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Saturday, July 25
 

10:30am PDT

Comic Book Law School® 303: Trademark Parody Limitations, Taylor Swift and Showgirls, A.I. Updates, and Other Hot Topics
Saturday July 25, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
For the third (and final) panel of this year's Comic Book Law School® series, a group of distinguished legal experts sheds light on some of the complex issues facing creators and businesses, with an eye to the most current and important legal issues from the past year and how they apply to comics and the pop-culture scene. Noted attorney Michael Lovitz (author of the classic The Trademark and Copyright Book comic book) moderates a panel of legal eagles—law professors Betsy Rosenblatt, Lisa Ramsey, and Marc Greenberg, and IP attorneys David Lizerbram and David Branfman—in a discussion focused on real-world issues of importance to fans, creators, and legal professionals. The panel shares insights and knowledge, and provides practical advice, concerning recent updates relating to intellectual property law, impactful court decisions, and how new technologies aid, or impinge on, the rights of creators and those who hire creative individuals. This year's topics are expected to include First Amendment limits for trademark parodies, updates on recent trademark disputes and decisions, and insights into new cases involving artificial intelligence, plus best practices for incorporating A.I. in the creative process and related ethical issues for legal practitioners. Please note: The Comic Book Law School® seminars are designed to provide relevant information and insights to practicing attorneys, as well as practical tips to creators and other professionals who may wish to attend. [This program is approved for 1.5 credits of California MCLE.]
Saturday July 25, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 11

12:00pm PDT

Wertham's Revenge: Mental Health, Media, and What Kids Should Read
Saturday July 25, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Fredric Wertham's infamous claim back in the 1950s that comics are harmful to kids' mental health has returned. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's Jeff Trexler, CBLDF board member and former DC Comics VP Bob Wayne, and forensic psychiatrist Vasilis Pozios explore the revival of this argument in the new wave of comics censorship, what recent lawsuits targeting kids' content online could mean for all comics-related media, and how new research can help us understand why comics are actually a force for good.
Saturday July 25, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Room 11

1:00pm PDT

The Comic Art of David Lynch
Saturday July 25, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Iconic director David Lynch is best known for his films and Twin Peaks, but he was also an accomplished artist, including in the comic arts. Comics creator Matt Haley (unpublished Twin Peaks season 3 graphic novel), author and former Los Angeles Reader editor Dan Barton, author and professor Michael Dooley, and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's Jeff Trexler discuss Lynch's comics and cartoons, connections to comics in Lynch's films, and Lynch's influence on comics, manga, anime, and fandom. From The Angriest Dog in the World and the animated web series Dumbland to the quest for justice in a creative multiverse, the panel examines what can be learned from Lynch's dreams.
Saturday July 25, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Room 11

2:00pm PDT

Comic Making for Kids and Teachers
Saturday July 25, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
An interactive look at how comics can inspire creativity, literacy, and self-expression for young artists, educators, and everyone in between. Craig A. Knitt (Boys & Girls Clubs of the Bay and Lakes Region) and Michael Norton Dando (comic creator and educator) share practical activities for classrooms, libraries, clubs, and community programs that encourage storytelling, drawing, problem solving, and confidence through comics. Examples of youth-created work will be on display. No artistic experience is required, and the session is designed for all skill levels.
Saturday July 25, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 11

3:00pm PDT

Build the World: Live Ideation Workshop
Saturday July 25, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Kino Scialabba (award-winning art director and concept designer), Nicole Caliro (international award-winning writer), Mark Nazal (Emmy Award–winning VFX supervisor and filmmaker), Jessie Jam Miranda (stuntman, Collateral, Deadliest Warrior), Bob Keen (Saturn Award–winning makeup and FX artist and filmmaker), and Mark Jabourian (VFX generalist) lead a live ideation workshop where attendees pitch story ideas, develop concepts, and shape visuals in real time across comics, film, and animation.
Saturday July 25, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 11

4:00pm PDT

Creating 3D Models for Storytelling in Blender 3D
Saturday July 25, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
This panel covers the fundamental techniques of 3D modeling, including sculpting, texturing, and rendering, to bring storytelling ideas to life. The focus is on the creative process of transforming concepts into immersive digital environments and characters, while highlighting best practices, tips, and workflows for both beginners and experienced artists.
Saturday July 25, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room 11

5:00pm PDT

Level-Up: Taking Your Comics to the Next Tier
Saturday July 25, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Marcus McNeal (editor-in-chief, Odyssey Comics), Rob Pilkington (writer, Slight Return), April Connors (creator, Everybody's Happy Nowadays, as Prof. Raco), Joshua Pruett (writer, Stranger Things Tales From '85; The Last Comics on Earth), and Amy Linsamouth (writer, Jackie and the Magical Guys; Byte Me) discuss strategies for creating comics that stand out, including what separates good ideas from great projects and why so many comics fall short despite solid art or writing. Topics include shaping pitches with clarity and intent, assembling and leading creative teams, navigating editorial without losing your voice, and making choices that give a project a distinct identity.
Saturday July 25, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Room 11

6:00pm PDT

The Track You've Never Heard: Audio Description and the Stories Behind the Stories
Saturday July 25, 2026 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Blind film and TV audiences experience every superhero battle, every alien landscape, and every moment a character's face changes everything, and the people on this panel are the reason why. Audio description is the art of putting audiences inside a story when they cannot see the screen. Christina Stevens (AD writer, Superman), Anna Capezzera (Deluxe), Serina Gilbert (BlindyGirl, The Last of Us), and Colleen Connor (AD Training Retreats) discuss how this work actually gets made: the decisions, the details, and the moments that get it right, moderated by Roy Samuelson (AD performer, House of the Dragon, Spider-Man).
Saturday July 25, 2026 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Room 11

7:00pm PDT

Shattering the Fourth Wall: Breaking into a Gaming Career
Saturday July 25, 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Gaming industry professional Chris Castagnetto (advisory board member) and other members of the professional gaming community discuss recruiting, partnerships, and marketing, and examine how charities are helping to make a difference in gaming.
Saturday July 25, 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Room 11
 

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