Wondercon 2009 schedule announced

This February 27th starts the beginning of the annual wondercon, and below you will see the programming list for the weekend event.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27

1:00-2:00 Sony Pictures Television, 20th Century Fox, and FOX: Sit Down, Shut Up—Get ready to Sit Down, Shut Up with the cast and producers of the newest animated comedy series to hit FOX on Sunday, April 19 at 8:30 pm. Here’s your chance to ask burning questions about the show’s origin and first season, interact with the voice talent, learn more about their characters, and catch an exclusive sneak peak at the series! Executive producers Mitch Hurwitz (Arrested Development) and Josh Weinstein (The Simpsons) will be joined by voice talent Will Arnett (Arrested Development), Kenan Thompson(Saturday Night Live), Henry Winkler (Happy Days), and Tom Kenny(SpongeBob SquarePants). Moderated by Animation Magazine editor Ramin Zahed. Room 103

1:00-2:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #1: Between Two Flashes: A Survey of American Superhero Comics, 1950-1956—Doug Highsmith(California State University, East Bay) and Chuck Huber (University of California, Santa Barbara) conduct a sweeping investigation of superheroes in the 1950s. This “lost decade”— running from the final Golden Age appearance of the Jay Garrick Flash in All-Star #57 (1950) to the first appearance of the Barry Allen Flash in Showcase #4 (1956)—was more than just DC’s “Big 3″ of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. This presentation traces the influences underlying the abortive superhero mini-revivals of the early fifties to the far more successful appearance of Silver Age heroes at decade’s end, including the impact of the Adventures of Superman television series, and parallels to the themes and sensibilities of superhero comics that appeared in other popular genres of the time will. Finally, sources of reprints of stories from the era, including AC Comics’ Men of Mystery title and Marvel’s Atlas Era Heroes Masterworks volumes, will be briefly reviewed. Room 204/206

1:00-2:00 Oni Press—Staff members and creators from Oni Press (the publisher of many great comics and graphic novels like Queen & Country, Scott Pilgrim, Courtney Crumrin, Stephen Colbert’s Tek Jansen, and North World) present a look at upcoming projects, make exciting announcements, and give away free stuff! Room 232/234

1:30-2:30 Aspen Comics: Exclusive 2009 Sneak Peek—The Aspen Comics crew will reveal new details on their upcoming properties, highlighted by a special look at their exciting new series Executive Assistant: Iris. Frank Mastromauro (president), Peter Steigerwald (vice president), Vince Hernandez (editor-in-chief), Mark Roslan (director of design and production),J. T. Krul (Fathom, Soulfire), Ale Garza (Fathom), and Micah Gunnell (Shruggedpreview Iris, Fathom, Soulfire, and Shrugged, followed by a one-on-one Q&A with fans. Room 104

1:30-2:30 It Was the Marvel Age of Comics—Roy Thomas (The Avengers, The X-Men, Conan the Barbarian) and Gary Friedrich (creator of Ghost Rider, scripter of Daredevil, Captain America, Sgt. Fury, et al.) were there! Let them and moderator Mark Evanier guide you through the miraculous minefield of Marvel history! Room 220

1:30-2:30 Spotlight on Aaron Lopresti—Artist and WonderCon special guestAaron Lopresti (Wonder Woman, Planet Hulk) answers questions and discusses his nearly 20-year career in comics. Topics will range from his early days at Marvel through his current work on the popular DC title Wonder Woman and his recently published book Fantastical Creatures Field Guide. Room 236/238

2:00-3:00 Black Panther Animated Series—He is the King of Wakanda, and soon he will be the King of TV! BET and Marvel Entertainment proudly present an exclusive look at the upcoming Black Panther cartoon, featuring the voice talents of Djimon Hounsou and more! Denys Cowan, senior VP of animation for BET and others discuss the genesis of the Black Panther comic series, as well as the creation of the animated series based on the origin story of “Who Is the Black Panther?” set to debut in mid-2009. Find out more behind the Black Panther and get a sneak peek at the cartoon at this star-studded panel! Room 103

2:00-3:00 Everything You Wanted to Know About Comics Retailing—But Weren’t Afraid to Ask!—Join ComicsPRO board members Joe Field (Flying Colors Comics, Concord) and Brian Hibbs (Comix Experience, San Francisco) for a free-wheeling exploration of the world of comics specialty retailing. Field and Hibbs are two of the industry’s most vocal leaders dedicated to improving the profession of comics retailing. Get the inside scoop on ComicsPRO, Free Comic Book Day, the new edition of Tilting at Windmills and the proverbial more! Room 232/234

2:30-3:30 Spotlight on Matt Fraction—One of the hottest writers in comics, the uncanny and invincible Matt Fraction (Uncanny X-Men, Invincible Iron Man) comes to WonderCon as a special guest for the very first time. Fraction will talk about his work and answer questions in this Spotlight panel. Room 104

2:30-4:00 Comics Arts Conference Session #2: Language Arts and Cross-Curriculum Comics Seminar—Liz Vizcarra (Carquinez Middle School) demonstrates the application of comics in the K-8 environment in Language Arts classes as well as across the curriculum. Using a step-by-step approach, she explains how comics—both published and student-created—can be used as pedagogical tools to explain plot, setting, and dialogue; to demonstrate the laws of physics; to learn the operation of new technology; and to develop skills in public speaking. A professional development certificate for teachers is available for this session. Room 204/206

2:30-3:30 Walt Disney Animation Studios: The Art of 2D Visual Effects—Craig Sost and Marlon West talk about the challenges that blending characters and EFX in a hand-drawn, 2D animation medium presents in creating drama. Featuring a key scene from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ next release Princess and the Frog, which the moderators will take apart to illustrate the magic of the production process. Room 220

2:30-3:30 Real Archaeology of Indiana Jones—Daryl G. Frazetti of the Department of Anthropology at Lake Tahoe Community College discusses the actual archaeology found in the Indiana Jones films. The world’s most famous archaeologist may be fictional, but much of the archaeology mentioned in the films is oh so very real and just as exciting. Actual sites and actual mysteries are explored. Find out what is happening in biblical archaeology, explore the real Temple of Doom, go on the quest for the Holy Grail, and delve into the mystique of the actual crystal skulls. This discussion encourages participation in this presentation of real adventure and discovery.Room 236/238

3:00-4:00 Spotlight on Dave Johnson—The Eisner Award–winning comics artist known best for his graphic and stunning covers, WonderCon special guest Dave Johnson (100 Bullets, The Mighty covers) talks about his work. Comics legend Howard Chaykin interviews Dave in this Spotlight panel presentation. Room 232/234

3:30-4:30 The Once & Future Trek!—Our regular panel of expert Treksperts reconvenes to hold court on the new Star Trek film from J. J. Abrams as well as share their candid and uncensored thoughts on the state of the franchise and the upcoming releases of the original classic feature films on Blu-Ray. Boldly go to Room 104 with such luminaries as Robert Meyer Burnett (Free Enterprise), Daren Dochterman (ST: TMP Special Edition, visual effects producer), Steve Melching (The Clone Wars), comedian Mary Forest, andAnthony Pascale (Trek Movie, webmaster). Room 104

3:30-4:30 Technology and Traditional Content Establish the Next Level of Entertainment Experience—Greg Goodfried (EQAL) of the web’s two most successful social drama series, lonelygirl15 and KateModern, and Melanie Merkosky, star of online social show multiplatform event Harper’s Globe, discuss why social shows are the future of the entertainment industry and why partnering with television networks for multiplatform content is important for the future of both mediums. Room 220

3:30-4:30 Masquerade 101—An overview of costuming at fan conventions, including the history, types of costumes found at various conventions, types of on-stage presentations, the planning and execution of costume groups, tips on working with fabrics, plastic casting, and other construction media, tips on makeup and props, what mistakes to avoid, how to make the best impact and how to have the most fun with this living artform. Panelists include WonderCon/Comic-Con Masquerade coordinator Martin Jaquish and highly experienced award-winning convention costumer Allan Lavigne. Room 236/238.

4:00-5:00 DC Nation—The DC Nation is back on the convention circuit and is gathering for WonderCon. DC is always looking for new recruits, so be sure to come on by with your friends as VP of sales Bob Wayne, senior story editorIan Sattler, and some of the industry’s top talent discuss where the DC Nation is heading in the coming year! Room 103

4:00-5:00 Comics Arts Conference Session #3: The Amazing O-Man!: Barack Obama and the Superhero Metaphor—Peter Coogan (Institute for Comics Studies) examines the relationship between the superhero genre and the position of America in the post–Cold War world. The Cold War, focused on a twilight struggle between two diametrically opposed societies, often found expression in metaphors drawn from the western, which was the most popular genre of the period. The post–Cold War period has seen a rise of the superhero genre, and superhero metaphors work well to express the social and political tensions of the current period. Coogan examines the metaphoric resonance of the hand-off of presidential power from a Texas cowboy (George Bush) to a comic book fan often seen as a superhero (Barack Obama). Room 204/206

4:00-5:00 Spotlight on Trina Robbins—Who better to interview Trina Robbinsthan Lee Marrs? Cartoonist/animator Lee Marrs and writer/herstorian Trina Robbins first met in 1970, during the Dark Ages of Underground Comix. Both were among the Founding Mothers of Wimmen’s Comix, the first ongoing all-woman feminist comics anthology. Room 232/234

4:30-5:30 Bandai Entertainment 2009 Previews!—Bandai Entertainment is taking anime to the next level with an amazing array of series and movies! Join Robert Napton, director of marketing, to hear about this year’s lineup, including Akira on Blu-Ray, Code Geass R2 (Season 2), Gundam 00, Kurokami-the animation, Sword of the Stranger, and more! Room 104

4:30-5:30 GeekRoundTable.com @ WonderCon—It’s a live podcast with the funniest guys in geekdom! The folks from GeekRoundTable.com are at WonderCon to give their take on the world of geek. Host Ned Cato Jr and producer Jesse Lopez are joined by panelists Chris and Mary Sturhann,Matthew Jeffery, Patrick Roach, Wesley Strawther, and Johann Joseph as the Beaver! Put your two cents in on the discussion in their open chair. There will be surprise guests and cool giveaways. Room 220

4:30-5:30 Tripwire Magazine—Tripwire editor-in-chief Joel Meadows, editorAndrew Grossberg, staff writer Pat McGreal, and surprise guests discuss the future of the superhero. Room 236/238

5:00-6:00 Marvel: Ultimate Comics—Marvel told you the Ultimate Universe was no more, and Ultimatum is proving that. As an era ends, Ultimate Comics begins. But line editor Mark Paniccia and Ultimatum writer and architect Jeph Loeb are here to drop an even bigger bombshell as they are joined by a surprise guest to make a jaw-dropping announcement! Room 103

5:00-6:00 SpongeBob SquarePants: The Art of Writing Squared—SpongeBob SquarePants is one of the most successful animated shows of all time and it is never made from scripts. The show is created by storyboard directors working from outlines. This writing approach is as old as cartoons but not many people know about it. Learn how a SpongeBob cartoon is made from idea to storyboard from Dani Michaeli (SpongeBob SquarePants) and other writers. Questions will be answered. Pants will be square. Room 204/206

5:00-6:00 Big! Bold! BOOM!—BOOM! Studios’ Mark Waid (Amazing Spider-Man,Potter’s Field), Ross Richie, Chip Mosher (Left on Mission), and a very special guest reveal what will be the biggest news coming out of WonderCon. Dare we say anymore? Room 232/234

5:30-6:30 Spotlight on Brian Azzarello—The Eisner Award–winning writer has just wrapped up his 100-issue/100-bullet run on 100 Bullets, his signature creation. What’s next for Brian Azzarello? Join him with friend and collaborator/interviewer (and fellow WonderCon special guest) Jim Lee as they talk Brian’s past, present, and future. Room 104

5:30-7:00 Watch Horror Films, Keep America Strong DVD Premiere—For 14 years—1971 to 1984—Creature Features was one of the most popular TV shows in San Francisco/Bay Area television history. The late Bob Wilkins hosted the Saturday night series for eight years, followed by John Stanley for another six. Wilkins’ wit and unusually droll personality and Stanley’s celebrity interviews and satiric mini-movies are all part of Watch Horror Films, Keep America Strong, a full-length documentary. The film features interviews with Wilkins, Stanley, and other key figures close to the show, as well as classic clips. This historic journey illuminates an era of television that should never be forgotten. The film will be introduced by John Stanley (host) andTom Wyrsch (producer). Room 220

5:30-6:30 The Birth of Gay Comix—San Francisco was a birthplace for underground comics. It was also a birthplace for the queer comics movement with a pioneering indie comic called Gay Comix. Edited by Howard Cruse and San Francisco artist, Robert Triptow, Gay Comix was one of the first comics to present stories by and for the LGBT community. Robert Triptow and early gay comics creators Burton Clarke (Gay Comix), Vaughn Frick (Gay Comix),Jeff Krell (Jayson), Lee Marrs (Pudge, Girl Blimp), Trina Robbins (It Ain’t Me Babe, Wimmen’s Comix), and Mary Wings (Come Out Comix) take you on a fascinating trip back to the ’80s and the beginnings of queer comic books. Moderated by Justin Hall (True Travel Tales, Glamazonia the Uncanny Super Tranny). Room 236/238

6:00-8:15 Wonder Woman DVD Premiere + Exclusive Green Lantern Sneak Peek—Embark on a journey of untold beauty, grace and strength as Princess Diana uses her remarkable gifts and evolves into Wonder Woman, the world’s most renowned female superhero. Warner Premiere, Warner Home Video, DC Comics, and Warner Bros. Animation present the West Coast Premiere of the next entry in the DC Universe animated original movie series featuring the action-packed origin story of the Amazonian princess—from her mythological beginnings through her introduction to Steve Trevor, her travels to America, and a no-holds-barred battle with Ares, the God of War. WonderWoman‘s stellar cast includes the voices of Keri Russell (Waitress), Nathan Fillion (Castle), Alfred Molina (Spider-Man 2), and Rosario Dawson (Sin City). The screening will be followed by a panel discussion of the film by Emmy Award–winning animation legend Bruce Timm, breakthrough director Lauren Montgomery (Superman Doomsday), screenwriter Michael Jelenic (Batman: Brave and the Bold), and, making her first appearance at WonderCon, Academy Award–nominee Virginia Madsen (Sideways), the voice of Queen Hippolyta. DC Comics senior VP of creative affairs Gregory Noveck will moderate. Wonder Woman will be available to the public on DVD on Tuesday, March 3. And don’t leave early, because the panel will close with a WonderCon exclusive—the first look at this summer’s highly anticipated DCU animated original movie starring Green Lantern! Esplanade

6:00-7:00 Resident Evil 5—Get a sneak peek at one of the most anticipated video game releases of 2009 and get a chance to see actual gameplay of Capcom’s Resident Evil 5 before it goes on sale in March. Some lucky audience members will get hands-on game time. Capcom’s product managers, Mike Webster and Matt Dahlgren and creative director Francis Mao, provide insider info on all the great new features on this first original Resident Evil game for the PS3 and Xbox 360. Plus see behind-the-scenes graphics, view all the Kijuju viral videos that are burning up the Internet, and learn everything you want to know about RE5 in the Q&A session! This panel is recommended for mature audiences. Room 103

6:00-7:00 Digital Painting Demo—Patrick McEvoy (Starkweather: Immortal) demonstrates the art of digital painting with Adobe Photoshop and Corel Painter. Using examples from his work on the Marvel Style Guide and covers from BOOM! Studios’ Fall of Cthulhu, Patrick will step through various techniques, starting from pencils and working up to a final rendering. Learn how to bring a fully painted look to your digital artwork! Room 204/206

6:00-7:00 Spotlight on Wendy Pini—The popular writer/artist behind the 30-year comic book sensation, Elfquest, is a WonderCon special guest. Wendy Pini talks with moderator Mark Evanier about her work, including the upcoming Elfquest movie. Room 232/234

6:30-7:30 Gaia Online User Gathering—Come to the unofficial Gaia Online User Gathering, where members can hang out with their fellow Gaians, exchange usernames, and have some fun. Room 104

6:30-7:30 Larry Marder: The Beanworld Is Back!—Legendary Beanworldcreator Larry Marder is front and center in his first solo WonderCon panel ever!. Learn how beans have been part of Marder’s life since the day he was born! This rich visual presentation covers the entire history of his peculiar fantasy dimension, including Marder’s many influences. This is your opportunity to discover why Beanworld has captivated readers from grade school to grad school since its first publication as a series of comic books in the 1980s. Now Beanworld is at Dark Horse Comics entertaining an entire new generation of fans. Hear all the details about Marder’s many upcomingBeanworld projects, including a first glimpse at his original Beanworld graphic novel on sale this fall! Room 236/238

8:15-9:45 Star Wars: Last Fan Movie Standing—Choose the last Star Warsfan movie standing at this friendly competition hosted by Lucasfilm’s Mary Franklin. The Star Wars Fan Movie Challenge, now in its eighth 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 show your support for your favorites, and you just might take home a Star Wars souvenir from the event! Esplanade

 

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28

 

 

11:00-12:00 What’s New at IDW?—Special projects editor Scott Dunbier will fill you in on some new projects coming to comic and book stores near you in 2009. Darwyn Cooke Parker cards will be given away (while supplies last).Room 104

11:00-12:00 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. Teacher and coach Douglas Neff provides 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 204/206

11:00-12:00 Otaku USA LIVE: Manga, Anime and More—Otaku USA is America’s only independent anime magazine! Talk about the future of manga, anime, idols, tokusatsu and Japanese video games with editor-in-chief Patrick Macias (Japanese Schoolgirl Inferno), manga editors Jason Thompson (Manga: The Complete Guide) and Ed Chavez (mangacast.net), writer/artists Shaenon Garrity (CLAMP in America) and Leia Weathington (The Legend of Bold Riley), and video game reviewers Emily Balistrieri and Heidi Kemps, AKA Zerochan. It’s half Q&A, half steel cage match, plus a massive manga giveaway! Room 232/234

11:30-12:30 Warner Bros.: Watchmen—Warner Bros. and WonderCon present a panel devoted to the most eagerly awaited movie of 2009:Watchmen! Visionary director Zack Snyder brings the classic graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons to vivid life on the big screen, opening March 6. Join Zack Snyder and members of the film’s cast LIVE on the WonderCon big stage for this exclusive panel presentation! Esplanade

11:30-12:30 Street Fighter IV—Celebrate the phenomena of Street Fighter as Capcom presents an in-depth panel about all the great features, characters, and even some secrets of the just-released Street Fighter IV for PS3 and Xbox 360. Meet the Capcom team consisting of SF master Seth Killian,product managers Grant Luke and John Diamonon, game producer Rey Jimenez, Capcom rep Randy Reyes, and creative director Francis Mao, as they share insider info about SFIV and SFIITurboHD Remix. Plus, watch clips of the exclusive SFIV anime from the SFIV Collector’s Edition as well as behind the scenes art and graphics. Finally, they’ll be pulling would-be Street Fighter champs from the audience for an impromptu fight club onstage to test your SF might to win awesome prizes! All this and a Q&A session to end the panel! Room 103

11:30-12:30 Graphic Novels in Libraries 201—You follow the trends, you’ve bought the books, and you’ve created a graphic novel collection in your library’s teen section. Now what? Bay Area librarians Ruth Boyer, Eva Nottage, Alexander Watkins, and Dorcas Wong discuss their experiences and offer tips and best practices on expanding your library collection beyond the bestseller list. Room 220

11:30-12:30 Comic Book Heaven: LIVE!—If you’ve ever wondered which superhero sleeps in his uniform, where the rudest place to shoot a giant space monster can be found, and what you really got when you ordered junk from ads found in old comic books, you’ll love Comic Book Heaven: LIVE!Scott Saavedra (Java Town) shines a bright and affectionate light on some of the strangest stories and most twisted moments found in vintage comic books. Comic Book Heaven: LIVE! is like Scott’s Comic Book Heaven blog (comic_book_heaven.blogspot.com) but without all the tedious pointing and clicking. Room 236/238

12:00-1:00 Dark Horse—Director of publicity Jeremy Atkins and editorShawna Gore (Creepy, Emily the Strange, Criminal Macabre), along with a cast of top creators, present an exclusive preview of all that Dark Horse has to offer in the coming year. With breaking news on all of your favorite Dark Horse titles, including early insight into the relaunch of the legendary Creepyanthology, be the first to know about everything from heroes to horror. Room 104

12:00-1:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #4: Comics, Culture, And Society—Diana Green (Minneapolis College of Art & Design) looks beyond the often-addressed “camp” aspects of EC stories, and delves into the way the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered subtexts and depiction of ambiguous gender in EC Comics played into the burgeoning, shifting acceptance of gay culture that began in the 1950s. Trevor Strunk (New York University) takes up the privileging of hybridity in the language, drawing style, and themes of Jaime Hernandez’s graphic novel Locas, from Love and Rockets, specifically in the portrayal of the fictional town of Huerta. Kate McClancy (Duke University) asks whether the post-9/11 political climate forced a reimagining of V for Vendetta‘s portrayal of an anarchist in the film version of the graphic novel. Room 204/206

12:00-1:00 Spotlight on Jill Thompson—WonderCon special guest Jill Thompson—creator of Scary Godmother and Magic Trixie and artist of many memorable comics—including Wonder Woman and The Sandman—is interviewed by friend and fellow comics superstar Mike Mignola (Hellboy). Join them as they talk about Jill’s work. Room 232/234

12:30-1:00 Summit Entertainment—Summit Entertainment brings exclusive footage from its exciting 2009 lineup:
   • Astro Boy—A thrilling tale of a true hero, Astro Boy is an all-new feature film full of action, adventure, humor and heart. Based on the beloved manga, Astro Boy will be brought to life on the big screen in breathtaking CGI animation.  
   • Knowing—From visionary director Alex Proyas (I, Robot; Dark City) comes a gripping action-thriller of global proportions, about a professor (Nicolas Cage) who stumbles onto terrifying predictions about the future—and sets out to prevent them from coming true.
   • The Hurt Locker—Kathryn Bigelow directs this acclaimed explosive thriller about an elite bomb squad engaged in a deadly game of cat and mouse amidst the chaos of war. Esplanade

12:30-1:30 Matt Fraction and Michael Chabon—It’s a meeting of the writers’ minds, as comics writer Matt Fraction talks with Pulitizer Prize–winning authorMichael Chabon (The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay) about comics and much more. Room 103

12:30-1:30 Worlds of Wonder: David Gerrold’s Writing Workshop—The Hugo and Nebula Award–winning author David Gerrold taught writing at Pepperdine University for nearly twenty years. Here is the entire twenty-year course boiled down to one hour, brought to you by Mr. Gerrold (Star Trek the Original Series: “The Trouble with Tribbles”). Room 220

12:30-1:30 R2-D2 Droid Building Basics—Chris James, Ryan Goff, Steve Simmons, and David Calkins share their experiences and demonstrate working droids. Topics range from materials, tools needed, basic electronics, and radio control information to make your own R2 come to life! Special guest Don Bies, former ILM modelmaker and Star Wars Episodes 2 and 3 droid wrangler. Room 236/238

1:00-1:30 Overture: Pandorum— From the producers of the Resident Evil film franchise comes Pandorum, a terrifying thriller in which two crew members wake up on an abandoned spacecraft with no idea who they are, how long they’ve been asleep, or what their mission is. The two soon discover they’re actually not alone—and the reality of their situation is more horrifying than they could have imagined. Appearing in person: stars Ben Foster (X-Men: The Last Stand), Antje Traue, and Cung Le. Esplanade

1:00-2:00 Extending the Franchise: Wanted—Matt Hawkins (publisher, Top Cow) and J. G. Jones (artist/co-creator, Wanted) have seen the Wantedcharacters come to life on the big screen with the film’s release in Summer 2008. Now with guidance from Pete Wanat (executive producer, Universal), the video game Wanted: Weapons of Fate will continue the Wanted mythology in March. Come find out how they’ve turned a comic book series into a multimedia blockbuster, as Hawkins, Jones, and Wanat talk about the future of Wanted!  Room 104

1:00-2:00 Spotlight on Alex Robinson—Alex Robinson’s graphic novels (Box Office Poison, Tricked, Too Cool to Be Forgotten) have won critical praise, popular acclaim, and even a few awards. But what is the real story behind the cartoonist who has been described as “a genius” and “reasonably professional”? Tenacious journalist Josh Flanagan (ifanboy.com) is all set to ask Robinson the hard questions and find out what makes this graphic novelist tick. Room 232/234

1:30-2:00 Alien Trespass— Directed by legendary X-Files veteran R. W. Goodwin, this recently discovered sci-fi film, circa 1957, is finally being released. If you love such vintage sci-fi epics as It Came From Outer Spaceand This Island Earth, you’ll want to learn more about this unseen tale of an interstellar lawman whose deadly prisoner, the grotesque Goata, escapes when their flying saucer crashes near a small desert town in 1950s California. Appearing in person: R. W. Goodwin, Robert Patrick (T-2, The Unit), Eric McCormack (Free Enterprise, Will & Grace, Trust Me), Dan Lauria (The Wonder Years, The Spirit), and Jenni Baird (The 4400). Esplanade

1:30-3:00 DC Universe—The repercussions of Final Crisis are here—and with the future overshadowed by Black Lanterns, could the days of the DC Universe be numbered? Your guides to this brave new reality include VP for sales Bob Wayne, senior story editor Ian Sattler, and some of the industry’s best and brightest stars! Room 103

1:30-3:00 Comics Arts Conference Session #5: The Power Of Comics—Randy Duncan (Henderson State University) previews his forthcoming comics studies textbook The Power of Comics: History, Form and Culture (in April from Continuum Books). The text is designed to help students appreciate the diversity and potential of the comics medium, understand comics as a unique medium of communication, discover the governing principles of comic books/graphic novels as an art form, analyze the narrative and rhetorical techniques of the comic book/graphic novel art form, and evaluate works of the comics medium. Room 204/206

1:30-2:30 Queer Women in Comics—You think Alison Bechdel (Fun Home,Dykes to Watch Out For) is one of a kind? We know she’s unique, but there are lots of other queer women working in comics. Paige Braddock (Jane’s World), Greta Christina (Best Erotic Comics), Joey Alison Sayers (Thingpart), and Leia Weathington (Bold Riley) present a spirited discussion of what it means to be lesbian, bi-female and transgendered in comics today. Moderated by Patty Jeres, Prism Comics board co-president. Room 220

1:30-2:30 Comic Books and Indie Movies—With the animated series Xombie: Dead on Arrival, comic books Godkiller and How I Lost My Virginity, and indie movies Threat, Gimme Skelter, and Slumber Party Slaughterhouse: The Game,Halo-8 has carved out a unique niche in alternative pop culture. Join Halo-8 president Matt Pizzolo (writer/director of Threat and the upcoming Godkillerfilm adaptation) and other special guests from the Halo-8 roster for a Q&A session as well as a sneak peek at the new Xombie: Dead on Arrival DVD and an exclusive preview of the “illustrated film” Godkiller. Room 236/238

2:00-2:45 Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Entertainment: Star Trek—A vision by J. J. Abrams, featuring a young, new crew venturing boldly where no one has gone before. The film stars John Cho, Ben Cross, Bruce Greenwood, Simon Pegg, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Winona Ryder, Zoë Saldana, Karl Urban, and Anton Yelchin, with Eric Bana and Leonard Nimoy. Be among the first to see exclusive sneak peak footage from this exciting adventure before its May 8 release. Plus a special guest you won’t want to miss, appearing live on the WonderCon stage. Esplanade

2:00-3:00 Dante’s Inferno: Adapting Literature for Games—Jonathan Knight(executive producer and creative director, Electronic Arts), Justin Lambros(senior producer) and Jeff Adams (lead concept artist) present a panel discussion on the creation of EA’s new action/adventure video game property,Dante’s Inferno. Following a video of the latest visuals for the game, the presentation will focus on the historical significance of Dante’s masterpiece (The Divine Comedy), and the process by which the creative team adapted the literature for the video game medium. The session will explore the task of integrating gameplay, story, and setting through the lens of the world’s great literature. Room 104

2:00-3:00 Spotlight on Gary Friedrich—One of the Silver Age of Comics’ most memorable writers, Gary Friedrich made his mark at Marvel Comics in the sixties and seventies. Friedrich—who penned some of the most compelling war comics ever in Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos and co-created Ghost Rider—is interviewed by fellow WonderCon special guest Mark Evanier. Room 232/234

2:00-4:00 Lucas Licensing Portfolio Review—Troy Alders, art director at Lucas Licensing, will conduct portfolio reviews, provide critiques, and offer tips for aspiring artists. Bring in a portfolio selection of your best work and see if you have what it takes to create art for the ever-expanding Lucasfilm galaxy.Room 214

2:30-3:30 Comics Storytelling—Gene Luen Yang (American Born Chinese),Thien Pham (Sumo), and Jen Wang (Flight) discuss what makes the comics form a unique way to tell stories. Moderated by Walter Mayes (Girls Middle School). Room 220

2:30-3:30 Japanese Superheroes Now: 2009!—Author August Ragone (Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters) returns for his 15th anniversary roundup of the latest superhero and kaiju productions from Japan: Kamen Rider Decade,Shinkenger, Super 8 Ultra Brothers, and Ultra Galaxy: Monster Battle Neo. Plus, see clips from recent stateside DVD releases, including Gamera the Brave,Inazuman, Super Robot: Red Baron, Kitaro, and more! Room 236/238

3:00-4:00 The Spectacular Spider-Man—Q&A session with The Spectacular Spider-Man supervising producers Greg Weisman (Gargoyles) and Victor Cook(Hellboy: Blood and Iron), character designer Sean Galloway (Hellboy animated films), and Josh Keaton (The Even Stevens Movie), the voice of the teenage Peter Parker. It’s the animated series that hearkens back to the webslinger’s junior year in high school, when a not-so-typical 16-year-old must conceal his secret identity, endure the pressures of teenage life, and combat never-before-seen supervillains. Based on Marvel Entertainment’s popular superhero, The Spectacular Spider-Man is produced by Culver Entertainment, a Sony Pictures Television Company, will premiere on Disney XD in March. Room 103

3:00-4:00 Celebrating 75 Issues of The Darkness—Top Cow publisher Filip Sablik and Michael Broussard (The Darkness) take a look back at 75 issues ofThe Darkness and look forward to the series’ future. Plus get information about next month’s 125th issue of Witchblade, which kicks of “War of the Witchblades,” and information about Top Cow’s 2009 initiatives such as “$2.99 in 2009″ and “Let Us Win YOU Over” in this one-on-one interview and Q&A session! Room 104

3:00-4:00 Comics Arts Conference Session #6: Superheroes Of The Bronze Age— Jennifer K. Stuller (www.ink-stainedamazon.com) attempts to reconcile the conundrum of 1970s feminist superheroines such as the Valkyrie, Diana Prince, Ms. Marvel, Lois Lane, and The Cat, who presented a superficial image of feminism but continue to serve as symbols of female empowerment in the cultural imagination. Jeff Barbanell (Teenagers from the Future) argues that the “Marvelization” of DC’s Bronze Age was presaged in Jim Shooter’s run on the Legion of Super-Heroes with Shooter’s attempt to infuse his comic book narrative with the Lee and Kirby techniques of group dynamics, hyperrealism and cosmic context, which added a further dimension to Lee and Kirby’s humanization of the comic book superhero. Room 204/206

3:00-4:00 Sergio, Mark, and Stan— You know them; you love them. WonderCon’s favorite collaborators, the Eisner Award–winning duo of Sergio Aragonés (AKA the world’s fastest cartoonist) and Mark Evanier (AKA Jack Kirby’s biographer) are joined by fellow special guest Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo) for another fun-filled hour in which they will most certainly mention the name Groo numerous times. Room 232/234

3:30-4:30 Disney•Pixar: UP—From Disney•Pixar comes UP, a comedy adventure about 78-year-old balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen, who finally fulfills his lifelong dream of a great adventure when he ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies away to the wilds of South America. But he discovers all too late that his biggest nightmare has stowed away on the trip: an overly optimistic 9-year-old Wilderness Explorer named Russell. From the Academy Award-nominated director Pete Docter (Monsters, Inc.), Disney•Pixar’s UP invites you on a hilarious journey into a lost world, with the least likely duo on Earth. Join director Pete Docter as he presents a look atUP, which opens on May 29 and will be available in select theaters in Disney Digital 3D. Esplanade

3:30-5:00 CBLDF Live Art Jam—Witness live art created before your eyes at the CBLDF Live Art Jam! Jim Lee (Batman) and Dave Johnson (100 Bullets) will be joined by all-star special guests to create original art projected on the big screen. The Live Art Jam gives you a glimpse behind the scenes of these masters’ artistic processes and is not to be missed by fans and students alike. All art will be auctioned at the end of the event to benefit the First Amendment legal work of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund! Room 220

3:30-4:30 It Came from 1979—Get ready to geek out as we party like it’s 1979. Re-appreciate the camp classics of 1979, including The Black Hole, Buck Rogers and, of course, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, among others. See some rare footage, reminisce and get insider insight on the films that didn’t change a nation. (We promise the panel will only be slightly longer than the Enterprise flyby in drydock.) Starring Robert Meyer Burnett (Enterprise, TheHills Run Red), Steve Melching (The Clone Wars), Daren Dochterman (Iron Man2, Riddick, conceptual artist), comedian Mary Forest, and Ashely E. Miller(Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles). Room 236/238

4:00-5:00 Marvel: Cup O’ Jeph—Emmy-nominated and Eisner Award–winning writer Jeph Loeb and special guests Eisner Award–winner Ed Brubaker (Captain America, Criminal), Matt Fraction (Invincible Iron Man), and more take the stage and take on all questions about every corner of the Marvel U oranything you want to ask. This is the panel everyone talks about and the one you must experience firsthand! Room 103

4:00-5:00 Spotlight on James Robinson—WonderCon special guest James Robinson returned to comics last year with amazing work on Superman. One of the chief architects of the “Super-Universe” at DC, Robinson is also known for his Eisner Award–winning work on Starman and Leave it to Chance. DC Comics senior story editor Ian Sattler interviews Robinson. Room 104

4:00-5:00 Special Effects Makeup—Ed Martinez (instructor at The Academy of Cosmetic Arts in Los Gatos and The Academy of Art University in San Francisco, director of special effects on the ‘80s zombie flick The Dead Pit (and more recently Black Devil Doll and RetarDead), presents a live demonstration of special effects materials currently being used on the latest films. Life-casting and mold-making are increasingly done with silicone. The latest innovations can also be used for making realistic prosthetics and wounds. Ed makes it look easy while explaining how it’s all done. He will also screen a special trailer for the upcoming film Black Devil Doll. Q&A session! Room 204/206

4:00-5:00 Spotlight on Roy Thomas—Roy Thomas has been a writer and editor in comics since 1965—for Marvel (editor-in-chief, as well as scriptingConan, The X-Men, The Avengers, etc.) DC (All-Star Squadron, Infinity Inc., etc.), and others. Q&A session on nearly a half century in comics fandom and prodom. Room 232/234

4:30-5:30 Warner Bros: Terminator Salvation—It’s a brand-new start for one of the most explosive movie franchises ever! Terminator Salvation introduces the adult John Connor (played by Christian Bale) in the future, fighting to save humanity from Skynet and the machines. In theaters on May 22, here’s a special WonderCon panel with director McG and cast members LIVE on the big stage!  Esplanade

4:30-5:30 Keith Knight: From the K Chronicles to the Knight Life—San Francisco’s favorite gentleman cartoonist Keith Knight returns to WonderCon with his world-famous slideshow chronicling his rise from Bay Area zinester to Harvey Award–winning creator of the K Chronicles, (th)ink, and his new daily, the Knight Life. Also: Keef will show off his finest creation to date, his son Jasper! Room 236/238

5:00-6:00 Spotlight on Ed Brubaker—WonderCon special guest Ed Brubaker(Incognito) brings his own special guest, actress Zoë Bell (Death Proof), with a sneak peek of the first episode from their highly anticipated, action-packed, online series Angel of Death for Crackle.com. Q&A session to follow. Room 103

5:00-6:00 Vertigo: Innovative and Provocative—Find out what compelling tales comics’ edgiest imprint has in store for you this year with senior editorWill Dennis, special guest Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets), and others. They’ll be discussing your favorite ongoing and upcoming Vertigo titles, along with several exciting new original graphic novels. Room 104

5:00-6:00 Nuts & Bolts: How a Comic Is Made—Christian Beranek (Dracula vs.King Arthur), Thomas Mauer (Popgun), and Tony DiGerolamo (The Simpsons) discuss how comic books are put together. From the ground up to the store shelves, these guys are here to answer your questions and share their experiences. Room 204/206

5:00-6:30 Comics Podcasting Extravaganza—Comics podcasters Lene Taylorand Logan Hall from I Read Comics and Conor Kilpatrick, Josh Flanagan, andRon Richards from iFanboy appear in a once-in-a lifetime, interactive podcasting experience, as these two podcasts join forces to record a LIVE podcast at WonderCon! They’ll be looking to the audience to help them with what comics to discuss and will even welcome audience members to join the panel and get on the podcast recording. This behind-the-scenes look at how a podcast is recorded has never been done before, so don’t miss your chance to make comics podcasting history! Room 220

5:00-6:00 Graphic Novels— The Cartoon Art Museum’s Andrew Farago talks to David Petersen (Mouse Guard), and WonderCon special guests Wendy Pini(Elfquest), Alex Robinson (Box Office Poison), and Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo) about the burgeoning world of graphic novels—that fancy term for good old-fashioned comic booky storytelling. Room 232/234

5:30-6:30 Celebrate a Star Wars Decade: Where Were You in ’99?—Ten years ago, Star Wars fans worldwide were reenergized with the launch of a new series of Star Wars movies and in the process developed a community of lifelong friends. In theater lines, toy stores, cons, and in the muddy byways of Denver’s Celebration I, Star Wars passion was rekindled. The last decade has been filled with a galactic expansion of the Star Wars saga, a new generation of fans and fan activity, and an even stronger integration of Star Wars into popular culture. Where were you 10 years ago? Join Steve Sansweet and special guests who will look back at the past decade of Star Wars, as well as the ongoing Saga’s future. And don’t miss an exclusive sneak peek of something very special from Star Wars: The Clone Wars, now airing on Cartoon Network. Esplanade

5:30-7:00 Video Game Design—Do you have the cleverness, passion, and perseverance to defeat the evil guardians of jobs in the game industry? Three pros—Keith Nemitz (Star Trek-DS9: Harbinger, Dangerous High School Girls in Trouble!), Randy Angle (Dungeons & Dragons: Eye of the Beholder, Wii Zorro), and Bruce Harlick (The Matrix Online, upcoming Indiana Jones game)—with decades of tales and secrets can aid your quest. Learn why now is the best time ever to make games, how they are made, how to get in, how to get your ideas published, and when to run away! Why? Because maybe you’ll make better games! Room 236/238

6:00-7:00 100 Bullets—Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso’s groundbreaking Vertigo series 100 Bullets has come to an end with its 100th issue. Join co-creator Brian Azzarello, cover artist Dave Johnson, and Vertigo senior editorWill Dennis as they look back at the Eisner Award winning series. Room 103

6:00-7:00 Nintendo—Nintendo of America localization producers Tim O’Learyand Rich Amtower have roughly two decades of localization experience between them, and both have been long-time members of Nintendo of America’s team, working on such franchises as Fire Emblem, Advance Wars, Golden Sun, Animal Crossing, Super Smash Bros. Hotel Dusk, and many more. Join Tim and Rich for a Q&A session regarding the localization of the Fire Emblem series for the North American market as well as a live demonstration of Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon for Nintendo DS, the fifth title in the series to be released in North America. Room 104

6:00-7:00 Full-time Creative Work on a Part-time Schedule Learn the secrets of using part-time collaboration to achieve full-time results! No matter which industry (comics, illustration, movies, animation), breaking in to today’s media is a full-time job, even if you have only part-time hours to accomplish it. Topher Davila (editor and co-creator of TomatoTV.net, board member of Animation Army, co-founder of C4: Connecting Creators), Mario Martinez (co-creator of TomatoTV.net), Kevin Flessing (TomatoTV.net,Sparky: Dog of War), and Jonelle Cobb (web designer) tell how they successfully juggle time between the creative and business sides from their experiences in illustration, business branding, writing, and animation. Whether you struggle with deadlines, are a creative hobbyist, or simply want to know how to get your foot in the door, this panel is for you! Room 204/206

6:00-7:00 The Anthropology of Star Trek—Daryl G. Frazetti of the Department of Anthropology at Lake Tahoe Community College discusses the anthropological themes in the Star Trek universe. Select themes include politics, religion, social problems, and the anthropological concept of “race”. A brief discussion on the subculture of fandom is also included, along with the cultural impact of Trek. Audience participation is encouraged, as this presentation spans the franchise and explores the relationship between Star Trek and society throughout the past four decades. Room 232/234

8:30-11:30 The Fifth Annual WonderCon Masquerade—The Masquerade, WonderCon’s flashy and fun on-stage competition, features amazing costumes re-created from movies, TV, comic-books, video games, and anime, plus original designs inspired by fantasy, science-fiction, and more. Trophies and other prizes will be awarded to the most outstanding entries. The Master of Ceremonies is artist-writer Phil Foglio. No flash photography is allowed, and doors will open for audience seating beginning at 8:00. Special advance movie previews will be shown during the judging intermission. Click here for more details. Esplanade

 

 

SUNDAY, MARCH 1

 

 

11:30-12:30pm Draw Star Wars at WonderCon—Learn to draw fun and whimsical Star Wars characters with Lucasfilm’s Bonnie Burton and artist Katie Cook. Bonnie, the author of You Can Draw: Star Wars (DK Publishing), works as the Lucas Online senior editor, editing the drawing tutorials and craft projects that can be found at www.starwars.com/kids. Katie Cook has done licensed art for Star Wars, DC, Marvel, Heroes, Lord of the Rings and other such nerdy things. She often dreams of being a Wookiee, which explains why she could use a haircut. Room 204/206

11:30-12:30 If Comics Are for Kids, Where Are the Books?—With so much attention being paid to “all ages” books, what comics are actually out there for kids, whom are these titles actually for, how are publishers responding to demand, and what’s coming up in the future for this emerging market? Traci Todd (VIZ), Randal C. Jarell (Oni Press), Ted Naifeh (Courtney Crumrin, Polly and the Pirates), and Alyson Matthews (Contra Costa Public Library) discuss the books being released for children and how—and to whom—these books are being marketed. Room 232/234

11:30-12:30 Comics Retailing Roundtable—Bay Area retailers Dan Shahin(Hijinx Comics of San Jose), Joe Ferrara (Atlantis Fantasy World of Santa Cruz), Al Kizziah (Al’s Comics of San Francisco), and Mark Causey (Black Cat Comics of Milpitas) discuss the changes and challenges in the business of selling comics in the 21st century. Room 236/238

12:00-1:00 Marvel: X-Men—They have left the East Coast and made a home here in San Francisco, embraced by the population. But war is following as their past and future catch up with them! Executive editor and head of the X-Men line Axel Alonso, Uncanny X-Men scribe Matt Fraction, and special guests talk about “Messiah War” and all things X-Men! Room 103

12:00-1:00 Super Capers—Meet the legendary Adam West, Justin Whalin (Jimmy Olsen of Lois and Clark), Samuel Lloyd (Ted Buckland ofScrubs), Danielle Harris (Halloween), and director/producer/writer Ray Griggsas they talk about their upcoming feature film Super Capers, being released this spring. In this action adventure comedy from RG Entertainment, a good guy with no powers joins a superhero team with no clue against a bad guy with no shame. Moderated by Joe Sikoryak. Room 104

12:00-1:00 25 Years of Usagi Yojimbo—Celebrate Usagi’s silver anniversary with creator and WonderCon special guest Stan Sakai. Learn the history of the rabbit ronin and his supporting cast, see a step-by-step demonstration of Stan’s creative process, and hear what’s in store for Usagi this year. Questions are encouraged. Room 220

12:30-1:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #7: Superhero Science 101—Peter Coogan (Institute for Comics Studies) examines the science of the superhero universes to determine the laws of physics, biology, and chemistry of the Marvel and DC universes. Coogan solves the problem of what Ray (The Atom) Palmer teaches at Ivy University and why Bruce (The Hulk) Banner’s pants stretch. Ultimately, Coogan explores the relationship between real science and superhero science and discovers the value in the “rubber science” of superhero comics. Room 204/206

12:30-2:00 The Secret Origin of Good Readers—Making its fifth annual appearance at WonderCon, this year’s Secret Origin of Good Readers panel features Dr. Robyn A. Hill (National University, San Diego), Mimi Cruz (Night Flight Comics, Salt Lake City), Bill Galvan (co-creator/artist of The Scrapyard Detectives, artist for Archie Comics), plus additional speakers to be added. The panelists will discuss how teachers, librarians, retailers, and publishers can work together to bring comic books into the classroom for use as an innovative and motivating cross-curricular teaching tool and a vehicle for promoting reading and literacy. Though a multimedia presentation, personal remarks, and a question-and-answer session, the speakers will present an overview of the medium and highlight specific ways that comic books and graphic novels have been used to engage a variety of learners. The 70-pageThe Secret Origin of Good Readers companion resource book and other exciting materials are available for free download at www.night-flight.com/secretorigin courtesy of XMission.com. Room 232/234

12:30-1:30 Comic Book Couples—Lois and Clark. Barry and Iris. Peter and Mary Jane (well . . . not anymore). The real story about comic book couples is in the real life team-up of comics lovers and creators. Couples Brian Azzarello and Jill Thompson, Wendy and Richard Pini, Trina Robbins andSteve Leialoha, and Batton Lash and Jackie Estrada talk with moderator couple Andrew Farago and Shaenon Garrity about comics, love, and their love of comics. Room 236/238

1:00-2:00 Matt Fraction and Ed Brubaker—One’s a Casanova, the other’s aCriminal, and we’re not sure if they’ll show up Incognito or as their true selves, but we do know it’s going to be a fascinating hour. WonderCon special guests and sometime-collaborators Matt Fraction and Ed Brubaker sit down for a talk about comics and other stuff they both love. Room 103

1:00-2:00 WildStorm—What’s next for a universe that experienced “World’s End” and survived? Get the full scoop on the future of not just the WildStorm core universe but also what’s in store for your favorite creator-owned projects (Ex Machina, Mysterius, etc) and video game projects (World of Warcraft,Prototype, Resident Evil, Gears of War, etc.). Hosted by VP of sales Bob Waynewith WS editor Shannon Denton and others. Room 104

1:00-2:00 Emily the Strange—Fiends, strangers, and oddballs, lend Emily your ears! She’ll give them right back after this panel! Fans of underground icon Emily the Strange won’t want to miss this fun and informative Dark Horse Comics panel featuring Emily creator Rob Reger, artist Buzz Parker, writerJessica Gruner, and Dark Horse editor Shawna Gore, as they discuss what the future holds for Emily. Get the scoop on the new Dark Horse comic series and The Art of Emily! Steal a peek at the new series of Emily novels from HarperCollins! Plus movie news, prize giveaways, and more! Room 220

1:15-2:00 Chuck Special Presentation and Q&A—Chuck makes its first appearance at WonderCon with a Q&A and special screening of an extended trailer. Co-creator/executive producer Josh Schwartz (Gossip Girl) and co-creator/executive producer Chris Fedak will be on hand to talk to fans about the second season of the popular action-comedy, which features all-new guest stars. Airing Mondays at 8:00 PM on NBC, Chuck is produced by College Hill Pictures, Wonderland Sound and Vision in association with Warner Bros. Television. Esplanade

1:30-2:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #8: Comic Art In The Gallery—In recent years, we have seen comic characters gain unprecedented acceptance in film, but it took years of work for comics to become accepted as art. From “The Comic Art Show” in 1983 through MOMA’s controversial “High and Low: Modern Art and Popular Culture” to “The Masters of American Comics” and other recent breakthroughs, exhibition curators have struggled to find the best, most meaningful ways to include comic art in gallery shows. Kim Munson (Munson Art Consulting) talks about the differences in analysis between comic art and the usual gallery art from an art historian’s point of view, and about the problems faced by and solutions found in these exhibitions. Room 204/206

2:00-4:00 Lucas Licensing Portfolio Review—Troy Alders, art director at Lucas Licensing, will conduct portfolio reviews, provide critiques, and offer tips for aspiring artists. Bring in a portfolio selection of your best work and see if you have what it takes to create art for the ever-expanding Lucasfilm galaxy.Room 214

1:30-2:30 SLG Publishing—SLG Publishing Supreme Commander Dan Vadopreviews upcoming titles and answers questions about the upcoming end of life-as-we-know-it and the demise of independent publishing. Room 236/238

2:00-2:45 Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Q&A —Join executive producer Josh Friedman (War of the Worlds [2005]) as he previews the rest of this exciting season and answers questions from fans. Airing Fridays at 8:00 PM on FOX, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles is produced by Bartleby Company and The Halcyon Company in association with Warner Bros. Television. Esplanade

2:00-3:30 Cover Story: The Art of the Cover—A WonderCon tradition back for another year. Moderator Mark Evanier picks covers and then picks the brains of the artists who created them. This year’s lineup includes WonderCon special guests Dave Johnson, Jim Lee, Aaron Lopresti, andWendy Pini. Room 103

2:00-3:00 IDW Summer Movie Preview: G.I. Joe, Star Trek, andTransformers—IDW editor Denton J. Tipton hosts writers Chris Mowry(Transformers Movie Prequel) and Mike Johnson (Star Trek: Countdown), and artist Andrew Griffith (Transformers Movie Prequel) for a discussion about their books that lead in to this summer’s biggest blockbusters. Room 104

2:00–3:00 Self-Publishing Queer Comics—Got an LGBT comic book idea and want to publish it yourself? Panelists Brian Andersen (So Super Duper), PaigeBraddock (Jane’s World, Martian Confederacy), Justin Hall (True Travel Tales, Hard to Swallow), Andy Hartzell (Fox Bunny Funny, Monday), Johnny Nolen(Gravity Faggot), and Sean Z (Myth) as they discuss the nuts and bolts of creating your comic, promoting it, and getting it into the stores. Moderated by Zan Christensen (Mark of Aecus). Room 220

2:00-3:00 Comics Academy—The purpose of Comics Academy is to foster an appreciation of comic books and graphic novels in academia. The academy promotes using comic books to spark investigation into academic subject areas and to teach abstract concepts in K-12 education. The mission of Comics Academy is to nurture the path to literacy through the study and production of comic books and graphic novels. David Baldizon will discuss this and how it affects the future of comic book publishing and education. Room 232/234

2:30-4:00 Comics Arts Conference Session #9: Comic Books And Copyright Law—Marc Greenberg (Golden Gate University School of Law) builds a picture of the contemporary state of copyright law in relation to comic books. The talk has three focuses: (1) the legal issues in the Roy Lichtenstein copyright infringement cases of the ‘70s, which focused on whether his famous cartoon paintings infringed the works of comic book authors; (2) the legal and social impact of the recent L.A. District Court decision granting the rights to Superman back to the heirs of Jerome Siegel, the writer who created Superman; and (3) a review of key cases in which the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund represented comic artists, authors and retailers in censorship and tax related cases in the U.S. Room 204/206

2:30–3:30 Sunday Conversation with Ian Sattler—All are welcome to join DC Comics senior story editor Ian Sattler for a relaxed Sunday afternoon discussion. Share your thoughts, or just listen, as some of comics’ biggest names reveal why they love this industry. Room 236/238

2:45-4:00 Harper’s Island—A 13-episode murder mystery event about a group of family and friends who travel to a secluded island for a destination wedding. They’ve come to laugh, to love—and, though they don’t know it—to die. As the wedding festivities begin, friendships are tested and secrets exposed as a murderer claims victims, one by one, transforming the wedding week of fun and celebration into a terrifying struggle for survival. Abby Mills, whose mother was killed on the island by a homicidal maniac’s rampage seven years ago, journeys home for the first time since the horrific event for the wedding of her best friend, Henry Dunn. Henry, the boy next door, is marrying the woman of his dreams, Trish Wellington, a beautiful and wealthy heiress. But as the wedding week begins, people start dying. Every episode, someone is killed. Wedding guests and island locals, every person is a suspect. No one is safe. No one can be trusted. By the end of the 13 episodes, all questions will be answered, the killer will be revealed and only a few will survive. This panel features an exclusive premiere showing of the pilot episode and Q&A with executive producer Jeffrey Bell (Angel, The X-Files), co-executive producers Dan Shotz and Karim Zreik (Jericho), and actors Katie Cassidy (Supernatural), Christopher Gorham (Jake 2.0, Ugly Betty), and Elaine Cassidy (The Others). Harper’s Island Murder Mystery Event begins April 9 and ends July 2, 2009, Thursdays at 10:00 PM on CBS.Esplanade

3:00-4:00 Cartoon Network: League of Super Evil—Get ready to root for the bad guys! Nerd Corps Entertainment presents League of Super Evil, a diabolical new animated series coming this spring to Cartoon Network. Join executive producer Asaph Fipke (Storm Hawks) and co-producer/story editor Rob Hoegee (Teen Titans) for a sneak peek at four bumbling supervillains who have set their sights on nothing less than total neighborhood domination! Between using a Shiruken anime robot to win a playground slam dunk competition, inventing a super-computer to protect Voltar’s sweet new evil BMX bike, or hosting a neighborhood barbeque and evilly not inviting any of the neighbors, L.O.S.E. struggles ever-onward to its goal of total mindless fun! Isn’t it time the villains got their due? Room 104

3:00-4:00 A Tribute to Bob Wilkins—Join John Stanley, Bob Shaw, Rob Wilkins, Mr. Lobo, Ernie Fossellius and Tom Wyrsch for an information-packed journey through the life and career of the late Bob Wilkins, host of the mega-popular San Francisco Bay Area Creature Features TV series (1971-1979). The panel will share personal memories about Wilkins and show rare video clips and photos, as well as introduce scenes from the newly released DVD documentary, Watch Horror Films, Keep America Strong, which examines the history of one of the Bay Area’s most beloved TV legends. Room 220

3:00-4:00 What the Heck Is a Tween? Comics for Middle Schoolers—When it looks like all the books are for little kids or for teens, what’s a 7th grader to do? Join Bay Area librarians Nichole King, Cynthia Rider, and Eva Volin and two local teens, Samantha Burress and Alexandra Dimitruk, as they recommend great graphic novels for tweens. Room 232/234

3:30-5:00 Starship Smackdown: San Francisco—Starfleet HQ Edition—It’s back and better than ever, and this year nuclear “wessels” have been dispatched to protect the panel of expert spaceshipologists as they pit the most powerful starships in stellar combat against each other in the real rumble in the outerspace jungle. And get ready for a new second round in which it’s Captain’s Courageous as your favorite starship captains take the helm. Could Captain Kirk on the bridge of the Salvage One outwit, outlast, and outplay the Battlestar Galactica piloted by Captain Jack Sparrow, or would the Serenity piloted by Captain Picard get blasted into spacedust by a VMothership with Captain (you make the call) at the helm? There’s only one way to find out! Be there or be squarer than you already are. FeaturingDaren Dochterman (Iron Man 2, X2, Riddick conceptual artist), Chris Gossett(The Red Star), Robert Meyer Burnett (The Hills Run Red), Mary Forest(comedian/vixen), Steve Melching (The Clone Wars, The Batman), and maybe even a surprise guest or two. Room 103

3:30-4:30 Costuming for Conventions: Learn to Defy Gravity!—A. J. Wu, Judy Grivich, and Cheryll Del Rosario (the gals of HCC Cosplay) help you figure out how to make that impossible 4-foot wide wig a possibility. What about that huge gun or fantastical wings? How do you bend the laws of space and time? They’ll be covering how to build giant wigs, armor, wings and other costume pieces. They’ll pay special attention to keeping your structures light and durable, perfect for cons! Room 236/238

4:00-5:00 Godzilla and the Master of Monsters—Author August Ragone (Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters) presents a visual tribute to Japan’s Master of Monsters, Eiji Tsuburaya, the man who created the special effects for Godzilla and invented the kaiju eiga (giant monster movie) genre. See over a hundred rare, behind-the-scenes photographs from some of his major films, such asGodzilla, Roda,n and Mothra, all in one big presentation! Room 220

4:00-4:30 WonderCon Talkback—How did we do? Here’s your chance to tell us, as WonderCon management is ready to take your questions and hear your comments. Room 232/234

4:00-5:00 Buffy the Musical—Let’s end this show with a bang! The powers that be behind Whedonopolis.com host an officially sanctioned screening of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical episode “Once More With Feeling” as WonderCon 2009′s big closing event! Many say this is the finest, funniest, most ingenious episode ever to come out of the Buffy-verse. But remember, the best part of the show is up to you! This ep was made for talkin’—back, that is—and singing and shouting and dancing in the aisles, with or without your dry cleaning! Audience participation: it isn’t just for Rocky Horror and mob riots anymore. For more details on the screening visit www.whedonopolis.com, then show up for music, singing, and dancing crazy!Esplanade

 

Source: comic-con