Tag Archives: Thursday Panels

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NYCC 2015 Thursday Panels – Our Picks!

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Written by Sarv Kreindler.

There are SO MANY panels and screenings at NYCC each year, and this year it seems like they’ve grown in number once again. These show guides will help you make the most of your time at NYCC. Here are our team’s picks for the best panels and screenings for Thursday at NYCC 2015!

88 MPH: A Celebration of Back to the Future – 11:00 – 12:00 – 1A06

Back to the Future turns 30 this year! Join the filmmakers behind “Back in Time,” the Steven Spielberg approved documentary about Back to the Future. “But wait, didn’t Robert Zemekis direct Back to the Future? Who cares if Steven Spielberg approved this documentary?” True, but Spielberg is the Executive Producer of Back to the Future. I’m setting the over/under of Marty McFly cosplayers in this room at 4. Are you taking the over or the under?

Hasbro Star Wars – 11:15 – 12:15 – 1A24

We haven’t seen any sort of announcement from Hasbro regarding NYCC exclusives at the time of this writing, but I’m hoping with the upcoming licensing monster that is Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, we’re going to get something. Whether or not we get any NYCC exclusives from Hasbro this NYCC, if you’re a Star Wars fan, this is a must-attend panel. With the new movie coming out this December, Hasbro has a lot of new product hitting the shelves soon. See your first look at it here.

Toddfather Talks Toys, Comics, Spawn and Insight Into Being an Independent Creator – 12:15 – 1:15 – 1A06

In all my years of attending conventions, I don’t think I’ve ever heard Todd McFarlane speak at a panel. I was able to get his autograph at two different New York Comic Cons, but I’ve never heard him speak on stage. He’s going to present the new Walking Dead and Game of Thrones sets that McFarlane Toys is producing. I may go to this just hear an hour of Todd on Todd.

Andre The Giant: The Man Behind the Legend – 12:30 – 1:30 – 1A24

If you attended last year’s Cary Elwes panel, this looks like a nice follow-up. Andre the Giant’s daughter, Robin Christensen Roussimoff, will be telling stories about her dad, aka Fezzik from The Princess Bride.

Star Wars Rebels Season 2 Panel – 1:30 – 2:30 – Empire Stage 1-E

Do you watch Rebels? If so, you’re going to want to come to this panel, which fill feature stars of the show. Be sure to come back at 5:30 PM for an exclusive sneak peak of the new season.

DC Comics: Master Class – Art History – 1:30 – 2:30 – 1A21

Babs Tarr and Ivan Reis talk art. Count me in.

Marvel: House of Ideas – 2:45 – 3:45 – 1A21

Stick around after the DC art panel for what is always a great panel, the Marvel: House of Ideas panel. Hosted by Ryan Penagos, aka Agent M, you’ll see exclusive previews before they hit the major comic book news sites. If you want to be the first to hear about new Marvel Comics news, this will be the panel you come to.

The Walking Dead: An Inside Look with Robert Kirkman – 2:45 – 3:45 Empire Stage 1-E

Robert Kirkman talks all things Walking Dead. What else do you need?

Nerdist Writers Panel – 3:00 – 4:00 – 1A10

The Nerdist Writers Panel is one of our favorite podcasts at the Tuesday Night Comics podcast. When Ben Blacker isn’t interviewing guests like the writers room from the first season of Friends (!), he interviews prominent comic book writers about their craft. Expect A list guests at this panel.

How Harley Quinn Conquered the World – 3:00 – 4:00 – 1A24

If you read the current Harley Quinn comics, this is the panel for you. Both Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti will be here to talk about their hit series from DC Comics.

Game of Thrones: A Panel of Ice and Fire – 4:00 – 5:00 – Empire Stage 1-E

Natalie Dormer aka Princess Low Cut! Keisha Castle-Hughes aka Slutty Princess Leia! Both in one place! And Finn Jones aka Ser Loras too! Before you go to this panel, go to the Dark Horse booth and buy the Joffrey crown and strut into the panel wearing it!

The Biggest Attack on Titan Manga Announcement Ever – 4:00-5:00 1A18

Heidi McDonald’s The Beat was the first to point out that among the panelists here is Jeanine Schaefer, who is known for her Marvel and DC work. Does this mean we’re getting Attack on Titan comics from non-manga creators? The Beat thinks so, and we’re inclined to agree.

Star Wars Rebels Season 2 Sneak Preview – 5:30 – 6:45 – Empire Stage 1-E

I wonder if they’re going to show the entire first episode of the new season. An hour and fifteen minutes certainly seems like enough time to get through a whole episode and then have Q&A after. Or even better, two full episodes and zero Q&A (“My question is…I love you, and think you’re great and awesome and on and on an on…Can I have a hug?”).

 

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NYCC 2014 – Thursday Panel Highlights

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Have you looked at the panel list for New York Comic Con 2014? There are A LOT of panels this year! Yes, there are a lot of panels every year, but I feel that this year there are more, a lot more. Wading through the entire list of panels can be time consuming, so that’s why we’re here to give you our picks for the not-to-missed panels of NYCC 2014!

In past years, the Thursday panels have seemed like little more than afterthoughts. That’s not the case this year, with big names presenting big things on the first day of NYCC!

The doors to NYCC open at 12 noon on Thursday, giving you a full hour to buy exclusives, pick up merch and autograph tickets, and check out the show floor before heading to the first panels of the con at 1 PM.

1:00 PM – 2:30 PM – Walt Disney Studios Presents an Exclusive Look at Tomorrowland and Walt Disney Animation Studios Presents a Exclusive Look at Big Hero 6 – Main Stage 1-D

I’m surprised this panel isn’t on Sunday, aka Kid’s Day, because it would be PACKED! As it is, I’d still expect a crowd, as you’re getting previews of both Tomorrowland and Big Hero 6, AND Directors Don Hall and Chris Williams (Big Hero 6) and Brad Bird (Tomorrowland) will be at this panel! If those names don’t ring a bell, Don Hall and Chris Williams directed a little movie called Frozen, and Brad Bird directed two of my favorite animated movies ever, The Iron Giant and The Incredibles.

1:00 PM – 1:45 PM – Friend of Comic Vine – 1A21

I consider myself a Friend of Comic Vine. I’ve helped update their wiki, participate on their message boards (though sadly not as much as I’d like to recently), and even wrote an article that’s currently sitting on their front page. I’ve met EIC Tony Guerrero and Gregg Katzman before (both of who are great guys). If you’re an active user of Comic Vine, I would consider this a can’t-miss panel, as it’s your chance to meet your fellow Viners in person. Not to mention that Brian Buccellato, Jimmy Palmiotti and Josh Fialkov will be there too.

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM – Game of Thrones Fan Forum – Featuring Kristian Nairn and Natalia Tena – Empire Stage 1-E

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Hodor! Osha (or Tonks for you Harry Potter fans)! Both will be at this panel dedicated to our favorite HBO show. A word of warning – if you haven’t read the books, be wary about attending this panel. Spoilers abound when fans start asking questions.

2:00 PM – 2:45 PM – Doctor Who Comics Panel – 1A10

IDW recently launched two new Doctor Who series, one focused on the 10th Doctor, David Tennet, and one focused on the 11th Doctor, Matt Smith. And right around NYCC, another series featuring the 12th Doctor, Peter Capaldi, will launch. This panel will have writers Nick Abadzis, Robbie Morrison and Rob Williams, and artist Simon Fraser. Plus, every attendee will walk out with some Doctor Who swag.

2:15 PM – 3:00 PM – ComicsPro “So You Want to Be a Comics Retailer?” – 1A05 

Are you thinking about quitting your day job and following your dream to talk and sell comics all day? If so, this panel is for you. Actual comic book retailers will be on hand to answer your questions. Come prepared.

3:15 PM – 4:00 PM – 50 Years of Fandom! How Comics Took Over the World – 1A06

I was ready to write this panel off until I saw that the panel guests included Maggie Thompson and Michael Uslan. This should be a very informative panel about the history of comic book conventions in particular and fandom in general.

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Skybound’s The Walking Dead – Empire Stage 1-E

If you’re a fan of The Walking Dead from Image Comics, this is a must-go-to panel for you! Robert Kirkman will be there! Do you need another reason? No, I didn’t think you did.

5:00 PM – 5:45 PM – Image Comics – I is for Immersive – 1A21

This panel had me at Jamie McKelvie. The former artist of the dearly missed Young Avengers, and current artist of the excellent Image Comic, The Wicked + The Divine, will be on hand. I’m guessing Wicked + Divine writer Kieron Gillen will be there too, though he’s not listed as of yet (but will be at NYCC). Also at this panel: Brandon Montclare (Rocket Girl), Kelly Sue Deconnick (Pretty Deadly) and Kyle Higgins (C.O.W.L.). Head here straight after The Walking Dead panel.

5:15 PM – 6:45 PM – Design Your Own Cape with Art Force Five – Family HQ 1C02

If you’re bringing your kid with you to NYCC on Thursday, take them to this! Your kid (and you too, why not?) can design his or her very own superhero cape, picking out the color and the emblem. Don’t have a kid? I don’t think you need one to attend this, and everyone needs a cape!

The show floor closes at 7:00, so you can either head home, head to an after party or head to these late panels.

6:45 PM – 7:45 PM – Adam West & Batman: The Complete Television Series – Main Stage 1-D

The Adam West Batman series is finally coming to DVD and Blu Ray this fall with an official release from Warner! I. Cannot. Wait.

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7:15 PM – 8:00 PM – Firefly Online: Bringing Back the Verse – 1A06

Firefly is back! Yes, it’s as a video game, not a TV show, but it’s a video game that you and all your browncoat friends can play together. Plus, Andrea Romano will be on the panel. Andrea Romano makes every panel better. Hmmm…I wonder if they’ll be giving out beta keys.

7:15 PM – 8:00 PM – Bleeding Cool – The Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘N’ Roll of Comics Revealed – 1A24

Start you day with a Comic Vine panel and end it with a Bleeding Cool panel. Bleeding Cool has picked up on stories we’ve run here, but that’s not why I’m recommending this panel. Rich Johnston is a very entertaining and very polarizing fellow in the comics industry. I have nothing but love for Rich, as Bleeding Cool is a site I check daily. This should be a VERY fun panel, full of rumors and innuendo.

8:00 PM – 8:45 PM – Sketch Fighter – 1B03

Well, this looks like a lot of fun! Comic book artists and stand-up comics will go head-to-head in what appears to be a Win, Lose or Draw type game show. Plus, all the art made during this show will be auctioned off at the end, with the money going to The HERO Initiative. No word yet on what artists on participating

8:30 PM – 10:30 PM – WB Preview Night Screening – The Pilot Episode of Constantine and the Season Two Premiere of The 100 – Main Stage 1-D

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It’s a WB double feature! Want to see the pilot of Constantine two weeks early? Go here! I wonder which they’ll show first. I’m hoping it’s Constantine, just because I’ve never seen The 100. I wouldn’t be surprised if they show The 100 first, knowing that most people are showing up to see Constantine.