Let’s face it, there’s so much great programming at Comic-Con it can be overwhelming. So we’ve put together a very subjective and far from comprehensive listing of panels, presentations and events that caught our eye. But this modest listing is just the tip of the comics and pop culture iceberg that is Comic-Con International: San Diego. There’s much more, so check the full programming listing to really get the full effect of the biggest, most extravagant pop culture event in North America.
And be sure to take note of a couple of panels moderated by PWCW coeditors Calvin Reid and Heidi “The Beat” MacDonald. MacDonald will moderate a panel on Dusty Higgins and Van Jensen’s graphic Novel, Pinocchio: The Vampire Slayer on Thursday; and Reid will interview cartoonist Keith Knight about his career and his new book, The Knight Life: Chivalry Ain’t Dead, also on Thursday afternoon.
THURSDAY
Comic-con Kickoff with Bone creator Jeff Smith, who will discuss his new sci-fi series Rasl and much more. 10:00-11:00 am Romm 5AB
Spotlight panel on Dusty Higgins and Van Jensen, creators Pinocchio The Vampire Salyer. Moderated by PWCW’s Heidi “The Beat” Macdonald about their debut graphic noevl for SLG Publishing. 1:30-2:30pm Room 3.
Spotlight panel on Jenette Kahn, former president and publisher of DC Comics and youngest female executive in Warner Bros. history. Interviewed by her successor, former DC Comics president and publisher Paul Levitz.. 3:00-4:00pm Room 5AB.
Spotlight panel on Keith Knight, Harvey award-winning cartoonist and creator of the new book The Knight Life: Chivalry Ain’t Dead. Interviewed by PWCW’s Calvin Reid. 3:30-4:30pm Room 3.
CBLDF Master Session with cartoonist Paul Pope on inking. 12:00-1:00pm Room 30 CDE
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World panel with filmmaker Edgar Wright and Scott Pilgrim creator Bryan Lee O’Malley and the cast of the new film. 6:00-7:00 pm Hall H.
FRIDAY
Publishing Comics. Four outstanding publishers discuss whats involved in running a modern comics publishing house, with Matt Gagnon (Boom!), Gary Groth (Fantagraphics), Dallas Middaugh (Del Rey Manga) and Mark Siegel (First Second Books). Moderated by Graeme McMillan. 10:00-11:00 am Room
Spotlight on Moto Hagio, acclaimed mangaka and Comic-con special guest considered the mother of shojo (young girls) manga. Interviewed by Matt Thorn. 10:30-11:30 am Room 5AB.
Retailing in the Digital Age: Jim Lee (co-publisher, DC Comics) and John Rood (executive VP of sales & marketing, DC Entertainment), along with Jim Sokolowski (COO Marvel Comics), Chip Mosher (director of marketing, BOOM! Studios), and David Steinberger (founder, comiXology.com), talk about selling digital comics and getting physical comics shops involved. Moderated by Joe Field.10:30-11:30 am Room 12.
Spotlight on Paul Levitz, former president and publisher of DC Comics, who has returned to his original love, writing comics. Interviewed by DC chief creative officer, writer Geoff Johns. 11:30-12:30 pm Room 5AB
The Future of Manga. Manga expert Jason Thompson gives a visual presentation that looks at the current market for manga and the impact of e-books, cell phones and online comics. 6:30-7:30 Room 3
The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards. The National Book Awards of Comics. 8:30-11:30. The Hilton Bayfront Hotel.
SATURDAY
Spotlight on Carla Speed McNeil. The Eisner award-winning cartoonist and creator of Finder, talks about her work. 10:00-11:00 am. Room 3.
Spotlight on Jillian Tamaki, Comic-con Special Guest and co-creator of the debut graphic novel Skim, nominated for three Eisner Awards last year, will give a presentation on her own work. 11:00-12:00 noon. Room 3
Comics in the Library. A panel on the integrating comics into library collections with Francisca Goldsmith (Infopeople), Merideth Jenson-Benjamin (Glendale Public Library), JoAnn Jonas (San Diego County Library), Tuan Nguyen (Texas Maverick Graphic Novel List), Jill Patterson (OC Public Libraries), and comics creator Raina Telgemeier (Smile). Moderated by John Hogan (The Graphic Novel Reporter). 11:00-12:00 noon. Room 8
Spotlight on Gabrielle Bell, Comic-con special guest and creator of the acclaimed graphic novels Lucky and Cecil and Jordan in New York. Interviewed by Tom Spurgeon of the Comics Reporter. 1:00-2:00 pm. Room 3.
Comics After Paper. A panel looks at creating comics for all manner of screens from personal computers to e-readers and mobile phones. R. Stevens (Diesel Sweeties), Dylan Meconis (Family Man), Joshua Hale Fialkov (Tumor), and Robert Berry (Ulysses Seen), join moderator Douglas Wolk (Techland) 4:00-5:00 pm. Room 3.
Gays in Comics. An all-star looks at diversity in the comics world. Howard Cruse, Geoff Johns, Marjorie M. Liu, Daniel Way, Kim McCann, Charles Christensen, Dan Parent and Tim Fish look at the changes in representation of gay folk in the comics industry. 5:45-7:15 pm. Room 6A.
CBLDF Benefit Auction. Support Free speech and get some fabulous original art by some of the best cartoonists in the business. Original work by Paul Pope, Arthur Adams, Ben Templesmith, Jim rug and many more. All proceeds from this auction will benefit the First Amendment legal work of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. 7:30-9:30pm Room 3.
SUNDAY
Kids Day!
Kids Draw. An interactive drawing session with Dave Roman (Astronaut Academy), Raina Telgemeier (Smile), and John Green (Jax Epoch)!12:00-1:00 Room 30CDE.
The Funny Stuff: Humor in Comics and Graphic Novels. The Cartoon Art Museum's Andrew Farago talks to Comic-Con special guests Peter Bagge (Hate), Howard Cruse (Wendel), Nicholas Gurewitch (The Perry Bible Fellowship), Keith Knight (The K Chronicles), Larry Marder (Beanworld), and Doug TenNapel (Monster Zoo) about the humorous side of comics.. 12:30-1:30 pm. Room 8.
The Digital Age of Comics. A discussion about e-comics moderated by Macworld senior editor Jason Snell, with IDW's Jeff Webber, iVerse Comics' Michael Murphey, Sony PSP's Adriana Eyzaguirre, and creators Jeff Smith and J. Scott Campbell. 2:00-3:00 pm. Room 5AB.
