July 9, 2007

Comic-Con Program Schedule - Friday

Written by Robert Sanchez

Comic-Con complete programming schedule - Friday. Today's highlights include Neil Gaiman and Watchmen (the movie)!

Friday, July 27

10:30-11:30 Star Wars Day: Great Star Wars Books and Book News—J. W. Rinzler, author of the recently released The Making of Star Wars, will hurtle you back in time for a one-of-a-kind behind-the-scenes look at the nearly decade-long quest of George Lucas and his key collaborators to make the “little” movie that became a phenomenon. Stephen J. Sansweet, author of the upcoming The Star Wars Vault, will talk about collecting the amazing, never-before-published artifacts that will be part of each copy of the new book. Finally, Keith Clayton (editor, Del Rey) will reveal an exclusive announcement on an upcoming Star Wars title from Del Rey and LucasBooks, just for audience members at Comic-Con! Room 1AB

10:30-11:30 Meet the Writers of Shin Chan—Sit down face to face and cheek to cheek with Jared Hedges and the rest of the Shin Chan comedy writing team. What exactly is inside their heads when they are writing this stuff? Can Shin drop his pants any more? Find out and see an episode that hasn't been aired on Adult Swim. Enter to win a script autographed by the writing team. Room 2

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

10:30-11:30 DC Talent Search Orientation—Learn what DC Comics looks for in artists and find out how to improve your chances at becoming a working professional. Remember, diversity is the key with DC: DC Universe, Vertigo, WildStorm, Mad Magazine, Minx, and more! This informative orientation session will explain how DC’s Talent Search works. If you want to have your work reviewed, attendance at this orientation session is mandatory, keep in mind that not all attendees are guaranteed a review. Room 4

10:30-11:30 Image Comics: The Founders—Jim Lee, Erik Larsen, Mark Silvestri, Jim Valentino, and maybe even a surprise guest panelist or two reunite for Image's remarkable 15th anniversary. Join the conversation as they explore Image Comics' beginnings, impact, and future in the comics industry. Moderated by George Khoury (author of Image Comics: The Road to Independence from TwoMorrow Books). Room 5AB

10:30-11:30 The Art of Adapting Comics to the Screen—As the cinematic renaissance of comic book–based films continues, here's your chance to learn what it takes to adapt these dream projects to the screen. Moderator Jeff Goldsmith (senior editor, Creative Screenwriting magazine) hosts a panel featuring Stan Lee (Fantastic Four), Don Payne (co-writer, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer), Mark Fergus (co-writer, Iron Man), Kevin Feige (president of production, Marvel Studios), and Mark Verheiden (Teen Titans). Room 6A

10:30-11:30 Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles—Will there be a sequel to the Shadow Chronicles? Will there be more Robotech comics? Will there be Shadow Chronicles merchandise? Will there be a special edition DVD? Find the answers to these questions here! Room 6B

10:30-11:30 Pixar Short Films Collection: Volume 1—Join three of Disney•Pixar's most talented filmmakers—Ralph Eggelston (Oscar-winning director of For the Birds), Andrew Jimenez (Oscar-nominated co-director of One Man Band), and Gary Rydstrom (director of Pixar's newest animated Oscar-nominated short, Lifted)—as they discuss the studio's acclaimed short films, with a Q&A session to follow. Room 6CDEF

10:30-11:30 Comic Base/Atomic Avenue—The ComicBase folks will be on hand to reveal their newest products and to show off Atomic Avenue, the world’s fastest-growing marketplace for comics. Don’t miss your chance to hear creator Pete Bickford chat about special ComicBase program features, tips, and tricks, and get all the behind-the-scenes dirt on the making of the program, plus your chance to win limited-edition prizes and giveaways! The ComicBase/Atomic Avenue User Group Meeting is open to all interested collectors at this once-a-year opportunity to hear about all the latest developments. Room 10

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

10:30-12:00 Comic Book Law School® 101: Let's Start at the Beginning—A very good place to start learning how to protect your intellectual property rights, that is. Learn the basics of copyright and trademark law in this popular interactive lecture series brought to you by noted attorney Michael Lovitz, author of the The Trademark and Copyright Book comic book (soon to be an expanded graphic novel). This first workshop will cover the basics of protection and ownership of ideas, characters, and their names from the point of creation forward. Attendees will participate in an interactive discussion about basic rights provided under U.S. copyright and trademark laws, then have the opportunity to work together in developing a game plan to protect a new comic book series proposal in preparation of shopping the proposal to publishers. Plus, discussions about recent legal decisions affecting the field of popular culture and how these issues play an important role in your creative and business plans. And along the way, there will be plenty to learn about the protections, and pitfalls, of the U.S. trademark and copyright systems. Room 30CDE

10:30-12:00 Warner Bros.—Warner Bros. presents a sneak peek at some of its upcoming major film releases!

The Invasion is a nightmarish journey into a world where the only way to stay alive is to stay awake. The mysterious crash of the space shuttle leads to the terrifying discovery that there is something alien within the wreckage. Those who come in contact with it are changing in ominous and inexplicable ways. Producer Joel Silver appears in person.

In the supernatural thriller One Missed Call, people receive terrifying cell phone messages of their own final fatal moments. Stars Edward Burns and Shannyn Sossamon will be on stage to introduce film footage and answer questions.

In Whiteout, Kate Beckinsale stars as Carrie Stetko, the lone U.S. Marshal assigned to Antarctica, whose investigation of the continent’s first murder draws her into a shocking mystery. Now, with only three days until winter, Carrie must solve the crime before Antarctica is plunged into darkness and she is stranded with the killer. Star Kate Beckinsale appears in-person.

From writer/directors Larry and Andy Wachowski, the creators of the groundbreaking The Matrix trilogy, and producer Joel Silver comes the live-action, high-octane family adventure Speed Racer. Based on the classic series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida, the live-action Speed Racer will showcase the kind of revolutionary visual effects and cutting-edge storytelling that have become the benchmarks of the Wachowski Brothers’ films.

In the all-new action comedy Get Smart, Maxwell Smart (Steve Carell) is on a mission to thwart the latest plot for world domination by the evil crime syndicate known as KAOS.

In Trick ‘R Treat, the tricks and treats of Halloween turn deadly as strange creatures of every variety—human and otherwise—try to survive the scariest night of the year. Mike Dougherty appears in-person to discuss his directorial debut produced by Bryan Singer.

Written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons, Watchmen was originally published by DC comics as a 12-issue comic book series between 1986 and 1987, before subsequently being collected into a trade paperback. It is the only graphic novel to win the prestigious Hugo Award or to be named among Time magazine’s “100 Best English Language Novels from 1923 to the Present.” Director Zack Snyder will appear in-person to discuss the upcoming film and answer questions. Hall H

11:00-12:00 She/He Who Understands History Gets to Rewrite It—Authors discuss how an appreciation of world history and modern events as well as mythology influences and colors their worlds of fantasy, science fiction, and alternate realities. Panelists Jacqueline Carey (Kushiel's Legacy series), David Anthony Durham (Acacia: Book One: The War with the Mein ), David Keck (In the Eye of Heaven), Harry Turtledove ( Settling Accounts: In at the Death), Peter David (Darkness of the Light), R.A. Salvatore (The Ancient), and Mel Odom (Quest for the Trilogy) adapt and build on world events for their own purposes. Maryelizabeth Hart of Mysterious Galaxy moderates. Room 8

11:00-12:00 Reaper: Exclusive Pilot Screening—Be among the first to see this special version of the Reaper pilot directed by Kevin Smith, introduced by Missy Peregrym (Heroes). For the first 20 years of his life, Sam (Bret Harrison, Grounded For Life, The Loop) has wondered why his parents went so easy on his slacker ways—until the day Sam turns 21 and discovers the ungodly reason his parents let him slide: They sold his soul to the devil before he was even born. Satan himself (Ray Wise, 24) drops by to personally explain that Sam must now serve as his bounty hunter, tracking down evil souls that have escaped and returning them to Hell. Bolstered by his love for co-worker Andi (Missy Peregrym) and with the goofball help of his friends and fellow slackers, Bert “Sock” Wysocki (Tyler Labine, Boston Legal, Invasion) and Ben (Rick Gonzalez, Coach Carter), Sam faces his destiny as the Reaper. Ballroom 20

11:30-12:30 Star Wars Day: What’s New and What’s Coming from Hasbro—Come for first announcements about Hasbro’s products that you might not hear anywhere else, plus a special sneak preview of the 2008 product line. Meet members of Hasbro’s Star Wars marketing and design teams, the talented people who work on the company’s Attacktix, Titanium, and Star Wars action figure line. Q&A time included! Room 1AB

11:30-12:30 VIZ Media's Shonen Jump: SJ Evolution!—VIZ is deep in “SJ Evolution”—the first major upgrade of the biggest English-language manga publication in the world. Panelists will announce the next big serialized title in Shonen Jump, give a sneak peek of the major upcoming shift in the Naruto storyline, and make plenty of time to yap with readers about all things Jump! Panelists include Joel Enos, manga editor; Amy Yu, manga editor; Hiromi Hasegawa, magazines; and Kristine Givas, director, magazine advertising and marketing. Marc Weidenbaum, VP and editor-in-chief, magazines, will moderate. Room 2

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

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

11:30-12:30 Spotlight on Paul Dini—From introducing Batman to a new generation of fans with the now-classic Batman: The Animated Series to the resurrection of tabloid-sized comics with Alex Ross, and from Detective Comics to the current classic-in-the-making Countdown, there is no doubt that Paul Dini is one of the modern masters of superhero storytelling. Joined by DC’s senior VP/executive editor DCU, Dan DiDio, this is one Spotlight that is sure to thrill! Room5AB

11:30-12:30 Mattel and DC Comics: A Heroic Partnership—You’ve been a fan of Mattel’s popular DC toy lines, now find out the latest news, sneak peaks, and behind-the-scenes scoop on your favorite Mattel/DC action figures, including DC Super Heroes, Justice League Unlimited, The Batman, and DC Superfriends, plus exciting new lines and never-before-released information. Join Mattel toy designers, and Warner Brothers and DC Comic representatives for an insightful Q&A. Room 10

11:30-1:00 Comics Arts Conference Session #6: Comics Aren’t Film and Other Vicey Verses—Carrie Lynn Reinhard (Ohio State University) argues that cinematic and televisual adaptations of comics work must incorporate the readers’ and fans’ perspectives by retaining the spirit of the original, as captured in the sensory details of the comics’ visual presentation. Ariel Schudson (UCLA) discusses the panoply of visions of identity of John Constantine in the Hellblazer comic book and the character as a figure of multi-authorial mosaic in relationship to traditional auteur theory and as a gauge of authorial parameters in adaptation to the screen. Frank Verano (Temple University) traces the origins of film language in early avant-garde surrealist cinema to examine the implications this code of representation has on Grant Morrison’s understanding of the relationship between language and reality in The Doom Patrol. Room 30AB

11:45-12:45 Fallen: Q&A with the Actors and Author—Based on the hit books by Tom Sniegoski, Fallen chronicles the phenomenal journey of Aaron Corbett, a Nephilim (half angel/half human) who struggles to come to terms with his newly discovered identity as The Redeemer. As a result, he is drawn into a world where angels—good and evil—walk among us. On hand will be actors Paul Wesley (Everwood), Rick Worthy (Battlestar Galactica), Fernanda Andrade (CSI: Miami) and author Tom Sniegoski (Outkast). Fallen returns to ABC Family for a trilogy weekend, with an encore two-hour presentation of part one on Friday, August 3 (8:00 PM ET/PT), with the all-new parts two and three airing on consecutive nights Saturday and Sunday, August 4 and 5. Room 6A

11:45-1:15 The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy: The Final Goodbye—Join Maxwell Atoms (creator) and the cast of the show to bid a fond farewell to everyone’s favorite reaper. Also, catch a clip of the new show Chowder (from Carl Greenblat, Billy and Mandy storyboard artist and voice of Fred Fredburger). Room 6B

11:45-12:45 Marvel Comics: Cup O’ Joe—Join the EEK himself, Joe Quesada, as he unveils what’s in store for all your favorite Marvel characters and creators, makes some surprising announcements, and takes on any and all questions! As always, this is the one, no-holds barred panel that everyone’s gonna be talking about, and the one panel you don’t want to miss! Room 6CDEF

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

12:00-1:30 Impact University: How to Write and Draw Comics and Graphic Novels—Some of the biggest names in comics will teach you what it takes to make it in comics and graphic novels. This year’s star-studded faculty panel includes Peter David (She-Hulk, X-Factor), Orson Scott Card (Ender's Game, Wyrms), David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Tom Nguyen (Batman, Justice League Elite) 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

12:15-1:15 Stargate SG-1: The Movie—It’s been barely a month since television’s longest-running sci-fi series aired its final episode, yet the SG-1 team is already embarking on a perilous new mission—to recover the Ark of Truth with the hopes that the power locked inside the ancient artifact will loosen the grip of the Ori army on our galaxy. Never-before-seen footage from the new direct-to-video movie (from Fox Home Entertainment) will be followed by a Q&A session. Participants include SG-1 stars Ben Browder (as Cameron Mitchell), Amanda Tapping (as Samantha Carter), Michael Shanks (as Daniel Jackson), Christopher Judge (as Teal’c) and executive producer/director Robert Cooper. Ballroom 20

12:15-2:00 Twentieth Century Fox—Twentieth Century Fox “jumps” into Comic-Con with exclusive looks at some of the most-anticipated movie events of 2007 and 2008. In the epic action-adventure Jumper, a genetic anomaly allows a young man to teleport himself anywhere. The film, opening February 15, 2008, starring Hayden Christensen, Rachel Bilson, Jamie Bell, and Samuel L. Jackson, is directed by Doug Liman. The cast and filmmakers will screen footage.

In Aliens vs. Predator, opening December 25, the iconic creatures from two of the scariest film franchises ever are back.

Agent 47 hits the big screen, as Fox present footage from the long-awaited movie adaptation of the legendary videogame franchise Hitman, opening October 12.

Vin Diesel stars in Babylon, A.D., the story of a mercenary hired to deliver a package from the ravages of post-apocalyptic Eastern Europe to a destination in the teeming megalopolis of New York City. Opening February 29, 2008.

From Fox-Walden comes The Dark Is Rising (opening October 5), based on the classic science fiction novel about Will Stanton, a young man who learns he is the last of a group of warriors who have dedicated their lives to fighting the forces of the Dark. Filmmakers and cast will present exclusive footage from the film.

City of Ember (opening October 10, 2008) is a mystical city of lights. But now the city is growing dark and two of its teenagers will need to unlock an ancient mystery and help the citizens escape before the lights go out forever. Director Gil Kenan (Monster House) has put together an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the film. Hall H

12:30-1:30 Star Wars Day: LucasArts—Celebrate 25 of LucasArts videogames and learn about the past, present, and future by attending this panel with key LucasArts producers. See what LucasArts has in store, then ask your own questions in a Q&A session. Room 1AB

12:30-1:30 Avatar Press: 2001 Maniacs—Robert Englund (Freddy Krueger in Nightmare on Elm Street), the star of the new 2001 Maniacs films, appears with Tim Sullivan (writer/director, 2001 Maniacs) to unveil all the secrets of the new Avatar Press 2001 Maniacs comic book. They will also discuss the original film, show never-before-seen footage, and reveal secrets of the soon-to-shoot sequel, 2001 Manicas: Beverly Hellbillies! Room 2

12:30-1:30 Terry Moore: SIP RIP—Last month Terry Moore brought his Eisner Award–winning series Strangers in Paradise to an end with issue 90 and closed a chapter in comic book history. Now readers in 11 languages around the world are scrambling to read the conclusion to this epic series as the final trade paperbacks, pocketbooks, and hardcovers hit the market. So what now? If you think the cartoonist plans to retire and polish his many awards, think again! Find out what's next when Terry reveals his plans for the future and his next series! Room 3

12:30-1:30 Alter Ego Magazine—Started by Jerry Bails in the early 1960s, Alter Ego was taken to new heights as the top fanzine of its time Roy Thomas. Roy resurrected the publication in the 1990s as a slick magazine on comics of the Golden and Silver Ages, and its celebrating its 70th issue this month from TwoMorrows Publishing. Roy will be on hand to moderate a lively discussion of Alter Ego's past, present, and future, featuring regular columnist Bill Schelly and Fawcett Collectors of America (FCA) editor P. C. Hamerlinck, plus a surprise guest or two! Room 4

12:30-1:30 Vertigo: I Am Legend—Top sf/comic book writers and artists Orson Scott Card, Richard Christian Matheson, Mark Protosevich, Steve Niles, Bill Sienkiewicz, David Levy, and Jason Chan unveil and discuss their contributions to the I Am Legend–inspired comic book, as well as master sf author Richard Matheson's enduring influence. The limited-edition comic will be available at the panel and at designated times in the DC Comics booth. Room 5AB

12:30-1:30 TOKYOPOP Industry Panel—Mike Kiley (publisher, TOKOYOPOP), Rob Tokar (editor-in-chief, TOKYOPOP), and TOKYOPOP editors discuss some of the exciting titles that are sure to lead TOKYOPOP’s Manga Revolution into 2008. Room 10

12:30-1:30 Minimates Fan Group Meeting—The Multiverse does exist! Members of the Minimates Multiverse and Minimates fans in general come together to hang out and discuss the “block figure” sensation that is DST’s Minimates! Put a name to the face, show off your custom Minimates, or just talk about upcoming waves with Shanester (board moderator), Nervous Rex (Minimates customizer), TBT! (Minimates historian), and maybe even have your own run-in with the elusive CloneMe (Minimates customizer extraordinaire). Room 24A

12:45-1:45 Sony Pictures Television/Kids’ WB: The Spectacular Spider-Man—Get an early look at the stunning art direction and exciting storylines within the renowned webslinger’s newest animated adventures in The Spectacular Spider-Man, a Culver Entertainment production coming to Kids’ WB! on The CW in early 2008. Michael Vogel from Sony Pictures Television Animation will moderate a panel headed by supervising producer Greg Weisman (Gargoyles), producer/supervising director Victor Cook (Hellboy: Blood and Iron), character designer Sean “Cheeks” Galloway (Hellboy animated films), Marvel senior VP of creative development—animation Craig Kyle, and the newest voice of Spider-Man, Josh Keaton (The Young & The Restless). Room 6CDEF

1:00-2:00 Joel Silver: Return To House on Haunted Hill and Moonlight—Acclaimed producer Joel Silver (The Matrix Trilogy, V For Vendetta, and the upcoming The Invasion and Speed Racer) and Spanish director Victor Garcia (El Ciclo, 30 Days of Night Internet prequel series) take you back to the infamous Hill House with Return to House on Haunted Hill, out on DVD October 16. For this highly anticipated thrill ride—the sequel to the 1999 number-one box office hit House on Haunted Hill—Silver and Garcia assembled a team of Academy Award–winning special effects wizards to bring the terrifying frights and sounds of the Hill House back to shocking life. Catch a world premiere sneak peek into the new horrors that await you within the House and preview the never before seen "Navigational Cinema" technology that will be featured on the Blu-ray and HD DVD version of the release, allowing you, the viewer, to control the nightmare. The panel also includes the stars of the film: Jeffrey Combs (Re-Animator), Amanda Righetti (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation), and Cerina Vincent (Cabin Fever).

Moonlight is a new series from Joel Silver and the producers of Angel and Beauty and the Beast. It stars Alex O'Loughlin (The Shield) as Mick St. John, a Los Angeles private eye with a dark secret: he’s a vampire. Using supernatural abilities to walk in the worlds of both light and shadow, Mick tries to atone for the wrongs of his past while contending with both his adversaries and growing conflict within. The series also stars Jason Dohring (Veronica Mars), Sophia Myles (Underworld: Evolution), and Shannyn Sossamon (A Knight’s Tale). Produced by Silver Pictures Television in association with Warner Bros. Television, Moonlight airs Fridays at 9 PM ET/PT this fall on CBS. Room 6A

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

1:00-2:00 Comics Arts Conference Session #7: Of Supermen and Kids with Dreams: The Secret Origins of Superman—Thomas Andrae (California State University, East Bay) traces the evolution of the concept of the superman and his transformation from a menace to a messianic hero. He looks at the emergence of the idea of the superman in the philosophies of Nietzsche and H. G. Wells and their critique in science fiction literature. Andrae discuss Jerry Siegel’s radical break with this tradition and the sources for his creation of Superman, including his first (unknown) superhero, the fiction of Edgar Rice Burroughs, the pulps, and films of the twenties and thirties. Last, he discusses Siegel and Shuster’s unpublished Superman work and its importance in revising our understanding of the Superman mythos Room 30AB

1:15-2:15 Stargate Atlantis—The Stargate legacy continues to burn bright on SCI FI with the fourth original season of Atlantis. Amanda Tapping, one of the most beloved stars in the Stargate universe, travels to the Pegasus galaxy to join the Atlantis cast by reprising her role as television’s favorite astrophysicist, Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter. Taking the torch from SG-1 as television’s most thrilling adventure series, Atlantis promises to up the ante this season by introducing a powerful new race, welcoming new cast members, and mourning the loss of some beloved friends. On hand in addition to Tapping will be David Hewlett (Dr. Rodney McKay), Joe Mallozzi (executive producer/writer), Nora O’Brien (VP, original programming, SCI FI), Charlie Cohen (senior executive VP, MGM Studios), and Robert Cooper, executive producer/writer. Moderated by Gary Jones (Chief Master Sergeant Walter Harriman, Stargate SG-1). Ballroom 20

1:30-2:30 Star Wars Day: Robot Chicken Sets and Toys—As production designer for the Robot Chicken: Star Wars Special, Jed Hathaway researched and designed each miniature set with exact replication and utmost detail. In this discussion, Hathaway will explain the basics of designing sets, props, and vehicles for stop-motion animation. An in-depth behind the scenes video will show how his team brought the Star Wars universe to life and show various comparisons between the special and the original Star Wars Saga. There will be a 20-minute presentation video followed by a Q&A session. Room 1AB

1:30-2:30 First Look at Nickelodeon's The Mighty B!—Be the first to get a sneak peek at The Mighty B!, a brand new cartoon about Bessie Higgenbottom (voiced by SNL’s Amy Poehler), the world's most ambitious and lovably unhinged Honeybee scout. Join co-creators Cynthia True (The Fairly OddParents) and Erik Wiese (SpongeBob SquarePants) as they present a special screening of the pilot episode. Art director Seonna Hong (My Life as a Teenage Robot) will also be on hand as they give an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at what to expect in the first season. Moderated by Claudia Spinelli, executive in charge for Nickelodeon. Room 2

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

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

1:30-2:30 The Image Comics Show—Your friend and ours Brian Posehn (The Sarah Silverman Show) hosts a panel featuring all your favorite Image Comics superstars! See what Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead), Mike Oeming (Mice Templar), Erik Larsen (Savage Dragon), Matt Fraction (Casanova), Gerry Duggan (The Infinite Horizon), Phil Noto (The Infinite Horizon), and Jay Fotos (Frank Frazetta's Death Dealer) have planned for the future of creator-owned comics. Learn what gives them the drive to pour their energies into their own creations. You may get inspired to do some of your very own! Plus, some startling announcements and previews from many Image favorites! Room 5AB

1:30-2:30 24—For the first time ever, the producers of the worldwide Fox phenomenon 24 come to Comic-Con for a discussion and Q&A about the hit series that rewrote the rules of television storytelling. Will Jack Bauer survive another harrowing day? Only executive producers Evan Katz, Manny Coto, and David Fury know for sure, and with any luck they’ll divulge that and a lot more about how they intend to reinvent the Emmy Award–winning drama in its upcoming seventh season. Room 6B

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

1:30-2:30 The Comic Art Prof Show: How to Create Successful Comics Page Layouts—Young comics artists focus on learning to draw. Great comic artists master the page. Good page design brings clarity, rhythm, accent, and life to your comics. Starting with the basics, such as balloons placement and panel shapes, and stepping up to more advanced layout concepts, such as pacing and style, The Comic Art Prof (aka Christian Hill, professor of illustration and sequential art at Calstate Fullerton) will show you the processes professionals use in mainstream and alternative comics, manga, and Eurocomics to lay out impeccable and unforgettable pages. Room 30CDE

2:00-3:15 Spotlight on Neil Gaiman—One of Comic-Con’s most popular guests returns to spend his weekend with you. Neil Gaiman talks about this busy year, including upcoming films Beowulf, Coraline, and Stardust (set to premiere Comic-Con weekend in L.A.), that little ditty called Death looming on the horizon, and tons of other great stuff he has in the works. Room 6CDEF

2:00-3:30 Marvel in the 60s and 70s—The Marvel Age of Comics was a magical time for both the people who created the books and fans who read them. Mark Evanier talks to Roy Thomas (Avengers, Conan), Gary Friedrich (Sgt. Fury, Ghost Rider), Gene Colan (Daredevil, Tomb of Dracula), Dick Ayers (Sgt. Fury, Fantastic Four), Mike Ploog (Ghost Rider, Monster of Frankenstein), and Magazine Management’s David George, about that magical Marvelous era. Room 8

2:00-3:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #8: Storytelling and Visual Language—Neil Cohn (Tufts University) reports the findings of a psychology experiment showing that readers navigate comic layouts by using systematic rules that rely on subtle cues of panel sizes and relationships while often defying the stereotypical Z-path, "left-to-right and down." Durwin S. Talon (Indiana University, IUPUI) explores the techniques of color theory to immerse the reader within a graphic narrative via changing emotion, clarifying detail, setting mood, creating environment, and defining character. Diana Green (Minneapolis College of Art & Design) traces Vaughn Bode’s creation of a catalytic gestalt of the comics form by examining the influence of cartoonists and writers as disparate as Harvey Kurtzman, Alex Raymond, e.e. cummings, and James Joyce on Vaughn’s work. Room 30AB

2:15-3:15 Halo Universe—The Eisner Award–winning team of Brian Michael Bendis (New Avengers) and Alex Maleev (Daredevil), as well as their Halo editor Ruwan Jayatilleke (Marvel’s VP of development), give an inside scoop on Halo: Uprising, the comics miniseries, which occurs between the blockbuster video game Halo 2 and the highly anticipated Halo 3. Joining them for a Q&A session is best-selling author Eric Nylund (Ghosts of Onyx). Plus, Mark Tuttle (WizKids brand manager for Halo ActionClix) will give be on hand to discuss the Collectible Miniature Game, and John Williams (Topps creative director) will preview the Halo trading cards. Room 6A

2:15-3:00 New Line Cinema: Shoot 'Em Up—A gritty, fast-paced action thriller, Shoot ‘Em Up kicks into high gear with a memorable opening scene and never relents. New Line Cinema will show exclusive footage from Shoot 'Em Up, and star Clive Owen, along with director Michael Davis, will be there to discuss the film! Also included in the presentation will be a special preview of New Line Cinema's upcoming films, including The Golden Compass. Hall H

2:30-3:30 Dark Horse Comics—Be on hand for a special retrospective on Dark Horse Presents, the anthology series that started it all. Publisher Mike Richardson and editor Randy Stradley, along with a cast of creators, invite you to join them for a special trip down memory lane of who, what, when, where, and why. If that's not reason enough, make sure to stop by for an announcement so big, it will literally shake the foundations of the San Diego Convention Center! Room 1AB

2:30-3:30 Archaia Studios Press Round-Up—ASP comics editor Joseph Illidge leads a roundtable discussion of ASP writers and artists as they take questions about their past and future work. Panelists include Russ Manning Award–nominee David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Alex Sheikman (Robotika), Marvin Mann (Inanna’s Tears), Ed Lavallee (Revere), David Rodriguez (Starkweather: Immortal), and Nick Tapalansky (Awakening). Room 2

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

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

2:30-3:30 Filmation DVD Spotlight: From Isis and Jason of Star Command to Bravestarr and Beyond!—The award-winning DVDs from BCI Eclipse continue to shine a spotlight on "the Filmation Generation," and this year marks an unprecedented reunion. Be there when the stars of your favorite 1970s and 1980s show reunite for the first time in 30 years! Journey back in time with legendary Filmation founder Lou Scheimer, voice actress Erika Scheimer (She-Ra's Frosta and Loo-Kee and Space Academy's Peepo), actor and SF legend Bob Burns (Tracy the gorilla's "trainer" on The Ghost Busters), actor and author Eric Greene (Loki on Space Academy), actors and space rivals Craig Littler and Sid Haig (heroic Jason and the villainous Dragos on Jason of Star Command), director Tom Tataranowicz (of BraveStarr, Ghostbusters, and She-Ra fame), and chart-topping singer Ron Dante (the voice of The Archies). And for the first time ever, the zephyr winds blow in three of the stars of fan-favorite The Secrets of Isis to unite: Brian Cutler (Rick Mason), Joanna Pang (Cindy Lee), and Ronalda Douglas (Rennie Carrol)! Join special-features producer and moderator Andy Mangels to preview the newest vintage releases from Filmation's library and BCI Eclipse and see what surprises are in store for your Saturday morning memories! Room 5AB

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

2:30-4:00 Dimension Films: Halloween and The Mist—Join acclaimed musician and filmmaker Rob Zombie (The Devil's Rejects, House of 1000 Corpses) and several cast members in a special preview of Zombie’s entirely new take on the highly successful and terrifying Halloween legacy that began in 1978. While revealing a new chapter in the established Michael Myers saga, the film will surprise both classic and modern horror fans with a departure from prior films in the Halloween franchise. Brace yourself for unprecedented fear as Zombie turns back time to uncover the making of a pathologically disturbed, even cursed child named Michael Myers. Halloween comes early this year—opening everywhere on August 31, 2007.
Writer/director and three-time Oscar nominee Frank Darabont, along with actor Thomas Jane (The Punisher) and special guests, presents a sneak preview of The Mist. Based on the Stephen King novella, this highly anticipated film will hit theatres on November 21, 2007. After a violent storm attacks a town in Maine, an approaching cloud of mist appears the next morning. As the mist quickly envelops the area, a group of people get trapped in a local grocery store. The people soon discover that within the mist lives numerous species of horrific, unworldly creatures that entered through an interdimensional rift, which may or may not have been caused by a nearby military base. Ballroom 20

2:30-3:30 Third Annual Valiant Comics Open Conference—Join Kevin Vanhook, Mark Moretti and Valiant fans across the world to discuss the Valiant Universe. Other past Valiant artists including Jim Calafiore will be on hand for an ask-anything panel, up close and personal. Celebrate the return of the Valiant Universe with the impending Harbinger: The Beginning hardcover next month. What else is in store from Valiant? Room 24A

2:30-4:00 Painting Dynamic Portraits: Demonstration from Life with Jeff Watts—Nationally renowned portrait painter and fine artist Jeff Watts demonstrates how to create an oil portrait painting from a model. Jeff will discuss technique, methods, and procedures as he goes along. This is a great panel for those wanting to further their skills and those who want to know more about where to obtain the strong fundamentals essential to becoming a working professional artist. Room 30CDE

2:45-4:00 Chuck Screening and Q&A—Coming this fall to NBC and one of the most talked-about new series of the upcoming television season, Chuck is a comedic spy thriller that follows a regular help-desk worker who must save the world after downloading the CIA’s database into his brain. Talk to executive producers Josh Schwartz (The O.C.) and McG (Supernatural), co-executive producer Chris Fedak, and cast members after a premiere screening of the pilot. Coming this fall to NBC, Chuck is produced by College Hill Pictures, Wonderland Sound and Vision in association with Warner Bros. Television. Room 6B

3:15-4:45 Warner Bros. Home Video: 300 and Blade Runner Final Cut—First up, 300 creator Frank Miller, director Zack Snyder, stars including Lena Headey and David Wenham, producers Mark Canton and Gianni Nunnari, and other special guests are on hand to discuss the groundbreaking film and its highly anticipated July 31 DVD release. Be the first to see a clip not included in the theatrical release! Then it’s the 25th Anniversary Blade Runner "Final Cut.” Director Ridley Scott (Alien, Gladiator, Hannibal) has created a new, definitive version of this landmark film, with scenes and special effects that have never been shown before. Catch this first preview of the new version by the legendary director of the final, authoritative. and best presentation of one of the most acclaimed science fiction films of the 20th century. This presentation will feature unseen clips from the new cut as well as a look behind the scenes that will be featured on the upcoming DVD box set. The panel includes Ridley Scott, Sean Young, Joanna Cassidy, Joe Turkel, James Hong, Syd Mead (designer/futurist), Mark Stetson (FX), and DVD producer Charles de Lauzirika. Hall H

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

3:30-4:30 Spotlight on F. Paul Wilson—Most famous for his novel The Keep and his Repairman Jack series, author F. Paul Wilson comes to Comic-Con for the first time as a special guest. Paul will discuss his work and his books, including adaptations for comics, in this special Spotlight event. Room 2

3:30-4:30 Boom! Studios—Boom! Studios has an exciting new publishing plan for the rest of 2007 and 2008. Panelists talk about Boom!’s new partnerships with Disney, Paramount, and Epic Games, their existing partnerships, and the many exciting new projects coming out from Boom! Studios. Ross Richie, Adam Fortier, and Andrew Crosby (creator of the hit SCI FI series Eureka) talk about all things Boom! Room 3

3:30-4:30 WOW! It’s World of Warcraft!—Are you ready? Comics, collectibles, and online gaming are about to collide! How does the world’s most popular online game, World of Warcraft, plan to crash the comics and collectibles world? Find out here! As a special incentive, a collectible comic will be distributed to fans at the panel. Join Jim Lee (editorial director, WildStorm), Chris Metzen (VP of creative development, Blizzard), Mickey Neilson (writer/voice director, Blizzard), Hank Kanalz (VP/general manager, WildStorm), and Georg Brewer (VP, design and DC Direct creative) to discover the results of these combined forces! Room 4

3:30-4:30 Marvel Video Games—The interactive world of the Marvel Universe has never been more exciting. Meet the creators of your favorite Marvel video games and hear the inside scoop on the upcoming lineup of console, PC, and handheld games featuring the mighty Marvel Super Heroes. Get an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to make a great superhero videogame and participate in a Q&A with the game developers. Room 5AB

3:30-4:30 Comics to Film: TATUA—Legendary comic book creators Paul Jenkins (Wolverine Origin, Frontlines) and Rob Prior (Spawn The Impaler, Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV Show EFX) present their original new motion picture TATUA. Actors C. Thomas Howell (The Outsiders, Soul Man) and Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs, Thelma & Louise), and metal band Helmet featuring Page Hamilton (Unsung, Milquetoast) will talk about the movie and the unprecedented impact that comic writers currently have in Hollywood. Q&A will follow, as well as a video presentation on movie projects by Jenkins and Prior, plus the premiere of Helmet’s latest music video. Room 6A

3:30-4:30 American Dad—Seth MacFarlane and the entire cast of American Dad (Wendy Schaal, Rachael MacFarlane, Scott Grimes and Dee Bradley Baker) will read a classic episode of the hilarious Fox animated comedy LIVE for Comic-con fans! Immediately following the “table read,” exec producers Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman will open it up to questions from the audience, and will screen a sneak peek of a never-before-seen future episode. Room 6CDEF

3:30-4:30 Business of Web Comics—Scott Kurtz (PvP) and Robert Khoo (Penny Arcade) will create a brand-new webcomic, live on stage and show how the creative and business aspects of the property work (and don’t work) in parallel. Q&A session to follow afterward! Room 8

3:30-4:30 Broccoli Books—Broccoli Books are the people who brought you such great manga titles as Juvenile Orion, Galaxy Angel, KAMUI, Disgaea, and the Square Enix hit, E'S. You'll be the first to preview some new manga, merchandise, and more. Representatives will provide announcements and a Q&A session, not to mention some nice promo stuff for attendees. See you there! Room 10

3:30-4:30 Non-Sport and Entertainment Trading Cards—Did you know that trading cards have been made (or are in the works) for your favorite movies and television shows such as Heroes, Lost, Harry Potter, and High School Musical?Learn about them from Roxanne Toser (Non-Sport Update publisher), Todd Jordan (author of the brand new guide The Encyclopedia of Non-Sport and Entertainment Trading Cards), and others. Also to be discussed will be how the Internet and online sites such as Non-Sport Update’s “NSU Card Talk” forum are changing the hobby. All members of NSU Card Talk and anyone interested in trading cards are welcome to this fan group meeting. Room 24

3:30-5:00 Production Designers Guild—A panel of top production designers who have created the physical look of some of the most exciting movies and television shows of yesterday, today, and tomorrow discuss their craft and answer your questions. With moderator John Muto (T2: 3D) are panelists Ruth Ammon (Heroes), James D. Bissell (300), Alex McDowell (Watchmen), and Lawrence G. Paull (Blade Runner). Room 30AB

4:00-5:00 Lessons from Masters in Visual Storytelling—Marshall Vandruff will show how such masters of comic art as Winsor McCay (Little Nemo in Slumberland) and Harvey Kurtzman (MAD) brought images and story structure together that form a foundation for all visual storytelling, including children's books, animation, and film. This session is part of the Crash-Course in Sequential Art being offered next weekend at The Art Institute of California, San Diego. Room 30CDE

4:15-5:45 Warner Bros. Animation: The Batman/Legion of Super-Heroes—This action-packed 90 minutes is split between two Warner Bros. Animation standouts: The Batman and Legion of Super Heroes. The Caped Crusader crew just picked up its fourth Emmy Award heading into a season that promises even more punch, courtesy of guest appearances from some Justice League pals. Supervising producer Alan Burnett (The Batman), producer-director Michael Goguen (Batman: The Animated Series), renowned voice director Andrea Romano, and the voice of Batman himself, Rino Romano, will discuss the upcoming surprises. LOSH enters its second season with double the action as the group adds new members—and a new ally from across the space-time continuum—just in time to face a daunting new villain. Producer James Tucker (Justice League Unlimited), director Brandon Vietti (Superman Doomsday), and story editor/writer Michael Jelenic (The Batman) will be joined on the panel by cast members Yuri Lowenthal (Superman on LOSH), Phil Morris (Seinfeld, Smallville), and Alex Polinsky (Charles in Charge). TV Guide senior editor Rich Sands will moderate both halves of the panel. Room 6B

4:15-5:45 The Jim Henson Company: The Skrumps, Puppet Up! Uncensored, and More—Join co-CEOs Brian Henson (Farscape) and Lisa Henson (MirrorMask) along with Halle Stanford (Muppets Tonight), Craig Bartlett (Hey Arnold!), and John Chandler (creator, The Skrumps) to learn about the Henson Company’s newest gang of characters, The Skrumps, and see a live demonstration of the revolutionary technology that brings this animated troupe to life. Also featured will be a live performance of a sketch from the company’s stage show Puppet Up! Uncensored. Special guest performers Patrick Bristow (The Groundlings), Julianne Buescher (Puppet Up!), and Michelan Sisti (Dinosaurs). Ballroom 20

4:30-5:30 Demons, Devils, and Evil Dictators—Come on, villains are the best. Devising new and unique demons and devils is one of the best parts of a fantasy writer's job. Learn about some of the participants' favorite villains and what inspires their own evil imaginings. Watch authors Jon Lewis and Derek Benz (Grey Griffins series), Holly Black (Spiderwick, Ironside), DJ MacHale ( Pendragon: Pilgrims of Rayne), James Owen (Here, There Be Dragons), Frank Beddor ( Looking Glass Wars), Laini Taylor (Fairies of Dreamdark), Rebecca Moesta ( Crystal Doors #2: Ocean Realm), Nancy Holder (The Rose Bride), and William Boniface (The Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy) rub their hands and cackle gleefully. Room 1AB

4:30-6:00 So You Want to Be a Comic Book Retailer—You do, don't you? You have that dream of opening a great comic book specialty store, right? Then this is the one panel at this year's Comic-Con you can't afford to miss! This is also the only retailer-specific panel open to the general public at Comic-Con! The panel is moderated by ComicsPRO President Joe Field from Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff (Concord CA) and includes retailers Joe Ferrara from Atlantis Fantasyworld (Santa Cruz CA), Nancy Trempe from Comics Unlimited (Westminster CA), and Derrick Taylor from Comic Oasis (Las Vegas NV). Also featured is Dave Hawksworth from Diamond Comic Distributors, who has probably seen more comic book stores than anyone alive! An essential part of ComicsPRO’s mission is to grow the number of professional stores in the Direct Market, and the response to this panel over the last few years has been a good start. This is your chance to hear the "Comic Retailer Origin Stories" of the panelists and to ask the questions that will help you get your career in comics’ retailing off the ground. Successful futures in comic book retailing start here! Room 2

4:30-6:00 Treasures from the ASIFA Vault—Larry Loc (animation educator and executive board member of ASIFA-Hollywood), presents a screening of rare films and a viewing of rare animation artifacts from the ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archives. Room 3

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

4:30-5:30 Vertigo: Looking Over the Edge—Vertigo is a name that you have come to trust to deliver smart, provocative, and consistent quality books. Be here to find out what’s in store for your favorite Vertigo titles as well as some major new projects that will be announced for the first time! Hosted by senior VP/executive editor, Vertigo, Karen Berger, with group editor Shelly Bond, editors Will Dennis and Jonathan Vankin, and creators Jason Aaron (Scalped), Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets, Loveless), Mark Buckingham (Fables), Mike Carey (Crossing Midnight, Lucifer), Joshua Dysart (Swamp Thing), David Lapham (Silverfish), Simon Oliver (The Exterminators), Matt Wagner (Sandman Mystery Theatre), Steven T. Seagle (American Virgin), G. Willow Wilson (Cairo), Bill Willingham (Fables, Jack of Fables), Brian Wood (DMZ, Northlanders), and others! Room 5AB

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

4:30-5:30 Seven Seas Manga —You love Boogiepop & Kashimashi with all your otaku heart and you keep your copies of Amazing Agent Luna & Aoi House enshrined in plastic. Now join Seven Seas' editors and series creators in a wild and wacky (and slightly neurotic) panel as they answer the questions you want answered and unveil all their hot new titles and the big developments that the future has in store! Panelists include Jason DeAngelis (Seven Seas president), Adam Arnold (senior editor, writer of Aoi House), and Shiei (artist of Aoi House). Room 10

4:30-5:30 Center for Cartoon Studies: How to Dramatically Improve Your Comics—Whether you are applying for a job at Marvel, are seeking a Xeric Grant to self-publish, submitting work to Drawn and Quarterly, or applying to the Center for Cartoon Studies, Tom Devlin and James Sturm from The Center for Cartoon Studies will give you ten simple ways to drastically, dramatically, and definitively improve your comics. They will offer one-on-one portfolio reviews for the final 30 minutes. Don't miss this rare opportunity! Room 24A

4:45-5:45 The Boondocks—A sneak preview from the show’s highly anticipated second season. Join creator Aaron McGruder and various members of the show’s crew to hear about what’s in store for viewers this fall. Room 6A

4:45-5:45 Eureka—A small town with even bigger big secrets this season, Eureka is a community of geniuses assembled by the government to conduct top-secret research. What they've unwittingly created is a place where anything imaginable can happen . . . and does. Eureka started off with a bang and remained a must-see dramedy on SCI FI. The season 1 series premiere holds the distinction of being the highest-rated series telecast in SCI FI Channel history. See what all the buzz is about and get a sneak peak at the season ahead! Panelists include Colin Ferguson (Jack Carter), Salli Richardson (Allison Blake), Ed Quinn (Nathan Stark), Joe Morton (Henry Deacon), Jaime Paglia (co-creator and executive producer), and Tony Optican (VP, original programming, SCI FI). Room 6CDEF

5:00-6:00 PC Gamer and Maximum PC: How to Play a Better Game, Part 2—Chuck Osborn (senior executive editor of PC Gamer), Norman Chan (contributing editor of PC Gamer), and a representative from game publisher Midway host a discussion and Q&A session about first-person shooters. Topics will include basic strategy, performance-enhancing tips, and genre-specific hardware upgrade recommendations, using Midway’s Unreal Tournament 3 as a demonstration tool. Room 30AB

5:00-6:00 Pitching an Animated Show—How do you get your cartoon on the air? Selling an animated series isn’t as easy as it seems. The process is as creative as it is frustrating—and equal parts unpredictable. The major networks get thousands of pitches every year, so is there a secret recipe to getting your idea on the top of the pile? Maybe, and these are the people to tell you: executives responsible for shepherding new shows at the major studios, including Eric Coleman, VP animation, development & production at Nickelodeon; Heather Kenyon, senior director of development original animation for Cartoon Network; Jill Stewart, manager, original series, Disney Channel Animation, as well as creators Jorge R. Gutierrez (Nickelodeon’s El Tigre) and Gabe Swarr (Big Pants Mouse), both industry veterans currently in development on several projects. This will be an hour chock-full of wisdom, woes, and even a few “you-saw-it-here-first” surprises, moderated by animation writer/creator Jon M. Gibson, also in development. Room 30CDE

5:00-6:00 Star Wars at 30 Years with Steve Sansweet—This summer marks the 30th anniversary of the Star Wars saga, and its indelible influence on popular culture. We’ve got 30 years of great memories thanks to the galaxy far, far away, but there are also great things to come, too. Join Lucasfilm’s Steve Sansweet for a little Star Wars nostalgia, a review of the 30th anniversary year so far, and a look at what’s new and what’s coming for Star Wars. Hall H

5:30-6:30 Top Cow—Marc Silvestri (Civil War: The Initiative), Seth Green (RobotChicken), Hugh Sterbakov (Freshmen), Ron Marz (Witchblade), Stjepan Sejic (First Born), Matt Hawkins (president of Top Cow), Rob Levin (VP of editorial) and some special guests join moderator Filip Sablik (VP of marketing and sales) to discuss Top Cow's publishing plans for the rest of 2007 and explain why 2008 will be “The Year of The Cow!” Find out what “Pilot Season” is all about and what Top Cow has in store for the coming year! Plus every attendee will receive a free exclusive mini-lithograph. Room 1AB

5:30-6:30 AFI’s Behind the Plastic I: The Nuts and Bolts of Creating Collectibles—Action figure and collectibles sales and marketing have changed radically since the days of walking down to your local discount stores and picking up your favorite MEGO hero or new Star Wars figure. The Direct Market, mail order, and the Internet have all changed where and how you can find your favorite toys. How can more than one company hold the same license? Can a license without a media tie-in make it in today’s crowded market? Is the collectors market making a difference, or is it still “all about the kids”? Who's left to make? Find out the answers to these questions and ask your own burning questions of panelists Georg Brewer, VP of design and retail product development, DC Direct, DC Unlimited; Brant Bridges, product manager, SideShow Collectables; Jesse Falcon, VP of product development, Toy Biz/Marvel Toys; Randy Falk, director of product development, NECA; Jason Lenzi, EVP/co-owner, Bif Bang Pow; and Chuck Terceira; director, Diamond Select Toy. Moderated by Daniel “Julius Marx” Pickett from ActionFigureInsider.com. Room 4

5:30-6:30 Scott McCloud and Family—Award-winning comics artist and author Scott McCloud (Understanding Comics; Making Comics) and his family (Ivy, Sky, and Winter McCloud) recap an incredible year on the road, meeting thousands of comics artists and fans and seeing all 50 states, plus Canada, England and Spain! Want to know the state of American comics in 2007? The Clan McCloud has all the answers! Room 5AB

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

5:30-6:30 Yen Press Launches!—Spend an hour with Kurt Hassler (former Borders graphic novel and manga buyer), Rich Johnson (former VP, book trade, DC Comics) and senior editor JuYon Lee (former senior editor, ICE Kunion) as they discuss what’s in store for Yen Press, the new graphic novel and manga imprint of Hachette Book Group USA. Room 10

5:30-6:30 Stargate Offworld Fandom Gathering—The iris is open! Experience the essence of Stargate in one hour! Marcia Patterson invites you to get together with other Stargate fans to share trivia, games, giveaways, hot news, fanworks, discussions, a costume contest, and other Stargate Offworld Fandom surprises! Joining Marcia from Stargate Offworld Fandom are Martin A. Smith, Jennifer Carey, and Tony Cade. Room 24A

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

6:00-7:00 Lost in Translation—Lately foreign comics, especially manga, have topped the bookstore graphic-novel sales charts. And in other media as well, foreign entertainment has been making a big push. See long-time translators, editors, and industry people answer questions and discuss the trials and triumphs of being in this exciting area of the media industry! Panelists include William Flanagan (Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle), Jonathan Tarbox (Angel Sanctuary), Jake Forbes (Fullmetal Alchemist), Jason Thompson (Manga: The Complete Guide), Shaenon Garrity (Overlooked Manga Festival blog), and Stephen Paul (Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad)! Room 3

6:00-7:00 DC Nation—Come one, come all, rise up and join the DC Nation! Meet Dan DiDio, senior VP/executive editor DCU, as he invites you to be part of the revolution! Discuss surviving 52, living in a multiverse guarded by Monitors, and trying to discover the secret of the cosmic chess game as the DCU counts down. Rise up and shout—The Nation is waiting! Room 6A

6:00-8:00 Ray Harryhausen and 20 Million Miles to Earth: 50th Anniversary Edition—2007 marks the half-century milestone of one of the earliest films by stop-motion animation genius Ray Harryhausen, 20 Million Miles to Earth. The film, which depicts the destruction of Rome by a reptile from the planet Venus, has been colorized with Harryhausen’s personal supervision, and he wants to be with you while you watch it for the first time. Ray Harryhausen will speak briefly, answer a few questions, then do live commentary while the film is screened. He’ll also answer more questions as the screening proceeds. The film will be available on DVD July 31 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Room 6B

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

6:00-7:00 Confessions of a Game Designer—Have you ever played a game and thought, “I could make a better game than this!” Now’s your chance to find out if you can. Join veteran designer Alex Jimenez (Enigma: Rising Tide, Battletanxs, Darkstalkers) as he answers all your questions and takes you behind the scenes of the video game industry. Learn who decides what games are made and how, and most important, what you need to know to get in. Find out where the industry is, where it’s going, and how you can be a part of it. Whether your interests are in art, programming or design, if you love games or blame them for the fall of civilization, here’s your chance to see if you’ve got what it takes to make it in the biz! Room 30AB

6:00-7:00 Building Entertainment Intellectual Properties—Mat Broome has assembled a roundtable of t top working professionals responsible for producing comics, books, music, and games, all too talk about how intellectual properties are built. X-Men, WildC.A.T.S, and EverQuest are only a few of the intellectual properties that these panelists have had a vital role in producing. They include Mat Broome (17 years’ experience as an artist/illustrator, entertainment and brand manager, and business owner), Mike Smith (lead audio on Everquest 2 and Untold Legends), Ben Herrera (artist for Malibu Comics and Rockstar Games), and Clint Worley (multiple titles for Sony on PC, PS2 and PSP platforms). Room 30CDE

6:15-7:45 Kevin Smith—He’s back, and this time not even traffic can stop him! Comic-Con favorite Kevin Smith holds court in another of his no-holds-barred Q&A sessions, talking about just anything he damn well pleases. Hall H

6:30-7:30 Star Wars Day: Star Wars Trivia—Members of the San Diego Star Wars Society, veteran hosts of great Star Wars trivia game shows at Comic-Con International in 2004, 2005, and 2006, are planning another trivia challenge for all fans who think they know their stuff about the galaxy far, far away. Room 1AB

6:30-7:30 Shocker Toys: By Fans for Fans!—Geoff Beckett (Shocker Toys CEO) and Lance Buttiglieri (Shocker Toys COO) have carved a niche in the toy industry with licensed toy products and their own toy creation: The Shockinis. Join Geoff and Lance along with Who Wants to be a Superhero, Metalocalypse, and “Indie Spotlight” comic artists for an informative and entertaining panel! Room 4

6:30-7:30 The Chiodo Bros: Stop-Motion Animation in the Computer Age—Many thought that computer animation would replace stop-motion animation. Instead, it has revitalized this ancient form of filmmaking. The Chiodo Bros. look at the surprising changes that computer technology has brought to stop motion. Room 5AB

6:30-7:30 What's Up with Penguin—Susan Allison (editorial director, Berkley Publishing Group), Anne Sowards (editor, Ace/Roc science fiction & fantasy), and Tim Travaglini (editor, Penguin Young Readers) give you the dish on forthcoming books from your favorite authors, answer questions, and give away free advance reading copies and samplers! Room 10

6:30-7:30 Simpsons Fan Group Meeting—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. This gathering is sponsored by the staff of the SimpsonsCollectors.com website. Collectors from all over the country will be here. Meet the other Simpsons collectors that you see on the message boards and put faces to the names. This gathering is a great chance to network with other collectors from across the country and share your hobby with others. Room 24A
Nighttime Programs

7:15-9:00 Doctor Strange World Premiere Screening and Panel—Lionsgate and Marvel Studios present the world premiere of the newest Marvel Animated Feature, Doctor Strange, with a film screening and Q&A panel featuring Marvel’s senior VP of creative development animation Craig Kyle, plus members of the cast and production team. Room 6CDEF

7:30-8:30 Klingon Lifestyle Presentation—Last year the IKV Stranglehold lost a valued member of the crew after a traitorous act. Their current mission forces them to travel a path few return from to regain what they lost. All species are welcome to experience the ongoing voyage and adventure of life aboard a Klingon vessel. Room 6A

8:15-10:15 SCI FI Friday Night: Eureka and Superhero Screenings—Don’t get SCI FI in your hotel room? Come to a commercial-free screening of Eureka and Who Wants to Be a Superhero! Come dressed as your favorite superhero! Colin Ferguson, star of Eureka, will open up the evening’s festivities. Catch up on Thursday’s premiere of Superhero and watch an all-new episode of Eureka before it airs on SCI FI. The first 1,000 attendees will receive Feedback’s Dark Horse comic book! Room 6B

8:30-11:30 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards—The 19th annual Eisner Awards, the “Oscars” of the comics industry, will be given out by celebrity presenters, including Reno 911’s Tom Lennon and Ben Garant, comedian Brian Posehn, cartoon voice actor Maurice LeMarche, British TV celebrity Jonathan Ross, and author Neil Gaiman. Other prestigious awards to be given out include the Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award and the Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award. The master of ceremonies is Bongo Comics’ Bill Morrison, who will be aided by the Go-Gos’ Jane Wiedlen. Admission to the Eisners is free to all Comic-Con attendees—just be sure to bring your badge. Doors open for pros and VIPs at 7:30 and for attendees at 8:15. Ballroom 20

9:00-11:00 The Dead One: An American Legend—El Muerto Screening:— On his way to a Day of the Dead celebration, Diego de la Muerte is taken by the Aztec forces of darkness in order to fulfill their evil prophecy. Now, trying to protect those he loves, he must struggle against the god of death that created him. Based on the comic created by Javier Hernandez (creator of comic book). Javier, Tony Plana (star), and Larry Rattner (producer) join members of the cast for a Q&A after the screening. Room 6A

9:15-10:15 Worst Cartoons Ever!—Animation historian Jerry Beck (Cartoon Brew.com) is back with another hilarious program of the worst cartoons ever made. And he should know, he's seen ’em all! The program consists of rare, lost animated shows—most produced for TV in the 1960s—that are not on video, not on YouTube, not shown anywhere, and now you'll know why. New episodes of audience favorites Mighty Mr. Titan (the physical fitness superhero), Rocket Robin Hood (a spandex-clad space cadet), and Super President (a nuclear-powered weapon of mass destruction) are joined by debut showings of Moon Mullins (a desecration of a classic comic strip), Sinbad Jr. (a sea sick superman), and another chapter of Spunky & Tadpole (a boy and his brain-damaged bear). It's crap-tastic! Room 6CDEF

10:15-12:15 Spike and Mike: The Gauntlet—Spike & Mike’s Sick & Twisted Gauntlet Screening is a yearly tradition at Comic-Con, the place where they screen most of the new material they’ve receive throughout the year. The audience votes via applause, and their reaction is the deciding factor of whether they keep playing it or whether it will make it into the next world tour. “Gift Girl” gives out prizes for whatever Spike deems a good reason. Can you survive “The Gauntlet”? Room 6CDEF