It’s the biggest convention of the year, and it’s Comic-Con’s 50th anniversary! As you can see from the 1996 photo above, we’re Comic-Con veterans. Paul first attended in 1987, and Anina’s first year was 1990.
This year, we’re honored to be nominated for an Eisner Award, the “Oscars” of comics, for our series Aztec Empire.
Here are the panels we are on:
The Secret History of Comic Book Coloring
Thursday, July 18, 2019, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Room 29AB, Convention Center
Coloring is finally being recognized as a vital element of comic book art. The techniques and technology used in coloring have seen huge changes over the years, with each new revolution defining a new era in comics. Panelists Maggie Thompson (editor, Comic Buyers Guide), Tony Tollin (colorist, Green Lantern, The Shadow), and Marissa Louise (colorist, Hex Wives, Doom Patrol), and moderator Anina Bennett (editor, Dark Horse, First Comics) will trace that history from the Golden Age to today's digital age—revealing secrets like why Superman's cape was bright red, what went wrong in the '90s, and how computers led to the rise of the individual color artist.
Recovering Indigenous History Through Comics
Thursday, July 18, 2019, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Room 4, Convention Center
This year is the 500th anniversary of Spain’s conquest of Mexico and the 250th anniversary of San Diego’s founding. Since those events, and others related and similar, were near-apocalyptic for the indigenous peoples of North America, it’s an appropriate time to reflect on their histories and how they experienced these events. Unfortunately, indigenous history in North America has often been distorted, ignored, or even lost. Can comics be a tool to help recover this history? Panelists Paul Guinan (Aztec Empire graphic novel), Shannon Martin (Anishnaabe Center Director, NAGPRA comics), Stan Rodriguez (Kumeyaay cultural leader), Jen Shannon (cultural anthropology professor, NAGPRA comics), Kate Spilde (cultural anthropology professor), John Swogger (archaeologist and Illustrator, NAGPRA comics) will answer this question and discuss their current comic projects to recover indigenous history.
Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards
Friday, July 19, 2019, 7pm
Indigo Ballroom, Hilton Bayfront San Diego
Anina will be on stage as a presenter, and our series Aztec Empire is nominated for Best Digital Comic. Wish us luck!
A Tribute to Batton Lash
Sunday, July 21, 2019, 10:00am - 11:00am
Batton Lash was a fixture at Comic-Con for over 25 years, usually found at his Exhibit A Press booth in the Independent Publishers area of the Exhibit Hall. Often referred to as the Best-Dressed Man at Comic-Con, Batton was the creator of the newspaper strip Wolff & Byrd, Counselors of the Macabre, which became the comic book series Supernatural Law. He also wrote the iconic Archie Meets the Punisher (1984) and the Radioactive Man series for Bongo/Simpsons Comics. Batton passed away in January after a two-year battle with brain cancer. Hosted by Rob Salkowitz, Batton’s wife Jackie Estrada, and Batton's friends and colleagues Anina Bennett, Dan Bois, Jon Cooke, Bill Morrison, and Jim Pascoe talk about the cartoonist's contributions to comics and share memories about him.
Friends of Lulu: We Changed Comics
Sunday, July 21, 2019, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Room 32AB, Convention Center
Friends of Lulu was a nonprofit founded 25 years ago to get more women and girls involved in comics—and it worked! Join moderator Alexa Dickman (Ladies Making Comics) and founding board members Jackie Estrada (Exhibit A Press, Comic Book People), Heidi MacDonald (The Beat), Trina Robbins (Pretty in Ink, Wimmen’s Comix), Liz Schiller (Strawberry Jam Comics), and Anina Bennett (Boilerplate, Heartbreakers) for a look at how the ideas FoL promoted in 1994 helped create the explosion of comics for a more diverse audience today. Find out how 30 women meeting in a coffee shop during Comic-Con grew into a national organization that published news, comics, and a retailer handbook; organized panels and conferences; and gave out the annual Lulu Awards.
Secret Origin of Good Readers: Breakout Session
Sunday, July 21, 2019, 12:30pm - 1:30pm
Santa Rosa Room, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
Secret Origins Kids Club — A beginners introduction to comic book reading and the exciting choices available for kids! With Anina Bennett (Boilerplate, Frank Reade), NYT & US Today Best selling author Anne Elizabeth (Zombie Power), Dave Elliot (Weirding Willows), NYT Critically Acclaimed Author Alisa Kwitney (Mystik U), NYT Best selling author Marjorie M. Liu (Monstress), and Mimi Cruz (Night Flight Comics) in creating a comic book from scratch. Depending on audience attendance, the organizers would enjoy sharing a game called Duck Duck Comics, which mimics Duck Duck Goose but utilizes comic creation techniques and invites the players to create an original interactive story concept.
