SDCC Panel Round-Up: The Diverse Voices of Friday and Saturday

On this edition of the Weekly Round-Up: SDCC Panel Edition, we’re taking a look at panel programming for Friday and Saturday of San Diego Comic-Con and picking out our top choices for panels with representation, inclusion, and diversity in pop culture and fandom in mind. And away we go, Con folk!

Friday

Over30Cosplay: Costuming Advice, Support, and Fandom for the Mature Cosplayer | 10:00am – 11:00am  Grand 10 & 11, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina)

Come and listen to John D. Callison (award-winning cosplayer, CEO and founder of Over30Cosplay), Patricia Tallman (actor and stuntwoman, president of Qwest Retreats, best known as Lyta on Babylon 5and Barbara from Night of the Living Dead), Ryan Weels, Cara Nicole (AZPowerGirl, award-winning cosplayer, master level costumer, and experienced model), Bernie Bergman (president and CEO of XLE Experience Level Entertainment), Chad Edward Lee Evett (president and chief designer Stoopid Buddy Stoodios), Shelly Grace-Bowers (ScarlettCosplay, award-winning and published cosplayer and costume designer), Sherman Blakeley (GreenMileCosplay, stunt double bodyguard, and published actor), and Jen Greeley (award-winning cosplayer, senior reporter at Over30Cosplay, administrator at Costumers with a Cause) as they celebrate the history of comic and cosplay culture, offer couples cosplay ideas, and give advice on combating negative, age-related stereotypes. Plus, tips on costume choice, dating, and family, social media/marketing age awareness, and how to combat bullying in the community.

The 2019 Black Panel | 10:00am – 11:30am  Room 5AB 

The Plot Against Static Shock: Are some banned Black creators deliberately set up by publishers? Yeah, it’s like that, and that’s the way, uh-huh uh-huh, I like it. I know you were expecting RUN DMC but got KC & The Sunshine Band instead. Well, Don McGregor (writer, Black Panther), Steve Geppi (owns Baltimore—yep, the entire city), and Greg Resse (journalist) love that song and are part of this year’s panel. Wayne Brady (everything), Bill Duke (director and runner of red lights), and Lakita Garth-Wright (writer, media consultant) will join them. Also joining the panel will be Darryl McDaniels, better known as DMC. It’s like that, and that’s the way it is. Look for some big surprises. Any spokesperson who makes a Michael Davis announcement and isn’t Michael Davis is lying.

DreamWorks She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, a Netflix Original Series  |10:15am – 11:15am Room 6BCF

 Join the Rebellion! Executive producer Noelle Stevenson, Aimee Carrero (Adora/She-Ra), Karen Fukuhara (Glimmer), Marcus Scribner (Bow), and Lauren Ash (Scorpia) offer a peek inside the highly anticipated third season of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power in a conversation moderated by Entertainment Weekly senior editor Patrick Gomez.

Source: Netflix

Build a Better World Through Gaming (A Women in Gaming Panel) | 11:00am – 12:00pm Grand 12 & 13, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina

Sarah Hebbler (executive producer, Psyonix), Stephanie Thoensen (senior communications manager, Psyonix), Janessa Herrera (account manager, Online Performer’s Group), Candela S. Rebot (founder/chief creative officer, Sparkd Studios), and Helen Theriault (store manager, Microsoft) are the panelists who will be discussing the ways to improve the cultural differences and experiences of women in the gaming industry. A Q&A session will follow the panel discussion. Moderated by Donnell Hilliard (assistant store manager, Microsoft).

Embracing Your Inner Geek: An Interactive Self-Care Workshop | 12:00pm – 1:00pm Artists’ Loft, BarrioHaus

Neisha T Mulchan (Diversely Geek CEO and ARNP) with the assistance of Jonathan Panarello (APRN, ANP-C ) merge our love of fandom with strategies for mental wellness. Participants will learn to create their own fandom-oriented, self-affirmation care plans that build positive self-value. She is joined by Jyoti Ramdat (communications director, Diversely Geek) and Melissa Gibbo (author, Boredom Kills).

Comics in Mexico: A Rich History and Vibrant Present | 1:00pm – 2:00pm The Theater, Comic-Con Museum

Comics have been created, published, and read in Mexico since the 1930s. The history of Mexican comics encompasses celebrities, filmmakers, classic characters, and Mexican culture and folklore. Moderator Hugo Castro (Gamacon founder and CEO) and panelists Oscar Bazaldua (comics writer and artist), Luis Gantus (comics historian, writer, and editor), Bernardo Guerrero (founder of Bazar del Comic), and Adalisa Zárate (cartoonist, writer and editor) will take a look at this rich history. They also will touch on the work of the editors who bring to Mexico great stories created around the world to the delight of Mexican readers.

LGBTQ+ YA Graphic Novels | 1:00pm – 2:00pm Shiley Special Events Suite, San Diego Central Library

Panelists Rosemary Valero-Connell (Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me), Sarah Graley (Kim Reaper), Claudia Aguirre (Morning in America) and Lilah Sturges (Lumberjanes: The Infernal Compass) discuss LGBTQ+ in Young Adult graphic novels, from developing authentic visual stories to comics as a safe space for all identities. Moderated by Amanda Melilli (ALA Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table). In conjunction with CBC Graphic Novel Committee.

“It’s Women Who Love Horror”: The Forgotten British Girls’ Comics | 3:00pm – 4:00pm Room 29AB

Misty was the groundbreaking British comic for girls that laid the way for women’s horror comics. This diverse panel will discuss how, while horror has often been seen as a male-centric genre, it has always been driven by a huge female fandom and how the revival of Misty can once again pave the way for a new kind of comics. Moderated by journalist Rosie Knight.

Source: Do You Even Comic Book

The Diversity of Star Wars | 3:00pm – 4:00pm Horton Grand Theatre

Despite taking place in a galaxy far, far away, Star Wars remembered representation was important. From Rose Tico, Poe Damaron, Finn, Rey, Jyn Erso, and the cast of Rogue One, it only made the recent announcement of The Mandalorian so much more exciting. Special Star Wars actors, film critics, and cosplayers discuss with the founder of Positive Pop Culture/Persisted Media Group the coming of diversity for Star Wars and their hopes for the future.

Creating for Change: Tackling Big Issues with Great Books | 4:00pm – 5:00pm Room 4

In this exciting era of comics storytelling, marginalized communities, voices, and topics are being brought to the attention of audiences everywhere. Creators Marc Andreyko (Love Is Love), Harmony Becker (Himawari Share, They Called Us Enemy), Regine Sawyer (Women in Comics NYC Collective), and additional guests will present a thoughtful discussion on the utility of sequential storytelling for stimulating meaningful debate and—dare we hope—change. Moderated by They Called Us Enemy co-author Justin Eisinger.

Entertainment Is Female: A Conversation with Hollywood Executives | 5:00pm – 6:00pm  Room 25ABC

From the production companies that brought you Transformers, Deadpool, LEGO movies, The Walking Dead, Lumberjanes, and Mission Impossible, women executives discuss how they are pushing for female representation in Hollywood while adapting comics and games to the big screen. Moderator Tiffany Smith (DC All Access) is joined by panelists Jeannette Francis (Bad Robot), Mette Norkjaer (BOOM! Studios), Nikki Baida (Genre Films), Grey Cusack (Hasbro/Allspark Pictures), Aubrey Lee (Lord Miller), and Sam Crawley (Skybound Entertainment).

Filipinx Voices in Podcasting | 5:00pm – 6:00pm Neil Morgan Auditorium, San Diego Central Library

The hosts of Diverse Geeks in Focus will do a live recording on Filipinx and Filipinx American voices and the culture’s effects on pop culture as a whole. Gemma Vidal (host, Diverse Geeks in Focus), Alix Catherine (host, Ready Set Geek!), Justin Quizon (Screen Rant, That Hashtag Show), Elaine Dolalas (host, This Filipino American Life), Earl Baylon (Tomb Raider series, Pangeekery), and JPG (CEO, Geek Say What? Network) address the Filipinx diaspora, telling their own stories, and how Filipinx voices neatly fit into geek culture.

Creator Origins: A Candid Conversation on LBGTQ Comics Creation | 6:00pm – 7:00pm Room 9

Every hero has an origin story—the defining moment where they took the leap into greatness—and so do your favorite comic book creators. Moderator Megan Townsend (GLAAD) hosts some of the industry’s brightest LGBTQ comic creators and LGBTQ-content publishers, in a tell-all panel where they’ll recount their comics beginnings and their journey to stardom. Including Joe Glass (The Pride), Clive Hawken (Delver), Spike Trotman (Iron Circus Comics), and Ivan Salazar (comiXology).

Queer Fear | 7:00pm – 8:00pm Room 28DE

The queer community has had a long history with the horror genre, from “coding” within the Universal monster classics to the oft-cited A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 and beyond. Does a queer horror genre exist, and if so, what makes it different from mainstream horror? Furthermore, how does the current cultural and societal climate alter the lens through which we celebrate and connect to the macabre? Learn more from Prism comics and moderator/filmmaker Michael Varrati (Tales of Poe, Deathcember) and an array of panelists including Jane Clark (Crazy Bitches, Meth Head), BJ Colangelo (Powerbomb, journalist at Bloody-Disgusting, Day of the Woman), Sam Wineman (The Quiet Room, Santaland), Fernando Rivera(author of The Afterliving, writer/director of Where Monster Hides), Amanda Deibert (Wonder Woman ’77,John Carpenter’s Tales for a Halloween Night), and William O. Tyler (Ratboy, Theater of Terror: Revenge of the Queers)

DisSDCC: Representation, Inclusion, Accessibility | 9:00pm – 10:00pm Room 28DE) 

Disability representation in media and fandom, discussion, and Q&A. Panelists include Shoshannah Stern(This Close), Nic Novicki (Easterseals Disability Film Challenge), Rachel Miner (D&D Live, Supernatural), Cindy Kapp, Kai Winchester, Emy Cook, and Lynn Gagne. Moderated by Tanya Cook (Always Keep Nerd Fighting).

 

Saturday

You’ll find that a lot of the big studio and network panels vie for attention today, but if you find yourself shut out of Hall H or Ballroom 20, check out these phenomenal picks to expand your geekery and perspective. 

Superpower to the People: Making Comics Work for Its Workers | 10:00am – 11:00am Room 29AB

Comics is now a far more diverse community and an economic powerhouse to boot. But working conditions are still terrible. Why? And how do we change that? Editor Joan Hilty (Nickelodeon), writer Mairghread Scott (Batgirl, Marvel Rising), fandom pioneer Maggie Thompson (Comics Buyers’ Guide), and colorist Marissa Louise (Hex Wives) dive into the past, present, and future of comics labor rights.

Women of Marvel: 10 Years and 200 Episodes | 10:00am – 11:30am Room 5AB

Celebrate 10 years of Women of Marvel panels and 200 podcast episodes! Hosts Sana Amanat (VP of Content and Character Development, Marvel) and Judy Stephens (producer, Marvel) and others will talk 80 years of Marvel history, what it’s like working as a woman in comics, and the future of the industry.

Source: Podbean

Comics and Geek Items for the Blind and Visually Impaired | 12:00pm – 1:00pm Room 2

Blind and visually impaired people love comics, gaming, TV, movies, and all the sorts of science fiction/fantasy/horror art forms just as much as their sighted counterparts. How do they enjoy such things with little or no eyesight? Totally blind martial artist, competitive surfer, and unashamed geek Joshua Loya and actor/audiobook narrator/writer Scott Brick will share available options for nonvisual entertainment. Panelists include Joshua Loya (champion surfer, martial artist, public speaker, and professional adventurer), Charles Constant (actor; studied with renown acting teacher Ted Liss in Chicago, and is currently participating in a two-year Meisner Technique program at the prestigious Baron-Brown Studios), Christina Stevens (award-winning filmmaker, author, and inspirational speaker who works with Anna Caparezza at Deluxe), and Scott Brick (American actor, writer, and award-winning narrator of over 850 audiobooks by bestselling authors, including Michael Crichton, Frank Herbert, and Isaac Asimov).

Real World Reflected in Fantasy | 12:00pm – 1:00pm Room 29AB

What do these powerhouse YA authors have in common? They all are writing groundbreaking, highly acclaimed (or highly anticipated) work that pulls from the trials and tribulations of real life to create mind-bending fantasy. Tomi Adeyemi (Children of Blood and Bone) tackles systemic racism in the Legacy of Orïsha trilogy. Marie Lu (Legend trilogy) contemplates economic disparity and climate change in her series and the upcoming Rebel. Margaret Owen (The Merciful Crow) promotes social justice in her debut. And Hafsah Faizal (We Hunt the Flame) dispels myths about Arabian culture in her first novel. Moderated by Mary Pearson (The Remnant Chronicles, Dance of Thieves), author of the upcoming Vow of Thieves.

Comics Arts Conference Session #11: Who is the Black Panther? The Psychology of Black Panther, Wakanda, and the Transformative Power of Comic Books|1:00pm – 2:00pm Room 26AB 

Psychologists J. Scott Jordan (Illinois State University), Travis Langley (Henderson State University), and Eric Wesselmann (Illinois State University) along with comic book creators Don McGregor (Black Panther) and Alex Simmons (Blackjack) participate in an in-depth discussion of the psychological issues addressed in Black Panther comics, including microaggressions, cultural representation, social exclusion, gender roles, bullying, individualistic versus holist cultures, forms of collectivism, and the role of ritual in cultural sustainment. The panel addresses the psychological factors at play during the creation of the comic book world of Wakanda as well as the transformative influence of Black Panther comics on both the industry and the public.

George Takei: They Called Us Enemy | 1:00pm – 2:00pm Room 25ABC 

In his brand-new graphic memoir, They Called Us Enemy, the beloved actor, author, and activist George Takei revisits his haunting childhood in American internment camps, as one of 120,000 Japanese Americans imprisoned by the U.S. government during World War II. Experience the forces that shaped an American icon-and America itself-in this gripping tale of courage, country, loyalty, and love. You’ll hear firsthand from George, as well as his co-authors Justin Eisinger and Steven Scott and artist Harmony Becker, about this dark chapter of our nation’s history, its impact on Takei’s astonishing life, and its urgent relevance for today’s world.

Source: IDW Publishing

Diversity in Writing: Women Writers and Producers Take Charge in TV, Animation, Comics, Games, Online | 5:30pm – 6:30pm Room 26AB

Award-winning diverse women writers and producers will discuss creating stories with strong diverse female characters across TV, animation, comics, and games; they’ll also address the importance of diverse representation, getting started in writing, and their career paths from writing to executive producing top shows. Panelists include Nicole Dubuc (Star Wars Forces of Destiny, Rebels; producer of Transformers: Rescue Bots Academy; winner of WGA Animation Writing Award), Denise Downer (Marvel’s Avengers Black Panther’s Quest, Power Rangers: Beast Morphers), Keto Shimizu (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, executive producer and writer; Arrow), Silvia Olivias (Disney’s Elena of Avalor, producer and writer; Moesha), Anne Toole (Horizon Zero Dawn, WGA Video Game Award winner; The Lizzie Bennet Diaries), Joelle Sellner (DC Super Hero Girls, Sonic Boom), and Gloria Shen (Disney Channel’s Amphibia).

Black and Queer in Popular Media | 6:00pm – 7:00pm Room 29AB

Black representation has gained integral attention within the geek culture. However, Black Queer characters and stories continue to be limited or absent from the discussion. Prism Comics and moderator Viktor Kerney (StrangeLore, co-host of the MEGASHEEN podcast) and panelists Valerie Complex(Screenwriter, Entertainment Journalist), Eric Cooper (Knight Seeker, CEO of Black Label ComiCon), Eliot Sutler (BiNet, Bisexual Women of Color Collaborative) and William O. Tyler (Ratboy, Theater of Terror: Revenge of the Queers; Cinephilia) as they discuss a myriad of topics from portrayals of Black Queer people across media platforms to Black Queer contributions to the sci-fi, fantasy, comics genre.

Spiritual Themes in Comics | 7:00pm – 8:00pm  Room 4 

Spiritual Themes in Comics continues the always-lively discussion of spiritual themes in comics, television, and movies. This panel delves into how spirituality influences the entertainment industry and in turn impacts the culture’s perception of spiritual influences. This is the 23rd year of the Spiritual Themes in Comics panel and panelists include Scott Mercano (Diablo Publishing), Travis Hanson (Beanleaf Press), B. Dave Walters (Vampire the Masquerade), Buzz Dixon (G.I. Joe), Hector Miray (Faith and Fandom), and Kyle Keene (moderator).

Tropetastic: How to Write and Subvert Tropes | 7:00pm – 8:00pm Room 11

From tired to wired, problematic to plucky, tropes have always existed in character arcs, plot devices, and even character types. Panelists Ray Utarnachitt (Legends of Tomorrow), Sarah Kuhn (Heroine Complex), Jeane Wong (Arrow), Nilah Magruder (Marvel Rising), Jenn Polish (Lunav), and Valerie Complex (Black Girl Nerds) will discuss how to use and develop tropes in writing, from subverting harmful tropes in nuanced ways to using clichéd tropes with a refreshing new voice. Moderated by C. B. Lee (Sidekick Squad series).

Out in Comics Year 32: Tearing Down a Stonewall | 7:00pm – 9:00pm Room 29AB

The comic world’s longest-running panel turns 32! With LGBTQ or LGBTQ-friendly creators as writers, artists, directors, producers, actors, entertainers, and journalists, what do their characters and creations mean for diverse representation, characters, and storylines on comics, film, and television? Just three weeks after the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots-which changed the battle for gay rights forever-this diverse all-star panel will celebrate and spotlight creators, comics, and fans as they discuss the past, present, and future Out in Comics. Founding moderator and bestselling author Andy Mangels (Wonder Woman ’77 Meets The Bionic Woman, Star Trek, and Star Wars books and comics) again chairs the panel and welcomes panelists Justin Hall (writer/editor of Fantagraphics’ No Straight Lines: Four Decades of Queer Comics, producer of the upcoming 2020 film No Straight Lines: The Rise of Queer Comics, and teacher at California College of the Arts), Maya Kern (artist of the Hearts Thorns and Scales book and the webcomic Monster Pop!, nominated for the 2017 PRISM Awards), Che Grayson (Brooklyn-based filmmaker and writer for Image’s Bitch Planet Triple Feature, IDW’s Femme Magnifique, and Lion Forge’s Noble), Alitha E. Martinez (GLAAD-award-winning artist of Black Panther: World of Wakanda; artist for Batgirl, NBC’s Heroes, Riverdale, Iron Man, and more), Chad Michaels (RuPaul’s DragRace), Vincent J. Roth (writer, producer and star of cinema’s first gay superhero films, 2004’s Surge of Power: The Stuff of Heroes, 2017’s Surge of Power: Revenge of the Sequel, and the upcoming 2020 film, Surge of Dawn), Chuck Rozanski (Colorado owner of Mile High Comics, one of the largest comic chains in the world, and nationally recognized drag queen and Imperial Sovereign Court Titleholder Bettie Pages), Brandon T. Snider (author of the queer-inclusive Avengers: Infinity War middle-grade books, and many Wonder Woman, Batman, Adventure Time, Peter Powers, and other young readers books), and Lilah Sturges(writer of the books Lumberjanes: The Internal Compass and The Magicians: Alice’s Story; writer and co-writer of DC’s Jack of Fables, Shadowpact, House of Mystery, Blue Beetle, and more). The panel will also include footage from WB’s Batwoman, No Straight Lines, and Surge of Dawn, plus an all-ages trailer for the 2019 film festival Dirty Sexy Comics, a documentary by Robert Chandler. The panel will be followed by a brief Prism Comics Fan Mixer, allowing LGBTQ fans and allies to meet and mingle!

Studio Ghibli Kiki’s Delivery Service Screening | 7:00pm – 9:15pm Horton Grand Theatre 

Celebrate the 30th anniversary of Kiki’s Delivery Service! This coming-of-age story follows Kiki, a young witch-in-training, to a new town where she delivers goods by broomstick and meets new friends. Join Her Universe and Hot Topic for Studio Ghibli trivia, prizes, and a special screening of this delightful adventure with a special host.

Source: BBC

GirlsDrawinGirls: Pinups and The Life of a Professional Woman Artist | 9:00pm – 10:00pm Room 23ABC

Since 2006, GirlsDrawinGirls has grown from just 18 local LA women artists to around 200 women artists from all over the world. They are all professionals in the animation, comics, video games, and film industry and have chosen to draw pinup art, which has been predominately male-dominated, to showcase the art from a female point of view. By redefining the pinup, they are not only setting the focus on the diverse and talented women in the entertainment arts industry but are also embracing their own take on their bodies and their sexuality on their terms. Featuring Melody Severns (GDG founder, WB Animation, and Simpsons artist), Noelle Raffaele (WB director, DC Super Hero Girls), Danni Shinya Luo (world celebrated illustrator), and Lisa Dosson (Disney storyboard artist).

Did we miss anything you think we absolutely need to share, post in the comments!