ComicsAlliance Guide to San Diego Comic-Con 2012: What to do on Saturday

Between its hundreds of combined panels, parties, events and contests, Comic-Con International in San Diego can make for a pretty overwhelming week if you're not careful. Have heart, though, ComicsAlliance readers! We're here to help you make the most of your pending adventure into the heart of pop culture's ultimate obstacle course.

After the jump you will find ComicsAlliance recommendations for Conic-Con panels, events and screenings taking place on Saturday, July 14 2012.10:00-11:00 That 70s Panel

A look at comics in the seventies. Some now call it the Bronze Age, but by any name it was an exciting time to be reading comics. Moderator Mark Evanier (Scooby Doo) leads a discussion including Marv Wolfman (Tomb of Dracula), Steve Skeates (Aquaman), Steve Englehart (Batman), Herb Trimpe (Incredible Hulk), Elliot S! Maggin (Superman), Trevor Von Eeden (Black Lightning), and Paul Levitz (Legion of Super-Heroes). Room 23ABC

ComicsAlliance note: True legends in their fields, and far enough removed from the bodies of work in question that they're likely to tell some amazing stories about comics back in the day.

10:00-11:00 Attack of the Show

G4's Attack of the Show is your ambassador to the information age-from the technology you want, what you watch, listen to, and play to what the world is talking about right now. Whether it comes from 140 characters, from a 30-second video, or straight from the mouths of today's trendsetters, visionaries, and pop-culture icons, panelists will tell you what is happening, why you should care, and what will happen next. Candace Bailey, Sara Underwood, Matt Mira, Blair Butler, Attack of the Show executive producers Vinny Rutherford and Joshua Brentano, along with special guests, bring you the closest thing to being on a LIVE Attack of the Show, an interactive Comic-Con panel! You'll also get a chance to grill the hosts and producers and find out the dirty secrets and television tricks behind Attack of the Show. With over 1,000 shows to choose from, there's got to be something you wanna know! Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

ComicsAlliance note: Our friends at Attack of the Show know how to party. Try to get into this one.

10:30-11:30 Marvel Television Presents

Marvel's head of TV, Jeph Loeb, brings the scoop on season 2 of the hit animated series Ultimate Spider-Man, along with a never-before-seen episode...and a glimpse of the other heroes joining Marvel Universe on Disney XD! Plus, get the update on other hot Marvel Animation Studios projects, including Marvel Knights Animation, Marvel anime-and more surprises from Marvel Television. Room 6BCF

ComicsAlliance note: The Ultimate Spider-Man show is kinda great, so it'll be fun to see hat else Marvel has coming up on Disney XD and perhaps elsewhere.

11:00-12:00 Archie Comics: The Hottest Publisher in Comics

The era of Archie continues! After another year of dominating the headlines with groundbreaking storylines, innovative storytelling, and the best comics on the market, the Archie gang converges on San Diego to reveal what's next! The panel includes Archie Comics co-CEO Jon Goldwater, co-CEO Nancy Silberkleit, president Mike Pellerito, editor-in-chief Victor Gorelick, cartoonist Dan Parent (Kevin Keller), writer Michael Uslan (Life With Archie), iVerse Media CEO Michael Murphey, MoonScoop Entertainment's Mike Young, producers Don Murphy and Susan Montford (Real Steel), writer Alex Segura (Archie Meets KISS), writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark), and a handful of major, newsworthy surprises! Want to learn everything that's in store for America's favorite redheaded teen and all his friends? This is the place to be! Panel attendees will get a copy of the latest issue of the hit Life With Archie series! Room 9

ComicsAlliance note: We like Archie Comics.

11:00-12:00 comiXology Open Discussion: Everything Digital

With over 75 million comics and graphic novels downloaded since its debut, comiXology has revolutionized how people read and buy comic books. Recently hailed by the New York Times as the iTunes of comics, here is your opportunity to discover what is next! Join comiXology cofounders David Steinberger and John D. Roberts for an open discussion on...everything digital. All topics are game! Room 23ABC

ComicsAlliance note: comiXology and digital comics are some of the most popular topics on this site, and topics about which everyone has no end of questions. This is your chance to ask.

11:15-12:15 Cartoon Network: Adventure Time

Not just any ol' panel, this is Adventure Time! Join series creator Pendleton Ward (Lumpy Space Princess), Jeremy Shada (Finn), Tom Kenny (Ice King), and others to experience the all-out good time that is Cartoon Network's Adventure Time! There will be singing, live readings, lots of exclusive clips, and other mathematical surprises! Room 6A

ComicsAlliance note: We like Adventure Time.

11:15-12:30 DC Comics-All Access: OGNs

It's been a big year for DC Comics' award-winning, original graphic novels, and it's only going to get bigger! Get unfiltered access to behind the scenes of your favorite and most talked about original graphic novels Publisher! Joining the all access party will be some of the industry's top talents, including Anthony Bourdain (Get Jiro!), Shane Davis (Superman: Earth One), Langdon Foss (Get Jiro!), Geoff Johns (Batman: Earth One), and J. Michael Straczynski (Superman: Earth One), so don't miss out! Room 6DE

ComicsAlliance note: It's a cool thing that DC is publishing original graphic novels for the book trade. It'll be interesting to see if they announce anything else along those lines.

12:00-12:45 Futurama

Futurama cannot be killed! Join the cast and crew of the Emmy-award-winning series for world premiere footage of the all-new season on Comedy Central. Plus: Wear your Futurama-themed costume for the chance to win slightly valuable prizes! Scheduled panelists include creator/executive producer Matt Groening, executive producer David X. Cohen, and stars Billy West (Fry, Zoidberg, Professor Farnsworth, Zapp Brannigan), Katey Sagal (Leela), John DiMaggio (Bender), and Maurice LaMarche (Kif Kroker, Calculon, Morbo). Ballroom 20

ComicsAlliance note: The Futurama panels are the best panels of all time. You will never get in.

12:30-1:30 D+Q: Canada and Comics

Creators Kate Beaton, Jeff Lemire, Doug Savage, Eisner Spirit of Retailers Award judge Calum Johnston (of Strange Adventures), Jessica Campbell of Drawn & Quarterly, and moderator Chris Butcher of TCAF and The Beguiling gather to talk about how, over the past 10 years, the Canadian comics scene has changed wildly and no longer plays second fiddle to its southern neighbor. Canada now boasts an equally vibrant coast-to-coast scene with major artists, major companies, major retailers, and major festivals. Key players discuss how this change came about. Room 5AB

ComicsAlliance note: We are big fans of Kate Beaton, Jeff Lemire and everybody else on this panel.

1:00-2:00 Top Shelf Productions

An all-star lineup of award-winning indie cartoonists are on hand as Top Shelf enters its 15th year of publishing. Chris Ross reports on Top Shelf's groundbreaking digital program, Ed Piskor hacks into his book Wizzywig, Jeff Lemire plumbs the depths of The Underwater Welder, Eddie Campbell spins a golden yarn about The Lovely Horrible Stuff, Nate Powell makes a historic announcement about an unprecedented new project, and James Kochalka introduces exclusive footage from his upcoming animated series SuperF*ckers! Join moderator Leigh Walton for an unmissable hour with Top Shelf talent. Room 4

ComicsAlliance note: Top Shelf has been kicking out the jams lately, like Wizzywig. Go check out what's coming up and hear what these creators have to say.

1:00-2:00 CBLDF: The Fight To Defend Manga

Meet the man who stood up to Canada Customs to prove manga is not a crime! In 2010, American citizen Ryan Matheson was illegally detained and falsely charged with importation of child pornography for humor and fantasy manga on his laptop computer. Earlier this year, all charges against Ryan were dropped, thanks to his willingness to stand up for his rights, and the CBLDF's work to aid his defense. Come meet Ryan and learn about how manga is being attacked by the authorities in the United States and Canada, hear his story and find out what you can do to protect your rights! Room 11AB

ComicsAlliance note: The story of Ryan Matheson is an important one in our industry's history with respect to free speech, and censorship and legal sanctions remain enduring threats.

1:00-2:00 Northstar: Coming Out to Getting Married!

Northstar, the first openly gay superhero in mainstream comics and a member of both the X-Men and Alpha Flight, came out of the closet 20 years ago-and this year he ties the knot! Northstar has led a challenging life, facing villains, personal challenges, family rivalries, disease, death, and accusations of being put back in the closet. Now Northstar starts a major new chapter in his life, with a high-profile wedding. Prism Comics celebrates Northstar and explores how he and the comics community's attitudes toward LGBTQ characters have changed over the years. Moderator Chance Whitmire (Fanboys of the Universe) delves into the past and the bright future of everyone's favorite gay mutant with guests David Gabriel (VP of sales, Marvel Comics), Phil Jimenez (New X-Men), Marjorie Liu (Astonishing X-Men), Scott Lobdell (Uncanny X-Men), and Jase Peeples (The Advocate magazine). Room 25ABC

ComicsAlliance: A topic near and dear to our hearts.

1:30-3:00 30th Anniversary of Love and Rockets

For 30 years Los Bros Hernandez have entranced comics readers around the world with their adventures of Maggie, Hopey, Luba, and the entire Love and Rockets cast of characters. Comic-Con special guests Gilbert Hernandez, Jaime Hernandez, and Mario Hernandez join with Fantagraphics Books co-publisher Gary Groth to talk about this award-winning series of comics and its decades-spanning durability. Room 24ABC

ComicsAlliance note: Self-explanatory, surely.

2:00-3:00 Image Comics Experience

Join publisher Eric Stephenson and a panel of surprise guests an exclusive look at what's coming up for Image in 2013! An absolutely don't miss event for anyone wanting to be among the first to hear some of the biggest comics announcements of the year! Room 25ABC

ComicAlliance note: The buzz is that something big is gonna be announced at this one. Not to be missed.

Mon, Jul 09, 12:23PM 3:00-4:00 A Wrinkle in Time

"To boldly go where no man has gone before" is the phrase that has greeted many of us who have looked to the heavens in awe. From the far-flung reaches of the Milky Way to the mind-bending possibilities of time travel, let the authors of speculative fiction tell you what they see when they venture to other dimensions. Board a starship to the future with David Brin (Existence), Deborah Harkness (Shadow of Night), Michael Cassutt (co-author of Heaven's Shadow trilogy), Charles Yu (Sorry Please Thank You), Phil Hornshaw (co-author of So You Created a Wormhole), Peter F. Hamilton (The Nano Flower), Orson Scott Card (Earth Unaware, Ender's Game), and Hope Larson (A Wrinkle in Time graphic novel), captained by Greg Bear (Hull Zero Three). Room 23ABC

ComicsAlliance note: We've been eagerly anticipating Hope Larson's Wrinkle in Time adaptation, and this will be her first convention appearance discussing it.

5:30-7:00 Gays in Comics: 25th Year Celebration!

The comic world's longest-running panel celebrates its silver anniversary with an incredible all-star lineup and celebration that spotlights creators, comics, and fans from 1988 to the present. It was once unthinkable that mainstream companies such as DC, Marvel, and Archie would have bestselling and award-winning titles frontlining gay characters such as Batwoman, Northstar, and Kevin Keller. Now, they hire top-level gay or gay-friendly creators, and independent publishers and creators are publishing unequivocal content spotlighting gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered characters, to the cheers of the thousands of fans who are out of the comic book closet and those who welcome diversity among comic book protagonists. This year, founding moderator and best-selling author Andy Mangels, chairs a new form of panel, a live documentary that will unfold for the audience, featuring a mixture of commentary, images, music and other surprises! Showcased with live appearances and video messages will be an army of awesome creators who have appeared on the previous 24 panels, including Howard Cruse, creator of Stuck Rubber Baby and Barefootz, founder of Gay Comix, and godfather of the gay comic movement; Roberta Gregory, creator of Naughty Bits and Bitchy Bitch and the godmother of the gay comic movement; Phil Jimenez, amazing artist of Fairest, Astonishing X-Men, and Wonder Woman; Alison Bechdel, creator of the award-winning Fun Home, Dykes To Watch Out For, and the new book Are You My Mother?; Charles "Zan" Christensen, founding member of Prism Comics and publisher of gay-themed Northwest Press; Gail Simone, the writer of Batgirl, Wonder Woman, and the sexually diverse Secret Six; Eric Shanower, respected artist, writer, and publisher of Age of Bronze and Oz books; Joan Hilty, creator of the weekly comic strip Bitter Girl and past DC editor; Ivan Velez, Jr., writer of Tales of the Closet and Ghost Rider; Paige Braddock, the creator of the comic book and newspaper strip Jane's World; Joe Phillips, artist and publisher of Joe Boys, Star Trek, and The Heretic; Trina Robbins, remarkable writer and artist whose work on behalf of women in comics has helped redefine the industry; Dan Parent, writer and artist for Archie and Betty & Veronica and creator of Archie's new gay character, Kevin Keller; Wendy Pini, the creator of ElfQuest and Masque of the Red Death; Chip Kidd, award-winning author, editor, and designer of books such as Batman: Death by Design, Bat-Manga, and Rough Justice; Patty Jeres, past DC Comics director of marketing communications, and past Prism Comics co-president; Joe Palmer, awesome webmaster of Gay League.com; Ed Luce, writer/artist of the Bear-centric Wuvable Oaf and small press retailer; Jeff Krell, creator and publisher of the long-running Jayson series; Robert Triptow, legendary cartoonist and past editor of Gay Comix; Justin Hall, author of No Straight Lines: Four Decades of Queer Comics, creator of Glamazonia, and Prism Comics talent chair; Marc Andreyko, author of the fan-favorite Manhunter series and Captain America and Bucky; Sean-Z, erotic artist of Rated-Z Studios' Myth series; Steve Englehart, industry legend and creator of comics' first out gay superhero Extrano in 1987's Millennium; Jon Macy, award-winning writer and artist of Teleny and Camille and Fearful Hunter; Ted Abenheim, the new president of Prism Comics and heroic and tireless fundraiser for GLBT organizations; and Roger Klorese, a past president of Prism Comics and longtime comic and Internet trailblazer. This panel will be chock-full from beginning to end, so be on time or you'll miss some awesome surprises that we aren't announcing yet! Afterward, stick around for the celebratory gay comics fan mixer/social, hosted by Prism Comics, with prizes and surprise special guests! Room 6A

ComicsAlliance note: Panel and party!

5:30-6:30 Spotlight on Mark Waid

Comic-Con special guest Mark Waid (Kingdom Come, Daredevil, Thrillbent) hosts a Q&A retrospective on his long career and on his new digital comics venture, Thrillbent -- how it's gone so far and what big developments will be announced at the show. Talk with one of the industry's most notoriously outspoken figures about the past and future of comics! Room 8

ComicsAlliance note: We like Mark Waid.

6:00-7:00 Are You a Geek Girl Trendsetter? Show Off Your Style to the Fashion Experts and Win Prizes!

Inspired by the NBC television show Fashion Star, Her Universe founder Ashley Eckstein (voice of Ahsoka Tano from Star Wars: The Clone Wars) wants to give geek girl trendsetters the opportunity to show their unique style and original designs to the experts! Comic-Con is full of geek girls who create, design, and construct their own fashions, and what better way to get feedback than to show your trendsetting creations to this panel of fashion professionals. Girls are asked to attend in their own custom-made everyday geek/sci-fi inspired outfits and accessories. A select number of girls in the audience will be chosen for a chance to present their look in front of the panel to get their feedback and advice. Each panelist will choose one girl who truly impressed them with their overall design and flair, and those girls will receive a special prize. The panel is made up of fashion buyers, designers, stylists, and actresses from the sci-fi world who will also give their advice on how to create your own geek style and look. MTV Geek will be filming the panel for their Comic-Con coverage. Room 25ABC

ComicsAlliance note: We like fashion.

6:00-7:00 Marvel Studios: Iron Man 3

Producer Kevin Feige and special guests provide an inside look at the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe. Hall H 6:00-7:00 Marvel Studios: Iron Man 3- Producer Kevin Feige and special guests provide an inside look at the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe. Hall H

ComicsAlliance note: We like Marvel Studios.

7:00-8:00 Vertigo: Fables

The annual Fables Comic-Con panel is back and better than ever! With the launch of Vertigo's critically acclaimed Fairest, there's no better time to hear what Bill Willingham, creator of the multi-Eisner Award-winning series Fables and Fairest, has to say. Join Bill, artists Mark Buckingham, Lauren Beukes, Adam Hughes, Steve Leialoha, group editor Shelly Bond, and others for a panel that is truly legendary. Room 6DE

ComicsAlliance note: The Fables panels are always great fun for fans of this long-running franchise, and typically include convention-exclusive giveaways and an uncommonly witty presentation from creator Bill Willingham.

7:30-9:30 CBLDF Live Art Auction

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund hosts its biggest auction of the year: Comic-Con Live Art Auction! This year's auction is sponsored by Things From Another World, and will feature lots for bidding curated by some of comicdom's top editors, dealers, and fans. With an amazing array of everything from pin-ups, original pages, sketches, and concept art, there is something for every taste and every price range, featuring work from such luminaries as Walter Simonson, Frank Quitely, Gabriel Hardman, Tim Sale, Francesco Francavilla, Francis Manapul, Jeffery Brown, David Lloyd, Scott Hampton, Terry Dodson, Mike Deodato, Gabriel Bá, Fábio Moon, Charlie Adlard, and many, many more! Preview images and bidding instructions are available to see at www.cbldf.org/sdcc-auction-2012, or at the CBLDF's booth! Sapphire Room AB, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

ComicsAlliance note: You can preview the artwork on sale at this link. Great work for an important cause.