ComingSoon.net/SuperHeroHype is hitting WonderCon 2011, taking place Friday, April 1st through Sunday, April 3rd in San Francisco and the three-day schedule has been posted. You can check out the full schedule below for the convention, which which will feature presentations and screenings for “Falling Skies,” “Nikita,” Green Lantern, Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, Super, Cowboys & Aliens, The Three Musketeers, Hanna, “The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes,” “Iron Man Anime,” Priest, Immortals, “Doctor Who,” “The Super Hero Squad Show,” “Iron Man Armored Adventures,” “Terra Nova,” “Thundercats,” “Breaking In,” “Human Target,” “V” and more.
FRIDAY, APRIL 1
12:30-1:30 Nerds! The Secret Origins of Game Designers? Comics. Movies. Games. Did you know that a life of fandom might be perfect training for a career as a video game designer? Learn the secret origins of industry veterans Haden Blackman (Star Wars: the Force Unleashed 1 & 2, Batwoman), Tim Longo (Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter, Star Wars: Dark Forces), Jason Weesner (Tomb Raider: Legend, Vectorman), and Scott Rogers (God of War, Level Up! The Guide to Great Video Game Design) as they share how their love for all things nerdy led to successful careers in video games…and how you can start your own career too! Room 104
12:30-2:00 Comics Arts Conference 1: Gender: Queer Spaces? Schuyler Kerby (University of Central Florida) examines how “queer space” — space in which marginalized people find themselves as they negotiate between dominant spaces — underlies the narrative and page layout in Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman. Courtney Schneider (School of the Art Institute of Chicago) examines the treatment of homosexuality to promote tolerance and acceptance as well as the current state of gay characters in serialized media and their impact on the topic of sexuality. Kane Anderson (UC Santa Barbara) guides us into the annual Hard Heroes party in Los Angeles and the Heroes & Villains party in San Diego to explore how these festivals featuring queer revelers costumed in the guises of their favorite superheroes and villains appropriate superhero iconography to challenge mainstream ideology. Room 204/206
1:00-2:00 DC Nation? The DC Nation returns to the Bay Area! Executive editor Eddie Berganza and group editor Mike Marts and some of comics’ top talents give you the inside scoop on what’s new from DC Entertainment. DCU, Vertigo, and MAD will all be discussed, so come on by and join the nation! Room 103
1:00-2:00 East Meets West? Mike Royer (Jack Kirby and Russ Manning inker), Steve Oliff (Marvel, DC, Image colorist), Steve Leialoha (Eisner Award-winning cartoonist), and Paul Power (actor/publisher/storyboard artist) will discuss the new comic book series East Meets West from Paul Power Publications and talk about Alex Toth in this fun filled hour with a Q&A session. Room 220
1:00-2:00 Spotlight on Terry Moore? Don’t miss this opportunity to catch up with one of the comic industry’s favorite indie creators! Charles Brownstein (CBLDF) will talk with Terry Moore about the finale of his latest series, ECHO, as well as exciting new projects slated for the coming year. This panel is always a fan favorite! Don’t miss it! Room 236
1:30-2:30 Behind the Music with CW3PR: Composing for Sci-Fi, Horror and Fantasy Film? Award-winning composers Jim Dooley (Pushing Daisies), Nathan Barr (True Blood), Scott Starrett (The Event), Marco Beltrami (V, Scream 4), Michael Suby (The Vampire Diaries) and Sean Callery (24) have all composed WonderCon and Comic-Con fans’ favorite movies and TV series, and are here to share a behind-the-scenes perspective on creating exhilarating musical moments for television and film. Together with moderator Bryan Fuller (creator, Pushing Daisies; producer, Heroes), the panelists will discuss their respective projects, the pivotal director/composer relationship, and how they got their big break into the music composing industry. With a Q&A following the panel, plus exclusive announcements and giveaways for attendees. Room 104
1:30-2:30 The MMORPG Industry? Jeremy Monroe (Runes of Magic) and other panelsists discuss the current state of Massively-Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games, both free-2-play and subscription-based, and what it takes to be competitive in the video game industry. If you love MMORPGs, you don’t want to miss this. Room 254/256
2:00-3:00 DC Comics: Green Lantern? What’s in store for Green Lantern’s comics adventures in 2011? War! Join executive editor Eddie Berganza, DC’s chief creative officer Geoff Johns and others to get a sneak peak into the future of GL in the DCU! Room 103
2:00-3:30 Comics Arts Conference 2: Adaptation: Hollywood, Survival, and Success? Shylah Hamilton (School of the Art Institute of Chicago) uses the philosophy of Jean-Paul Sartre, Georg Hegel, and Theodor W. Adorno to examine how the zombie tales of 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later provide a template for the survival of the individual and community in periods of genocide and social unrest. Tanya Zuk (University of Arizona) pits Kick Ass against Scott Pilgrim to answer the question of why one film succeeded and the other failed — what leads a good comic astray in the heart of Hollywood? Kalani Largusa (School of the Art Institute of Chicago) examines the significance of Kato and the evolution of his role as the Green Hornet’s sidekick. Stanford Carpenter (School of the Art Institute) responds. Room 204/206
2:00-3:30 That ’70s Panel? The 1970s marked the coming of the first generation of comics fans becoming comics pros. Mark Evanier, who started his comics career with the great Jack Kirby, talks to fellow WonderCon special guests Mike Friedrich (Justice League of America, Robin), Paul Levitz (Legion of Super-Heroes, The Huntress), Len Wein (Swamp Thing, Fantastic Four), and Marv Wolfman (Tomb of Dracula, Amazing Spider-Man) about how they went from letter writers to comics writers and their other experiences in that magical decade. Room 220
2:00-3:00 Spotlight on Jeremy Love? Sam Humphries moderates an hour-long conversation with WonderCon special guest Jeremy Love, award Winning creator of DC/Zuda’s seminal web comics hit Bayou. Be there as Jeremy discusses the influences, inspiration and creative process behind the acclaimed series and previews upcoming projects! Room 236
2:30-3:30 Max Brooks? Max Brooks, screenwriter and author of the best selling books The Zombie Survival Guide, World War Z, and The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks, is the world’s leading authority on the defense against a ghoulish uprising! Renowned for his campus and convention lectures nationwide, Brooks comes to WonderCon to share his insight into the rotting minds of the undead, reveal how the Zombie Survival Guide came into existence, and field questions from zombie-phobic fans! You dare not miss this lecture — your very life may depend on it! Room 104
2:30-3:30 Marvel: Breaking into Comics the Marvel Way? Are you an aspiring writer or artist? Have you always dreamed of working for Marvel? Well, here’s your chance to pick the brains of some current House of Ideas employees who were once in the same shoes! C.B. Cebulski, SVP creator & content development; Axel Alonso, Marvel’s editor-in-chief; Mike Pasciullo, SVP business development & communications; and Jeph Loeb, Marvel’s head of television, answer any and all questions about how to get a foot in the door at every level in the creative process and how to make your job Marvel. Room 254/256
3:00-4:00 Dark Horse Fall Preview? Three years ago, Dark Horse made comics history with the launch of Buffy Season 8, which continued the canon storyline of the beloved cancelled show. Now, Dark Horse gives Wonder Con attendees exclusive news and insight into your favorite characters returning to comics this fall. Join Dark Horse director of public relations Jeremy Atkins, editors Scott Allie and Sierra Hahn, and a cast of surprise guests for the one panel you don’t wanna miss! Room 103
3:00-4:00 Iron Man Legend: Bob Layton? Celebrating his 35th year in the comic industry, WonderCon special guest Bob Layton discusses his long association with Marvel’s Iron Man franchise and making the transition to working in Hollywood. Bob will preview upcoming projects, including his latest Iron Man mini series, Iron Man Forever and several new film projects. Join moderator/TV writer/producer Steve Kriozere (NCIS) for this one-on-one interview with the co-creator of some of Marvel’s most memorable Iron Man stories and join in on the Q&A session! Room 236
3:15-4:00 Falling Skies? After an all-out invasion of the planet by an alien military force, ordinary people must do extraordinary things to survive in TNT’s powerful new drama series from DreamWorks Television and executive producer Steven Spielberg, starring Noah Wyle and premiering in June. Falling Skies opens in the chaotic aftermath of an alien attack that has left most of the world completely incapacitated. In the six months since the initial invasion, the few survivors have banded together outside major cities to begin the difficult task of fighting back. The series combines stunning visual effects and personal human stories about triumph and survival in the most devastating circumstances. The panel will include exclusive clips from the series and a discussion with co-executive producer and writer Mark Verheiden, writer Melinda Hsu, and star Drew Roy. Everyone attending the panel will receive a limited edition Falling Skies “prequel” comic book published by Dark Horse. Esplanade Ballroom
3:30-4:30 Animation: The Write Stuff? What do Garfield, Batman, and the Justice League have in common? This panel! Longtime animation writer/producer Mark Evanier (Garfield, Dungeons and Dragons, Mother Goose and Grimm) is joined by fellow writer/producers Paul Dini (Batman: The Animated Series, Krypto the Super Dog) and Alan Burnett (Superman: The Animated Series, Green Lantern: First Flight), and Stan Berkowitz (Batman Beyond, Justice League: The New Frontier) to talk about their personal experiences on the frontlines of the animation industry. Room 104
3:30-5:00 Comics Arts Conference 3: Focus on Seth? WonderCon special guest Seth joins the CAC for a focus panel with Kathleen Dunley (Rio Salado College) to discuss Seth’s work and how comics can be used as an act of preservation — both literally, as with the cartoonist’s Doug Wright collections, and metaphorically, as with Seth’s Dominion project in Palookaville or the “preservation” of fictional Canadian TV personality George Sprott. Room 204/206
3:30-4:30 Webcomics: New Horizons? They are changing the face of the comics industry, with a new breed of creator bringing fresh ideas to a new type of fan. Webcomics may be the next evolution of the medium, but for now they are still fraught with questions from creators, fans, and industry alike. Discussions will include the impact on the industry, and society as a whole. Information will be provided to help webcomics creators make important decisions and form a plan for formatting, advertising, marketing, merchandising, and even franchising their new (or established) webcomic. Participating in the panel discussion will be noted webcomic authors, Tracy Butler (Lackadaisy), Der-shing Helmer (The Meek), and Wenqing Yan (Knite), as well as editor and publisher at 4th Dimension Entertainment, Eric San Gregorio. Bring your questions, as there will be Q&A! Room 220
3:30-4:30 San Francisco Underground Indie Comic Spotlight? From the political to the artistic, this fabulous panel will spotlight the rich past, the thriving present, and the exciting future of the San Francisco underground indie comic book scene. Join Trina Robbins (Wimmen’s Comix, The Brinkley Girls), Lee Marrs (Pudge, Girl Blimp), Shaenon Garrity (Narbonic, Skin Horse), Ted Naifeh (Courtney Crumrin, Good Neighbors), Jon Macy (Fearful Hunter, Teleny and Camille), Rich Boutell (InterSections), and moderator Brian Andersen (So Super Duper, Friend of Dorothy) in what’s sure to be a lively discussion. Room 254/256
4:00-5:00 Exclusive Nikita Screening by Warner Bros. Television? For the second year, Warner Bros. Television will kick off WonderCon with an exclusive preview screening of an upcoming original series episode. For 2011, WBTV will be premiering the “Covenants” episode of Nikita, which will be broadcast Thursday, April 7, at 9/8c on The CW. At the conclusion of the last episode, fans were left breathless at the final image of Michael confronting Nikita in her lair after discovering Alex as the mole inside Division. WonderCon attendees will be the first to find out what happens next. From Wonderland Sound and Vision in association with Warner Bros. Television, Nikita airs Thursdays 9/8c on The CW and stars Maggie Q (Mission: Impossible III), Lyndsy Fonseca (Kick-Ass), Shane West (ER), Aaron Stanford (X2: X-Men United), Ashton Holmes (The Pacific), Tiffany Hines (Beyond the Break), with Melinda Clarke (The O.C.) and Xander Berkeley (24). Craig Silverstein (Bones), David Levinson (21 Jump Street), Danny Cannon (the CSI series), McG (Supernatural), and Peter Johnson (Human Target) are the executive producers. Esplanade Ballroom
4:00-5:00 Spotlight on Adam Hughes? WonderCon special guest Adam Hughes is the mega-popular artist of so many memorable covers on series such as Wonder Woman and Catwoman, and a fan-favorite for commission work in Artists’ Alleys at conventions all over this great land of ours. He talks about his art and career with moderator Sara Lima (editor, ComicVine.com). Room 103
4:00-5:00 From Fan to Creator: Goal-Setting for Creative Types? Which side of the convention table do you want to be on, artist or fan? And what’s keeping you from getting there? If you have an idea in your head that you’ve had trouble bringing into reality, you might benefit from this fun and practical goal- setting workshop, designed specifically for the WonderCon crowd. Known as the “Tony Robbins of Geeks,” motivational speaker Douglas Neff delivers simple, proven techniques for achieving your most important goals. Whether you want to write your own screenplay, draw your first comic, or shoot your independent film, you’re sure to get something useful from this informative and energizing workshop. Room 236
4:30-5:30 IDW Looks Ahead? Join IDW Publishing’s senior editor of special projects Scott Dunbier for a look at some of the intriguing new projects for 2011. Get an update on the Rocketeer Adventures, IDW’s new anthology mini series debuting in May, plus lots of other top-secret goodies that will be announced on this panel for the first time — including a brand-spanking-new Artist’s Edition! Room 104
4:30-5:30 Indie Comics Marketing 101? Need tips on how to market your comic? This is the panel for you! Some of the best and brightest in comics today present a roundtable discussion, revealing all the secrets of success in marketing your comics. BOOM! Studios marketing director Chip Mosher is joined by Too Much Coffee Man creator Shannon Wheeler, JK Parkin (managing editor, Robot 6 at ComicBookResources.com), Laura Hudson (editor-in-chief, ComicsAlliance.com), and Sam Humphries (writer, Our Love Is Real, CBGB, Fraggle Rock), who will all discuss how to take your comic marketing to the next level! Room 220
4:30-5:30 The Evolution of Comics in the Transmedia Space? Double Barrel Motion Labs CEO Jeff Krelitz (Starz’s Spartacus: Upon the Sands of Vengeance, Tron Legacy, The Muppet Show) and producer Diana Williams (The Crazies, Conan the Barbarian: The Motion Comic) discuss the evolution of comics into other media with panelists writer Marc Andreyko (Manhunter, Ferryman), artist Dennis Calero (X-Men Noir, Cowboys & Aliens), editor Jeff Newelt (Harvey Pekar’s Cleveland), Darren Romanelli (Doctor Romanelli), director Kyle Newman (Fanboys), producer Adrian Askarieh (Hitman, Kane & Lynch), producer FJ Desanto (The Spirit, Shazam), and Paradox Entertainment (Conan The Barbarian). Double Barrel will be premiering footage from their original Fall Out Boy Motion Comic, Fall Out Toy Works, voiced by Anna Faris, along with exclusive clips of original Disney motion comics from their upcoming series. Room 254/256
5:00-6:00 Warner Bros.: Green Lantern? Green Lantern will shine bright at WonderCon, beginning with an opening day panel with the stars of the upcoming feature film, in theaters June 17. The highly anticipated Green Lantern movie will be the first live-action feature film to star the popular DC Comics character. The film relates the origin story of alter ego Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds), a test pilot and the first human chosen to wear the ring that provides him his superpowers. Join Ryan Reynolds and other special guests from the film for a look at Warner Bros.’ superhero actioner: Green Lantern! Esplanade Ballroom
5:00-6:00 Spotlight on Robert Kirkman? WonderCon special guest Robert Kirkman, one of the most successful writers in comics today, best known for his work on The Walking Dead, Invincible, Haunt, Image United, Astounding Wolf-Man, Marvel Zombies, and the recent Super Dinosaur, will offer fans some insight into the genius behind their favorite hit comics. After becoming an Image Comics partner in 2009, introducing the internationally renowned hit TV show based on the comic he created with artists Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard, The Walking Dead on AMC, and recently announcing an upcoming video game adaptation of the same series from TellTale Games, he has proven to be an unstoppable creative force. Room 103
5:00-6:00 End Your Color-Mixing Frustrations? Calling all artists! This session will open your eyes to a foolproof method for mixing artists color based on what actually happens when paint is mixed, rather than elusive color theories. This is the breakthrough Michael Wilcox Bias Color Wheel system and is for beginners and professionals alike, and for any pigmented media (watercolors, oils, acrylics, printer’s inks, gouache, etc). Felipe Echevarria is a registered teacher for the Michael Wilcox School Of Color and is an accomplished comics/graphic novelist and fine artist. Room 204/206
5:00-6:00 CBLDF: After the Code? Earlier this year, the Comics Code Authority was shut down. For more than 50 years the Code seal has served as a vivid reminder of the brutal government investigation and self-censorship that decimated the comics industry in the 1950s. It also stood as a standard that led to the censorship of a wide variety of comics. As the Code fades into history, the CBLDF moderates a discussion about how the Code affected comics and the threats that remain in its absence. The panel will include WonderCon special guests Sergio Aragonés, Mike Friedrich, Paul Levitz, Bill Sienkiewicz, and Marv Wolfman, and will be moderated by CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein. Room 236
5:30-6:30 How to Get a Job in the Video Game Industry? Francis Mao (CAPCOM) leads a panel of industry insiders from a variety of game companies and industry outlets to share with you how they got to “play video games for a living” and the wide assortment of career paths that are available. You don’t have to be a programming whiz or a stellar digital artist to have a fun career in the video game industry. Hear about what the job entails for areas such as public relations, marketing, retail, publishing, editorial and more! There will be a Q&A session plus an opportunity to speak with and network one-on-one with the panelists after the session. Room 104
5:30-6:30 Visions from Voyager and Highlights from HarperCollins? Join a Harper Collins Sorcerer Supreme for a vision quest tour through some great upcoming books by your favorite authors. You’ll get details on new books by Neal Stephenson, Christopher Moore, Kim Harrison, Richard Kadrey and a host of others. From Avatars to Zombies, this panel has it all. And the best part is there will be free books given away! Room 220
5:30-6:30 Spotlight on Jason Aaron? Writer Jason Aaron was recently named by Marvel Comics as one of their five Architects. Hear him discuss his projects past, present and future, along with Axel Alonso (Marvel Comics editor-in-chief). Room 254/256
6:00-8:00 WORLD PREMIERE! Green Lantern: Emerald Knights Animated Original Movie? Only at WonderCon! Warner Home Video proudly presents the World Premiere of Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, an all-new DC Universe Animated Original Movie that weaves six interlocking stories of the Green Lantern Corps’ rich mythology around preparations for an attack by an ancient enemy. As the battle approaches, Hal Jordan (voiced by Nathan Fillion, Castle) mentors new recruit Arisia (Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men) in the history of the Green Lantern Corps, telling tales of Avra (the first Green Lantern) and several of Hal’s comrades, including Abin Sur, Kilowog, Laira and Mogo. In the end, Arisia must rise to the occasion to help Hal, Sinestro, and the entire Green Lantern Corps save the universe from the destructive forces of Krona. Other voice cast members include actor/spoken word artist Henry Rollins, Jason Isaacs (the Harry Potter films), Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy), Wade Williams (Prison Break), Kelly Hu (The Vampire Diaries) and professional wrestling legend “Rowdy” Roddy Piper! Animation guru Bruce Timm is executive producer, and the directors are Lauren Montgomery, Jay Oliva, and Christopher Berkeley. Scripting the film are comic book luminaries Geoff Johns, Dave Gibbons, Peter J. Tomasi, Eddie Berganza, Alan Burnett, Todd Casey and Michael Green & Marc Guggenheim. Come for the movie and stay for the post-screening panel, which will feature filmmakers and members of the voice cast (highlighted in bold above)! Green Lantern: Emerald Knights will be distributed June 7 by Warner Home Video as part of the build-up to the release of the highly anticipated live action film, Green Lantern, in theaters June 17. Esplanade Ballroom
6:00-7:00 State of the Genre Report: It Was The Best of Times, It Was the Worst Of Times? America’s foremost geeksperts weigh in on the state of science fiction, fantasy and horror film and television. Will J.J. Abrams have a Khan-do attitude on the next Trek? 3D: fad or forever? What’s the next board game that will get remade as a $100 million flop? These questions and many more will be sliced, diced, and Ginsu-ed (hey, that could be a new film!). Starring Robert Meyer Burnett (Free Enterprise, The Hills Run Red), Ashley E. Miller (Thor, X-Men: First Class, Fringe), Daren Dochterman (Star Trek: The Motion Picture — Director’s Edition), Steve Melching (Transformers: The Animated Series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars), and special guest stars. Room 103
6:00-7:00 Figure Drawing for Popular Media? Emilio Soltero, Ph.D. (Draw the Line; Figure It Out; John Buscema: A Life in Sketches) presents a primer on drawing the figure for popular media, including drawing for comics and character design. Emilio will lecture and demonstrate on figure drawing. There will be some cool giveaways and a chance to draw as well. Join Emilio for this active presentation. Come ready to take notes and to draw. Room 204/206
6:00-7:00 Graphic Novels: The Long and Short of It? From the comic shop to the bookstore to the classroom, graphic novels have changed the comics landscape forever. Moderator Andrew Farago (The Cartoon Art Museum) and WonderCon special guests Hope Larson (Mercury) and Seth (George Sprott), plus Miriam Libicki (Jobnik!), Andy Ristaino (Escape from Dullsville), and Eric Shanower (Age of Bronze) discuss the pleasures and perils of the long-form comic. Room 236
6:30-8:30 Back to Space-Con: The Story of the 1970s Sci-Fi Conventions? This panel discussion is a fascinating look back to the roots of today’s modern conventions and is followed by the 74-minute documentary film about the 1970s conventions called Space-Con. Told by the original organizers and fans, the film includes celebrity interviews by Bob Wilkins, dealers-room footage, costume contests, and over 40 minutes of rare convention footage. A short Q&A session follows the movie with panelists John Stanley (Creature Features), Mr. Lobo (Cinema Insomnia), Tom Wyrsch (writer/director), Strephon Taylor (producer/editor), and Ernie Fosselius (Hardware Wars). Room 104
6:30-7:30 Let’s Do the WaRP Time Again: Wendy Pini and Richard Pini? Wendy Pini (Elfquest, Masque of the Red Death) and Richard Pini (Elfquest) are the W and R in WaRP Graphics. Join them for an unscripted progress report on Elfquest: The Final Quest, the Masque of the Red Death graphic novel (and musical), and last but not least, the Elfquest movie. Room 220
6:30-7:30 Monsterverse Comics: Classic Horror Meets Modern Comics? The critically acclaimed Bela Lugosi’s Tales from the Grave horror comic and its Monsterverse staff of editor/publisher/artist Kerry Gammill (Superman) and West Coast editor Sam F. Park (Molt) are joined by Derek McCaw (Tony Loco), Chris Moreno (World War Hulk), Rafael Navarro (Sonambulo), and more to discuss iconic horror for a new age, announce upcoming Monsterverse projects and engage in a Q&A session! Room 254/256
Nighttime Programs
7:00-8:00 Digital Comics Smackdown? Digital comics are heating up. Competition is getting fierce. A panel of the best and brightest in the new wave of digital comics engage in a wide-ranging discussion of everything from comics on the iPad, iPhone, and PC to how digital comics fit into the brick and mortar marketplace. This is your one-stop panel for all the latest digital comics news! Panelists include David Steinberger (CEO of comiXology), Micah (CEO of Graphic.ly), Michael Murphey (CEO of iVerse). Moderated by Chip Mosher (marketing director, BOOM! Studios). Room 220
8:30-10:00 Star Wars: Last Fan Movie Standing? Choose the last Star Wars fan movie standing at this friendly competition hosted by Lucasfilm’s Mary Franklin. The Star Wars Fan Movie Challenge, now in its tenth year, honors promising moviemakers who do outstanding work, with the top prize each year chosen by Star Wars writer/director George Lucas. How do your movie tastes compare? Come and support your favorites, and you just might take home a Star Wars souvenir at the end of the evening. Bonus: An exclusive first look at one of the 2011 Fan Movie Challenge entries! Room 103
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SATURDAY, APRIL 2
10:30-11:30 Archaia Comics Presents: 2011 and Beyond? What’s next from the publisher of fine books like Mouse Guard, Return of the Dapper Men, Fraggle Rock, Lucid, Tumor and The Killer? Find out at this announcement-filled panel as Archaia editor-in-chief Stephen Christy is joined on stage by several surprise guests as they reveal what’s coming from the company in 2011 and beyond, including news about The Dark Crystal, A Tale of Sand, Time of the Dapper Men, Mr. Murder Is Dead and Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard Vol. 2! Room 220
10:30-11:30 Spotlight on Francis Manapul? WonderCon special guest Francis Manapul helped bring back Superboy and now draws The Flash. Join him and his friends in a discussion about his art as well as his adventures on the TV show Beast Legends in a Q&A style fashion panel. Moderated by other industry stars such as artist Joel Gomez (The Authority), writer Sterling Gates (Supergirl), and Comic Vine’s Tony Guerrero and Sara Lima. Room 254/256
11:00-12:00 Exploring the World of Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time: What Time Is It?? Adventure Time creator Pendleton Ward and Curtis Lelash, director of original series at Cartoon Network, give fans a behind the scenes look at the network’s hit show and an exclusive preview of upcoming episodes. Fans can ask questions about the show and participate in a trivia challenge to win Adventure Time prizes! Room 104
11:00-12:00 Prismacolor: Tips and Techniques for Drawing Manga? Shelley Minnis, Prismacolor specialist, presents helpful ways to use your Prismacolor Markers to create great illustrations for manga works. The one-hour presentation provides an overview of product information, tips on ways to use the pencils and markers and will provide you with lots of samples and chances to win great prizes! Room 204/206
11:00-12:00 Spotlight on Bill Sienkiewicz? WonderCon special guest Bill Sienkiewicz is best known for his work on Elektra: Assassin and his creator-owned title Stray Toasters. The artist talks about his work across all media, including comics, painting, television, and movies, in this spotlight panel. Room 236
11:30-12:30 DC Universe? What will happen to your favorite DCU characters during this year’s major events? Join DC’s executive Editor-DCU Eddie Berganza and group editor Mike Marts, along with WonderCon special guests Paul Levitz (Legion of Super-Heroes), Francis Manapul (The Flash), James Robinson (Justice League of America), Judd Winick (Power Girl), Marv Wolfman (DC Universe Online), and others to hear about upcoming highlights from the DCU. Room 103
11:30-1:00 WonderCon’s 25th Anniversary!? 25 shows ago, in 1987, a band of Bay Area retailers and comics fans gathered together and created “The Wonderful World of Comics Convention.” That event changed into WonderCon the following year and has grown to be one of the largest and most popular comics conventions in the country. Mark Evanier talks to longtime show managers Joe Field, Mike Friedrich, and Bryan Uhlenbrock, plus Comic-Con International’s David Glanzer, about the long, great history of the West Coast’s second largest comics convention. Room 220
11:30-12:30 Transcending Trauma: From the Birth of Batman to the Rise of the Red Hood? Traumatic experience is a common element in the origin of many comic book characters, but does such experience alone explain the character’s path to heroism or villainy? What drove Batman to become a hero instead of a “nemesis”? Do characters such as The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, and Punisher meet criteria for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? Returning to WonderCon after their “Unhinged: The Forensic Psychiatry of Arkham’s Insane” panel last year, the physicians of Broadcast Thought explore how traumatic experiences have affected these and other characters. Learn as H. Eric Bender, M.D., Praveen R. Kambam, M.D., and Vasilis K. Pozios, M.D., use their backgrounds in child and adolescent, adult, and forensic psychiatry to discuss responses to trauma and apply theories of attachment, development, and resiliency to the formation of the hero. Bring your questions, and join the doctors as they lend their unique expertise to WonderCon, exploring how comic book characters transcend trauma or descend into villainy! Room 254/256
12:00-1:00 Spotlight on Berkeley Breathed: Tales of an Accidental Cartoonist? WonderCon special guest Berkeley Breathed takes a look back in this 30-year career auto retrospective, reviewing his happy car wreck of a comics stripping career with a look at some highs and lows and some seriously ridiculous detours. Room 104
12:00-1:30 Comics Arts Conference 4: Politics of Oppression and Identity? The eternal struggle of art and freedom engages Fabio Luiz Carneiro Mourilhe Silva (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro) and Jon Hogan (Syracuse University), who examine how the work of Brazilian cartoonist Henrique de Souza Filho, aka Henfil, served as an ideological and critical weapon against the military dictatorship of the 1960s through the 1980s. Jose Alaniz (University of Washington, Seattle) brings the discussion home with a focus on how the Mike Murdock storyline in Daredevil plays with identity politics through Matt Murdock’s status as blind, then sighted, then blind, then sighted. Confused? You and Karen Page both! Room 204/206
12:00-1:00 The Official Aspen Comics Panel 2011? Creators Frank Mastromauro (Dellec, Shrugged), Peter Steigerwald (Lady Mechanika, Brightest Day), Vince Hernandez (Charismagic, Dellec), Mark Roslan (Broken Pieces), JT Krul (Mindfield, Soulfire), Joe Benitez (Lady Mechanika), Jay Fabok (Soulfire), David Wohl (Executive Assistant Iris), and more will be discussing and previewing Aspen’s newest releases for 2011 including Fathom, Soulfire, Charismagic, Lady Mechanika, Broken Pieces, and their all new summer event, Executive Assistant Iris: The Hit List Agenda. Aspen will also be making a special announcement about an all-new Aspen property on the horizon. Room 236
12:30-1:30 Super? Rainn Wilson (The Office) and director James Gunn (Slither) come to San Francisco for a conversation about their highly anticipated new film Super. Learn about how a short-order cook can take justice into his own hands with little more than a wrench and a sign from above. Don’t steal, don’t deal drugs, and don’t miss your chance to get a unique first look at this singular dark comedy, opening this spring! Room 103
12:30-2:00 CBLDF Live Art Jam? Watch great live art made before your eyes on the big screen and bid to win the pieces to support a great cause! The CBLDF Live Art Jam features artists Tom Hodges (Star Wars), Carla Speed McNeil (Finder), and Terry Moore (ECHO), plus special guests. Get an inside look at the creative act and win great art! Room 254/256
1:00-1:30 Cowboys & Aliens? Blockbuster filmmaker Jon Favreau (Iron Man series) will present exclusive footage from one of Summer 2011’s most highly anticipated films, Cowboys & Aliens. Starring Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford, Cowboys & Aliens crosses the classic Western with the alien-invasion movie in a blazingly original way. Joined by an arsenal of top moviemakers — Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci — Favreau brings an all-new action thriller that will take audiences into the Old West, where a lone cowboy leads an uprising against a terror from beyond our world. Following the presentation, the director will answer questions from moderator Roberto Orci about the making of the film and what moviegoers may expect on July 29. Esplanade Ballroom
1:00-2:00 Marvel: Welcome to the X-Men? Marvel’s most uncanny heroes have emerged bloodied — and not altogether unbowed — in their war against the vampire nation. But what will be the monstrous legion’s next move against mutantkind? And what secrets are at the heart of the mysterious timeline known as the “Age Of X”? Pop your claws into all the answers as Axel Alonso (Marvel’s editor-in-chief), Jason Aaron (Wolverine), Rick Remender (Uncanny X-Force), C.B. Cebulski, (SVP creator & content development), and a slew of surprise guests explore the present landscape and multiple futures of the X-Men. Room 104
1:00-2:00 The Sergio & Mark Show? The “Sergio” is Sergio Aragonés, the world’s most honored cartoonist and one of the “usual gang of idiots” in MAD magazine for over 45 years. The “Mark” is Mark Evanier, writer of comic books and TV shows, blogger, convention panel host, and Sergio’s collaborator on Groo the Wanderer for more years than either will admit or can believe. They will tell you all about their partnership, about the forthcoming mini series in which Groo battles Conan the Barbarian…and anything else you want to know about. Room 220
1:00-2:00 Spotlight on Marv Wolfman? Writer/director James Robinson will be interviewing WonderCon special guest Marv Wolfman about his 4+ decade career as well as dozens of his creations from Blade to Black Cat to New Teen Titans, Crisis On Infinite Earths and much, much more. Room 236
1:30-2:00 Summit Entertainment: The Three Musketeers? Summit Entertainment presents a sneak peek of the upcoming action adventure The Three Musketeers. A surprise special guest shares footage from the film and discusses their experience bringing the story to the big screen. In The Three Musketeers — from the director of Resident Evil and Mortal Kombat — the hot-headed young D’Artagnan (Logan Lerman) joins forces with three rogue Musketeers (Matthew MacFadyen, Luke Evans, and Ray Stevenson) in this reimagination of Alexandre Dumas’ story. They must stop the evil Richlieu (Christoph Waltz) and face off with Buckingham (Orlando Bloom) and the treacherous Milady (Milla Jovovich). In theatres 10/14/11. Esplanade Ballroom
1:30-2:30 Spotlight on Frank Quitely? WonderCon special guest Frank Quitely is one of the most popular artists working in comics today. The artist — who provided the cover art for this year’s WonderCon Program Book — talks about his career in this special spotlight event. Room 103
1:30-3:00 Comics Arts Conference 5: Life After Trauma — To Be a Superhero or Supervillain?? Did you ever wonder why experiencing trauma led Batman to become a hero but Harvey Dent to become a villain? Why Superman hasn’t given up his Herculean task for good after being exposed to so much loss, stress, and destruction? What makes superheroes keep fighting without getting burnt out, disillusioned, or becoming villains? Join psychologists Andrea Letamendi (UC San Diego) and Robin Rosenberg (Psychology of Superheroes), psychology professor Travis Langley (Henderson State University), and WonderCon special guest Marv Wolfman as they address these questions, applying what we know about trauma in our world to the world of superheroes to better understand why the same types of events can lead some folks to heroism and others to villainy. Room 204/206
2:00-3:00 Focus Features: HANNA? Reunited for the first time since he directed her to an Oscar nomination in Atonement, Joe Wright and Saoirse Ronan are ready to shake you up with HANNA. A boldly original adventure thriller with elements of dark fairy tales, HANNA will cue lots of questions from you for the talented team at this panel — even before you’ve seen the movie. Esplanade Ballroom
2:00-3:00 Image Comics Show? Image Comics will announce some upcoming projects and host a Q&A session with some of the company’s best creators. Don’t miss your chance to find out what Image is up to before anyone else does and ask questions of your favorite creators! Panelists include Tomm Coker (Undying Love), Viktor Kalvachev (Pherone, Blue Estate), Daniel Corey (Moriarty), Deborah Vankin (Poseurs), Ben McCool (Choker, Memoir), Nate Simpson (Nonplayer), Joe Casey (Godland, Butcher Baker The Righteous Maker, Marijuana Man), and Brandon Seifert & Lukas Ketner (Witch Doctor). Room 104
2:00-3:00 Spotlight on F. Paul Wilson? WonderCon special guest F. Paul Wilson (The Keep, Repairman Jack) has written bestselling novels, screenplays, comic books, and videogames in multiple genres since the 1970s. Wilson will talk about the secrets of his longevity in the writing game, with a Q&A to follow. Room 220
2:00-3:00 Hermes Press: A Tribute to John Buscema? Legendary comic book artist and inker Joe Sinnott (Fantastic Four, Silver Surfer) talks via teleconference with Ernie Chan (Conan), Brian Peck (author of John Buscema: Michelangelo of Comics), and publisher Daniel Herman about the artwork and career of “Big” John Buscema in this panel discussion and Q&A session. Room 236
2:00-3:00 Gaia Online? Chris Castagnetto (DJ Helsing) is proud to be hosting the Official Gaia Online Panel. This is your chance to meet the Gaia staff, get your burning questions answered, and get a sneak peek at some of the great stuff Gaia has planned for 2011. Expect plenty of fun and some great prizes! Room 254/256
2:30-3:30 Marvel Television Presents: The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and Iron Man Anime? Don’t miss Marvel Animation’s exclusive look at an all-new, action-packed episode of The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes! Plus catch a full-length episode screening of the highly anticipated Iron Man Anime! Marvel’s head of television, Jeph Loeb, will launch you into this action-packed hour featuring your favorite Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains battling it out! Make sure to check out The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, now airing on Disney XD, and the all-new Iron Man Anime series, coming this summer to G4! Room 103
3:00-4:00 Screen Gems: Priest? A post-apocalyptic action thriller, set in an alternate world, one ravaged by centuries of war between man and vampires. The story revolves around a legendary Warrior Priest (Paul Bettany) from the last Vampire War who now lives in obscurity among the other downtrodden human inhabitants in walled-in dystopian cities. When his niece (Lily Collins) is abducted by a murderous pack of vampires, Priest breaks his sacred vows to venture out on an obsessive quest to find her before they turn her into one of them. He is joined on his crusade by his niece’s boyfriend (Cam Gigandet), a trigger-fingered young wasteland sheriff, and a former Warrior Priestess (Maggie Q) who possesses otherworldly fighting skills. Confirmed to appear are stars Paul Bettany and Lily Collins, and director Scott Stewart. Esplanade Ballroom
3:00-4:00 Methods and Materials: Sculpting with Mattel and the Four Horsemen? Do you want to know the basic aspects of sculpting and fabrication? Would you love to get an inside peek at the materials and tools used in creating all of your favorite action figures? Come to this instructional panel where Jim Preziosi (Four Horsemen Toy Design Studios), Eric “Cornboy” Mayse (Four Horsemen Toy Design Studios), and members of the Mattel Design Team will take you through the process. Room 104
3:00-4:00 Comics Arts Conference 6: Understanding Superheroes? Dyfrig Jones (Bangor University) presents the current Creu Arwyr research project, funded by the Welsh government, in which the pupils of Ysgol Syr Huw Owen are working with artist Mike Collins (Freakhouse Graphics) to create new superheroes and write narratives for these characters based in the community around the school. Travis Langley (Henderson State University) takes a psychological look into the mind of the on-screen Batman. Room 204/206
3:00-4:00 Spotlight on Hope Larson? A retrospective on the career of WonderCon special guest Hope Larson, from art school minicomics to original graphic novels (Mercury, Chiggers, Gray Horses) and her upcoming adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time. Oni Press’s George Rohac moderates. Room 220
3:00-4:00 Creator Rights? Let’s face it: it’s a dog-eat-dog world out there, especially when it comes to your rights as a creator. Here’s your chance to share the knowledge of a formidable panel of creators, including Mike Friedrich, who set up the first agency for comics creators, Star*Reach; Marv Wolfman, whose career includes comics, animation, and the literary world; retailer and former WonderCon manager Joe Field, the creator of Free Comic Book Day and a co-founder of ComicsPro; and noted attorney Michael Lovitz, who literally wrote the book (The Trademark and Copyright Book comic book) on comics creator rights. Moderated by Mark Evanier, whose experience includes the business of comics, television, movies, and animation. Room 236
3:00-4:00 BOOM! Studios? BOOM! Studios is getting even BIGGER and BOLDER. Join Ross Richie, Matt Gagnon and Chip Mosher as they discuss BOOM! Studios, KABOOM! and BOOM! Town…unveiling what will without a doubt be some of the most exciting new titles of 2011. Room 254/256
3:30-4:30 Marvel: Cup O’ Joe? This is it, Mighty Marvel fans: the no-holds-barred, anything goes, full of surprises panel you wait all year for, and it’s here! Marvel’s chief creative officer Joe Quesada takes on all questions, shocks the audience with jaw-dropping announcements, and keeps you guessing with superstar guests Axel Alonso (Marvel’s editor-in-chief), Jason Aaron (Wolverine), Jeph Loeb (Marvel’s head of television), and C.B. Cebulski (Marvel’s SVP creator & content development). You better be here, because this is the panel that everyone will be talking about! Room 103
4:00-5:00 Relativity: Immortals? Global exclusive! Be among the first in the world to see footage of the highly anticipated Immortals. Meet visionary director Tarsem Singh (The Cell, The Fall) and an all-star cast including Henry Cavill, Kellan Lutz, Luke Evans, and Isabel Lucas. Tarsem and producers Gianni Nunnari (300), Mark Canton (300), and Ryan Kavanaugh (The Fighter) unleash an epic tale of treachery, vengeance, and destiny in Immortals, a stylish and spectacular adventure. As a power-mad king razes ancient Greece in search of a legendary weapon, a heroic young villager rises up against him in a thrilling quest as timeless as it is powerful. Immortals stars Henry Cavill (Superman: Man of Steel), Stephen Dorff (Public Enemies), Isabel Lucas (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen), Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire), Luke Evans (Robin Hood), Kellan Lutz (Twilight series), with John Hurt (Hellboy), and Mickey Rourke (Iron Man 2). Esplanade Ballroom
4:00-5:00 The Griff: A Graphic Novel by Christopher Moore and Ian Corson? Christopher Moore (New York Times bestselling author of thirteen novels, including Fool, Bite Me, and the forthcoming Sacré Bleu) and co-author Ian Corson (award-winning screenwriter and director whose credits include Bloodline and Starting Five) discuss their new graphic novel, The Griff, with moderator Michael Spradlin (author of It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Zombies). Art from The Griff, illustrated by Jennyson Rosero, will be previewed. Also a Q&A with the authors, some free stuff, and hijinks. Come and enjoy! Room 104
4:00-5:00 Comic Book Law School®: Let’s Get It Started? A very good place to start…to start learning how to protect your intellectual property rights, that is! New convention! New city! Same dynamic format! This installment of the popular Comic Book Law School series will provide a basic foundation for understanding copyright and trademark law through an interactive lecture, and is brought to you by noted attorney Michael Lovitz, author of The Trademark and Copyright Book comic book. This workshop will cover the basics of protection and ownership of ideas, works of authorship, characters, names and logos, from conception through publication and beyond. Attendees will participate in an interactive discussion about basic rights provided under U.S. copyright and trademark laws, as well as the registration process for each, and maybe even stray into the realms of contracts and new media. Along the way, there will be plenty to learn about the protections available, as well as the numerous potential pitfalls, under the U.S. trademark and copyright systems. Please Note: The Comic Book Law School seminars are designed to provide relevant information and practice tips to practicing attorneys, as well as practical tips to creators and other professionals who may wish to attend. However, the seminar is presented for information and entertainment purposes only, and the information presented and opinions expressed at the seminars do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. [This program is approved for one (1) credit of California MCLE.] Room 204/206
4:00-5:00 Comics for Social Justice: The Making of Oil and Water? Oil and Water is a book-length comic (Fantagraphics, Fall 2010) that is a partly fictionalized account of a 10-day trip 22 Oregonians (activists, teachers, business owners, scientists and artists) took last summer to “bear witness” to the BP oil spill. Steve Duin (Comics: Between the Panels and Oregonian columnist) will briefly present the historic impact of comics on issues of contemporary social relevance. Mike Rosen (Portland to Gulf Coast Project Leader) will give a quick overview of why this project was conceived and what it hopes to accomplish. Shannon Wheeler (Too Much Coffee Man and cartoonist for The New Yorker magazine) will present his sketches from the Gulf Coast and show how he and Duin transformed them into a compelling portrait of what hope and challenges remain along a ravaged coastline, and one awash in both seafood and oil, that will be changed as irrevocably as those Oregonians that chose to bear witness to the tragedy. Q&A session to follow. Room 220
4:00-5:00 Spotlight on Amy Reeder? WonderCon special guest Amy Reeder talks about her career as an artist on DC’s Madame Xanadu and Batwoman titles and what’s coming up next. Room 236
4:00-5:00 IDW: Godzilla: The Return To Comics? Entering a new decade, the King of the Monsters is ready to take on the world once again, and IDW is reintroducing this classic icon to readers everywhere. IDW’s editorial team and panelists discussi what it’s like to bring Godzilla back to comic book stores and what fans can expect from the smashing variety of series. This is the place to get the latest Earth-shaking news about Godzilla and the other monsters appearing in the comics, plus some insight on what it took to bring Godzilla back in one of the most successful comic launches ever! If you love Godzilla like these guys do, then don’t miss this one! Room 254/256
4:30-5:30 Activision Spider-Man? Marvel, Activision, and acclaimed developer Beenox are headed to WonderCon with all-new Spider-Man videogame content! First, take a tour with Beenox down memory lane of the award-winning Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, and discuss their post-launch reactions and what key learnings from the fans they are applying to future games. Next, be the first to check out exclusive details, screenshots and videos of the next Spider-Man game, with game development talent from Beenox, acclaimed Marvel writer Peter David (co-creator of Spider-Man 2099), voiceover talent Josh Keaton (voice of Spider-Man in The Spectacular Spider-Man and Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions) and Marvel’s VP of games production, TQ Jefferson. Room 103
5:00-6:00 The Clone Wars: Secrets Revealed? After exploring the depths of the Force, as well as unleashing the power of the dark side, the third season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars draws to a close with the return of a legend: the mighty Wookiee, Chewbacca. Join supervising director Dave Filoni, as well as special guest panelists from across the saga, for an inside look at this momentous season. Room 104
5:00-6:00 Photoshop in Comics, Film, and TV? Adobe Photoshop® is the industry standard in digital imaging and is used by professionals worldwide for design, photography, video editing and more. View a quick demo, and meet members of the Photoshop team: Chris Cox (Photoshop engineer and industry icon), Zorana Gee (Photoshop product manager), Daniel Presedo (Photoshop quality engineer and consultant for Trackingshot Films), Mike Shaw (Photoshop quality engineer), and Nikolai Svakhin (Photoshop engineer). Then prepare for a lively Q&A. We will be giving away a free copy of Photoshop Extended CS5. Room 204/206
5:00-6:00 Alt Weekly Political Cartooning? The revolution will be cartooned! Meet groundbreaking newspaper cartoonists Ted Rall (To Afghanistan and Back, The Year of Loving Dangerously), Keith Knight ((Th)ink, The K Chronicles), Tim Eagan (Deep Cover), Don Asmussen (Bad Reporter), and Shannon Wheeler (Too Much Coffee Man) for a panel discussion about political and social commentary in comix. There will be Q&A. Room 220
5:00-6:00 Spotlight on Len Wein? The legendary comics writer and editor — and Eisner Hall of Famer — Len Wein talks about his career. Wein co-created some of comics’ greatest characters who have crossed over into other media, such as Wolverine and Swamp Thing. Room 236
5:00-6:00 Oni Press Presents Panelmonium 2011? Get up close and personal with trendsetting indie comic powerhouse Oni Press. Join in the Q&A and get the inside scoop on Greg Rucka and Matt Southworth’s new deluxe hardcover collection of Stumptown, and chat with award-nominated artist Sarah Oleksyk about her graphic novel Ivy. Artist Brian Hurtt discusses his new hit ongoing series The Sixth Gun. Plus, a talk with artist Tyler Crook featuring a sneak peek at his upcoming graphic novel Petrograd, based on new evidence surrounding the death of Rasputin. Guaranteed by Oni Press’ totally biased employees to be “the most fun you’ll ever have at a panel.” Room 254/256
5:30-6:30 Writing for TV Animation? Animation writers Matt Wayne (Superhero Squad), Nicole Dubuc (My Friends Tigger and Pooh), Steve Melching (Star Wars: Clone Wars), Aaron Ehasz (Avatar: The Last Airbender), Eugene Son (Ben 10: Ultimate Alien), and Andrew Robinson (Spectacular Spider-Man) offer a pulse-pounding, no-holds-barred (okay, there are two holds that are barred, but that’s it) round table talk on the ins and outs of script-writing for animated series in today’s television market. They’ll disucss how to break in, how to stay in; the differences between genres; how it’s the same as but different from live action; and more. Probably much more. Room 103
6:00-7:00 Scalped: One-on-One with Jason Aaron? The mind behind Vertigo’s critically acclaimed series comes to WonderCon! Jason Aaron is joined by DC’s VP-marketing, John Cunningham, for an in-depth look back at the first 50 issues of Scalped, as well as a glimpse at what’s to come! Room 104
6:00-7:00 Anthropology of Firefly? Daryl G. Frazetti (anthropologist, CSU Channel Islands) and Larry Nemecek (MyStar Media and Trekland) examine how the Civil War inspired Joss Whedon to set out to create a show depicting similar conditions in the distant future. Firefly documents the tale of the birth of a subculture based on those marginalized from mainstream society following their losses in major conflict. Having gained cult status, Firefly is an ideal cultural mirror and cultural teacher. It truly can be classified as participatory myth. Firefly is an anthropological dream in how it utilizes the human past and present to tell the story of humanity in a futuristic setting. The discussion focuses on Firefly as both cultural mirror and teacher, as well as differentiating between morals and ethics and how each relates to localized and globalized cultural arenas as well as the larger, global political landscape. Also included is a brief discussion on the subculture of fandom. Room 204/206
6:00-7:00 The Guide to Writing Fantasy & Science Fiction? Join former Wizards of the Coast managing editor and New York Times best selling author Philip Athans (Annihilation, The Watercourse Trilogy) for a spirited Q&A session for aspiring writers, with advice from his latest book, The Guide to Writing Fantasy & Science Fiction (Adams Media). Room 220
6:00-7:00 iFanboy vs. Comics Alliance? Two of the leading comics media sites meet at WonderCon for the battle for ultimate comics supremacy. Watch as these comics pundits battle it out in a variety of challenges, ranging from their coverage of comics to opinions of comics and creators, and maybe even some trivia and chances for prizes for the attending audience members! Moderated by Ryan Penagos of Marvel Comics and featuring from iFanboy, Ron Richards, Conor Kilpatrick, and Mike Romo, and from Comics Alliance Laura Hudson, Andy Khouri, Caleb Goellner, and David Brothers. You don’t want to miss this battle of the comics media titans! Room 236
6:00-7:00 Writing Queer: Creating and Writing LGBT Characters? Creating genuine and well-rounded LGBT characters is a profound challenge for writers, as they must give voice to a population whose stories have been kept hidden for so long. How do writers, both queer and straight, as well as mainstream and independent, create narratives that reflect the diversity and humanity of LGBT individuals, as well as the obstacles that face them? Moderator Justin Hall (Glamazonia, Prism Comics’ Talent Chair) leads a spirited conversation with some of the most dynamic writers working in comics: Paige Braddock (Jane’s World), Steve MacIsaac (Shirtlifter), Jon Macy (Teleny and Camille), James Robinson (Justice League of America, Starman), and a special guest panelist. Room 254/256
6:30-7:30 Femme Fatales Revealed? Get a first look at Femme Fatales, the new television series, inspired by the bestselling magazine. Coming to Cinemax this May, the show is a sexy new crime thriller in the tradition of Pulp Fiction and The Twilight Zone. Be the first to see exclusive footage from the hot new show. Meet the cast and creators, including Mark A. Altman (Castle), Steve Kriozere (NCIS), and some of the mysterious femme fatales who are featured in this seductive new anthology television series. There will be surprise guests and free giveaways. Room 103
Nighttime Programs
7:00-8:00 Tribute to Dwayne McDuffie? Comics and animation writer Dwayne McDuffie passed away on February 21. He left an indelible mark on both the comics and animation industries. In comics, he co-founded Milestone Media and created one of its signature characters, Static, which he later adapted into a popular Kids’ WB animated series, Static Shock. He also wrote Justice League of America and Fantastic Four, along with numerous other titles. In animation, in addition to Static Shock, he wrote for Justice League and Ben-10, and scripted two of WB Animation’s DC Universe DVD movies, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths and All-Star Superman, which was released the day after his death. Friends and co-workers Eddie Berganza (executive editor, DC Comics), Bruce Timm (WB Animation producer), Alan Burnett (animation writer), moderator Gary Miereanu (WB Animation PR), and others pay tribute to Dwayne in this panel. Room 254/256
8:30-11:00 WonderCon Masquerade? Click here for complete details. Room 103
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SUNDAY, APRIL 3
11:30-12:15 Doctor Who? In 2010, Doctor Who delivered record ratings for BBC America and was the #3 top-selling TV series, behind Mad Men and Glee, on the iTunes Store in the U.S. This spring, the series returns with a two-parter set in the U.S. and penned by lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat (Sherlock, Jekyll). The new season also includes an episode written by Neil Gaiman (Coraline, The Sandman) and features new guest stars. Esplanade Ballroom
11:30-12:30 Spotlight on Tony Daniel? Join Batman artist and writer — and WonderCon special guest — Tony Daniel, as he takes you through the creative process of both writing and drawing a comic book, including a Q&A session. Highlights include audience participation in the laying out of a comic book page! Room 104
11:30-12:30 Kids’ Star Wars Craft Class? Join author and editor Bonnie Burton (The Star Wars Craft Book, StarWars.com) for a fun craft activity on how to make quick and easy Star Wars puppets! Room 204/206
11:30-12:30 Spotlight on Carla Speed McNeil? WonderCon special guest Carla Speed McNeil talks about her work in both print comics and webcomics and the recent release of her Eisner Award-winning book Finder, in a new graphic novel format from Dark Horse. Room 220
11:30-1:00 Secret Origin of Good Readers? Dr. Robyn A. Hill (National University) and Mimi Cruz (Night Flight Comics) help educators and librarians navigate the wonderful world of comic books with an overview of the medium, highlighting specific ways comic books and graphic novels can be used to engage a variety of learners while promoting reading and literacy. Paul Levitz (Legion of Superheroes), Gene Yang (American Born Chinese), Thien Pham (Level Up, Bishop O’Dowd HS art department chair), and Chip Mosher, (BOOM! Studios) discuss how teachers, librarians, retailers, and publishers can work together to bring comic books into the classroom for use as an innovative teaching tool. The free 70-page The Secret Origin of Good Readers companion resource book, featuring other exciting materials, is available online at www.night- flight.com/secretorigin, courtesy of XMission.com. Room 236
11:30-12:30 Avatar Press? Here’s your chance to meet the creative minds behind Avatar Press, the industry’s most ground-breaking, risk-taking publisher! Hosted by editor-in-chief William Christensen, this panel includes Dheeraj Verma (Night of the Living Dead), who makes his first-ever appearance in the United States, and Mike Wolfer (Lady Death, War Goddess, Night of the Living Dead: Death Valley). Find out what new terrors this rogue publisher will unleash in the months ahead, and get your questions answered! Room 254/256
12:00-1:00 Marvel Television Presents: The Super Hero Squad Show and Iron Man Armored Adventures? Catch fan favorites The Super Hero Squad Show and Iron Man Armored Adventures as Marvel’s head of television, Jeph Loeb, introduces an action-packed, full-length episode of each exciting series! Fire up those jet repulsors and hero up to witness your beloved Iron Man’s high-octane adventures and The Super Hero Squad’s hilarious exploits. Don’t miss brand-new episodes of The Super Hero Squad Show on Cartoon Network, and tune in to Nicktoons for new episodes of Iron Man Armored Adventures premiering this summer! Room 103
12:15-1:00 Stars of Terra Nova? Jason O’Mara (Life on Mars), Stephen Lang (Avatar), executive producer Brannon Braga (Star Trek), and executive producer/director Alex Graves (Fringe, The West Wing) bring fans a glimpse inside Terra Nova, the highly-anticipated epic adventure 85 million years in the making, which has a special 2-hour preview this May on FOX. Moderated by Entertainment Weekly’s Jeff “Doc” Jensen, the cast and executive producers will discuss the initial 27-day shoot in Australia, bringing prehistoric Earth and its inhabitants to the small screen, creating the year 2149 on a dying planet, and the massive undertaking of bringing Terra Nova to life. Join Jason, Stephen, Brannon, and Alex for the panel discussion followed by an exclusive fan Q&A! Esplanade Ballroom
12:30-2:00 Cover Story: The Art of the Cover? In front of every great comic book is a cover, hopefully with an image so awe-inspiring it’ll make you want to buy the book! Here’s the story behind some of the covers created by WonderCon special guests: Adam Hughes (Catwoman, Wonder Woman), Francis Manapul (The Flash, Adventure Comics), Frank Quitely (All Star Superman, Batman and Robin), Amy Reeder (Supergirl, Madame Xanadu), and Bill Sienkiewicz (Elektra: Assassin, Stray Toasters). Fellow guest and comics historian Mark Evanier picks the covers and talks to the artists behind them. Room 104
12:30-1:30 Comics Arts Conference 7: A Brief Herstory of Gum Shoe Gals, Spy-Fi Sheroes, and Private Dick Chicks? Join comics herstorians, the legendary Trina Robbins and Jennifer K. Stuller (Ink-Stained Amazon), together on stage for the first time as they present an introduction to some of their favorite undercover women in comics. From Miss Fury and Senorita Rio to Honey West, Modesty Blaise, Ms. Tree, and more, come learn about the herstory of female detectives and spies in comics from the women who love them. Room 204/206
12:30-1:30 R2-D2 Droid Building Basics? Matt McCormick, Steve Simmons, Marc Verdiell, Grant McKinney, and Jonathan Burton (Bay Area R2 Builders) share and demonstrate full-size, functional R2D2s that they built themselves, complete with lights, sounds, drive systems, and more. Topics include materials, plans, building techniques, tools, and electronics to bring R2 to life. Room 220
12:30-1:30 Queer Youth and Comics? A rash of queer teen suicides started the It Gets Better Project, to let LGBT youth know that the pain often inflicted by abusive bullies, authority figures, and family doesn’t have to continue into their adulthood. It really does get better. This panel of LGBT cartoonists are also reaching out to queer youth with stories that educate and inspire, featuring Brian Andersen (So Super Duper), Celina Hernandez (Reignbow, Dee-Va), David Kelly (Steven’s Comics), Christine Smith (The Princess), and moderator and Prism Comics president Charles “Zan” Christensen (Northwest Press). Room 254/256
1:00-1:45 ThunderCats Special Video Presentation and Cast/Producer Q&A? ThunderCats Ho! The cats will be loose on Sunday as WonderCon hosts the first-ever panel for this all-new animated series produced by Warner Bros. Animation, coming soon to Cartoon Network. Based upon the iconic 1980s action classic, ThunderCats is the epic tale of Lion-O and his battle against evil in the quest for the fabled Stones of Power. Fans will feel the magic and hear the roar as producers and cast unveil their vision for the show, debut exclusive footage and answer questions about one of the most highly anticipated animated series of the year. Esplanade Ballroom
1:00-2:00 FOX’s Breaking In? Christian Slater (True Romance), Odette Yustman (Cloverfield), Bret Harrison (V), Alphonso McAuley (Chocolate News), and executive producer Doug Robinson (Rules of Engagement) share a sneak peek and behind-the-scenes anecdotes about their upcoming series Breaking In, an offbeat half-hour workplace comedy about a high-tech security firm that takes extreme — and often questionable — measures to sell their protection services. Created by Adam F. Goldberg (Fanboys) and Seth Gordon (Community), the series centers on a team of uniquely skilled oddball geniuses handpicked to work for a manipulative mastermind. Room 103
1:00-2:00 High Tech High Chula Vista Graphic Novel Project? High Tech High Chula Vista Graphic Novel Project has created a comics movement within their school (near San Diego) and will discuss how they have done so, who they are, and how they are changing the way teens interact with graphic novels. Room 236
1:30-3:00 Comics Arts Conference 8: Education: Visual Literacy and Visual Sociology? Kevin Degnan (Southwestern College) discusses how to integrate graphic novels in a first-year transfer-level class at a community college and presents evidence that the combination of visuals and text in comics increases student proficiency with English. Carol Tilley (University of Illinois) traces the efforts of DC Comics’s “Superman Good Books” campaign of the 1930s and 1940s to encourage its younger readers to go beyond comics in order to “read a good book every month.” Jeff Barbanell (Arizona State University) provides a roadmap for effective literacy instruction of English language learners through the combination of visual literacy in comics and Socratic questioning strategies. Room 204/206
1:30-2:30 SLG Publishing? SLG president Dan Vado ruminates on 25 years of comics publishing and shows previews of upcoming graphic novels. Room 220
1:30-2:30 IDW: The G.I. JOE and Transformers Comics Panel? Join writer Mike Costa and IDW senior editor Andy Schmidt as they discuss the upcoming plans for both major franchises for 2011 and into 2012! What can you expect from the much-raved about G.I. JOE: Cobra Civil War?! And what is Transformers: Chaos and how will it reshape the Transformers universe forever? Room 254/256
1:45-2:30 Human Target Special Video Presentation and Cast/Producer Q&A? Human Target returns to WonderCon, with series stars Mark Valley (Fringe) and Janet Montgomery (Entourage) joining executive producer Matthew Miller (Chuck) for a look back at the recently concluded second season of this fan-favorite series. The Human Target team will deliver a special video presentation prepared exclusively for WonderCon, will talk about their vision for the future of Christopher Chance and his team, and will answer fan questions in a Q&A session moderated by Geoff Boucher of the Los Angeles Times. Based on DC Comics characters, Human Target is produced by Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Wonderland Sound and Vision, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Television. Esplanade Ballroom
2:00-3:00 DC Icons? DC’s top heroes are the topic of this panel spotlight. Group editor Mike Marts, along with artists Tony Daniel and Amy Reeder, and others lead the discussion on the latest Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman news. Room 103
2:00-3:00 The Kids Are All Right!? Some of the most successful comics today are being created specifically for the younger set. Discussing the current state of the kids comics industry are panelists Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead, Super Dinosaur), Jennifer Holm (Babymouse, Squish), Gene Yang (American Born Chinese, Eternal Smile), Lark Pien (Long Tail Kitty, Mr. Elephanter), Scott Peterson (Batman Brave & The Bold, Scooby-Doo), and Lisa Brown (Picture the Dead, Tribune Media Services syndicated cartoonist). Moderated by Eva Volin (Good Comics for Kids, SLJ; Alameda Free Library) with a Q&A to follow. Room 104
2:00-3:00 What’s Next in Indie Sci-Fi? Info TBA Room 236
2:30-3:15 V Special Video Presentation and Cast/Producer Q&A? The Visitors take San Francisco! Fresh off the jaw-dropping second season finale of V, series star Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost) and a V executive producer will dish on the year that was — and will tease what is to come in the epic battle for survival between the Visitors and the human race. V is produced by HDFilms in association with Warner Bros. Television. Esplanade Ballroom
2:30-3:30 Editing Comics the BOOM! Studios Way? BOOM! Studios editor-in-chief Matt Gagnon talks about the ins and outs of editing comics at BOOM! Don’t miss this in-depth look into the editing secrets of one of the comic book industry’s leading independent publishers. Join moderator Chip Mosher (marketing director BOOM! Studios) as they discuss editing do’s and don’ts at today’s hottest comic book company. Room 220
2:30-3:30 The Digital Revolution: Webcomics 101? In the past decade, webcomics have moved from the fringes of the comics industry to one of the fastest-growing segments of comics publishing. The Cartoon Art Museum’s Andrew Farago discusses the history and the future of digital comics with WonderCon special guests Jeremy Love (Bayou) and Carla Speed McNeil (Finder), plus Shaenon K. Garrity (Skin Horse), Shannon Wheeler (Too Much Coffee Man), and Chuck Whelon (Pewfell). Room 254/256
3:00-4:30 Starship Smackdown Ultimate Platinum Collector’s Edition? No double dipping, the ships are almost all new, and the quips are too! The legendary Starship Smackdown returns to the future home of Starfleet Academy as our veteran panel of expert space-shipologists debate the greatest cosmic conflagrations of all-time. Can the Enterprise defeat an Imperial Star Destroyer and how would Dr. Who’s TARDIS rate against Carl Sagan’s Starship of the Imagination? These questions and many more can only be answered by the world’s foremost spaceshipologists, including Robert Meyer Burnett (Free Enterprise, The Hills Run Red), Ashley E. Miller (Thor, X-Men: First Class), Daren Dochterman (ST: TMP — Director’s Edition), and Steve Melching (Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Transformers: The Animated Series), along with some very special, surprise guests. Be there or be squarer than you already are. A true San Francisco treat. Room 103
3:00-4:00 Geek Slant: Pop Culture from an Asian American Perspective? From Far East Movement to Wong Fu Productions, Asian performers are breaking barriers — and challenging what it means to be an American star! Join us for a no-holds-barred discussion on APIs in American media, from comic books to Hollywood film. What is the state of Asian American pop, and what’s in store for the future? Featuring National Book Award winner Gene Yang (American Born Chinese), comics podcaster Eugene Ahn (aka Adam Warrock, War Rocket Ajax), journalists Diana Nguyen and Jen Wang (Disgrasian), and indie filmmaker and producer Steve Nguyen (Channel APA). Moderated by Racebending. Room 104
3:00-4:00 Comics Arts Conference 9: Power and Control: Super and Artistic? Rodney DeaVault (Simmons College) traces the transformation of team “darling” Jean Gray from virginal Marvel Girl to bellicose and sexually rapacious siren Dark Phoenix, thus showing the link between female representations of power and the angel/monster dichotomy that marks the depiction of heroines. David Mitchell (School of the Art Institute of Chicago) examines how Enki Bilal’s control of every element of the Nikopol Trilogy allows him to seamlessly integrate the unreal with the real, whereas in his film version, Immortal, he willingly separates the real and unreal between live-action and CGI. Room 204/206
3:00-4:00 Spotlight on Paul Levitz? Mark Evanier moderates a conversation with longtime comics fan (The Comic Reader), editor (Batman), writer (Legion of Super-Heroes), publisher (DC Comics) and historian (75 Years of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Mythmaking) Paul Levitz. Join the old friends’ discussion of comics’ past, present, and future yourself in the Q&A segment. Room 236
3:30-4:30 Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog? This year, WonderCon’s going out on a high note! Fandom Charities Inc. and Whedonopolis.com, the folks who’ve been bringing you the fantastically popular WonderCon/Comic-Con sing-alongs of “Once More With Feeling,” present a screening of Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog! This should be an event to remember, so come to the show and revel in the musical genius of The Whedons! But remember, the best part of the show is up to you! Cheer for Dr. Horrible! Cheer for Penny! Cheer for Moist! Cheer for the Freeze Ray! Cheer — or whatever — for “Captain Hammer, Corporate Tool”! Just have fun and be sure to make Bad Horse gleeful. Esplanade Ballroom
3:30-4:30 501st Legion: Armor Costuming? Chris Richards (Scout Trooper), Mark Berschens (Clone Trooper) and Derek Grant (Stormtrooper) will discussing just what it takes to get your own set of armor and the requirements needed in order to join the 501st Legion. Topics will cover items like armor building, weathering, suiting up and Q&A. Room 220
3:30-4:30 Science in Science Fiction? Kyle Kurpinski and Terry Johnson (How to Defeat Your Own Clone: And Other Tips for Surviving the Biotech Revolution) discuss the scientific breakthroughs that inspire science fiction and the ways that science is depicted in popular media, books, movies, and more. After a brief presentation, these bioengineers will be available to answer your questions in a Q&A session. Room 254/256
4:00-5:00 Drawing DC? Superstar artists Francis Manapul and Amy Reeder show off their distinctive styles while drawing on the “Elmo,” a machine that projects their work on a giant screen. Check out this unique presentation that will give you an inside glimpse into the artistic process! Room 204/206
4:00-4:30 WonderCon Talkback? So? How did we do? Here’s your chance to tell us! Representatives from WonderCon’s management team will be present to hear what you have to say. Room 236
