San Diego Comic-Con 2017 Offers Variety Of Panels On Diversity, Inclusion

The world’s biggest comic book and pop culture convention, San Diego Comic-Con, starts Wednesday, July 19th. Once again, they’ll be overnight lines waiting for the Hall H line, (which has its own twitter feed) and the human zoo inside on the sales floor hoping to get those con exclusives from Funko and the like while gawking and being ushered past famous tv and movie stars signing autographs. There are hundreds of panels being conducted over the course of the convention in a wide variety of spaces both inside the center and beyond, on nearly every subject that fans can imagine, from Alien to iZombie. In the past few years, there have been an increasing number of panels focusing on the importance of diversity and inclusion in Hollywood and pop culture.

For myself, I’ve been producing panels at SDCC for over ten years, through my gallery ArtInsights and my work as a film critic focusing on women in film. Most of them have been featuring illustration and animation artists, as well as artists in the film industry working “below the line”. I expanded my subjects in the last few years to focus on diversity in animation and women working in both animation and live action film.

Much has been written and discussed of late about Patty Jenkins breaking records with the blockbuster Wonder Woman. I took part in promoting the film, along with Women in Film: LA. Even when people came into my art gallery (which sells animation, contemporary and film art, including images of Wonder Woman) I would check to see if they’d seen the film, and relay to them that of 361 movies in American film history with budgets over 100 million, only 4, including Wonder Woman, have been directed by women. It’s true that this summer and the success of Wonder Woman is a big step forward for women in film, but records have been broken before (Catherine Hardwicke, with Twilight) and not much changed, so it’s important to ride on this wave of success to make sure women get more chances at directing and being crew for big movies and studio films.

Last year was the first year for my panel Women Rocking Hollywood, and it was incredibly well received. It featured the producer of Wonder Woman, Deb Snyder, Catherine Hardwicke, and the head of physical production at Marvel , Victoria Alonso, among others. This year, for the Women Rocking Hollywood panel, I’m working once again with Women in Film: LA, but also with Oprah Winfrey Network. OWN has the show Queen Sugar, which is produced by Ava DuVernay (who will be the first woman of color to direct a film over 100 million with A Wrinkle in Time), and for the first two seasons had all female directors. DuVernay’s commitment to hiring on women to direct the show has had a big impact on other shows and is making waves in the industry. Women working in film are finally getting momentum. I’m very excited about this panel, because taking part two women who are working on Queen Sugar, the executive director of Women in Film: LA, writer/director of the upcoming Professor Marston and the Wonder Women, Angela Robinson, Gina Prince-Bythewood, who will be the first women of color to direct a superhero movie with Silver and Black, Rosemary Rodriguez, who is right now directing another episode of Jessica Jones, and other powerhouses who will add immeasurably to the discussion. I also have two panels about animation, Cartoon Creatives, featuring women working in the field, and The Genius of Animation, which spans the spectrum of talented animators who have worked or are working in the industry.

Many other panels are focusing on diversity and inclusion, with subjects from intersectional feminism in comics, to black LGBTQ contributions to sci-fi and fantasy, to a panel called “Super Asian America”, about whitewashing and the casting of Asian-Americans as leads in film and tv. There are also a number of panels about girls and the expansion of including them as positively represented in comics. There’s even a panel highlighting the work of Roxane Gay, where the feminist and literary star will be speaking.

I remember about 20 years ago, when I was already showing art from Star Wars in my gallery, and men would come in assuming they knew way more about the movies and characters than I did. We girl geeks were more in the closet then, or at least it was pretty hard trying to press the door open. It was the same way at SDCC. There were way fewer women there than men. That has changed. In a lot of ways, fandom has always been inclusive, (with Star Trek popularity and success being largely a result of female fans in the 70s) but with book and film series like Harry Potter, and shows where people of color, LGBTQ, women, and folks who identify as some combination of those designates, are an important part of the story, geek culture has grown and is ever expanding.

If you’re going to San Diego Comic-Con and are wanting to support this expansion, below is a list with descriptions of some great panels that might be of interest. If you aren’t able to attend, so doubt some of these will be filmed and available to see online after the convention. My panels are always accessible online, so check to see if whatever appeals to you has been filmed.

To those about to attend with me and about 700k of my closest friends, remember to hydrate, bring snacks, have a phone battery, and close-toed shoes. See you at SDCC!

THURSDAY

Code Switch: Diversity Behind the Scenes-Jimmy Diggs (writer, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Voyager) and Gigi Edgley (Chiana on Farscape) lead a diverse panel of science fiction, fantasy, and gaming industry leaders as they share their perspectives from behind the scenes of your favorite franchises. African American, veteran, LGBTQ, and female creatives discuss diversity of background and thought. Learn how obstacles overcome, stereotypes broken, and glass ceilings shattered have fueled creative magic! Thursday 10am

The Future is Female: Women in Animation- Marge Dean (WIA co-president, GM at Stoopid Buddy Stoodios), Molly Mason-Boulé (VP content group, Electronic Arts Worldwide Studios), Maggie Malone (VP, creative affairs, Walt Disney Animation Studios), and Jinko Gotoh (executive producer, The Lego Movie Sequel, Warner Animation Group) discuss female creative talent by format, unconscious bias, and the goal of obtaining 50-50 by 2025, with women sharing equally in the creation, production, and rewards of animation. Thursday 10am

Be Your Own Superhero: Intersectional Feminism in Comics-Representation matters, both on and behind the page. Sam Maggs (Wonder Women, Star Trek: Waypoint), Susana Polo (Polygon), Sarah Kuhn (Heroine Complex), Robbie Thompson (Supernatural, Silk), Christina "Steenz" Stewart (Lion Forge Comics), Cait Brennan (Debutante), and Rose Knight (Women Write About Comics) chat about the strides made in representation of race, gender, and sexuality in comics-and how everyone can do better. Thursday 12pm

Art Heroines: Using Science to Help Create Art- The Art Heroines explore the value of using science to further your art projects, from finding inspiration to implementing techniques. These seasoned professionals offer an in-depth discussion on how the pros employ the scientific method in their work. From observation to experimentation to innovation, they'll break down how you can use science at home. Moderated by Robyn Simms, Emmy-nominated costume designer for Tumble Leaf (Amazon) and co-host of The Grownups Are Talking podcast, the panel features Danelle Vierkant (creature designer and builder, Grimm, American Horror Story), Ivonne Escoto (designer and builder, Sleepy Hollow, The Flash), Dee Chavez (background designer/layout, Nickelodeon, DreamWorks), Kristin Donner(painter/illustrator, Nickelodeon, Society for American Archaeology), Melissa Doss Diwa (builder, Jim Henson's Creature Shop, Disney Online), Nicole Filiatrault(technical director, South Park), Kaitlyn Yang (VFX supervisor, Robot Chicken, The Walking Dead), and Chelsea Pickens (art department, Anomalisa, Yamasong). Thursday 4:30pm

Moonlight and Magic: Black LGBTQ contributions to Sci-fi, fantasy, and Comics Genres- The Black LGBTQ experience has brought unique and significant intersectional perspectives to our society and popular media: Black Lives Matter was founded by three black queer women; Black LGBT authors Octavia Butler and Samuel Delany created legendary works; bisexual writer Roxane Gay brought Marvel's Black Pantherto deep critical acclaim; and Moonlight won the Oscar for Best Picture. Join Prism Comics with moderator Faith Cheltenham (BiNet USA VP, Tor.com co-creator) and panelists Viktor Kerney (Prism board member, GayMediaSoWhite creator), Ajuan Mance (8-rock.com), Sean Z. Maker (Bent-Con), Monica Roberts (TransGriot, National Transgender Advocacy Coaltion), William O. Tyler a.k.a. WOT (Queerbait), and Eliot Sutler, Esq. (BiWoCC) as they discuss the power of the Black LGBTQ experience and its positive effect not only on popular media but on society and the world at large. Thursday 5:00pm

LGBTQ Geek Year in Review- The past year has been filled with key moments in comics, TV, movies, animation, and games that every queer geek should know about. The panel will discuss the significance of these events to the greater LGBTQ community. Hosted by Prism Comics and moderated by P. Kristen Enos (Prism Comics, Active Voice the Comic Collection), the panel includes Diane Anderson-Minshall (editorial director, The Advocate, Plus Magazine, and Tiny Living Chic), Nick Adams (director of programs, GLAAD's Transgender Media), Mike Ciriaco (LA Weekly, WeHoTV News), Amber Garza (director of international licensing, Sequential Rights; West Coast coordinator, Geeks OUT!), Chelsea Steiner (AfterEllen.com, Autostraddle.com), and Amelia Vaughn (Huffington Post, Riptide Publishing). Thursday 6pm

Women of Color in Comics: Race, Gender, and the Comic Book Medium-The Women in Comics Collective (WinC, pronounced "Wink") is an international organization that highlights the merit and craft work of women working in the comic book and multimedia industries. Their membership is made up of artists, writers, educators, filmmakers, show producers, art gallery directors, cosplayers, game developers, bloggers, and toy makers. Focusing on female and racial representation in comics, fandom, and the industry, panelists include moderator Regine L. Sawyer(writer, publisher, WinC founder), Jewels Smith ([H]afrocentric writer and creator, activist), Vanee Smith-Matsalia (writer, educator), Jay Justice (cosplayer, activist), Alice Meichi Li (comic book artist, illustrator), Leen Isabel (cosplayer, artist, creator of Pole Dancing Adventures), Jazmine Joyner (comic book store owner), and Jules Rivera (comic book artist). 6pm Thursday

Femme Magnifique: Amazing Women in Comics-Learn about the groundbreaking women featured in the new anthology Femme Magnifique and the creative teams that turned the real-life adventures of these women into comic book stories. Women from politics, art, science, and pop will be featured, as co-curators Shelly Bond (Black Crown) and Kristy Miller (Femme Magnifique) provide sneak peeks at the art and stories. Femme Magnifique creative team members Paige Braddock (Jane's World), Elsa Charretier (The Unstoppable Wasp), Eva Cabrera (KIM & KIM), Tess Fowler (Rat Queens), Gail Simone (Red Sonja), and more share their experiences creating comic stories based on real-life female heroes. Q&A session. Thursday 7pm

It Gets Geekier: Why Queer Representation Matters-Joshua Yehl (IGN Comics) brings It Gets Geekier back to discuss the importance of including LGBT+ characters in comic books, TV shows, and movies. Host Bryan Pittard (Flame On! Podcast) will lead the talk including Sina Grace (Iceman), Kris Anka (All-New X-Men), Megan Townsend (GLAAD), Mariko Tamaki (Supergirl: Being Super), and others. Thursday 7:30pm

FRIDAY

Cartoon Creatives: Women Power in Animation-Panelists examine the history and trajectory of women working inside feature and TV animation to bring to light some great hidden figures in our past. These inspiring women have shown invention and creativity and are expanding the industry. Scheduled to appear are Marge Dean (co-president, WIA; supervising producer, SuperMansion), Mindy Johnson (film historian; author, Ink & Paint: The Women of Disney Animation), Victoria Ying (visual development, Wreck-It Ralph, Frozen, Moana), Shadi Petosky (writer/producer, Danger & Eggs; founder, Puny Studios), Julia Vickerman (writer, The Powerpuff Girls; director, RAD Lands, Twelve Forever), and Elaine Bogan (director, Trollhunters, Dragons: Race to the Edge). Moderated by Leslie Combemale (CinemaSiren.com). Friday 10am

The Black Panel- The Black Panel is 20 years old. A new era begins with an unprecedented event. Panelists for the year’s 20th-anniversary forum will not be announced in advance. If you’ve never been to Michael Davis’s Black Panel, you wouldn’t know some of the biggest names in media have graced its stage. Who’s been chosen for this 20th-anniversary celebration? Non-ya. Don't get that? Here's a clue: Non-ya is a response, not a rapper. Friday 10am

Diana’s Sister Protagonists-How do fictional feminist narratives inform and inspire? The future is female, as reflected in the Women's March, a new Wonder Woman feature film, and a slew of bestselling authors writing empowering stories of women in charge. Maryelizabeth Yturralde (Mysterious Galaxy) leads the conversation with Kiersten White (Now I Rise), Nnedi Okorafor (Akata Witch, Akata Warrior), Sarah Tarkoff (Sinless), Laurie Forest (The Black Witch), Gregory Scott Katsoulis (All Rights Reserved), and Dana Fredsti (The Spawn of Lilith). Friday 11am

Diversity in Comics-Brian Buccellato (Detective Comics, The Flash), Elena Salcedo (editor-in-chief, Top Cow Productions), Joe Illidge (senior editorial manager, Lion Forge), Ani-Mia(international cosplayer), Blake Northcott (Michael Turner's Fathom), Hannibal Tabu(CBR's The Buy Pile), Marcus To (Joyride, Red Robin), and Khary Randolph (Mosaic, The Amazing Spider-Man) discuss the shifting landscape of diversity in modern comics. Moderated by Vince Hernandez (VP/editor-in-chief, Aspen Comics). Friday 11am

Diversity in Comics: India’s Superheroes on the Rise!- Graphic India co-founder and creator Sharad Devarajan (Chakra: The Invincible, Shadow Tiger, Astra Force) presents an engaging session about globalization, East meets West, the new diversity and culture in comics, and the birth of Indian superheroes. Graphic India will also discuss their new projects, including the animated series Baahubali: The Lost Legends on Amazon Prime Video and the new comic series with Grant Morrison Avatarex: Destroyer of Darkness. Friday 1pm

Read like a Girl: Middle-grade fiction for Girls (and boys)- The authors behind some of your favorite middle-grade graphic fiction discuss creating stories with strong, positive female characters and the importance of overcoming the lingering perception that comics are only for boys. Featuring Nidhi Chanani (Pashmina), Shannon Hale (Real Friends), Jenni Holm (Babymouse series), Molly Ostertag (The Witch Boy), and Raina Telgemeier (Ghosts). Moderated by Brigid Alverson (writer and reviewer, Good Comics for Kids). Friday 1pm

Spotlight on Marguerite Bennett- Do you like sassy broads in good dresses mouthing off about storytelling? If your answer is, "What a weird panel description," then come see Ryan North interview Marguerite Bennett (DC Comics: Bombshells, Batwoman, Josie and the Pussycats, A-Force, Animosity) on comics, craft, work ethic, process, representation, feminist wrath, queer culture, comedy, kissing, storytelling, and more! Friday 1pm

The Female Voices of Twitter- Coming off of a TEDx Talk where she discussed the future of women in film, Fandango correspondent Alicia Malone is taking to the Horton Grand stage to celebrate the launch of her new book, Backwards and in Heels. Joining Malone will be some of today's best and brightest female film journalists to provide advice for both aspiring journalists and filmmakers seeking to break into this industry. They will also discuss how to empower more women to tell their stories and the importance of the female voice in film coverage and social media. Panelists include Jacqueline Coley (Black Girl Nerds), Aisha Harris (Slate), Rachel Heine (Nerdist), Amy Nicholson (MTV, The Canon Podcast), Jen Yamato (LA Times), and others. Friday 1:30

Bisexuality and Beyond: Deadpool Made Us Do It (again and again)-Definitions of gender and sexuality are becoming more and more open in popular media as comics, film, and television creators are telling stories with bisexual characters and affirming role models who are not limited to one definition. Join Prism Comics with moderator Faith Cheltenham (BiNet USA) for a spirited discussion of the present and future of sexuality in media with the real-life bisexual creators who draw, write, and perform these roles: Tara Madison Avery (Gooch, Anything That Loves), R. J. Aguiar (YouTube's TheNotAdam, NotAdamAndSteve.com), Lynnette McFadzen (BiNet USA), and Eliot Sutler, Esq. (BiWoCC). Last year, BleedingCool.com called this panel "One Of The Most Amazing Moments Of Affirmation At San Diego Comic-Con." Friday 2pm

Marian McCourt and Amy Chu on Charmz, the New Graphic Novel Line for Tween Girls-This May, Papercutz, one of the leading publishers of all-ages graphic novels, launched Charmz, a new imprint dedicated to stories for and about teen girls, headed by Mariah McCourt. From supernatural mystery to historical adventure to the everyday drama that is high school life, the Charmz line is designed to offer something for every tween girl. Charmz is for girls who have discovered graphic novels and want more and for girls who've wanted to give graphic novels a try but never found content or stories that interested them. McCourt (writer of Stitched) is joined by Amy Chu (writer of Ana and the Cosmic Race, DC's Poison Ivy series) and Papercutz editors Jim Salicrup and Jeff Whitman to discuss what's next in the exciting world of graphic novels for tween girls. Friday 3pm

You do What? Women in Film Production-Forget navigating Hollywood backwards and in heels! Angela Robinson(writer/director, Professor Marston and the Wonder Women, True Blood), Lauren Haroutunian (cinematographer, RocketJump: The Show), Cat Paschen (SFX makeup artist, Face Off All Stars), Alicia Minette (metalsmith/art department, Gilmore Girls), and others discuss working in traditionally male-dominated fields of production with Q&A session moderated by Brittany Sandler. Friday 6pm

Queer Fear- The LGBTQ community has had a long history with the horror genre, from James Whale’s Frankenstein to the oft-cited “gayest movie of all time,” A Nightmare on Elm Street 2. Does a gay horror genre exist, and if so, what makes it different from mainstream horror? Furthermore, how does the current political climate alter the lens through which viewers celebrate and connect to the macabre? Join Prism Comics and moderator/screenwriter Michael Varrati (Tales of Poe, Darkest Night) and an array of panelists, including Christopher Rice (A Density of Souls, Ramses the Damned), Jaclyn Chessen (Shock Attack), George Aaron Climer (Bear Creek), Gary Entin and Edmund Entin (Seconds Apart, the Rest Stop series), Maria Olsen(Paranormal Activity 3, Starry Eyes), and Ira Madison III (pop culture writer, The Daily Beast). Friday 7pm

SATURDAY

Spotlight on Roxane Gay- New York Times bestselling author Roxane Gay (Black Panther: World of Wakanda, Bad Feminist, Difficult Women, Hunger) comes to Comic-Con as a special guest! Roxane will discuss her skyrocketing career and literary stardom and will field some questions from the audience during a Q&A session. Saturday 10:30am

Comics Arts Conference #10: Feminist Marvels-J. Richard Stevens (University of Colorado, Boulder) examines how Marvel is positioning Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel in the lead-up to her film as a credible feminist icon in order to more explicitly address the interests of a rising female readership. Chris Richardson (Young Harris College) argues that Bourdieu's notion of the field, a place in which actors compete for status through symbolic capital, allows us to better understand how Jessica Jones, as a strong, independent, heroic woman, a victim of abuse, a vulnerable and insecure lover, and the product of two men's imagination, has dramatically reshaped the industry in subtle yet important ways. Samantha Langsdale (University of North Texas) sees Marvel's new run of Spider-Woman as feminist in its defiance of the trend in mainstream superhero comics to characterize motherhood as untenable for superheroines by presenting a markedly woman-centered model of motherhood. Saturday 11am

Women on the Dark Side-Not all female artists/creators are about unicorns and glittery vampires and silly pseudo-bondage. Some women create truly dark and challenging art and content with just a touch of humor and whimsy. Whether it's comic books, novels, or art, these are the women who are creating content that connects with our deeper, darker side. Featuring Susan Lee (Wraith of Love, Shadow of the Knight), Megan Hutchison(Rockstars), Madeleine Holly-Rosing (Boston Metaphysical Society), and Maria Alexander (Mr. Wicker, Snowed). Moderated by Barbra Dillon (Fanbase Press). Saturday 12pm

Women Rocking Hollywood: Female Directors Changing the Faces of Film and Television-Wonder Woman broke all records in Hollywood for a film helmed by a female directors. Now What? While there’s still a long way to go to equal the number of women behind the camera with women, who make up 51% of the population, shows like Jessica Jones, Queen Sugar, and The Leftovers are making a huge difference by committing to the inclusion of female directors. This 2nd annual panel at SDCC focuses on the incredibly talented, successful women expanding opportunities for women in film who have made noise and winning awards with their work on both the big and small screens. Scheduled to appear: Kirsten Schaffer (exec director, Women in Film: LA), Tina Mabry (writer/producer/director: Queen of the South, director: Dear White People), Rosemary Rodriguez (writer/director: Silver Skies, director: Jessica Jones, The Walking Dead), Victoria Mahoney (director: Queen Sugar, Gypsy, American Crime), Aurora Guerrero (writer/director: Mosquita y Mari, director: Queen Sugar), Angela Robinson (writer/director: Professor Marston and the Wonder Women, True Blood), and Gina Prince-Bythewood (writer/director: Love & Basketball, Beyond the Lights), the first woman of color hired to helm a superhero film for the upcoming Silver & Black. Moderated by Leslie Combemale (Cinema Siren). Saturday 1pm

Entertainment Weekly’s Women Who Kick Ass: Icon Edition with Charlize Theron-Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road . Cipher in The Fate of the Furious . Ravenna in Snow White and the Huntsman . Meredith Vickers in Prometheus . Aeon Flux. For more than a decade, Oscar winner Charlize Theron has embodied strength, power, searing intelligence, and steely determination on screen. Now, as she prepares to beat the hell out of sinister forces in her new movie Atomic Blonde, EW sits down for no-holds-barred conversation with a woman who defies the rules-and creates her own. Saturday 2pm

SuperheroIRL: End Bullying! -Captain America knocked out Hitler-and this is SuperheroIRL, knocking out bullying, racism, misogyny, LGBTQIA-bullying, cyberbullying, and other forms of hate. Join in for this intersection of pop culture and social justice with Pop Culture Hero Coalition. "From now on, Comic-Con convention goers will come for cosplay, entertainment, freebies, autographs-and healing," as reported by CNN. Saturday 2pm

Women and Writers of Color Breaking Barriers-An eclectic panel of UCLA Extension instructors currently working in the entertainment industry discuss how they got where they are, what issues they continue to face, and what it will take before there is real change. Speakers include Laurence Walsh-Hodson (NCIS, The Dresden Files), Nancy Nigrosh (former agent of Kathryn Bigelow), Steve Harper (American Crime, Covert Affairs), Melinda Hill (Kickin' It, Adventure Time), Deborah Dean Davis (It Takes Two, Daddy Boot Camp), Cynthia Hsiung (Young Hercules, The Real World), Eunetta T. Boone (One on One, The Hughleys), Cynthia Riddle (Puppy Love, The Brittany Murphy Story) and moderator Kim Adelman (independent film producer). Saturday 4pm

The Most Dangerious Women at Comic-Con: More than just Cookies-The doting girlfriend. The damsel in distress. The evil seductress. The tough girl who dies. Why are so many female characters such cookie-cutter archetypes? Why do so many fictional women lack the depth and variety of character of their male counterparts? How can fans and writers work together to create richer stories with more well-rounded characters, female and otherwise? Here to discuss the many archetypes of women in fiction are a group of women dangerous in their own rights: Tamara Brooks (Comic Book Resources, Seat 42F), Dr. Janina Scarlet (Superhero Therapy), Jennifer K. Stuller (Ink-Stained Amazons and Cinematic Warriors,GeekGirlCon), Jessica Tseang (Little Geek Girls, comic book historian), Tamara Robertson (MythBusters: The Search), and Alex Langley (The Geek Handbook, Kill the Freshman). Moderated by Katrina Hill (Action Movie Freak, 100 Greatest Graphic Novels). Saturday 6pm

Gays in Comics, Out in Comics: A 30th Year Celebration-The comic world's longest-running panel celebrates its 30th year with an all-star panel and celebration that will spotlight creators, comics, and fans from 1988 to the present. What a difference 30 years makes! "Diversity" has become a rallying cry in the comics world today. Almost every comic company is looking toward LGBTQ or LGBTQ-friendly creators for work that reflects the world around us today-gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender characters as well as people of color, other cultures, and more. This year, founding moderator and bestselling author Andy Mangels (Wonder Woman '77 Meets the Bionic Woman, Star Trek books) returns to chair the panel and welcomes Tara Madison Avery (Anything That Loves, Gooch, Alphabet), Roxane Gay (Black Panther: World of Wakanda, Bad Feminist, SDCC special guest), Sina Grace (Iceman, Self-Obsessed, Burn the Orphanage), Phil Jimenez(Superwoman, Wonder Woman, Infinite Crisis), Steve Orlando (Midnighter and Apollo, Supergirl, Justice League of America), and Molly Ostertag (Shattered Warrior, Strong Female Protagonist, The Witch Boy). Showcased throughout will be special video messages from an array of Hollywood and comic book celebrities sending special 30th anniversary messages to their LGBTQ fans and allies, plus a Prism Comics Fan Mixer including cool swag giveaways and a silent auction of incredible comics items! Saturday 6pm

We are All Heroes: The Changing Landscape of Comics, Geekdom, and Fanboy Culture-A diverse group of entertainment's greatest names gather to explore the changing landscape of comics, geekdom, and fanboy culture among African Americans, Latinos, women, special interest groups, and more. Sat 7:15

Women Below the Line-Sheyne Fleischer (assistant editor, reality TV), Alicia Minette (production designer, propmaster/fabricator/blacksmith, ABC Digital), Sabrina Wichner (miniature VFX artist, Interstellar, Pee-wee's Big Holiday), Claire Hummel (art director, Campo Santo), Rachel Noel (narrative designer, Armored Warfare, Pathfinder Adventures), and Aiden Vitti (costume department, Twin Peaks, Ghostbusters) explore roles of women in the entertainment industry. They will discuss their careers and experiences working in their various fields, focusing on success stories and how to follow your dreams in the industry while exploring gender roles in the creative professions. Bring your questions! Moderated by Meredith Placko (entertainment reporter, What the Flick?!, Comicbook.com) and Glenn Freund (League of S.T.E.A.M.). Saturday 8pm

SUNDAY

Fantasy, Diversity, and Inspiring One Another-Leigh Bardugo (Six of Crows, Crooked Kingdom, and Wonder Woman: Warbringer), Michael Dante DiMartino (Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Legend of Korra, and Rebel Genius), and Tomi Adeyemi (Children of Blood and Bone) talk about fantasy across all mediums, diversity in literature and on the screen, and their inspirations for their works. All three creators will discuss their upcoming projects: The Language of Thornsby Leigh Bardugo, Warrior Genius and The Legend of Korra comics by Michael DiMartino, and Tomi Adeyemi's Children of Blood and Bone (both the trilogy and the forthcoming movie adaptation, which has been optioned by Fox 2000). Moderated by Kurt Mattila, film director and editor of such films as Tron: The Next Day and Lies & Alibis. Kurt's love for filmmaking is rivaled only by his passion for comic books, which he channels through his superhero podcast, The Big Pull. Sunday 11am

Women of Marvel-From Ms. Marvel to the A-Force, from Twitter to tumblr, the subject of women in comics has been one of the most talked-about in comics recently. Join the conversation as women from multiple disciplines in the creative process at Marvel discuss what it's like working as a woman in comics today and what it means for the future of the industry. Panelists include content development director Sana Amanat, producer Judy Stephens, and more special guests to be announced. Sunday 12:30pm

Chicano Comics-In Mexico and other Latin American countries, reading comic books and comic strips has long been an accepted form of entertainment and even a potential mode of cultural and political learning and transgression. As a storytelling medium, the comic is especially attractive to Latinos and Latinas. Comic books cost little to make. They offer the possibility of a grassroots-style distribution on the Internet and by word of mouth. Most American comics fans are unfamiliar with Latino comics south of the border or indeed the magical realist world presented in mural, painting, and even graffiti form. This is the third continuous year Comic-Con has welcomed Latino artists, cartoonists, and exhibitors to talk about graphic narratives in the Chicano culture. This panel is honored to have the presence of Juan Felipe Herrera, the recent poet laureate of both California and the entire U.S., as well as renowned Peruvian muralist Mario Torero, former Logan resident Lalo "La Cucaracha" Alvarez,Mexican graphic novelist Charles Glaubitz (whose latest graphic novel, Star Seeds, is the subject of an exhibition by the Bread and Salt Gallery in Logan), and the San Diego Free Press cartoonist Joaquin Junco Jr. (Junco Canché). David Favela is the owner of Border X at the center of the Logan community, which provides music nearly every night and a gallery featuring local artists. Sunday 1pm

Comic Arts Conference #15: Fangirls-Angela Chiarmonte (University of Colorado Boulder) analyzes how Ms. Marvelresonates with the Millennial generation by rejecting and subverting stereotypes of Millennials. Caitlin O'Shea (Reed College) addresses how women as comic fans, retailers, and creators navigate a space that is traditionally masculine and hostile to their gender. Angelica Kalika (University of Colorado Boulder) uses fan interpretations of Spider-Gwen texts to define Spider-Gwen's connection to feminist and millennial speech communities. Sunday 1pm

Raising Heroic Girls-A look at how heroic comics, movies, and toys can inspire girls to be more confident and successful by combatting harmful gender norms that can hold them back. A panel of experts will participate in a session moderated by John Marcotte (founder of Heroic Girls). Sunday 2pm

Super Asian America-With live-action versions of Death Note and Ghost in the Shell, Hollywood keeps mining Asian culture for inspiration-while sidelining Asian people. At the same time, series like Into the Badlands and Master of None demonstrate how successful shows with Asian leads can be. The state of Super Asian America in 2017 is assessed by panelists Will Choi (Asian AF), Deric Hughes (The Flash), Angela Kang (The Walking Dead), C. B. Lee (Not Your Sidekick), Lewis Tan (Iron Fist), and Dr. Nancy Yue n (Reel Inequality). Moderated by Racebending.com's Michael Le. Sunday 3pm.

Woman Creators Breaking Stereotypes-From Jane Eyre and Little Women to The Hunger Games, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,and Wonder Woman, female heroes have spurred many discussions. What have creators fought for in the past for their female title characters, and what key ingredients do creators pour into their female leads today? Hear from Genese Davis(The Holder's Dominion), Michele Wells (DC Comics), Trina Robbins (writer and herstorian), Erin Reynolds (Nevermind), and Leah Hoyer (Telltale Games) as they share their processes for creating female heroes, what they think about when creating a female lead or collaborating on female superheroes, and what they foresee happening to female stereotypes in the future. Sunday 3pm

Moving Beyond the “Strong Female Character”-One-dimensionality is so late-’90s; fans need well-written, fully-developed women in their media. Join Sam Maggs (Wonder Women), Amy S. Foster (The Rift: Uprising), Danielle Paige (Dorothy Must Die), Jody Houser (Faith, Orphan Black), Jen Bartel (Jem and the Holograms), Alicia Lutes (Nerdist), and Amy Chu (Poison Ivy, Red Sonja) as they chat about their favorite lady characters, what could be improved, and how creators can make those changes. Sunday 4pm

About the author:

I am Leslie Combemale, otherwise known as Cinema Siren, at www.cinemasiren.com, and am a movie lover and aficionado who aspires to get more people back into the beautiful alternate worlds offered in the dark at movie houses across the country. I am also the owner of ArtInsights Gallery of Film and Contemporary Art. I interview actors, directors, and production artists from all over the world, and often I’m invited to present at conventions such as the San Diego Comic-Con, where I have been a panelist and host for The Art of the Hollywood Movie Poster, Classic Film History, Disney & Harry Potter Fandom discussions, and now have a new panel at SDCC called "Women Rocking Hollywood". Visit my film and contemporary art gallery at www.artinsights.com and see more of my reviews and interviews on www.cinemasiren.com.