11:30-12:45 Eisner Spirit Award Video Viewing— The Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award is the industry’s “Hall of Fame” for progressive retailers. Spirit Award facilitator and award recipient Joe Ferrara (Atlantis Fantasyworld, Santa Cruz, CA) shows the video presentations for this year’s award finalists, with discussion about each nominated retailer, the store’s display techniques, and the other notable features. Hey, retailers! Steal some good ideas here! Room 12
Categories: Awards Ceremonies | Comics | Retailer Programming | Seminars & Workshops

(will any Canadian stores make it as finalists this year?)

12:30-1:30 Spotlight on the Immonens: Sex, Lies and Comic Books— Kathryn Immonen (Heralds) and Stuart Immonen (New Avengers) enter the ring with the peerless John Siuntres (wordballoon.com) to talk about working for Marvel, publishing with Top Shelf, and sleeping with the enemy. See new work unveiled! Bring your questions! Room 9
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Comics | Writers & Writing

1:00-2:00 Super— Writer/director James Gunn (Slither), stars Rainn Wilson (The Office), Liv Tyler (Lord of the Rings), Nathan Fillion (Firefly), and Michael Rooker (Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer), and producers Ted Hope (Adventureland) and Miranda Bailey (The Squid and the Whale) reveal footage from their latest feature production Super, including the first peek at Rainn and Ellen Page’s costume design. Super is a hyper-real and shockingly funny look at the extremely violent antics of a down-on-his-luck man as he attempts to win his wife back from a glamorous drug dealer by teaming up with a psychopathic teen to become costumed crimefighters. Hall H
Categories: Action/Adventure | Humor & Satire | Movies

1:45-2:45 Batman: The Return— As the Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne rages on, follow the Bat-Signal to this panel and uncover clues about the future of the Dark Knight from some of the A-list talent behind the publishing line. If you think you know where this story’s headed — Think again! Hear it here from group editor Mike Marts, Paul Dini (Batman: Streets of Gotham), David Finch (Batman), Grant Morrison (Batman & Robin), Dustin Nguyen (Batman: Streets of Gotham), and others. Room 6DE
Room 6DE
Categories: Comics | Superheroes | Writers & Writing

2:00-3:00 Graphic Novels: The Personal Touch— You know when you read it: that certain something that sticks out in a graphic novel. It’s the personal touch, a work that draws on the life of the creator or the people around him or her. Call the work autobiographical, call it reality—many times it results in truly personal and inspiring comics. Comics creator and journalist Shaenon Garrity (Narbonic, Skin Horse) talks to Comic-Con special guests Gabrielle Bell (Cecil & Jordan in New York), Howard Cruse (Stuck Rubber Baby), Vanessa Davis (Make Me a Woman), Larry Marder (Beanworld), Jillian Tamaki (Skim), and C. Tyler (You’ll Never Know Book 1: A Good and Decent Man) about their very personal work. Room 4
Categories: Art and Illustration | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Comics | Writers & Writing

2:00-3:00 Yo Gabba Gabba! – Panel, Q&A, and Prize Giveaway— For the first time ever, Christian Jacobs and Scott Schultz, co-creators of Yo Gabba Gabba!, will appear at Comic Con to discuss the pop culture phenomenon, which began as a breakout hit series on Nickelodeon produced by The Magic Store and W!LDBRAIN Entertainment, and has since become a hit on stage and screen with preschoolers, their indie-rock-loving parents, teens and young adults. Get the behind-the-scenes scoop on the recently announced 60-city North American tour, Yo Gabba Gabba! Live!: There’s a Party in My City. Enter for a chance to win Yo Gabba Gabba! prizes. Get a first look at scenes from upcoming episodes, and be the first to hear about the highly anticipated Yo Gabba Gabba! comic book from Oni Press. Michael Polis, executive producer of Yo Gabba Gabba! and CEO of W!LDBRAIN Entertainment, moderates the panel, which includes Lance Robertson (DJ Lance Rock), Kevin Sukho Lee (animation producer, songwriter), J. Torres, (comic book writer/co-editor), and Matthew Lou (comic book artist). The panel will be followed by a Q&A session. Room 8
Categories: Animation | Comics | Kids | Television

3:00-4:00 Superman: Man of Tomorrow— It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s The Man of Steel — and he’s back on Earth and primed to take 2010 by storm! Don’t miss members of the exciting new Superman creative teams as they discuss their plans for Superman, Lex Luthor, Superboy, Supergirl, and more led by DC group editor Matt Idelson, with Paul Cornell (Action Comics), Shane Davis (Superman: Earth One), Sterling Gates (Supergirl), Jeff Lemire (Superboy), J. Michael Strazcynski (Superman: Earth One, Superman), and others. Room 6DE
Categories: Comics | Superheroes

3:30-4:30 Comics Design— How do pages of art become a book? Six designers — Mark Chiarello (DC Comics), Adam Grano (Fantagraphics), Chip Kidd (Random House), Fawn Lau (VIZ), Mark Siegel (First Second Books), and Keith Wood (Oni Press)—discuss what’s involved in the process of comics design, and the importance of design to a book’s critical and consumer reception. Moderated by Chris Butcher (The Beguiling). Room 26AB
Categories: Art and Illustration | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comics | Seminars & Workshops

5:30-6:30 Vertigo: On the Edge— Find out what compelling tales comics’ edgiest imprint has in store for you in the months to come! Led by senior VP/executive editor Karen Berger, the all-star lineup of talent includes Rafael Albuquerque (American Vampire), Gabriel Bá (Daytripper), Cliff Chiang (Neil Young’s Greendale), Max Allan Collins (Road to Perdition), Joshua Dysart (Neil Young’s Greendale, Unknown Soldier), Peter Gross (The Unwritten), Matt Kindt (Revolver), Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth), Peter Milligan (Greek Street, Hellblazer), Fabio Moon (Daytripper), Chris Roberson (iZombie), Scott Snyder (American Vampire), Matthew Sturges (Jack of Fables), Jill Thompson (Little Endless), Bill Willingham (Fables) and others. Room 6DE
Categories: Art and Illustration | Comics | Horror and Suspense | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Writers & Writing

7:30-8:30 Udon: 10 Years of Comics and Games— Celebrating Udon’s 10th anniversary, Erik Ko (Udon chief), Jim Zubkavich (Udon project manager), Omar Dogan (Street Fighter Legends, Robotech), Chamba (Street Fighter II Turbo), Joe Ng (Street Fighter IV, Transformers), and others share tips and tricks they’ve learned working with some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Capcom, Marvel, Hasbro, and Blizzard. Find out how to break into the biz, and get a sneak peek at Udon’s upcoming projects. Room 3
Categories: Comics | Games | Nighttime Programming

8:30-11:30 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards— The 22nd annual Eisner Awards, the “Oscars” of the comics industry, will be given out at a gala ceremony at the Indigo Ballroom at the Hilton Bayfront. This year’s special theme is “Comics Fiesta.” The masters of ceremony are Bongo Comics’ Bill Morrison and voice actor Maurice LaMarche (Pinky and the Brain, Futurama). Presenters include writer/actor Thomas Robert and Ben Garant (Reno 911, Balls of Fury), cartoonist Berkeley Breathed (Bloom County), comedian/voice actor Phil LaMarr (Futurama, Family Guy, MadTV), comics writer James Robinson (Starman, Justice League of America), with many more to be announced. Other prestigious awards to be given out include the Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award and the Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award. Admission to the Eisners is free to all Comic-Con attendees — just be sure to bring your badge. Doors open for pro and VIP seating at 7:30 and for attendees at 8:15. All those who attend will receive a free Will Eisner graphic novel. Indigo Ballroom, San Diego Hilton Bayfront
Categories: Art and Illustration | Awards Ceremonies | Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Comics | Nighttime Programming | Writers & Writing

(many Canadians nominated in various categories)