Comic-Con 2007 Countdown Part 3

No doubt about it, Saturday is definitely the busiest (and most crowded) day of all at Comic-Con. If you don't already have your ticket for Saturday, however, you're out of luck as tickets for Saturday have sold out, as have the 4-day discounted tickets. If we remember correctly, last year's tickets for Saturday sold out that morning. The fact that they've sold out a week prior are testament to the fact of the Con's increasing popularity. Below we list our some of the programming gems for that day. For the complete list, click here.

Saturday, July 28

10:00-11:15 Bionic Woman: Exclusive Pilot Screening and Q&A— Be one of the first to see this special version of the Bionic Woman pilot and participate in a Q&A panel session with series star and newcomer Michelle Ryan (EastEnders); executive producers David Eick (Battlestar Galactica), Glen Morgan (The X-Files), and Jason Smilovic (Lucky Number Slevin); co-stars Miguel Ferrer (Crossing Jordan) and Will Yun Lee (Witchblade); as well as a special guest appearance by Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica), who portrays Sarah Corvis, and more. When a devastating car accident leaves Jaime Sommers (Michelle Ryan) at death's door, her only hope for survival is a cutting-edge, top-secret technology that comes at a hefty price. With a whole new existence and a debt to repay, Jaime must figure out how to use her extraordinary abilities for good, while weighing the personal sacrifices she will have to make. It's Jaime's journey of self-discovery and inner strength that will help her embrace her new life as the Bionic Woman. Ballroom 20 Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy Television

10:30-11:30 Meet the Press: Writing About Comics— From blogs to books to magazines, the public conversation about comics is livelier—and faster—than it's ever been. Heidi MacDonald (Publishers Weekly), Nisha Gopalan (Entertainment Weekly), Tom Spurgeon (The Comics Reporter), Tom McLean (Variety), Graeme McMillan (The Savage Critics), and moderator Douglas Wolk (Reading Comics) discuss the state of the art of comics criticism. Room 3 Categories: Comic Books

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 Categories: Comic Books Seminars & Workshops

10:30-11:30 Black Panel— This year's Black Panel features Prodigal Sunn (The Wu Tang Clan), Ehrich Van Lowe (TV producer The Cosby Show, The Tom Joyner Show), Sidney Clifton (executive VP, Film Roman), Denys Cowan (senior VP, BET Animation), Andy Horne (producer, 24), Marv Wolfman (creator of Blade), and newcomer Korby Marks. Hear about their exciting new comics and animation projects! Moderated by Michael Davis. Room 5AB Categories: Animation Comic Books Horror and Suspense Movies Science Fiction & Fantasy Television

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

10:30-12:00 Animation Writers Caucus: Holy Bleep, Batman! or Censorship and Animation— What can't you say in a cartoon? What can't you show? Why? Who says? Writers and producers of daytime and primetime animated television series tell tales out of school about what they didn't get to do and what they got away, in a panel sponsored by the Writers Guild of America's Animation Writers Caucus. Featuring panelists Alan Burnett (Batman), Aaron Ehasz (Avatar), Eric Kaplan (The Drinky Crow Show), Craig Miller (Curious George), Andrew Nichols (Jimmy Neutron, Will & Dewitt), and Patric Verrone (Futurama). Room 8 Categories: Animation Television

10:30-11:30 Spirituality In Comics— Spiritual themes weave a significant pattern in the story arc of our comics’ worlds. Hear from distinguished guests Doug TenNapel (Creature Tech), Holly Golightly (School Bites), Miriam Libicki (Real Gone Girl Studios), Christine Kerrick (Soul Trappers), and Leo Partible (Behind the Screen: Insiders on Faith). Moderated by Scott A. Shuford (Christian Comic Arts Society). Room 10 Categories: Comic Books

10:30-11:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #9: Superheroes, Villains, and Vixens: A Discussion of the Top Pop-Culture Icons of 20th-Century Comicdom— Gina Misiroglu (Visible Ink Press), Peter Coogan (Fontbonne University), Alex Boney (Ohio State University), and Danny Fingeroth (Disguised as Clark Kent) discuss the popularity of the superhero and supervillain in popular culture (why some are fleeting, why some endure), the evolution of both heroes and villains in comics, characters who have alternately been hero and villains, and the unique dynamic between hero and villain and how that relationship has changed—and in many ways remained the same—since the early 20th century, when superheroes first made their mark on the comics pages. Specific characters are discussed and debated, with audience participation. Room 30AB Categories: Comic Arts Conference Comic Books

10:30-12:00 Comic Book Law School 102— 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 acclaimed The Trademark and Copyright Book comic book (soon to be expanded into a graphic novel). This second workshop will cover some of the more complicated issues facing creators who are looking to actually market their creations and ideas, including transfers and licensing of rights, marketing, merchandising and distribution, and what to do when Hollywood comes knocking. This interactive seminar gives attendees the opportunity to participate in the discussions as we cover various means for profiting from your creations and (time permitting) to 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. Room 30CDE Categories: Art and Illustration Comic Books Comics Law School Seminars & Workshops Webcomics

10:45-11:45 Marvel Ultimate Universe— It’s the beginning of something huge, true believers! The architects of the Ultimate U—including Joe Quesada and Jeph Loeb—are on hand to unveil the most shocking development in the six-year history of the Universe that redefined the industry! Room 6B Categories: Comic Books

10:45-12:00 The Simpsons— Having just aired its 400th episode, The Simpsons has now released its first feature film. Join members of the team responsible for both and find out how they did it, including Matt Groening (creator and executive producer), Al Jean (executive producer/head writer), David Mirkin (former executive producer), Matt Selman (executive producer), Michael Price (co-executive producer), David Silverman (director of The Simpsons Movie), Matt Warburton (supervising producer), Don Payne (consulting producer), and Yeardley Smith (voice of Lisa Simpson). Moderated by Bill Morrison. Hall H Categories: Animation Movies Television

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

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

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

11:30-12:30 SLG Publishing— SLG staff and creators look ahead at their new releases, both digital and in print, and field any and all questions regarding the company, the industry, and all things SLG. Moderated by company president Dan Vado. Room 10 Categories: Comic Books

11:30-1:00 Comics Arts Conference Session #10: Comics as/and History— Vincent Tomasso (Stanford University) argues that Frank Miller’s 300 is a story designed and manufactured for an audience who is used to and expects the comic book framework, and as such it is inappropriate to devalue Miller’s work on the sole basis of historical accuracy. Thomas Schilz (San Diego Miramar College) asserts that Frank Miller’s 300, though historically inaccurate, manages to achieve a propaganda viewpoint that would have been embraced by the Greeks of the 5th century BC; that their struggle against Persia was the first ideological conflict in history and marked the birth of Western democracy and individualism. Phillip Troutman (George Washington University) revisits and extends Joseph Witek's path-breaking study Comic Books as History (1990) by examining Will Eisner's The Plot, discovering insights into Eisner's intentions and drafting process provided through interviews with Benjamin Herzberg, situating The Plot in the context of other modes of visual history. Room 30AB Categories: Comic Arts Conference Comic Books

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

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

12:00-1:30 Wolfman and Kesel Writing Comics— Marv Wolfman and Barbara Kesel conduct a comics writing workshop, discussing how to create characters, story, and theme. If you've ever wanted to become a comics writer, this is for you. Room 30CDE Categories: Comic Books Seminars & Workshops

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

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

12:30-1:30 TOKYOPOP and the Jim Henson Company Present Legends of the Dark Crystal and Return to Labyrinth— In 1982, Jim Henson released The Dark Crystal, a visionary fantasy film unlike anything seen on film before. Now, on the 25th anniversary of the movie, the story continues in Legends of the Dark Crystal, a multivolume manga prequel. Writer Barbara Randall Kesel (Meridian), artist Heidi Arnhold, editor Tim Beedle, and head of children’s television for the Jim Henson Company Halle Stanford preview and discuss the upcoming series. Joining them will be Jake Forbes, author of the Return to Labyrinth manga, who will be on hand to discuss the upcoming volume of this successful Labyrinth sequel. Room 10 Categories: Anime & Manga Kids Movies Science Fiction & Fantasy

12:45-2:00 Heroes: Exclusive Volume II Clip and Q&A— Heroes chronicles the lives of ordinary people who discover they possess extraordinary abilities. Be the first to see an exclusive clip from Volume II and learn more about the DVD Heroes 360 and more. Participate in a Q&A session moderated by co-executive producer/comic book writer Jeph Loeb, with creator Tim Kring, comic book artist Tim Sale (Batman: The Long Halloween), and the entire cast—Jack Coleman (H.R.G.), Noah Gray-Cabey (Micah Sanders), Greg Grunberg (Matt Parkman), Ali Larter (Niki Sanders), James Kyson Lee (Ando), Masi Oka (Hiro Nakamura), Hayden Panettiere (Claire Bennet), Adrian Pasdar (Nathan Petrelli), Zachary Quinto (Sylar), Sendhil Ramamurthy (Mohinder Suresh), Dania Ramirez (Maya), Milo Ventimiglia (Peter Petrelli), and more. Read our Exclusive Interviews with Tim Kring, Masi Oka and Tim Sale! Ballroom 20 Categories: Comic Books Science Fiction & Fantasy Television

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

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

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

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

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

1:30-2:30 Family Guy— Back by popular demand, join creator/star Seth MacFarlane, showrunner/executive producer David A. Goodman and the creative team behind Fox’s number-one comedy Family Guy for an uproarious and uncensored hour of laughs and Q&A. Rumor has it they’ll even preview what is destined to become a Family Guy classic—this year’s season premiere episode, which retells the Star Wars story with the Griffins and their fellow residents of Quahog, Rhode Island, cast in the iconic roles of the legendary film. Stewie as Darth Vader? Victory shall be his! Room 6CDEF Categories: Animation Television

2:15-3:15 Battlestar Galactica— Michelle Tauber of People Magazine calls it “an instantly addictive, girl-powered show that packs emotional punch, rip-roaring adventure and surprisingly sexy heat.” Come see what all the buzz is about as SCI FI celebrates the ladies of Battlestar Galactica. Panelists include Mary McDonnell (Laura Roslin), Katee Sackhoff (Kara “Starbuck” Thrace), Tricia Helfer (Number Six), Ronald D. Moore (executive producer), David Eick (executive producer), and Erik Storey (VP, original programming, SCI FI). Moderated by Mark Bernardin of Entertainment Weekly magazine. Ballroom 20 Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy Television

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

2:30-3:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #12: Poster Session— Want to go in depth with a comics scholar? The poster session provides that opportunity. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday scholars' PowerPoint presentations will be available to read in printed "poster books," then the scholars will be on hand at the poster session to discuss their presentations in small-group and one-on-one discussions. Jennifer K. Stuller provides a critical history of the cultural effect of Peter O'Donnell's Modesty Blaise while exploring her contributions to comics narrative to elucidate the legacy of Britain's princess of spy-fi. Brad Ricca (Case Western Reserve University) unveils "The Secret Name of Lois Lane" by tracing early, never-before-seen Siegel and Shuster material and outlining a Lois whose character and name is indebted to various, previously neglected sources, as well as proposing the definitive identity of the "real" Lois and showing how this information critically informs our understanding of her early character as an idealized (but problematic) representative of 'higher' art. Gregory Bray (SUNY—New Paltz) examines the way adolescent trauma in Smallville is encoded through the principles' interactions with their parents—Jor El, Jonathan and Martha Kent, and Lionel Luthor—and asserts that Clark is defined by his trauma so fully that it's all that feeds his actions and drains the rest of who or what could be, while Lex is ultimately consumed with his destiny and enters a cycle of anti-humanism. Marc DiPaolo (Alvernia College) discusses the portrayal of the Punisher as insane Italian American crimefighter and Vietnam veteran. Robert Emmons (Art Institute of Philadelphia) explores the personal experiences of Alison Bechdel in Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic and Craig Thompson in Blankets and how they can be transposed to a young audience to teach an understanding of the "other" to create open and honest discussion that provides context for the "other" and ourselves. Hal Shipman (Northwestern University) examines the particular aesthetics that are consistently at work in the graphic memoirs such as Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis, Guy DeLisle's Pyongyang, Alison Bechdel's Fun Home, and Judd Winick's Pedro and Me to elucidate what it is about this most subjective of media that has made it so effective in telling these tales so explicitly presented as truth. Doug Highsmith (CSU—East Bay) traces the rise and fall of the American romance comic book. Travis Langley (Henderson State University) relates the conflict between pro-registration and anti-registration heroes in Marvel Comics' Civil War to Erich Fromm's basic human dilemma involving conflicting desires for freedom and security, examining how character motivations on both sides arise from positive human qualities because Fromm's image of human nature is ultimately optimistic, holding that people on either side are struggling to find what is best for all. Jason Strykowski (True West Magazine), Meg Frisbee (University of New Mexico), and Shawn Wiemann (University of New Mexico) use the failure of Marvel's NFL Superpro to show how representations of the fantastic in sequential arts are incompatible with the fantasies in professional sports and thereby reveal contrasts that cannot be resolved in a single form of American popular culture. A group of graduate students from the UC—San Diego present a poster panel on comics and the construction of identity: Marisa Brandt looks at memory and identity in Garry Trudeau's Doonesbury arc The War Within; Matthew Brown asks why the DC Universe should have crises of identity; Adam Streed and Amanda Brovold assert that the superhero is as good as dead; Sabrina Starnaman examines identity formation in David B.'s Epileptic; and Evan Moreno-Davis explores how Christopher Chance targets the human condition. Room 30AB Categories: Comic Arts Conference Comic Books

3:00-4:15 Marvel: Spider-Man— This is the panel we’ve been teasing for months! Join Joe Quesada, Spidey editor Steve Wacker and the new creators on the thrice-monthly Amazing Spider-Man to find out what’s in store for Peter and his supporting cast, and why 2008 will see the dawning of a brand new day! Room 6B Categories: Comic Books

3:30-4:30 Radical Comics— With a combined experience of 60 years in comics, film, music, and photography, Dave Elliott (Atomeka) and Barry Levine (film producer for Rex Mundi) have joined together to bring the world of film to comics: pulp adventure, epic fantasy, horror, science fiction, all by the top creators of comics, film, and fantasy. See for yourself why so much excitement is building around Radical Comics’ first titles: Hercules, Legends, Orphan, and Caliber. When the company debuts its titles in 2008, you will learn the true meaning of Radical. Room 2 Categories: Comic Books Movies

3:30-4:30 Simplicity: The Life and Art of Alex Toth— Featured for the first time will be the exclusive screening of the documentary Simplicity: The Life and Art of Alex Toth. The documentary will show what made Alex such a unique and beloved artist. Following the screening will be a brief panel discussion featuring Mark Chiarello, Ruben Procopio, Toth’s children, and documentary producers Alex Gray and Jon Mefford. Room 3 Categories: Art and Illustration Comic Books

3:30-4:30 Futurama— Matt Groening is proud to announce the long-awaited return of the animated sci-fi comedy classic Futurama! Matt and executive producer David X. Cohen will be on the dais, accompanied by writer Ken Keeler, animation directors Peter Avanzino and Dwayne Carey- Hill, and for the first time together on stage in any universe, actors Billy West (Fry), Katey Sagal (Leela), John DiMaggio (Bender), and Maurice LaMarche (Kif Kroker)! The cast and crew will entertain your questions and present a sneak peek at Bender’s Big Score! in glorious wide-screen format! Moderated by Bill Morrison. Ballroom 20 Categories: Animation Science Fiction & Fantasy

3:30-5:00 The Costume Designers Guild Presents Costume Centric: Designing Icons— Deborah Nadoolman Landis (Raiders of the Lost Ark), president of the Costume Designers Guild, Local 892 will interview costume designers Mary Vogt (The Fantastic Four: The Return of the Silver Surfer), Michael Wilkinson (300), and Mona May (Enchanted). There will be a Q&A as part of the program. Later in the evening, the CDG designers will be awarding the first ever CDG Prize for Outstanding Costume at the Comic-Con Masquerade. Room 30AB Categories: Comic Books Costuming Fandom Movies

4:00-5:00 Two Rays: Bradbury and Harryhausen— Two of the living legends of science fiction and fantasy reunite in this Comic- Con exclusive event! Author Ray Bradbury and filmmaker Ray Harryhausen share a life-long friendship and passionate interest in all things fantastic. Joining them are Bradbury biographer Sam Weller and Harryhausen producer Arnold Kunert. Room 6CDEF Categories: Animation Fandom Horror and Suspense Movies Science Fiction & Fantasy

4:00-5:00 Jeff Smith— Join Jeff for an open Q&A about his latest projects, including Shazam: The Monster Society of Evil (DC Comics), the new Bone Volume 6 color edition (Scholastic), the new Art of Bone book (Dark Horse) and the Ohio State Wexner Center Bone Art Exhibit planned for 2008. Also get a sneak-peek at his upcoming new self-published comic: RASL. Room 8 Categories: Comic Books

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

4:45-5:45 Dark Horse Presents: Joss Whedon— With the hugely successful release of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 for Dark Horse Comics, Joss Whedon (Fray, Astonishing X-Men) talks about picking up where the TV series left off, his other projects, future plans, and possibly even a few surprises. A sneak peek from the upcoming Serenity—Collector's Edition DVD will be shown. Ballroom 20 Categories: Comic Books Movies Science Fiction & Fantasy Television

5:00-6:00 Ellen Forney: I Love Led Zepplin— This multimedia show features Ellen Forney performing as narrator with flash cartoon clips of her wildly amusing observations on contemporary urban culture, including her elegy to live-fast, die-young ethos “The Final Soundtrack,” which inspired the title of her book. The program will also include her collaboration with comedian Margaret Cho, “How to Be a Fabulous Fag Hag,” and her early brush with celebrity in “My Date with Camille Paglia.” Room 4 Categories: Fandom

5:15-6:30 The Sarah Connor Chronicles Screening and Q&A— Catch an exclusive screening of an extended cut — made especially for Comic-Con — of the pilot of The Sarah Connor Chronicles followed by a Q&A with stars Lena Headey (300), Thomas Dekker (Heroes), Summer Glau (Firefly), and Richard T. Jones (Event Horizon), along with executive producer/creator Josh Friedman (War of the Worlds) and executive producers David Nutter (The X- Files) and James Middleton (of C-2 Pictures, producers of Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines). Coming soon to FOX, The Sarah Connor Chronicles is produced by C-2 Pictures in association with Warner Bros. Television. Room 6CDEF Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy Television

5:30-8:00 Gays in Comics Panel and Mixer: The 20th Anniversary!— Two decades of “Gays in Comics” is celebrated at its birthplace: Comic-Con! From DC's diverse roster that includes a lesbian Question and Batwoman and a gay Pied Piper and Midnighter to Marvel's Moondragon and Quasar or Hulkling and Wicca, super-hero comics have come a long way in representing gay characters. With Yaoi also exploding in the marketplace, the bravura graphic novel Fun Home winning awards worldwide, and TV shows such as Heroes tapping into the comic book closet, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered characters and fans are finally being represented. An all-star panel of GLBT creators (and a straight one) will offer startling insight and glimpses of surprises to come! Joining founding moderator Andy Mangels, best-selling author of Star Trek novels and director of She-Ra and Isis DVD documentaries, are Alison Bechdel, the writer/artist of the critical best-seller Fun Home and Dykes to Watch Out For; Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, the writer of Sensational Spider-Man and Nightcrawler; Chuck Kim, a writer for the Heroes TV series and many DC Comics titles; Charles "Zan" Christensen, the co-founder of PRISM and writer of the upcoming The Mark of Aeacus; Alonso Duralde, pop culture critic, author of 101 Must-See Movies for Gay Men, and former Advocate arts editor; and Megan Gedris, PRISM grant-winning artist of Yu+Me manga webcomic. Plus, a very important special guest may make an appearance! Afterward, stick around for the hour-long gay comics fan mixer/social, sponsored by PRISM Comics, with prizes and surprise special guests! Room 6A Categories: Anime & Manga Comic Books Fandom Webcomics

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

6:00-7:00 Drawing the Line: The Untold Story of the Animation Unions from Bosko to Bart Simpson— Noted animation director and artist Tom Sito (Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Lion King), discusses the secrets behind the animation labor movement, from his new book, Drawing the Line. Room 4 Categories: Animation Seminars & Workshops

6:00-7:00 The Pitching Hour— Jermaine Turner (director, original series, Disney/ABC Cable Networks Group), Jill Stewart (manager, original series, Disney Channel Animation), Dan Evans (network exec, Digimon), Jeremy Love (VP, Gettosake Entertainment), Laurenn McCubbin (producer, Showtime's Rent Girl), and Jonas Agin (senior VP, Tom Lynch Company) will take an idea from conception through production. 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 creator 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 will be IP lawyer Brendan McFeely to give creators insight on protecting their ideas as they navigate Hollywood! Room 5AB Categories: Movies Seminars & Workshops Television

6:00-7:00 The Goon— Independent and cult comic book icon Eric Powell discusses the past, present, and future of his Eisner Award–winning comic The Goon, from the ongoing series to the long-awaited Chinatown graphic novel. Room 8 Categories: Comic Books

6:00-7:00 Indyfans and the Quest for Fortune and Glory— Indiana Jones fans unite! Join the fans from the upcoming documentary Indyfans and the Quest for Fortune and Glory as they "moderate" this one-stop Indiana Jones information center for all the fans! Various "experts" will be on hand to embark on discussions about all things Indiana Jones, including the upcoming fourth film. And don't miss out on the Indiana Jones Trivia Contest; the winner will receive an Indy Magnoli Ceramic Holy Grail. Room 24A Categories: Fandom Movies Science Fiction & Fantasy

6:00-7:00 Create Your Own Comics and Manga— Learn how to create comics and manga on your computer. Manga Studio, the leading Manga and comic art software, provides all the essential tools you need to create professional, ready-to-publish pages from start to finish! Manga Studio offers an intuitive interface and delivers the best suite of ready-to-use screen tones, content, and special manga and comic effects for hobbyists, experienced artists, and professionals. Featuring Steve Yatson (VP of marketing, e frontier America Inc.) and Lincy Chan (manga artist, TOKYOPOP). Room 30AB Categories: Anime & Manga Fandom Seminars & Workshops

6:00-7:00 The Hero Initiative: I'm Supposed to Retire on This?!— When you're a professional in comics, you are in charge of your own destiny, including paying your taxes and funding your retirement. But how are you supposed to save any money when Uncle Sam takes it all? And if you do have any money left over, where do you put it—IRAs, SEPs, savings accounts or bank CDs, what's the difference? Harlan Wenig (independent financial advisor) and Joe Davidson (registered tax preparer) explore the financial aspects of being a comic book professional. Room 30CDE Categories: Animation Art and Illustration Comic Books Seminars & Workshops

6:30-7:30 Troma's Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead— Troma's Fowl Movement Poultrygeist is the latest film from Troma Studios, was created and marketed in Troma's patented guerrilla style. This panel will show you how to make and market your indie film in an increasingly corporate age. See exclusive scenes and behind-the-scenes footage from the film MTV calls "Hilarious! Definitely something you need to see to believe!" Moderated by director Lloyd Kaufman, this panel will include special guests like Tim Seeley (Devil's Due) and Batton Lash (Supernatural Law). These creators will show you the fine art of transforming your movie characters into graphic novel heroes, as well as discuss their own Troma comic book projects. Room 1AB Categories: Comic Books Horror and Suspense Movies

6:30-7:30 Josh Howard/Dead@17— After its remarkable debut in 2003, plus a fistful of sequels, prequels, and spin-offs, the comics series Dead@17 has finally gone monthly. Join Josh Howard (The Lost Books of Eve) for this Q&A session, including a special sneak preview showing of the Dead@17 short film (by Mark Steensland) a month before its world premiere in England! Room 10 Categories: Comic Books Movies

Nighttime Programs

7:00-9:00 CBLDF Benefit Auction— This is the big one! The CBLDF holds its biggest auction of the year at Comic- Con, and this year brings some amazing one-of-a-kind items to raise money for free speech! Primo items include original art by Jim Lee, Jeff Smith, Terry Moore, Charlie Adlard, Norm Breyfogle, Rich Buckler, Brian Stelfreeze, and more! Plus a mind-blowing array of rare signed items, including signed portfolios and books by Frank Frazetta, Richard Corben, Hal Foster, Rebecca Guay, Neil Gaiman, Alan Moore, and many others! The Fund will also be auctioning off hot comics, including CGC 9.8 copies of Captain America #25, first printing and variants. Join auctioneer Chuck Rozanski and the CBLDF crew to support the Fund's current casework in Georgia, and help them shore up reserves to protect comics' First Amendment rights against any threat on the horizon. You will need a bidder number for this auction, which can be obtained, along with a full auction list, at the CBLDF booth #1831 or at the start of the event. Room 8 Categories: Comic Books Educators/Outreach Nighttime Programming

7:30-8:45 Comic Book Club— Iron your capes, unplug the Bat Signal, and set your decoder rings on awesome: the Comic Book Club is in session! The Comic Book Club is a weekly comic book talk show from New York featuring the best comedians in town talking shop with industry professionals from all corners of the comic book world. They're coming to San Diego to get to the bottom of all the news from the con! Featuring a panel of surprise guests from the con and your hosts Justin Tyler, Alex Zalben, and Pete LePage. Come, unwind, and talk comics—you're in the club! Room 5AB Categories: Comic Books Fandom Nighttime Programming Webcomics

7:45-8:45 Comedy Central's The Sarah Silverman Program— Sarah Silverman (Jesus Is Magic) plays a character (aptly named Sarah Silverman) whose absurd daily life is told through an array of scripted scenes and song. In each episode, Sarah manages to fall into unique, sometimes unsettling, and always hilarious predicaments, with her sister—played by real-life sister Laura Silverman (The Comeback), her geeky gay neighbors Brian (Brian Posehn, Just Shoot Me) and Steve (Steve Agee, Jesus Is Magic), and Officer Jay (Jay Johnston, Mr. Show with Bob and David) never far from her side. Silverman, Rob Schrab (Monster House), Heidi Herzon (Jesus is Magic) and Dan Sterling (The Daily Show) are the executive producers. Join the entire cast of the Comedy Central hit series for a Q&A session. Room 6CDEF Categories: Nighttime Programming Television

8:30-11:30 Comic-Con International Masquerade Broadcast— Can’t get into Ballroom 20 to see the big show? Don’t worry about it! We’ve got you covered with two big 1,000-seat rooms broadcasting the Comic-Con Masquerade LIVE on the big screen! Click here for complete details on the Comic-Con Masquerade. Room 6A and Room 6B Categories: Costuming Nighttime Programming

8:30-11:30 GameTap Presents: The Comic-Con International Masquerade— Fabulous original and re-created costumes crafted by our talented attendees appear on stage before an audience of thousands. Outstanding costumes will be awarded trophies and cash prizes. Doors will open for audience seating at 7:45, but the line will start much earlier! Tickets will be required for seating and will be given out free to those lining up near Ballroom 20 beginning at 4:30. Our Masters of Ceremonies will be writer/artists Phil Foglioand Kaija Foglio of Studio Foglio, and halftime entertainment will feature a dramatic performance by the JING Institute of Chinese Martial Arts & Culture. Click here for complete details on the Masquerade. Ballroom 20 Categories: Costuming Nighttime Programming

8:30-1:30 Comic-Con International Masquerade Party— Party into the night and watch the Masquerade LIVE via big screen projection. Dancing starts after 10:00 PM. Sails Pavilion Categories: Costuming Nighttime Programming

9:00-11:30 Buffy the Vampire Slayer 10th Anniversary Screening— Celebrate the 10th anniversary of Buffy the Vampire Slayer with a screening of two Buffy episodes, including the musical episode, “Once More with Feeling,” presented by Whedonopolis.com. There will be free keepsakes for attendees and a few other surprises! Stop by for some music, singing and "dancin' crazy." Room 5AB Categories: Fandom Horror and Suspense Nighttime Programming Television

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