Comic-Con International Program Schedule

Comic-Con International is right around the corner and we're gearing up to share our Fall and Winter titles with fans.


If you will be in San Diego during this annual event, please be sure to stop by Booth 1035 to check out our books and say hello.


The panels that we're especially excited about (mostly because they include artists and/or companies we work with) include:


Thursday, July 12th

11:15-12:00 DreamWorks Animation - DreamWorks Animation's chief creative officer Bill Damaschke anchors a diverse group of filmmakers to demo and discuss the artistic ambition and technical innovation that goes into moviemaking at DreamWorks Animation. Moderated by Anthony Breznican from Entertainment Weekly. Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront. 


2:00-3:00 DC Comics: Batman: Beyond the Night of Owls - Gotham City's Night of the Owls may be over-but the fallout will affect Batman's hometown for years to come! Find out what's on the horizon for the Dark Knight and his crimefighting cohorts in this panel featuring Batman group editor Mike Marts, with Chris Burnham (Batman, Incorporated), Tony Daniel (Detective Comics), David Finch (Batman: The Dark Knight),Kyle Higgins (Nightwing), Gregg Hurwitz (Batman: The Dark Knight), Gail Simone(Batgirl), Scott Snyder (Batman), J. H. Williams III (Batwoman), and others. Room 6DE 

2:15-3:15 Blizzard Entertainment Product Showcase - Love Diablo, World of Warcraftand StarCraft? Join Chris Metzen (Blizzard Entertainment SVP, story and franchise development) and a team of esteemed guests as we reveal never-before-seen licensed products and plans for 2012/2013. Talk to the designers, writers and artists themselves as we dig into Mega Bloks, novels, comics, statues and more. Panel and Q&A session moderated by Kat Hunter (host of Blizzcon coverage on DIRECTV). Room 6BCF 


7:00-8:00 Inside The Batmobile - No vehicle has ever captured fans' imagination like the Batmobile. Be the first to see an exclusive Comic-Con, 22-minute sneak peek at the upcoming documentary The Batmobile, an in-depth examination of its many incarnations and impressive history. A panel discussion will follow the screening featuring distinguished Batman experts George Barris, designer of the famed 1966 Batmobile; Andy Smith, builder of the modern-day Dark Knight "Tumbler"; respected producer/author Michael Uslan (The Boy Who Loved Batman);Ralph Cirella and Jon Hein, hosts of GEEKTIME! Sirius-XM Howard 101; and a few surprise guests. Stay to the end, when a drawing among all panel attendees will determine which lucky five fans can sit in a Batmobile-which is on display all weekend in the "Batcave" between Hall H and the Bayfront Hilton. Room 6DE


Friday, July 13th
10:00-11:00 Star Wars: Collectibles Update - Join eFX, Gentle Giant Studios, Kotobukiya, and Sideshow Collectibles for product development insights and exclusive previews of the latest in Star Wars collectibles. Moderated by Chris Spitaleof Lucas Licensing. Room 7AB 


Saturday, July 14th

2:30-5:00 Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures Preview Their Upcoming Lineups -

Legendary Pictures: Pacific Rim- From acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro comes Warner Bros. Pictures' and Legendary Pictures' epic sci-fi action adventure Pacific Rim. When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity's resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. But even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju. On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes -- a washed up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi) -- who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they stand as mankind's last hope against the mounting apocalypse. Pacific Rim also stars Idris Elba, Ron Perlman, and Charlie Day.

Warner Bros. Pictures: Man Of Steel

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey- From Academy Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Jackson returns to Middle-earth in an adventure that begins 60 years before the events depicted in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. The first of two films adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien's enduringly popular masterpiece, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey follows titular Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), who-along with the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and a band of 13 Dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage)-is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. The film's ensemble cast includes Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lily, and Andy Serkis as Gollum.

Hall H 

3:00-4:00 Indiana Jones Fan Group - Grab your fedora and dust off your Aldens, the Indyfans are back! Brandon Kleyla gathers the troops once again as they discuss all things Indiana Jones! Attractions, Blu-rays, toys, impersonation contest, you name it-if it's Indy, they'll cover it! Room 28E



Sunday, July 15th
10:00-11:00 Fringe Screening and Q&A - Fringe returns to Comic-Con for its farewell panel to celebrate its fifth and final season. Series stars Anna Torv (The Pacific), Josh Jackson (Dawson's Creek), Lance Reddick (Lost), Blair Brown (Altered States), Jasika Nicole (Take the Lead), and John Noble (The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King), along with executive producer J. H. Wyman (Keen Eddie), offer a Q&A with fans and an exclusive video presentation. Don't miss the discussion about the climactic conclusion of this critically acclaimed thriller. From Bad Robot Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, Fringe airs Fridays at 9/8c on FOX.Fringe: The Complete Fourth Season will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on September 4. Hall H 


11:15-12:15 Supernatural Screening and Q&A - Series stars Jared Padalecki(Friday the 13th [2009]) and Jensen Ackles (My Bloody Valentine 3D), recurring guest stars Misha Collins (Ringer), Jim Beaver (Justified), and Mark A. Sheppard (Battlestar Galactica), executive producer Jeremy Carver (U.S. version of Being Human), and consulting producer Ben Edlund (The Tick) return to Hall H to answer questions from the audience about what's in store for the eighth season of this thrill-ride series. Fans will also see an exclusive video presentation featuring series highlights, as well as a portion of the special features from the upcoming Supernatural: The Complete Seventh Season DVD and Blu-ray release, in stores September 18. The eighth season ofSupernatural will premiere in October on its new night, Wednesdays at 9/8c on The CW. The series is produced by Wonderland Sound and Vision in association with Warner Bros. Television. Hall H 

4:00-5:00 15 Years Since Philosopher's Stone: Harry Potter Fandom in 2012 - Seven books from J. K. Rowling -- or ten, depending on how you count -- plus hundreds of thousands of fanfics. Eight studio movies -- plus dozens of popular fanfilms, musicals, and songs. One theme park -- but soon there'll be three or more! An international museum exhibition -- and piles of fan-made shirts, crafts, fanart, CDs and DVDs. An encyclopedic website -- and fancons, fan-made wikis, and history courses on the impact of the Harry Potter fandom. We'll look back at 15 years of Harry Potter fandom and try to predict -- better than Trelawney! -- where we go from here. Room 6DE 


What are you looking forward to the most at the 2012 Comic-Con International?