer online role-playing PC game Star Wars: The Old Republic. Join the team to get new behind-the-scenes information about the game! Room 7AB
Categories: Fandom | Games | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy

1:00-2:00 How-To Session: Bryan Tillman— Bryan Tillman is currently the academic director for Visual Effects and Motion Graphics as well as Media Arts and Animation at the Art Institute of Washington DC. He has an MFA with a focus in sequential art and a minor in drawing. Bryan is the owner and CEO of the Kaiser Studio Productions, a production studio for comics, toys, animation, and games. He is currently working on a tabletop RPG titled Dark Legacy. Bryan will present the theory of character design, featuring insight into what is character design and how to make a successful character design. He will talk about archetypes, color, design, silhouettes, story, and much more. Room 18
Categories: Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Animation | Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Games | Seminars & Workshops

1:00-2:00 The Big Bang Theory Screening and Q&A— Bazinga! Your favorite scientists and girl-next-door are back as The Big Bang Theory returns to Comic-Con with a special screening and Q&A with the show’s creators and stars. Come chat with executive producers Chuck Lorre (Two and a Half Men) and Bill Prady (Dharma & Greg), as well as series stars Johnny Galecki (Roseanne), Jim Parsons (Garden State), Kaley Cuoco (Charmed), Simon Helberg (Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog), and Kunal Nayyar (NCIS). From Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television, The Big Bang Theory airs Mondays at 9:30 PM ET/PT on the CBS Television Network. The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Second Season is released on DVD September 15. Ballroom 20
Categories: Fandom | Humor & Satire | Television

1:00-2:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #7: Strategies and Resources for Teaching a Course in Comics— After brief statements about their own approaches to teaching a comics-based course, Alec Hosterman (Indiana University South Bend), Matthew J. Smith (Wittenberg University), and Randy Duncan (Henderson State University) create a dialogue with the audience so attendees can generate new ideas and glean information relevant to their teaching interests. Then Greg Urquhart (Alexander Street Press) previews forthcoming online collections of comic books and strips that will be useful for scholarship and teaching and discusses the issues and decisions the company has confronted in creating the collections. Room 30AB
Categories: Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Comics Arts Conference | Webcomics

1:00-2:00 CBLDF Master Sessions: “Who Killed Amanda Palmer?” Life Drawing with Camilla D’Errico, David Mack, & Terry Moore— Bring your sketchbook and witness how illustrative masters Camilla D’Errico, David Mack, and Terry Moore draw from life as internationally renowned performer Amanda Palmer poses at this CBLDF Master Session! Amanda is the creative force behind Who Killed Amanda Palmer?, a book of photographs accompanied with stories by Neil Gaiman, and the critically acclaimed album of the same name. Palmer will establish the mood for the event, while the artists translate her dramatic poses into their own distinctive styles. The original art from this session will be auctioned off on Saturday night at the CBLDF’s auction! Room 30CDE
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comics Law School | Seminars & Workshops

1:00-2:00 BOOM! Studios— The BOOM! Studios team—Mark Waid, Ross Richie, Andrew Cosby, Matt Gagnon, and Chip Mosher—takes over Comic-Con for one full hour. Learn what is next for BOOM! History will be made. Heads will explode! Comics will never be the same again! Room 32AB
Categories: Comic Books

1:30-2:30 Comic Strip Reprints Revolution— We lucky comic strip fans are living in the Golden Age of comic strip reprints! Join Dean Mullaney (IDW: Terry and the Pirates, Dick Tracy, Little Orphan Annie, Scorchy Smith, Rip Kirby), Eric Reynolds (Fantagraphics: Peanuts, Popeye, Captain Easy, Prince Valiant, Pogo), Tom Devlin (D&Q: Moomin, Oh Skin-nay!), Terry Nantier (NBM: Mutt and Jeff, Bringing Up Father), Charles Pelto (Classic Comics Press: Mary Perkins On Stage, The Heart of Juliet Jones, Big Ben Bolt), Daniel Herman (Hermes Press: Buck Rogers, The Phantom), plus Comic-Con special guest, legendary comic strip artist Leonard Starr (Mary Perkins, Annie) in discussion with comics journalist Tom Spurgeon (ComicsReporter.com). The revolution will be reprinted! Room 3
Categories: Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

1:30-2:30 G4: Attack of the Show— TV’s first and only live daily show dedicated to the “digital generation”—breaking the hottest web videos, latest gadgets, blogs and videogames. Every day AOTS takes its audience to the virtual water cooler, where you can then tell your friends you saw it on AOTS first! Kevin Pereira, Olivia Munn, Alison Haislip, Blair Butler and AOTS producers bring you the closest thing to being on a LIVE Attack of the Show! Take part in one of the largest group Tweets to ever hit the Twittersphere, join in on the AOTS Orchestra for a moving rendition of the Attack theme, bear witness to a Comic-Con exclusive AOTS comedy short, and have a chance to win one-of-a-kind props from the show and end it with a nerd rave the likes of which have never been seen this side of M.I.T.! Plus you’ll get a chance to grill the hosts and exec producers to find out the dirty secrets behind your favorite AOTS stunts, from Kevin and Olivia in fat suits to the MegaDare Hot Sauce challenge to to Olivia’s infamous “Pie-Jump.” Room 5AB
Categories: Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Animation | Comic Books | Fandom | Horror and Suspense | Humor & Satire | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

1:30-3:00 Legends of The Batman— Seventy years ago Bob Kane and Bill Finger introduced the second great superhero in comics: Batman. On the anniversary of this momentous occasion Mark Evanier talks to legendary Batman artists—and Comic-Con special guests—Sheldon “Shelly” Moldoff, Jerry Robinson, and Lew Sayre Schwartz about their time with the Caped Crusader. Room 8
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Superheroes

1:30-2:30 After the First 1,000 Pages— It takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert at something. Art teachers say that you have to make 100,000 bad drawings before you can make a good one. Gene Colan (Tomb of Dracula), Becky Cloonan (Demo), Zander Cannon (Top 10), Roger Langridge (The Muppet Show Comic Book), and Matt Kindt (Super Spy) will discuss how they’ve developed as artists since their early work and the creative breakthroughs that took them a while to reach. Moderated by Douglas Wolk (Reading Comics). Room 10
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

1:45-2:45 Robert Rodriguez— Join famed director Robert Rodriguez (Spy Kids) for a first look at his upcoming family film Shorts, followed by Q&A. Room 6DE
Categories: Kids | Movies

2:00-3:00 Spotlight on Dwayne McDuffie— In his website’s infamous Ask The Maestro column, he’s answered thousands of questions about the creation of comics and TV. More recently, at the DC Comics Forum, he’s answered at least one too many. Now’s your chance to ask him anything you want, live, and see if he can’t get himself in any more trouble. Emmy, Eisner, and Writers Guild award-nominated writer Dwayne McDuffie has created comic books (Marvel’s Damage Control, Milestone’s Icon, Hardware and Shadow Cabinet), and a hit TV show (Static Shock). He’s written and produced animated favorites including Ben 10: Alien Force, Justice League Unlimited, Teen Titans, and Scooby-Doo. He’s written top-selling comics including Fantastic Four and Justice League of America. And he’s here to answer your questions. Room 2
Categories: Animation | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Television

2:00-3:00 IDW: Darwyn Cooke— Awarding-winning cartoonist Darwyn Cooke discusses the evolution of his work with Scott Dunbier (IDW), including new and upcoming projects, such as Parker, a graphic novel adaptation of noir crime fiction author Richard Stark’s (aka Donald Westlake) protagonist. Room 4
Categories: Art and Illustration | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books

2:00-3:00 Marvel: Cup o’ Joe— This is it, Mighty Marvel fans- the no-holds-barred, anything goes, full of surprises panel you wait for all year, and it’s here! Marvel’s EEK (editor-in-chief) Joe Quesada takes on all questions, shocks the audience with jaw-dropping announcements, and keeps you guessing with surprise guests. You never know who will show up, but you better be here, because this is the panel that everyone will be talking about! Room 6BCF
Categories: Comic Books

2:00-3:00 Star Wars Day: Fate of the Jedi— The next chapter in the extraordinary history of the Star Wars galaxy has begun. Star Wars authors Aaron Allston, Christie Golden, and Troy Denning along with Shelly Shapiro (editor-at-large, Del Rey), Sue Rostoni (executive editor, Lucasfilm), Leland Chee (Keeper of the Holocron, Lucasfilm), and Pablo Hidalgo (online editorial manager, Lucasfilm) they discuss the new Star Wars novel series: Fate of the Jedi. Room 7AB
Categories: Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Writers & Writing

2:00-3:00 How-To Session: Joe Corroney— Joe Corroney has been providing Lucasfilm with official Star Wars artwork for related books, games, trading cards, and magazines since 1997, including penciling Star Wars: Empire for Dark Horse Comics. Other comic books he’s illustrated include Crimson Dynamo for Marvel Comics and G.I. Joe, Fallen Angel, 24: Nightfall, Angel, and Spike Vs. Dracula for IDW. Currently, he’s providing cover art for IDW’s new Star Trek series and BOOM! Studios’ new Farscape comic books, developing his creator-owned comic book series Death Avenger, and continuing to create new Star Wars artwork for Lucasfilm. For ten years he was the instructor for the comic book illustration course at the Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus, Ohio, and has also taught at Ohio State University. His how-to session will include an introduction to the comic book illustration process. Room 18
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops

2:00-3:00 A Chalk Talk with Jack Katz— Comic-Con special guest Jack Katz (The First Kingdom) demonstrates the technique of dynamic page layout and storytelling as it relates to the graphic novel. Study the anatomy of page design from Jack as he dispenses knowledge gained from over 50 years in the comic book business! Moderated by Charlie Novinskie. Room 30CDE
Categories: Art and Illustration | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Seminars & Workshops

2:00-3:00 The Design Process for Film and Television— The making of a film or television show is a collaborative process. The director enlists the talents of his/her key collaborators—the costume designer, the production illustrator, and the production designer—right from the start of a production. Costume illustrators and concept & storyboard artists, brought on to productions to develop images under the guidance of the designers, serve a key position in the web of communication that is essential to filmmaking. This panel gives a glimpse into the fundamental importance of illustration, as well as the seamless creativity between the key conceptual departments on favorite feature films and television productions. Moderator William David Hogan, director and storyboard artist (The Orphan), hosts costume illustrators from CDG, Local 892: Robin Richesson (Iron Man), Phillip Boutte, Jr. (Jonah Hex), Felipe Sanchez (Green Hornet), Christian Cordella (GI Joe), and Brain Valenzuela (Star Trek 2009), as well as illustrators and artists from Local 800: Jeff Errico (Burlesque), Dawn Brown (Star Trek 2009), Ricardo Delgado (X-Men Origins: Wolverine), and Josh Nizzi (Transformers Revenge of the Fallen). Room 32AB
Categories: Animation | Art and Illustration | Costuming | Movies | Television

2:15-3:15 Past Life Pilot Screening and Q&A— Past Life makes its debut at Comic-Con with a screening of the pilot episode and a Q&A with the show’s creator and stars. Come talk with executive producers David Hudgins (Friday Night Lights) and Lou Pitt, as well as series stars Kelli Giddish (Damages), Nicholas Bishop (Above the Law) and Ravi Patel (Scrubs) and learn more about this fast-paced emotional thriller in which a gifted psychologist and former detective must work together to unravel mysteries that must be solved in both the past and the present. From Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television, Past Life will air Tuesdays at 9:00 pm ET/PT midseason on FOX. Room 6A
Categories: Horror and Suspense | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

2:15-3:00 24— The Fox series 24 is coming off its most critically acclaimed season in years. Stars Kiefer Sutherland, Mary Lynn Rajskub and new cast members Anil Kapoor and Katee Sackhoff join showrunnner Howard Gordon and the producers of the Emmy-winning series for a special sneak peek at the heart-stopping premiere episode of Season 8 Ballroom 20
Categories: Horror and Suspense | Television

2:30-3:30 Building Tomorrow’s Technology— How does a present where the availability of natural resources is already an issue affect the technology one imagines for the future? Moderator Steve Saffel (editor and publishing consultant) maps a path with panelists Greg Bear (City at the End of Time), David Williams (Burning Skies), Dani & Eytan Kollin (The Unincorporated Man), and Kirsten Imani Kasai (Ice Song). Room 3
Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy | Writers & Writing

2:30-3:30 Capcom: Fighting Games— Capcom fighting fans unite as game producers present first looks at the hottest new fighting games for the year. Featuring Rey Jiminez (Marvel vs. Capcom 2), Kazuhiro Tsuchiya (Fate: Unlimited Codes), and Ryota Niitsuma (Tatsunoko vs. Capcom). Moderated by Capcom-Unity.com’s and SFII Champion Seth Killian. See exclusive gameplay footage and behind-the-scenes making-of features. Plus, a couple of fans will be pulled onstage for an impromptu Marvel vs. Capcom 2 tournament to show off your mad skillz and earn big Capcom prizes! All followed by a Q&A session! Room 5AB
Categories: Comic Books | Games | Superheroes

2:30-3:30 State of the Animation Industry— ASIFA-Hollywood’s annual overview of trends in the animation industry. In this turbulent economy, how is the animation industry faring? Can games take up the slack? Is 2D coming back? Moderated by Tom Sito (Shrek, The Lion King). Panelists include Raul Garcia (The Missing Lynx), Frank Gladestone (producer, Starz Media, Dreamworks), Jun Falkenstein (The Tigger Movie, Mulan II), Kevin Koch (Battle for Terra, Madgascar), and Danny Young (Land of the Lost). Room 10
Categories: Animation | Games

2:30-3:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #8: The Institute for Comics Studies— The Institute for Comics Studies is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the study, understanding, and appreciation of the comics medium. Director of ICS Peter Coogan discusses the organization’s mission, goals, accomplishments, and plans. Board members representing the comics academy and the industry will contribute their comments and be available for Q&A: Randy Duncan (Henderson State University), Stanford Carpenter (School of the Art Institute of Chicago), Angela Ndalnias (University of Melbourne), Mimi Cruz (Night Flight Comics), Danny Fingeroth(Write Now!), Mike Richardson (Dark Horse Comics), Tim Stroup (Cold Cut Distribution), and Henry Jenkins (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Room 30AB
Categories: Art and Illustration | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Comics Arts Conference | Webcomics

2:30-3:30 Focus Features: 9— Focus Features and Comic-Con present an exclusive look inside director Shane Acker’s animated fantasy epic 9, the feature-length expansion of his short film of the same name. Directors Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov are among the feature version’s producers. The action-packed adventure—opening nationwide 9/9/09—takes place after our world fell to pieces, when a group of “stitchpunk” creations must summon individual strengths well beyond their own proportions. While showcasing a stunning steampunk-styled visual brilliance, 9 dynamically explores the will to live, the power of community, and how one soul can change the world. Join Shane Acker, Tim Burton, Timur Bekmambetov, and actors Elijah Wood and Jennifer Connelly LIVE for this panel presentation! Hall H
Categories: Animation | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy

3:00-4:00 Spotlight on Kevin J. Anderson— Kevin J. Anderson has written many novels in numerous universes (Star Wars, Dune, X-Files) as well as his own epics “The Saga of Seven Suns” and The Edge of the World, and he’s also produced a recent crossover CD with some of the biggest names in progressive rock music. Kevin will be interviewed by Steven L. Sears, well-known scriptwriter (A-Team, Riptide, She Spies) and producer (Xena: Warrior Princess, Sheena Queen of the Jungle). Room 2
Categories: Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Writers & Writing

3:00-4:30 Scribe Awards/Media Tie-in Writers Panel— Attend the third annual presentation of the International Association of Media-Tie-in Writers (IAMTW) “Scribe” awards, honoring such notable franchises as CSI, Criminal Minds, The X-Files, Star Trek, Stargate, Star Wars, and Dr. Who. The presentation will be followed by a panel of nominees, including James Rollins (Indiana Jones), Matt Forbeck (Mutant Chronicles), Bob Greenberger (Hellboy), Keith R. A. DeCandido (Farscape), Stacia Deutsch (Dark Knight), Nathan Long (Warhammer), and Tod Goldberg (Burn Notice). Moderated by Lee Goldberg (Monk) and Max Allan Collins (G.I. Joe). Room 4
Categories: Animation | Anime & Manga | Comic Books | Games | Movies | Television | Writers & Writing

3:00-4:00 DC Nation— Calling all Nation recruits! Bring your friends and hear top talent discuss where the DC Nation is heading from 2009 and beyond. senior VP/ executive editor Dan DiDio hosts this exciting discussion with Ian Sattler, James Robinson, Geoff Johns, Greg Rucka, and more! Join them for a VIP look into the most talked about stories and events of the summer! Room 6DE
Categories: Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Superheroes | Writers & Writing

3:00-4:00 Star Wars Day: Collectibles Update— Barry Jones of eFX, Ashly Powell of Gentle Giant Studios, Frank Supiot of Kotobukiya, Robin Chaudhuri of Museum Replicas, and Brant Bridges of Sideshow Collectibles offer product development insights and previews of the latest Star Wars collectibles. Moderated by Chris Spitale of Lucas Licensing. Room 7AB
Categories: Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy

3:00-4:00 Spotlight on Steve Epting— Join Comic-Con special guest Steve Epting (Captain America/The Marvels Project) for an exploration of his 20-year career in comics, from his early days at First, Marvel, DC, and Crossgen to his return to Marvel and the death of Captain America. Plus a special look into the much-anticipated upcoming Marvels Project. Join Steve for this rare one-on-one interview and Q&A session! Room 8
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Superheroes

3:00-4:00 How-To Session: Elvin A. Hernandez— Elvin A. Hernandez is a faculty member of the Media Arts and Animation Department at the Art Institute of Washington. He has an MFA, with a concentration in sequential art, from the Savannah College of Art and Design. His work has appeared in books from such publishers as Dark Horse Comics, Evigen Press, and Creature Graphic Novels, as well as storyboards for proposed film and television projects. He is currently working with Kaiser Studio Productions on the comic book The Solution, the first issue of which will be available this fall. His presentation will cover the differences and similarities between storyboards and comics. Room 18
Categories: Animation | Art and Illustration | Movies | Seminars & Workshops | Television

3:00-3:45 Bones— Showrunner Hart Hanson and stars David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel are on hand for a discussion of what’s on deck for Booth and Brennan, hot on the heels of this year’s much talked-about season finale in which the pair finally wound up between the sheets. Ballroom 20
Categories: Humor & Satire | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

3:00-4:00 Impact University: How to Write and Draw Comics and Graphic Novels— Some of the biggest names in comics teach you what it takes to make it in comics and graphic novels. The star-studded faculty this year includes Peter David (X-Factor), Tom Nguyen (Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters), Brian Miller (Hi-Fi Colour Design), former Marvel editor and now IDW editor Andy Schmidt, publisher and editor-in-chief of IDW Chris Ryall, writer Scott Tipton (Angel), 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 30CDE
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops

3:00-4:30 VIZ Media: Anime and Manga— Get the latest info on VIZ Media manga and anime on everything from recent acquisitions to upcoming events, including news that’s exclusive to Comic-Con! Editors will give you a sneak peek of some exciting new titles releasing in 2010. Room 32AB
Categories: Anime & Manga | Comic Books

3:15-4:15 Eureka— Eureka is back this summer with all new episodes, and Salli Richardson-Whitfield (Allison Blake), Erica Cerra (Jo Lupo), Neil Grayston (Douglas Fargo), and Jaime Paglia (executive producer/co-creator) are stopping by to let you in on the fun. Moderated by Josh Gates (Destination Truth). Room 6BCF
Categories: Humor & Satire | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

3:30-4:30 Dark Horse: Creepy, Past and Present— Hot on the haunted heels of the Eisner-nominated Creepy and Eerie Archive series, another mythic monsterpiece is coming your way—new Creepy! Don’t miss this intriguing panel discussion with Shawna Gore of Dark Horse Comics, Dan Braun and Craig Haffner of New Comic Company, and other special guests as they explore the history of Creepy and Eerie and give a rare insiders’ look at the evil intricacies involved with resurrecting one of comics’ most beloved and bewitching titles. Room 3
Categories: Comic Books | Horror and Suspense

3:30-4:30 The Care and Feeding of a Series— Readers love series and the opportunity to revisit their favorite characters and worlds. Moderator James Frenkel (senior editor, Tor Books) leads a discussion of what it takes to meet the readers’ exacting standards when writing a series, whether in one’s original universe or someone else’s. Panelists include Comic-Con special guest Brian Herbert (Paul of Dune), Eoin Colfer (And Another Thing: HHGTTG), Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie (Wicked: Resurrection), D. J. MacHale (Pendragon: The Solders Of Halla), Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi (Beyond The Spiderwick Chronicles—A Giant Problem). Room 5AB
Categories: Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Writers & Writing

3:30-4:30 Two Funny Frebergs— Hunter Freberg and Stan Freberg appear around the world as a comedy team. They have been married only eight years but are together personally and professionally 24/7. They feel that each year equals ten in Freberg years, so last month was their 80th anniversary! They will interview each other about their varied careers and will relate stories about the world of comics, animation, advertising, radio, television, comedy, music, and the Internet. Introduced by Mark Evanier. Room 6A
Categories: Animation | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Humor & Satire | Television

3:30-4:30 Comic Book Law School: Hot Topics— Move over Whoopie and Barbara! It’s time for these savvy legal minds to share their views on the ever-evolving legal world, spotlighting cutting-edge, evolving issues being faced by the creators, publishers and distributors of creative works. An all-star panel of attorneys—David Branfman, Alexander Harwin, and David Lizerbram, with moderator Michael Lovitz—shed light on important issues facing individuals and companies alike. Topics will include the new online copyright application process, preregistration of copyrights, fair use, piracy, and the growing popularity of the CopyLeft movement. (Please note: The Comic Book Law School seminars are designed to provide relevant information and practice tips to practicing attorneys, as well as practical tips to creators and other professionals who may wish to attend. This program is approved for one credit of California MCLE.) Room 10
Categories: Animation | Anime & Manga | Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comics Law School | Games | Webcomics

3:30-4:30 Beyond the Gaming Medium— This panel of artists has found their own unique way to make a living creating entertainment inspired by video games. Moderator Khail Anonymous (Dark Hero Studios producer) talks to panelists Rocco Botte (Mega64 filmmaker), Storm Dain (video game reviewer, Destructoid), Nathan Barnett (Screw Attack filmmaker), and others. Room 30AB
Categories: Games | Movies | Television

3:45-5:00 Sony Pictures Entertainment: Legion and District 9— Sony Pictures Entertainment and Screen Gems introduce two great new movie projects exclusively to Comic-Con attendees!
Legion—When the last angel falls, the fight for mankind begins. Having lost faith in the human race, a legion of angels descend to Earth to bring about the Apocalypse. Humanity’s only hope lies in a group of strangers trapped in a desert diner and the Archangel Michael himself (Paul Bettany). Appearing on stage: Paul Bettany (A Beautiful Mind, The DaVinci Code), Adrianne Palicki (Friday Night Lights, Supernatural), Tyrese Gibson (Transformers, Death Race), Doug Jones (Silver Surfer in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and Abe Sapien in Hellboy), and director Scott Stewart (helming his first feature film after working on VFX for Sin City, Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire, and Iron Man, among many others). From Screen Gems.

District 9—Peter Jackson makes his eagerly and long-awaited first visit to Comic-Con to introduce you to the world of District 9, which focuses on a world in which extraterrestrials have become refugees in South Africa. Thirty years ago, aliens made first contact with Earth. Humans waited for the hostile attack or the giant advances in technology. Neither came. Instead, the aliens were refugees, the last survivors of their home world. The creatures were set up in a makeshift home in South Africa’s District 9 as the world’s nations argued over what to do with them—as well as their powerful technology and advanced weaponry that can only be activated by Alien DNA. Please join Peter Jackson as he gives fans a first look at scenes from District 9 and takes your questions along with director Neill Blomkamp and star Sharlto Copley. From Sony Pictures Entertainment

Hall H
Categories: Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy

4:00-5:00 Spotlight on Stephan Pastis— Cartoonist Stephan Pastis (Pearls Before Swine) shares his unlikely tale of how he went from being a full-time lawyer to one of the most popular syndicated cartoonists in newspapers today, including a rundown of some of his most popular strips, and some that weren’t so popular. Room 2
Categories: Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

4:00-5:00 Kirkamania! The Robert Kirkman Panel— Join writer Robert Kirkman (Walking Dead, Invincible) for a lively discussion on his many projects and a look forward into the future with more than a few exclusive announcements! All this plus a surprise appearance by Todd McFarlane (Haunt), as super secret free comics will be given away during a very special Q&A session! Room 7AB
Categories: Comic Books | Writers & Writing

4:00-5:00 Graphic Novels— Moderator Tom Spurgeon (ComicsReporter.com) talks to some of the superstars of graphic novels in this lively panel discussion. Joining Tom are Lewis Trondheim (Kaput and Zosky), Bryan Lee O’Malley (Scott Pilgrim), Seth (George Sprott 1894–1975), Gene Yang (American Born Chinese), Jason Lutes (Berlin), and Derek Kirk Kim (Eternal Smile). Room 8
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Writers & Writing

4:00-5:00 How-To Session: Patrick and Shelly Block— Patrick and Shelly Block have created hundreds of projects for Walt Disney’s comics line. Their work has been published in the United States through Gemstone Publishing and Gladstone, and overseas via Egmont’s extensive publishing service, as well as through Walt Disney Italia. Patrick is a recipient of a Comic Buyer’s Guide Fan Award in the “Favorite Inker” category. Shelly, who writes most of the pair’s tales, runs a wide ranging and creative art school, Art Quest, in Washington, PA. The Blocks shoot for a simple, straightforward style of story that they themselves would enjoy reading. They have presented their Interactive Comics Creation Seminar at various colleges and schools around the country. Room 18
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops

4:00-5:15 Dollhouse— Join Dollhouse creator Joss Whedon and star/producer Eliza Dushku for a no-holds-barred Q & A about what they have planned for season 2, after they unveil a special screening of the never-before-seen “Epitaph One” episode of the Fox hit, which releases on DVD just four days later. Ballroom 20
Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

4:00-5:00 The Shiflett Bros. and Friends Sculpting Panel— Industry sculptors Brandon and Jarrod Shiflett (Shiflett Bros. Originals, Bowen Designs) are joined on stage by sculpting friends and heroes including Clayburn Moore (CS Moore Studio), Paul Komoda (Artist Proof Studio), and Simon Lee (Spiderzero), in this free-for-all discussion about the craft, process, and industry of comic book and fantasy sculpting. Room 30CDE
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Seminars & Workshops

4:15-5:15 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles— This look at the whole spectrum of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (from comics to toys to TV to movies to video games) celebrates the 25th anniversary of the world-famous brand. Moderator Gary Richardson (CEO, Mirage Studios) discusses the evolution of the Turtles with those people instrumental in the characters’ incredible success. Panelists include Kevin Eastman (co-creator of TMNT), Lloyd Goldfine (supervising producer, 4Kids Productions), Steve Barron (director of the original TMNT movie), Karl Aaronian (senior VP of marketing, Giochi Preziosi U.S.A.), Matt Leunig (associate producer, Ubisoft), and Galen Walker (producer of new TMNT movie slated for 2011). Room 6DE
Categories: Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Animation | Comic Books | Games | Kids | Movies | Television

4:30-5:30 Spotlight on Landry Walker and Eric Jones— The creative team behind SLG Publishing’s Little Gloomy series and the recent Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the 8th Grade for DC Comics discuss all of their work, past and present, including the upcoming run on Batman: The Brave and the Bold series. Landry Walker and Eric Jones discuss the pitfalls of working on all-ages books as well as developing their own properties for animation. Room 3
Categories: Animation | Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Superheroes | Writers & Writing

4:30-5:30 Buck Rogers 80th Anniversary— Hermes Press celebrates Buck Rogers’ 80th anniversary with a panel presenting guests discussing Buck Rogers in print, on television, and in film, including plans for a new movie. Join Flint Dille (Transformers), Daniel Herman (Hermes Press publisher), Nick Barrucci (Dynamite publisher), actors Gil Gerard (Buck Rogers from Buck Rogers) and Erin Gray (Wilma Deering from Buck Rogers), and author Chris Irving (From Four Color to Silver Screen: The History of Superhero Movie Serials) for a discussion and Q&A. Room 4
Categories: Cartooning and Comic Strips | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Seminars & Workshops | Television

4:30-5:30 DC: Wednesday Comics— Wednesday Comics gives a fresh twist to a grand comics tradition by reinventing the classic newspaper comics section and filling it to the brim with today’s top talent and characters! Learn all you need to know about DC’s excitingly innovative weekly 12-issue series from the title’s mastermind, DCU editorial art director Mark Chiarello, and an all-star list of panelists! Believe us, you’ve never seen a panel or a project like this! Room 5AB
Categories: Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books

4:30-5:30 Marvel Animation— The new age of Marvel animation is here! Marvel’s president of animation Eric Rollman and general manager of Nicktoons Network Keith Dawkins are joined by the creative minds behind the new hit series Wolverine and the X-Men, and Iron Man: Armored Adventures. Head writers Greg Johnson (WatX), and Chris Yost (IMAA), supervising producer Craig Kyle (WatX, IMAA), voice director Jamie Simone (WatX), and voice of Wolverine Steve Blum discuss each series and what the future holds. Then stay tuned for a first look at Marvel Anime from acclaimed Japanese animation studio Madhouse, featuring Madhouse president Masao Maruyama (Gotham Knight, Tokyo Godfathers), and writer Warren Ellis (The Authority, Astonishing X-Men). Also expect sneak peeks at the upcoming next Marvel Animated Feature from Lionsgate. You don’t want to miss this panel! Room 6BCF
Categories: Animation | Comic Books | Movies | Superheroes

4:30-5:30 Underground Comix— Comix were underground comic books that reflected a generation’s dissatisfaction with the government, cultural “norms,” and the status quo. The late 1960s saw the emergence of these underground comix, a new wave of humorous, counterculture-inspired comic books that dealt with social and political subjects like sex, drugs, rock ‘n’ roll, and war protest. While the works of members of the movement such as Robert Crumb and Art Spiegelman are well known, the art of many of their comix-era contemporaries, including Gilbert Shelton, Trina Robbins, Justin Green, Kim Deitch, and S. Clay Wilson, remains unacknowledged. Moderated by Comic-Con special guest Dennis Kitchen-cartoonist, editor, publisher and co-author of Underground Classics (Abrams ComicArts)—who was present at the birth of the underground comix movement, this discussion will engage expert James Danky (co-author of Underground Classics), and comix artists Trina Robbins and William Stout in a conversation about the history and significance of this period in comics history. Room 10
Categories: Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

4:30-5:30 Production Designers— These craftspeople create the physical look for a movie or TV program, be it Star Wars or a talk show. Without the designer, the actors would be performing in empty space. Here a group of these artists at the top of their game talk about the challenges and pleasures of their craft, and answer audience questions. Panelists include Stuart Blatt (Dollhouse), Scott Chambliss (Star Wars), Nathan Crowley (The Dark Knight), and Alex McDowell (Watchmen). Moderating the panel is John Muto (Terminator 2 3D). Room 30AB
Categories: Art and Illustration | Movies | Television

4:30-6:00 So You Want to be a Comic Book Retailer?— A Comic-Con tradition! You love comics and want to get into the business, but art and writing are not in your skill set. Have you considered opening your own comic book specialty retail business? You have questions—this panel of experts has answers. Moderator Joe Field (Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff, Concord, CA) is joined by retailers Carr D’Angelo (Earth-2 Comics, Sherman Oaks and Northridge, CA), Chris Powell (Lone Star Comics, TX), and Scott Proulx (Double Midnight Comics, Manchester, NH) and Diamond Comic Distributors field sales manager Dave Hawksworth to discuss your future as a retailer of comics and graphic novels. Room 32AB
Categories: Comic Books | Retailer Programming | Seminars & Workshops

4:45-5:45 The Mighty Boosh— Creators/stars Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding, along with actors Michael Fielding, Rich Fulcher, and Dave Brown, will be on stage to take questions from fans and discuss the magical, bizarre, and exciting world of The Boosh, which The San Jose Mercury News describes as “an acid-trip fantasy-comedy [that] is seriously deranged and seriously funny.” Room 6A
Categories: Humor & Satire | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

5:00-6:00 Capcom: Lost Planet 2— Capcom presents an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at one of the most anticipated games for the PS3 and Xbox 360 featuring premiere producer Jun Takeuchi direct from Capcom Japan, joined by Frank Filice and Shawn Baxter of Capcom. Moderated by Francis Mao. See exclusive gameplay footage and making-of features. Plus, a couple of fans will be pulled onstage for an impromptu Akrid hunting session to win some exclusive Capcom prizes! All followed by a Q&A session! Room 2
Categories: Games | Science Fiction & Fantasy

5:00-6:00 Devils Due: Jericho— Find out all the details about the triumphant return of CBS Television’s fan favorite show Jericho! Join show star Lennie James, executive producers Dan Shotz, Karim Zreik, Jon Steinberg, show writer Robert Levine, and Devil’s Due Publishing president Josh Blaylock to hear all about the new comic continuation of the Jericho storyline, Jericho—Season Three: Civil War arriving this fall from Devil’s Due Publishing! Room 7AB
Categories: Comic Books | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

5:00-6:00 Dynamite Entertainment: Adapting Comics to and from Film, Television and Video Games— One of the fastest on the rise comic publishers, Dynamite Entertainment (Project Superpowers, The Lone Ranger, Battlestar Galactica, Terminator Infinity, Highlander, Buck Rogers, Xena, Highlander, Darkman, Army of Darkness, Zorro, etc.)—and co-producers of the upcoming films Red Sonja, Thusla Doom, and The Boys—present a panel on bringing comic books into movies, TV, and video games and vice versa. With Hollywood screenwriters Marc Guggenheim, Jeff Katz, Flint Dille, and Jules Urbach, editor Joe Rybandt, publisher and producer Nick Barrucci, and more to be announced! Room 8
Categories: Animation | Anime & Manga | Comic Books | Games | Movies | Television

5:00-6:30 Resin Casting and Silicone Mold-making— Jeffrey Broz (Matrix Enterprises) has presented seven previous seminars about plastics and casting. Sam Girgis (Biggerbox Models) is producing large-scale garage kits. Whether you want to produce a garage kit model, mold your sculpture, or reproduce a broken part for your vintage toy, this year’s seminar will cover new material choices and tips from previous seminars about complex silicone mold design and casting techniques. They’ll talk about the pitfalls with short-run 3D duplication, and garage kits and industrial design. This year, they will also talk more about vendors, guides, and material choices to cast your sculptures or model. Room 30CDE
Categories: Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Art and Illustration | Seminars & Workshops

5:15-6:00 Joss Whedon— After the Dollhouse presentation, stick around for 45 minutes of information and Q&A with Joss Whedon about his upcoming Dark Horse Comics projects! Ballroom 20
Categories: Comic Books | Writers & Writing

5:15-6:15 Lucasfilm: Star Wars Spectacular— Get all the latest news from the Star Wars universe—including some of Lucasfilm’s most tightly guarded secrets—in an all-new show format! Special guest hosts G4′s Olivia Munn and Kevin Pereira grill a galaxy of guests from The Clone Wars and beyond, including supervising director Dave Filoni, plus voice talent from the show and more! See a live table-read of an exclusive new Clone Wars script—leading directly into the series’ second season! Find out about the worldwide Star Wars Concert Tour, the latest Star Wars games from LucasArts, upcoming DVD (and Blu-ray!) releases and more! And become a part of Star Wars history with your own Saga stories and movie memories! It’s an all-new, interactive Star Wars Spectacular! Hall H
Categories: Animation | Fandom | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

5:30-6:30 Spotlight on Kazu Kibuishi— Almost single-handedly revitailizing the comics anthology format with his work as editor of Flight (now in its sixth volume), Comic-Con special guest Kazu Kibuishi also writes and draws his own comics, such as the Amulet series and Daisy Kutter. Kibuishi talks about his work as both creator and editor in this Spotlight panel. Room 3
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Webcomics | Writers & Writing

5:30-6:30 Yen Press— Catch up on the latest news and licensing announcements from your friends at Yen Press—Kurt Hassler (publishing director), JuYoun Lee (senior editor), and Tania Biswas (assistant editor). There are sure to be a few surprises. And swag. Let’s not forget the swag. Room 4
Categories: Anime & Manga | Comic Books

5:30-6:30 Vertigo: View of the Future— Discover what’s going on at the imprint that birthed The Sandman, Preacher, Y: The Last Man, Fables and more. Wait ’til you hear about what new projects the Vertigo team is going to thrill you with next! Hosted by senior VP/executive editor, Vertigo Karen Berger, group editor Shelly Bond, and senior editor Will Dennis, with Jason Aaron (Scalped), Mike Allred, Mark Buckingham (Fables), Josh Dysart (Unknown Soldier), Peter Gross (Unwritten), Amy Hadley (Madame Xanadu), Jeff Lemire (The Nobody), Chris Roberson, 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: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Horror and Suspense | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Writers & Writing

5:30-6:30 Marvel Digital Comics…and Beyond!— Since its groundbreaking November 2007 debut, Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited has been all the Internet rage! It’s the greatest collection of Marvel comics ever assembled online and it’s only getting better. Featuring over 6,000 titles with newly digitized comics added every weekday, the site now features its own line of digital-first exclusive comics. Members of the Marvel Digital Media Group will tell you all about the state of Marvel digital comics, casual games, original streaming video and the future of Marvel’s ever-growing digital endeavors. Room 6DE
Categories: Comic Books | Webcomics

5:30-6:30 What’s Up with Penguin and DK— Anne Sowards (executive editor, Ace/Roc), Jessica Wade (associate editor, Ace/Roc), Mardie Cohen (marketing coordinator, Penguin Young Readers Group), and Jennifer Wendell (marketing manager, DK), give you the dish on forthcoming books from such exciting authors and licensed properties as Jim Butcher, Charlaine Harris, Patricia Briggs, Kristin Cashore, John Flanagan, Richelle Mead, Star Wars: Clone Wars, Halo, LEGO, LEGO Star Wars, Marvel, and many more. Plus, you can expect lots of giveaways, including free advance reading copies! Room 10
Categories: Comic Books

5:30-6:30 Like WOW! Action Figures Return to the ’80s!— The ’80s are back in a BIG way in the world of toy’s and Action Figures. This year alone has seen the return of Masters of the Universe, Ghostbusters, Marvel’s Secret Wars, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero’s 25th Anniversary, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 25th Anniversary, Transformers, Flash Gordon, and more! What is it about the properties of the ’80s that still draw collectors? Panelists include Scott Neitlich (Mattel), Dave Vonner (Hasbro), Jason Lenzi (BifBangPow!), Chuck Terceira (Diamond Select Toys), and The Four Horsemen (The Four Horsemen Studios). Moderated by Daniel “JuliusMarx” Pickett of ActionFigureInsider.com. Room 30AB
Categories: Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Fandom

5:45-7:15 DC Universe Animated Super Powers: Green Lantern: First Flight and Superman/Batman: Public Enemies— Get the inside scoop on the next two action-packed entries in the popular series of DC Universe animated original PG-13 films, Green Lantern: First Flight and Superman/Batman: Public Enemies. Hal Jordan’s first full-length adventure, Green Lantern: First Flight, brings together executive producer Bruce Timm (Superman Doomsday), casting/dialogue director Andrea Romano (DC Universe films), director Lauren Montgomery (Wonder Woman), writer Alan Burnett (The Batman), and voice talent Christopher Meloni (Law & Order: SVU) and Juliet Landau (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) to discuss and show film clips from the all-new film set for release on July 28. Then, Timm and Romano will be joined by supervising producer Michael Goguen (Justice League: The New Frontier), director Sam Liu (The Batman), and writer Stan Berkowitz (Justice League: The New Frontier), for the first-ever footage and public discussion of Superman/Batman: Public Enemies. Kevin Conroy, the undisputed benchmark voice of Batman, joins the panel for his first Comic-Con appearance in six years! Based on the popular Jeff Loeb/Ed McGuinness comic series/graphic novel, Superman/Batman: Public Enemies finds U.S. President Lex Luthor using the oncoming trajectory of a kryptonite asteroid to frame Superman and declare a $1 billion bounty on the heads of the Man of Steel and his “partner in crime,” Batman. Superheroes and supervillains alike launch a relentless pursuit of Superman and Batman, who must unite—and recruit super help—to stave off the action-packed onslaught, stop the asteroid, and uncover Luthor’s devious plot to take command of far more than North America. Superman/Batman: Public Enemies will be distributed by Warner Home Video in fall 2009. The movie reunites the lead voices from the landmark Superman: The Animated Series and Batman: The Animated Series—Conroy, Tim Daly (Private Practice) and Clancy Brown (The Shawshank Redemption) reprise their roles as Batman, Superman and Lex Luthor, respectively. Other members of the cast are expected to join the panel, as well. DC Comics senior VP of creative affairs Gregory Noveck moderates. Room 6BCF
Categories: Animation | Comic Books | Movies | Superheroes

6:00-7:00 Dead Space Extraction— Glen Schofield, GM of Visceral Games and the creator of the award-winning Dead Space, and Antony Johnston, Dead Space comic writer, will discuss utilizing interactive gaming medium to portray emotion of story in ways that books & film traditionally display. Voice actors from the game discuss their craft and the unique talents required to adapt their presence into Dead Space Extraction. Visceral Games’ executive producer Steve Papoutsis discusses the implementation of story and talent into games and the art of crafting a believable, epic story into this fall’s Wii exclusive Dead Space Extraction. Room 2
Categories: Games | Horror and Suspense

6:00-7:00 Comics to Film with Michael Uslan— Godfather of the modern comic book film Michael Uslan (Batman, Constantine, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight) celebrates the 20th anniversary of his landmark movie Batman (1989) by recounting what it took to make it happen and how the industry has changed since then, advising newcomers how to make their comic book movie dreams come true. Q&A and surprise announcements will cap off the hour. Moderated by Tony Panaccio. Room 7AB
Categories: Comic Books | Movies | Superheroes

6:00-7:00 Goon, This Is Your Life!— It’s the Goon’s 10th Anniversary, and creator Eric Powell reminisces about the life of the lovable thug with special surprise guests. Come discuss the Goon’s sordid past and his future in the picture shows! That’s right, some folks from Blur Studio will be on hand to talk about the animated Goon film! Room 8
Categories: Animation | Comic Books | Movies

6:00-7:00 Simpsons Collectors Group— Simpsons collectors of the world unite! Take a break from the busy Comic-Con floor and get a chance to meet some of your fellow collectors of Simpsons merchandise. Collectors from all over the country will be here. Meet the other Simpsons collectors you see on the message board and put faces to the names. This gathering—put on by the staff of the SimpsonsCollectors.com website—is a great chance to network with other collectors from across the country and share your hobby with others. Room 24A
Categories: Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Animation | Comic Books | Humor & Satire | Movies | Television

6:00-7:00 Pop Perversity: Parody in Comics and Art— Isabel Samaras (On Tender Hooks), Ron English (Popaganda), and R. Sikoryak (Masterpiece Comics)— parodists from the worlds of art and comics—show how their sharp, sly images blur the boundaries between the popular and the profound, the propagandistic and the profane. Parody is a familiar part of our culture, but when done right it can still shock and awe, revealing deep truths while it makes us cackle. Moderated by Colin Berry (On Tender Hooks). Room 32AB
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Humor & Satire

6:15-7:15 TV Guide Magazine: Sci Fi Hot List— TV Guide magazine takes an in-depth look at some of the most buzzed-about new and returning TV series, featuring the hottest talent from in front of the camera and behind the scenes. TV Guide executive editor Craig Tomashoff moderates this panel that offers the inside scoop, along with special surprises. Scheduled participants include Johnny Galecki (The Big Bang Theory), Zachary Levi (Chuck), Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory), Scott Peters (executive producer, V), Rebecca Romijn (Eastwick), Kevin Williamson (executive producer, The Vampire Diaries), Scott Wolf (V), John Cho (Flash Forward), Marc Guggenheim (producer, Flash Forward), Allison DuBois (the real person behind Medium), and others. Ballroom 20
Categories: Humor & Satire | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

6:30-7:30 Four Color Reality: Making Comics Relevant to Readers Across Cultures— Comic book stories have become the core of American pop culture—is there a big-budget spectacular that doesn’t in some fashion owe its existence to comic book roots these days? But sales of traditional-format comic books themselves have been in decline for years. This panel explores one reason for this shrinking market: the divergence between the identities of mainstream comic icons, who are typically straight, white, male, and American, and the demographic makeup of a new generation of readers. How can the comic book industry connect with changing audiences—not just of diverse races and backgrounds, but of different cultural and national origins as well? Moderated by Jeff Yang (editor-in-chief, Secret Identities: The Asian American Superhero Anthology). Panelists include Dwayne McDuffie (Milestone Comics, JLA, Ben 10: Alien Force), Gail Simone (Wonder Woman), Gene Yang (American Born Chinese, The Eternal Smile), Stuart Moore (Wolverine: Noir, The 99), and Jai Nitz (Blue Beetle, El Diablo). Room 3
Categories: Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

6:30-7:30 Shocker Toys Happy Hour Panel— Geoff Beckett, Lance Buttiglieri, and Bill Roshia (Shocker Toys) take a look at figures and concepts such as Indie Spotlight, Mallows, and Shockinis. True innovators of Indie Spotlight—the first super-posable action figure universe of independent comics—the team of Shocker Toys discuss future line plans, new products, and directions for the Indie Spotlight concept and of course offer some Shocker swag! Room 4
Categories: Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Comic Books

6:30-7:30 FEAR Clinic (A FEARnet Original Production)— Don’t miss this panel discussion with actor Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street), director Robert Hall (Laid to Rest), and guest moderator Clive Barker. In this series, Dr. Andover (Englund) seeks to cure his patients’ deepest fears with a device that allows them to confront their fear head-on. His extreme method is so effective, it has a 100 percent success rate, at least for all those who live through it. Join the panelists and featured cast and crew live on stage for a sneak peek and Q&A about the highly anticipated series. Room 5AB
Categories: Horror and Suspense | Television

6:30-7:30 SEGA/Platinum Games: The Making of Bayonetta— Famed director Hideki Kamiya and producer Yusuke Hashimoto provide an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the making of Bayonetta, a visually unparalleled action game that combines unique visual aesthetics with supernatural combat. In this war between angels and a heat-packing, hair-manipulating witch, it introduces—literally and figuratively—a new breed of video game heroine. Developed by PlatinumGames for SEGA, this is their next big project on the heels of MadWorld, one of the most lauded games for its groundbreaking innovation. Audience members will be able to participate in a Q&A session with some other surprises in the works. Room 10
Categories: Animation | Games | Science Fiction & Fantasy

6:30-7:30 Horror Comics into Film— Aintitcool.com’s Mark L. Miller discusses all things horror with the creators behind some of the scariest comics/films: Kevin Grevioux (co-writer/actor of Underworld), Marv Wolfman (creator of Blade), Tim Seely (creator of Hack/Slash), Whitley Strieber (creator of The Nye Incidents), Todd Lincoln (director/producer of The Nye Incidents), Jeff Katz (creator of Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash), Steven C.Miller (writer/director of Automaton Transfusion), Adam Wingard (Pop Skull), and Ryan Schifrin (creator of Spooks). Room 30AB
Categories: Comic Books | Horror and Suspense | Movies

6:30-7:30 Digital Painting Seminar— Patrick McEvoy (Starkweather: Immortal) demonstrate the art of digital painting with Adobe Photoshop and Corel Painter. Using examples from his work on the Marvel Style guide, a panel from Archaia’s Starkweather, and a cover from BOOM! Studios’ Fall of Cthulhu, Patrick will step through various techniques, starting from pencils and working up to a final rendering. Learn how to bring a fully painted look to your digital artwork! Room 30CDE
Categories: Art and Illustration | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops | Webcomics

6:30-7:30 Entertainment Weekly: The Visionaries— A discussion with iconic filmmakers James Cameron (Avatar) and Peter Jackson (District 9) on the Future of Film—EW moderates an in-depth conversation with these two cinematic giants about the art of film narrative and how technology and global culture will alter the art of on-screen storytelling in the next 20 years. Hall H
Categories: Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy

Nighttime Programs

7:15-8:15 RiffTrax Live— Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett RiffTrax.com, Mystery Science Theater 3000) perform a live, hilarious riff to a classic short! The panel is hosted by Veronica Belmont (host of Tekzilla on Revision3 and Qore on the PlayStation Network). Join the gang for fun, laughs, and the latest news from RiffTrax.com, the site where MST3K-style humor meets mainstream movies, TV shows, and vintage shorts! At RiffTrax.com they don’t make movies, they make them funny! Room 6DE
Categories: Fandom | Horror and Suspense | Humor & Satire | Movies | Nighttime Programming | Science Fiction & Fantasy

7:15-9:15 The Totally Rad Show Live!— Hosts Alex Albrecht (Diggnation), Dan Trachtenberg, and Jeff Cannata bring their Webby and Podcast Award-winning geek culture show back to Comic-Con for a 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 | Comic Books | Games | Movies | Nighttime Programming | Television

7:30-9:30 The Cartoonist: Jeff Smith, Bone and the Changing Face of Comics— The Cartoonist, a new feature-length documentary, tells the inspiring story of Jeff Smith’s creation of the epic comic book Bone, hailed by critics as one of the greatest graphic novels of all time. Fellow cartoonists Scott McCloud, Colleen Doran, Harvey Pekar, Paul Pope and Terry Moore, as well as friends, associates, experts, and Jeff himself, share their stories of this worldwide phenomenon that began in small comics hobby shops and is now found in bookstores, schools, libraries, and the homes of millions of adults and children in 25 countries. In addition to discussing Jeff’s early years, influences and philosophies, the film provides a look at a unique industry and artform that continues to evolve as its audience expands. Ken Mills and Mike Meyer, producers of the documentary, will be present to introduce the film and answer questions. Room 5AB
Categories: Comic Books | Movies | Nighttime Programming

7:30-8:45 Stan Helsing— Clips, interviews and Q&A with filmmaker Bo Zenga (Scary Movie) and stars Leslie Nielsen (Naked Gun), Kenan Thompson (Saturday Night Live), Diora Baird (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning), Steve Howey (Reba), and Desi Lydic (The Real Wedding Crashers). Anchor Bay’s Stan Helsing horror spoof features parodies of the six greatest movie monsters of all time: Freddy/Nightmare on Elm Street, Jason/Friday the 13th, Leatherface/The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Pinhead/Hellraiser, Chucky/Childs Play, and Michael Myers/Halloween. Room 6BCF
Categories: Horror and Suspense | Humor & Satire | Movies | Nighttime Programming

7:45-8:45 Klingon Lifestyles Presentation— This latest mission of the IKV Stranglehold finds the crew giving assistance to the IKRV Hurgh Hap on a First Contact Mission, but problems from the planet’s inhabitants and an agent from Klingon Imperial Intelligence complicate matters. How will the crew handle this situation and still keep their honor? All species are welcome to experience the ongoing voyage and adventure of life aboard a Klingon vessel. Room 6A
Categories: Fandom | Movies | Nighttime Programming | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

8:30-10:30 Syfy Screening— Warehouse 13 and Eureka air every week on Syfy, but only Comic Con fans can see them on the big screen. Join Syfy for an exclusive screening of the next all new episodes of the summer’s two hottest series along with best of clips from Ghost Hunters. Room 6DE
Categories: Humor & Satire | Nighttime Programming | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

8:30-10:00 Star Wars Fan Movie Awards— The Star Wars Fan Movie Award Ceremony at Comic-Con International is always entertaining, and often studded with surprises. Each year the top prize, the George Lucas Selects Award, is chosen by Star Wars writer/director George Lucas, and finalists wait with anticipation to learn who will win industry and audience recognition and the coveted Star Wars-themed trophies. The Movie Challenge, sponsored by Lucasfilm and Atom.com, is in its eighth year. Don’t miss the most entertaining Star Wars fan-made movies out there! Ballroom 20
Categories: Awards Ceremonies | Fandom | Movies | Nighttime Programming | Science Fiction & Fantasy

8:30-11:00 Darksiders Presents: The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards— The 21st annual Eisner Awards, the “Oscars” of the comics industry, will be given out at a gala ceremony at a brand-new location: the Indigo Ballroom at the Hilton Bayfront. This year’s special them is “Comics and All That Jazz.” Presenters include writer/actors Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant (Reno 911, Balls of Fury), acclaimed comics creators Jeff Smith and Terry Moore, actor/comedian Patton Oswalt, actor/musician/writer Bill Mumy, actress/musician Jane Wiedlin, and G4′s Blair Butler, with many more to be announced. Other prestigious awards to be given out include the Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award, the Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award, and the Bill Finger Award for Excellence in Comic Book Writing. 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 pro and VIP seating at 7:30 and for attendees at 8:15. Indigo Ballroom / Hilton Bayfront
Categories: Awards Ceremonies | Comic Books

9:00-11:30 Angel of Death Premiere Screening and Q&A Session— Comic book superstar Ed Brubaker (Captain America), actress and stuntwoman Zoë Bell (Death Proof), actors Doug Jones (Quarantine), and Ted Raimi (Spider-Man 3), director Paul Etheredge (Buried Alive), and producer John Norris appear for a panel and Q&A session, followed by an exclusive screening of the thrilling uncut feature-length version of the film marking the DVD release of the groundbreaking digital online series! Room 6A
Categories: Movies | Nighttime Programming | Science Fiction & Fantasy

9:00-10:00 Worst Cartoons Ever— Animation historian Jerry Beck (Cartoon Brew) returns with an all new program of some of the worst cartoons ever made, including the Phys Ed super-hero Mighty Mr. Titan, space cadet Johnny Cypher and that crimefighting commander-in-chief, Super President. Have a ball with the best/bad animation ever! Room 6BCF
Categories: Animation | Fandom | Movies | Nighttime Programming | Television

9:30-10:30 The Blood Factory— This screening and Q&A with The Blood Factory creators features Danny DeVito (actor/director/producer), Tracey Walter (Batman, City Slickers), John Albo (screenwriter), Nick Bonamy (production designer), and Tkay Garcia (website creative director). Learn how they bring tales of horror and menace to life. All Comic-Con attendees are invited to participate. This will be a haunting experience—chilling—not easily forgotten. Room 7AB
Categories: Horror and Suspense | Movies | Nighttime Programming

10:00-12:00 Spike and Mike Double Feature— Spike of Spike and Mike announces a whole new dimension of his Animation Film Festival. Spike is bringing a rebooted festival to Comic-Con this year. This is not your 20th Century Festival but a whole New Generation Animation. Getting back to the roots of the original Spike and Mike’s Animation Festival, this show offers sophisticated humor, innovative and brilliant films including award-winning films, and new outstanding student shorts. But don’t think that you party animals will be left out—after the highbrow part of the show it goes straight into lowbrow territory with some of the Sickest and Twistedest films yet. New Generation Animation begins at 10:00, followed by Sick & Twisted starting around 11:15. Room 6BCF
Categories: Animation | Movies | Nighttime Programming

San Diego Comic-Con has released the schedule for the Wednesday the 22nd and Thursday the 23rd events. We have posted the full schedule below:

SPECIAL PREVIEW NIGHT PROGRAMMING
Wednesday, July 22
Last changed: Thu, Jul 9, 11:46am

6:00-9:00 Special Sneak Peek Pilot Screenings— Comic-Con and Warner Bros. Television proudly present exclusive pilot premiere screenings of some of the most buzzed-about new TV series of the 2009–2010 season—Human Target, V, and The Vampire Diaries—as well as an exclusive preview trailer for additional upcoming shows.
Based upon the popular DC Comics title and starring Mark Valley (Fringe), Chi McBride (Pushing Daisies), and Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen), the highly anticipated Human Target is an action-packed thrill ride about a mysterious private contractor who will stop at nothing, even if it literally means becoming a human target, to keep his clients alive. Executive produced by McG (Terminator Salvation), Jonathan Steinberg (Jericho), Brad Kern (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman), Kevin Hooks (Prison Break), and Peter Johnson (Supernatural), the series is from Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Wonderland Sound and Vision, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Television. Human Target will air Wednesdays at 9:00 PM ET/PT on FOX, beginning in January.

Already one of the most talked-about new shows of the upcoming season, V is a thrilling reimagining of the groundbreaking miniseries, starring Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost), Morris Chestnut (Boyz n the Hood), Joel Gretsch (The 4400), Lourdes Benedicto (24), Logan Huffman (America), and Laura Vandervoort (Smallville), with Morena Baccarin (Firefly) and Scott Wolf (Party of Five). Scott Peters (The 4400), Jace Hall (The Jace Hall Show), Steve Pearlman (Related) and Jeffrey Bell (Angel) are the executive producers for HDFilms in association with Warner Bros. Television. V will premiere midseason on ABC.

Writer/producer Kevin Williamson (the Scream movies) is back with The Vampire Diaries, an edgy and romantic new drama in which two vampire brothers—one good, one evil—are at war for the soul of one girl. Based on the best-selling book series of the same name by L.J. Smith, the show stars Nina Dobrev (Degrassi: The Next Generation), Paul Wesley (Everwood), Ian Somerhalder (Lost), Steven R. McQueen (Everwood), Katerina Graham (17 Again), Sara Canning (Smallville), Candice Accola (Supernatural), Zach Roerig (Friday Night Lights), Kayla Ewell (Entourage), and Michael Trevino (The Riches). Williamson, Leslie Morgenstein (Gossip Girl), and Bob Levy (Gossip Girl) are the executive producers for Bonanza Productions Inc., Outerbanks Entertainment, and Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios. The Vampire Diaries will air Thursdays at 8:00 PM ET/PT this fall on The CW, premiering September 10.

Ballroom 20
Categories: Horror and Suspense | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

Thursday, July 23
Last changed: Thu, Jul 9, 11:46am

10:00-11:00 Fan’s Guide to Comic-Con— For the third consecutive year Wesley Strawther, Matthew Jeffrey, and gaming expert Jesse Lopez host a hilarious guide to the San Diego Comic-Con. First timers will find just a little more information than veteran attendees! Room 2
Categories: Fandom | Games

10:00-11:00 Heroes, Villains, and Dramatica Archetypes— Stories are populated with heroes, villains, sidekicks and more. Story development expert Chris Huntley (Dramatica Story Theory) discusses what makes them tick and how to use them in your stories. We’ll explore the basics then go beyond simple character archetypes and create far more interesting, complex characters! Room 5AB
Categories: Comic Books | Writers & Writing

10:00-11:00 Escapist Fantasy— What are the pluses and perils of adding magic and monsters to our world? Panelists Juliet Blackwell (Second Hand Spirits), Marjorie Liu (Darkness Calls), Jackie Kessler & Caitlin Kittredge (co-authors, Black & White), Diana Rowland (Mark of the Demon), Sina Grace (Cedric Hollows In Dial “M” For Magic), Seanan McGuire (Rosemary & Rue), and Harry Connolly (Child of Fire) weigh in on the options. Moderator: Maryelizabeth Hart, Mysterious Galaxy. Room 10
Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy | Writers & Writing

10:00-11:00 How-To Session:Howard Simpson— Howard Simpson of Abba Studios is a storyteller. Simpson started drawing comics while he was in college and has continued to do so for various publishers and clients. He has done children’s books for Nickelodeon, Random House, Simon & Schuster, Bantam, Doubleday, and Dell. He has done storyboards for commercials and movies. Howard will present storytelling for children. Room 18
Categories: Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops | Writers & Writing

10:00-11:00 LongBox Digital Comics— Rantz Hoseley (CEO LongBox, Inc., editor of Comic Book Tattoo) hosts this presentation of the LongBox Platform for Digital Comics. Rantz, along with special guests—including Jeff Katz (American Original Productions)—demonstrates LongBox, talks about the impending launch, and discusses some of the exciting partnerships and plans for what some are calling the future of digital comics. Room 32AB
Categories: Comic Books | Webcomics

10:15-11:15 Summit Entertainment: Astro Boy— A superhero origin story set in a futuristic world, Astro Boy is an all-new CG-animated feature film based on the classic manga about a young robot with incredible powers and his adventure-filled journey in search of his identity and destiny. Director David Bowers, producer Maryanne Grager, and stars Freddie Highmore (Astro) and Kristen Bell (Cora) debut footage exclusive to Comic-Con 2009 and answer your questions about bringing this beloved hero to the big screen. Room 6BCF
Categories: Animation | Anime & Manga | Kids | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy

10:30-11:30 Tripwire Magazine— The staff of Tripwire, Britain’s premiere comics culture magazine, discuss genre fiction, comics, movies and more. Join Joel Meadows (editor-in-chief), Andy Grossberg (U.S. editor), and Pat McGreal for a rousing chat. Room 3
Categories: Comic Books | Fandom | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

10:30-11:30 DC Talent Search 1— Learn what DC Comics looks for in artists and how to improve your chances of becoming a working professional! DC Representatives discuss the different needs of the DC Universe, Vertigo, WildStorm, MAD magazine, and Zuda. This informative orientation session explains how DC’s Talent Search works and provides numerous tips and tricks on how to improve your work and explore opportunities. 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 Motion Comics: Graphic Novels in The Digital Age— Warner Premiere is one of the pioneers in the production of Motion Comics, which include Watchmen, Peanuts, Batman: Black and White, and many others. Motion Comics are short-form videos that use subtle movements, voice-overs, sweeping music scores, and stunning comic book artwork to bring an engaging visual experience to life. Moderated by Gregory Noveck (DC Comics), with panelists Paul Levitz, (DC Comics, Batman: Black and White), Dave Gibbons (Watchmen, Batman: Black and White), Paul Dini (Batman: Black and White, Mad Love), Lydia Antonini (Warner Premiere), Dylan Coburn (Karactaz, Superman: Red Son), and Stephen Fedasz (Perpetual Notions), who discuss graphic novel storytelling and production in the digital age. Attendees will also see the debut of two DC Motion Comic series during this panel. Room 6DE
Categories: Animation | Comic Books | Webcomics

10:30-11:30 TheOneRing.net: The Hobbit— With Middle-earth returning to the big screen in December 2011, TheOneRing.net will take you behind the scenes of the latest news, announcements, and rumors pertaining to the Peter Jackson and Guillermo del Toro production of The Hobbit. Chris Pirrotta, Larry Curtis, Cliff Broadway, and others from TheOneRing.net crew offer this early look at making The Hobbit happen! Room 7AB
Categories: Fandom | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy

10:30-11:30 Science Fiction That Will Change Your Life— The staff of io9.com, Eisner Award–winning author Douglas Wolk (Reading Comics), and others talk about science fiction from the last year that does more than blow things up. It might also blow your mind. What science fiction should you be reading and watching if you want your brain to grow so big it pops out of the top of your skull and starts throbbing and shooting lasers? The panelists have some tips. Room 8
Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy | Writers & Writing

10:30-11:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #1: Comics, Courts, and Controversy— Marc Greenberg (Golden Gate University School of Law) examines contemporary legal cases dealing with comics and copyright. First are two cases in which the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund defended comic artists and comic book storeowners against charges of obscenity, then a case in which the CBLDF fought an effort by the California Franchise Tax Board to tax penciled comic book pages sent to publishers. Greenberg closes his overview with a detailed analysis of the 70-year battle by the Siegel family to terminate the grant of copyright in the character, art and story of Superman, culminating in a landmark decision issued last year. Room 30AB
Categories: Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Comics Arts Conference | Comics Law School | Retailer Programming

10:30-12:00 Comic Book Law School 101: Let’s Get It Started— The popular Comic Book Law School series, which provides a basic foundation for understanding copyright and trademark law through an interactive lecture, is 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, names, and logos, 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 is plenty to learn about the protections available, as well as the numerous potential pitfalls, under the U.S. trademark and copyright systems. (Please Note: The Comic Book Law School seminars are designed to provide relevant information and practice tips to practicing attorneys, as well as practical tips to creators and other professionals who may wish to attend. This program is approved for one (1) credit of California MCLE.) Room 30CDE
Categories: Art and Illustration | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Comics Law School | Seminars & Workshops

11:00-12:30 Secret Origins of Comic-Con — How did it all begin? Those who were there in 1969 (most of them teenagers at the time!) have the behind-the-scenes story of the very first meetings, the first mini-con, and the first Golden State Comic-Con at the U.S. Grant in 1970. Panelist include Richard Alf, Barry Alfonso, Greg Bear, Dave Clark, Roger Freedman, Ken Krueger, Scott Shaw!, and Mike Towry, with William R. Lund as moderator. Room 2
Categories: 40th Anniversary | Fandom

11:00-12:00 The State of MMOs: A Discussion with the Developers— Join Craig Alexander (Turbine), Gordon Walton (BioWare), Bob Ferrari (Sanrio Digital), and Dave Brevik (Gazillion) for a panel discussion and Q&A moderated by George Chronis (DFC Intelligence) about the current state of the massively multiplayer online games market. Panelists will discuss topics such as MMO pricing models and free-to-play games, design innovations, the future of console MMOs, and much more! Room 5AB
Categories: Games

11:00-12:00 IDW Publishing: The Evolution of Comics— Through the lens of IDW’s tenth anniversary, founder Ted Adams and IDW editors and creators, including Ashley Wood (Zombies vs. Robots), and Steve Niles (30 Days of Night), discuss the evolution of the company and look ahead at the future of comics, complete with special announcements of upcoming IDW projects. Room 10
Categories: Comic Books

11:00-12:00 How-To Session: Randy Martinez— See the Onsite Newsletter for more information on Randy’s How-To Session. Room 18
Categories: Seminars & Workshops

11:00-12:00 AFTimes.com Toymaker Q&A— Ever wanted to know why one character was chosen for production over another? Why your favorite character was limited or just what toy companies are thinking? Here’s your chance to ask the manufacturers about their favorite figures and statues. Panelists include David Scroggy (Dark Horse), Chuck Ticera (Diamond Select Toys), Eric “Cornboy” Mayes (4 Horsemen), Kevin Winnick (president of Toy2R USA), Joe Petrollese (Tonner Doll), Clayborne Moore (CS Moore), Corrine Robinson (McFarlane Toys), and Scott Neitlich (Mattel). Room 32AB
Categories: Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Comic Books

11:00-12:30 Disney: 3D Panel— Walt Disney Pictures presents key filmmakers, select cast members and previously unseen footage from its upcoming slate, including Disney’s A Christmas Carol, Alice In Wonderland and Tron. Special guests include Robert Zemeckis, Tim Burton, Sean Bailey, Steve Lisberger, and moderator Patton Oswalt. Hall H
Categories: Animation | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy

11:15-12:15 The Middleman Cast Reunion and Lost Episode Table Read— Creator Javier Grillo-Marxuach (Lost) and the complete cast—including Matt Keeslar, Natalie Morales, Brit Morgan, Mary Pat Gleason, Jake Smollett, Mark Sheppard, Brendan Hines, Sarah Watson, Jordan Rosenberg, Margaret Dunlap, and Andy Reaser—reunite to celebrate the DVD release of The Middleman: The Complete Series from Shout! Factory, with an exclusive table read of the lost 13th episode, The Doomsday Armageddon Apocalypse, which was never produced for television but is now available as a graphic novel from Viper Comics. Room 6A
Categories: Comic Books | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

11:30-12:30 Spotlight on Brom— Marvel at this multimedia presentation by dark fantasy artist—and Comic-Con special guest—Brom (Dungeons and Dragons, Magic the Gathering, WOW, The Plucker), chronicling his earliest artistic endeavors up to his latest projects, featuring many never-before-seen images and lots of behind-the-scenes material, followed by a Q&A with the audience. Room 3
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Science Fiction & Fantasy

11:30-12:30 Archie Comics: Archie Marries Veronica— It’s the wedding of the century, but that is just the start, with plenty of surprise announcements about the future of Archie Comics, including the latest news about Archie on television and in feature films! Panelists include legendary The Dark Knight movie producer and Archie writer Michael Uslan, new Archie Comics CEO Jon Goldwater, iVerse CEO Michael Murphy, IDW Publishing COO Greg Goldstein, Archie Comics president/director of circulation Fred Mausser, and Archie Comics vice president/managing editor Mike Pellerito. The panel is moderated by Archie’s public relations coordinator Rik Offenberger and features a Q&A session. An “Archie Marries Veronica” poster will be given to everyone attending the panel. Room 4
Categories: Animation | Comic Books | Kids | Movies | Television

11:30-12:30 World of Warcraft: Epic Loot— Get your game on outside of Azeroth! Join a panel of Blizzard Entertainment decision makers along with their proud licensed partners for an all-out discussion/unveiling of World of Warcraft–inspired product awesomeness. Moderated by Cory Jones, Blizzard Entertainment’s director of global business development & licensing. In attendance: Chris Metzen (Blizzard Entertainment sr. VP of creative development), Nick Carpenter (Blizzard Entertainment cinematic creative director), Hank Kanalz (VP/GM of WildStorm and World of Warcraft monthly editor), Troy Lewter (Tokyopop editor on the Warcraft manga), Scott Gaeta (Upper Deck director of new product development and organized play), Margeaux Doremus Sullivan (Upper Deck brand manager on World of Warcraft minis), and Sean Gailey (J!nx creative director). Room 6BCF
Categories: Anime & Manga | Comic Books | Games | Science Fiction & Fantasy

11:30-12:30 Hasbro: G.I. Joe— The Hasbro design and marketing teams—Aaron Archer and Michelino Paolino (Hasbro Design), and Jeff Labovitz (Hasbro Marketing), discuss the upcoming release of the G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra movie, the new toy line hitting shelves, the new video game, and much more! This panel will include special guests that you won’t want to miss, plus Q&A time. Room 7AB
Categories: Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Comic Books | Movies

11:30-12:30 Spotlight on Leinil Francis Yu— Join Comic-Con special guest Leinil Francis Yu for this free-for-all discussion with fans and aspiring artists about global warming, the Swine flu pandemic, and of course, comics. A quick drawing demonstration, Q&A with fans, and tips on how to make a killer portfolio and break in to comics—all in one hour! Room 8
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Superheroes

11:30-1:00 Comics Arts Conference Session #2: Comics Theory— Dru H. Jeffries (Concordia University) argues that Zack Snyder’s film 300 mimics the form of comics by manipulating film styles, particularly slow motion. Neil Cohn (Emaki Productions) presents the results of psychology experiments investigating how our minds make sense of the sequence of images in comics. David B. Olsen (St. Louis University) uses examples that include Winsor McCay, Paul Pope, and Alan Moore to demonstrate how we negotiate the rhythm of comics reading. Room 30AB
Categories: Comic Books | Comics Arts Conference | Movies

11:45-12:45 DC: Superman: Two Worlds— Torn between New Krypton and Earth, the Man of Steel has only just begun his latest adventure. You’ve seen the stories: a new planet of Kryptonians; scores of super-powered beings. The people behind Superman’s future are here to face the most trying times in his life. Meet the talented folks behind Superman as they give you a glimpse of what is in store for our favorite Super-family. Featuring Superman group editor Matt Idelson, writers Geoff Johns (Adventure Comics, Superman: Secret Origins), Greg Rucka (Action Comics), James Robinson (Superman), Sterling Gates (Supergirl), Renato Guedes (Superman), and more! Room 6DE
Categories: Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Superheroes

12:00-1:00 Spotlight on Bryan Lee O’Malley— Comic-Con special guest Bryan Lee O’Malley (winner of the Doug Wright, Joe Shuster, and Harvey Awards) talks with legendary comics scholar Scott McCloud (Understanding Comics, Zot!) about Bryan’s groundbreaking slice-of-life graphic novel series Scott Pilgrim. From its genesis to the production of the upcoming film version, O’Malley speaks frankly about where Scott Pilgrim came from and where the series is going from here. With a fan Q&A to close the discussion, this is the must attend event of Comic-Con 2009! Room 5AB
Categories: Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

12:00-1:00 Bongo Comics Sneak Peek— Bongo Comics offers a mouth-watering preview of upcoming projects featuring The Simpsons and Futurama. Managing editor Terry Delegeane and creative director Bill Morrison host this 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 Futurama Comics and what to expect in Simpsons Comics. Plus, Sammy Harkham (Kramer’s Ergot) and Ben Jones (Paper Rad) will be on hand to talk about their wholly unique approach to The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror! And special guest and world famous cartoonist Sergio Aragonés will explain to all just what he’s doing on the Bongo panel. This is a “must-attend” panel for all fans of The Simpsons and Futurama and anyone looking for a place to sit down! Room 10
Categories: Animation | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Humor & Satire | Television

12:00-1:00 Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey— Key production personnel and cast members discuss the making of Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey, the 3D, CGI Large Format film that combines beautiful animated sequences with actual space imagery captured during seven ongoing NASA and NASA/ESA space missions. Featuring a stellar voice cast that includes Neil Armstrong, Chris Pine, Samuel L. Jackson, Hayden Christensen, Amanda Peet, Robert Picardo, Jason Alexander, Tom Kenny, Sandra Oh, Brent Spiner, James Earl Jones, Williams Shatner, Mark Hamill, Doug Jones, Abigail Breslin and Gary Graham, Quantum Quest has been endorsed by the X Prize Organization, the International Space University, Challenge Center for Space Science Education, and the Young Astronauts Council. Producer, screenwriter, and co-director Dr. Harry Kloor, whose writing credits include Star Trek: Voyager, the animated series Godzilla, and Earth: Final Conflict, is joined by co-director Daniel St. Pierre (co-director, Everyone’s Hero, production designer, A Shark’s Tale, art director, Tarzan), space scientists, and key cast members. The panel will offer new work-in-progress clips and an in-depth exploration of the science behind the film. Ballroom 20
Categories: Movies

12:00-2:00 CBLDF Master Session: The Painter’s Process with Jill Thompson and Charles Vess— Bring your sketchbook and your questions to this first-hand view of the creative process of two of comics’ greatest painters! Jill Thompson (Magic Trixie) and Charles Vess (Sandman) take you step by step through the painting process at this live art demonstration. Witness how each artist brings a painting to life on the big screen. The original art from this session will be auctioned off on Saturday night in the CBLDF’s auction! Room 30CDE
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Seminars & Workshops

12:00-1:00 Drawn to Life: 20 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes— Join legendary Disney Animation producer Don Hahn, famed Disney animator Glen Keane, creator of Aladdin’s Genie Eric Goldberg, director/teacher/animator Tom Sito, and Masked Avenger Studios owner and sculptor Ruben Procopio for a discussion of the life and influence of Disney mentor, trainer, and artist Walt Stanchfield. Room 32AB
Categories: Animation | Art and Illustration | Movies | Tributes

12:30-2:00 Comic-Con in the ’70s— In its first decade Comic-Con was put on by a dedicated group of volunteers who managed to build a national reputation for the show. How did they get those great guests? Are those stories about the shark repellant in the El Cortez pool really true? Hear from the committee members who have all the inside info on what those early years were like: Wendy All, Maeheah Alzmann, Richard Butner, Vicky Kelso-Goulart, Gene Henderson, and Charlene Brinke Stevens, with Jackie Estrada as moderator. Room 2
Categories: 40th Anniversary | Fandom

12:30-1:30 Crime: Usual and Unusual— The heart of crime fiction is a crime committed against people or institutions—but the range of subgenres is diverse and fascinating. Panelists: Max Allan Collins (The Goliath Bone), Jeffrey J. Mariotte (Cold Black Hearts), Alexander Irvine (Buyout), Gregg Hurwitz (Trust No One), Thomas Greanias (The Atlantis Revelation), and Kat Richardson (Vanished) cover traditional mysteries, espionage, paranormal mystery, and more. Moderator: Maryelizabeth Hart, Mysterious Galaxy. Room 3
Categories: Comic Books | Horror and Suspense | Writers & Writing

12:30-1:30 Indie Comics Marketing 101— Too Much Coffee Man’s Shannon Wheeler has gone from minicomics to self-publishing to Dark Horse and now to The New Yorker. Heidi MacDonald runs the taste-making comic industry must-read blog The Beat for Publisher’s Weekly. Marketing director Chip Mosher is part of the team that has helped rocket BOOM! into the Top 10. All of them know a thing or two about marketing indie comics, and they join forces on this wide-ranging panel where they reveal their secrets! Moderated by former manager of development and content at MySpace and architect of MySpace Comic Books, Sam Humphries. Room 4
Categories: Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops | Webcomics

12:30-1:30 Richard Hatch: Battlestar Retrospective— Moderated by actor/author Richard Hatch (Tom Zarek, Capt Apollo, author: So Say We All), with Bear McCreary (Battlestar, Eureka, Caprica composer), Michael Tayler (Battlestar, Caprica, Star Trek writer/producer), Kevin Grazier (Battlestar, Eureka, science consultant) and special guests, this panel provides a review, discussion and Q&A of Battlestar’s past four seasons and dramatic ending. Includes the new BG 30th trailer. Room 6A
Categories: Fandom | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

12:30-1:30 Hasbro: Transformers 2— Want to see what’s new with Transformers? Hasbro’s design and marketing teams—Aaron Archer (Hasbro Brand IP Development), Jared Wade and Eric Siebenaler (Hasbro Design), and Michael Ballog and Matt Proulx (Hasbro Marketing)— present all the latest toys from the new Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen line. And get a sneak peek into what Hasbro is doing to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Transformers in 2010! Room 7AB
Categories: Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Animation | Movies | Television

12:30-1:30 Dante’s Inferno— Jonathan Knight (executive producer, EA), Ash Huang (art director), Brandon Auman (writer), Christos Gage (writer), and Diego Latorre (artist) talk about the adaptation of this literary classic into pop culture. They will discuss how they translated the various aspects of The Divine Comedy into a video game, an animated feature, and a comic series, where they were faithful and where they invented, and how each of the mediums differs. Also get a peak at EA’s game in development, and also watch the world premiere trailer for the animated feature Dante’s Inferno co-produced by EA and Starz Media. Room 8
Categories: Animation | Comic Books | Games | Movies | Writers & Writing

12:45-1:45 Disney: Stan Lee’s Time Jumper— Don’t miss Stan Lee and Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment as they present a special sneak peek of their new digital motion comic series Time Jumper. Comic book legend Stan Lee is joined by Natasha Henstridge (one of the character voices in Time Jumper), Omar Ponce (writer), and Anthony Diecidue (artist) for a Q&A session. Room 6BCF
Categories: Animation | Comic Books | Webcomics

12:45-2:00 20th Century Fox and James Cameron present Avatar— In this first public screening of footage in 3D from his much-anticipated action/adventure/fantasy, James Cameron, producer Jon Landau, and cast members take you to a spectacular new world beyond imagination. Conceived 14 years ago and over four years in the making, Avatar breaks new ground in delivering a fully immersive, emotional story and reinvents the movie-going experience. Hall H
Categories: Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy

1:00-2:00 Spotlight on Kevin Eastman— TMNJ co-creator Kevin Eastman not only reflects on his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle years (with a preview his Comic-Con exclusive 25th Anniversary hardcover collection of favorite TMNT stories!), but also shares sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes teasers or trailers for his upcoming animated film projects—War of The Worlds: Goliath! and Underwhere—and introduces the new Tor Books Novel line Heavy Metal Pulp and the in-development Biz and Buzz animated series. Last but not least, Kevin will give you an update on the new David Fincher/James Cameron–produced Heavy Metal film! Room 5AB
Categories: Animation | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Movies | Television

1:00-2:00 Mondo Marvel— From the Marvel U to the Ultimate U and everything in between, the top talent is on hand to talk about all of your favorite heroes and villains, as well as make a few surprise announcements! Panelists include Jason Aaron (Wolverine: Weapon X), Dennis Calero (X Men Noir), Matt Fraction (Invincible Iron Man), Paul Tobin (Models, INC), Frank Tieri (Dark Reign: Lethal Legion), Steve Wacker (Spider-Man editor), and Jim McCann (New Avengers: The Reunion). Room 6DE
Categories: Comic Books | Superheroes

1:00-2:00 Spotlight on Jimmy Gownley— How did Comic-Con special guest Jimmy Gownley (Amelia Rules!) go from creating comics in his basement to landing an eight-book deal with Simon & Schuster? Find out how he and his marketing-director wife, Karen Gownley, turned a pipedream into reality, and how you can do it, too! Session will include Q&A. Room 10
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

1:00-2:00 How-To Session: Denise Vasquez— See the Onsite Newsletter for more information on Denise’s How-To Session. Room 18
Categories: Seminars & Workshops

1:00-2:00 Comics Arts Conference Session #3: Nell Brinkley and the Brinkley Girls— Trina Robbins, comics creator, historian, and author of the recent book The Brinkley Girls, presents insights into the work and personal history of Nell Brinkley. Brinkley was once one of the most well known cartoonists in America, and her creations—the beautiful Brinkley Girls—appeared everywhere from the Sunday comics to the Ziegfeld Follies. Room 30AB
Categories: Art and Illustration | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comics Arts Conference | Writers & Writing

1:00-2:00 Tetsuo for the 21st Century— The maverick filmmaker Shinya Tsukamoto (Tetsuo), will have a premiere talk on his secret plans for the movie tentatively called Tetsuo Project. Tsukamoto will reveal the details of this first English language installment of Tetsuo, the third legendary cyberpunk action thriller from Tokyo. Be among the first to witness the official title announcement as well as an exclusive sneak peek at the movie—only for the Comic-Con audience! Room 32AB
Categories: Anime & Manga | Movies

1:15-2:15 USA Network’s Psych— James Roday (Shawn Spencer), Dulé Hill (Burton “Gus” Guster), Maggie Lawson (Juliet O’Hara), Tim Omundson (Carlton Lassiter), Corbin Bernsen (Henry Spencer), Steve Franks (creator and executive producer), and the entire creative team give you an all-access behind-the-scenes pass to the USA Network hit original series Psych. Stars and producers will share personal stories and answer questions about the show’s genesis, episodic development, and production process. Video presentations created exclusively for Comic-Con will feature never-before-seen outtakes, a Season 4 exclusive preview, and a special video-diary segment that will take panel attendees inside the daily production process via the perspective of a staff writer, the Vancouver production team, and series star James Roday as he prepares to shoot a scene for the upcoming season. Plus, two lucky fans will find fame and fortune when they win the honor of having a guest character in a future episode named after them! You can also expect giveaways, exclusive merchandise, and a first-run preview copy of the upcoming Psych graphic novel from Oni Press! Ballroom 20
Categories: Comic Books | Humor & Satire | Television

1:30-2:30 Dumbrella— Artists from Dumbrella, one of the most popular online comic 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 Meredith Gran (Octopus Pie), and Chris Yates (Reprographics) about anything your Internet heart desires. Room 3
Categories: Comic Books | Webcomics

1:30-2:30 Spotlight on Jerry Robinson— One of the true legends of comics, Comic-Con special guest Jerry Robinson is a writer, artist, comics historian, museum show curator, and creator rights activist. Noted comics writer and editor Mark Waid (BOOM! Studios editor-in-chief) interviews Jerry about his life in comics, from his early days on Batman to his founding of the Bill Finger Excellence in Comic Writing Award. Room 4
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Writers & Writing

1:30-2:30 Avatars, Icons, and Antiheroes— The new hero is the anti-hero: twisted fairy tale icons, magicians turned hitmen, and avatars of both Good and Evil are cold-blooded killers and worse in the pages of these writers’ imaginations. Moderator Diana Gill (executive editor of Eos Books) leads a discussion on this phenomenon with Kevin J. Anderson (Enemies & Allies), Brom (The Child Thief), Richard Kadrey (Sandman Slim), Vicki Pettersson (City of Souls), S. J. Day (Eve of Chaos), and Holly Black (Ironside). Room 7AB
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Writers & Writing

1:30-2:30 LEGO Star Wars Visual Dictionary— Ten years ago in a galaxy not far away LEGO and Star Wars came together! Find out how such an amazing partnership was formed from Jonathan Rinzler (executive editor, Lucasfilm) and Rob Johnson (art director, The LEGO Group), while Simon Beecroft (author and publishing manager, DK Publishing) doles out all sorts of information on the upcoming LEGO Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary. Collectors and fans won’t want to miss the unveiling of the exclusive LEGO Star Wars minifigure that will be released with the book on October 10. The first 50 attendees will receive DK swag and be entered to win a LEGO Star Wars set and a free copy of LEGO Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary upon its release. Room 8
Categories: Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Fandom | Kids | Science Fiction & Fantasy

1:45-2:45 Assassin’s Creed II: Video Games and Hollywood Converge— Yannis Mallat (CEO, Ubisoft Montreal), Pierre Raymond (president & head of operations, HYBRIDE Technologies, a VFX studio involved on 300, Sin City), and key team members discuss the convergence between Hollywood and video games, featuring the fastest-selling new franchise in video game history: Assassin’s Creed. This session touches on the evolution of creating and distributing content while highlighting the bridge between two different spheres—gaming and entertainment—to create the Assassins Creed II universe. Plus, panelists reveal new information on the new Assassin’s Creed II series coming out this fall. Room 6A
Categories: Games | Television

2:00-3:00 Spotlight on Bill Sienkiewicz— The Eisner Award–winning writer/artist is a Comic-Con special guest. Bill Sienkiewicz is best known for his comics work such as Elektra: Assassin and Stray Toasters, but he’s also a film designer and writer/director. Bill talks about his career in this special Spotlight panel. Room 2
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Writers & Writing

2:00-3:00 A Darker Shade of Ink: Crime and Noir in Comics— Crime comics are back with a bang! Darwyn Cooke (Parker: The Hunter), Greg Rucka (Gotham Central), and Steve Lieber (Whiteout) join moderator/noted mystery and comics writer Max Allan Collins (The Road to Perdition) to talk about the new incarnations of crime and noir in comics. Room 5AB
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Horror and Suspense | Writers & Writing

2:00-3:00 Sony Pictures Animation: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs— In 2009, Columbia Pictures’ and Sony Pictures Animation’s Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs will be the most delicious event since macaroni met cheese. Inspired by the classic children’s book, the film focuses on a town where food begins to fall from the sky like rain. Bill Hader (Saturday Night Live, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian) is the voice of Flint Lockwood, a young inventor who dreams of creating something that will improve everyone’s life. Anna Faris (The House Bunny) takes on the role of Sam Sparks, a weathergirl covering the phenomenon who hides her intelligence behind a perky exterior. James Caan plays Tim Lockwood, Flint’s technophobic father. SNL’s Andy Samberg plays Brent, the town bully who has plagued Flint since childhood. Bruce Campbell plays Mayor Shelbourne, who figures out that Flint’s invention can put the town, and more importantly himself, on the map, and Mr. T plays the by-the-rules town cop, Earl Devereaux. Bobb’e J. Thompson (Role Models) is Carl Devereaux, Earl’s son. Appearing in person: Anna Faris, Bill Hader, Andy Samberg, Bobb’e J. Thompson, and directors Chris Miller and Phil Lord. Room 6BCF
Categories: Animation | Humor & Satire | Kids | Movies

2:00-3:00 ComicBase— Don’t miss out on this once-a-year opportunity to hear creator Pete Bickford chat about ComicBase’s special program features, offer tips and tricks, and give you 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 the latest version of ComicBase. 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 by and get your ComicBase questions personally answered by Programmin’ Pete Bickford. Room 10
Categories: Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops

2:00-3:00 How-To Session: Jason Cruse— Jason T. Kruse is not only a veteran of the prestigious CalArts in sunny Southern California, he is also a maker of fine comic books, including The World of Quest. Jason has worked in animation on such films as The Barnyard, Stuart Little, and Cats and Dogs, as well as animating and storyboarding various pilots for companies such as Disney and Nickelodeon. At Quicksilver he was the character animator on four games, including the recently released Master of Orion 3 and Cashflow 101 and 202, as well as numerous games for the U.S. Army. He works at Helixe Studio outside of Boston on the handheld Nintendo adaptations of Pixar’s next films. Jason will cover the creative process for making comic books for young readers. Room 18
Categories: Animation | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops

2:00-3:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #4: Myth and the Superhero— With examples drawn from the superman mythos and the Crisis of Infinite Earths, Angela Ndalianis (University of Melbourne) explores the intertextuality that has transformed superhero narratives into multiple myths. W. Stephen Combs (Wittenberg University) debunks the idea of superheroes as modern mythology, and suggests instead they should be viewed as a part of America’s folklore. Richard Harrison (Mount Royal College) traces the way Bill Finger’s origins of Superman transformed the mythos and mythology of Krypton and the Man of Steel. Room 30AB
Categories: Comic Books | Comics Arts Conference | Superheroes

2:00-3:30 Animation on a Shoestring— Learn the down and dirty tricks on how to create your own animation studio on a low budget, from the author of Animation on a Shoestring. Find out how to assemble the equipment you will need, how to build or buy equipment, and what software to use to edit and composite your project. Featuring Larry Loc, animation educator. Room 30CDE
Categories: Animation | Anime & Manga | Seminars & Workshops

2:00-3:00 Costume Designers: Designing for Television Production— Characters created by writers and comic book illustrators are made real for the screen via the artistry of costume designers. Meet the women and men who are the costume designers on this year’s most popular television productions. Panel moderator Phillip Boutte Jr. (costume illustrator and member of the Costume Designers Guild, Local 892) hosts costume designers Shawna Trpcic (Dollhouse), Roland Sanchez (Lost), Amanda Friedland (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), and Audrey Fisher (True Blood). Room 32AB
Categories: Costuming | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

2:15-3:15 Spotlight on Geoff Johns— He is the mastermind behind the smash-hit, critically acclaimed Flash: Rebirth and DC’s most anticipated book of the year, Green Lantern: Blackest Night. Wondering what makes Geoff Johns tick? Don’t miss this panel hosted by Eddie Berganza, group edito–DCU, interviewing one of the most exciting talents in comics. Room 6DE
Categories: Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Superheroes | Writers & Writing

2:15-3:15 Summit Entertainment— Summit Entertainment presents a sneak peek of exclusive footage of some of its upcoming major film releases!
Astro boy—A classic superhero origin story set in a futuristic world, Astro Boy is an all-new CG-animated feature film about a young robot with incredible powers and his adventure-filled journey in search of his identity and destiny. Join Freddie Highmore and Kristen Bell as they premiere the final trailer for Astro Boy before it’s in theaters.

Sorority Row—When five sorority girls inadvertently cause the murder of one of their sisters in a prank gone wrong, they agree to keep the matter to themselves and never speak of it again, so they can get on with their lives. This proves easier said than done, when after graduation a mysterious killer goes after the five of them and anyone who knows their secret. Join the cast of Sorority Row as they debut footage from the film exclusive to Comic-Con 2009.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon—Summit Entertainment is proud to present the panel for The Twilight Saga: New Moon, the highly anticipated sequel to last year’s box office smash Twilight. Surprise members of the cast will answer your questions about the second film in the series and debut never-before-seen footage from the new film.

Hall H
Categories: Animation | Anime & Manga | Horror and Suspense | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy

2:30-3:30 Archaia/Roddenberry Productions: Days Missing— Archaia Studios Press is now simply known as Archaia! Learn about the sci-fi titles the publisher has in store, such as Titanium Rain (with creators Josh Finney and Kat Rocha), Robotika (with creator Alex Sheikman), and Starkweather (with writer David Rodriguez and artist Patrick McEvoy). Then meet the creative dream team behind Days Missing, the new sci-fi comic miniseries from Archaia and Roddenberry Productions, the legendary company that brought you Star Trek. Get a sneak peek of exclusive covers and art, and learn more about storylines for upcoming issues. Panelists include Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth from Roddenberry Productions; Archaia’s Stephen Christy, Mark Smylie and Rob Levin; Chris Burnham (X-Men: Divided We Stand); Ian Edginton (Stormwatch); Phil Hester (The Darkness); David Hine (Batman: Battle for the Cowl); Frazer Irving (Batman and Robin); and Matz(The Killer). All attendees will receive a free copy of Days Missing#1! Room 3
Categories: Comic Books | Science Fiction & Fantasy

2:30-3:30 Spotlight on Gene Yang— Only three years ago, Comic-Con special guest Gene Yang (American Born Chinese) was making his reputation on minicomics. Now he’s an award-winning graphic novelist. Hear him in conversation with fellow comic artist and collaborator Derek Kirk Kim (The Eternal Smile). Room 4
Categories: Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

2:30-3:30 DVD/Blu-ray Producers 2009: Now in Glorious High-Definition!— Bill Hunt, Adam Jahnke, and Todd Doogan (of The Digital Bits.com), talk about the latest DVD and Blu-ray developments with some of the leading special-edition producers in Hollywood! Panelists include Robert Meyer Burnett (The Hills Run Red, Free Enterprise: The Wrath of Shatner), Laura Gross (Coraline, 9), Charles de Lauzirika (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood), David Naylor (Fringe, Bad Lieutenant), and Cliff Stephenson (Crank 2: High Voltage, Gamer). You can expect inside talk, a Q&A, and a sneak peek at great upcoming discs! Room 7AB
Categories: Animation | Anime & Manga | Fandom | Movies | Television

2:30-3:30 Sergio and Mark— They’re back! Sergio Aragonés and Mark Evanier reunite for their yearly discussion on all things Groo and beyond. Joining them are their Groo-horts Stan Sakai and Tom Luth. Room 8
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Humor & Satire | Writers & Writing

2:30-3:30 USA Network’s Burn Notice— Bruce Campbell (Sam Axe), Matt Nix (creator and executive producer) and Alfredo Barrios, Jr. (co-executive producer) host a panel discussion and answer questions about the creative process of evolving an embryonic idea into a finished episode of cable’s #1 hit show. Fans will gain an intimate look inside the world of Burn Notice, complete with war stories from the writer’s room and filming on location in Miami. Exclusive video content will include tips on how to survive Comic-Con from your favorite burned spy, Michael Westen (played by Jeffrey Donovan), highlights from the previous two seasons, and an exclusive sneak peek at future season 3 episodes, including the half-season finale and beyond. Ballroom 20
Categories: Humor & Satire | Television

3:00-4:00 Spotlight on Brian Herbert— The famed science fiction author (and son of Dune creator Frank Herbert) talks about his career and what’s next. Brian Herbert is a Comic-Con special guest. Room 2
Categories: Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Writers & Writing

3:00-4:00 Bill Plympton: King of Indie Animation— Animator Bill Plympton (Idiots and Angels) presents Horn Dog, the fourth smash installment in his famed, Oscar-nominated “Dog” series. Bill will screen some of his new animated shorts, including Mexican Standoff and Santa: The Fascist Years and present some early scenes from his work-in-progress feature film Hanky Panky. Bill will also be available for Q&A after the screening, and all attendees will get a free Bill Plympton drawing. Room 5AB
Categories: Animation | Art and Illustration | Humor & Satire | Movies

3:00-4:00 Robot Chicken with Titan Maximum— Seth Green (co-creator, Robot Chicken and Titan Maximum), Matthew Senreich (co-creator, Robot Chicken and Titan Maximum), Tom Root (head writer, Robot Chicken/co-creator, Titan Maximum) and Doug Goldstein (head writer, Robot Chicken) with Chris McKay, Breckin Meyer, Kevin Shinick, Mike Fasolo, and Dan Milano discuss the popular Adult Swim series Robot Chicken. They will also discuss the upcoming new stop-motion animated series Titan Maximum, slated to premiere on Adult Swim this fall. Join this meet-up of show creators, writers and voice actors for a Q&A, moderated by Keith Crofford, vice president of Adult Swim production. Room 6A
Categories: Animation | Humor & Satire | Television

3:00-4:00 Oni Press: Panelmonium 2009— Get up close and personal with trend setting indie comic powerhouse Oni Press. Join in the Q&A with your favorite Oni creators, including Ross Campbell (Wet Moon), Jamie S. Rich (You Have Killed Me), Greg Rucka (Whiteout), Bryan Lee O’Malley (Scott Pilgrim), and Chris Schweizer (The Crogan Adventures). Get sneak peeks at upcoming Oni projects, news on Oni Press fan initiatives, free Oni comics, prizes, and more! Guaranteed by Oni Press’s totally biased employees to be “the most fun you’ll ever have at a panel.” Room 10
Categories: Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

3:00-4:00 How-To Session: Tom T. Nguyen— Tom T. Nguyen is a full-time professional artist and author. He works mostly for DC Comics and does pin-up art. Tom has created a series of how-to videos on YouTube covering the comic book art creation process. He will be covering the basics of how to ink a comic book page. Room 18
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops

3:00-4:00 Masters of the Web— For the third year in a row the most popular genre and movie websites are coming together to discuss how new media have affected moviemaking, what it takes to run a popular site, and much more in a panel discussion and Q&A session. Participants include Robert Sanchez (IESB.net), Ryan Rotten (Shocktilyoudrop.com), Mike Sampson (Joblo.com), Jeremy Smith (Aintitcoolnews.com), Brad Miska (Bloody-Disgusting.com), Drew McWeeny (Hitfix.com), Devin Faraci (CHUD.com), Paul Christensen (Movieweb.com), Wilson Morales (Blackfilm.com/AOL Black Voices), Vic Holtreman (Screenrant.com), and George Roush (Latinoreview.com). Director Kevin Munroe (TMNT, Dead of Night) moderates, with Brandon Routh and Sam Huntington on hand to preview an exclusive sneak peek of their new film Dead of Night, based on the Dylan Dog comic books. Room 32AB
Categories: Comic Books | Fandom | Movies

3:15-4:15 Capcom 2009 Lineup— Capcom’s premiere producers present sneak peeks at the most anticipated games of the year. Featuring Jun Takeuchi (Lost Planet 2), Morgan Gray (Dark Void), Daryl Allison (Spyborgs), Motohide Eshiro (Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth), and Masachika Kawata (Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles) and moderated by Capcom-Unity.com’s Seth Killian. See exclusive gameplay footage and behind-the-scenes making-of features, followed by a Q&A session! Room 6BCF
Categories: Games

3:30-4:30 Evolution of Fantasy— Harry Potter, His Dark Materials, Twilight—the great mega-selling series of recent years have all ended. What will the next one look like? Or is it already here? How is fantasy evolving? Panelists Jacqueline Carey (Naamah’s Kiss), Lynn Flewelling (Shadows Return), Patrick Rothfuss (The Name Of The Wind), Thomas Sniegoski (The Fallen), Greg Van Eekhout (Norse Code), and Cindy Pon (Silver Phoenix : Beyond the Kingdom of Xia) answer questions posed by moderator Lev Grossman (The Magicians). Room 3
Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy | Writers & Writing

3:30-4:30 Digital Comics Now!— Digital comics are happening right now. Not tomorrow, but right now. Join a panel of the best and brightest in the new wave of digital comics in a wide-ranging discussion of everything from comics on the iPhone to new digital comic platforms, motion comics, webcomics, and day-and-date-releases. Big announcements will be made! Panelists include Michael Murphey (CEO iVerse), David Steinberger (CEO of comiXology), Rantz Hosely (CEO LongBox), Chris Folino (VP, Catastrophic Comics), and Chip Mosher (marketing director, BOOM! Studios). Room 4
Categories: Comic Books | Webcomics

3:30-4:30 Marvel: Breaking into the House of Ideas— Are you a writer or artist? Ever dream of working for Marvel? Do you find yourself thinking “I could do that…if I knew how!” Well, here’s your chance! Join C. B. Cebulski, Marvel’s talent liaison, and panelists writer Jeph Loeb (Ultimatum), Marvel editor Charlie Beckerman, artist Mike Choi (X-Force), colorist Christina Strain (Runaways), and more to find out the answers on how to get your foot in the door at every level in the creative process and how to make your job Marvel! Room 6DE
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops | Writers & Writing

3:30-4:30 J. Michael Straczynski: Professional Writing— Ideas are a dime a dozen. Executing those ideas (instead of assassinating them) is what separates pro from wannabe. But only you know what steps you need to take to get there, so if you show up for this talk, bring questions to ask J. Michael Straczynski, who has created a massively successful cross-platform writing career in movies, television, comics, and print. Room 7AB
Categories: Animation | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Movies | Television | Writers & Writing

3:30-5:00 Golden and Silver Age of Comics— A Comic-Con tradition: the yearly gathering and discussion of the clan of some of the finest comic book creators ever to put pen or typewriter to paper! This year’s panel—moderated by Mark Evanier—includes Comic-Con special guests Murphy Anderson (Hawkman), Gene Colan (Tomb of Dracula), Ramona Fradon (Aquaman), Russ Heath (The Haunted Tank), Jack Katz (The First Kingdom), Jerry Robinson (Batman), and Leonard Starr (Mary Perkins On Stage). Both Katz and Starr, known best for their underground comix and comic strip work, respectively, also worked in comics in the Golden and Silver Ages. The stories these people can tell are the stuff of legend…be a part of the yearly magic of this panel. Room 8
Categories: Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances

3:30-4:30 Seduction of the Innocent— No, it’s not the risen corpse of Dr. Fredric Wertham, it’s the superstar San Diego combo that rocked Comic-Con in the ’80s and ’90s. Together reminiscing, debuting their new con-exclusive CD, and taking questions on their comics, show biz, and musical careers are Bill Mumy (Babylon 5), Max Allan Collins (Road to Perdition), Steve Leialoha (Fables), and John “Chris” Christensen Songs from the Xenozoic Age). [We regret to announce that Miguel Ferrer, a founding member of SOTI, is unable to appear because of a filming commitment.] Room 30AB
Categories: 40th Anniversary | Comic Books | Fandom

3:30-4:30 Andrew Pepoy’s Professional Networking Seminar— Get set for a weekend of pressing the flesh and selling yourself with this popular Comic-Con seminar! Being talented isn’t enough—getting work and continuing to work in the comic book and comic strip publishing worlds often means knowing the right people as well. Inker and writer/artist Andrew Pepoy (Fables, The Simpsons)— celebrating his 20th anniversary in the business—brings back his popular seminar to help teach you how to get out there and use Comic-Con to its fullest networking potential. Take advantage of this early time slot to put some of Andrew’s good advice to work over the next few days! Room 30CDE
Categories: Anime & Manga | Art and Illustration | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops | Webcomics | Writers & Writing

3:30-4:30 Joe Dante: The Hole— Legendary director Joe Dante (Gremlins 1 & 2, Innerspace, Explorers, The Howling) makes his return to the genre he knows best with the 3D thriller The Hole. Three kids come face to face with their darkest fears after they unlock a bottomless hole in the basement that makes their nightmares come to life. Join Dante—along with actress Haley Bennett (The Haunting of Molly Hartley)—as he discusses his return to thrillers, working in 3D, and The Hole. Hall H
Categories: Horror and Suspense | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy

3:45-4:45 Entertainment Weekly: Wonder Women: Female Power Icons in Pop Culture— EW will moderate a conversation with Sigourney Weaver (Avatar), Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost), Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars), and other stars about the actresses who have redefined the rules and the female characters that have shattered the glass ceiling for all women. Basically: a discussion with women who kick ass. Ballroom 20
Categories: Fandom | Horror and Suspense | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

4:00-5:00 Spotlight on Richard Thompson— Comic-Con special guest Richard Thompson (Cul de Sac, Richard’s Poor Almanac) has been doing the syndicated daily comic strip Cul de Sac for less than two years and it’s already gotten raves from Bill Watterson, Art Spiegelman, and comics fans just about everywhere. Join him as he shows his work, answers questions and proves he never sang with Fairport Convention. Room 2
Categories: Art and Illustration | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Humor & Satire

4:00-5:00 Spotlight on Gail Simone— One of the most popular writers working in comics today, Gail Simone is a Comic-Con special guest. Mark Waid interviews Gail about her work in comics, including Wonder Woman, Secret Six, and her much beloved run on Birds of Prey. Room 5AB
Categories: Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Superheroes | Writers & Writing

4:00-5:00 Top Shelf in 2009— With League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Vol. III) and the new edition of Lost Girls, plus The Surrogates movie starring Bruce Willis hitting theaters on September 25, and literary titles such as Essex County, Alec, and Far Arden being released, it’s going to be an amazing year at Top Shelf. Come talk with publisher Chris Staros and creators Robert Venditti (The Surrogates), Jeff Lemire (Essex County), Kevin Cannon (Far Arden), and Nate Powell (Swallow Me Whole) to find out all the details. Room 10
Categories: Comic Books | Movies

4:00-5:00 How-To Session: Zander Cannon— Zander Cannon has been working in comics since 1993 and has done both writing and art duties on comics about knights, robots, spacemen, cops, superheroes, ghosts, and mythical creatures. His presentation will cover how to produce comics and other books as an independent publisher. With Kevin Cannon (no relation) he runs the studio Big Time Attic, which focuses on educational comics for book publishers. Room 18
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops

4:00-5:00 Tipping Point for LGBT Portrayals in Comics— LGBT issues have taken a central place in the cultural zeitgeist. How has this issue been illustrated in comics? This year, two lesbian characters—Batwoman and The Question—became co-leads of DC Comics’ namesake title, Detective Comics. What is the long-term significance of this? Does it reflect greater acceptance of LGBT characters in comics, or is this an isolated event? Have we reached a tipping point? Patty Jeres (Prism co-president) moderates this intriguing discussion with panelists Greg Rucka (Detective Comics), Marc Andreyko (Manhunter), Judd Winick (Pedro and Me), Jose Villarrubia (The Mirror of Love), Scott Allie (Buffy Season 8), Mimi Cruz (retailer, Night Flight Comics, Salt Lake City, UT), and Matt Wagner (The Aerialist). Room 32AB
Categories: Comic Books

4:15-5:15 Cartoon Network: Chowder! The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack! Adventure Time with Finn and Jake!— This panel celebrates three of the best comedies from Cartoon Network Studios. First up is a sweet treat with Chowder, including special guests C. H. Greenblatt (creator) and Tara Strong (voice of Truffles). Then set sail with The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack and creator Thurop Van Orman (voice of Flapjack) and Steve Little (writer, voice of fan favorite Dr. Barber). Finally, hold onto your seats for a sneak peek of the new series Adventure Time with Finn and Jake with creator Pendelton Ward. It’s algebraic! Room 6A
Categories: Animation | Humor & Satire | Kids | Television

4:30-5:30 The Best and Worst Manga of 2008–2009— What was the best, worst and weirdest manga published in the last year? Sparks will fly as manga critics Deb Aoki (manga.about.com), Kai-Ming Cha (Publishers Weekly), Ed Chavez (marketing director, Vertical Inc.), Gia Manry (Anime Vice), Tom Spurgeon (The Comics Reporter), Jason Thompson (Manga: The Complete Guide), and Eva Volin (chair, Great Graphic Novels for Teens) give the thumbs up and thumbs down in this “Manga State of the Union Address.” It’s Siskel & Ebert, Overlooked Manga Festival, and a manga celebrity roast all in one! Room 3
Categories: Anime & Manga | Comic Books

4:30-5:30 Imagination in Illustration: a Brief History of Fantastic Art— Catch Comic-Con special guest Charles Vess’s intriguing visual presentation on the history of Fantastic Art (1850 to present day). Featuring his favorite English fairy tale artists, American pulp masters and visionary painters, many not found in textbooks. Prepare to be swept away. Room 4
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Science Fiction & Fantasy

4:30-5:30 The Halo Franchise: What’s Next— Frank O’Connor (franchise development director for Halo) will be joined by a number of special guests to discuss how Halo is evolving into a robust entertainment franchise and what’s coming in the future. Room 6BCF
Categories: Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Animation | Games | Movies

4:30-5:30 Workshop: Creating Creator-Owned Comics the Image Comics Way— Want to bring your own vision to comics? Learn how from the people who do it best! Image founder Jim Valentino (Shadowhawk) and Image luminaries Joe Kelly (I Kill Giants), John Layman (Chew), Jimmie Robinson (Bomb Queen), Steve Seagle (Soul Kiss), and Richard Starkings (Elephantmen) present an unprecedented workshop with an insider look at the creative process and tips on perfecting your pitch. This program will also include a Q&A session giving you the chance to directly talk to many pros who have made their dreams a reality! Room 7AB
Categories: Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops

4:30-5:30 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 (and now, LEGO too!) Publisher John Morrow and a bevy of authors and editors will take part in a video presentation, unveiling new products and offering exclusive previews of upcoming items! Room 30AB
Categories: Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Comic Books

4:30-5:30 Drawing Upon Reference— Ron Lemen (ImagineFX magazine) and Studio 2nd Street Group will cover the subject of photo reference and how to use it when you have to use it. This lecture will briefly cover the do’s and dont’s of copying photos for your illustration work and some basic guidelines for drawing an effective image. Room 30CDE
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops

4:45-5:45 Legend of the Seeker— A sneak peek at the highly anticipated second season of the action-adventure series Legend of the Seeker from executive producers Ken Biller (Star Trek: Voyager), Sam Raimi (Spider-Man), Rob Tapert (Xena), Ned Nalle (Hercules), and Josh Donen (Drag Me to Hell) and starring Craig Horner, Bridget Regan and Bruce Spence. Inspired by Terry Goodkind’s bestselling epic fantasy series The Sword of Truth, Richard, Kahlan and Zedd will soon discover that after defeating Darken Rahl, they inadvertently opened a rift into the underworld. Premiering in November, join a few of the executive producers, cast members, and Terry Goodkind for this moderated interview and audience Q&A session! Room 6DE
Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

4:45-5:15 Terry Gilliam’s The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus— Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of both Comic-Con and Monty Python, we welcome the sole American Python, the great animator and director Terry Gilliam (Time Bandits, Brazil, 12 Monkeys) to introduce you to his new film starring Christopher Plummer, Johnny Depp, Heath Ledger, Colin Farrell, Jude Law, Verne Troyer, Tom Waits, and Lily Cole. Dr. Parnassus is a fabulous anachronism, touring the streets of modern-day London in a horse-drawn carnival wagon accompanied by his beautiful daughter, devoted dwarf, and neophyte barker. On stage Parnassus plays a holy man whose Imaginarium can realize the innermost fantasies of all who dare to enter. Backstage, he is a drunkard, a gambler who centuries ago lost a wager with the Devil and must now pony up with his daughter once she turns sixteen. Tomorrow. Yet, there may still be hope for the Doctor and Valentina in the person of Tony, a well-dressed amnesic they rescue from a perilous fate and invite into their world of unrelenting magic and possibility. Hall H
Categories: Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy

5:00-6:00 The Pitching Hour— Michael Polis (CEO, WildBrain Ent, Yo Gabba Gabba), Jermaine Turner (director, Disney/ABC Cable Networks Group), Derek Hoffman (Donner Company, X-Men), Ford Gilmore (president, Illuminati Ent.), Paula Gould (PEG PR), and moderator Dan Evans (writer/development executive) take an idea from conception through production for various media. This process will include creating a pitch document, obtaining agents, and getting a pitch meeting. The panelists will explain, through hypothetical example and humorous stories, the process that new creators should adapt to make their way into the Hollywood creative battleground. Knowing that each project is unique, there will be a Q&A to allow the audience to really hone in on the solutions to obstacles they may encounter. Also on hand is Brendan McFeely (Kane Kessler, IP lawyer) to give creators insight on protecting their ideas as they navigate Hollywood! Room 2
Categories: Animation | Comics Law School | Movies | Seminars & Workshops | Television | Writers & Writing

5:00-6:00 DC JSA: The Great Society— DC’s legendary super-team enters a new era with top talent and explosive storylines in the second half of 2009! Get the inside scoop on everything JSA right here, including info on the exciting spin-off title Magog and the main series Justice Society of America from the creative minds behind the franchise. Hosted by DC’s senior group editor, Mike Carlin, with top talents Bill Willingham (JSA), Matt Sturges (JSA), Freddie Williams (Final Crisis Aftermath: Run), Amanda Conner (Power Girl), Jimmy Palmiotti (Power Girl), and more! Room 5AB
Categories: Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Superheroes

5:00-6:00 Spotlight on Lew Sayre Schwartz— One of the fan-favorite artists of Batman in the ’40s and ’50s, Lew Sayre Schwartz is a Comic-Con special guest. Schwartz left comics to forge an incredible career in animation, filmmaking, and advertising, for which he won numerous awards. Cartoonist and Bat-fan Batton Lash (Supernatural Law) interviews Lew about his life and times in comics and beyond. Room 8
Categories: Animation | Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Superheroes

5:00-6:00 Indie Cartoonist Survival Guide— With the dismal economic forecast not letting up, how does your average indie cartoonist manage to thrive? Join moderator Keith Knight (the Knight Life, the K Chronicles, (th)ink), as he and his peers share experiences of how they’ve managed to navigate the economic downturn. A must for all struggling cartoonists (and the folks who love them)! Featuring Shannon Wheeler (New Yorker, The Onion, Too Much Coffee Man), Lark Pien (Long Tail Kitty, colorist: American Born Chinese), Dave Kellett (Sheldon, How to Make Webcomics), Jim Mahfood (GRRL Scouts, 40 oz. Comics, Colt 45), Paul Friedrich (Onion Head Monster), and Miriam Libicki (Jobnik). Room 10
Categories: Art and Illustration | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Webcomics

5:00-6:00 Showtime: Dexter— Calling all Dexter fans! If you’re a Dexter fanatic and can’t wait for the new season, you don’t want to miss this killer panel! Moderator Ralph Garman (KROQ Entertainment Reporter) presides over a revealing interview and Q&A session with the stars and executive producers of Dexter. Plus, get an exclusive first look at clips from the new season! Featured panelists include series star/executive producer Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Julie Benz (Rita), Jennifer Carpenter (Deb), and executive producers John Goldwyn, Sara Colleton, Clyde Phillips, and Melissa Rosenberg. The new season premieres September 27 at 9:00 PM EST/PST only on Showtime! Ballroom 20
Categories: Horror and Suspense | Television

5:15-5:45 Overture Pictures: Pandorum— Don’t fear the end of the world. Fear what happens next. From the producers of the Resident Evil film franchise comes a terrifying thriller in which two crewmembers wake up on an abandoned spacecraft with no idea who they are, how long they’ve been asleep, or what their mission is. The two soon discover they’re actually not alone—and the reality of their situation is more horrifying than they could have imagined. Appearing in person to give you a taste of Pandorum are stars Ben Foster (X-Men: The Last Stand, 3:10 to Yuma, 30 Days of Night), Cung Le (The Ultimate Fighter), and Antje Traue. Pandorum is in theaters September 18. Hall H
Categories: Horror and Suspense | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy

5:30-6:30 Manga: Lost in Translation— Computer translation programs may be all the rage of board rooms and the Internet, but it still takes a human translator and editor to get readers the kind of quality of translation that they demand of their comics, novels, and animation. A panel of distinguished translators, editors, and industry specialists tell how it’s done! William Flanagan (xxxHOLiC), Jonathan Tarbox (Black Cat), Jason Thompson (Manga: The Complete Guide), Mari Morimoto (Naruto), Stephen Paul (Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad), Mark Simmons (Consultant for Bandai Entertainment) and Julie Davis (former editor-in-chief of Animerica Magazine) offer industry stories and Q&A. Room 3
Categories: Anime & Manga | Comic Books | Writers & Writing

5:30-6:30 Writing for the Computer Gaming Industry— Great storytelling forms the foundation for immersive games that emotionally draw players into a gaming universe. Veteran game writers Neal Hallford (Betrayal at Krondor, Dungeon Siege), Chris Avellone (Knights of the Old Republic, Neverwinter Nights II), Anne Toole (The Witcher), Wynne McLaughlin (Star Wars: The Old Republic, Command & Conquer: Renegade), Haris Orkin (Call of Juarez 2: Bound In Blood), and John Zuur Platten (F.E.A.R 2: Project Origin, Ghostbusters) engage in a lively discussion of their art. Moderated by Jana Hallford (co-author of Swords & Circuitry: A Designer’s Guide to Computer Role-Playing Games). Room 4
Categories: Games | Seminars & Workshops | Writers & Writing

5:30-6:30 Uncharted 2: Among Thieves: The First Active Cinematic Videogame— Representatives from Naughty Dog, the premiere Playstation 3 developer, discuss how they utilize the Naughty Dog 2.0 engine to hit a turning point in technology innovation by recreating reality and capturing human emotion. Creative director Amy Hennig and various cast members of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves discuss how for the first time, through high-quality cinematic presentation of scenes, characters, and dialogue, players become an active participant in the cinematic experience. Room 6A
Categories: Animation | Games | Movies | Writers & Writing

5:30-6:30 Cartoon Books & Abstract Studios Happy Hour with Jeff Smith and Terry Moore— The perfect way to spend your first happy hour at Comic-Con! Don’t miss your chance to chat with indie icons Jeff Smith and Terry Moore as they talk about new projects, upcoming appearances, and sharing a booth at this year’s Comic-Con. Plus, Jeff will be making a special announcement! Room 7AB
Categories: Comic Books | Humor & Satire | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Writers & Writing

5:30-6:30 Graphic Novel Programming in Libraries— Words of wisdom from Librarian Fanboys and Fangirls on ways to make your collection rock the house! It’s life in the dork lane when librarian nerds become comic book geeks. How can a fan transcend life-long Universe loyalties to build a balanced collection? How do you fight back when your cataloging department thinks all superhero titles are for teens? Is it really possible to have a graphic novel book club? Get tips on starting graphic novel clubs, running workshops on cartooning, hosting author visits and much more. Moderated by Snow Wildsmith with Robin Brenner, Hillary Chang, Mike Pawuk, Jill Patterson, and Nick Smith. Room 30AB
Categories: Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops

5:30-6:30 The Physics of Hollywood Movies— Join physics instructor Adam Weiner (author of Don’t Try This at Home! The Physics of Hollywood Movies) for an interactive presentation employing basic physical principles and a sense of humor in analyzing scenes from favorite Hollywood science fiction, superhero, and action movies, from Iron Man to 2001: A Space Odyssey, and actually learn the physics behind them—both good and bad! Room 30CDE
Categories: Comic Books | Movies | Seminars & Workshops | Superheroes

5:30-6:30 All-Stars of Comics Podcasting— Comics podcasting has grown from a novelty to a force within the industry, providing an outlet for reviews, interviews, news and general entertainment for comic book fans. Comic book podcasting veterans Jimmy Aquino (Comics News Insider), Brian “Pants” Christman (Comic Geek Speak), and Ron Richards (iFanboy) discuss the future of comics podcasting. You never know what may happen in podcasting—some special surprise guests may be making appearances! Plus, this is your chance to meet and talk to your favorite podcasters! Room 32AB
Categories: Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Fandom | Webcomics

5:45-6:45 Spotlight on John Kricfalusi— He’s the wild man of animation, the groundbreaking genius behind Ren & Stimpy and The Ripping Friends, whose creations have become inspiration for practically every animated show on TV today. John Kricfalusi (AKA John K) is a Comic-Con special guest and in this Spotlight event he’ll talk about his career in animation and what’s coming next. Room 6BCF
Categories: Animation | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Television

5:45-6:45 Kick-Ass— World premiere footage from Kick-Ass, based on Mark Millar’s bestselling comic, is presented by director Matthew Vaughn (Stardust, Layercake). Joining him on the panel are Nicolas Cage, Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Superbad), and comic co-creator John Romita Jr., among others, including a surprise guest. You don’t want to miss the chance to be the first to experience this gritty, brash, and funny actioner. Hall H
Categories: Comic Books | Movies

6:00-7:00 Del Rey: Terry Brooks— Bestselling author Terry Brooks (The Sword of Shannara) discusses his return to the Magic Kingdom of Landover series with the August release of A Princess of Landover, as well as what’s next in the Shannara series. Plus highlights from the upcoming Del Rey and Spectra lists. Moderated by Betsy Mitchell (editor-in-chief, Del Rey). Room 2
Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy | Writers & Writing

6:00-7:00 Vertigo New Ongoing Series/Crime Line— It’s a new beginning for Vertigo with the launch of such ongoing titles as The Unwritten, Greek Street, and Sweet Tooth. In addition to these titles DC will be launching the highly anticipated Vertigo Crime Line with some of the top talents in the industry. Moderated by senior VP/executive editor, Vertigo, Karen Berger and senior editor Will Dennis, this panel is not to be missed, especially considering the talent present: Peter Gross (Unwritten), Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth, The Nobody), Jason Starr, Chris Gage, Gabriel Bá, Fábio Moon, and others! Room 5AB
Categories: Comic Books | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Horror and Suspense

6:00-7:00 Mad Science: The Science Behind Science Fiction— Discover magazine and the National Academy of Sciences’ Science and Entertainment Exchange explore science as a double-edged sword—it’s ethically and morally neutral in and of itself, but science depends on who wields it and how. Join moderator Phil Plait (Discover magazine contributing editor and blogger), Jaime Paglia (co-creator and executive producer of Eureka), Kevin Grazier (science consultant, Eureka, Virtuality), Jane Espenson (executive producer, Dollhouse, Battlestar Galactica, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Rob Chiappetta and Glenn Whitman (staff writers, Fringe), and Ricardo Gil da Costa (neuroscientist and consultant on Fringe) for a lively and fun discussion on science used for good vs. evil. Followed by Q&A. Room 6DE
Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy | Writers & Writing

6:00-7:00 Devil’s Due Publishing— Company president Josh Blaylock (Mercy Sparx) details what’s to come in the ’09–’10 Devil’s Due lineup! Find out about Blaylock’s new Mercy Sparx series, and get a preview from Tim Seeley on what’s in store for Cassie Hack in the fan-favorite Hack/Slash. Members of Suicide Girls offer a sneak peek at an upcoming DDP project, and special guest Murs discusses his new comic collaboration with Josh Blaylock! Room 8
Categories: Comic Books

6:00-7:00 Neko Press 10th Anniversary Panel— Billy Martinez, publisher and creator for Neko Press, will discuss what it takes to keep an independent company going with the changing times. Billy will discuss the many books and stories that came out of his 10-year-old company. A great panel for aspiring artists and anyone interested in moving into the field of comics and art. Room 10
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic Books

6:30-7:30 Bandai Entertainment— Code Geass R2, Gundam 00, Akira Blu-ray, Lucky Star OVA: these are just some of the exciting anime coming from Bandai Entertainment in 2009! Bandai Entertainment’s president Ken Iyadomi and director of marketing Robert Napton highlight current and upcoming releases, with news and a few giveaways! Room 3
Categories: Animation | Anime & Manga

6:30-7:30 Unlocking Arkham: Forensic Psychiatry and Batman’s Rogues’ Gallery— Arkham Asylum holds some of Gotham City’s most disturbed criminals. But do they truly belong there? From the vantage point of a forensic psychiatrist utilizing real-world psychiatric diagnostic criteria, panelists explore the mental disorders of the Dark Knight’s Rogues’ Gallery, with in-depth analyses of The Joker, Two-Face, Riddler, The Ventriloquist, Mad Hatter, and Mr. Zsasz, among others. Learn as three psychiatrists explain the meaning of such terms as “psychotic,” “not guilty by reason of insanity,” and “psychopathy.” Bring your questions, and join the fun as experts unlock Arkham Asylum and possibly set free some of its “inmates”! Panelists include H. Eric Bender, M.D., University of California, Los Angeles; Praveen Kambam, M.D., University Hospitals/Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio; and Vasilis K. Pozios, M.D., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Room 4
Categories: Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops | Superheroes

6:30-7:30 The Clockwork Girl: From Concept to Comic and Beyond— Sean O’Reilly (Kade) and Kevin Hanna (16 Miles to Merricks) released The Clockwork Girl back in 2007, and the comic book series has gone on to be collected as a hardcover winning The Moonbeam Award for Top Children’s Graphic Novel and Foreword magazine’s Top Graphic Novel of the Year; it’s also received funding for feature film development. Sean and Kevin discuss how they came up with the concept, describe the risks and rewards of self-publishing, and showcase a short teaser of The Clockwork Girl animated film. Room 7AB
Categories: Animation | Comic Books | Movies

6:30-7:30 The Anthropology of Star Trek— Daryl Frazetti (Department of Anthropology, Lake Tahoe Community College), Ian Morris (UCSB student), John Stivers, Jacob Hurd, and Kanan Miller (Lake Tahoe Community College students) discuss the anthropological themes in the Star Trek universe. Select themes include such topics as politics, religion, identity, technology, the cultural role of the individual, and the anthropological concept of “race.” A brief discussion on the subculture of fandom is also included, along with the cultural impact of Trek. Audience participation is encouraged. This presentation spans the franchise and explores the relationship between Star Trek and society throughout the past four decades. Room 30AB
Categories: Fandom | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Seminars & Workshops | Television

6:30-7:30 10 Other Ways to Break in as a Comic Creator— “Come back when you have a published credit.” Sound familiar? How do you get your first professional break as a comic creator when all the studios are looking for “experience”? Creative director Jessica Leigh Clark-Bojin (Zeros 2 Heroes Media) offers some new options. Room 30CDE
Categories: Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops | Webcomics

6:30-7:30 The Wonderful World of Computer Games in Japan— An overview of computer gaming as seen from Japan, with a focus on Japan’s amateur “doujin” games, dating-sims and games that explore themes of love, and an overview of recent trends in computer gaming in Japan, including “otome” games (games made specifically for girls) and other areas in which gaming in Japan differs from those in the West. Room 32AB
Categories: Anime & Manga | Comic Books | Fandom | Games

6:30-7:00 Focus Features: Thirst— Focus Features and Comic-Con present a rare U.S. appearance by acclaimed Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook, whose “scandalous vampire melodrama” Thirst just won the Prix du Jury (Jury Prize) at the 2009 Cannes International Film Festival. Sang-hyun (played by top Korean star Song Kang-ho, of The Host) is a priest who cherishes life; so much so, that he selflessly volunteers for a secret vaccine development project meant to eradicate a deadly virus. But the virus takes the priest, and a blood transfusion is urgently ordered for him. The blood he receives is infected, so he lives—but now exists as a vampire. Sang-hyun soon plunges into a world of sensual pleasures, finding himself on intimate terms with the Seven Deadly Sins. Park will show clips from the movie— which opens in select cities on July 31—and discuss his career. Hall H
Categories: Horror and Suspense | Movies

6:45-7:45 Robotech Industry Panel— Tommy Yune, director of Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles, and Steve Yun, writer of Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles, discuss upcoming Robotech releases in the wake of the announcement of the live-action feature film. Room 6A
Categories: Animation | Anime & Manga | Comic Books | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy

Nighttime Programs

7:00-8:00 The Antidote Trust— The Antidote Trust (TAT), America’s premiere indie collective, share more input on how they continue to produce comics that rival “the big boys” in quality, marketing, and distribution. Determined to do your own thing with the highest levels of professionalism? TAT can help you realize this goal. All members of TAT are strictly independent companies, producing comics, apparel, action figures—nearly everything in the industry. Panelists include B. Paul Husband, Esq. (general counsel for ASIFA-Hollywood), Lance Stahlberg (director, Haven Distributors), Richard Hamilton (Miserable Dastards), Andre Owens (Force Galaxia), Dani Dixon (13), Dale Wilson (Magnificent Creatures), Robert Roach (Menthu), and Paul Fusco (Soldiers of the Dead). Moderated by Geoffrey Thorne (Star Trek: Titan, Sword of Damocles). Room 5AB
Categories: Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Comic Books | Nighttime Programming

7:00-8:00 Comedy Central’s Drawn Together Movie Roundtable— Join co-creators Matt Silverstein and Dave Jeser and stars Foxxy Love, Cree Summer (Transformers: Animated) and Wooldoor Sockbat/The Jew Producer, James Arnold Taylor (Star Wars: The Clone Wars), as they discuss The Drawn Together Movie and host a roundtable discussion on the politics of religion in the workplace and where to get a decent sandwich. Room 6BCF
Categories: Animation | Humor & Satire | Movies | Nighttime Programming

7:15-9:15 Captain Cosmos and the Gray Ghosts— Comic-Con special guest Nicola Cuti—best known for his comics work at Charlton, including co-creating the fondly remembered E-Man—wrote and stars in this fun “old-time space opera.” Featuring the adventures of Captain Nick Cosmos (Nic Cuti) and his daughter, the volatile alien called Zen-Ya, along with the crew of his ship, The Bedevere. In this series of episodes the Bedevere is being haunted by two mysterious ghosts who leave clues of their identities. The exciting stories entertain, educate, and include clips from the space operas and cartoons of the 1950s. A treat for the entire family. Room 2
Categories: Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Fandom | Movies | Nighttime Programming | Science Fiction & Fantasy

7:30-8:30 Geek Roundtable— Come join the funniest and most racially diverse group of geeks on the Internet in a discussion covering the World of Geek! Put in your two cents as a de facto member of the group. There will be special guests and prizes, and stories you’ll just have to take to your grave. Featuring Geekroundtable creator and moderator Ned Cato Jr., with panelists Chris and Mary Sturhann, producer Jesse Lopez, Patrick Roach, Matt Jeffery, Wesley Strawther, and Johann Joseph. Oh, and you, too! Room 10
Categories: Animation | Anime & Manga | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Fandom | Games | Movies | Nighttime Programming | Television | Webcomics

8:00-10:00 Dr. Horrible’s Sing-along Blog— The California Browncoats host a screening of the original three acts, followed immediately by Commentary! The Musical. See why Joss Whedon’s (Dollhouse, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) first foray into webisodic “television” was the talk of the town with critics and fans alike in 2008. Be prepared for a night of singing and surprises hosted by the fans who know what you like best. Dr. Horrible stars Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother), Nathan Fillion (Castle, Firefly), and Felicia Day (The Guild) and is written by Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon (Dollhouse), Zack Whedon (Fringe), and Maurissa Tancharoen (Dollhouse). Room 6A
Categories: Comic Books | Humor & Satire | Movies | Nighttime Programming | Superheroes

8:00-9:30 Green Lantern: First Flight World Premiere— Warner Home Video, Warner Premiere, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation proudly present the World Premiere of Green Lantern: First Flight, the fifth DC Universe animated original PG-13 movie. Green Lantern: First Flight finds Hal Jordan recruited to join the Green Lantern Corps and placed under the supervision of respected senior Lantern Sinestro. The earthling soon discovers his mentor is actually the central figure in a secret conspiracy that threatens the philosophies, traditions and hierarchy of the entire Green Lantern Corps. Hal must quickly hone his newfound powers and combat the treasonous Lanterns within the ranks to maintain order in the universe. Christopher Meloni (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) leads the cast as the voice of Hal Jordan aka Green Lantern. The cast includes Emmy Award nominee Victor Garber (Milk, Titanic), Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica), Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs), Juliet Landau (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), and John Larroquette (Night Court). Produced by animation legend Bruce Timm, Green Lantern: First Flight is directed by Lauren Montgomery (Wonder Woman) and scripted by four-time Emmy Award–winning writer Alan Burnett (The Batman). Warner Home Video will release Green Lantern: First Flight on Blu-ray Hi-Def and DVD on July 28, 2009. Ballroom 20
Categories: Animation | Comic Books | Movies | Nighttime Programming | Superheroes

8:15-11:15 Superhero Kung-Fu Extravaganza— Back by popular demand for a record 11th year! Martial art movie master Ric Meyers (Inside Kung-Fu) brings you eye-popping, jaw-dropping, all-new film fight action. You never know who might drop by, but even if only you do, it’ll be unforgettable. Room 6BCF
Categories: Comic Books | Fandom | Movies | Nighttime Programming | Superheroes

9:30-12:00 Halloween Comes Early: Trick ‘r Treat Screening— Be among the first to see writer/director Michael Dougherty’s (Superman Returns, X2) creepy, darkly comic celebration of the scariest night of the year. Trick ‘r Treat takes the Creepshow/Tales from the Crypt approach to nefarious new depths with four interwoven tales set on Halloween night: a high school principal who moonlights as a vicious serial killer; a young virgin whose quest for that special someone takes a gruesome turn; a group of teens who carry out a cruel prank with disastrous consequences; and a cantankerous old man who battles a mischievous trick-or-treating demon. Prior to the screening, Ain’t It Cool News mogul Harry Knowles will moderate a panel featuring Michael Dougherty and members of the cast, including Anna Paquin (True Blood, X-Men), Tahmoh Penikett (Battlestar Galactica, Dollhouse), and Brian Cox (The Bourne Identity, X2). A collection of creepy stories that mixes fun with fear, candy with poison, and laughter with screams, the critically acclaimed Trick ‘r Treat will be released on Blu-ray Hi-Def and DVD and On Demand by Warner Home Video in October. Ballroom 20
Categories: Horror and Suspense | Movies | Nighttime Programming

Mirage Studios, 4Kids Entertainment, and TMNT PRoductions will be hosting an open casting call for martial arts experts to audition for parts as the stealth TMNT nemesis, the Foot Clan in the confirmed live-action movie.  The event is part of the 25th Anniversary Shell-ebration of the franchise and is expected to bring martial artists from all different schools together.  Radical, indeed.

If you’re an experienced martial arts practitioner, considering using your skills to serve the evil ninja master known as the Shredder, we have provided information on the auditions below.

*We can’t say for sure if you’ll have to stealthily collect bells off a mannequin this time around.  Please contact Keno at Roy’s Pizza for further information.

When: Saturday, July 18, 2009 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Where: Hollywood & Highland
6801 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90028
*At Grand Staircase

Who: Judges to include actor and martial arts expert Ernie Reyes, Jr., Jason Morgan from the American Taekwondo Association, and 2011 TMNT movie producers Scott Mednick and Galen Walker.

Audition: 30-Second Martial Arts Demo (Single Person Only)

No metal, sharp or bladed weapons of any kind allowed

Photo and updated resume with contact information

Fourteen years or older (under 18 must have adult permission for audition)

Confused on all the relationships that have occured in the history of the X-Men universe?  This should clear things up…sorta.

Gary Ross, director of films such as “Seabiscuit” and “Pleasantville”, has been hired to rewrite the screenplay once again for “Spiderman 4″.  The script was originally written by James Vanderbilt and rewritten by David Lindsay-Abaire.  Uh oh.  Well, at least we know they’re taking the writing more seriously this time around.  As long as Ross isn’t an emo goth with a penchant for extravagant musical numbers, I think we’ll be better off than last time.

Sam Raimi will be returning to direct the 4th installment, set to go into production early next year.

“Spiderman 4″ is scheduled for a May 6th, 2011 release date.