50+ CCI Panels I’d Like To See



The 2009 iteration of Comic-Con International starts tomorrow in San Diego, at that city's convention center. Thousands of press people and professionals are in San Diego as you're most likely to be reading this, ready to serve both a public and each other with focused coverage of new product and new publishing strategies. A preview night starting about nine hours from this article's posting will give thousands of people a sneak peek as to what's on the convention floor and, I think in a case or two, some of what's coming from the big TV/Film heavy-hitters. The formal programming, however, begins Thursday morning with the proper and traditional start of the show.

What follows is a list of stuff I'm going to try to attend or have attended for me. I'm a comics guy, so the following reflects my interest in comics-related programming. I may find a television and film panel I want to see, I don't know, or I could get dragged to one, but as you can see here there's more than enough great comics stuff to fill one's time. In fact, I cut my initial list in half -- goodbye, Tripwire panel -- and it's still over 50 entries long. Do I expect any big news from these offerings? No, probably not. Not a lot, anyway. Other than rudimentary publishing news -- what's coming out -- and one or two panels that sort of accidentally stumble into announcing news, there's not a lot of news in that way most reporting mechanisms classically define it. It's been 15 years or so since Larry Marder was called on to explain a major publishing decision at a convention panel, and even longer since comics folk used the public opportunity to press Marvel on an issue like Jack Kirby's art, and I can't think of too many panels even remotely like those in recent years. There are definitely a bunch of things to learn about comics, though, and I hope to wake up Monday morning smarter and more knowledgeable about the form than than I was this AM. Plus, it should be fun.

Here's what I'll be attending or have people attending or attending myself were I able to split in two or three like a Legion of Super-Heroes character. -- Tom Spurgeon

*****



THURSDAY, JULY 23

10:00-11:00 LongBox Digital Comics
This is Rantz Hoseley's iTunes for comics effort. There are a lot of general panels at the show about digital comics, but this seems to me more promising than perhaps some of those will be, because of that focus. Room 32AB

10:30-11:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #1: Comics, Courts, and Controversy
The vast majority of the academic-type programming doesn't interest me at all, but this is a look at multiple cases defended by the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and an examination of the Siegels vs. DC/Warner Brothers case. Room 30AB

11:00-12:00 IDW Publishing: The Evolution of Comics
There is no more important company to be tracking right now. Room 10

12:00-1:00 Spotlight on Bryan Lee O'Malley
One of the two or three most interesting cartoonists receiving a spotlight panel at this show, as he enters into a potential high moment of what should be a long career. He's to be interviewed by Scott McCloud. Room 5AB

12:00-1:00 Bongo Comics Sneak Peek
I'd like to see this one for Sammy Harkham and Ben Jones talking about their forthcoming, Kramer's Ergot-reminiscent issue of Bongo's yearly Treehouse of Horror effort. Room 10

1:30-2:30 Spotlight on Jerry Robinson
It seems like cartoonist, historian and longtime artists' advocate Jerry Robinson has been doing spotlight panels at CCI for five years in a row now, but I'm not going to complain and neither should you. Room 4

2:00-3:00 A Darker Shade of Ink: Crime and Noir in Comics
This appeals because of a strong panel (Cooke, Rucka, Lieber, Collins) and a compelling subject about which we could probably use some straight talk: how much a revival in crime comics is going to take with comics fans. Room 5AB

2:30-3:30 Sergio and Mark
These are always-entertaining, old-school panels. Room 8

3:30-4:30 Digital Comics Now!
I'm not sure this won't devolve into a bunch of proclamations and PR-style announcements, but it's certainly a subject of interest. Room 4

3:30-5:00 Golden and Silver Age of Comics
This is usually entertaining on some level and at least heartwarming/encouraging. This year looks like a fine round-up of such creators: Murphy Anderson, Gene Colan, Ramona Fradon, Russ Heath, Jack Katz, Jerry Robinson and Leonard Starr. Katz and Starr generally don't do these kinds of shows, so they may bring fresh insight. Room 8

4:00-5:00 PM Spotlight on Richard Thompson
A spotlight panel featuring maybe the best cartoonist working the strips page right now. This has to be more fully attended than the last time I saw Thompson, but I really loved that panel so I'm not sure I care. Thompson seem to something of a shy speaker, but he's very funny once he's going. Room 2

4:00-5:00 Top Shelf in 2009
They are great friends to this site and their survival story will one day be the stuff of comics industry legend. Room 10

4:30-5:30 The Best and Worst Manga of 2008–2009
I was supposed to be on this, but I ended up begging my way out when I realized how hardcore they were going to be in comparison to my own meager manga-critic skills. Still, I want to hear this one. Room 3

5:00-6:00 Spotlight on Lew Sayre Schwartz
Eddie Campbell's favorite Batman artist, right? Room 8

5:30-6:30 Cartoon Books & Abstract Studios Happy Hour with Jeff Smith and Terry Moore
I want to see at least one thing Jeff Smith does at the show -- he's great with crowds, and this might be the one with the most bang for my buck. I don't know Terry Moore at all. Room 7AB

*****



FRIDAY, JULY 24

10:00-11:00 Spotlight on Charles Vess
I want to do at least one Charles Vess panel, I'm just not sure if it's likely to be this one or the more craft-focused one that I'm going to be able to do. Probably the other one. They'll both be good. Room 2

11:00-12:00 Spotlight on Gene Colan
A nice man and formidable artist, it's nice to have him back in San Diego. Room 8

11:30-12:30 Image Comics Show
Image always has funny panels, because they usually stuffed with guys that graduated with honors from The School Of I Don't Give A Shit. 5AB

12:00-1:00 CBLDF Master Sessions: Expressionistic Atmosphere with Mike Mignola
Well, he's certainly qualified. Room 30CDE

1:30-2:30 Comic Strip Reprints Revolution
This is moderated by me, which means I'm blowing off all the company reps to ask 20 questions of Leonard Starr. Seriously, this is a hardcore information panel, and I invite you to swing by. Did I mention Leonard Starr will be there? Room 3

2:00-3:00 IDW: Darwyn Cooke
Cooke's always funny. He certainly has a fine, fine book out on which to focus this time out. Room 4

2:00-3:00 A Chalk Talk with Jack Katz
I loved the four or five phone conversations I've had with old-time mainstream artist turned indy-comics maverick Jack Katz, and I have to imagine this will be good, too. Room 30CDE

4:00-5:00 Kirkamania! The Robert Kirkman Panel
Note to panel description writer -- it's not a surprise guest appearance if it's announced in the program. Room 7AB

4:00-5:00 Graphic Novels
I'm the Snapper Carr here moderating a superheroes of comics line-up that includes Lewis Trondheim, Bryan Lee O'Malley, Seth, Gene Yang , Jason Lutes, and Derek Kirk Kim. It's like my rotisserie comics-making team, come to life! Please come, and I'll give you something free. Room 8

4:30-5:30 Underground Comix
I think it's important to pay attention to all the UG comix presentations at panels from now on, because we're clearly in that time period where some final arguments as to historical legacy are going to be made. Room 10

7:30-9:30 The Cartoonist: Jeff Smith, Bone and the Changing Face of Comics
I'll be over at the Eisners congratulating Jonah Weiland during this film, but I'm dying to see it. Room 5AB

*****



SATURDAY, JULY 25

10:00-11:00 Spotlight on Lewis Trondheim
A great, thoughtful, funny and forthright cartoonist. I can't believe they're going to make me get up early to see this panel, but five minutes in I won't care. Room 8

11:15-12:30 Quick Draw!
Probably the MVP panel presentation in the con's long history, a true crowd-pleaser. Room 6BCF

11:30-12:30 Spotlight on Sheldon Moldoff
Never seen Moldoff speak, and am looking forward to it. Room 10

12:00-1:00 Comic Strip Syndication Is Dead: Long Live Syndication!
Richard Thompson and Keith Knight are very thoughtful and forthright. I don't know Stephan Pastis. One of my five or six must-sees of the entire show.

1:00-2:00 Comics Arts Conference Session #11: The (Strange) State of Siegel and Shuster Scholarship
This panel's description talks about the participants sharing letters with us that will shatter myths, which sounds fascinating and a little naughty.

1:00-2:00 CBLDF Master Sessions: The Art of the Panel with Jeff Smith
Jeff Smith is not only one of the best cartoonists with a crow, he's one of the more thoughtful ones when it comes to the practical application of comics craft. This sounds like a fine marriage of the two.

2:00-3:00 Spotlight on Denis Kitchen
One of the more interesting careers in comics history.

3:00-4:00 Spotlight on Seth
A cartoonist and designer who has really raised his game the last few years, as a pal of mine I think accurately put it. Always a fun interviewee. Room 8

3:30-4:30 SLG Publishing
Dan Vado's a straight-talker, and his company has been taking some hits recently, so this could be a bit more interesting than the usual Coming Attractions panel. Room 10

4:00-5:00 Spotlight on Leonard Starr
Starr is one of those special guests where you realize that it's just a total treat that he's there and you'll get a chance to listen to him talk about his work. Room 2

4:00-5:00 Spotlight on Hope Larson
One of the more interesting young cartoonists out there, and one of the few cartoonists of that age given a rare solo spotlight session. Room 3

4:30-5:30 Mike Mignola: Hellboy
I want to do at least one Mignola panel over the weekend. I've never seen him speak about his work. Room 4

5:00-6:00 Comic-Con: El Cortez Memories
I love these nostalgic panels. Room 2

5:00-6:00 Graphic Novels: Sense of History Room
Enough fine cartoonists on this one -- Shanower, Lutes, Schweizer, Petersen, Sakai -- that I don't really care what they're talking about. Room 8

5:30-6:30 American Original: Birth of an Original
I don't really have much interest in the kind of books that will likely result from this Hollywoodcentric media property, but I'm interested enough in how it's set up that I'll think about attending their panel. Room 7AB

6:00-7:00 Harvey Kurtzman/MAD
C'mon, who doesn't love Kurtzman and MAD? Room 3

*****



SUNDAY, JULY 26

10:00-11:00 Comic-Con in the 2000s
While the earlier periods may provide more nostalgic interest, this panel on Comi-Con's most recent ten years has the potential to fascinate mostly because it won't have that nostalgic background on which to rest. Room 2

10:00-11:00 Kids' Graphic Novels
There are a couple of similar panels, but the line-up of Trondheim, Yang, Kim, Wight, Holm, Schweizer and Krosoczka have me favoring this one. Room 3

10:00-11:00 The Annual Jack Kirby Tribute Panel
One of the classic Comic-Con panels, now celebrating the 15th year of the great cartoonist's passing.

11:00-12:00 How-To Session: Charles Vess
I want to do at least one of the Vess panels this weekend, and this may be the winner schedule-wise. Room 18

11:30-12:30 Newspaper Editorial Cartoonists
This would be a nice line-up if it were only Daryl Cagle and Steven Breen; with Koterba, Ramirez, Moyer and McCoy, I think you're likely to have a quality conversation that covers all bases. It helps that there's plenty to talk about. Room 5AB

11:30-12:30 Spotlight on David Petersen
I know almost nothing about David Petersen, and couldn't pick him out in a line-up if my life depended on it. I do know that almost everyone that sees it tends to enjoy his work. Already successful, I think the potential upside with his stuff is huge and hope he gets every chance to win those audiences over. Room 8

12:30-1:30 25 Years of Usagi Yojimbo: Spotlight on Stan Sakai
God bless Stan Sakai, an American treature. Room 8

3:00-4:00 Comic-Con Talkback
I love this panel and try to attend every year, although it's super-nerdy. It's people so angry that they're spending their last few moments at the con yelling at some of the organizers. Room 5AB

*****



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