The Special Edition website can be a little hard to navigate in terms of panels so better late than never here’s a COMPLETE text listing of the panels in easy to read format. See who’s where and when and have a good time.

SPECIAL EDITION:NYC Panel Schedule June 6 – 7, 2015 Pier 94, NYC

SATURDAY

Title: MARVEL: Next Big Thing Time: 10:30AM – 11:30AM Location: Theater 1 Speakers: Brian Michael Bendis Description: There’s no better place to learn about our thrilling and creatively diverse series than this Panel! Don’t miss some exciting discussion of our Star Wars titles as well as the lowdown on some of Marvel’s biggest and best new series! Panelists include Brian Michael Bendis (All-New X-Men), Marguerite Bennett (A-Force), Peter David (Spider-Man 2099) and Charles Soule (Inhumans: Attilan Rising).

Title: So Where Do You Get Your Ideas…and What Do You Do with Them? Time: 10:45AM – 11:45AM Location: Theater 2 Speakers: Alex de Campi Heidi MacDonald Jamal Igle Joe Harris Description: A continuing series of Panels on how storytellers develop ideas into narratives that make us thrill, laugh and cry. Some of it is instinct and some of it is technique. Some of the best in the business describe how they shape their materials to make the comics you love every month. Heidi MacDonald of The Beat (www.comicsbeat.com) moderates a Panel of all-star creators.

Title: Image Comics: Where Creators Own Stories Time: 11:45AM – 12:45PM Location: Theater 1 Speakers: Alex de Campi Becky Cloonan Brandon Graham Valentine De Landro Description: There’s no publisher like Image Comics. Creators own their work and they’re free to create stories however they’d like. Anything goes and Alex de Campi, Becky Cloonan, Brandon Graham and Valentine de Landro are here to show you how to make comics the Image Comics way.

Title: The Princess Who Saved Herself – From Song to Children’s Book to Kickstarter Time: 12:00PM – 1:00PM Location: Theater 2 Speakers: Greg Pak Jonathan Coulton
Description: This March, “The Princess Who Saved Herself” became the fourth highest grossing children’s book Kickstarter of all time. Writer Greg Pak and Singer-Songwriter Jonathan Coulton will reveal all the secrets behind the making of the book. A hugely practical exploration of how the team adapted a song into a book, made the creative transition from comics to children’s books and ran a crowdfunding campaign for a book starring a multiracial, proactive princess – with nifty giveaways to lucky audience members!

Title: Let’s Talk About Checks: The Business of Professional Comics Time: 1:00PM – 2:00PM Location: Theater 1 Speakers: Alex de Campi Chris Sotomayor Fernando Ruiz Joe Illidge Ulises Farinas Vera Greentea Description: Everything you wanted to know about being a comics pro but were afraid to ask! What’s a fair page rate? What contract clauses should you avoid? How are some Work For Hire deals better than others? Should you self-publish? How do you break in? Joe Illidge (former DC/Milestone Editor; currently writing for First Second), Chris Sotomayor (Colorist on all the things), Ulises Farinas (Artist and Writer), Alex de Campi (Image/Dark Horse Writer), Vera Greentea (Writer, Self-publisher, multiple successful Kickstarter) and Fernando Ruiz (Archie Penciller; Kubert School instructor) dish the details! No names will be named, but truth will be spoken.

Title: #BlackComicsMonth: Diversity in Comics Time: 1:15PM – 2:15PM Location: Theater 2 Speakers: Alitha E. Martinez Che Grayson Darryl “DMC” McDaniels Greg Pak Kim Gaines MizCaramelVixen Skuds McKinley Valentine De Landro
Description: #BlackComicsMonth was birthed during Black History Month and spotlighted 28 days of black comic creators. After realizing that 28 days wasn’t enough, BlackComicsMonth.com has continued featuring black creators in the mainstream as well as independent comics community, along with black comic characters. #BlackComicsMonth was featured on AVClub, Buzzfeed and BlackSportsOnline. Dynamite Comics and BOOM! Studios donated free copies of Shaft #1 and Plunder #1 through Comixology. This BlackComicsMonth Panel will feature creators who have books that were spotlighted on BlackComicsMonth since inception; Indie and mainstream creators. These creators will discuss diversity in comics, show off their talented work and answer questions.

Title: Batman – Are You Ready for Dynamic Action? Time: 2:15PM – 3:15PM Location: Theater 1 Speakers: Becky Cloonan Brenden Fletcher Genevieve Valentine James Tynion IV Ray Fawkes Description: For some, the symbol of the bat means fear; for others it means hope. No matter who wears the mantle of the Bat, there is always action, intrigue and adventure! Join DC creators as they talk about the heroes of the Batman family and what the symbol of the bat means to them. Panelists include: Becky Cloonan, Ray Fawkes, Brenden Fletcher, Genevieve Valentine and James Tynion IV.

Title: Publishers Weekly Presents: People in Comics Time: 2:30PM – 3:30PM Location: Theater 2 Speakers: Calvin Reid Dylan Meconis Natalie Nourigat Regine Sawyer Description: Comics are for everyone, and everyone is making and reading comics. With diversity reshaping the industry, PW’s Calvin Reidtalks to a spectrum of creators about moving forward, making comics and getting more readers. Are there different kinds of material that draws in a diverse audience? And how are the comics publishers responding? Publishers Weekly’s Calvin Reid talks to a spectrum of creators to find out.

Title: Writers Unite: Pitching Creator-Owned Comics Time: 3:30PM – 4:30PM Location: Theater 1 Speakers: Charles Soule Greg Pak Jim Zub Marguerite Bennett Description: Creator-owned comics have grabbed the imagination of the comic-reading community all over again and publishers are looking for fresh ideas from a new generation of talent. Listen closely as Charles Soule (Letter 44, Death of Wolverine), Greg Pak (Action Comics, The Princess Who Saved Herself), Marguerite Bennett (Butterfly) and Jim Zub (Wayward, Samurai Jack) discuss pitching their comic series to publishers and offer advice
on how to traverse the treacherous submission mountain, along with comic writing techniques and amusing anecdotes.

Title: Freelance Like a Rock Star Time: 3:45PM – 4:45PM Location: Theater 2 Speakers: Cat Farris Katie Lane Lucy Bellwood Molly Ostertag Ron Chan Description: Do you fantasize about being self-employed but you just don’t even know where to start? Shh, shh, little friend, no more tears – this group of seasoned pros is here to share their hard-won knowledge with you so you can freelance like a rockstar, too. Join a Panel of cartoonists and a freelance negotiation specialist for frank discussion about how to make it on your own as an independent creator. Questions welcome!

Title: Dark Horse Builds Characters Time: 4:45PM – 5:45PM Location: Theater 1 Speakers: Alex Cox Alex de Campi Brian Wood David Mack Jim Zub Joëlle Jones Description: Join Dark Horse Comics for a Panel of their incredibly talented artists, writers and creators to discuss independent comics, creator-owned rights, brand new projects and hear what’s coming up for the powerhouse publisher for the remainder of 2015. Moderated by Deputy Director of the CBLDF Alex Cox and featuring Alex de Campi (Archie vs Predator, Grindhouse), Brian Wood (Rebels), Jim Zub (Conan Red Sonja), David Mack (Kabuki, Fight Club 2), Joëlle Jones (Lady Killer) as well as a number of surprise Guests – this is a Panel you won’t want to miss!

Title: Creator Connection (Networking): Comic Book School + Dirk Manning Time: 5:00PM – 6:30PM Location: Theater 2 Speakers: Buddy Scalera Dirk Manning
Description: Meet your next creative partner in this fun, interactive networking session. Bring business cards, a notebook and samples of your work. This is the Panel that has literally helped complete strangers form creative teams and publish comic books. The original and best Creator Connection. Be there and launch your career!

Title: The Mary Sue Presents: Comic Book Movies/TV We’re Flailing Over Time: 6:00PM – 7:00PM Location: Theater 1 Speakers: Ali Colluccio Brenden Fletcher Jill Pantozzi MizCaramelVixen Susana Polo Description: It’s a very exciting time to be a comic Fan with adaptations being announced left and right, not to mention years in advance. What are we looking forward to? What are we hoping to see? Which costumes made us cringe? All that and more will be discussed!

SUNDAY

Title: MARVEL Unlimited+ Member-Only Panel* Time: 10:45AM – 11:45AM Location: Theater 1 Speakers: Charles Soule Marguerite Bennett Peter David Ramón Pérez Ryan Penagos Description: Join Executive Editorial Director of Digital Ryan Penagos, and top Marvel creators including Marguerite Bennett (A-Force), Peter David (Spider-Man 2099), Charles Soule (Inhuman) and Ramón Pérez (Hawkeye), for a private Panel discussion of what’s happening inside the Marvel Universe. Get FREE merchandise, sneak peeks of upcoming comics, a Q&A session to answer all your burning questions and more! *Panel line-up is subject to change. Merchandise available while supplies last. Must show official Member Card, photo ID or order confirmation email at the door to gain entry.
Title: Representation Beyond Characters: How Diversity Bleeds into Work Time: 11:00AM – 12:00PM Location: Theater 2 Speakers: Amy Chu Daisy Rosario Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez Greg Pak Shawn Martinbrough Suzy X Description: It’s long been understood that an artist’s identity often finds its way into their work. There have been frequent and strong calls for more diverse characters and creators as of late. This Panel will talk to working creators about how their identities inform their work. Whether it’s autobiographical work or working on one of comic’s major characters, Panelists will talk about how this form of “sneaky diversity” has bled into what they do. As well as the ways they were inspired by seeing it in their favorite works.

Title: The New DC Universe – Are You Ready? Time: 12:00PM – 1:00PM Location: Theater 1 Speakers: Annie Wu Becky Cloonan Brenden Fletcher Greg Pak Ming Doyle Steve Orlando Description: After DC’s Convergence, it’s a bold new world! Join some of the architects of that new future as they discuss what lies ahead for the DC Universe. Panelists include: Becky Cloonan, Ming Doyle, Brenden Fletcher, Steve Orlando, Greg Pak and Annie Wu.

Title: Comic Book Club – Live! Time: 12:15PM – 1:15PM Location: Theater 2 Speakers: Alexander Zalben Justin Tyler Michael Ragosta Nat Towsen Pete LePage Robert Ragosta Description: Nerdist.com’s Comic Book Club – Live! brings together the biggest names in comedy and comics for one live podcast you won’t forget. Come for the show, stay for the free comics!

Title: Brian Michael Bendis Spotlight Time: 1:15PM – 2:15PM Location: Theater 1 Speakers: Brian Michael Bendis Ryan Penagos Description: Join Superstar Writer Brian Michael Bendis as he discusses his prolific career in comics, the process and business of writing comic books, his work in other media including the new hit show, Powers, the end of the Ultimate Universe and anything else that strikes his fancy!

Title: Valiant 25th Anniversary Celebration Time: 1:30PM – 2:30PM Location: Theater 2 Speakers: Amy Chu Dinesh Shamdasani Fred Pierce Fred Van Lente Hunter Gorinson Warren Simons Description: Valiant’s 25th year is going to be the biggest one yet! The silver anniversary celebration begins right here as Bloodshot, X-O Manowar, Ninjak and the rest of Valiant’s fearless heroes take center stage for a star- studded Panel celebrating 25 years of Valiant comics! Featuring an exclusive round of news and announcements about the largest and most acclaimed independent universe in comics, find out what’s coming next for the iconic heroes and villains of the Valiant Universe right here from an all-star cast of Valiant staff and creators.

Title: Creating Comics: The Real Stories Time: 2:30PM – 3:30PM Location: Theater 1 Speakers: Annie Wu Becky Cloonan Dylan Meconis Jill Pantozzi Kate Leth Katie Cook Marguerite Bennett Marjorie Liu
Description: They write and draw stories for a living, but what are their own personal stories? Spend an hour with a Panel of accomplished artists and gifted writers as they discuss the stories and characters they’ve brought to life and how it has impacted their own. Panelists include Marguerite Bennett, Dylan Meconis, Katie Cook, Kate Leth, Annie Wu, Becky Cloonan and Marjorie Liu. Moderated by Jill Pantozzi, Editor in Chief of TheMarySue.com.

Title: Image Comics: Where Creators Own Genre Time: 2:45PM – 3:45PM Location: Theater 2 Speakers: Bryan J.L. Glass Jason Latour Jim Zub Scott Snyder Simon Roy Description: While the mainstream comics industry was once dominated by one genre, we’re inching toward a world where every genre is on the same footing. What’s your taste? Sci-fi? Sword and sorcery? Country-fried crime? Bryan J.L. Glass, Jason Latour, Simon Roy, Scott Snyder and Jim Zub have just the books for you.

Title: Archie Comics Forever Time: 3:45PM – 5:00PM Location: Theater 1 Speakers: Alex Segura Dan Parent Fernando Ruiz Jon Goldwater Mike Pellerito Description: Join the team at Archie Comics to learn about the latest happenings from Riverdale, USA – including info on New Riverdale series like Archie by Mark Waid and Fiona Staples, Jughead by Chip Zdarsky and Life with Kevin by Dan Parent. But that’s not all! This Panel will feature a special spotlight on the company’s own superhero imprint, Dark Circle Comics – including titles like The Black Hood, The Fox and The Shield. Featuring some of the best and brightest Archie talents, including Writer/Artist Dan Parent, Archie vs. Predator Artist Fernando Ruiz, Publisher Jon Goldwater, President Mike Pellerito and Dark Circle Editor Alex Segura!

Title: Secret Identities: Transgender Themes in Comic Books – Collector’s Edition! Time: 4:00PM – 5:00PM Location: Theater 2 Speakers: Charles Battersby Kristen Enos Marguerite Bennett Marjorie Liu Description: From Asgard to Gotham City, gender change has become more and more common in comic books, but comics have addressed transgender themes since the Golden Age. Join a Panel of writers and artists who will discuss recent additions to the ever-growing roster of transgender comic book characters, and the impact of transgender characters throughout comic history!

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