Im actually here in San Diego already and about to go into an all day fest of judging as I’m honored to be one of this year’s judges for the Will Eisner Spirit of Retailing award. It’s a good break from catching Pokemon right in my hotel room.
Also, the new Marriott expansion looks INCREDIBLE. Going to check tout more fully after judging.
After the preliminaries,
You will be able to find The Beat at various panels throughout the show. And also this one, featuring Publishers Weekly’s Calvin Reid:
Publishers Weekly Presents: Turning your ideas into graphic novels
Friday July 22, 2016 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Room 8
From life as a trashman to life as a Michael Jackson impersonator — there’s no topic graphic novels can’t cover. But how do creators shape their ideas into narratives that thrill and chill? Der Backderf, Keith Knight, Sydney Padua and Ron Wimberly talk about their craft with PR’s Senior News Editor Calvin Reid.
And the Beats own schedule – excited about all of them but a=especially our annual comics journalism panel, which has more ground to cover than ever before.
How to Get News Coverage
Thursday July 21, 2016 10:30am – 11:30am
Room 8
Small press publishers: What makes the difference between an item that will get news coverage, previews, and interviews and what doesn’t? A lot of publishers have no idea what to submit to the press, how to submit it, and why they are being overlooked for coverage. Comics journalist Rik Offenberger (First Comics News, Archie Comics) moderates this panel on what it takes to get coverage, with the comic journalists themselves telling you what they are looking for. Panelists include Albert Ching (Comic Book Resources), Alex Raymond (Hollywood Gone Geek), Chris Thompson (Pop Culture Hound, Bleeding Cool), Francis Sky (First Comics News, Massacre Twins), Glenn Hauman (Comic Mix), Heidi MacDonald (The Beat), J. C. Vaughn (Gemstone Publishing), Jez Ibelle (First Comics News), Josh Waldrop (Red Gorilla), Tanya Tate (First Comics News, JustaLottaTanya), and Tim Chizmar (Fangoria, First Comics News). Independent comic creators Holly Golightly (Broadsword Comics), Josh Henaman (Bigfoot), and Michael Kingston (Headlock Comics) will explain what worked for them and what to avoid when looking for press coverage.
The New Comics Journalism: Representation for all
Thursday July 21, 2016 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Room 23ABC
It’s time for our annual state of comics journalism panel, and the challenges faced by those writing about comics have never been steeper. Yet against a background of decreased funding and big media consolidation, a new generation of passionate advocates for comics are rising up and demanding a more inclusive industry for everyone. Heidi MacDonald (The Beat) Megan Purdy (Women Write About Comics), Cynthia Francillon (Black Girl Nerds) Brett Schenker (Graphic Policy) and Mark Stack (Comics Bulletin) talk about breaking news and boundaries. Presented by Comicsbeat.com
Spotlight on Chester Brown
Friday July 22, 2016 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Room 4
Chester Brown (Paying for It, Louis Riel) is one of the most successful and iconoclastic cartoonists working today. Mary Wept Over the Feet of Jesus continues his thoughts on sex work by retelling nine stories from Hebrew scriptures and the Christian New Testament. It is a New York Times bestseller that has received widespread critical acclaim. Brown will read from Mary Wept and Heidi MacDonald (The Beat, Publishers Weekly) will moderate a Q&A.
Comics from the Squared Circle
Friday July 22, 2016 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Room 8
An insider’s look at the overlapping worlds of comics and professional wrestling, including a historical retrospective and predictions for the future of wrestling comics. Featuring Lucha Underground superstar Chavo Guerrero (Chavo Guerrero’s Warrior’s Creed), WWE Hall-of-Famer Andre the Giant’s daughter Robin Christensen-Roussimoff, and record breaking wrestling comics writer Mike Kingston (Headlocked). Hosted by Heidi MacDonald (Comics Beat).
We’ll have many Elite Beat Operatives on the ground here including Alex Lu, Kyle Pinion, Hannah Lodge, Davey Nieves, Victor van Scoit, Nancy Powell, Jerome Maida, Chris Hayden, Nick Eskey and more. Say hi, give them a scoop or buy them a drink. Or all three!
