Friday panel summary

26 JUNE 2015

It’s Friday – what will be the most popular, line-crazy day of the Con for many. Let’s see what we have.

 

The Big Rooms:


Obviously Hall H is like the T-rex of the Con. I’ll go ahead and call this a historic day. Because it is. We have Show of Shows at 10, The Walking Dead at noon, Fear the Walking Dead at 1,  Game of Thrones at 2:30, EW's "Brave New Warriors/TV Studs" at 4, Star Wars at 5:30 and then Kevin Smith at 7:15. Then playback.

Ballroom 20 is really good too. Goodbye to Falling Skies at 11:15, the 100 is at 12:30, followed by Minority Report at 1:45, Marvel's blow-out at 3, The Originals at 4:30, iZombie at 5:45 and the premiere of Justice League: Gods and Monsters at 7 and 9.

 

And then we have our annual animation lovefest in the Indigo Ballroom. Regular Show and Uncle Grandpa kick off 10, followed by Adventure Time and Steven Universe at 11, Aqua Teen Hunger Force at 12:15, Rick and Morty at 1:15, Mike Tyson at 2:15, Robot Chicken at 3:15, Bob's Burgers at 4, then Archer at 5. 

 

 

 

Unlike yesterday, when the big room panels were diverse enough that people will probably move in and out all day, we’re looking at long-term campouts here. People will stake their claim outside through day and night hours, then find a seat and cling to it until the staff force them out late Friday night.

 

Onto those other panels.

Hollywood

Nickelodeon and Dark Horse Comics: Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra kicks off in 25ABC at 10.

Nobility: These Aren't the Heroes You're Looking For -  dubbed "Firely meets The Office" – will be at 10:30 in the library.

Beyond Tarzan: Edgar Rice Burroughs's Worlds of Adventure will talk about “upcoming releases featuring Edgar Rice Burroughs's famous literary heroes” 10:30 in room 8.

In case you missed it Preview Night: Lucifer Pilot Screening and Q&A is at 11:30 in 6BCF.

Space Command: A Hopeful Future will be at 11:30 at the library, followed by Star Trek: Renegades at 12:30 and then Star Trek Axanar: From Conception To Feature Film.

Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will be at 11:45 in 6A.

See MTV's The Shannara Chronicles  in 6DE at 12:30.

Teen Titans Go! Video Presentation and Q&A will include a new episode. 1 in 6A.

Disney Animators: The Power of 2D will be at 1:30 in 24ABC.

I know a lot of us were hoping for this: Tales of Halloween: A First Look at the Ultimate Halloween Event. “The making and collaborative process of the most ambitious horror anthology to date.” Will include the trailer debut. 1:30 in the Horton Grand.

ILM 40th Anniversary will dazzle you in 7AB at 2:00.

Celebrate the Lost in Space: 50th Anniversary at 2:30 in 24ABC

History's Vikings is at 3:30 in 6A.

Colony won’t bring a pilot but you will see an exclusive trailer and clips. With Carlton Cuse, Josh Holloway and Sarah Wayne Callies. 4:30 in 6BCF.

Or you can see MTV's Scream at 4:30 in 5AB.

More Greatest Movies Never Made: The Sequel. Includes Philip Kaufman's Star Trek: Planet of Titans, David Lynch's Ronnie Rocket and One Saliva Bubble and Alejandro Jodorowsky's adaptation of Frank Herbert's Dune. 7AB at 5. This is the kind of obscure-but-cultish panel SDCC does so well.

Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey is back. Bring your most probing cosmic questions to Neil DeGrasse Tyson in 6DE at 5:30.

Orphan Black is at 5:45 in 6BCF. Remember that a lot of people in Hall H today will pounce on the Nerd HQ panel since they’re missing this one. So if you can catch this one, do it.

Starz: Ash vs. Evil Dead. Remember when this first got announced at Comic-Con? 6 in 6A.

The Visit is the “upcoming thriller” from M. Night Shyamalan and Jason Blum. Horton Grand at 6.

 

General, Nerd Life and Culture

Behind the Music: SyFy Thrills and Chills presents “what it takes to create music for post-apocalyptic worlds, zombie, attacks and other out-of-this-world situations.”  10 in 23ABC.

Geek Wars will offer “an epic trivia battle for the ages” at 10 in 14A. 

Star Wars Publishing 2015: Part 1 – “new Star Wars retellings for a younger generation of fans.” 10 in 7AB, followed by Part II at 11. 

The Black Panel will tackle “the lack of unity among many in the Black pop culture space and opens the floor for ideas on how we can change that.” 10:00am - Room 5AB

Hunt for the Truth: Following the Trail of the Halo 5: Guardians Story is at 10:15 in 6BCF.

Cosplaying 102: Taking It to the Next Level – 14A at 11

My Little Pony is at 10:30 in 6A

Science Fiction and Sex addresses “the importance of gender in science fiction, how science fiction novels open our minds to nontraditional ideas, and just what the difference is between gender and sex.” 11:30 24ABC

Everyone’s favorite Preview Night friend Hasbro has their Star Wars panel at noon in 7AB.

Mattel Collector: MattyPalooza! “Tons of reveals and surprises are in store.” Noon in 25ABC. 

Nerdist Music: “From EDM and pop to country and rock, artists in every genre of music proudly carry the label of nerd regardless of the genre of music they play.” I feel like everyone proudly carries the label of nerd these days. Horton Grand at 12.

Star Wars Goes Steampunk is at noon in 14A.

Star Wars:Collectibles Update with Lucasfilm's Anita Castellar is at 1 in 7AB.

Assassin's Creed Syndicate: It's Time for a Bloody Ruckus. Possibly the best panel title yet. An “exclusive look at the making of Assassin's Creed Syndicate. Welcome to the streets. Welcome to the struggle. Welcome to the family.” 2 in 6BCF.

Diversity and Queer Gaming: Gaymers and beyond. 2:00 in 28DE.

Ghostbusters: Sony, IDW and Cryptozoic Entertainment will include a demo of the game by Cryptozoic Entertainment. 2:00 in 25ABC.

The Science Behind H. P. Lovecraft's Epic Tale 'At the Mountain of Madness' is at 2 pm in 23ABC.

Bizarre States offers a “chat show of the macabre.”  3:00 at the Horton Grand

Rise of Aqua(wo)man will discuss “how divers are living undersea for extended periods, how science is extending the abilities of humans, and what tips and techniques can make us all a bit more like Aquaman.” No Jason Momoa, though. 7AB at 3.

The Men of Cosplay will be in 14A at 4.

Pixies, Lovecraft, Poe, and Steampunk: An Unlikely Animation Slate. “Get free comics, free plush toys, and free shirts. Cthulhu plush toys and more will be given away to those with questions.” 5:00 in 23ABC.

One of my favorite panels is back: Science Fiction That Will Change Your Life.  Annalee Newitz. Charlie Jane Anders, Ernie Cline, Jane Espenson, Javier Grillo-Marxuach. 25ABC at 5.

Famous Monsters of Filmland: Stake of the Union 2015 is at 5:30 in 26AB

Marvel Heroes 2015: More Amazing, Incredible, and Invincible Than Ever! Is at 25ABC at 6.

Queer Representation in All-Ages and Youth Media will be discussed by Shannon Watters, James Tynion IV, Noelle Stevenson, Molly Ostertag, Dan Parent. 28DE at 6.

The Future of Mexican Animation in the US is in 29AB at 6.

 

Comics is just as strong today as Thursday.

It starts with Marvel: Secret Wars at 10 in 6DE. 

Push Boundaries Forward: Gender, Diversity, and Representation in Comic Books will offer “a sincere, thoughtful discussion on the topic of gender, diversity, and representation in mainstream comics.” 10 in room 4.

Image Comics: Where Creators Own Process is in 23ABC at 11.

Something Old, Something New! (or, The Revenge of Classic Comic Collections Panel) is also at 11 in 32AB. So is The Official Aspen Comics Panel 2015, in room 9.

Geoff Johns shares his wisdom in 6DE at 11:15am.

Vive la revolucion: CBLDF will talk Banned Comics in 30DC at Noon – specifically how “CBLDF springs to action in these cases, providing expert support for the librarians and individuals who fight back when calls to censorship arise.” Then at 1 they’ll talk about Using Graphic Novels as Tools of Tolerance.

Hermes Press: A Celebration of Women Artists in Comics During WWII will be in room 9 at Noon.

GRAPHIX: The Beginning, Present, and Beyond offers quite a lineup, with Jeff Smith, Raina Telgemeier, Craig Thompson discussing the evolution of children's graphic novels and upcoming projects. Noon at 12:30.

Push Stories Forward: Rise of the Independents is also at 12:30 in 5AB. “The brightest minds in independent comics publishing.”

Twisted Roots of the Comics Industry will tell “the stories of the gangsters, bootleggers, and eccentric geniuses who founded the comic book business.” Room 8 in 12:30.

Marvel: All-New All-Different Avengers is in 6BCF at 12:45.

Archie Forever wants to give you a gift bag ticket. Their gift bag last year was pretty insane, FYI. Room 4 at 1.

New DC Universe: Superman: Are You Ready? 6DE at 1:45

Hopey, Julio, Skim, Oafs, and Beyond: the Hernandez brothers and others offer a discussion of the history of queer character visibility in alt and indie comics. 1 in 28DE.

Secret Origins: How the Industry's Best and Brightest Began will be in 2:30 in room 8.

IDW: The Best Panel in Recorded History warns you that IDW executives will “lay waste to a room of shocked comic fans.” What's with all the vaguely menacing descriptions this year? 4:00 in room 4.

The World of Mouse Guard: 10th Anniversary is in 5 in 32AB

 

Onto Creative panels. Thursday was good, but Friday is too.

 

Comic-Con How-To: Drawing with Ed McGuinness is at 10 in room 2.

Writing for TV: From First Draft to Getting Staffed. Bring your questions at 10:30 to 24ABC.

Workshop with Steve Lieber is at 12:30 in room 2.

Get Your Comic Published in Japan: Silent Manga Audition. “Manga artists from any nation can submit their work to a contest run by a major Japanese publisher.” 1:30 at 5Ab

Comic-Con How-To: Color Copic Markers with Allison Sohn will be in room 2 at 1:30.

Painting and Drawing Workshop with Jeffrey Watts and Erik Gist will also be at 2 in 30CDE.

Another breaking in panel. Breaking into Comics and Staying In will be at 3 in 30CDE.

Creating Multiplayer Worlds: Storytelling in MMOs and MOBAs will be at 3 in 29AB.

How to Get a Job in Video Games is in 6BCF at 3:15.

Creating Comics with the iPad will be in 30CDE at 4.

The annual Ask an Agent panel is at 4:15 in 24ABC. No pitches.

The Writer's Journey: Breaking into Comics and Hollywood Scriptwriting will be in room 32AB at 6.

Creative Communities and the Scenius of Comics will be at 6:30 in room 8.

Insights for Independent Creators is at 7 in 32AB.

 

Then we have a ton of night activities. Good ones. Like…

 

Going Back in Time: A Discussion and Q&A with the Filmmakers Behind the Back to the Future Feature Documentary. 6:30 in 24ABC.

Firefly Online: Return of the Browncoats will offer “an exclusive reveal of the game's first 10 minutes” 6:45 in 6DE.

Kung Fury: The Best Movie of All Time. 6BCF. 7. Is this where David Hasselhoff will serenade attendees like he promised? I don’t know.

Project Orangutan: A Comic with a Cause. Save our primate cousins. Room 4 at 7:00/

Starship Smackdown: The Geekspert's Court 007: Bond vs. Bond will be at 7 in 7AB.

The Gay Agenda in Horror: Terrifying Subtext. 7 pm in 28DE

The Hollywood Sci-Fi Museum and Star Trek Bridge Restoration – definitely a top panel. 7:00 in 23ABC.

Ooo, spicy: What the Big Two Don't Want You to Know. "This panel will pull the Band-Aid off the biggest controversies in comics publishing right now, especially relating to Marvel and DC Comics, and including essential SDCC revelations.” 7:00 in 25ABC. I’m guessing the description bark will be worse than the panel bite in this case, but I’ll keep an ear peeled for anything juicy.

"World Premiere of Justice League: Gods & Monsters." Another top panel. 7:00 in Ballroom 20. Encores at 9 if you want to catch a nap or dinner first.

Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! 7:15 in 6A. Time for everyone’s shark costumes. This is just a panel, not a screening.

Yoga Hosers, AKA Kevin Smith, at 7:15 in Hall H. Despite what I said above, I think a lot of the all-dayers will be ready to fold by this point and crawl out of Hall H to eat and collapse. So don’t write this off as inaccessible.

Be a Financial Superhero Even If You Aren't Tony Stark or Bruce Wayne. “An entertaining and educational panel on superhero financial planning for artists, writers, industry professionals, and all others interested. The discussion will be followed by a Q&A of industry panel guests who will talk about financial challenges and successes in their fields.” 8 in room 4. This is the kind of panel that proves SDCC isn’t just entertainment and fluff. Solid, practical guidance is handed out here – at times.

Cartoon Network's Clarence and Friends Pajama Party. 7Ab at 8. Pajamas being literal in this case.

Nerdist News is at 8 in 23ABC.

Over 30 Cosplay: Cosplay for Every Age is at 8 in 14A. Is over 30 considered old for cosplay? I feel like most cosplayers I see around the halls look fairly seasoned. Maybe it’s the heavy makeup.

The Aquabats Super Show! What Happens Next?! will be at 8 in 29AB.

Welcome to Night Vale: The Novel will be out just in time for Halloween. 8:00 in room 9.

The Worst Cartoons Ever will be at 8:15 in 6BCF

The Christian Comic Arts Society Mixer will be at 8:30 in 26AB.

 Is It Steampunk? is in 24ABC at 8:30. Klingon Lifestyles will be in 8:30 in 6A.

Surviving Conventions as an Indie Creator is in room 8 at 8:30.

Nerdist Science. It’s official: “Nerdist” is the most frequently appearing word at SDCC. This time you get “an inside look at some of the ways scientists have worked with filmmakers on your favorite Marvel movies, including Avengers: Age of Ultron, Thor, and more.” 9:00 in 23ABC

And finally Spike & Mike's Festival of Animation/Spike & Mike's Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation. 9:30 in 6BCF.


So how does everyone feel about Friday? Again, pretty diverse, but probably more of a Hollywood day for attendees. Don't assume the popularity of the big rooms will keep attendees tied up; unlike other days where you can count on both the current panel attendance and the line outside, there may not be as long a line midday since many attendees will understand the hopelessness. It depends on the staff's line management policies, and the optimism/delusion ratio amongst attendees.

And apparently it's just a matter of time before Nerdist has its own Con.