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WonderCon 2008 - Programming Schedule - Day 3

posted on: Feb, 08 2008

 

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24

11:30-12:30 The Secret History of Comics— Author Christopher Knowles (Comic Book Artist magazine) delves further into the influence of myth, magic and mysticism on superheroes discussed in his book, Our Gods Wear Spandex: The Secret History of Comic Book Heroes. The work of Jack Kirby, Grant Morrison and Alex Ross will be explored in depth. Room 220

 

11:30-12:30 BitTorrent, Back Issues and Buggywhips: Modern Comics Retailing— Join moderator Dan Shahin (Hijinx Comics) and an all-star panel of progressive comics retailers including Joe Field (Flying Colors Comics), Joe Ferrara (Atlantis Fantasyworld), Dave Pifer and Dave Ritchie (SecretHeadquarters Comics) as they discuss the past, present and future of comics retailing. All comics retailers (and those who may want to be) are encouraged to come and lend their thoughts during the no-holds barred Q&A session following the panel. Room 232/234

 

11:30-1:00 Japanese Superheroes Now: 2008!— Join author August Ragone (Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters) for an all-new presentation of news and exciting clips from the latest series, including Go-Onger, Kamen Rider Kiva, and Ultra Galaxy: Giant Monster Battle. Hear the details on upcoming DVD releases, and see a special spotlight on the “Father of Japanese Special Effects,” Eiji Tsuburaya—the man who made Godzilla and Ultraman. Plus other surprises! Room 236/238

 

11:30-1:00 Comic Arts Conference Session 7: Feral Women in Li’l Abner— Cartoonist and historian Trina Robbins (From Girls to Grrrlz; Go Girl!) presents a slideshow talk on the feral girls—Pig Girl, Hawk Girl, and Wolf Gal—of Li’l Abner’s Dogpatch, a bloodthirsty lot with no compunction about turning Dogpatchers into dinner. Wolf Gal, the starring wild girl of Dogpatch, is strong, beautiful, independent, and—don’t laugh—a feminist. Robbins connects these cartoon wild women with mythical feral children and more contemporary figures like Misha Defonseca, a Jewish orphan during World War II, who hid from the Nazis in the forests of occupied Europe for four years and eventually teamed up with a family of wolves. Recounting her experiences years later, she wrote, “the only time I ever slept deeply was when I was with wolves… Those were the most beautiful days I had ever experienced.” Room 228/230

 

12:00-1:00 Spotlight on Tim Sale— The artist behind such great comic stories as Batman: The Long Halloween, Dark Victory, and Superman For All Seasons is a special guest at WonderCon. Tim Sale leapt further into the mainstream consciousness last year with his amazing paintings for the hit NBC TV series Heroes. Richard Starkings (Comicraft) interviews Tim in this spotlight panel. Room 204/206

 

12:15-1:00 Trailer Park Returns!— It’s the triumphant return of a WonderCon tradition! Trailer Park brings together some of the very best in trailers for upcoming movies—some new, some old, all enjoyable. Come sit in the dark for 45 minutes and see what the movies coming soon to a theater near you! Hall A

 

12:30-1:30 Emily the Strange— Get ready to enter the world of the Strange! Meet the behind-the-scenes talent on the Dark Horse comic, hear about what the future holds for Emily, and come prepared with your deepest questions about life’s biggest mysteries. It also never hurts to have a great A capella arrangement of your favorite Black Sabbath song ready to show off, or a killer stupid dance move. Prizes will be awarded for no good reason at all! Room 220

 

12:30-2:00 The Secret Origin of Good Readers— Making its fourth 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), and Bill Morrison (creative director of Bongo Comics). 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. Through 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-page The 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

 

1:00-2:30 JERICHO— Get a sneak peek of a new episode of JERICHO, followed by a moderated panel discussion led by TV Guide West Coast Bureau Chief Craig Tomashoff with series stars Lennie James (Robert Hawkins) and Ashley Scott (Emily Sullivan) and Executive Producer Carol Barbee.   Returning for a second season as a result of one of the most unprecedented and impassioned displays of fan support on behalf of a television program, JERICHO is a drama about what happens in the aftermath of a nuclear explosion in the once peaceful town of Jericho. Hall A

 

1:00-2:00 WildStorm: Revelations Revealed!— Get the inside scoop on what’s upcoming from DC’s wildest imprints from Scott Peterson, editor—WildStorm, Kurt Busiek (Astro City), and superstar artist Jim Lee, editorial director—WildStorm. The Armageddon has come and gone, but in its wake are untold REVELATIONS that will affect your favorite WildStorm teams. Room 104

 

1:00-2:00 Creatures at Large: Watch Horror Films—Keep America Strong!— Featuring San Francisco Bay Area favorites John Stanley of Creature Features, Channel 2’s long time film critic and entertainment reporter Bob Shaw, TV horror movie host expert Doktor Goulfinger, current TV horror host Mr. Lobo (seen on KTEH Channel 54’s Cinema Insomnia), and Ernie Fosselius of Hardware Wars fame. This all-star panel of ghouls will let all the skeletons out of the closet and talk about Creature Features’ behind the scenes moments, show rare clips of the show, share details on new projects, and conduct a Q&A session with the audience. Clips from the brand new Creature Features documentary, Watch Horror Films, Keep America Strong, will be highlighted. A must for monsterkids, and the kids of monsterkids. Room 204/206

 

1:00-2:00 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 practical goal-setting workshop. Teacher and leadership trainer Douglas Neff will show you techniques for setting and 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 workshop. Room 236/238

 

1:00-2:30 Comic Arts Conference Session 8: Forebearers and Survivors— Doug Highsmith (California Sate University, East Bay) focuses on the changes and revamps made to post-World War II comic books in an effort to reverse flagging sales. Jennifer Stuller (Ink-Stained Amazons and Cinematic Warriors) provides a critical history of spy-fi princess Modesty Blaise, and finds evidence of her inspiration in modern heroines. Room 228/230

 

1:30-2:30 TOKYOPOP Creator Panel— Join a diverse and talented panel of artists and authors, featuring Becky Cloonan (creator, East Coast Rising, artist, American Virgin), Jake Forbes (author, Return to Labyrinth), Sho Murase (creator, ME2), Lincy Chan (artist, Rhysmyth), Morgan Luthi (creator, Snow), as they discuss the creation of their original and innovative TOKYOPOP manga titles. Room 220

 

2:00-3:30 Cover Story: The Art of the Cover— It’s become one the most popular panels at both WonderCon and Comic-Con! Mark Evanier talks to fellow WonderCon special guests Darwyn Cooke (DC: The New Frontier), Terry Dodson (Wonder Woman), Jim Lee (All Star Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder), and Tim Sale (Batman: Dark Victory), about the art of the comic book cover. Room 104

 

2:00-3:00 Fables Forum— WonderCon special guests, writer/artist Bill Willingham and inker Steve Leialoha, talk about the fan-favorite VERTIGO books, Fables and Jack of Fables, in this Q&A forum. Room 204/206

 

2:00-3:00 Slave Labor Graphics— SLG President Dan Vado presents current and upcoming projects coming this year. Undoubtedly he will also make some off-hand comment, which will be blown out of proportion on the Internet. Room 232/234

 

2:00-3:00 Turning Comics into Games You Want to Play— In the comics, Sam & Max simply dive into a puddle of spilled beer and arrive in Ancient Egypt. In games, it’s not so simple. Join Sam & Max creator Steve Purcell, Sam & Max Hit the Road designer Mike Stemmle, and Sam & Max Season Two designers Dave Grossman, Brendan Ferguson, and Chuck Jordan for a lively discussion about the ups and downs of bringing an unpredictable comic duo into games that are fun to play. Room 236/238

 

2:30-3:30 Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Special Presentation and Q&A— Cast members Thomas Dekker (Heroes), Summer Glau (Firefly) and Brian Austin Green (Domino) join series consulting producer/pilot executive producer James Middleton (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines) for a special presentation and Q&A session. Airing Mondays at 9:00 PM on FOX, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles is produced by C2 Pictures in association with Warner Bros. Television. Hall A

 

2:30-3:30 100 Manga Magazines in 50 Minutes— In Japan, manga is published in massive weekly, biweekly, and monthly manga magazines that fit every imaginable category: shojo to shonen, science fiction to horror, moe to yaoi, children’s to adult. Jason Thompson (Otaku USA, Manga: The Complete Guide) provides a visual journey through the manga world from 1945 to 2008. Room 220

 

2:30-3:30 Comic Arts Conference Session 9: Comics & Law— Alexander Harwin (Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP) analyzes how copyright law has affected the development of the American super-hero. James Cooper (California Western School of Law) examines how legal scholarship has shaped the orthodoxy of comics format. Room 228/230

 

3:00-4:00 Sunday Conversation: For the Love of Comics— Dan DiDio and friends invite you to join an intimate Sunday afternoon chat to talk about your favorite comic book memories and about why we love this medium. All are welcome; no RSVP required! Room 204/206

 

3:00-4:00 Costuming at Conventions— Ever wonder how to make those cool costumes that you see the fans wearing at conventions? Here’s your chance to learn how, with tips and advice from those very same fans. You’ll hear how to create costumes from simple to extravagant, from novice to professional, and with every budget in mind. See examples and procedures on sewing, vacuum forming, mold making, fiberglass, metalwork, working with off-the-shelf items and more. Room 232/234

 

3:00-4:00 National Cartoonists Society and Cartoon Art Museum: Golden Age Great Creig Flessel— Creig Flessel began his cartooning career with DC Comics in 1935, and was a prolific cover artist in the earliest days of the medium, including work on the seminal titles Detective Comics and More Fun Comics. After his tenure at DC, he spent many years illustrating ads for the Johnstone and Cushing Advertising Company. In the following decades, Flessel’s work appeared in such diverse publications as Boys’ Life, Clues Detective Stories, and Playboy, as well as the syndicated comic strip feature David Crane. Join this Golden Age Great in conversation with Cartoon Art Museum’s Andrew Farago, curator of the current C.A.M. retrospective exhibition featuring the art of Creig Flessel. Room 236/238

3:30-4:30 Prism Comics: A Conversation Lee Marrs— As a cartoonist, Lee Marrs (Pudge, Girl Blimp) was at the forefront of the San Francisco underground comix and the nascent queer comix movement.  With her own reminiscences and an illustrative presentation, Lee takes us from the groove of those early days to her current stint in academia. Interviewed by Patty Jeres, Prism board member, talent and industry chair. Room 220

 

4:00-4:30 WonderCon Talkback— So … how did we do? Come and let us know! WonderCon representatives will be available to hear your problems, complaints, and compliments, too! Room 232/234

byCineman   Read More

WonderCon 2008 - Programming Schedule - Day 2

posted on: Feb, 08 2008

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23

11:00-12:00 Aspen Comics 2008 and Beyond— Michael Turner (Soulfire, Fathom, Civil War), Ale Garza (Fathom), Peter Steigerwald (Soulfire), J.T. Krul (Fathom, Soulfire), Micah Gunnell (Shrugged), Mark Roslan (director of design and production), Frank Mastromauro (executive VP), and Vince Hernandez (editor-in-chief) discuss present and future Aspen Comics releases, including the hit titles Soulfire, Fathom, Shrugged, Iron and the Maiden, Aspen Showcase, and much more. The Aspen studio members will also answer questions in a Q&A session with fans. The first 150 fans in attendance will receive an exclusive gift, courtesy of Aspen Comics. Room 204/206

 

11:00-12:00 Spotlight on Ben Templesmith— Graphic novels have become a vital component to top-tier entertainment brands. While famous comics have spawned successful movies, TV shows and games, Electronic Arts’ new sci-fi horror brand Dead Space has developed a comic series to first introduce the universe to key opinion-leaders and influencers. WonderCon special guest Ben Templesmith (30 Days of Night, Fell), is joined by Rob Schrab (Scud: The Disposable Assassin, The Sarah Silverman Program) and Gerry Duggan (Infinite Horizon, The Last Christmas), to discuss what it takes to develop a successful brand that speaks to audiences across a variety of multimedia and the implications for the future of the entertainment industry. Room 220

 

11:00-12:00 Promising Young Artist? Draw Star Wars at WonderCon!— Love Star Wars characters and want to learn how to draw them? Want to improve your drawing skills in general? Learn how to draw Star Wars just like the pros do! Meet author Bonnie Burton and Star Wars artists Matt Busch and Tom Hodges, who produced the successful You Can Draw: Star Wars for DK Publishing. Young artists and artists of all ages will benefit from tips from Hodges and Busch, and coaching from Burton. The book, You Can Draw: Star Wars, features tutorials on how to draw major characters from the entire saga including Han Solo, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Darth Maul, Darth Vader, Padmé Amidala, Princess Leia, Emperor Palpatine, Yoda, Jabba the Hutt, C-3PO and R2-D2 — just to name a few. Room 232/234

 

11:30-12:30 Cartoon Art Museum: The Art and Flair of Mary Blair— San Francisco’s Cartoon Art Museum (located at 655 Mission Street, just two blocks from WonderCon) presents a gathering of animation experts discussing the work of legendary Disney animation designer Mary Blair, subject of the current C.A.M. original art exhibition The Art And Flair of Mary Blair. Join Karl Cohen (president of ASIFA-SF, Professor at San Francisco State University), Ralph Eggleston (production designer, Pixar Animation Studios), Ken Mitchroney (animator, director), and exhibition co-curator Andrew Farago as they discuss the art and legacy of this beloved artist. Room 104

 

11:30-12:30 Gumby!— Thought you knew everything about being GREEN—well, guess again! Holly Harmon, Mel Smith, Mike Hersh, Steve Oliff, and surprise guests discuss the Gumbyverse and what’s coming up for 2008 and beyond for Gumby and his pals from the recently released trade paperback, comic series, and the new Gumby movie in production! Room 236/238

 

12:00-1:00 Warner Bros.: 10,000 B.C., Get Smart— Warner Bros. presents two of its most eagerly awaited films in this exclusive panel only at WonderCon!

10,000 B.C. is the epic adventure of a sweeping odyssey into a mythical age of prophesies and gods, when spirits ruled the land and mighty mammoths shook the earth! Director Roland Emmerich and stars Steven Strait and Camilla Belle appear live on the WonderCon stage to discuss this fantasy film, which opens March 7.

Get Smart features Maxwell Smart on a mission to thwart the latest plot for world domination by the evil crime syndicate known as KAOS. Director Peter Segal is joined by stars Steve Carell (Maxwell Smart), and Anne Hathaway (Agent 99), to talk live about this highly anticipated comedy, coming to the big screen on June 20.

Hall A

 

12:00-1:00 The Image Comics Show!— The Image Comics Show makes it’s 2008 premiere with an all-new format and all-new host! Eric Stephenson interviews a selection of the Image founders while announcing titles and revealing secrets of the year to come! Hear about the origins of Image Comics straight from the people who experienced it and learn just how they made it work! Room 204/206

 

12:00-1:30 Kirby: King of Comics— Author Mark Evanier talks about his new book, Kirby: King of Comics, celebrating the life and art of one of comics’ most legendary creators, Jack Kirby. Joining Mark to discuss the Kirby influence and legacy are writer Kurt Busiek (Superman, Astro City), writer/artist Darwyn Cooke (DC: The New Frontier, Will Eisner’s The Spirit), artist Herb Trimpe (Incredible Hulk, Godzilla), and long-time Kirby inker Mike Royer (Forever People, New Gods, Mister Miracle, Demon, Kamandi). Room 220

 

12:00-1:00 Prism Comics: Emerging LGBT Voices— Prism Comics, the LGBT non-profit organization representing the comics field, shines a light on the rising generation of LGBT talent. They’re a diverse bunch, all finding their voices and shouting out, each in his and her own way. This panel features Charles “Zan” Christensen (The Mark of Aeacus), Tristan Crane (How Loathsome), Justin Hall (True Tales), MariNaomi (Estrus Comics), Tommy Roddy (Pride High), and maybe a few more participants we can drag …. er … wrangle into joining us. Moderated by Patty Jeres, Prism board member, talent and industry chair. Room 232/234

 

12:00-1:00 Comic Arts Conference Session 4: The Senses Shattering Return of the Novel of Ideas!— Douglas Wolk (Reading Comics: How Graphic Novels Work and What They Mean) explains how the extended metaphors of the super-hero genre create a remarkable playing field for discussions of ideology, ethics and politics—a new kind of “Novel of Ideas.” Wolk discuss the conceptual and stylistic possibilities of the super-hero comic book, along with some promising recent experiments. Room 228/230

 

12:30-1:30 Capcom 2008 Video Games Lineup featuring Street Fighter 4!— Be one of the first people in the world to get an insider’s sneak peek at the new Street Fighter 4 game in full action, as well as the rest of the latest video game offerings from Capcom, publisher of legendary game franchises such as Street Fighter, Resident Evil, and Mega Man, as well as recent hot hits like Lost Planet, Dead Rising, and Zack & Wiki. See all of Capcom’s hot new games for 2008 and beyond (plus a few surprises) as well as partake in an in depth Q&A with Capcom’s product managers. Room 104

 

12:30-1:30 Spotlight on David Mack— The fan-favorite writer/artist talks about his comics work on titles such as Daredevil and his creator-owned ICON title, Kabuki. David Mack is a WonderCon special guest. Room 236/238

 

1:00-2:00 Disney: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian and WALL•E—

One year later for the Pevensie siblings. 1,300 years later in Narnia. The enchanted characters of C.S. Lewis’ timeless fantasy come to life again in this second installment of the beloved book series, where a thrilling, perilous new adventure and all-new creatures and challenges await the Pevensie siblings. Watch exclusive new film footage from this epic adventure series! A very special guest will be on hand to introduce the footage and participate in an audience Q&A.

In WALL•E: The year is 2700. WALL•E, a robot, spends every day doing what he was made for. But soon, he will discover what he was meant for. From Academy Award®-winning director, Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo), WALL•E is the story of one robot’s comic adventures as he chases his dream across the galaxy. Meet director Andrew Stanton as he presents exclusive new footage of Disney-Pixar’s next adventure!

Hall A

 

1:00-2:00 Making Monsters: Behind the Scenes of Beowulf— Join the creative VFX team from Sony Pictures Imageworks, including animation supervisor Kenn McDonald, effects supervisor Theo Vandernoot, CG supervisor Francis Liu and technical animation supervisor Corey Turner to see how Grendel, the Golden Dragon and other creatures roared to life in the blockbuster Beowulf debuting in a Director’s Cut DVD. Room 204/206

 

1:00-2:00 Under the Line-art: Storytelling with Color— Steve Oliff, founder of Olyoptics, (multiple Harvey and Eisner award-winning colorist for books such as Akira and Spawn) will describe how to get the most effective use out of color in comic storytelling, as well as discussing the technological realities of color separation in the Photoshop era. Room 232/234

 

1:00-2:30 Comic Arts Conference Session 5: Psychology of Super-heroes— Travis Langley (Henderson State University) conducts a multi-modal psychological assessment of Bruce Wayne in order to determine why Batman fights crime in the night, why he works with underage partners, and why he chose to become a symbol of the shadow archetype. Diana Green (Minneapolis College of Art & Design) considers Daredevil, The Shadow, and Dr. Syn in her examination of the curious pathology at play in multiple secret identities and the need to be more than one someone else.  Room 228/230

 

1:30-3:00 DCU: Countdown to Crisis— Dan DiDio, senior VP—executive editor DCU and Bob Wayne, VP—sales are joined by Mike Carlin, senior group editor—DCU, Jann Jones, senior coordinating editor—DCU, Kurt Busiek (Superman), Darwyn Cooke (Will Eisner’s The Spirit), Jim Lee (All Star Batman & Robin), and others for a panel that’s not to be missed. The Sinestro War has passed, the Countdown is nearly over, and a Final Crisis looms! What lies ahead for our favorite heroes? Find out here! Room 104

 

1:30-3:00 Comics Podcasting Extravaganza— Want go behind the scenes of the most innovative and new form of comics entertainment? Podcasts are the new way to get all the latest scoops, interviews and opinions in and about comic books. We’ve got a star-studded lineup featuring some of the leading podcasters to tell you what it’s really like to churn out hours of podcasting entertainment on a weekly basis. Comics writer/artist and panel moderator Rick Remender (Fear Agent) talks with panelists Lene Taylor and Logan Hall (I Read Comics), Ron Richards, Josh Flanagan and Conor Kilpatrick (iFanboy), Bryan Deemer (Comic Geek Speak), Jimmy Aquino (Comics News Insider), and Christopher Neseman (Around Comics). Room 220

 

1:30-2:30 R2-D2 Droid Building Basics— Come meet local builders who will 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! This panel sponsored by the R2 Builders Club. Room 236/238

 

2:00-3:15 20th Century Fox: The X-Files and Shutter—

The truth is out there, again—finally! A new motion picture based on the phenomenally popular, award-winning series The X-Files is in production. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson—making their first-ever joint convention appearance—join director-writer-producer Chris Carter and writer-producer Frank Spotnitz to share their thoughts about the long-awaited film, and answer your questions.

Next, Joshua Jackson, Transformers’ Rachael Taylor and Heroes’ James Kyson Lee bring you a first look at the new horror/thriller Shutter, from executive producers of The Grudge and The Ring. They’ll present special footage and answer your questions about the film, which, through its portrayal of the underground world of spirit photography, reveals that the most terrifying images are the ones that are real. Shutter opens everywhere March 21.

Hall A

 

2:00-3:00 Cartoon Network: Chowder— Join Carl Greenblat, the creator of the hit animated show Chowder, as he screens a very special episode and takes questions from the audience. It’s almost a full hour of culinary goodness, so you don’t want to miss this opportunity to ask such questions as, “What’s it like working for Cartoon Network?”, “Aren’t you the voice of Fred Fredburger?”, and “Just what the heck is Chowder, anyway?” Room 204/206

 

2:00-3:30 Cartoon Art Museum: Spotlight on Local Cartoonists— San Francisco has been a hotbed of cartooning for over 100 years, and that tradition continues today with the Bay Area’s vibrant creative community. Join panel moderator Andrew Farago (curator of San Francisco’s Cartoon Art Museum) as he interviews six of the Bay Area’s most talented cartoonists: MariNaomi (Estrus Comics), Fredo (altgeek.net), Lloyd Dangle (Troubletown), Justin Hall (True Travel Tales), Debbie Huey (Bumperboy), and Michael Jantze (The Norm). Room 232/234

 

2:30-3:30 Spotlight on Herb Trimpe— For years he chronicled the story of our favorite big, green Incredible Hulk, but WonderCon special guest Herb Trimpe’s career in comics includes GI Joe, Godzilla, Shogun Warriors, Transformers, and more. Herb talks to Mark Evanier about his life before, during and after comics, in this special guest spotlight panel. Room 236/238

 

2:30-4:00 Comic Arts Conference Session 6: How Heavy Is That Cape? Comics’ Influence and Fans’ Behavior— Travis Langley (Henderson State University) and the students of the Comics & Psychology class report on the challenges in conducting an assessment of comics’ influence and fans’ behavior. The team reports the initial results of four empirical studies. (1) “Who Wants to Analyze a Superhero?” by Nick Langley and Justin Poole. Personality tests will correlate how fans view themselves, favorite characters, Batman, and someone with ideal mental health.  (2) “There’s No Place Like Oz: Comic Book Conventions Bolster Fans’ Self-Esteem,” Thomas Sepe and Mark Head test the hypothesis that convention involvement will improve fans’ life views. (3) “Waiting for No One, Part 1″ by Alex Langley and Katrina Hill. Interview data will compare theoretical perspectives examining what fans get out of waiting in convention lines even though the lines might be too long for them to see the expected celebrity or other attraction. (4) “Waiting for No One, Part 2″ Carly L. Cate and Jarod Shurtleff survey fans’ retroactive interpretations of successful and unsuccessful convention experiences. Overview: Robert O’Nale compares methodological challenges across these studies. Room 228/230

 

3:00-4:00 The Spectacular Spider-Man: First Episode Premiere and Panel— Be among the first to see the series-opening episode of The Spectacular Spider-Man, a Culver Entertainment production coming to Kids’ WB! on The CW on March 8. Get the Spidey sense behind the creative vision of the series from supervising producer Greg Weisman (Gargoyles), producer/supervising director Victor Cook (Hellboy: Blood and Iron), character designer Sean “Cheeks” Galloway (Hellboy animated films), and the new voice of Spider-Man, Josh Keaton (The Young & The Restless). Michael Vogel from Sony Pictures Television Animation will moderate. Room 104

 

3:00-4:00 Top Cow— Top Cow assistant editor Joshua Cozine kicks off the publisher’s first panel of the 2008 convention season! Joining him will be superstar Top Cow artists Mike Choi (X-Men) and Tyler Kirkham (Ultimate Fantastic Four) as they discuss their work on both Top Cow’s and Marvel Comics’ top properties and collaborating with some of the industry’s top writers. Plus, get a sneak peek at Top Cow’s new projects coming in 2008, including plans for Witchblade and The Darkness, Pilot Season 2008, and Witchblade/Devi. Room 204/206

 

3:00-4:30 CBLDF Live Art Jam— Did you ever want to look over a legendary artist’s shoulder while they’re making a great piece of art, and then add it to your collection? Well, here’s your chance to do just that and support a great cause! See Jim Lee (Batman), Terry Moore (Echo) and surprise guests draw live art projected on the big screen at the CBLDF Live Art Jam! Watch these comics legends make stunning drawings of your favorite comics characters that you can bid on to support the First Amendment legal work of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund!  Don’t miss this unforgettable event and your chance to walk away with some stunning art at the CBLDF Live Art Jam! Please note, you will need a bidder number to bid on art in this event, which you can pick up throughout the con at Booth 715, or at the start of the event. Room 220

 

3:15-4:00 New Line Cinema: Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay— Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay marks the triumphant return of the two hilarious, slacker anti-heroes. The movie stars John Cho (as Harold) and Kal Penn (as Kumar), on an irreverent and epic journey of deep thoughts and a wild trip around the world that is as “un-PC” as it gets. New Line Cinema will show exclusive footage from the film and star John Cho, along with writers and directors Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, will be there to discuss the film. Hall A

 

3:30-4:30 Brian Wood/Becky Cloonan— Join Brian Wood (DMZ, Northlanders) and Becky Cloonan (American Virgin, East Coast Rising) for an informal chat and Q&A session about their current works as well as their co-created series DEMO. Brian and Becky will have an exclusive announcement to make during this panel! Room 232/234

 

3:30-4:30 Spotlight on Steve Leialoha— One of comics most respected pencilers and inkers, WonderCon special guest and Bay Area resident Steve Leialoha has over 30 years of comics under his belt. Currently, he’s part of the fan-favorite Fables team. Steve will talk about his comics work and take audience questions in this spotlight panel. Room 236/238

 

4:00-5:00 Paramount: Iron Man— Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment present Marvel Studios’ Iron Man, starring Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Shaun Toub and Gwyneth Paltrow. The film’s director, Jon Favreau, will appear live on the WonderCon stage to discuss bringing the Marvel Comics superhero to the big screen.

 

Hall A

 

4:00-5:00 Spotlight on J. Michael Straczynski— Writer, producer and director—and WonderCon special guest—J. Michael Straczynski comes off a busy year that saw him end a ground-breaking run on Amazing Spider-Man, and start his news series, The Twelve in comics. He wrote, produced, and directed the latest installment of the Bablyon 5 saga, Lost Tales, and he wrote three movies in 2007, The Changeling, Goliath: The Story of David, and World War Z. We’re guessing he’ll have LOTS to talk about and you’ll have just as many questions! Room 104

 

4:00-5:00 Dark Horse Comics— Please join Dark Horse editor Shawna Gore and publicist Jeremy Atkins, as well as surprise creators and other guests, for a peek into Dark Horse’s future as the maverick publisher enters its 22nd year on the cutting edge. Room 204/206

 

4:30-5:30 TOKYOPOP and the Jim Henson Company Present Legends of The Dark Crystal and Return to Labyrinth— Last year, TOKYOPOP made waves among Jim Henson fans with their release of the debut volume of Legends of The Dark Crystal, an exciting manga prequel to Henson’s classic fantasy film. Last year also saw the release of the second volume of Return to Labyrinth, TOKYOPOP and The Jim Henson Company’s acclaimed manga sequel to Labyrinth. Join editor Tim Beedle and Return to Labyrinth writer Jake Forbes as they discuss the future of these two exciting series, provide insight on expanding Jim Henson’s fantasy universes and preview art from upcoming volumes. As a special bonus, all panel attendees will receive a free Legends of The Dark Crystal poster. Room 220

 

4:30-5:30 Teaching Comics— Comics are becoming an integral part of today’s classrooms. Join Dr. Stephen Cary (Going Graphic: Comics at Work in the Multilingual Classroom), Heidi LaMoreaux (Sonoma State College), Sugene Yang-Kelly (librarian, Berkley Public Library), and noted comics creator and high school teacher Gene Luen Yang (American Born Chinese), with moderator Shaenon Garrity, for a discussion of why and how to bring comics into the classroom. Room 232/234

 

4:30-5:30 Animation Story Break (”Wait, does it HAVE to be a story?”)— Go behind the scenes as writers take an idea for an animated superhero story from one-sentence premise all the way to a full-blown beginning, middle, and end.  Then the real fun begins with audience participation! The crack writing staff features Charlotte Fullerton (Kim Possible), Michael Jelenic (The Batman), Dwayne McDuffie (Static Shock), and Matt Wayne (Justice League Unlimited). Moderated by Eugene Son (Storm Hawks). Expect laughter and tears - mostly the latter. Room 236/238

 

5:00-6:00 Inside Lucasfilm with Steve Sansweet— It’s not over yet! With Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series hot on the horizon, not to mention all the other events and projects in the works at Lucasfilm, Steve Sansweet, the entertainment company’s head of fan relations, will have much to share at WonderCon. Sansweet’s presentation will be the first on his 2008 convention circuit, so look for fresh news and glimpses into all the Star Wars excitement to come. Hall A

 

5:00-6:00 VERTIGO: Edgy and Evocative— With books like Fables, DMZ, American Virgin, Northlanders and more, VERTIGO continues the critical success of its monthly books with even more surprises up its sleeve in 2008! Come hear Bob Schreck, group editor—VERTIGO, Becky Cloonan (American Virgin), Steve Leialoha (Fables), Bill Willingham (Fables, Jack of Fables), and Brian Wood (DMZ, Northlanders), discuss their books and find out why VERTIGO is THE imprint for discerning readers. Room 104

 

5:00-5:30 Sneak Preview of Starship Troopers: Marauder— The bugs are back! Writer/director Ed Neumeier (Robocop) and action star Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers) host the world premiere of the trailer from the action-packed continuation of the Starship Troopers franchise, coming this summer from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment! Room 204/206

 

 

5:30-6:00 Sneak Preview of Gabriel— First-time writer-director-producer Shane Abbess and leading man Andy Whitfield (”All Saints”) introduce the Australian sci-fi thriller Gabriel to American audiences. Filmmaker and star will screen clips and answer questions from the crowd on this upcoming release from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Room 204/206

 

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), 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 you in 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 232/234

 

5:30-6:30 Special Make-up FX with Ed Martinez— Ed Martinez (instructor of special make-up effects at the Academy of Art University San Francisco) presents a live demonstration of new state-of-the-art special make-up effects materials now being used on the latest films. Silicone can be used for many things including life-casting with body double silicone rubber, and as a medium for creating extremely realistic 3-D prosthetics and skin effects. Ed will instruct as to the proper creation of silicone appliances as well as using new on-skin products to create realistic effects. Room 236/238

6:00-7:00 Gaia Online Gathering— Kiki Kitty and Gaia staff are hosting a special Gaia Online gathering where Gaia Online members can meet each other and hang out while making new friends and exchanging user names. In addition to hanging out with your fellow Gaians, you’ll also have the chance to win a jumbo Kiki plushie. Room 204/206

Nighttime Programs

 

8:30-11:30 Fourth Annual WonderCon Masquerade— The Masquerade costume competition, featuring costumes re-created from movies, TV, comic-books, and anime, plus completely original designs inspired by fantasy, science-fiction, and more, is back for its fourth big year! Trophies and other prizes will be awarded to the most outstanding entries. The Master of Ceremonies will be artist-writer Phil Foglio. No flash photography is allowed, and doors will open for audience seating beginning at 8:00.  Esplanade Ballroom, ground floor level, East of the main lobby. Esplanade Ballroom

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WonderCon 2008 - Programming Schedule - Day 1

posted on: Feb, 08 2008

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22

1:00-2:00 Spotlight on Bill Willingham— Popular writer/artist and WonderCon special guest Bill Willingham talks about his comics work on titles such as Fables, Jack of Fables, and the DC Universe mini-series, Salvation Run. Audience Q&A also featured. Room 204/206

 

1:00-2:00 Free Comic Book Day & You!— Free Comic Book Day is coming up again on May 3, 2008. So what’s on tap for the 7th annual event, and how can fans and pros alike make the event even better? Join FCBD founder Joe Field (Flying Colors Comics, Concord CA) to get prepared for the only day of the year that’s pretty much a holiday for comic books! Room 232/234

 

1:00-2:00 Comic Arts Conference Session 1: Comics & Education— Jeff Kahan (Caped Crusaders 101: Composition through Comic Books) and David Baldizon (The School of Arts and Enterprise) explain how comic book production and analysis can be used in an educational setting to enhance literacy and social-political awareness. Room 228/230

 

1:30-3:00 Battlestar Galactica: Past, Present, and Future— Actor Richard Hatch (Tom Zarek, Capt Apollo) celebrates and discusses 30 years of Battlestar Galactica in this extended Q&A forum with special trailers. Room 220

 

2:00-3:00 Spotlight on Astro City: Kurt Busiek & Brent Anderson— Join writer Kurt Busiek and artist Brent Anderson for an informal chat about Astro City, past, present, and future, and get a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most award-winning creator-owned series of the last 15 years! Room 204/206

 

2:00-3:00 Spotlight on Becky Cloonan— One of the fastest-rising stars in comics, artist and WonderCon special guest Becky Cloonan talks about her work on titles such as American Virgin, DEMO, and East Coast Rising, in this spotlight and Q&A event. Room 232/234

 

2:00-3:30 Comic Arts Conference Session 2: Finding Truth in Comic Books— Steve Higgins (Lewis and Clark Community College) uses Chester Brown’s metafictional story “Showing Helder” as a case study to examine the inaccuracies or embellishments that may creep into “true” autobiographical comics. Shawn O’Rourke (popmatters.com) analyzes how Alan Moore, via Promethea, creates a working philosophical framework that actually explains how all religions, including those with competing creation stories, can be true at the same time. Room 228/230

 

2:30-3:30 The Secret History of Manga in the U.S.— It’s been thirty years since the first manga was translated in 1978. From MixxZine to Raijin, from Astro Boy to Tenjho Tenge, discover the bizarre secrets of translated manga in this visual time machine full of dreamers, censors, antiwar activists, and ninja. Lots of ninja. Narrated by Jason Thompson (WIRED, Manga: The Complete Guide). Room 236/238

 

3:00-4:00 Spotlight on Terry Dodson— The popular artist behind such books as Wonder Woman, Spider-Man/Black Cat, and Harley Quinn talks about comics and art with interviewer Aaron Lopresti. Terry Dodson is a first-time WonderCon special guest. Room 204/206

 

3:00-6:00 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

 

3:00-4:00 Farscape— Actors and series stars Gigi Edgley (Chiana) and David Franklin (Captain Braca) will answer your questions and talk to you about their time in the Farscape universe and what they are doing now. Room 220

 

3:00-4:00 The Sergio and Mark Show— The popular duo of WonderCon special guests, Sergio Aragonés and Mark Evanier, return to let us know what’s happening with Groo, coming off his 25th anniversary. Also their most recent collaboration, co-writing Will Eisner’s The Spirit for DC Comics and their individual projects. Room 232/234

 

3:30-4:30 History of Superhero Movies— Comic books started out modestly 75 years ago, printed on pulp paper and appealing to a very young audience. Today, comics have become American mythology with a broad ranging readership, with legendary characters and stories that have transcended time and inspired generations of readers and artists in all different mediums. With movie companies now issuing bonds to finance the purchase of rights to characters, super-hero movies have become an international multi-billion dollar industry. Arie Kaplan and Eddy Friedfeld analyze the history of the comic book movie, from the innovative Fleischer animated Superman cartoons and the Columbia Batman and Superman serials of the 1940s to George Reeves and Christopher Reeve’s Men of Steel, to the modern collection of Keaton, Kilmer, Clooney and Bale Batmans, Superman Returns, the Spider-Man trilogy, Ghost Rider and the upcoming The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man. Room 236/238

 

3:30-5:00 Comic Arts Conference Sesion 3: Undiscovered Geniuses of the Comics— Robert N. O’Nale (Henderson State University) argues that Al Hartley, who left a powerful legacy of work with Archie Comics and Christian publishers such as Spire, should be remembered among the ranks of the greatest comics creators. Nick Langley (Henderson State University) discusses the collaboration, diversity of perspectives, and innovation through mutual appropriation that occurred in The Workday Comic, a student project inspired by Scott McCloud’s 24-Hour Comics. Room 228/230

 

4:00-5:00 Spotlight on Darwyn Cooke— The Eisner Award winning writer/artist behind DC: The New Frontier talks about his comics work and the adaptation of his magnum opus to the animated screen. WonderCon special guest Darwyn Cooke just finished an amazing run telling new stories of Will Eisner’s The Spirit for DC Comics. Scott Dunbier interviews Darwyn. Room 204/206

 

4:00-5:00 Writing with J. Michael Straczynski— The superstar scribe of comics, movies, and television talks about the writing process. J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5, The Twelve) will help answer your questions on the things that stump you most and the issues you may have with writing. Room 220

 

4:00-5:00 Spotlight on Noel Neill— She’s celebrating her 60th anniversary as America’s favorite super-hero sweetheart! Noel Neill first took on the role of ace reporter Lois Lane in the 1948 Superman serial from Columbia, and went on to present the definitive depiction of the character in the popular 1950s TV show, Adventures of Superman, with George Reeves. Mark Evanier interviews Ms. Neill about her life with the man in the cape and the rest of her amazing career! Room 232/234

 

4:30-5:30 Tripwire— Join the editors and staff of Tripwire Magazine and Studio Space, Image’s upcoming book on comic creators, as they discuss the future of genre media. There will be special industry guests and free door prizes to the first faithful few. Room 236/238

 

5:00-6:00 DC Nation!— The call goes out once more! Join Dan DiDio, senior VP—executive editor DCU, Bob Wayne, VP—sales, Mike Carlin, senior group editor—DCU, Jann Jones, senior coordinating editor—DCU, Bill Willingham (Salvation Run), Sergio Aragonés (Bat Lash), and others to catch a glimpse of what will be the most talked about events of the new year! Room 204/206

 

5:00-6:00 Spotlight on Terry Moore— Last year, he was wrapping up his fan-favorite comic, Strangers In Paradise. This year, Terry Moore introduces his new self-published book, Echo, and talks about his work for the Marvel titles Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane and Runaways. Room 220

 

5:00-6:00 Masquerade 101— An overview of costuming at fan conventions, discussing on-stage masquerade presentations as well as “hall costumes”, including growth and style differences at various conventions; design, fabrication, and tips, what mistakes to avoid, how to make an impact on stage or just walking around, what goes on behind the scenes, and how to have a lot of fun with this living art form. Panelists will include WonderCon Masquerade Director Martin Jaquish, and highly experienced award-winning fan costumers Dany Slone and Valerie Perez. Room 232/234

 

5:30-6:30 Universal: Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Wanted—

For anyone whose heart has been ripped out comes a hilarious look at relationships from the producers of Knocked Up: Forgetting Sarah Marshall. The romantic disaster comedy’s Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, Bill Hader, Jack McBrayer, director Nicholas Stoller and producer Shauna Robertson are scheduled to appear on the WonderCon stage.

In Wanted, James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman and Angelina Jolie star in a fantasy-thriller with a hero for a new generation. Based upon Mark Millar’s graphic novel and directed by stunning visualist Timur Bekmambetov, Wanted uncovers one apathetic nobody’s transformation into an enforcer of justice. Star James McAvoy is scheduled to appear.

Hall A

 

5:30-6:30 BOOM! Studios— The BOOM! Studios team—Mark Waid, Ross Richie, Michael Alan Nelson and Chip Mosher, take to the WonderCon stage for one full hour. Surprise announcements will be made. BOOM! Studios promises to make your head explode! Room 236/238

 

6:00-7:00 Blood +: From Japan to America’s Adult Swim— A provocative and entertaining discussion from the artists’ perspective of the issues, hurdles, and joys of transforming a Japanese anime series into a Cartoon Network Adult Swim hit. Get the first glimpse of the new DVD and the scoop on the year ahead! Panelists include voice and casting director Michael Hack, actors Crispin Freeman (Hagi/Van/Joel the 6th) and Ben Diskin (Kai) plus Joe D’Ambrosia and Tom Teves, the American story editors who have very interesting tales about the challenges of translating the series for American audiences. Room 204/206

 

6:00-8:30 Gahan Wilson: Born Dead Still Weird Film Screening— Join legendary cartoonist Gahan Wilson and filmmakers Steven-Charles Jaffe and Robert Jaffe (writers and producers of such films as Ghost, Star Trek VI, Near Dark, Strange Days, Motel Hell, and Demon Seed), as they discuss their new feature documentary about Gahan Wilson with a special Q&A following the film. Room 220

 

6:00-7:00 Spotlight on Brian Wood— One of the hottest writers in comics right now, WonderCon special guest Brian Wood talks about his comics work, past, present, and future. Brian’s edgy, provocative series include VERTIGO’s DMZ and Northlanders. Room 232/234

 

6:30-7:00 New Line Cinema: Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D— Based on the classic Jules Verne novel Journey to the Center of the Earth, Journey 3D, the first live action digital 3D movie, is an exhilarating adventure staring Brendan Fraser as a science professor whose untraditional hypotheses have made him the laughing stock of the academic community. On an expedition in Iceland, he and his nephew stumble upon a major discovery that launches them on a thrilling journey deep beneath the Earth’s surface where they travel through never-before-seen worlds and encounter a variety of unusual creatures. Journey 3D is directed by Academy Award-winning visual effect veteran Eric Brevig. The film, which is a co-venture between New Line Cinema and Walden Media, is scheduled to be released on July 11, 2008. Star Brendan Fraser will be present to discuss the film. In addition, a special screening of never before seen footage in 3D will be shown at the Metreon later Friday evening! Attend this panel for a chance at a ticket for that limited-seating screening.

 

byCineman   Read More