San Diego Comic-Con returns to the San Diego Convention Center and surrounding area. Friday’s programming schedule has been revealed. Below are the panels I am most looking forward to attending, but once Comic-Com commences, who knows where the day may take me.
“MOM! Phineas and Ferb are at San Diego Comic-Con!” – 11:00am – 11:45am – Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
Co-creators Dan Povenmire and Swampy Marsh reunite with the cast at Comic-Con International for the first time in a decade. Get the scoop on the brand-new season of Disney’s Phineas and Ferb and enjoy exclusive sneak peeks and surprises.
Buy Phineas & Ferb: Mission Marvel DVDAm curious what new adventures Phineas, Ferb, and the rest of the gang will be up to in the new season. Plus, who doesn’t love surprises at conventions?
The Groo Panel – 12:30pm – 1:30pm – Room 10
Since 1981, Groo the Wanderer—the creation of cartoonist Sergio Aragonés—has wandered from comic book to comic book, company to company, and weird adventure to weirder adventure. Where did he come from? What’s he up to now? And most important, how do we avoid him? Sergio’s accomplice Mark Evanier will tell you all about the stupidest character in any multiverse anywhere, aided by the comic’s longtime letterer Stan Sakai (the creator of Usagi Yojimbo) and its newest colorist, Carrie Strachan. And they may even try to get Sergio on the phone.
Buy Groo: In the Wild paperbackAm a big fan of creators with long-running personal projects and been a fan of Sergio’s since I discovered his work in the pages of Mad magazine. Am looking forward to an update.
The Wait is Over: FX’s Alien: Earth World Premiere and Q&A – 1:25pm – 2:50pm – Hall H
When a mysterious space vessel crash-lands on Earth, a young woman (Sydney Chandler) and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest threat. Be among the first people in the world to see the pilot episode of FX’s Alien: Earth and hear from series creator Noah Hawley, EP David W. Zucker (Scott Free), and the cast of this highly anticipated sci-fi horror series inspired by the acclaimed feature film franchise. FX’s Alien: Earth makes impact August 12 on Hulu, FX, and Disney+ internationally.
Buy Alien 6-Movie Collection Blu-rayAm a bit burned out on the Alien universe after the last couple of Ridley Scott films, so much so, I didn’t even bother with Alien: Romulus, but Hawley’s involvement does have we curious what his approach will be to the material.
King of the Hill – 4:00pm – 4:45pm – Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
The iconic animated series King of the Hill returns to Comic-Con for the world premiere of season 14. It’s been 15 years since the last original episode of King of the Hill aired, and the Hill family and longtime friends are finally back: Arlen has changed, Hank and Peggy are now retired, and Bobby is all grown up! Hear all about this classic series when co-creators and executive producers Mike Judge (Hank Hill, Boomhauer) and Greg Daniels, showrunner and executive producer Saladin Patterson, and cast members Pamela Adlon (Bobby Hill), Lauren Tom (Connie and Minh Souphanousinphone), and Toby Huss (Dale Gribble), come together for the world premiere of the King of the Hill revival, ahead of its season premiere on Hulu on Monday, August 4.
Buy King of the Hill – The Complete Second Season DVDGetting to see the reboot premiere 10 days before it drops and getting to hear from cast and creators might make this my must-attend panel of the weekend.
WTF Did I Just Watch? 25 Years of Titmouse’s Craziest Animation Moments – 1:00pm – 1:45pm – Room 5AB
Titmouse founders Chris and Shannon Prynoski, CCO Antonio Canobbio, Jackson Publick (co-creator of The Venture Bros), and surprise celebrity guests come together for the wildest clip party SDCC has ever seen! Expect giveaways, live Q&A with creators, and BTS stories from shows like Metalocalypse, The Venture Bros., Big Mouth, The Legend of Vox Machina, and more. Get ready for deep cuts, animated mayhem, and first looks at upcoming insanity, including Drunkards, Druggies & Delinquents, and CHURP. Bring your loudest “WTF?!” yell because they plan to earn it.
Am a huge Venture Bros fan, so any panel involving Jackson (who is scheduled) or Doc (who is not) will likely find me in the audience.
The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards – 8:00pm – 10:30pm – Room Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
The 37th annual Eisner Awards (the “Oscars” of the comics industry) will honor comics creators and works in 32 categories. The gala ceremony features celebrity presenters including Kevin Smith, Chase Masterson, David Dastmalchian, Eric Bauza, Janeshia Adams-Genyard, and Keone Young. Other prestigious awards to be given out during the evening include the Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award, the Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award, the Bill Finger Award for Excellence in Comics Writing, and the Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award. Hosted by voice actor Phil LaMarr (Futurama, Samurai Jack, Justice League) and comics artist/writer/editor Bill Morrison (The Simpsons, Futurama).
Buy The Best of the Spirit paperbackI will pop in for a little bit to see what’s currently popular among the Eisner voters, especially if the books have been reviewed by the Sentries.
