Marvel Creatives at Comic-Con@Home, July 23 to 26
While Marvel Studios isn’t officially participating in this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, the online programming still has a good long list of Marvel comic creator and others on the schedule.
Highlights include A Look Inside “Marvel’s 616” on Disney+ (Thursday, 1 to 2 pm), a behind-the-scenes look at animated series Marvel’s Spider-Man: Maximum Venom during MARVEL HQ (Thursday, 4 to 5 pm), Decoding the Kirby/Lee Dynamic (Friday, 11 am to noon), C. B. Cebulski-hosted Marvel Comics: Next Big Thing (Friday, 11 am to noon), First Look at Hulu’s Helstrom (Friday, 3 to 4 pm), and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – The Stories and Science of Mutants, Androids, Space Travel and Aliens (Saturday, 3 to 4 pm).
The complete schedule is now live on the SDCC website. Panels will be streamed on YouTube.
Thursday, July 23
Virtual Fandom: Superhero Fandom Adapts to the Pandemic (10 to 11 am)
Phil LaMarr (actor), Dan Fraga (artist), Sara Katz-Scher (@thatprincessgirl), Rene Amador (ARwall), and Gert Van (Marvel, DC, and Everything Nerdy Facebook group), moderated by Kevin Winston (Digital LA), share how they have adapted to the pandemic and engage with fans virtually to talk everything superhero, Disney, Marvel, DC, animation, and more. Speakers discuss digital tools to connect including: Zoom, YouTube, and other livestream panels; Instagram Live chats, interviews, and drawing livestreams; crowdfunding campaigns; augmented reality, Facebook groups and communities, and virtual autograph signings. Speakers also announce upcoming virtual projects and releases, in this informational and inspiring panel!
X-Men Fandom Surprise Party (10 to 11 am)
They thought it was just going to be a pajama party where they’d reminisce about their mutant pride, instead these X-Men influencers, podcasters, and cosplayers experience the surprise of their lives with drop in visits by surprise celebrity guests from the X-Men universe. Panelists include Dylan Carter and Regina Givens (House of X), Khelan Bhatia (Homo Superior podcast), Amanda Lynne (cosplayer), Jake Wallace (X-Club), and Chris Riley (X-Reads Podcast). Moderated by Chandler Poling (White Bear PR).
A Look Inside “Marvel’s 616” on Disney+ (1 to 2 pm)
Marvel’s 616 explores how Marvel’s rich legacy of stories, characters and creators exist within the “world outside your window.” Each documentary, helmed by a unique filmmaker, explores the intersections of storytelling, pop culture and fandom within the Marvel Universe. Join directors Gillian Jacobs, Paul Scheer, and executive producers Sarah Amos and Jason Sterman as they discuss the making of this Disney+ original anthology series with moderator Angélique Roché.
How to Build a Girl Squad (2 to 3 pm)
Growing up, many of us had to contend with the Smurfette principle: stories where there was only one girl in the whole gang–the token, the love interest, and the character who had to stand in for all girls everywhere. But times have changed, and many creators are writing their dream girl gangs, squads, and inclusive ensembles. So how do you build your modern squad from the ground up? How do you decide what kinds of characters will best complement, conflict, and have chemistry with each other? And why is writing and/or drawing a girl gang just so gosh darn fun? Join creators Cecil Castellucci (The Plain Janes), Sarah Kuhn (Heroine Complex), Sam Maggs (The Unstoppable Wasp: Built on Hope), Afua Richardson (Black Panther: World of Wakanda), Steenz (Heart of the City), and Rebekah Weatherspoon (A Cowboy to Remember) as they discuss the challenges and joys of squad goals and building the modern girl gang.
MARVEL HQ (4 to 5 pm)
This is the destination for all young Marvel fans (and their families)! Check out everything Marvel HQ has to offer about your favorite Super Heroes, with a comics read-along, an epic LEGO battle, and a behind-the-scenes look at the animated series, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Maximum Venom. And grab some paper and a crayon because we’re going to draw that symbiote baddie together in Marvel Draw!
Breaking Into Comics and Staying In! (5 to 6 pm)
Comics Experience founder Andy Schmidt (Marvel, IDW), Comics Experience creators workshop director Bon Alimagno (Marvel), and artist Sanford Greene (Bitter Root) present an invaluable guide to breaking into the industry! You’re willing to do the work, but the world of comics is tough to crack into; join these pros as they break down the walls and offer practical advice that will jumpstart your career!
Friday, July 24
Decoding the Kirby/Lee Dynamic (11 am to noon)
For over half a century, the relationship between Jack Kirby and Stan Lee that resulted in the creation of the Marvel Silver Age has been one of the most contentious issues in comics scholarship, with economic and legal consequences echoing down to the present day. In this panel, two recent biographers of Stan Lee–Danny Fingeroth (A Marvelous Life: The Amazing Story of Stan Lee) and Abraham Riesman (True Believer: The Rise and Fall of Stan Lee) join comics historian/writer Fred Van Lente (The Comic-Book History of Comics) and playwright Crystal Skillman (King Kirby) to explore pivotal moments in Lee and Kirby’s shared history and attempt to shed more light on the complicated dynamic that produced some of the greatest characters in comics–and some of the bitterest recriminations. Rob Salkowitz (Forbes, Comic-Con and the Business of Pop Culture) moderates.
Entertainment is Female: a Conversation with Hollywood Executives (11 am to noon)
From the companies that brought you Transformers, the LEGO movies, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Walking Dead, Lumberjanes, and Star Wars: the Rise of Skywalker, women executives discuss how they are pushing for female representation in Hollywood while adapting comics and games to the big screen. Moderator Tiffany Smith (actress and presenter), along with panelists Jeannette Francis (Bad Robot), Mette Norkjaer (BOOM! Studios), Grey Cusack (Entertainment One), Aubrey Lee (Lord Miller), Nikki Baida (Lord Miller), and Sam Crawley (Skybound Entertainment) will partake in a talk about the film and television industry.
Marvel Comics: Next Big Thing (11 am to noon)
Marvel editor-in-chief C.B. Cebulski breaks down all the latest and greatest coming from the House of Ideas with some of Marvel’s most epic creators! Tom Brevoort, Al Ewing, and Dan Slott will dive into the cosmic calamity coming to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in the pages of Empyre! An army is gathering in the latest X-Men crossover event, X of Swords, and Jordan White, Tini Howard, and Gerry Duggan have all the juicy details! Nick Lowe, Nick Spencer, and Mark Bagley will discuss the landmark Amazing Spider-Man #850 ushering in the return of the Green Goblin! Plus Nick Lowe rejoins the panel to discuss the return of the classic Marvel character, Werewolf by Night, with creators Taboo and Ben Jackendoff! Be there, True Believers!
The Undiscovered Art of Jack Kirby: Architect (noon to 1 pm)
Barry Ira Geller (Jack Kirby co-designer, Science Fiction Land, Lord of Light), discusses the discovery of the secret visual language inherent within all the Lord of Light architectural work created by Jack Kirby in 1978–part of which is its expression and adaptation into all forms of Media–with Mike Royer (Jack’s favorite inker and Disney guru), Tom Kraft (president of the Jack Kirby Museum), and Wally Anne Marie Wharton, model painter and colorist for Lord of Light.
Make Mine Marvel: Bringing Back Marvel Classics for Today’s Readers (1 to 2 pm)
Mark Evanier (comic book writer and historian), Lauren Bisom (Marvel entertainment editor), Russell Busse (Abrams senior editor, licensing and entertainment) gather for a discussion moderated by Charles Kochman (Abrams ComicArts editorial director) about the legacy of classic Marvel Comics, and how new books for readers of all ages are bringing classic comic art, characters, and storylines to a new generation. The group will discuss exciting new titles including My Mighty Marvel First Books: The Amazing Spider-Man and Captain America, a series of collectible board books that introduce the world’s greatest heroes as drawn by the world’s greatest creators, the Marvel Classic Sticker Book, featuring over 250 vintage stickers and 5 pull-out posters, as well as Marvel Comics Mini-Books, a collectible box set featuring history and facsimiles of Marvel’s smallest comic books and which Evanier contributed to, all published by Abrams Books and available this summer. The panel will also include a sneak peek at Marvel Value Stamps: A Visual History written by comics legend and former Marvel editor-in-chief Roy Thomas and releasing this fall.
LMGI – Hollywood Location Scouts (1 to 2 pm)
They found Winterfell in Ireland, Skull Island in Vietnam, Hogwarts in England, and Wakanda in South Africa. Working alongside directors and production designers, location scouts are the visual artists who bring forth every place that you see on the screen. Six location scouts, members of the Location Managers Guild International will discuss the creative and logistical aspects of their jobs and relate some exciting anecdotes. Moderator John Rakich (Shadowhunters, The October Faction) hosts panelists Jen Farris (Constantine, Game Night), Jeff Hunter (Star Trek: Picard, The Last Ship), James Lin (Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Endgame), Emma Pill (Blade Runner 2049, 1917), and Asha Sharma (Guardians of the Galaxy, Ready Player One).
First Look at Hulu’s Helstrom (3 to 4 pm)
Talk about some family drama! Join Helstrom showrunner Paul Zbyszewski and cast–Tom Austen, Sydney Lemmon, Elizabeth Marvel, Robert Wisdom, Ariana Guerra, June Carryl, and Alain Uy–for one hell of a sneak-peek look and conversation around bringing this terror-filled comic to life as Hulu’s next horror series. Moderated by IGN’s Laura Prudom.
The Annual Jack Kirby Tribute Panel (3 to 4 pm)
Every year, former Kirby assistant Mark Evanier hosts a gathering of fans of the man some call “The King of the Comics” and his vast, persistent impact on not only comic books but related fields, as well. This year, Mark and John Morrow (publisher of The Jack Kirby Collector) discuss all this with master artist Alex Ross who discusses the influence Kirby had on his work.
Saturday, July 25
From Wakanda to Numbani, Writing the Next Generation of Heroes (11 am to noon)
Through original novels, these authors expand the world of some of the newest pop culture heroes from Marvel and Overwatch. Featuring Preeti Chhibber (author, Orientation: Avengers Assembly), Nicky Drayden (author, Overwatch: Hero of Numbani), and Nic Stone (author, Shuri: A Black Panther Novel). Moderated by Michael Petranek (executive editor, Scholastic).
Jim Lee’s X-Men Artist Edition Spotlight (noon to 1 pm)
Get the inside scoop on IDW Publishing’s newest Artist Edition books, including one featuring one of the most popular comic book artists of all time, Jim Lee! Scott Dunbier (IDW, director of special projects) and Dirk Wood (IDW, senior vice president integrated marketing) join Scott Williams (artist, inker) for a discussion about this very special Artist’s Edition featuring Jim Lee’s stellar work on X-Men and more stellar Artist Editions coming this year.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – The Stories and Science of Mutants, Androids, Space Travel and Aliens (3 to 4 pm)
For seven seasons Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has managed to take us on one wild ride after another. The show is coming to an end with season seven, which premiered on May 27, and we are excited to celebrate the show with this panel. It is one thing to explore the amazing, and sometimes scary, abilities of inhumans (mutants), and quite another to take these stories into a matrix-like world, into space and even on a time-traveling adventure. Join the Fleet Science Center and executive producers, writers, and actors from Marvel’s immensely popular TV show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., as they reveal how these stories came to life and discuss with San Diego scientists if they got the science right. Panelists are Jeffrey Bell (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. showrunner, executive producer, and writer), Andrea Decker (Fleet Science Center, moderator), Dr. Virginia De Sa (professor in the Cognitive Science Department at UC San Diego), Elizabeth Henstridge (actor, Jemma Simmons), Dr. Anila Kanchan Madiraju (research associate at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies), Melissa Miller (scientist and science writer at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography), James Oliver (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. co-producer and writer), Sharla Oliver (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. co-producer and writer), Dr. Troy Sandberg (postdoctoral researcher at UC San Diego), Joel Stoffer (actor, Enoch), and Craig Titley (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. executive producer and writer).
Out In Comics 33: Virtually Yours (6 to 7 pm)
The comic world’s longest-running panel is 33 this year and enters the virtual age with Comic-Con@Home! As the comic book world has become a celebrated part of the pop culture world, “Out In Comics” is more relevant than ever before. With LGBTQ or LGBTQ-friendly creators as writers, artists, directors, producers, actors, entertainers, and journalists, what do their characters and creations mean for diverse representation, characters, and storylines in comics, film, and television? In our politicized and sometimes polarized world, what kind of heroes do we need, both behind-the-scenes, and on the page and screen? At a time when politics, viruses, racism, homophobia, and transphobia–sometimes interchangeable–intrude on every aspect of our lives, join Prism Comics and our diverse all-star panel to celebrate and spotlight creators, comics, and fans as they discuss the past, present, and future of Out In Comics! Founding moderator and bestselling author Andy Mangels (Wonder Woman ‘77 Meets The Bionic Woman, Star Trek and Star Wars books and comics) again chairs the panel and welcomes special guests, including Christian Cooper (famous bird-watcher and Karen-fighter, co-creator, and writer of the Marvel series Darkhold and Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, editor of the Marvel Swimsuit Specials, and creator of the Independent Queer Nation online gay comic), Hazel Newlevant (cartoonist of the graphic novellas If This Be Sin and Sugar Town, and their recent graphic memoir No Ivy League. They have edited and published the anthologies Chainmail Bikini: The Anthology of Women Gamers and Comics For Choice, and co-edited the Eisner-winning anthology Puerto Rico Strong. They are the recipient of Ignatz, Xeric, and Prism Grant awards.), Noelle Stevenson (executive producer and showrunner for DreamWorks She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, author of The Fire Never Goes Out: A Memoir in Pictures, Eisner and GLAAD Media Award-winning and New York Times bestselling writer of Nimona and Lumberjanes), Tim Sheridan (writer for WB Animation and Netflix, with credits on DC Super Hero Girls, Justice League Action, Scooby-Doo!, Teen Titans Go!, Reign Of the Superman, The Death and Return of Superman, and the upcoming Superman: Man of Tomorrow and Netflix’s Masters of the Universe: Revelation).
Sunday, July 26
Imagination & Fun for Kids – The IDW Way! (10 to 11 am)
Tune into this engaging exploration of comics and graphic novels for kids! Moderator and author Sam Maggs (Marvel Action: Captain Marvel) joins some of the best storytellers in the IDW Publishing stable including Evan Stanley (Sonic the Hedgehog), Tony Fleecs (My Little Pony, Star Wars Adventures), plus graphic novel creators Kim Dwinell (Surfside Girls), Jared Cullum (Kodi), and Adam Tierney (Afraid of Everything) as they show kids how to unlock their creative potential!
Jack Kirby 101: An Introduction (11 am to noon)
Comic-Con legend Mark Evanier (onetime Jack Kirby assistant, and author of Jack Kirby: King of Comics) and The Jack Kirby Collector’s John Morrow (TwoMorrows Publishing) join The Jack Kirby Museum’s Tom Kraft and Rand Hoppe for a discussion that will provide an introduction to Jack Kirby, the man, his work, and his influence on comics, comic conventions, and the culture at large.
Cardboard Superheroes: Creating Life-Sized Cardboard Models of Your Favorite Superheroes (noon to 1 pm)
Connor and Bauer Lee (co-founders of Carboard Superheroes) unveil their completed life-sized cardboard Hulkbuster! At WonderCon, they shared how they started Cardboard Superheroes and showcased each of their models. Today they reveal detailed tips and insights into how they actually create their life-sized superheroes out of cardboard. They also share flashbacks to their origin story and how their journey began in elementary school to later running workshops with the Comic-Con Museum. Visit their website at www.cardboardsuperheroes.com!
LGBTQ Comics and Popular Media for Young People (2 to 3 pm)
Comics and animation are universal mediums that have recently made huge leaps in presenting LGBTQ-inclusive stories and characters for young audiences. These groundbreaking successes have made unique creative opportunities for LGBTQ storytellers. A mix of animation and publishing storytellers discuss their projects and answer the questions: How do they approach LGBTQ content and characters for tweens & teens? What are the new and upcoming projects to watch for? And how do new LGBTQ creators find their voice and get their start? Join Prism Comics, moderator Cort Lane (Marvel Rising, Ultimate Spider-Man) and talented panelists Gina Gagliano (publishing director, Random House Graphic), Trung Le Nguyen aka Trungles (The Magic Fish, Twisted Romance), Alex Sanchez (You Brought Me The Ocean), Noelle Stevenson (Netflix’s She-Ra and the Princesses of Power), Mariko Tamaki (Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me, Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass), Brittney Williams (Goldie Vance, DC Super Hero Girls), and Michael Vogel (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Young Justice) as they look at the world of LGBTQ storytelling for the young fans of today and creators of tomorrow.
Super Asian America (2 to 3 pm)
From blockbuster productions like Mulan and Shang Chi to streaming hits like The Half Of It, Asian Americans continue to make strides in media and representation. With race at the forefront of the national consciousness, from anti-racism protests to the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in a post-COVID world, it’s a poignant time to assess the state of Super Asian America. Join Racebending for our 10th annual (and first virtual) discussion of all things Super Asian American, featuring Peter Shinkoda (Daredevil), Deric Hughes (The Flash), Joy Regullano (White Fetish), and Bao Phi (Sông I Sing).
The Writer’s Journey: Developing a Producer’s Mentality (3 to 4 pm)
As more and more content providers emerge, the demand for high-quality material is at an all-time high. Connect with this group of Hollywood screenwriters, producers and graphic novel creators as they discuss the best ways to get your original content to a hungry audience. Join 2015 Disney ABC Writing Program alum Brandon Easton (writer, Transformers War For Cybertron: Siege) as he hosts Geoffrey Thorne (producer, Black Panther’s Quest), Brandon Thomas (writer, Excellence), Ramón Govea (writer, Starseed Memoirs), and Shannon Eric Denton (writer, Spider-Man) in a frank discussion about changing your approach to the entertainment industry.
Wakanda, Forever! The Psychology Black Panther (3 to 4 pm)
What do people mean whey they shout, Wakanda Forever! Join Scott Jordan (Westworld psychology), Alex Simmons (Blackjack), Victor Dandridge, Jr. (Vantage Inhouse Productions), Daniel Jun Kim (Black Panther psychology), Vanessa Hintz (Joker psychology), Eric Wesselmann (Wonder Woman psychology), and Stanford Carpenter (Institute of Comic Scholars) as they discuss the psychological issues addressed in the Black Panther movie and comics, including topics such as micro-aggressions, cultural representation in media, and the power of love and empathetic leadership. By the end of our panel, you, too, will be shouting, Wakanda Forever!