Guys. It's that time of year. San Diego Comic-Con is next week - July 8 through July 12. It's arriving earlier than usual, and my body/soul/heart/etc is not quite ready. The truth is I wouldn't be quite ready regardless of the dates. It's impossible. You prepare as much as you can and it's stressful and tiring, but then you dive in and run on adrenaline, caffeine, unsatisfying and unfulfilling snacks, water, and more caffeine for four and a half days and it's fine. Fun, even.
Comic-Con seems to get busier for me every year - this is my tenth year attending the convention, by the way - and in addition to covering panels and press lines for places like IGN, Nerdist, and Fandango (this is what it's like to
cover Comic-Con as press), I'll be on three panels and moderating one and I'd love to see you at them! Here's my schedule:
Level-Up Your Style with Geek Fashion
Thursday, July 9, 1:00pm-2:00pm - Room 14A
Geek Fashion saw unprecedented growth in the past year, and with more choices comes more opportunities to make these clothes fit your own unique geek. This will be a hands-on panel that will talk about how to express your own unique style with geek clothing and accessories, classic layering pieces, hair/makeup, nails, and more. The panel will also highlight their favorite designers, retailers, and trends and discuss where they would all like to see geek fashion go in the future. Join moderator Dina Kampmeyer (fashion judge, The Geekie Awards) and panelists Amy Ratcliffe (Nerdist, Star Wars online), Anastasia Washington (Fashionably Nerdy), Josephine Moss (Geekosphere community analyst), Katie Elspeth (theatre costumer), Stephanie Bray (Subtle Fashion Geek), and Stephanie Pressman (Fashionably Nerdy) and learn how to shop and style smart, the geek way.
Live-Streaming on Periscope with Fandango
Thursday, July 9, 9:30am-10:30am and 4:00pm-5:00pm
Hang out with me while I take Fandango around the exhibit hall and around the Gaslamp. It will be like getting a taste of the Comic-Con experience without being there. I'll answer questions, ramble, etc. Get the link by following Fandango on
Twitter.
Geek Wars: The Nerds Awaken
Friday, July 10, 10:00am-11:00am, Room 14A
Professional nerds square off in an epic trivia battle for the ages, all while discussing the hottest pop culture topics, including racial stereotyping, objectification, online bullying, casting decisions, and more. Spanning comics, TV, film, and the web, this discussion will be hilarious, outrageous, and challenge your perspective on culture. Moderated by Tony B Kim (Crazy 4 Comic Con), this super-powered team will be joined by Chris Gore (comedian), Amy Ratcliffe (writer), Andre Meadows (comedian), Ivy Doom Kitty (pro cosplayer), Sam Maggs (writer), and Ali Mattu (clinical psychologist).
Building the Modern (Super)Heroine
Friday, July 10, 6:30pm-7:30pm, Room 26AB
More and more, heroines are being positioned front and center on the page and screen-Katniss, Agent Carter, Tris, Furiosa, Wonder Woman, and Captain Marvel, just to name a few. What do creators and fans want out of a powerful female protagonist? How can you pay tribute to the heroines of the past while still looking toward the future? What's the difference between writing established heroines and creating your own? And how can one best position and support these characters to usher in a whole new era of totally bad ass (super)heroines across all platforms? This dynamic group of creators and expert commentators will discuss the challenges of building modern heroines in a variety of mediums. With Cecil Castellucci (Stone in the Sky), Sarah Kuhn (Heroine Complex), Andrea Letamendi (psychologist, Arkham Sessions), Jose Molina (Agent Carter), and Babs Tarr (Batgirl). Moderated by Amy Ratcliffe (Star Wars online).
The Psychology of Star Trek vs. Star Wars: Episode V
Saturday, July 11, 7:30pm-8:30pm, Room 24ABC
Geeky psychologists Dr. Andrea Letamendi (The Arkham Sessions) and Dr. Ali Mattu (The Psych Show) step into the pop culture ring to debate the psychology of teamwork, rebellion, and galactic war. Panelists include Robert Meyer Burnett (Free Enterprise), Thom Zahler (Love and Capes), Consetta Parker (Rancho Obi-Wan), and Amy Ratcliffe (Star Wars Insider). Join a side, but remember: phasers and lightsabers are no match for this battle of wits! Refereed by Brian Ward (Comics, Assembled!)