San Diego Comic Con- the Short List

So I head off for the San Diego Comic-Con, the largest gathering of Comic Book Geeks in the entire world- four days of geekiness and of finally feeling normal.  What Will I be doing?  Well I’m not a big time web cartoonist since I’ve only been at this two months so I can go and enjoy without the worries of a booth, books, having to present, etc.  So after a “quick” glance at the program I have a few ideas as to what I’ll be doing all are subject to change without notice since I tend to find things once I arrive.  Looking at the days, Sunday looks like it will be the getting back to work day.  As I look at the program all I keep thinking about is how many times I have said “My nephew should really go, even if it’s just for a day.”  Everyone was too busy, and uninterested I didn’t want to have to baby sit.  I’m skipping all the kid “how to draw” sessions, even with my present frustrations with my own drawing.

You’ll notice a number of double bookings, that’s because I don’t know which ones I really, really want to attend.  Things like the CBDLF Auctions- I know my midwestern thoughts on the value of a dollar vs. the west coast mentality.  I doubt I have enough cash to even open the bidding, but it would be fun to watch.  The live art auction I attended in Chicago years ago and it was really cool, unfortunately for me I was unsure as to how the payments were going and only had so much cash.  If I was sure they would accept credit, I would have walked away with something.

There is a mix of what is just for fun, and what is educational.  I’m hoping to get a copy of Jeff Smith’s DVD, so I won’t have to attend his screening and can instead attend the Eisners.  I want to see the Masquerade since that and the Eisners are big events that I missed last time.  All I can say is if you follow me on Twitter or are a friend on Facebook, I’ll be updating instantaneously from there, or I’ll be blogging and doodling until dawn each day.  I can sleep when I get to may parent’s house.  So if you happen to be attending Cecil and I will be wandering around and can probably be found around these sessions:

Thursday:

11:30-12:30 World of Warcraft: Epic Loot– Get your game on outside of Azeroth! Join a panel of Blizzard Entertainment decision makers along with their proud licensed partners for an all-out discussion/unveiling of World of Warcraft-inspired product awesomeness. Moderated byCory Jones, Blizzard Entertainment’s director of global business development & licensing. In attendance: Chris Metzen (Blizzard Entertainment sr. VP of creative development), Nick Carpenter (Blizzard Entertainment cinematic creative director), Hank Kanalz (VP/GM of WildStorm and World of Warcraft monthly editor), Troy Lewter (Tokyopop editor on theWarcraft manga), Scott Gaeta (Upper Deck director of new product development and organized play), Margeaux Doremus Sullivan (Upper Deck brand manager on World of Warcraft minis), and Sean Gailey (J!nx creative director). Room 6BCF –This one is for my brother who is really into WOW… and teaches so he doesn’t have time to attend.  I need to take some time and improve my character, but amazingly enough things have gotten in the way.

1:00-2:00 Spotlight on Jimmy Gownley– How did Comic-Con special guest Jimmy Gownley (Amelia Rules!) go from creating comics in his basement to landing an eight-book deal with Simon & Schuster? Find out how he and his marketing-director wife, Karen Gownley, turned a pipedream into reality, and how you can do it, too! Session will include Q&A. Room 10 My student’s love Amelia Rules so any chance to hear him will be inspirational not only for me, but for them.

3:30-4:30 Digital Comics Now!– Digital comics are happening right now. Not tomorrow, but right now. Join a panel of the best and brightest in the new wave of digital comics in a wide-ranging discussion of everything from comics on the iPhone to new digital comic platforms, motion comics, webcomics, and day-and-date-releases. Big announcements will be made! Panelists include Michael Murphey (CEO iVerse), David Steinberger (CEO of comiXology),Rantz Hosely (CEO LongBox), Chris Folino (VP, Catastrophic Comics), and Chip Mosher(marketing director, BOOM! Studios). Room 4 – a panel on technology & comics… c’mon it had to make the list.

3:30-4:30 Seduction of the Innocent– No, it’s not the risen corpse of Dr. Fredric Wertham, it’s the superstar San Diego combo that rocked Comic-Con in the ’80s and ’90s. Together reminiscing, debuting their new con-exclusive CD, and taking questions on their comics, show biz, and musical careers are Bill Mumy (Babylon 5), Max Allan Collins (Road to Perdition),Steve Leialoha (Fables), and John “Chris” Christensen Songs from the Xenozoic Age). [We regret to announce that Miguel Ferrer, a founding member of SOTI, is unable to appear because of a filming commitment.] Room 30AB – a Comic-Con institution I have to at least walk out with a CD.

4:30-5:30 Imagination in Illustration: a Brief History of Fantastic Art– Catch Comic-Con special guest Charles Vess’s intriguing visual presentation on the history of Fantastic Art (1850 to present day). Featuring his favorite English fairy tale artists, American pulp masters and visionary painters, many not found in textbooks. Prepare to be swept away. Room 4

4:30-5:30 Drawing Upon Reference– Ron Lemen (ImagineFX magazine) and Studio 2nd Street Group will cover the subject of photo reference and how to use it when you have to use it. This lecture will briefly cover the do’s and dont’s of copying photos for your illustration work and some basic guidelines for drawing an effective image. Room 30CDE

5:30-6:30 Cartoon Books & Abstract Studios Happy Hour with Jeff Smith and Terry Moore– The perfect way to spend your first happy hour at Comic-Con! Don’t miss your chance to chat with indie icons Jeff Smith and Terry Moore as they talk about new projects, upcoming appearances, and sharing a booth at this year’s Comic-Con. Plus, Jeff will be making a special announcement! Room 7AB – while this sounds really cool, I’m always a little reserved when dealing with people I admire… I don’t want to seem too fanboy-like but then again I know I don’t know as much as others so I feel kind of stupid.

5:30-6:30 Graphic Novel Programming in Libraries– Words of wisdom from Librarian Fanboys and Fangirls on ways to make your collection rock the house! It’s life in the dork lane when librarian nerds become comic book geeks. How can a fan transcend life-long Universe loyalties to build a balanced collection? How do you fight back when your cataloging department thinks all superhero titles are for teens? Is it really possible to have a graphic novel book club? Get tips on starting graphic novel clubs, running workshops on cartooning, hosting author visits and much more. Moderated by Snow Wildsmith with Robin Brenner, Hillary Chang,Mike Pawuk, Jill Patterson, and Nick Smith. Room 30AB – This one has possibilities, but not being a librarian, other things might jump to the top of the list.

6:00-7:00 Mad Science: The Science Behind Science Fiction– Discover magazine and the National Academy of Sciences’ Science and Entertainment Exchange explore science as a double-edged sword-it’s ethically and morally neutral in and of itself, but science depends on who wields it and how. Join moderator Phil Plait (Discover magazine contributing editor and blogger), Jaime Paglia (co-creator and executive producer of Eureka), Kevin Grazier (science consultant, Eureka, Virtuality), Jane Espenson (executive producer, Dollhouse, Battlestar Galactica, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Rob Chiappetta and Glenn Whitman (staff writers,Fringe), and Ricardo Gil da Costa (neuroscientist and consultant on Fringe) for a lively and fun discussion on science used for good vs. evil. Followed by Q&A. Room 6DE – I teach at a science school- duh!

7:15-9:15 Captain Cosmos and the Gray Ghosts– Comic-Con special guest Nicola Cuti-best known for his comics work at Charlton, including co-creating the fondly remembered E-Man-wrote and stars in this fun “old-time space opera.” Featuring the adventures of Captain Nick Cosmos (Nic Cuti) and his daughter, the volatile alien called Zen-Ya, along with the crew of his ship, The Bedevere. In this series of episodes the Bedevere is being haunted by two mysterious ghosts who leave clues of their identities. The exciting stories entertain, educate, and include clips from the space operas and cartoons of the 1950s. A treat for the entire family.Room 2 – call me old fashioned but I might just need a break and Decoder-Ring Theatre is doing their Summer Showcases right now.

Friday:

10:00-11:00 Spotlight on Charles Vess– Comic-Con special guestCharles Vess presents “Part Seen: Part Imagined,” a visual presentation spanning his 35-year career as a freelance artist in the comics and book publishing industries. Featuring cover work ranging from National Lampoon to Spider-Man and Sandman comics, plus Peter Pan stage sets, illustrated books with Charles de Lint and George R.R. Martin, Stardust the movie and Neil Gaiman, and all the way up to his latest project, a 16′ Midsummer bronze sculpture fountain. Room 2

1:00-2:00 Archaia/The Jim Henson Company: The Perfect Publishing Partnership-Learn about the fantasy titles the publisher has in store, including a new Mouse Guard volume (with creator David Petersen), Artesia (with creator Mark Smylie), Okko, and Primordia. Then find out more about the partnership The Jim Henson Company and Archaia have formed to create comics and graphic novels based on such beloved properties as Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, MirrorMask, and Fraggle Rock, as well as all-new, original concepts! Hear more about this venture with Henson’s director of publishing and development Joe LeFavi, Archaia’s director of development Stephen Christy, and a few surprise guests as creative teams are announced and publishing plans are discussed. All attendees will receive a free Archaia/Henson poster featuring a new piece of art! Room 4  – Comic Books and muppets!?! this is a no brainer- unless there is something else that catches my eye- curse you ADD!

1:00-2:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #7: Strategies and Resources for Teaching a Course in Comics– After brief statements about their own approaches to teaching a comics-based course, Alec Hosterman (Indiana University South Bend),Matthew J. Smith (Wittenberg University), and Randy Duncan (Henderson State University) create a dialogue with the audience so attendees can generate new ideas and glean information relevant to their teaching interests. Then Greg Urquhart (Alexander Street Press) previews forthcoming online collections of comic books and strips that will be useful for scholarship and teaching and discusses the issues and decisions the company has confronted in creating the collections.  Room 30AB

1:30-2:30 After the First 1,000 Pages– It takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert at something. Art teachers say that you have to make 100,000 bad drawings before you can make a good one. Gene Colan (Tomb of Dracula), Becky Cloonan (Demo), Zander Cannon (Top 10), Roger Langridge (The Muppet Show Comic Book), and Matt Kindt (Super Spy) will discuss how they’ve developed as artists since their early work and the creative breakthroughs that took them a while to reach. Moderated by Douglas Wolk (Reading Comics).Room 10 – I saw this one and felt perhaps I need some inspiration.

2:30-3:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #8: The Institute for Comics Studies– The Institute for Comics Studies is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the study, understanding, and appreciation of the comics medium. Director of ICS Peter Coogan discusses the organization’s mission, goals, accomplishments, and plans. Board members representing the comics academy and the industry will contribute their comments and be available for Q&A: Randy Duncan (Henderson State University), Stanford Carpenter (School of the Art Institute of Chicago), Angela Ndalnias (University of Melbourne),Mimi Cruz (Night Flight Comics), Danny Fingeroth(Write Now!), Mike Richardson (Dark Horse Comics), Tim Stroup (Cold Cut Distribution), and Henry Jenkins (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Room 30AB

3:30-4:30 Comic Book Law School: Hot Topics– Move over Whoopie and Barbara! It’s time for these savvy legal minds to share their views on the ever-evolving legal world, spotlighting cutting-edge, evolving issues being faced by the creators, publishers and distributors of creative works. An all-star panel of attorneys-David Branfman, Alexander Harwin, andDavid Lizerbram, with moderator Michael Lovitz-shed light on important issues facing individuals and companies alike. Topics will include the new online copyright application process, preregistration of copyrights, fair use, piracy, and the growing popularity of the CopyLeft movement. (Please note: The Comic Book Law School seminars are designed to provide relevant information and practice tips to practicing attorneys, as well as practical tips to creators and other professionals who may wish to attend. This program is approved for one credit of California MCLE.) Room 10

4:00-5:00 Kirkamania! The Robert Kirkman Panel– Join writer Robert Kirkman (Walking Dead, Invincible) for a lively discussion on his many projects and a look forward into the future with more than a few exclusive announcements! All this plus a surprise appearance by Todd McFarlane (Haunt), as super secret free comics will be given away during a very special Q&A session! Room 7AB – I read Walking Dead (thank you Sean) and Invincible so hearing what Kirkman has to say and why he has done some of the things he has -Atom Eve for example- will be cool.

7:30-9:30 The Cartoonist: Jeff Smith, Bone and the Changing Face of Comics– The Cartoonist, a new feature-length documentary, tells the inspiring story of Jeff Smith’s creation of the epic comic book Bone, hailed by critics as one of the greatest graphic novels of all time. Fellow cartoonists Scott McCloud, Colleen Doran, Harvey Pekar, Paul Pope and Terry Moore, as well as friends, associates, experts, and Jeff himself, share their stories of this worldwide phenomenon that began in small comics hobby shops and is now found in bookstores, schools, libraries, and the homes of millions of adults and children in 25 countries. In addition to discussing Jeff’s early years, influences and philosophies, the film provides a look at a unique industry and artform that continues to evolve as its audience expands. Ken Mills and Mike Meyer, producers of the documentary, will be present to introduce the film and answer questions. Room 5AB

8:30-11:00 Darksiders Presents: The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards– The 21st annual Eisner Awards, the “Oscars” of the comics industry, will be given out at a gala ceremony at a brand-new location: the Indigo Ballroom at the Hilton Bayfront. This year’s special them is “Comics and All That Jazz.” Presenters include writer/actors Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant (Reno 911,Balls of Fury), acclaimed comics creators Jeff Smith and Terry Moore, actor/comedian Patton Oswalt, actor/musician/writer Bill Mumy, actress/musician Jane Wiedlin, and G4’s Blair Butler, with many more to be announced. Other prestigious awards to be given out include the Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award, theBob Clampett Humanitarian Award, and the Bill Finger Award for Excellence in Comic Book Writing. The master of ceremonies is Bongo Comics’ Bill Morrison. Admission to the Eisners is free to all Comic-Con attendees-just be sure to bring your badge. Doors open for pro and VIP seating at 7:30 and for attendees at 8:15.Indigo Ballroom / Hilton Bayfront

Saturday:

11:00-1:00 How-To Session: Adam Hughes– Adam Hughes is most commonly known for his stylized renderings of women: superheroines, damsels in distress, and figures in fantasy. Adam is considered by many to be one of a new generation of Good Girl artists inspired by Petty, Vargas, and Elvgren. He has worked on many DC titles, most notably Justice League andWonder Woman, and has just finished a long run as the monthly cover artist on Catwoman.Adam will grace the stage for a two-hour demonstration on sketching characters. – alright I admit it, I like the way he draws… I’d like to draw a little like that someday without being embarrassed.

11:30-12:30 The Stories of DC Universe Online featuring Jim Lee and Marv Wolfman-Jim Lee (Batman: Hush) and Marv Wolfman (The New Teen Titans) have joined forces to help create DC Universe Online. Jim, Marv, and key members of the development team from Sony Online Entertainment talk about how storylines are being built into this upcoming online action game at every level. Room 5AB  – an online game in the DCU? this could be cool, looking at it though, it may only be for PS3 which means this is a no go.

1:00-2:00 CBLDF Master Sessions: The Art of the Panel with Jeff Smith– Every comics page is an avalanche of creative decisions. The successful comics storyteller must move the reader not just through the larger story but through each panel, conveying crucial story information with clarity, economy, and flair. With his nine-volume masterpiece, Bone, and his new series RASL, Jeff Smith is a proven master of comics storytelling. Bring your sketchbooks and your questions as he gives an in-depth view of the process of building a successful comics panel. The original art from this session will be auctioned off on Saturday night at the CBLDF’s auction! Room 30CDE – no brainer… unless the zombies from Kirkman’s session get to me first.

2:00-3:00 Webcomics Bootcamp– Four of the web’s top comics artists-Scott Kurtz (PvP),Brad Guigar (Evil Inc), Kris Straub (Starslip), and Dave Kellett (Sheldon)-teach you how to use the web to publish, market, and monetize your comics. Much like their popular podcast, this session promises to be equal parts information and raucous fun. Room 8 – I love these guys!  These are the guys who got me started in reading webcomics at the first Comic-Con I attended.  so much cool stuff.  but then there is a dilemma…

2:30-3:30 Using Comics in the Classroom– Calling all teachers, school librarians, all-ages publishers and kid-friendly cartoonists! Help cultivate the next generation of comic readers with a practical guide on the hows and whys of using comics in the classroom courtesy of this panel of Certified Awesome experts. Teachers will learn how to win over skeptical administrators, integrate comics into the curriculum, and find the best books for their students, while publishers will be given strategies for getting their titles into this burgeoning new market. Panelists include Jimmy Gownley, Peter Gutierrez, Gina Gagliano, and David Serchay, with moderator Josh Elder. Room 4 – This is right up my alley, so do I attend the webcomics bootcamp, or hang out an be a booth barnacle for a few hours and go to this session?  I hate having to make tough choices!

4:45-5:45 Vertigo Voices: The Fables Forum– It’s the Fables Forum, San Diego style! Come armed with your best questions and find out everything you want to know about Fables. Featuring Vertigo group editor Shelly Bond and the creators behind Fables, Jack of Fables,House of Mystery: Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, Matthew Sturges, Steve Leialoha,Lee Loughridge, Shawn McManus, Andrew Pepoy, Chris Roberson, Chrissie Zullo, andTodd Klein. Room 6DE

5:00-6:00 Graphic Novels: Sense of History– There’s a wonderful world of history awaiting you in numerous graphic novels available now. Whether it be real life stories adapting historical events to the comics form or fiction taking place in a specific time, these practitioners of the historical graphic novel are all presenting work at the top of their form. Moderator Randy Duncan (co-chair of the Comics Arts Conference) talks to Rick Geary (Treasury of XX Century Murder: Famous Players), David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo), Jason Lutes (Berlin), Chris Schweizer (Crogan’s Vengeance), and Eric Shanower (Age of Bronze) about their individual takes on history. Room 8

5:15-6:45 Kevin Smith– Direct from New York City, where he’s directing the new Warner Bros. film A Couple of Dicks starring Bruce Willis, Seann William Scott, and Tracy Morgan, Kevin Smith returns to the Hall H stage for his annual report to the masses. And remember: he flew in just for YOU. Hall H

7:15-9:15 CBLDF Benefit Auction– This is the big one! Support Free Speech and walk away with incredible original art at this year’s CBLDF Auction! Highlights include original art by Mike Mignola, Dave Gibbons, Jill Thompson, Charles Vess, Mike Deodato, Eric Powell, Neil Gaiman, and many, many more. Stop by CBLDF’s booth #1920 for a complete auction list. All proceeds from this auction will benefit the First Amendment legal work of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund! Room 2

7:15-8:15 Myth Busters Q&A and Sneak Peeks– The series called “the best science program on television” by the New York Times returns for its second year at Comic-Con. Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage are joined by Tory Belleci and Grant Imahara to discuss their offbeat series that uses science to determine the truth behind urban legends. Adam, Jamie, Grant and Tory will answer questions and share behind-the-scenes stories and showcase world premiere sneak peeks of upcoming myths. MythBusters airs Wednesdays at 9:00 PM E/P on Discovery Channel. Room 6BCF –remember I teach at a science school…

8:45-11:45 HBO’s True Blood Presents: The San Diego Comic-Con International Masquerade– Fabulous original and re-created costumes crafted by our talented attendees appear on stage before an audience of thousands, with impressive awards and cash prizes bestowed to those judged most outstanding. Doors will open for audience seating at 8:15 PM, but the line will start much earlier! Tickets will be required for seating and will be given out free to those lining up near Ballroom 20 beginning at 4:30 PM. Masters of Ceremony are writers/artists Phil Foglio and Kaja Foglio of Studio Foglio, and halftime entertainment will feature special advance movie previews, behind-the-scenes films, and more. (Overflow seating available in Rooms 5AB, 6A and in the Sails Pavilion.) Ballroom 20

8:45-1:30 Masquerade Party– Join your friends in the Convention Center’s beautiful Sails Pavilion to party the night away while the Masquerade plays on the big screen! Sails Pavilion

Sunday:

This day is devoted to a lot of stuff that will be really great for me as a teacher… Then again all work and no play…  The funny thing is originally I planned on skipping Sunday and driving up to my parent’s house in L.A. on Sunday.  I think the added expense of the hotel room and rental car is worth it just for the programming today.

10:00-11:00 Kids’ Graphic Novels– What’s new and wonderful in the world of comics and graphic novels for kids in 2009? ModeratorRobin Brenner, creator and editor-in-chief of NoFlyingNoTights.com, highlights the works of panelists Lewis Trondheim (Tiny Tyrant), Gene Yang (American Born Chinese),Derek Kirk Kim (The Eternal Smile), Eric Wight (Frankie Pickle and The Closet of Doom), Chris Schweizer (Crogan’s Vengeance),Jennifer Holm (Babymouse), and Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Lunch Lady), who all recommend other great titles. Room 3

10:00-11:00 Dr. Who– Actor David Tennant, writer/executive producer Russell T Davies, director Euros Lyn, and executive producer Julie Gardner discuss their creative process and experiences working on BBC America’s Doctor Who-television’s longest-running sci-fi series-with exclusive clips and a Q&A session. Ballroom 20 – graphic novels or Dr. Who.  I want to check out the autograph schedule and see what’s up with that before I make any hasty decisions.

10:30-11:30 The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd-LIVE!-Putting a new spin on “old time” radio, the longest running family friendly podcast, The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd, is back to entertain kids of all ages with its unique blend of wackiness, laughter, and surprises! Join the show’s creators Grant Baciocco(Jim Henson Company’s PuppetUp) and Doug Price (The Bodyguard) as they record an episode of Dr. Floyd live at Comic-Con along with very special guests Chuck McCann (Sid & Marty Kroft’s Far Our Space Nuts), Frank Conniff (Mystery Science Theatre 3000), Moira Quirk (Nickelodeon’s GUTS), Alison Mork(Pee Wee’s Playhouse), Michael Rayner (Sesame Street) and, quite possibly, You! Join in and set your imagination to FUN! Room 8

11:00-12:30 Secret Origin of Good Readers– AKA “Evil Plots to Get Kids Reading.” The 9th annual Secret Origin of Good Readers panel consists of Dr. Robyn A. Hill (National University, San Diego), Mimi Cruz (Night Flight Comics, Salt Lake City), Bill Galvan (creator/artist The Scrapyard Detectives, artist for Archie Comics), and Jim Valentino (creator/Ppublisher Silverline Books/Image Comics). The panelists will discuss how teachers, librarians, retailers, authors, artists, 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 can be used to engage a variety of learners. Breakout sessions will follow the main presentation. The 70-page resource book The Secret Origin of Good Readers is available for free download courtesy of XMission.com (link coming soon!). Room 3

11:30-12:30 Spotlight on David Petersen– Cartoonist David Petersen talks about his Eisner Award-winning series Mouse Guard, how it came to be, the process that makes it happen, and what the future holds for his mice. An audience Q&A will follow the discussion, moderated by Nick Tapalansky. Room 8

12:00-1:00 Spotlight on Bill Willingham– Both a master storyteller and an incredible artist, Bill Willingham has created a huge following for his bestselling books. His credits range from the DCU’s Justice Society of America, Salvation Run and Robin to the already classic Vertigo titles Fables and Jack of Fables and the newHouse of Mystery. Moderated by Vertigo group editor Shelly Bondwith Fables cohorts Mark Buckingham and Steve Leialoha.Room 2

12:30-1:30 Secret Origin of Good Readers Breakouts– This year’s Secret Origin of Good Readers program offers an extended opportunity for attendees to learn and network through select breakout sessions following the main presentation. Participants will be able to choose from two intriguing options: “Promoting Tolerance with the Scrapyard Detectives” with Bill Galvan(creator/artist) and Dr. Robyn A. Hill (teacher educator), or “Building Comics & Graphic Novels Collections in Classrooms and Libraries” with Mimi Cruz (Night Flight Comics) and Jim Valentino (creator/publisher Silverline Books/Image Comics). Room 3 – don’t know about this one… again I’m curious and thinking about the future, but…

12:30-2:00 CBLDF Live Art Jam– Witness live art created before your eyes by comics masters and bid on the chance to carry one home! Join Jim Lee, Terry Moore, and surprise special guests as you get a glimpse behind the scenes of their artistic processes! The Live Art Jam is a treat for fans and students alike. All art will be auctioned to benefit the First Amendment legal work of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. You will need a bidder number to bid on art at this event, which will be distributed at the start of the event. Winning bidders will be able to claim their art from the CBLDF’s booth 1920. Room 5AB

1:30-2:30 Comics and Graphic Novels for All Ages- It’s true! There’s a wealth of great comic books series and graphic novels out there for comics-loving kids of all ages-so much so, that Comic-Con presents its second big panel of the day on the topic! ModeratorRandy Duncan (co-chair of the Comics Arts Conference) talks withJimmy Gownley (Amelia Rules!), Kazu Kibuishi (Amulet), David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Eric Jones and Landry Walker(Supergirl, Little Gloomy), Jeff Smith (Bone), and Alexis Fajardo (Kid Beowulf) about comics for everyone! Room 3

2:15-3:45 BBC America: Being Human/Torchwood– You won’t want to miss these special back-to-back panels on Being Human and Torchwood! Being Human creator Toby Whithouseand cast members Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow and Aidan Turner appear on stage to give an inside look at BBC America’s U.S. premier sci-fi drama about the lives of three twentysomethings and their secret double-lives-as a werewolf, a vampire, and a ghost. Following that, Torchwood actor John Barrowman, creator/writer/executive producer Russell T Davies, executive producer Julie Gardner, and director Euros Lyn talk about the making of the epic five-night television event Torchwood: Children of Earth as well as take questions from the fans. Ballroom 20

4:00-5:00 Buffy the Musical– Let’s end this show with a bang! The powers that be behind Fandom Charities Inc. and Whedonopolis.com present a screening of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical episode “Once More With Feeling” as Comic-Con 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 episode 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, surprises and dancing crazy! Ballroom 20