The full schedule for next week's San Diego Comic Con has been released, and it means panic time for many attendees. All of the heavy hitters are arriving, and there's no telling who might surprisingly show up. We've listed 20 panels that are a guaranteed good time during your stay at the convention. This year's San Diego Comic Con takes place from July 18 through July 21 inside the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California.
Thursday July 18
They Look Like Me: Bodies in Nerd Culture
10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Grand 10 & 11, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
From comic books to the big screen, everyone wants to identify with someone that looks like them. Moderated by Geek and Sundry’s Sam de Leve, the panel features B. Dave Walters (Vampire the Masquerade: LA by Night), Sarah Kuhn (Heroine Complex), Christy Black (Hero's Journey Fitness), and Mairghread Scott (Marvel Rising) will come together to discuss everything that's been going right (and what work needs to be done) with body image in the media.
Hollywood Game Changers: A Conversation with the Creative Women Behind Popular Films and TV Projects
11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Room 25ABC
Moderated by Neer Motion director Chandra Feltus and cinematographer Fiorella Occhipinti, this panel will feature some the baddest women taking over Hollywood right now. So far, Emmy winning sound editor Paula Fairfield, costume designers Mona May, Melissa Bruning, and Meghan Kasperlik, animation director Anna Hollingsworth, and composer Anna Drubich will appear at the panel. Before the panel begins, Impact24 PR's Andrea Resnick will say a few words.
7th Annual Musical Anatomy of a Superhero: Film and TV Composer Panel
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Ballroom 20
Music helps drive those important scenes in your favorite superhero TV shows and films. If you're looking to dive into what makes these compositions work, a plethora of composers will be on hand for a music filled panel. Moderated by composer Michael Giacchino (Spider-Man: Far From Home), this panel will feature Blake Neely (Batwoman), Christopher Lennertz (The Boys), Sherri Chung (Supergirl), Pinar Toprak (Captain Marvel), and Benjamin Wallfisch (Shazam!).
Gnomes, Gunslingers, and Gelatinous Cubes: A Super-Fun Guide to Dungeons & Dragons and Tabletop RPGs
2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Grand 10 & 11, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
Inspired to play D&D and tabletop RPGs after watching shows like Critical Role and Rat Queens? Super Geeked Up host Jeff Burns will moderated the panel with Hyper RPG CEO Malika Lim Eubank, El Rey Nation's Omar Najam, ConTessa Foundation founder Stacy Dellorfano, San Diego Roleplaying Association organizer Chris Czerniak, and actor Trip Hope as guests. If you want to get an up close and personal look at gaming, the panelists will hold a gaming session right after the panel in Pacific Ballroom 21 of the Marriott Marquis. Can't make it? Fortunately, they'll have another gaming session in the same room on Saturday July 20 at 8 p.m.
Swipe Right For Superheroes
8 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Grand 12 & 13, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
If you're looking for a laugh, Ready Set Geek! members Alix Catherine, JPG, and Cole Garrison will present a comedy panel about dating fictional characters. They'll be joined by Perception Studio's Art Vega, Amber Reeder-Vega, and Danny Montooth along with their felted friends.
Friday, July 19
Build a Better World Through Gaming (A Women in Gaming Panel)
11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Grand 12 & 13, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
Moderated by Microsoft assistant store manager Donnell Hilliard, this panel deals with the trials and tribulations of women involved in the gaming world. Panelists include Microsoft store manager Helen Theriault, Sparkd Studios founder Candela S. Rebot, Online Performer's Group account manager Janessa Herrera and Psyonix's Stephanie Thoensen (senior communications manager) and Sarah Hebbler (executive producer). A Q&A session will take place after the discussion.
Building a Geek Brand (That Changes the World)
12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
Grand 10 & 11, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
Trying to make a career in geek culture can be a bit rough. Luckily, this panel features some of the best names in the business to help you out. Cosplayer Stella Chuu, YouTube personality Trisha Hershberger, artist Victor Dandridge, author Genese Davis, and fashion entrepreneur Tony B. Kim will be on hand to deliver some essential pointers.
Writing the Rules of Magic
4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Room 25ABC
Ever wonder how magic in your favorite shows can actually make sense? Well, a group of established writers will tell you how they accomplished this rough feat! Gennifer Hutchison (The Strain), Deric Hughes (Arrow), Kieron Gillen (The Wicked & The Divine), Jose Molina (Magic: The Gathering), Chris Dingess (Doom Patrol), Sarah Kuhn (Heroine Complex), and sisters Julie and Shawna Benson (Wu Assassins) will join moderator Ben Blacker (The Thrilling Adventure Hour) in a panel about properly inserting magic in their storylines.
Creator Origins: A Candid Conversation on LBGTQ Comics Creation
6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Room 9
Over the years, LBGTQ representation in comic books has skyrocketed with acclaimed series such as Rat Queens, Lumberjanes, and Midnighter. LBGTQ comic creators Joe Glass (The Pride) and Clive Hawken (Delver) will team up with LBGTQ publishers Spike Trotman (Iron Circus Comics) and Ivan Salazar (comiXology) to discuss how they got into the comic book industry. This panel will be moderated by GLAAD's Megan Townsend.
Super Geeked Up: Geeky Improv Live
9 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Room 25ABC
Super Geeked Up will bring an insane improv show filled with tons of geeky games. Joining the crew are special guests Kelly Nugent (El Rey Nation) and Matt Acevedo (Hyper RPG). The fun won't just happen on stage. There's plenty of audience participation and prizes to be won.
Saturday, July 20
Nostalgia-Ganza: A Look Back at Animated Series from the '80s
10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Room 9
The '80s were filled with cartoons that still resonate with people today. Cartoon writers Len Uhley (Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears), Brynne Chandler (He-Man), Marv Wolfman (Transformers), Craig Miller (The Real Ghostbusters), and Karen Willson (G.I. Joe) come together to discuss what went down behind the scenes of your favorite shows.
Reboot: Reinvigorating a Tired Franchise, or Worst Idea Ever?
12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
Grand 12 & 13, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
The word "reboot" can either make you feel either happy or nauseous. Fortunately, many reboots have been able to please long time fans of the original product. Jody Houser (Star Wars: Age of Republic), Preeti Chhibber (Spider-Man: Far From Home: Peter and Ned's Ultimate Travel Journal), Jackson Lanzing (Star Trek: Year 5), Sarah Kuhn (Shadow of the Batgirl), Sina Grace (Iceman), and Javier Grillo-Marxuach (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance) will talk about how to make a proper reboot work in today's world.
Comics, Culture, and the Classroom
4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Shiley Special Events Suite, San Diego Central Library
Combining superheroes with the school curriculum? Some professors in Los Angeles have found a way to bring these two worlds together with perfect results. Animo South Los Angeles High School's Chanti Burnette, Animo Leadership High School's Kimberlee Kelley, and Green Dot Public Schools' Timothy Ojetunde will be on hand to share ways to make this happen. Green Dot Public Schools' Curriculum Specialist Peter Carlson will moderate the panel.
The Music of Monsters: Kaiju Concerto with Composer Bear McCreary
5 p.m. - 6. p.m.
Room 25ABC
Since 2004, Emmy winner composer Bear McCreary has been a crucial part of films such as 10 Cloverfield Lane, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and Child's Play. In this panel, he'll break down what makes his beloved compositions work so well. McCreary's music can soon be heard in the horror film Eli, which will be released on Netflix.
NXonNetflix Presents the Comic-Con 2019 Masquerade
8:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Ballroom 20
The Masquerade is easily the hottest thing at SDCC not being held at Hall H. In order to grab a ticket, line up before noon to have your best chance. Any remaining tickets will be sent to the Masquerade Desk after 3 p.m. If you didn't get a ticket, overflow seating will be available Sails Pavilion and Room 6A.
Sunday, July 21
San Diego International Children's Film Festival
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Room 9
If you're in the mood for a good flick, the San Diego International Children's Film Festival will showcase a plethora of short films from around the world. Throughout the event, animators and filmmakers will discuss their projects. The full list of films being screened will be unveiled soon.
How to Create Your Own Novel
1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Room 8
The Winner Twins (Brittany and Brianna) rose to fame at age 12 with their debut novel The Strand Prophecy. Over the years, they've earned accolades for their teachings across the country. They're heading to SDCC to give pointers on how to get your story idea out for the world to see. They'll be joined by Hugo Award winning writer Graeme Manson and New York Times bestselling authors Todd McCaffrey and Sherrilyn Kenyon.
Fantastic Beasts and How to Make Them
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Grand 10 & 11, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
Amazed by the massive cosplay you see walking around the con? Interesting in enhancing your creativity? Cosplayers Leah Thomas, Nat Lawson, Bryn Hazlett Lawson, Amanda Dunn, Ken Hazlett, and Andrea Seale will show how those titanic costumes get created.
Paper Toys
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Room 11
Looking to showcase your creative side? Grammy nominated paper engineer Renee Jablow will teach you how to make paper dragons from Studio Fun International's recent Ready to Fly! book. Each person will walk away with one dragon from the recent How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World film.
Gastronomically Geeky. Game and Movie Cookbooks
3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Room 5AB
If you’ve played an RPG, there might be times when you’ll wonder if that food in the dining hall would taste fantastic in real life. Fortunately, some acclaimed authors took it upon themselves to deliver recipes from these fictional worlds. Chelsea Monroe-Cassel (Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook), Victoria Rosenthal (Fallout: The Vault Dweller's Official Cookbook), and Allison Robicelli (WWE: The Official Cookbook) discuss the hurdles they went through to get their books on the shelves.
