Going to a convention can be a very unusual experience. There's so much one can do! Panels, shopping, guests, and more. The panels to this years Comic Con International is a veritable who's who of the comic book world. There are so many to choose from, how to you pick just one? Here are my picks for the panels and events that I think are good bets for comic fans. These are just my suggestions. For a full list of events, go to the Comic-Con website. The Comics Reporter has a nice breakdown of just the comics related events as well. What follows are the events, with the text from the CCI website, with commentary by me.
11. CBLDF Live Art Jam
Sunday 10:30-12:00 Room 5AB"Did you ever want to look over a legendary artist's shoulder while he or she created a great piece of art, then add it to your collection? Well, here's your chance to do just that and support a great cause! See Jim Lee (Batman), Matt Wagner (Grendel), Jeff Smith (Bone), and Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise)...(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 1831, or at the start of the event.)"
Commentary: If you haven't seen one of these, give yourself a treat and go. It is a lot of fun and the art is all auctioned off right there. How else are you going to get your hands on a Lee, Wagner, Smith, or Moore original?
12. Impact University: How to Write and Draw Comics and Graphic Novels
Friday 12:00-1:30 Room 30CDE"Some of the biggest names in comics will teach you what it takes to make it in comics and graphic novels. This year's star-studded faculty panel includes Peter David (She-Hulk, X-Factor), Orson Scott Card (Ender's Game, Wyrms), David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Tom Nguyen (Batman, Justice League Elite) and Comics Buyer's Guide senior editor Maggie Thompson. Find out the best way to submit your work, learn the dos and don'ts of the business, and participate in a Q&A session."
Commentary: We all have ideas for comics, and this panel seems to have a lot going for it. If you are interested in becoming a comic legend, check it out.
13. So You Want to Be a Comic Book Retailer
Friday 4:30-6:00 Room 2"You do, don't you? You have that dream of opening a great comic book specialty store, right? Then this is the one panel at this year's Comic-Con you can't afford to miss! This is also the only retailer-specific panel open to the general public at Comic-Con! The panel is moderated by ComicsPRO President Joe Field from Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff (Concord CA) and includes retailers Joe Ferrara from Atlantis Fantasyworld (Santa Cruz CA), Nancy Trempe from Comics Unlimited (Westminster CA), and Derrick Taylor from Comic Oasis..."
Commentary: I think just about every comic reader has thought about opening a comic shop one time or another. This could give good insight into what it would truly be like.
14. Meet the Press: Writing About Comics
Saturday 10:30-11:30 Room 3"From blogs to books to magazines, the public conversation about comics is livelier -- and faster -- than it's ever been. Heidi MacDonald (Publishers Weekly), Nisha Gopalan (Entertainment Weekly), Tom Spurgeon (The Comics Reporter), Tom McLean (Variety), Graeme McMillan (The Savage Critics), and moderator Douglas Wolk (Reading Comics) discuss the state of the art of comics criticism."
Commentary: I'm probably a little biased with this one, but these are the people that we read every day about comics. It should be an intellectual delight.
15. CBLDF Benefit Auction
Saturday 7:00-9:00 Room 8"This is the big one! The CBLDF holds its biggest auction of the year at Comic-Con, and this year brings some amazing one-of-a-kind items to raise money for free speech! Primo items include original art by Jim Lee, Jeff Smith, Terry Moore, Charlie Adlard, Norm Breyfogle, Rich Buckler, Brian Stelfreeze, and more!...Join auctioneer Chuck Rozanski and the CBLDF crew to support the Fund's current casework in Georgia, and help them shore up reserves to protect comics' First Amendment rights... You will need a bidder number for this auction, which can be obtained, along with a full auction list, at the CBLDF booth #1831 or at the start of the event."
Commentary: Great swag for a great cause? What's not to like?
