For four and half days in July, San Diego hosts the biggest pop culture event in North America. The San Diego Comic-con International: So big and sprawling and full of of every imaginable layer of pop culture that you can only hope to keep it from overwhelming you.
Here, in our humble opinion, is a very short and a very selective listing of events of unusual interest. But of course there so much more to see than the short listing we’re providing here. In addition PW Comics World editors Heidi "The Beat" MacDonald and Calvin Reid will be moderating panels at the ICv2 Comics, Media and Digital Conference on Wednesday. MacDonald will also moderate the Legendary Comics Panel with Frank Miller and Bob Shreck (on Saturday) and the Publishers Weekly/PW Comics World panel (What Comes After the Graphic Novel?) on Sunday.
A Full schedule of programming at San Diego Comic-con can be found on the Comic-con Website.
Wednesday
1:00-4:30 The ICv2 Comics, Media, and Digital Conference. Digital comics and the growing transmedia uses of comics in film, TV, and videogames are transforming the industry into something very different from what has gone before. This conference will be held in association with San Diego Comic-Con International on Wednesday afternoon, July 20th at the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina, next to the San Diego Convention Center, prior to Comic-Con Preview Night.
Thursday
10:30-11:30 Spotlight on Joyce Brabner—Come hear Comic-Con special guest Joyce Brabner talk about her latest projects, including finishing the work of her late husband Harvey Pekar and dealing with his legacy. Room 8
12:00-1:00 A selection of classic fantasy authors discuss how to tell stories that are "epic" in both senses of the word. Panelists include George R. R. Martin (A Game of Thrones), Brandon Sanderson (The Way of Kings) and Kevin J. Anderson (Terra Incognita). Moderated by Michael Spradlin. Room 6A
12:45-1:45 DC Comics: Grant Morrison discusses his work in and out of comics, including the highly anticipated Action Comics #1, coming in September from DC Comics, his new nonfiction book, Supergods: What Masked Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants, and a Sun God from Smallville Can Teach Us About Being Human. Room 6DE
1:00-2:00 Stan Lee, Yoshiki, and Todd McFarlane— The worlds of music and comics collide, as legendary creators Stan Lee (POW! Entertainment) and Todd McFarlane (Spawn) join forces with rock superstar, Yoshiki (X Japan) to create a bold new hero, Blood Red Dragon. A captivating panel and Q&A session. Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
2:00-3:00 DC Comics - The New 52— DC Comics explodes in September with 52 new number one issues and one panel is not enough to cover it! With a "DC Comics - The New 52" panel each day, there's sure to be something for everyone! Join Dan DiDio, DC Entertainment Co-Publisher, Bob Harras, DC's Editor-in-Chief, and DC Comics Executive Editor, Eddie Berganza, for an up-close look at this unprecedented wave of new series, from the first-ever re-launches of Action Comics and Batman titles to the latest thrills from comics' cutting-edge! Room 6DE
4:00-5:00 Kodansha Comics— Representatives from the largest publisher in Japan discuss the exciting manga they'll be releasing in the coming months. Kumi Shimizu of Kodansha USA talks with Dallas Middaugh about the imprint's upcoming books, such as Bloody Monday, Cage of Eden, Love Hina, and, of course, Sailor Moon! Room 23ABC
Friday
10:30-11:20 ComicsPro: The State of the Industry—Join ComicsPRO president Joe Field and executive director Amanda Emmert as they discuss the state of comic book retailing with the industry's top publishing companies, including Bob Wayne (DC Comics senior VP-sales), David Gabriel (Marvel Comics senior VP of sales), Eric Stephenson (publisher, Image Comics), Jeremy Atkins (Dark Horse director of public relations), Ted Adams (CEO of IDW Publishing) and Roger Fletcher (Diamond Comic Distributors VP of sales & marketing). Room 18
11:00-12:00 JManga: Manga!? Hear it Straight from Japan!— The leaders of Japan's manga industry present an in-depth discussion of where the international manga industry is and where it is headed in the near future. Also, catch a sneak peak of jmanga.com, Japan's 39-publisher-strong Digital Comic Association's new manga portal website. Panelists include Sam Yoshiba (Kodansha), Takashi Watanabe (Shueisha), Toshitaka Tanaka (Shogakukan), Kouji Shimano (Futabasha), Naobumi Ashi (Kadokawa), Motoi Suzuki (Shueisha), and Sasaki Hisashi (editor-in-chief of Japan's Weekly Shonen Jump, the world's top-selling manga magazine). Room 25ABC.
8:30-11:30 p.m. The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards— The 23rd annual Eisner Awards, the "Oscars" of the comics industry, will be given out at a gala ceremony at the Indigo Ballroom at the Hilton Bayfront. The “National Book Awards” of the comics industry.
Saturday
12:30-1:30 Fantagraphics 35th Anniversary—Publishers Gary Groth and Kim Thompson offer a multimedia presentation highlighting their favorite works from the past 35 years, as well as previewing some of their upcoming favorites. Expect a major announcement or two, as well! Room 24ABC
1:00-2:00 Remembering Harvey Pekar—Joyce Brabner and Danielle Batone join editor Charles Kochman, artist Joseph Remnant (Harvey Pekar's Cleveland), and moderator Jeff Newelt to talk about Harvey's life and comics career. This is an open invitation to anyone whoever worked with Harvey or cared about him to come and share their memories. Room 7AB
1:30-2:30 Is the Comic Book Doomed?— Is the 32-page, stapled, monthly serial comic book reaching the end of its long road? And if the comic book as we once knew it vanishes, what does that mean for the future of the comics medium? Mark Waid (Irredeemable), Vijaya Iyer (Cartoon Books), Laura Hudson (Comics Alliance), Amanda Emmert (ComicsPRO), and moderator Douglas Wolk hash it out. Room 24ABC
2:00-3:00 Legendary Comics— For its inaugural year at Comic-Con, join iconic writer/artist Frank Miller (300), Legendary Comics editor-in-chief Bob Schreck (All-Star Superman), and other artists from the Legendary stable to find out about upcoming releases, including Miller's Holy Terror. Moderated by PW Comics World’s Heidi “The Beat” MacDonald. Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
Sunday
1:00-2:00 PW: What Comes After the Graphic Novel?— With Borders's bankruptcy shaking the publishing world and the health of brick-and-mortar stores everywhere being watched anxiously, the world of comics publishing is entering a new world of tablets, websites and, yes, good old comics shops. Join PW Comics World co-editor Heidi MacDonald in a discussion with publishing professionals as they take a look at what's next on the horizon. Participants include Judy Hansen, Hansen Literary Agency; Portlyn Freeman, co-owner, Brave New World Comics; Jeff Webber, eBooks director, IDW; and Terry Nantier, NBM publisher. Room 25ABC
