Comic-Con 2014

Areum Jeong (University of California, Los Angeles) examines how Lob and Rochette's graphic novel trilogy Le Transperceneige and the filmic adaptation Snowpiercer use local cultural and political motifs to construct a space in which the readers/viewers can imagine themselves as part of a nation. Sam Cannon (University of Texas at Austin) analyzes how the creators of Detective Heredia use locations in Santiago, Chile to conjure violent places of memory that synthesize past, present, and future meanings of the city. Cathy Thomas (University of California, Santa Cruz) uses recent work in hemispheric American border studies to explain how the misread love missive, such as the brick thrown by a mouse named Ignatz that always "creases the bean" of a cat called Krazy, re-stages courtship and colonial imagination.

Law professor Marc H. Greenberg (Golden Gate University School of Law, author of Comic Art, Creativity and the Law) and business professor and futurist Rob Salkowitz (University of Washington, author of Comic-Con and the Business of Pop Culture) consider how changes such as derivative copyright law, digital delivery of comics, and transmediation will affect the creative process and the comics industry in the near and long-term future.

Chris Murray (University of Dundee) discusses the often-overlooked and peculiar history of British superheroes, arguing that they reflect the changing relationship between the two countries in the aftermath of World War II. Julia Round (Bournemouth University) investigates the use of gothic and horror tropes in British girls' comics of the 1970s and 1980s, which, she argues, draw on some of the tropes of the previous generation of American horror comics. Phillip Vaughan (Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design) analyses British science fiction comics in terms of the influence from American comics, and considering their relationship to British and American television and film.

Antero Garcia (Colorado State University) and Peter Carlson (Green Dot Public Schools) provide educators with specific planning and facilitation strategies for using graphic novels and comics in the classroom to enhance student participation, academic discourse, and achievement. Rubrics, lesson plan templates, and instructional questions will be provided for attendees.

In recent years, animated features have enjoyed an enormous financial success: the three top-grossing animated films of 2013 accounted for 10% of the total U.S. box office. Despite this unprecedented success, critics and filmmakers have complained of a sameness creeping into the design and story of many films. Charles Solomon, an internationally respected critic and author of 16 books on the subject, will lead the discussion about the state of the animated feature and its future as both a medium of artistic expression and a financially viable form of filmmaking. David Silverman (director, The Pink Panther), Doug Sweetland (director, Storks), and Morishima Taro (associate producer, Paprika) will join the discussion.

UPDATED: Wed, Jul 16, 12:58PM
Amanda Nanawa (director of programming, FUNimation Channel), Jill Snider (senior programming manager, acquisitions, Starz), Azusa Kudo (international business development, Bang Zoom!), Paul Snow (head of west coast entertainment partnerships, YouTube) and Mario Rodriguez (digital development manager, Group 1200 Media/FUNimation) offer insight on programming anime for the U.S. audience. Panel moderated by Malik Forté (gaming editor, Nerdist Industries).

What's it like to work as a comics creator in Japan? What does it take to get your manga published in top magazines like Shonen Jump or Morning? How do you get a job as an assistant to a top manga-ka (comics artist)? Felipe Smith (writer/artist, All-New Ghost Rider, Peepo Choo, MBQ), Jamie Lynn Lano (former assistant manga-ka on The Prince of Tennis, author and artist, www.jamieism.com), and Steve Cummings (Wayward, Uglies, and Pantheon High) are three people who lived the dream in the motherland of manga, and boy, have they got stories to tell! They, along with editor/manga publishing pro Lillan Diaz-Pryzbyl (head comics editor, Sparker Monthly, former senior editor, TOKYOPOP Inc.), offer insights about what it really takes to make a living in manga in Japan (and North America), followed by what should be a lively Q&A session moderated by Deb Aoki (editor, MangaComicsManga.com).

UPDATED: Thu, Jul 17, 10:09AM
Manga sales have started coming back from the recession lows, and simultaneous publishing is starting to make inroads. So how are the people in the industry faring? Questions will be answered, and stories will be told! Hear it directly from long-time professionals Jonathan Tarbox (Fist of the North Star), Stephen Paul (One Piece), Ed Chavez (marketing director, Vertical), Nathan Collins (Battle Royale Remastered), and Lillian Diaz-Przybyl (head editor, comics, Chromatic Press).

John Siuntres (Word Balloon Comics Podcast host) and Mark Waid (Thrillbent Comics) present this rarely seen in the U.S. short film. In 1978 the Canadian TV Show Behind The Scene produced a 20-minute look at the comic book business featuring footage shot at the offices of DC and Marvel Comics. Narrated by comedian Jonathan Winters, the film stands as a time capsule look at how comics were made and marketed in the pre-digital world of the mid-20th century. You'll see footage and comments from Stan Lee, Archie Goodwin, Neal Adams, Julie Schwartz, Denny O'Neil, Jim Steranko, John Romita, and many more! The audience will get the chance to answer trivia questions about the footage they see and win prizes.

Comics on Comics returns to Comic-Con for it's fearsome fifth year! Juan-Manuel Rocha and Vito Lapiccola are joined by the intensely incredible Jon Schnepp (The Death of Superman Lives: What Happened?) and other strange guests! Watch as the greatest comic minds meet the greatest minds in comics!

Superhero comic books are often dismissed or derided as "power fantasies" or "escapism," but is that always a negative? Incongruous as it may seem for Dean Trippe's Something Terrible to deal with childhood trauma, sexual abuse, and Batman, Trippe has used his comic to deal with his own past, which has then helped other people with difficult backgrounds. Tommy Cash (The Comic Arts Council) and Dean Trippe (Something Terrible) examine misconceptions regarding victims of sexual abuse and the potential value in identifying with superheroes as a coping mechanism.

Storytelling in comic books and graphic novels relies on an array of diverse and powerful techniques that engage readers and construct a sense of time and space in fictional "realities," to varying degrees of success. Keegan Lannon (Aberystwyth University) and Aaron Poppleton examine how color influences emotions and how color (or lack thereof as in Art Spiegelman's Maus) may immerse readers and create an artistic ideology. Michael J. Muniz (Broward College) exposes how the breaking of the fourth wall in comics prevents the reader from properly engaging the depicted reality, and explores the philosophical nature of the fourth wall itself. Poe Johnson (University of Texas at Dallas) and Amal Shafek (University of Texas at Dallas) use Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis as a case study for analyzing how comics and films construct time and space. Specific creative techniques do more than just reflect aesthetic goals; they also affect the way each medium constructs meaning.

How sexist are superhero comic books? How fairly do comic book creators depict females and femininity, and how do we view the creators who attempt to introduce feminist values? Rebecca Sader (University of Texas at Dallas) looks at how well Birds of Prey fares in light of methodology like the Bechdel test. Matthew J. Brown (University of Texas at Dallas) delves into the psychology and (unorthodox) feminist values of psychologist William Moulton Marston, the creator of Wonder Woman and a pioneer in the invention of the lie detector. Annamarie O'Brien (Bowling Green State University) looks at mommy issues in Jack Kirby's Fourth World saga, from idealized Mother Box to the monstrous depiction of mothering gone awry via the villainous Granny Goodness.

Who really created Batman? Was it the Caped Crusader's officially credited creator, Bob Kane, or was it his secret collaborator, Bill Finger? What did editor Vince Sullivan, artist Jerry Robinson, writer Gardner Fox, and others contribute when first shaping the Batman mythos, from the Dark Knight's debut in 1939 until he gained a young crime-fighting partner, a clownish arch-foe, and a feline femme fatale one year later? Pulling from interviews, biographies, personal communications, and external evidence, experts conduct a forensic investigation into this question of historical, cultural, and ethical importance. Dr. Travis Langley (Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight) asks Tom Andrae (Batman & Me), Brad Ricca (Super Boys), Athena Finger (The Cape Creator: A Tribute to Bill Finger), Marc Tyler Nobleman (Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman), Denny O'Neil (Batman), Arlen Schumer (The Silver Age of Comic Book Art), Jens Robinson (CartoonArts International), Michael Uslan (The Dark Knight films), and Nicky Wheeler-Nicholson (granddaughter of DC Comics's founder) the basic question: Who built the bat?

Sheyne Fleischer (assistant editor, The Bachelor, Hells Kitchen), Tess Fowler (writer/illustrator Game of Thrones Exclusive Animation, The Rascals), Alicia Minette (prop fabrication: Sushi Girl, Man at Arms), and Aubriana Zurilgen (creature creation: Steve Wang's Creature Workshop, MasterFX), will explore the nontraditional roles of women in the comic and entertainment industries. Female editors, illustrators, prop fabricators, and creature creators will relate their success stories and how to follow your dreams in the industry, while exploring gender roles in the creative professions. Moderated by Glenn Freund (League of S.T.E.A.M.).

Moderated by the Comics Reporter himself, Tom Spurgeon, this panel will explore the use of humor by today's best cartoonists slash illustrators. Drew Friedman (Old Jewish Comedians)'s newest bookHeroes of the Comics debuts right here at Comic-Con, and his comics and illustrations have appeared in National Lampoon and High Times. Lisa Hanawalt is the James Beard Award winner for humor for her comics in Lucky Peach and is the cartoonist behind My Dirty Dumb Eyes. Mimi Pond wrote the pilot of The Simpsons, the cult classic The Valley Girl's Guide to Life, and her new fictionalized memoir Over Easy. Spurgeon will get out of these cartoonists' way when they lay it on thick, explain when to go easy, and share how to always get a laugh.

UPDATED: Sun, Jul 20, 02:58PM
When you see Star Wars T-shirts, Mass Effect leggings, and other unique pop culture apparel, do you ever wonder how they were made? Join industry professionals for a behind-the-scenes look at the business of geek fashion. Moderated by Lisa Granshaw (The Daily Dot, Fashionably Geek), panelists Ed Labay (Hot Topic), Mike Kochis (ThinkGeek), Samantha Terry (WeLoveFine), Cameron Parker (Black Milk Clothing), and Victoria Schmidt (Gold Bubble Clothing) discuss how their businesses choose designs, what the licensing process is like, how trends affect their work, and how fashion options for geek girls have increased over the years. Ample time will be left for audience members to ask questions and voice their opinions about what they'd like to see more of in the geek fashion market.

The animated feature film Pixies is coming to theaters this winter starring the voices of Christopher Plummer (The Sound of Music), Alexa Vega (Spy Kids) and Carlos Pena (Big Time Rush), with music by Michael Bublé. Watch the world premiere of the opening scene for Pixies in its entirety. This will be followed by a behind-the-scenes look at the production of the animated features The Steam Engines of Oz and Howard Lovecraft & The Frozen Kingdom. All three animated features are based on the Arcana graphic novels and produced by Arcanamation. Sneak peek world movie premiere, free comics, door prizes, Steampunk, HP Lovecraft, and Pixies. Come celebrate Arcana's 10th year!

In the last 18 months, fans have been paid for fanfic, have licensed their fanart to networks and shows for use on T-shirts, DVDs, and crowdfunded projects, have created and played apps for and with actors and films, have published books that started out as fanfic ,and have advanced creativity and discussions every day. Compared to 2004-or even 2010-connections between fandom and transmedia storytelling have changed vastly, but on ArchiveOfOurOwn, Wattpad, tumblr, and Vine and at fancons the "gift culture" and traditions of transformative works endure. Explore the landscape with Orlando Jones (Sleepy Hollow), Flourish Klink (chief participation officer at The Alchemists), Professor Henry Jenkins (provost professor of communication, journalism, and cinematic arts, USC) and Aron Levitz (Wattpad) in a discussion moderated by Heidi Tandy (FYeahCopyright.com).

Come join the CCAS for its annual mixer. This is an opportunity for Christian professionals and fans to intermingle, socialize, and network. Meet creators such as Eric Jansen (God and Country Graphics), Luis Serrano (Samson), Josh Burns (music composer), and John Schafer (Superbook).

Ayanna Dozier (New York University Steinhardt) examines the transformative properties of the pornokitsch aesthetic featured in Golden Age comics, tracing the sociological-historical narratives that link pornokitsch to mainstream and erotic comics and questioning their use of gender, race, and sexuality. Cameron C. McKee (Northwestern University) and Shane Duncan (San Francisco State University) engage with various gay comics series to argue that the tongue-in-cheek humor of camp was (and remains) a central strategy for the construction of queer identity against the oppression of heteronormativity. And using psychological and sociological research, Benjamin Varosky (California State University, Fullerton) looks at Matt Fraction's run on Hawkeye, a single story told through the separate lenses of the masculine and feminine qualities that every superhero secretly-or not so secretly-embodies, to explore how the successes and failures of Clint and Kate individually pale in comparison to those that they share as the unified Hawkeye.

What motivations sustain Bruce Wayne? What was needed to prepare him for his career as Batman? What has this career done to his psyche, his brain, his body? Psychology professor and superherologist Dr. Travis Langley (Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight), neuroscience and kinesiology professor Dr. E. Paul Zehr (Becoming Batman), health and exercise science expert Eric Bruce (Western Oregon University), and Comic-Con special guest Dennis O'Neil (Batman) discuss, dissect, and demystify the Dark Knight on his 75th diamond jubilee anniversary, providing an evaluation of the psychology, kinesiology, and neuroscience of Batman and discussing the physical and psychological realities of becoming and then having a career as Gotham's Dark Knight avenger.

After the 1960s' campier stories nearly ended Batman comics, Comic-Con special guest Dennis O'Neil became the writer who took the Dark Knight back to his dark roots. Working with an astounding array of fellow creators down through his years as writer and editor, he robbed Wonder Woman of her powers, sent Green Arrow's sidekick off to rehab, put the demon back in Iron Man's bottle, pulled Professor X out of one grave and oversaw planting Batman's sidekick in another, and named Optimus Prime. In addition to countless comics, Denny has written and edited scholarly works such as the book Batman Unauthorized. Dr. Travis Langley (Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight) asks Denny about his career as writer, editor, scholar, and educator. Yes, Dennis O'Neil teaches, too! Come learn from this grand master of comic book heroes.

The CAC's poster session gives attendees the opportunity to interact directly with presenters. Come talk one on one with these scholars about their projects!

Marisa Brandt (University of California, San Diego), Erika Cheng (University of California, San Diego), and Emily York (University of California, San Diego) investigate instrumental applications of comics in domains where they are being used not only to entertain but to accomplish a goal and show that comics and their creation can have transformative effects on those who create and consume them.

Andrei Molotiu (Indiana University, Bloomington) begins Alex Toth's scholarly reevaluation with an examination of the sophisticated narrative techniques and page design he employed in his comics of the 1950s and '60s.

Allen Thomas (University of Central Arkansas) and Mara Whiteside (University of Central Arkansas) examine the relationship between readers and minority comic book characters, namely the connection a reader feels to a particular character, and discuss the future direction of comic books in regards to minority representation.

Neil Granitz (California State University, Fullerton) and Steven Chen (California State University, Fullerton) investigate what factors compel a consumer to seek out more elements of a story across different media and present strategies to increase consumers' consumption of transmedia storytelling.

Michael L. Kersulov (Indiana University) addresses data collected from a research project focused on classes in which gifted high school students created their own autobiographical comics, presenting examples of student-created comics and discussing how they worked to authenticate the students' personal narratives.

William Kuskin (University of Colorado Boulder) presents an overview of UC Boulder's MOOC "Comic Books and Graphic Novels," suggesting that when coupled with online technology, comics offer a transformative energy for humanities disciplines.

J. Scott McKinnon (Henderson State University) identifies the factors that contribute to ethnic minority characters either succeeding or failing, examining online discussions, reviews, and published articles.

Drew Morton (Texas A&M University-Texarkana) argues that the majority of motion comics are less an ontologically unique medium and more a cheaply produced synergistic text that primarily exist as a marketing tool.

Rich Shivener (Northern Kentucky University) continues critical discussions on the implications of adaptation and transmedia storytelling, especially as they relate to comics. Hannah Diaz (California State University, Fullerton) examines how superhero comics can use greater variation in costume design and body type to distinguish characters and personalities more effectively.

Nami Hatfield (University of California, Los Angeles) documents the initial development and eventual buyout of Studio Proteus, a United States manga translation company active from 1986-2004.P. Andrew Miller (Northern Kentucky University) presents how he and others pair poetry and graphic art to create lyric comics. Matt Yockey (University of Toledo) considers how the "retro" qualities of Batman '66 exploit both a nostalgic appeal for the Adam West television series and demonstrate a progressive sensibility that moves beyond regressive nostalgia. Pamela Jackson, Anna Culbertson, Michael Lapins, Katie Stapko, Markel Tumlin, and Wil Weston, members of the San Diego State University Library Comic Arts Committee, discuss SDSU's strategic "Arts Alive" initiative and highlight activities sponsored by the committee that expose students to the rich and vibrant world of comics and popular arts.

Jake Talley (San Diego State University) compares the female and minority populations in the Marvel and DC universes at various points in their histories to illustrate how their race and gender makeups have evolved over time, and compares the Big Two with younger publishers to see if the lack of decades of continuity produces a more representative character population.

Barbara Glaeser (California State University, Fullerton) and Amanda Francis (Crafton Hills College) present the rubric they designed to evaluate the level of sexuality in comics in their search for "safe" titles to use in school-based research, as well as discussing the results of their project to use those comics to teach reluctant readers.

Shawn Sellers (Western Oregon University) and Eric Bruce (Western Oregon University) investigate public health concepts found in Y: The Last Man and discuss bioethics, occupational health, and women's sexual and gender health issues in the comic.

Thomas Speelman (Calvin College) analyzes the work and career of Carl Barks, who wrote and illustrated over 500 stories for Western Publishing featuring Walt Disney characters such as Donald Duck and Scrooge McDuck.

Joyce C. Havstad (University of California, San Diego) explores what it means to be a major feminist work in order to evaluate whether Y: The Last Man ought rightfully to be considered one-and if so, whether it is a successful one.

Jeff Brain (San Francisco State University) discusses how to create a curriculum blending digital citizenship objectives, Common Core standards and superheroic storytelling into a course of study for middle school students.

Damien Tomaselli (University of KwaZulu-Natal) analyzes how the visual rhetoric of comic books continues to develop, with specific reference to digitally manipulated comic books, primarily Madefire's motion books.

Fantagraphics Books Inc, an alternative comics publisher since 1976, looks to 2014 and 2015 with an unwavering and tasteful eye. Founder and publisher Gary Groth and associate publisher Eric Reynolds reveal some new comics for late 2014 and 2015 that are sure to please. Comic-con special guests Eleanor Davis (How to Be Happy), Don Rosa (Uncle Scrooge and Donald Duck), and Drew Friedman (Heroes of the Comics), along with Tony Millionaire (Sock Monkey Treasury), will share some of their favorite art from their comics debuting at the show.

We're seeing a groundbreaking evolution happening in e-Sports as pro players become recognized as professional athletes who are awarded visas and salaries. However, their journey has not been easy. Esteemed panelists Genese Davis (The Holder's Dominion, MMORPG.com, The Gamer in You), Ryan "Fwiz" Wyatt (VP of programming and eSports commentator, Major League Gaming), Sam "Samzorz" Hall (pro gamer, Mortality eSports, Twitch, founder of CODpedia), and John "ZeRo4" Hill (pro gamer, world champion: Quake) as they discuss the obstacles players face when seeking viable careers as e-Sports competitors. This high-powered panel will divulge exactly what it takes to become a pro gamer and how the e-Sports evolution is impacting the video game industry at large.

Meet UDON's artists and editors, including Joe Ng (Street Fighter Origins: Akuma), Long Vo (Street Fighter II HD Remix), and Chris Butcher (director of marketing, UDON) as they discuss this year's big hits and preview their upcoming 2014/2015 books, including the new Manga Classics line. Panel attendees will be the first to hear about some amazing as yet unannounced titles featuring iconic properties from across the pop culture spectrum.

Many new adventures are afoot in the world of ElfQuest! With Dark Horse's Final Quest, a new ElfQuest saga by creators Wendy and Richard Pini, flying off shelves and EQ merchandise from WeLoveFine and Badali Jewelry adorning more fans each day, the ElfQuest fan tribe continues to grow. Come hear the scoop from producers Stephanie Thorpe (Night of the Zombie King) and Paula Rhodes (The New Adventures of Peter & Wendy), who hold the film/TV rights to this 35+-year-old beloved comic series. Fans of ElfQuest since they were kids, they've been working to expand the World of Two Moons into more outlets and are excited to introduce you to their new team of fellow fans: Angela Song Mueller (Legend of Korra), Joshua Hamilton (Avatar: The Last Airbender), and Luke Ryan (Harold & Kumar). Moderated by Jenna Busch (Cocktails With Stan).

UPDATED: Thu, Jul 24, 07:46AM
Come to the ultimate feel-good panel! The story of an uncanny team of comic book superheroes - The School of 5 and their comic books teach children the lifesaving habit of handwashing. By the end of 2014 the School of 5 will be distributed in 23 countries, translated into 19 languages in Asia and Africa and reach 120 million people. 1.7 million children die every year from diarrheal diseases and pneumonia, many of which can be prevented by this simple habit. The School of 5, through the comic books created by Craig Yoe, teach children and their families the importance of handwashing with soap and water in countries like Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Egypt, Pakistan, Ghana and Kenya. Panel participants include Eisner Award winner Craig Yoe (YoeBooks.com) and Stacie June Shelton (Lifebuoy Global Social Mission Program Manager). Prepare to be amazed - and get free comic books; bring a tissue to wipe away the super tears of joy!

Step into the pop culture ring with geeky psychologists Dr. Andrea Letamendi (The Arkham Sessions) and Dr. Ali Mattu (Super Fantastic Nerd Hour) as they bring their popular, intergalactic sci-fi battle back to Comic-Con for round 4! Special guests Sam Witwer (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Being Human) and Rod Roddenberry (Trek Nation, Roddenberry Entertainment) join the psych pros to debate, tackle, and explain some of the most fascinating aspects of both universes. Pick a side and cast your vote as they crown one the winner! Impartially refereed by Brian Ward (Shout! Factory).

Kenneth Hough (University of California, Santa Barbara) examines comic book speculations on drone warfare in the 1940s and 1950s, comparing these early images with modern debates about the use of unmanned weapons. Melissa Colleen Stevenson (Stanford University) compares Fables' Fabletown Compact with the Truth and Reconciliation commissions instituted in South Africa after apartheid and the Ley de Punto Final passed in Argentina after the fall of dictatorship there, examining how Bill Willingham's work approaches real world philosophical questions about the nature of forgiveness, the demands of justice, and the very human desire for vengeance. Hadas Marcus (Tel Aviv University) reviews how various environmental themes are depicted in comics, from classic examples that only touch upon somewhat vague ecological topics, to contemporary works that explore looming environmental and sustainability issues in a much more detailed and often darkly apocalyptic manner.

Robert C. Harvey (Meanwhile: A Biography of Milton Caniff, Creator of Terry and the Pirates and Steve Canyon) reviews the career of Bill Hume: sculptor, artist, actor, playwright, magician, ventriloquist, author, clown, newspaper man, photographer, animator, television and film producer, corporate art director and cartoonist, and artist of pretty girl cartoons featuring the friendly relations between American G.I.'s and the female population of Japan. Melissa Loucks (University of Florida) reminds us of the work comic strips do toward thwarting the distortions and suppressions of the dominant civil rights narrative, looking at the work of Oliver Harrington, George Herriman, and Jackie Ormes. And Dwain C. Pruitt (University of Louisville) considers the roles that Matt Baker's race and sexual orientation may have played in his work and in his most celebrated contribution, the "Baker Girl," asserting that Baker's work was shaped by the unique African-American expressive and visual culture of 1930s-1950s Harlem.

Recently, Afrofuturism has been making a global resurgence. Creators in all media forms have been producing speculative narratives that challenge the status quo, remix historical perceptions, and situate the black body as subject. John Jennings (University at Buffalo, SUNY), Stanford Carpenter (Institute for Comics Studies), Regina Bradley (Kennesaw State University), and Jeremy Love (Bayou) ask if the term Afrofuturism still remains the proper designation for invoking ideas of race and cultural production, examining the new notion of the "EthnoSurreal" and how it is comprised of the EthnoGothic and EthnoFuturism. This panel will also tackle the articulation of how these designations are defined and how they can possibly challenge and reimagine ideas around socially constructed ideas regarding racial identity, its visualization, and its consumption through the comics medium.

Comic-Con offers students of popular culture an amazing venue to study how culture is marketed to and practiced by its fans. Rahni Argo-Bryant (University of Alabama), Johnathan Butler (Florida State University), Kelsey Cute (Lynchburg College), Katherine Deck (Wittenberg University), Judith Gallegos (Lynchburg College), Madeline Geiger (Wittenberg University), Christopher McDaniel (Wittenberg University), Alora Slak (Otterbein University), Desiree Smith (Lynchburg College), and Amy Williams (State University of New York at Albany) present initial findings from a week-long ethnographic field study of the intersection of fan practice at the nexus of cultural marketing and fan culture that is Comic-Con 2014. Matthew J. Smith (Wittenberg University) moderates.

First Second authors Faith Erin Hicks (Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong), Lucy Knisley (Relish), Paul Pope (The Rise of Aurora West), and Gene Luen Yang (The Shadow Hero) in conversation.