It's almost here -- Comic-Con International in San Diego! With the giant-size pop culture extravaganza roughly two weeks out from its kick off, we're now getting a look at what's in store for the thousands of professionals, attendees and enthusiasts when they descend upon the sprawling convention center. In addition to the creators, vendors and exhibitors, a metric ton of programming and panels will take place during the show -- and Comic-Con has revealed what's in store for Thursday, July 9.
Want to get writing tips from Kelly Sue DeConnick? Want to hear William Shatner read excepts from Captain Kirk's diary? Ever wondered how property law applies to R2-D2 and C-3PO? There are panels covering all of those topics on Thursday alone! Organizations from NASA to the WWE and Marvel have hours devoted to them, as do shows like "Sherlock," "Doctor Who" and "Miami Vice." There's a lot going on on Thursday, and here are just some of the panels that might just make you go, "Wait, they're at Comic-Con? Cool!"
Amazon: Hand of God
Thursday July 9, 2015 10:00am - 11:00am
Room 6A
Amazon will introduce the Comic-Con audience to Hand of God; a one-hour drama series that stars Golden Globe winner Ron Perlman in his first lead television role since Sons of Anarchy, as the honorable justice Pernell Harris. The series centers on Harris, a powerful and corrupt judge who comes apart at the seams in the aftermath of a family tragedy. Stricken by grief, and in the midst of a mental and emotional breakdown, he experiences what he believes to be a religious epiphany. Compelled by forces he can't understand, he sets out to get vengeance for the heinous crime that ultimately caused his only child to attempt suicide. Joining Perlman will be series creator Ben Watkins (Burn Notice), Garret Dilahunt (Justified), Andre Royo (Happyish), Alona Tal (Supernatural), Julian Morris (Pretty Little Liars), Emayatzy Corinealdi (Criminal Minds), and Elizabeth McLaughlin (Betrayal).
Grant Morrison and Graphic India: Myth, Magic, and Monsters
Thursday July 9, 2015 10:00am - 11:00am
Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
Legendary creator, Grant Morrison (Batman, All Star Superman, 18 Days, The Multiversity) discusses storytelling, global mythology, mysticism, the rise of Indian superheroes and his latest comic launch, 18 Days: The Mahabharata. Morrison will also announce his latest groundbreaking, mythic/sci-fi project with Graphic India for the first time.
Up, Up and Away: 75th Anniversary of the 1940 Premiere of the Superman Radio Series
Thursday July 9, 2015 10:00am - 11:00am
Room 29AB
Former DC Comics president Paul Levitz (World's Finest), Len Wein (creator of Swamp Thing and Wolverine), Mark Waid (The Flash, Captain America), and moderator Anthony Tollin (Smithsonian Superman on Radio) discuss the legendary radio program that introduced Jimmy Olsen, Perry White, Kryptonite, and the Superman-Batman team into the Superman mythos, and its importance in expanding the Man of Steel's popularity.
The Autobiography of James T. Kirk
Thursday July 9, 2015 10:45am - 11:45am
Ballroom 20
William Shatner (Star Trek: The Original Series) as James T. Kirk will read excerpts from The Autobiography of James T. Kirk. This in-world memoir chronicles the greatest Starfleet captain's life, including his boyhood on an Iowa farm, his youth spent on Tarsus IV, his time in Starfleet Academy, his meteoric rise through the ranks of Starfleet, and his illustrious career at the helm of the Enterprise. David Goodman (author, former Family Guy executive producer) moderates.
Nurturing Talent: What It Takes to Be a Decision Maker
Thursday July 9, 2015 11:00am - 12:00pm
Room 29AB
It takes a special kind of person to find talent in others and draw the best from them. Seeing the potential in comic creators and learning to nurture that talent is not an easy task, but a very important one. Moderator Mark Waid (Thrillbent) discusses with Eric Stephenson (Image Comics), Chip Kidd (Penguin Random House), Denis Kitchen (founder of CBLDF), Reginald Hudlin (producer, director), Jonboy (Spawn Resurrection), and Todd McFarlane (Spawn) how they balance the everyday decisions with big picture-planning.
Peanuts 65th Anniversary Panel
Thursday July 9, 2015 11:00am - 12:00pm
Room 5AB
In 2015, Charles M. Schulz's iconic Peanuts gang celebrates not only their 65th anniversary but also two years of the current volume of the Peanuts comic book at BOOM! Studios' all-ages imprint, KaBOOM! Come celebrate Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the gang's birthday with moderator Douglas Wolk (Reading Comics) and Peanuts contributors Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise), and Art Baltazar (Tiny Titans), along with Lex Fajardo, managing editor for Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates, and Cesar Gaellgos, archivist of the Schulz Museum.
Workshop with Kelly Sue DeConnick
Thursday July 9, 2015 11:00am - 1:00pm
Room 2
Wanna write comics? Don't know where to start? Eisner Award nominee for Best Writer Kelly Sue DeConnick (Bitch Planet, Pretty Deadly and Captain Marvel) takes you through a basic overview of comic scriptwriting including exercises, discussion of various scripting styles, and writing for artists. Bring your questions, bring your passion, and bring something to write on!
Street Fighter V
Thursday July 9, 2015 11:45am - 12:45pm
Room 6BCF
Moderator Francis Mao (Capcom) and a panel of Capcom's Street Fighter experts share the latest news on Street Fighter V, the exciting, new entry in the world's greatest fighting game franchise coming out console exclusive to the PS4 and on PC in 2016! Ultra-special guest Yoshinori Ono (executive producer, Street Fighter franchise) returns to SDCC for another of his trademark special appearances, and who knows what exclusives, surprises, and hijinks are in store? Learn how you can earn big money and everlasting fame by competing in the Capcom Pro Tour, culminating in the Capcom Cup Finals later this year. Plus, get a first look at all the must-have Street Fighter and SFV-licensed products and promotions in store for the rest of the year! A must-see for any video game fighting fan. Hadoken!
Comics for Impact: STEM Education
Thursday July 9, 2015 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Shiley Special Events, San Diego Central Library
Comics can be a powerful tool for teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), but they require collaboration between comic creators, scientists, and educators. The panel featuring Jorge Cham (PhD Comics), Dwayne Godwin (neuroscientist and professor, Wake Forest School of Medicine), Rebecca Thompsen (author , Spectra: The Original Laser Superhero), and Alan Gershenfeld (president, E-Line Media) discuss process and lessons learned from "serious games" to create a vibrant community of interest. Moderated by Russell Shilling (U.S. Dept of Education, former DARPA pm).
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2
Thursday July 9, 2015 12:00pm - 1:15pm
Hall H
Lionsgate presents an exclusive first look at one of the studio's highly anticipated films coming to theaters this fall. Get a sneak peek into the powerful final chapter of the epic The Hunger Games film franchise. Attendees will be shown exclusive, never-before-seen footage from Mockingjay: Part 2 and treated to a cast and filmmaker Q&A session revealing details on the big-screen finale.
Spotlight on Jim Lee
Thursday July 9, 2015 12:45pm - 1:45pm
Room 6DE
"What kind of pencil do you use?" Find out the answer to that ever-popular question and more as Comic-Con special guest and DC Entertainment co-publisher Jim Lee (Superman Unchained, Justice League, Batman) sketches live on stage and answers your life-long comic book questions in this fun and interactive panel.
Level-Up Your Style with Geek Fashion
Thursday July 9, 2015 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Room 14A
Geek Fashion saw unprecedented growth in the past year, and with more choices comes more opportunities to make these clothes fit your own unique geek. This will be a hands-on panel that will talk about how to express your own unique style with geek clothing and accessories, classic layering pieces, hair/makeup, nails, and more. The panel will also highlight their favorite designers, retailers, and trends and discuss where they would all like to see geek fashion go in the future. Join moderator Dina Kampmeyer (fashion judge, The Geekie Awards) and panelists Amy Ratcliffe (Nerdist, Star Wars online), Anastasia Washington (Fashionably Nerdy), Josephine Moss (Geekosphere community analyst), Katie Elspeth (theatre costumer), Stephanie Bray (Subtle Fashion Geek), and Stephanie Pressman (Fashionably Nerdy) and learn how to shop and style smart, the geek way.
Mattel and WWE: NXT Superstar of Tomorrow
Thursday July 9, 2015 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Room 5AB
Once again, Mattel and WWE have teamed up to bring you an action-packed SDCC panel. WWE & NXT Superstars and Mattel personnel will discuss the tremendous growth in popularity of NXT, weigh in on the next generation of WWE Superstars, and give exclusive sneak peeks of Mattel's upcoming WWE figure releases. Incredible guest appearances by William Regal, Seth Rollins, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, Charlotte, and additional special guests.
Doctor Who: BBC America's Official Panel
Thursday July 9, 2015 2:15pm - 3:15pm
Hall H
Following his record-breaking first season as the Doctor, Peter Capaldi will make his first ever appearance at Comic-Con with stars Jenna Coleman (Clara Oswald) and Michelle Gomez (Missy), lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat, and executive producer Brian Minchin. Doctor Who follows the adventures of the Doctor, the time traveler who will continue to journey through all of space and time in epic adventures in the new season premiering this fall. Capaldi's first season delivered BBC America its highest rated season ever and is available now on all digital platforms.
Building The Holodeck
Thursday July 9, 2015 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Room 32AB
From the X-Men's "danger room" training facility, to the Star Trek holodeck, immersive simulations have been central to comic book, TV, and film storytelling. Unlike other depictions of far-off inventions, the year 2015 has brought us surprisingly close to possessing what has been thought of as a 24th century technology. Jason Cruzan (director, Advanced Exploration Systems Division at NASA), Nonny de la Peña (CEO of Emblematic Group), Philip Lelyveld (Consumer 3D Experience Lab at USC School of Cinematic Art's Entertainment Technology Center), Jamie Kelly (founder, VRCade), and moderator Steve Broback (cofounder, Dent the Future) talk about how recent developments like the Oculus Rift headsets enable the holodecks of today. They'll also show some of the exciting virtual experiences under development. An actual holodeck-style rendering of the Enterprise (Star Trek: Next Generation) bridge will be presented.
Nobody's Damsel: Writing for Tomorrow's Women
Thursday July 9, 2015 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Room 25ABC
Top producers, writers, actors, and creative executives discuss the complexities of modern female characters in the media and how aspiring writers and producers can create characters that are relatable to the upcoming generation of women. The panel will be moderated by D'nae Kingsley (head of integrated strategy at top entertainment marketing agency Trailer Park).
Powers: Ordinary Heroes, Extraordinary Possibilites: A Deeper Look at the Hit PlayStation Series
Thursday July 9, 2015 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Room 6A
The executive producers/co-creators of the Powers comics, Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming, are joined by showrunner Remi Aubuchon and cast members Susan Heyward (Det. Pilgrim), and Olesya Rulin (Calista) for a sneak peek at the upcoming Season 1 Blu-ray, and what's to come in the second season of PlayStation's hit original series.
Robert Kirkman's Skybound Entertainment Celebrates Five Years
Thursday July 9, 2015 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Room 6BCF
Join panel host Geoff Keighley for a discussion with Skybound Entertainment's Robert Kirkman and David Alpert (The Walking Dead franchise, Outcast) as they celebrate the company's fifth anniversary. Kirkman and Alpert will explore Skybound's various projects that include properties such as The Walking Dead, Outcast, and the company's first feature film, AIR, starring Norman Reedus and Djimon Hounsou. The producing duo will also dive into the bustling world of Skybound Interactive, discussing the critically acclaimed Telltale's The Walking Dead with Telltale CEO Kevin Bruner, and Skybound's upcoming first-person-shooter game, Overkill's The Walking Dead, produced by Starbreeze Studios. Expect exclusive news, special guests, and a first look at the full-length feature trailer for AIR.
Sherlock
Thursday July 9, 2015 3:45pm - 4:45pm
Ballroom 20
Steven Moffat (co-creator, executive producer, and writer), Sue Vertue (executive producer) and Rupert Graves (actor, DI Greg Lestrade) discuss the latest adventures of Sherlock Holmes and his long-suffering faithful friend, Dr. John Watson. Sherlock will return to PBS Masterpiece in a forthcoming special.
Con Man: The Fan Revolt 13 Years in the Making
Thursday July 9, 2015 3:45pm - 5:15pm
Hall H
Alan Tudyk's dream show based on his global convention experiences seemed impossible with the compromises Hollywood demanded. Instead he went directly to fans; over 46,000 responded, with a recordbreaking $3.2 million raised on Indiegogo, and Con Man was officially born. With filming wrapped and a Vimeo on-demand release on the horizon, Alan Tudyk, Nathan Fillion, P. J. Haarsma, Mindy Sterling, and others talk Con Man and the crazy ride that made his dream project a reality.
Comedy Central's Moonbeam City
Thursday July 9, 2015 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
Prepare to be dazzled; Moonbeam City is back in San Diego with an exclusive Comic-Con sneak peek. Moonbeam City is an absurdist, retro-futuristic '80s cop extravaganza. The series follows Dazzle Novak (voiced by Rob Lowe), a handsome, idiotic detective who commits more crimes than most criminals. His sexy, tyrannical chief Pizzaz Miller (Elizabeth Banks) won't get off his back. His obnoxious rival Rad Cunningham (Will Forte) will stop at nothing to destroy him. Dazzle must team up with the city's only competent police officer, Chrysalis Tate (Kate Mara), to protect their beloved, neon-soaked metropolis. Rob Lowe, Moonbeam City creator Scott Gairdner, and executive producer Tommy Blacha reveal details on Comedy Central's next big animated series.
Marvel: Uncanny Inhumans
Thursday July 9, 2015 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Room 6DE
Terrigenesis is upon us! Editor-in-chief Axel Alonso and writer Charles Soule give the 4-1-1 on Marvel's Royal Family and the first superhuman race. What does the future have in store for Black Bolt, Queen Medusa, Lockjaw, and the rest of the Inhuman race? Find out here!
NASA: Turning Science Fiction into Science Fact
Thursday July 9, 2015 4:45pm - 5:45pm
Room 6BCF
Experience how NASA is turning our sci-fi imaginations into reality in a celebrity moderated discussion featuring NASA scientists and engineers, NASA's latest visual delicacies, and a downlink from space; featuring the crew of the International Space Station.
First Look at Crackle's SuperMansion
Thursday July 9, 2015 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
Calling all Stoopid Buddy Stoodios fans! Be the first to catch a sneak peek at the new stop-motion animated comedy series SuperMansion. The cast, voiced by Emmy-award winner Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Seth Green (Family Guy), Jillian Bell (Workaholics), Matthew Senreich, and Zeb Wells (Robot Chicken) discuss the world of superheroes and more. Special surprises may occur.
Sense8
Thursday July 9, 2015 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Room 5AB
On June 5 Netflix debuted one of their most controversial and provocative new series, Sense8. Be on hand for the very first panel discussion of this new series, hosted by co-creator/writer and executive producer J. Michael Straczynski.
Spotlight on Jhonen Vasquez
Thursday July 9, 2015 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Room 32AB
Twenty years ago Johnny the Homicidal Maniac was a comic that barely caused a ripple on the comics landscape. While only seven issues of the series exist, it is now, two decades later, an influential series that spawned many imitators while becoming one of the bestselling creator-owned comics of all time. Jhonen Vasquez looks back on Johnny, and all of his work.
The Legion and Paul Levitz
Thursday July 9, 2015 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Room 9
He now writes the new Dr. Fate, but as a writer Paul Levitz is perhaps best known for his three separate long runs writing the Legion of Super-Heroes. Join Paul as Tom Galloway interviews him about his work on, and experiences with, the Legion.
Capturing Teen Angst in Comics
Thursday July 9, 2015 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Room 8
These four cartoonists have written about a universal, dark side of adolescence: teen angst. Peter Bagge (Hate), Gilbert Hernandez (Bumperhead), Jillian Tamaki ( Supermutant Magic Academy), and Raina Telgemeier (Drama) talk about how they channel teenage frustrations and apathy in their comics and what this does to their characters, to their storyline, and to their page layouts. Michael Cavna ( The Washington Post) moderates.
Miami Vice 30th Anniversary Retrospective
Thursday July 9, 2015 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Room 29AB
Talent from the original smash hit NBC primetime series including Michael Talbott (Det. Stanley Switek), Olivia Brown (Det. Switek), Edward James Olmos (Lt. Castillo), writer Anthony Yerkovich (creator of Miami Vice), writer Jonathan London (Miami Vice graphic novel) will join Lion Forge Comics senior editor Shannon Eric Denton to discuss the enduring legacy of the show that spawned decades of neo-noir cop shows to follow, and the music, the colors, the alligators, and the action that made it such a hit.
World Premiere of Scooby-Doo! and KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery!
Thursday July 9, 2015 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Hall H
Starchild, Demon, Catman, and Spaceman join everyone's favorite teen sleuths in an explosive, new, must-see musical adventure no KISS Army member will want to miss. In Scooby-Doo! and KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery, the Mystery Inc. gang travels to KISS World, an amusement park dedicated to the band, for a special Halloween concert headlined by the legendary rock group. Six KISS songs are featured alongside an original new song performed by the band written just for the film. Be part of the first audience to see this landmark merging of pop culture icons, then stay for a panel featuring KISS legends Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, NCIS star Pauley Perrette, and longtime Shaggy and Daphne voices Matthew Lillard (The Bridge) and Grey Griffin (Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated). Director Tony Cervone (Tom and Jerry: The Lost Dragon) and writer Kevin Shinick (Mad, Robot Chicken) will also be in attendance. Moderated by director/actor/writer Kevin Smith, who also has a role in the film. Scooby-Doo and KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery arrives from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, and Digital HD on July 21.
Tattooine Law: Legal Lessons from Star Wars
Thursday July 9, 2015 7:30pm - 8:30pm
Room 26AB
Federal Magistrate JudgePaul Grewal, Gerry O'Brien (NY political consultant and novelist), Jessica Mederson, Esq. (The Legal Geeks), and Joshua Gilliland, Esq. (The Legal Geeks) explore the legal system from a galaxy far, far away. The panel will jump to light speed to explore the many legal lessons on Tatooine, including the intricacies of property ownership of R2-D2 and C-3PO; employee and independent contractor safety issues in Jabba's Palace; and Han's legal justification to shoot first.
Cartoon Network: Adventure Time Royal Ball
Thursday July 9, 2015 8:00pm - 9:00pm
Room 7AB
It's the 2nd annual Adventure Time Royal Ball! Last year Cartoon Network filled a ballroom with the most righteous of warriors and the fairest in all the Land of Ooo, and this year they're returning with more fan-favorites, another first-look Adventure Time episode, and a very special world premiere screening of the newest Cartoon Network hit series We Bare Bears! Don't forget to dress up in your most inspired outfit for the royal procession and your chance to win righteous prizes. Now come one, come all for a night of mathematical magic!