Comic Con is here! Once again, we have to be together in our homes and enjoy the convention virtually. No matter the venue, Comic Con always finds a way to put together some really interesting programming. Here’s a selection of panels that I’d encourage you to check out.
Thursday
GeekED Rewind 20-21: The True American Horror of Lovecraft Country – 6pm
The experiences of college students and educators during the last year were inseparable from the horrors of both the COVID-19 pandemic and the realities of anti-Black racism. Enter Lovecraft Country, a powerful horror sci-fi story set in Jim Crow America, where the onscreen monsters and ghosts paled in comparison to the true horrors facing the protagonists. Numerous courses, lesson plans, and campus conversations emerged from Lovecraft Country, which served as both an analogy and an outlet for college students and educators alike. Join this panel of educators as they reflect on the impact this story had on their experiences, the impact of Black horror and sci-fi, and the power of telling our own story.
Friday
Entertainment is Female: A Conversation with Hollywood Executives – 10am
From the production companies that brought you Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Walking Dead, Lumberjanes, and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, women executives discuss the development process and how they approach adapting IP during a pandemic. Moderator Tiffany Smith (actress, Masters of the Universe: Revelation) along with panelists Jeannette Francis (Bad Robot), Sam Crawley (Skybound Entertainment), Aubrey Lee (Lord Miller), Grey Cusack (formerly of Hasbro Studios), Nikki Baida (Lord Miller), and Mette Norkjaer (BOOM! Studios) will partake in a Q&A.
Queer Horror – 6pm
Horror films, TV shows, books, and comics have always attempted to bring us to the threshold of our fears and force us to come face to face with the “otherness” that exists outside of the mainstream. For those in the LGBTQ+ community, this sense of otherness is not only terrifying and titillating, it’s quite often also relatable. From James Whales’ Frankenstein to the oft-cited “gayest movie of all time,” A Nightmare on Elm Street 2, we’re posing the question: Does a queer horror genre exist, and if so what makes it different from mainstream horror? And how does the current social movement for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC diversity inform the creation of the horror comics, films, and television shows we see today? Join Prism Comics, moderator/filmmaker Michael Varrati (The Boulet Brothers Dragula, Unusual Attachment) and panelists Drusilla Adeline (Dead for Filth, Sister Hyde Design), Darcie Little Badger (Elatsoe, Strangelands), Terry Blas (Reptil, Dead Weight), Trinidad Escobar (Crushed, Bruhas), Joamette Gil (Power and Magic: The Queer Witch Comics Anthology), and Steenz (Archival Quality, Heart of the City) as they explore the horror genre from a queer perspective.
Netflix Geeked: Masters of the Universe: Revelation – 12pm
Netflix and Mattel Television present an exclusive sneak peek at the highly-anticipated animated series Masters of the Universe: Revelation. Since its creation in 1982, the Masters of the Universe franchise has become a cultural phenomenon, transcending generations and igniting passion amongst fans around the world. This new action-packed series, which follows He-Man, Skeletor, Teela, and the other classic characters of the Masters of the Universe franchise, picks up where the iconic characters left off decades ago. Now, nearly 40 years later, the new series will delight long-standing fans and introduce a new generation to Eternia and the thrilling, heroic adventures of the Guardians of Grayskull. The cast and creators will discuss all of your questions about reviving this beloved franchise.
Saturday
NBA Players Are Anime Fans Too – 1pm
Austin Osueke (publisher of eigoMANGA) moderates a panel with NBA star, De’Aaron Fox (point guard for the Sacramento Kings), agent Chris Gaston (CEO of Family First Sports Firm), and writer Natashia McGough Clarke (writer of Swipa The Fox). Together they discuss Fox’s fandom for anime, manga, and how it intertwines with his basketball career. Pro basketball manager turned comic writer, Andy Ikeakor (Swipa The Fox) also discusses the fundamentals of writing comic books centered around sports.
Horror Noire – 4pm
A Shudder original anthology series, Horror Noire is a follow-up to the critically acclaimed 2019 documentary Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror and features new work from both established and emerging talents, showcasing stories of Black horror from Black directors and screenwriters. Writers Tananarive Due, Steven Barnes, Shernold Edwards, and Victor LaValle will share the inspiration behind their stories, how they go about adapting them for different formats, and why it’s important to tell these stories now. Moderated by Ashley C. Ford.
gen:LOCK Season 2 – 6pm
Season 2 of gen:LOCK is coming to HBO Max sooner than you think! In this panel, the cast and crew dive into what you can expect in the new season – and show off an exclusive first look at Episode 1. Featuring executive producer and voice of Julian Chase, Michael B. Jordan, Dakota Fanning (voice of Miranda Worth), and showrunner/lead writer Daniel Dominguez moderator by Karama Horne (aka @theblerdgurl).