Rising Conflict: San Diego Comic-Con 2013 Saturday and Sunday Panel Schedules Released

San Diego Comic-Con is many things to many people: a giant excuse to get drunk in a setting where you can strike up a conversation about Batman with whoever happens to be sitting next to you at the bar, a chance to get pictures with celebrities, a way to get loot you can’t get anywhere else, or an excuse to dress up like a superhero and jam up floor traffic every time you strike some form of pose.

And it is true; SDCC is all of those things to some people But there is one thing that Comic-Con is to all people: a scheduling nightmare where, no matter what panel you think you might want to see, there is at least one panel opposite that panel that you equally want to see.

And SDCC 2013 is no different. The convention has released the panel schedule for Saturday and Sunday, and there is a veritable pile of cool and interesting panels to check out. And you can get the full Saturday and Sunday schedules at the Comic-Con Web site, but as we did with the Thursday and Friday schedules a couple of days ago, we’ll call out some that look interesting, some that we’re gonna try to get to and report on… and some that just seem… a little weird.

Hasbro Studios: My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic
Saturday July 20, 2013 10:00am – 11:00am
Room 25ABC
Representatives from Hasbro Studios and The Hub TV Network’s My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic share details of the making of the popular animated series and how the “friendship” and “magic” are brought to life. Also includes Q&A time.

We will not be attending this panel, but we might swing by. Because after all: how many times to you get that many Bronies in one place? Note to self: obtain stink bombs.

DC Comics: Batman: Zero Year
Saturday July 20, 2013 11:15am – 12:30pm
Room 6DE
DC Comics group editor Mike Marts, writer Scott Snyder (Batman), and artists Greg Capullo (Batman) and Dan Miki (Batman) journey back to the origins of the Dark Knight this summer with the storyline Batman: Zero Year! Join the all-star team for an exclusive look at the formative years of the Caped Crusader and what they have in store for him in the coming months!

This one, however, we will probably attend. We’re gonna want a taste of how Gotham turns into act one of The Road Warrior as seen in the first issue of Zero Year, and maybe get a sense of how in the hell they’re shoehorning this whole deal into continuity.

But then again…

The Future of XBox Gaming Revealed
Saturday July 20, 2013 11:15am – 12:15pm
Room 6A
Hear directly from the developers building the biggest blockbuster games for Xbox One, and hear how they are engineering their games to take advantage of the unique attributes of Xbox One. Learn how the cloud, the new Kinect sensor, and the powerful and flexible architecture enable an entire new generation of AAA game titles moderated by Xbox LIVE’s Major Nelson.

“Hi, Major Nelson! I was wondering: considering the XBox One has a mandatory, always-on camera, will you be storing the pictures you capture of my scrotum in JPEG or GIF format?”

A Feast For Your Eyes: Creativity in Comics and Cuisine
Saturday July 20, 2013 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Room 7AB
Cooking is creativity. Food is art. In so many ways, the connections between food and comics on a creative level are everywhere. A chef’s knife is the equivalent of an artist’s pencil or brush. Their kitchens are their canvases. Both chefs and artists are only limited by their own imaginations; they both use their tools to take what is in their minds and create masterpieces in different mediums. But the processes are the same, and that’s what panelists will be exploring in this open discussion, with C. B. Cebulski, Brian Malarkey, Rosanna Pansino, and Justin Warner.

…really?

Look, I can’t cook or create comics, but I do know this: I have never consumed a comic book that gave me the dribbling shits. At least not one that wasn’t written by Rob Liefeld.

How I Met Your Mother
Saturday July 20, 2013 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
For the first time ever, the hit sitcom visits Comic-Con to kick off its final season with an exclusive look at the show and a panel featuring Josh Radnor (Happythankyoumoreplease), Jason Segel (The Muppets), Cobie Smulders (The Avengers), Neil Patrick Harris (Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog), and Alyson Hannigan (Buffy The Vampire Slayer) and executive producers Carter Bays, Craig Thomas, and Pamela Fryman.

Unless “Your Mother” turns out to be Zatanna, Comic-Con isn’t probably the right place for this panel. But then again, Comic-Con does have a higher than normal population density of potential Alyson Hannigan stalkers, so what the fuck do I know?

DC Comics Green Lantern: Recharge!
Saturday July 20, 2013 12:45pm – 1:45pm
Room 6DE
A new era in the Green Lantern mythos begins here! Whether you are a rookie or veteran Lantern fan, this must-see panel is the perfect place to recharge your power ring! Join Bernard Chang (Green Lantern Corps), Van Jensen (Green Lantern Corps), Charles Soule (Red Lanterns), Robert Venditti (Green Lantern, Green Lantern Corps), and Brad Walker (Green Lantern: New Guardians) for an exclusive look at what’s in store during this new and exciting time for the Corps!

No jokes here, I just like Green Lantern… and considering last year, Van Jensen was toiling for some publicity at the Slave Labor Graphics booth, I want to see him kinda lose his shit being in one of the big rooms. That said, his Pinocchio The Vampire Slayer was damn good reading, so he deserves some bigger attention.

However…

Judge Dredd Comics: IDW And Rebellion
Saturday July 20, 2013 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Room 9
You’ll get 20 years in an Iso-Cube if you miss this one! Join IDW’s Dirk Wood and Chris Ryall, along with Judge Dredd writer Duane Swierczynski, 2000AD’s Ben Smith, creators Henry Flint and John Higgins, and more for a drokkin’ good time discussing everyone’s favorite Mega-City One judge.

Swierczynski has been just killing Judge Dredd since the start of the IDW version, and is one of Amanda’s personal favorites. So this one might just get the nod for that timeblock.

But…

The Tick’s 25th Anniversary
Saturday July 20, 2013 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Room 23ABC
Ben Edlund (the creator of The Tick), Chris McCulloch (Tick Karma Tornado artist/writer and Venture Brothers creator), and Bob Polio (art director of The Tick comic series) discuss the 25-year history of The Tick.

If you were a comics fan in the late 80s, early 90s, you were a fan of The Tick. And considering Edlund is a local boy from Brockton who started the series based on a drawing he made for New England Comics in Brockton (once upon a time my local comic store, where they knew me by name and regularly asked me if I had some kind of a Goddamned death wish, bringing money into Brockton), this might be out lunchtime stop.

Marvel’s Infinity
Saturday July 20, 2013 1:45pm – 2:45pm
Room 6A
It’s the Avengers versus their greatest galactic foe, Thanos! Get the lowdown on Jonathan Hickman’s six-issue event that pulls in your favorite heroes from all corners of the Marvel Universe. Plus, get the 4-1-1 on all your other favorite Avengers titles! Featuring editor-in-chief Axel Alonso, and writers Sam Humphries (Avengers A.I.), Rick Remender (Uncanny Avengers), Charles Soule (Thunderbolts), and Nick Spencer (Secret Avengers)!

See, this just brings up a pet peeve I had at last year’s Comic-Con: if this is Hickman’s story… where the hell is Hickman? We’ve got the secondary writers, which is better than some of the other Marvel panels, but a panel about a book where the primary creators aren’t there wind up feeling like vastly more hype than actual news. And there’s nothing wrong with hype… but we’re an independent comics Web site looking for something meaty to write about. And a bunch of guys shouting, “Yay, Marvel!” ain’t it.

So instead…

Skybound Panel
Saturday July 20, 2013 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Room 7AB
Join Robert Kirkman as well as Skybound writers and artists including Joshua Williamson, Matteo Scalera and Justin Jordan as they announce new Skybound titles and discuss what’s coming up in The Walking Dead, Invincible, Thief of Thieves, Ghosted, and more.

I want to hear two words from this panel: “Luther” and “Strode.” Either that, or “Free” and “Blowjobs.”

How To Get A Job In The Video Game Industry
Saturday July 20, 2013 2:30pm – 3:30pm
Room 24ABC

You will hear two words in this panel: “Free” and “Blowjobs.”

Vertigo: The Sandman 25th Anniversary and Beyond
Saturday July 20, 2013 3:15pm – 4:15pm
Room 6DE
This year Vertigo’s flagship title The Sandman returns to comics in an all-new series written by Neil Gaiman (TheSandman)! Join Neil for a celebration of the 25th anniversary of this timeless series and an exclusive look at what is in store for the Lord of the Dreaming with Neil and his past and future legendary collaborators, Dave McKean, Sam Kieth, Todd Klein, and J. H. Williams III.

Yeah, we’re not getting into this.

Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment: Superman’s 75th Anniversary Celebration
Saturday July 20, 2013 4:15pm – 5:15pm
Room 6A
As the most recognizable superhero in the world, Superman has flown high in film, TV, radio, animation and, of course, comics for 75 glorious years. Join a star-studded panel, including cast, filmmakers, artists and writers from Superman’s illustrious history-from Jack Larson (the original Jimmy Olsen from Adventures of Superman) and first-time Comic-Con panelist Tim Daly (Superman: The Animated Series) and reigning animated Supergirl Molly Quinn (Castle), to comics luminaries Paul Levitz, Grant Morrison, and Dan Jurgens, plus talent from the current blockbuster, Man of Steel — as they reminisce and discuss the beloved character’s many personifications, impressive history, and ongoing relevance within society and entertainment. And courtesy of Mattel and Warner Bros. Consumer Products, all fans attending the panel will receive a special Superman Quick Shots figure!

Totally worth it, if only to see Grant Morrison tell Jack Larson, “I turned you into a hipster douchebag!”

But then again…

What’s Next At Image Comics
Saturday July 20, 2013 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Room 6DE
Image Comics dropped some huge announcements earlier this month at their Image Expo media event. Now’s your chance to get up close and personal with the creators and titles added to the increasingly legendary Image catalogue! Join Image publisher Eric Stephenson and a panel of talent to find out what the country’s largest independent comics publisher has in store for the rest of 2013, 2014 and beyond. Moderated by Eric Stephenson and featuring panelists Ed Brubaker, J. Michael Straczynski, and Matt Fraction.

Image has, more often than not, been knocking it out of the park with their creator-owned stuff for the past couple of years, and with talent like they have stacked up at this panel, I want to hear some more. Besides, it’ll be entertaining to see that vein pop in Stephenson head the minutes someone says, “Image United.”

Spotlight on J. Michael Straczynski
Saturday July 20, 2013 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Room 7AB
Just when we thought we’d gotten rid of him once and for all, Comic-Con special guest J. Michael Straczynski created Studio JMS and its subsidiary Joe’s Comics, via Image, which debuted Ten Grand this past May and will be launching a special variant edition right here at SDCC. We consider this the worst kind of retribution for our prior panel descriptions and are considering our next move. This may lead to fisticuffs. Oh, yeah, and he writes movies and TV and stuff like that. Whatever.

We missed JMS’s spotlight panel last year, but we’re gonna try like hell to make it this year. Joe tells great stories, and is more than happy to become defensive and entertainingly belligerent if someone gives him any shit. I’m gonna ask him how he came up with the idea for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine!

Batman: The Animated Series Turns 21
Saturday July 20, 2013 5:45pm – 6:45pm
Room 6DE
Pop the champagne! The landmark television production Batman: The Animated Series turns 21 this year. Spend an hour with the creative core of this groundbreaking series — Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, Alan Burnett, and Eric Radomski — as they recollect the dynamics of crafting a series that would have a resounding influence on Dark Knight properties — and the entire animated television landscape — for two decades and counting.

I am old.

And with that horrifying revelation, it’s on to Sunday!

DC Comics’ Superman: The New 52 Era
Sunday July 21, 2013 10:00am – 11:00am
Room 6DE
The Last Son of Krypton is one of the most recognized pop culture icons of all time, and this year, Superman is set to soar to new heights! Find out what makes The Man of Steel the hero that he is with the writers and artists who bring him to life: DC Comics group editor Eddie Berganza, Tony Daniel (Action Comics), Jim Lee (Superman: Unchained), Scott Lobdell (Action Comics, Superman), Michael Alan Nelson (Supergirl), Scott Snyder (Superman: Unchained), and others.

See a bunch of dudes use an hour to explain how they are planning, without any editorial interference whatsoever, to make Superman more like the Superman in the hit movie Man of Steel!

Meet The Co-Publishers
Sunday July 21, 2013 11:15am – 12:15pm
Room 6DE
As co-publishers of DC Entertainment, Jim Lee and Dan DiDio are the driving forces behind DC Comics — The New 52, Vertigo, MAD, DC’s digital initiative, and much more. This up-close-and-personal panel gives you a chance to step up and ask questions about your favorite comic book publishers!

Until a couple of years ago, my favorite part of Comic-Con was Dan DiDio’s Why We Love Comics panel on Sunday mornings. Those panels don’t happen anymore (but I’m hoping DiDio maybe does it at the Boston Comic Con next month), but this is about as close as we’re gonna get now. And even though it’s not the same, it’s close, and worth attending.

George R. R. Martin Discusses The Skin Trade Adaptation
Sunday July 21, 2013 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Room 25ABC
George R. R. Martin, the New York Times bestselling author and the mind behind HBO’s massively successful Game of Thrones, discusses his novels, his projects, and the wicked new Skin Trade comic book series! His novels are the most anticipated releases in fiction, and the Game of Thrones series has captivated audiences worldwide. This is your chance to find out direct from the creative mastermind himself what twists, turns, and unfortunate ends your favorite characters are in for and why Skin Trade will make your skin crawl.

Amanda and I have both read and love Martin’s The Skin Trade. We will, however, not be able to get in, thanks to scores of fans asking what happens to Jon Snow in the next Song of Ice And Fire novel.

Spotlight on Neil Gaiman
Sunday July 21, 2013 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Room 6DE
Comic-Con special guest Neil Gaiman has crossed over into numerous media. From comics to novels, from kids’ books to animation, from television to movies, Neil remains one of the most popular creators in the world. Visiting Comic-Con this year to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his seminal comics creation The Sandman, he’ll talk about everything that’s going on his career right now.

Not getting in.

And besides:

Buffy The Musical: Once More With Feeling
Sunday July 21, 2013 3:30pm – 4:30pm
Room 6BCF
Let’s end this show with a bang! The powers that be behind Whedonopolis and Fandom Charities present a screening of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical episode Once More with Feeling as Comic-Con’s big closing event! Many say this is the finest, funniest, most ingenious episode ever to come out of the Buffyverse. But remember, the best part of the show is up to you! This episode was made for talkin’ — back, that is — and singing and shouting and dancing in the aisles, with or without your dry cleaning! Audience participation: It isn’t just for Rocky Horror and mob riots anymore.

We’ve been attending this screening for the past five years, and it is a blast. Nothing says that you have attended the biggest genre convention in the world than being able to shout, “Fuck off, Dawn!” in a large public space.

It’s ten days to Zero Hour, kids. And if you’re not going, remember: stay tuned to this channel for daily news and updates from the floor.