Baltimore Comic-Con 2014 takes place this upcoming weekend and it’s the first year that the convention lasts three full days. FTS is ready to bring you the latest coverage on the event. Take a look at what you can expect to see this weekend and tell FTS what you want us to check out!
Here is the official Baltimore Comic-Con 2014 Panel Schedule:
2:00-3:00 – Cosplay & Photography Etiquitte
Ever wonder how to navigate a crowd in that bulky costume, or the best way to interact with and take photos of costumed fans? Cosplayers Lucid, Greyloch, and Han Pan are here to help you learn tips, tricks, and general rules for wearing that awesome costume and interacting with cosplayers!
3:00-4:00 – Let’s Talk Comics with RAYTIMandROB!
Please join RAYTIMandROB as the CRAZY comic book guys go over how to create a comic from start to finish and everything in between! From thought to finished product and marketing and self-publishing. From creative to business to how to break into the great industry of comics, come talk shop with RAYTIMandROB!
4:00-5:00 – Cosplay 101
So, what the heck IS cosplay? How do you do it? This crash course on cosplay from cosplayers Lucid, Han Pan, and SunsetDragon will give you tons of information on what cosplay is, as well as provide you with some tools to help guide you through your own costume creations!
5:00-6:00 – CBLDF: History of the Comics Code
60 years ago, comics were put on trial in a nationally televised Senate subcommittee hearing that had shattering repercussions for this great American artform. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund presents the shocking history of moral panic that led to this historic hearing and the birth of the Comics Code Authority, which regulated the medium’s content for more than 50 years. CBLDF executive director Charles Brownstein tells the tale at this CBLDF presentation.
2:00-3:00 – Hermes Press: A Celebration of The Phantom – The First Masked Hero
Be the first to see the premiere, concept, and design of Peter David and Sal Velluto’s New Phantom comic book series, together with a multimedia presentation about the history of the The Ghost Who Walks. Sal Velluto (The Phantom, Flash, Justice League Task Force, Black Panther), artist for the new series, will discuss the direction and philosophy of the book and show off artwork from issue #1. Join Velluto, Daniel Herman (Publisher, Hermes Press), Pete Klaus (noted Phantom historian), and some surprise guests (who have written and illustrated the Phantom over the years), all of whom will discuss the history of the character, the classic strip and comic books, and the all-new version (which brings back the classic Phantom) of this iconic character, along with a Q and A session! A free poster will be given out at the panel showing off Velluto’s variant cover for issue #1.
3:00-4:00 – Sexy or Sexualized
When does the depiction of a heroine stop being sexy and become sexualized? Where is the line? Join moderator Paul Levitz and guests Marguerite Bennett (Batgirl), Christina Blanch (The Damnation of Charlie Wormwood), Dave Gibbons (The Secret Service), Adam Hughes (Fairest), Gail Simone (Red Sonja), and Thom Zahler (Love & Capes) as they look at this difficult subject.
4:00-5:00 – Walter & Louise Simonson Spotlight
Walter and Louise Simonson have chronicled the adventures of heroes including Thor, Power Pack, Manhunter, Superman, X-Factor, Wolverine, and many more. Their adventures in comics continue with Walter on Ragnarok and Louise on Super Secret Crisis War! Join them for a lively look at their careers in comics.
5:00-6:00 – Favorite Comics
Every comics fan has favorite comics, and so do the pros! Join moderator Bob Greenberger along with Alan Davis (Savage Hulk), Denis Kitchen (Kitchen Sink Press), Ron Marz (Witchblade), Allison Sohn (Red Sonja), and Jim Starlin (Thanos: The Infinity Revelation) as they look at the comics they love and have had an impact on them.
2:00-3:00 – Thrillbent Comics
Take a look inside the digital world of Thrillbent! Creators Christina Blanch, Barry Kitson, Ron Randall, and Mark Waid discuss their work at Thrillbent and where they’re headed in the future.
3:00-4:00 – Teaching with Comics
A panel discussion with three graphic illustrators and writers exploring the benefits of teaching with comics. The panelists have published books about history, culture, and nature, all of which have been successful teaching and learning tools in the classroom and in libraries.
4:00-5:00 – Dan Parent Spotlight
Dan Parent is the popular Archie Comics talent behind the Love Showdown story and is the creator of Kevin Keller, Archie’s first openly gay character. Join moderator Mark Waid for a look at this Harvey Awards-nominated creator.
5:00-6:00 – Social Issues Through Comic Books SuperMOOC with Christina Blanch
Social Issues have many dimensions and can sometimes be difficult to understand. By using popular culture, in this case comic books, to help understand these issues, we can see how the information can be presented in both negative and positive ways. This presentation will unveil the adventures of exploring social issues using comics, the design of the course, the interview process with the comic creators, and how the Social Issues Through Comic Books class fared.
5:00-6:00 – Greg Capullo Spotlight
He’s worked on X-Force, Spawn, The Creech, Batman, and more. His art has graced album covers. He is Greg Capullo and he’s one of the most popular artists in comics today. One look at his work and it’s easy to see why. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about Greg and his work.
11:00-12:00 – Comics by the Numbers
Over this past year, the comic landscape has changed as diversity has spread across the comic pages, as well as behind the scenes with the creators making them. Though a stereotype persists of the “comic reader,” the characters are reflecting the real diverse audience. Join bloggers Heidi MacDonald (The Beat) and Brett Schenker (Graphic Policy) as they discuss the comic audience, presenting hard data showing that comic readership is more diverse than ever and there’s more going on than grabbing headlines when decisions are made. If you’ve ever wondered about who the comic fans are, or are looking at how to market your own comics, this is the panel for you!
5:00-6:00 – Prop Your Cosplay
Props boost your cosplay stats to over 9000, but how do you get or make them?? Come to this panel presented by cosplayers Han Pan and Phaleure Cosplay to learn, and open your mind to the possibilities of everything around you as a cosplay prop.
11:00-12:00 – Cosplay on a Budget
You know you want to cosplay, but how can you do it without draining your wallet dry? Lucid and Han Pan will guide you through the hallows of cosplay creation while keeping your bottom dollar in mind.
12:00-1:00 – The Making of The Fifth Beatle: The Beatles in Comics
One of the hottest graphic novels of 2013, Harvey Award-nominated The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story faced a long and winding decade of development… and almost didn’t happen at all. Join us as The Fifth Beatle writer and producer Vivek J. Tiwary (Green Day’s American Idiot) breaks down the decade of work that went into researching and making The Fifth Beatle graphic novel– from convincing pro artists Andrew C. Robinson and Kyle Baker to paint the book, to eventually securing the approval of The Beatles (Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono, and Olivia Harrison) — who have always tightly guarded the band’s longtime legacy in comics, both official and unofficial.
1:00-2:00 – Valiant Comics: Armor Hunters, The Valiant, And Beyond!
Hot off the heels of 16 nominations at this year’s Harvey Awards – including six for the industry’s most nominated series, Quantum and Woody – find out why Valiant is one of the most talked-about publishers in comics today! Join an all-star panel of Valiant creators and staff right here for an in-depth discussion about the future of X-O Manowar, Unity, Rai, Harbinger, Archer & Armstrong, and more with writer James Asmus (Quantum and Woody, The Delinquents), writer Ray Fawkes (Archer & Armstrong: The One Percent), writer Vivek J. Tiwary (Harbinger #25), colorist Brian Reber (Unity, Eternal Warrior: Days of Steel), colorist Laura Martin (Armor Hunters), Editor-in-Chief Warren Simons, Chief Creative Officer Dinesh Shamdasani, and more – only at Baltimore Comic-Con! Plus: get your first look inside The Valiant – the new self-contained mini-series event coming this winter from superstar creators Jeff Lemire, Matt Kindt, and Paolo Rivera!
2:00-3:00 – Pros: Spawns of Fanzines & Fandom
Comic fanzines of the 60′s and 70′s were often a training ground for talented people who would soon develop into professionals in the comic industry. Join us for a lively discussion by several comics pros who came from the world of fandom, and how early participation in fanzines helped them further their careers. Panelists include Paul Levitz (former Publisher & President of DC), Mark Wheatley (Frankenstein Mobster/Breathtaker), Walt Simonson (Thor/Star Slammers), Marc Hempel (Sandman/Tug & Buster) and Rickey Shanklin (Blood of the Innocent/Blood of Dracula), with fanzine historian Aaron Caplan as Moderator.
3:00-4:00 – Cosplay Intel 101
This Q&A forum will help cosplayers with tips on improving their costume, prop making, how to stay safe, and tips to improve your photography. This is open for all regardless if you are a novice or an expert.
4:00-5:00 – Gender and Comic Books
What is gender? Can we see it in comic books? Does gender make a difference in the comic book industry? If you have been paying attention, you know it is making a difference – in both good and bad ways. Learn how we can see gender in comics and how it influences us in how we think of ourselves and others. See the history of the Bechdel test, the more recent sexy lamp test, and the pros and cons of both. Join moderator and comic scholar Christy Blanch, as we explore masculinity, femininity, androgyny, and how ideas of gender have influenced the comics world.
5:00-6:00 – What Does an Editor Do?
Something comics fans always wonder about is what an editor does. And with all the changes in comics over the years, how has the editor’s job changed? Find out here as former DC editors Paul Levitz and Bob Greenberger, editor and Senior Vice President of Publishing of Marvel Comics Tom Brevoort, editor and Art Director at DC Comics Mark Chiarello, BOOM! Studios Editor-In-Chief Matt Gagnon, and Valiant’s Editor-In-Chief Warren Simons talk editing!
11:00-12:00 – CBLDF: Tales from The Code – True Stories of Censorship
For more than 50 years, American comic books were subject to the censorship of the Comics Code, a system born from a time when comics were burned in the streets and blamed for all of society’s ills. Though the Code is gone, its influence remains. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund gathers Denny O’Neil, Jim Starlin, and other top storytellers who worked under the Code’s strictures to tell the tales of how its censorship touched their creative visions.
12:00-1:00 – Dave Gibbons Spotlight
Rogue Trooper. Doctor Who. Green Lantern. Superman. Watchmen. Give Me Liberty. The Secret Service. Dave Gibbons’ career in comics has encompassed all these series and more. Join moderator Barry Kitson for a look at the outstanding work of Dave Gibbons.
1:00-2:00 – Matt Wagner Spotlight
Matt Wagner is the creator of Mage and Grendel and has worked with such characters as Batman, Zorro, The Shadow, Sandman, and many others. We celebrate the release of Grendel vs. The Shadow with this look back at his career with his son and colorist, Brennan Wagner, and Big Planet Comics’ Greg Bennett.
2:00-3:00 – Dynamite 10th Anniversary Celebration
Join Dynamite CEO and Publisher Nick Barrucci as he takes a look back at the explosive rise of Dynamite Entertainment alongside comic book super stars Garth Ennis, Gail Simone, Mark Waid, Frank Tieri, Duane Swierczynski, and Christina Blanch! A panel almost ten years in the making that you don’t want to miss!
3:00-4:00 – We Are BOOM!
Last year was a banner year for us here at BOOM! Studios, highlighted by the release of our first feature film, 2 Guns (starring Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg) and a new first-look deal with 20th Century Fox. Archaia joined us as a new imprint, we expanded the all-ages KaBOOM! lineup, and we launched our newest imprint, BOOM! Box. Join BOOM! Studios Founder and CEO Ross Richie, Editor-In-Chief Matt Gagnon, and President of Publishing and Marketing Filip Sablik, along with George Pérez (Sirens), James Tynion IV (The Woods, Memetic), Marguerite Bennett (Sleepy Hollow, Butterfly), and Mark Waid (Irredeemable, Incorruptible) as we share our mission to create the future of comics…now. We are BOOM! Come Innovate With Us.
4:00-6:00 – The Last Fables Panel
The Last Fables Panel will feature Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, Andrew Pepoy, Steve Leialoha, Todd Klein, and more of the extended Fables family for a whole TWO HOURS. Join them as they discuss the past, present, and future of the series.
11:00-12:00 – Archie Forever: Life, Afterlife and Beyond
Archie is everywhere! Find out what’s going on with Archie and the gang from an all-star cast of guests, including Francesco Francavilla (artist of Afterlife with Archie), Dan Parent (writer/artist, Kevin Keller), Michael Uslan (writer, “Farewell, Betty & Veronica”), Andrew Pepoy (writer/artist, Katy Keene), and Mark Waid and Dean Haspiel (creative team for The Fox).
12:00-1:00 – This is Visionary: Headlocked, Deadlands, and More!
Join Visionary Comics’ creators and celebrity guests as they reveal all the up-and-coming plans of the growing studio and digital publisher! Headlocked creator Mike Kingston and Jerry “The King” Lawler will get you up to date on Headlocked, and CCO C. Edward Sellner will share the latest on Deadlands, comics, novels and the TV series in development! Plus, new creators, new series and new initiatives, including an exclusive BCC announcement!
1:00-2:00 – Creating Your Own Characters
Writers and artists share the pros, cons, and challenges of developing original characters in the comics world. Featuring: Christina Blanch (Damnation of Charlie Wormwood), Amy Chu (Girls Night Out), Francesco Francavilla (Black Beetle), Dean Haspiel (Red Hook), Jamal Igle (Molly Danger), and Sarah Vaughn (Alex + Ada).
2:00-3:00 – Paul Pope Spotlight
Paul Pope’s comics are unique. You’ve never seen anything quite like Battling Boy, 100%, THB, Batman: Year 100, or any of his other many works, but once you try one, you’ll want more. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about Pope and the fantastic comics he creates.
3:00-4:00 – Spotlight on Gail Simone
Join Dynamite Entertainment Associate Editor Molly Mahan in conversation with Red Sonja scribe Gail Simone as they take a look at Gail’s work on the She-Devil with a Sword, and her upcoming Women of Dynamite mini-series. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind chance to meet Gail at this year’s Baltimore Comic-Con.
4:00-5:00 – Fred Hembeck Spotlight
Fred Hembeck is one of the best known cartoonists working today. His characters with curlicue elbows and knees are instantly recognizable. He’s destroyed the Marvel Universe, roasted the Fantastic Four, and his Dateline:@#$% strip is a favorite of many longtime fans. Bob Greenberger moderates this look inside the mind of Fred Hembeck.
5:00-6:00 – Spotlight on Garth Ennis
Dynamite Entertainment’s Senior Editor Joe Rybandt sits down with legendary comic creator Garth Ennis for a one-on-one retrospective on Garth’s body of work. From The Boys to Red Team, Garth Ennis has delivered some of his best comics to-date through Dynamite Entertainment. Come to this panel for a unique look at the master storyteller.
12:00-1:00 – Marvel Universe Panel
What’s new in the Marvel Universe? What’s happening with your favorite characters? Find out here as creators Charles Soule, Jim Starlin, Mark Waid, Mark Morales, and Marvel’s Senior Vice President of Publishing Tom Brevoort, take a look at the Marvel Universe!
1:00-2:00 – Peanuts and Beyond: The Other Side of Charles M. Schulz
In this presentation by Karen Johnson (Director, Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center), discover unpublished artworks by Peanuts creator, Charles M. Schulz. Drawn from the collection of his namesake museum in Santa Rosa, California, this discussion will be highlighted by his childhood art, travel sketches, drawings for friends, and conceptual sketches of Snoopy and the Gang. BOOM! Studios’ Editor-In-Chief Matt Gagnon will look at Schulz’s legacy as seen in KaBOOM!’s Peanuts ongoing comic book series.
2:00-3:00 – Spotlight on Miracleman
Who would have guessed that a revival of a character from the 1950s would become one of the 1980s’ most popular and influential comics? And yet, that is exactly what happened with the revival of Marvelman/Miracleman. Join Marvel’s Senior Vice President of Publishing Tom Brevoort, Alan Davis, John Totleben, Rick Veitch, and Mark Buckingham as they take a look at this groundbreaking series.
3:00-4:00 – DC Comics
Moderator(s): Bobbie Chase / Talent: Greg Capullo, Cliff Chiang, David Finch, Dan Jurgens, Aaron Kuder, Paul Levitz, Joe Prado, Ivan Reis, Peter Tomasi.
The heroes of DC Comics – The New 52 return to Baltimore for a star-studded, action-packed panel with all-star talent! Join the creators of DC Comics’ most powerful and influential heroes and heroines for a sneak peek of what is to come next in the DC Universe!
4:00-5:00 – Frank Cho Live Drawing Demonstration
Watch and be amazed as Frank Cho creates a drawing masterpiece right before your eyes. The audience will suggest one character, one action, and one setting and Frank Cho will draw it in one hour on stage. The original art created by Frank Cho will be raffled off at the end of the drawing demonstration. Raffle tickets will be available at Frank Cho’s booth.
11:00-1:00 – Marvel Boot Camp
To benefit the Hero Initiative, this special ticketed seminar takes you behind the scenes into the inner philosophy of Marvel Publishing, as SVP-Executive Editor Tom Brevoort shares with the public the training indoctrination lecture he gives to the Marvel editorial staff. Revealing how Marvel editors think about the business of storytelling as well as inside secrets and tricks-of-the-trade, this lecture will be followed up, as time permits, with an open Q&A in which attendees can probe Tom’s mind on any and all questions relating to finding a career in the industry. And the proceeds all go to an excellent cause! Tickets will be available throughout the show at the Hero Initiative Booth #1601 for $10.
1:00-2:00 – Portfolio Review
What exactly is a portfolio review? What should you prepare? Find out here as Dave Bullock, Craig Rousseau, and Chris Kemple talk about portfolio reviews. Plus, the panelists will do as many portfolio reviews as time allows.
11:00-12:00 – Comic Book Diner: Building Worlds in Comic Storytelling
The Comic Book Diner booth mates John Gallagher, Jamar Nicholas, and Mark Mariano are joined by David Petersen of Mouse Guard. Together, they’ll discuss how world-building deepens the story and enriches your comic’s setting.
12:00-1:00 – Kickstarting Your Comic Dreams
Thinking of doing a Kickstarter to fund your project? Here’s your chance to get insights on running a successful campaign from beginning to end. Learn the critical things you need to do before, during, and after running your Kickstarter, and tips and tricks to not only improve your odds of success, but also making your life easier in the process!
2:00-3:00 – Mort Weisinger and the Witch of Metropolis
Appearing in Action Comics #1, along with Superman, was reporter Lois Lane. She and the Man of Steel have appeared in thousands of comics since their debut in 1938. In almost all of her media incarnations, she is known for being a determined reporter and Superman’s main love interest. However, her personality has varied radically over time, depending on her writers and the cultural mores of the era which were changing dramatically during the 1950s and 1960s. At a time in pop culture when the Superman comic books reached millions, editor Mort Weisinger, who oversaw the adventures of the Superman books, imprinted his moral and social views on children worldwide. Weisinger, known to dictate most of the stories and all of the themes to his writers for nearly twenty years, used Lois Lane as a vehicle to express his own often-disturbing personal anxieties and fears about women, love, and the budding feminist movement. In this presentation, we will examine Weisinger’s personal life and the culture of his time to discuss how these attitudes were expressed in the comic books, artifacts which can be used to study gender both diachronically and synchronically.
11:00-12:00 – A Conversation with Paul Levitz
Paul Levitz is a comic fan (The Comic Reader), editor (Batman), executive (decades at DC, ending as President & Publisher), historian (75 Years of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Mythmaking), educator (The American Graphic Novel at Columbia University), and serves on the boards of BOOM! Studios and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Join Mark Waid for a lively Q&A about his multi-faceted career.
12:00-1:00 – Funny Animals Panel
Call them funny animals. Call them anthropomorphic. Either way, they’re humanized animals and they’ve been popular in stories for centuries for young and old alike. Creators Mark Buckingham (Fables), Steve Conley (Bloop), Steve Leialoha (Howard the Duck, Fables), David Petersen (Mouse Guard), and Andy Runton (Owly) talk about their work with funny animals in comics.
1:00-2:00 – Dynamite Pulps!
The Shadow, Doc Savage, The Avenger, and The Green Hornet: iconic heroes just as explosive now as they were during the ’30s and ’40s. Join writers Mark Waid (Green Hornet) and Michael Uslan (Justice Inc.) for an exciting look at the new age of Pulps. Find out what secrets are store for these classic crime fighters as Dynamite continues to pull out all the stops, and keep an eye out for surprise guests!
2:00-3:00 – A Wolverine Celebration
This month, sees The Death of Wolverine. What better time to look back and celebrate this fan-favorite character? Join creators Herb Trimpe, Charles Soule, Joe Rubinstein, Frank Cho, and moderator Tom Brevoort as they look at Wolverine’s legacy.
11:00-12:00 – Creating Colorful And Meaningful Characters For Your Comics & Novels
This panel will focus on the creation of ethnically diverse characters for people who write and illustrate. Moderated by Eric Cooper.
12:00-1:00 – CBLDF: Protecting The Kids’ Right to Read
Kids have rights too! As more outstanding comics for younger readers are published each year, the number of readers flocking to them is growing. But so are the challenges, evidenced by Bone and Captain Underpants showing up on the Top 10 Most Banned & Challenged Books list of 2013. So, what do creators and educators do to balance respecting the intelligence of young readers and the concerns of parents and community members? How do we protect kids and their rights at the same time? Jimmy Gownley and Meryl Jaffe, author of CBLDF’s Raising A Reader: How Comics & Graphic Novels Can Help Your Kids Love to Read discuss in this panel moderated by CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein.
1:00-2:00 – Breaking In and Staying In the Business
Candid observations and advice from writers and artists at different stages in their career. Featuring: Marguerite Bennett (DC/Marvel/BOOM! Studios/IDW), Amy Chu (DC/Vertigo), Laura Martin (Marvel/DC), Louise Simonson (DC/Marvel), and Vivek J. Tiwary (The Fifth Beatle – Dark Horse Comics).
2:00-3:00 – Adam Hughes & Allison Sohn
The work of Adam Hughes and Allison Sohn has inspired many fans, but what inspires them? Join them for a conversation with artist and chair of MICA’s Illustration Department Jose Villarrubia as they take a look at art they like.
12:00-1:00 – Peter Mayhew Spotlight
Peter Mayhew is known by fans the world over for his portrayal of Chewbacca, the Wookiee co-pilot of the Millennium Falcon, in Star Wars, The Empire Strike Back, Return of the Jedi, and more, including the upcoming Star Wars Episode VII. Join us for this special look at the life and career of Mr. Mayhew.
1:00-4:00 – Costume Contest
The fun begins at 1:00 pm! With $2,000 up for grabs for the best overall costume and prizes for each of the 10 categories, this is one event all of you cosplayers don’t want to miss! Adult Categories have a $5 entry fee per person. Registration is at Booth #1111.
