SDCC 2011: Comics Panels You Don’t Want to Miss

San Diego Comic-Con 2011 is less than a week away and if you're planning on attending the super bowl of comic cons, you're probably overwhelmed with planning your days at the convention.  With hundreds of panels spread out across the 4 days of the con, we've done our best to help guide you to the must-see panels of the con.

 

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We did a post for Marvel panels, and one for DC is coming soon. This is… everything else in comics that we think you need to know about. It's daunting yes, but that's part of the challenge, and you've got to make a choice. There's more than enough fun to go around. For the fill list of programming, go to the Comic-Con International website.

 

Thursday, July 21

Dark Horse: Fall Publishing Highlights – 12:00 PM – Room 32AB

This is where Dark Horse is going to talk about what they’ve got coming up in the fall. They promise 3 secret surprise megastars from entertainment and publishing. Will the call of celebrity, however mysterious bring you in? They’ll be revealing the secret on Preview Night, but the information happens here.

Skybound Panel – 1:00 PM – Room 25ABC

Robert Kirkman’s imprint was announced last year, but now they’re ramped up. Kirkman will be there, and is always entertaining, joined by the creators of Witch Doctor, Brandon Seifert and Lukas Ketner, as well as Nick Spencer, who seems to be doing another book, Thief of Theives. More announcements are promised.

Love and Rockets – 2:00 PM – Room 9S

This is one of the seminal indie comics, and Gilbert, Jamie, and Mario Hernandez are talking with Gary Groth about the birth and growth of this now classic series.

Road to Stumptown – 6:00 PM – Room 7AB

Writer Greg Rucka and artist Matthew Southworth talk about their wonderful if not somewhat sporadically released series about a private detective. Nominated for an Eisner, I can only hope for more soon.

Friday, July 22

Locke & Key FOX Pilot Screening – 10:30 AM – Room 8

It isn’t on the fall schedule, but you can still take a look at what might have been. Based on the acclaimed IDW series by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez. Then, the next hour, the comic’s creators will do a panel on the book and pilot. If you can’t make it to this one, they’ll be showing it again at 9:15 PM in Room 6DE

Mike Mignola: Worlds at War – 11:00 AM – Room 4

The master of Hellboy and B.P.R.D. Mignola joins his editor Scott Allie, and the new B.P.R.D. artist Tyler Crook to talk about all the very significant doings in this world, and maybe a bit of what’s to come, because I have no idea what that might be.

AMC’s The Walking Dead – 11:15 AM – Ballroom 20

With pretty much the whole cast, along with Robert Kirkman, Frank Darabont, Gale Ann Hurd, and Greg Nicotero, this is the IT panel for Friday. You’ll probably have to camp out just to get in, but you’ll probably also see something before anyone else. At least until that shaky cameraphone video makes it to YouTube an hour later. No way this isn’t a fun one though.

Tribute to Gene Colan – 12:00 PM – Room 24ABC

Recently passed, no one disputes that Colan was a legend and a giant in the comic book world. Gathered to remember him will be Marv Wolfman, Roy Thomas, Dean Mullaney, and others. Pay some tribute and learn something.

Oni Press Panelmonium – 1:00 PM – Room 32AB

There are kind of too many people on this panel. But they called it Panelmonium, so I guess that works.Talking about some of the really exciting books coming up this year from Oni, like Petrograd, Spontaneous, Sixth Gun, and One Soul, there might not be a panel packed with more a more enticing line up of new books out there, and some amazing creators like Phil Gelatt, Tyler Crook, Ray Fawkes, Brett Weldele, Brian Hurtt, Cullen Bunn, and Joe Harris who made those books. You can always count on Oni for quality.

Image Comics Show – 3:00 PM – Room 25ABC

Here’s what’s coming from Image, along with a Q&A with some of their best writers. Join John Layman (Chew), Scott Snyder (Severed), Nick Spencer (Morning Glories), Ben McCool (Pigs), and Tim Seeley (Hack/Slash) for fun, and some exclusive announcements.

Saturday, July 23

Top Cow: We Create…Excitement – 11:30 AM – Room 8

Join Top Cow Founder Marc Silvestri, Publisher Filip Sablik, and president Matt Hawkins for all the announcements for upcoming releases, including the entrants for Pilot Season 2011 as well as film and TV announcements. I bet there will be some moo-based punning as well. Tastefully, of course.

Terry Moore – 12:00 PM – Room 9

It was a rule at one time, before things got very busy for us to never miss a Terry Moore panel, and now you must carry on. Find out about Rachel Rising, the Echo movie, and the Strangers in Paradise 20th Anniversary plans!

Robert Kirkman – 1:00 PM – Room 25ABC

You’ve seen him on our show, and he’s a big star now, so you know you want to be at this one. He’ll be talking Walknig Dead, Invincible, Super Dinosaur, and The Infinite, and might even be crackin’ wise.

Spotlight on Garth Ennis – 2:00 PM – Room 6DE

So, on the one side, you’ve got Garth Ennis, talking about his work at Avatar and Dynamite and his new short film, Stitched. But at the same time, there’s also…

Spotlight on J. Michael Straczynski – 2:00 PM – Room 7AB

He’ll be talking about Thor and Superman and Wonder Woman and World War Z. It’s your call.

Dark Horse: Joss Whedon – 3:00 PM – Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

I don’t think I need to explain this to the likes of you, do I?

BOOM! Studios/KABOOM!/BOOM! Town Panel – 5:00 PM – Room 9

Ross Richie, Matt Gagnon, and Chip Mosher promise that “you will not believe what you hear at this panel,” and that this will be one to see. Big promises is what we’re saying.

Sunday, July 24

Axe Cop – 10:00 AM – Room 6DE

The adult brother Ethan Nicolle and his 7 year old brother and collaborator Malachai Nicolle gather to talk of their amazing journey of id with Axe Cop, moderated by Kevin Murphy of MST 3K and RiffTrax.

Spotlight on Jordi Bernet – 11:30 AM – Room 8

He’s a star in Spain, and is as well respected a cartoonist in the US as there is. From his amazing work on Jonah Hex to Torpedo, Bernet will talk about all of it, and be interviewed by Sergio Aragones.