NYCC – Panels You Might, But Shouldn’t, Miss

Yesterday, I showed you the biggest panels happening at New York Comic Con this week. Well, that was just what’s happening in the IGN Theater, there are tons of panels happening through the Javits Convention Center. I sifted through the list to bring some of the gems you might miss or those amazing panels you shouldn’t miss. 

Now bear with me, this is a long list but it really is just a sampling of what NYCC has to offer this year.

Thursday:

• RWP 2.0 – The Future of Comics in the Classroom 12:15 pm – 1:15 pm Location: 1A02 Speakers: Charlie LaGreca, Dr. Michael Bitz, Jessica Abel, Josh Elder, Matt Madden Description: Find out how YOU can help get comics into schools and get schools into comics in this informational seminar hosted by some of the biggest names in the world of comics and education. Join Josh Elder of Reading With Pictures, Dr. Michael Bitz of the Comic Book Project, Charlie LaGreca of Comic Book Classroom and Jessica Abel and Matt Madden of Drawing Words and Writing Pictures as they unveil their plans for 2012 and beyond.

Friday:

• Zombies, Fallen Angels, and Other Paranormals Give New Meaning 10:45 am – 11:45 amLocation: 1A23 Speakers: Bob Fingerman, Drew Magary, Lia Habel, Nancy Holzner, Stefan Petrucha, Tahereh Mafi, Thomas E. Sniegoski, Veronica RossiDescription:Fiction authors discuss the not-quite-living-but-most-certainly-not-dead characters that inhabit the pages of their novels and their complicated, pulse-challenged relationships. From dangerous supernatural investigations to zombie invasions, where do love and kindness fit into the scheme of these post-apocalyptic tales? The concept of good vs. evil comes in to play with an undead, supernatural twist. In Lia Habel’s novel, a proper young Victorian lady finds true love in the arms of a dashing zombie while Bob Fingerman explores human compassion after a zombie pandemic sweeps the land. Stefan Petrucha’s protagonist is wrongly convicted of his wife’s murder, but is brought back to life after his execution ready to make things right. The hero of Thomas E. Sniegoski’s series must fight evil forces while mourning the loss of his wife, while Nancy Holzner’s heroine must deal with a teenage zombie sidekick, a vampire roommate, and werewolf boyfriend. Tahereh Mafi’s heroine can kill with a single touch (which wreaks havoc on all attempts at intimacy). In an apocalyptic world strewn with cannibals and wolves, Veronica Rossi’s dystopian heroine learns to find love with someone from far beyond her realm of experience. These authors will argue that despite the presence of mortally-challenged characters in these novels, the stories speak more to life and humanity than death.
• It Gets Better (With Comics!) 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Location: 1B03 Speakers: Charles “Zan” Christiansen, Chris Shoemaker, Daniel Ketchum, Ivan Velez Jr., Jackson Martin, Rica TakashimaDescription:This panel will shed greater light on a topic that dominated last year’s general LGBT discussion panel at NYCC: How can comics help at-risk LGBT teens? Comics and queer teens are made for each other, but what comics have connected with young adult readers most effectively? What kinds of comics are still needed? How can libraries and outreach groups best utilize comics to reach teens? What difficulties do they face when trying to put a queer-positive comic book into the hands of someone who needs a hero? These questions and more will be discussed in an exciting panel featuring: Charles “Zan” Christiansen, founder of Prism Comics and writer of “The Power Within” Daniel Ketchum, editor of “X-Men: Legacy” and “X-Factor” Ivan Velez Jr., prolific comics writer and creator of “Tales of the Closet” Rica Takashima, avant-garde street artist and creator of “Rica ‘tte Kanji!?” Jackson Martin, NYPL Associate and organizer of Anti-Prom, the largest LGBT teen event in NYC Moderator: Chris Shoemaker, New York Public Library Young Adult Programming Specialist
• Be Your Own Publisher: Making Comics with Kickstarter 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Location: 1A15 Speakers: Cindy Au, Jeremy Bastian, Jimmy Palmiotti, Joey Esposito, Renae DeLiz, Thomas Negovan Description: Have an awesome graphic novel or comic book but not sure how to get it published? Don’t wait for a big publisher to decide your fate! There’s never been a better time to self-publish, and tools like Kickstarter can be a great way to connect with fans, handle pre-orders, and cover the costs of publishing and distributing your comic book masterpiece. Kickstarter is the largest funding platform for creative projects in the world, and collectively, users have pledged over $90 million to projects in creative fields like comics, games, film, music, art, and more. We’ve gathered together a group of seasoned pros and new faces in the comic book industry to talk about how to run successful Kickstarter campaigns, from putting together an awesome pitch video, to creating tantalizing rewards and communicating with fans. This session will be moderated by Cindy Au (Community Director at Kickstarter) with special guests Jeremy Bastian and Thomas Negovan (Cursed Pirate Girl), Jimmy Palmiotti (Jonah Hex, Deadpool, Painkiller Jane, Queen Crab), Renae De Liz (The Last Unicorn, Womanthology), and Joey Esposito (Footprints, comics editor at IGN).
• Locke & Key Fox Pilot Screening 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Location: MTV Theater, 1A10 Description: The most talked-about pilot not on the Fall schedule was the Fox production of Locke & Key. After a smash-hit screening at San Diego Comic-Con that fans are still talking about, it’s coming to the east coast for a one-time only screening! Come watch the special filmed adaptation of “Welcome to Lovecraft” and see the Eisner-winning comic brought to life! Introduction by IDW CEO & Publisher, Ted Adams.
• Wand Dueling 12:45 pm – 1:15 pm Location: Hasbro Stage Speakers: Cassandra Johnstone, Christine Evans, Clay Dockery, Jonathon Rosenthal Description:The art of wand dueling is a centuries old practice that has unfortunately fallen on the wayside in today’s modern wizarding curriculum. Join The Group That Shall Not Be Named, Harry Potter NYC as their top wand dueling instructor demonstrates several of the offensive and defensive positions most frequently employed in duels. Many of these can be seen being used in the now famous Harry Potter Documentary films. Translation for Muggles: Dueling in the Harry Potter films was a carefully choreographed form of theatrical combat. HP-NYC will demonstrate and instruct participants in several of the dueling moves that the actors used. Bring your own wand if you prefer, if not, training wands will be provided.
• The Comics History of the World 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm Location: 1A02 Speakers: Ben McCool, Francesco Francavilla, Fred Van Lente Description:Views of world history in comics run from the imaginary to the tightly researched. They can inform and shed light on little known heroes and villains. Join Ben McCool (Nevsky), Fred Van Lente (Action Philosophers), Francesco Francavilla (The Black Coat) and more as they discuss the ins and out of making real life characters come alive on the comics page — and having a blast while doing it. The panel will include a sneak peak at next year’s Nevsky graphic novel with never before seen artwork.
• Food and Comics Panel with Wylie Dufresne 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm Location: 1A15 Speakers: Brian Azzarello, CB Cebulski, Wylie Dufresne Description:C.B. Cebulski, Marvel’s SVP of Creator and Content Development (and writer of the food blog Eataku.com), and Wylie Dufresne, molecular gastronomic chef and owner of restaurant wd~50, and more special guests share the stage for an hour talking about the new horizons in foodie culture and comics culture and where they often (and appetizingly) interconnect.
• Star Wars Crafts with Bonnie Burton 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Location: 1B03 Speaker: Bonnie Burton Description:Give in to the power of the crafty side! Find out how to turn felt and googly eyes into a Jedi Master with this fun hands-on bag puppet tutorial. The Star Wars Craft Book (Del Rey/LucasBooks) author Bonnie Burton shows fans of all ages how to make Star Wars bag puppets from her new book. Bonnie is also the author of You Can Draw Star Wars (DK Publishing) and Draw Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Klutz Books).
• NYCC Charity Auction 7:45 pm – 9:45 pm Location: 1B03 Speaker: Steve Borock Description:YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Please join us and former CGC president Steve Borock for the 1st Annual Charity Art Auction at New York Comic Con! Come on down and bid with other art enthusiasts for the chance to own a piece of original art from some of your favorite creators including Adam Hughes, Mike Mignola, Ivan Reis, Leinil Francis Yu, David Mack, Francis Manapul, Frank Quietly, Joe Prado, Michael Golden, Greg Horn, Paolo Rivera, Scott Kolins, Whilce Portacio and Tony Moore! All proceeds go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and your participation in this event will help support lifesaving research and treatment for the children of St. Jude. HAVE FUN. GET ART. SAVE LIVES.

Saturday:

• Green Lantern: The Animated Series World Premiere Screening and Conversation with Bruce Timm 10:30 am – 11:30 am Location: MTV Theater, 1A10 Speaker: Bruce Timm Description: World-renowned producer, artist, animator and Comic Con favorite Bruce Timm (Batman: The Animated Series) will be on hand to unveil Green Lantern: The Animated Series, his latest television project from Warner Bros. Animation, coming soon to Cartoon Network. New York Comic Con attendees will be treated to the world premiere screening of this all-new CG action-adventure animated series, and will take part in a moderated Q&A with an animation icon.
• The Nerdologues 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Location: Hasbro Stage Speakers: Byron Hatfield , Chris Geiger, Claire Friedman, Eric Garneau, Jeremy Kanne , Joe Gennaro, Kevin Reader, Steve Persch, William Kenkel Description: The Nerdologues is comprised of an ensemble of writers and performers that have been trained and performed at The Second City, Annoyance and iO comedy theaters in Chicago. They have been working together for over two years to create Nerd themed comedy shows with heart. The focus of their show is centered around true stories from the Nerds’ lives. The show also features comedic sketches that focus on what it is like living as a nerd. Namely, a lot of comic book and gaming humor. The show was created by Nerds for Nerds. Called “inspired” by the Chicago Tribune, they also called us “self aware, self-deprecating” and said the show “earns its title.” Well, yeah. The Nerdologues officially began in blistery winter of 2009. Intense writing and editing sessions led them to their first self produced show at Joone Studios in May of 2010 in Chicago. They sold out a 60 seat house for 5 weeks. They then decided to continue their journey and redevelop their original show and content to mount a second run aptly titled, Nerdologues: The Nerds Strike Back in July of 2010 at the Pub Theater. The show was extended an extra four weeks and finally wrapped in late August. The Nerds continued to produce more material and mounted a short run in Milwaukee in November at Comedy Sportz. The Nerds then reached back out into the community from whence they came and produced three shows at a small venue that focused on developing new work and giving other nerds an opportunity to share their stories. In the winter of 2011, they focused their efforts on a few short video sketches as well as performing in the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival in January of 2011 and the San Francisco Sketch Comedy Festival later in the same month. The group then produced a full length show at The Second City’s Donny’s Skybox in April of 2011. They are also appearing the Milwaukee Comedy Festival in early August. A few video sketches are still in the works including a filmed Dungeons and Dragons campaign. While producing their newest full length show, they also hold a monthly story-telling event called Your Stories at the Pub Theater in Chicago. Your Stories is an event that focuses on reaching out to other Nerds in the Chicago community and letting them share their stories. They are also applying for other upcoming sketch comedy and theatre fringe festivals. The cast and crew continue to meet, write and improvise together to plan their next wave of attacks.
• American Museum of Natural History: Cinema and the Future of Space12:15 pm – 1:15 pm Location: 1A02 Speaker: Michael Shara Description: What will space travel be like in 50, 100 and 200 years? If there is any lesson to be learned from past predictions of interplanetary and interstellar travel it’s that technological movement forward is rarely in the direction predicted by writers and scientists. We’ll test this hypothesis by looking at short film clips focusing on space travel, space exploration and space technology stretching back over a century. The very best guesses and extrapolations into the future had bases in physics and mathematics; a few are remarkably prescient. Finally we’ll try to guess if WE can predict, with any chance of success, what our descendants will be doing away from Planet Earth in the coming centuries.
• Comics Studies Conference 4: Batman vs. Iron Man: Can a Person Truly Become Either? 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Location: 1B03 Speakers: Andrea Letamendi, Dennis O’Neil, E. Paul Zehr, Robin Rosenberg, Travis LangleyD escription: They’re rich, smart, strong, and they have the most wonderful toys. They’re leaders among superheroes even though they have no superpowers and they intimidate other heroes. Batman and Iron Man belong to that very small group of superheroes who have a veneer of reality. Both superheroes are defined by their human frailty combined with extreme training and use of technological enhancements. Comics legend Dennis O’Neil (Batman, Iron Man) and kinesiologist E. Paul Zehr (Becoming Batman, Inventing Iron Man) join psychologists Travis Langley (Batman in His Belfry), Andrea Letamendi (UCLA), and Robin Rosenberg (The Psychology of Superheroes) plus retired NYPD sergeant Mike Bruen in examining what it takes both physically and mentally to create a superhero without benefit of cosmic rays, magic rings, mutant genes, or otherworldly origins.
• Womanthology 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Location: 1A23 Speakers: Bonnie Burton, Camilla d’Errico, Laura Morley, Mariah Huehner, Renae DeLiz, Suzannah Rowntree Description: Sometimes a simple idea hits at just the right time and place. Renae de Liz’s desire to give back to the comics community and give women creators of all abilities a chance to be published turned into one of the most successful and anticipated Kickstarter projects ever. Panelists discuss the development and drive to create Womanthology, the creators and contributors, social media support, and the future of this project.
• Girls Kick Butt: Strong Female Heroines in Young Adult Fantasy 6:15 pm – 7:15 pm Location: 1A03 Speakers: Caitlin Kittredge, Esther Friesner, Kate Klimo, Tamora Pierce Description: Tamora Pierce (the Beka Cooper series) has been hailed within the fantasy community and beyond for her strong female protagonists and the sense of empowerment her books provide for her avid fan base. She is not alone in creating this type of female-targeted fantasy with several other young adult authors making their own contributions to this sub-genre. Esther Friesner (Princesses of Myth series) and Caitlin Kittredge’s (the Iron Codex series) female lead characters are also imbued with strength of character, self-sufficiency, and the ability to kick butt. This panel will address the origins of and inspiration behind these authors’ respective fantastical worlds and the strong female protagonists who inhabit them. Moderated by Kate Klimo, Publishing Director of Random House Children’s Books and author of the upcoming young adult novel Centauriad #1: Daughter of the Centaurs (under the pen name K. K. Ross).
• ZOMBIE SUMMIT: How to Survive the Inevitable Zombie Apocalypse 7:45 pm – 8:45 pm Location: 1A24 Speakers: Dr Ali Khan, Gale Anne Hurd , Greg Nicotero, Robert Kirkman, Scott Allie Description: We all know it’s just a matter of time, so Sirius XM Satellite Radio has convened a panel of experts to help you survive the inevitable zombie apocalypse. Do you head for mall or run for the hills? Is a blunt weapon a better choice than (say) a flamethrower? And what to do with those pesky infected friends and loved ones? With one eye on the rise of zombie lit and the other running down our face – err, the other on what you’ll need to do to avoid becoming zombie chow, the Zombie Summit is the only panel you’ll need to attend- if you want to survive!

Sunday:

• SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark 10:15 am – 11:00 am Location: 1A24 Speakers: Agent M, Glen Berger, Roberto Aguire-Sacasa Description: Drawing on nearly 50 years of Marvel comic books for inspiration, SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark spins a new take on the web-slinger’s classic origin story. Daring, ground-breaking and spectacular, SPIDER-MAN is Broadway’s most popular new show with jaw dropping thrills, music by Bono and The Edge of U2, remarkable sets, costumes and effects. All combining to bring to life the adventures of Peter Parker, Mary Jane and the Green Goblin. Writers Roberto Aguire-Sacasa (Marvel Comics’ Sensational Spider-Man, Fox’s Glee) and 2-time Emmy Award winner Glen Berger discuss the excitement and challenges of putting the show together. Joining them will be the production’s set designers who will provide insight into their innovative designs, technology and special effects–many of which have never before been seen on a stage. Moderated by Marvel’s Agent M, aka Marvel.com Editorial Director Ryan Penagos.
• Geek Parenting: Raising Kids in Our Own Geeky Image 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Location: 1B03S peakers: Amy Kraft , Andrea Schwalm , Corrina Lawson, Dave Giancaspro, Jason Jones , John Booth , Kathy Ceceri, Ken Denmead, Matt Blum , Nicole Wakelin Description: Panel will be a general discussion and Q&A with writers for GeekDad.com and GeekMom.com focusing on issues that geek parents face raising their kid.
• Spotlight on Robert Kirkman 12:45 pm – 1:45 pm Location: MTV Theater, 1A10 Speaker: Robert Kirkman Description: Kirkman, one of the most successful writers in comics today, best known for his work on THE WALKING DEAD, INVINCIBLE, HAUNT, IMAGE UNITED, ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN, Marvel Zombies, the recent SUPER DINOSAUR and THE INFINITE will offer fans some insight into the genius behind their favorite hit comics. After becoming an Image Comics partner in 2009, introducing the internationally renowned hit TV show based on the comic, The Walking Dead on AMC, and recently announcing an upcoming video game adaptation of the same series from TellTale Games, he has proven to be an unstoppable creative force.
• Drawing Star Wars with Bonnie Burton and Katie Cook 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm Location: 1B03 Speakers: Bonnie Burton, Katie Cook Description: You Can Draw: Star Wars author Bonnie Burton and The Clone Wars web comic artist Katie Cook help kids draw fun Star Wars characters. Lucas Online Senior Editor Bonnie Burton edits the drawing tutorials and craft projects which can be found at Starwars.com. Artist Katie Cook (Katiecandraw.com) has done licensed art for Star Wars, Fraggle Rock, DC, Marvel, and more!
• Archaia Entertainment and The Jim Henson Company Present: THE EARLY WORKS OF JIM HENSON Screening with Special TALE OF SAND Discussion 3:45 pm – 4:45 pm Location: 1A15 Speakers: Karen Falk, PJ Bickett, Ramón Pérez, Stephen Christy Description: Jim Henson was a creative genius responsible for some of the most iconic properties today, including The Muppets, Fraggle Rock and The Dark Crystal. But what was he like leading up to that success? Join Archaia and The Jim Henson Company as they explore his early works and creative process, complete with archival, rarely seen footage, brought to you by Henson archivist, Karen Falk. Then, get an advance look at A TALE OF SAND, the new original graphic novel coming in November, based on a never-before-seen screenplay written by Jim Henson and his longtime collaborator, Jerry Juhl. Falk, Archaia editor-in-chief Stephen Christy and A Tale of Sand artist Ramón Pérez will discuss the behind-the-scenes production of the book and debut some new images! Moderated by Archaia CEO PJ Bickett.

For the complete list of panels, head on over to the NYCC website. You can even make a handy schedule for yourself there and share panels with friends.