Comic-Con 2026: Full Schedule

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10:00am PDT

Why Do Saturday Morning Cartoons Still Matter and How Are They Shaping the Next Generation?

Saturday July 25, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am PDT

Before streaming and endless scrolling, Saturday morning cartoons built careers, launched studios, and helped shape the animation industry we know today. ASIFA-Hollywood and Saturday Morning Cartoons United present a behind-the-scenes look at the artists, voice actors, and creators who brought these iconic shows to life. Moderated by Caroline Buermann (founder, Saturday Morning Cartoons United) and Eric Bauza (Looney Tunes), the panel includes Craig Bartlett (Pee-wee's Playhouse, Hey Arnold!), Chris Battle (Teen Titans, Samurai Jack), Jerry Beck (CartoonResearch.com), Bettina Bush (Rainbow Brite, My Little Pony), Matt Danner (Muppet Babies, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw), and Candi Milo (Tiny Toon Adventures, Dexter's Laboratory).

Saturday July 25, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Room 9

1: Programs, Action/Adventure, Animation, Movies

11:00am PDT

New and Upcoming Kodansha Manga Revealed

Saturday July 25, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT

Room 9

Kodansha—purveyors of some of the most exciting manga published today, including Blue Lock, Gachiakuta, and Witch Hat Atelier—offers manga fans a sneak peek at manga licenses coming to a bookstore, comic shop, and bookshelf near you. Manga experts from Kodansha, including Ben Applegate (director, publishing services, Penguin Random House), Cayley Last (editor, Kodansha), and Misaki Kido (events director, Kodansha), share the inside scoop on new series to add to a wishlist, with a Q&A and surprise giveaways. Moderated by Ivan Salazar (senior marketing director, Kodansha).

Saturday July 25, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 9

1: Programs, Anime & Manga, Comics, Movies

12:00pm PDT

Set Decoration of Spider-Noir

Saturday July 25, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT

Room 9

An exploration of the world of Spider-Noir. Set decorator Halina Siwolop SDSA and buyer Eva Firshein discuss the unique challenges of decorating the comic book world of noir. Part of the Set Decorators Society of America's series of panels on film and TV set decoration. Moderated by Rae Deslich SDSA and Prerna Chawla SDSA.

Saturday July 25, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Room 9

U: Updated, Comics, Mysteries & Crime Dramas, Television | 1: Programs, Comics, Mysteries & Crime Dramas, Television

1:00pm PDT

Classic Monsters, Modern Art

Saturday July 25, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT

Room 9

This new book from Insight Editions documents and reimagines the trajectory of Gothic horror through illustration—from film's silent era to the turn of the millennium. The book features contemporary work from more than 45 artists and a richly detailed chronicle from genre expert Anthony Taylor (The Art of George Wilson, Monsterama), with a foreword by Jonathan Maberry (the Joe Ledger series; Rot and Ruin). Joining Taylor and Maberry on the panel is Damian Fulton (featured illustrator). Moderated by Shannon Eric Denton (Graveslinger; Monster Forge Productions).

Saturday July 25, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Room 9

1: Programs, Art and Illustration, Books, Education, Historical, Horror and Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Writers & Writing

2:00pm PDT

Hispanic Creators and Artists Discuss the Comic Book Industry

Saturday July 25, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT

Room 9

Jorge R. Gutierrez (The Book of Life, La Luna Lopez, Speedy Gonzalez), J Gonzo (cover artist, Marvel, IDW, and Image; La Mano del Destino), Melissa Flores (Power Rangers Prime, Spider-Gwen Smash, The Dead Lucky), Joel Gomez (La Muerte, La Luna Lopez), and Martin Zavala (cover artist, Something Is Killing the Children, Invincible) discuss their careers and the comic book industry from a Hispanic perspective. Moderated by Adrian Reyes (El Rey Comics).

Saturday July 25, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 9

1: Programs, Art and Illustration, Books, Comics

3:00pm PDT

The Mighty Crusaders

Saturday July 25, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

Room 9

In 1940, MLJ Comics, the company that would later become Archie Comics, published Pep Comics #1 and introduced America's first patriotic superhero, The Shield. Over the decades, MLJ and Archie created a rich pantheon of superheroes, including fan favorites such as The Black Hood, The Comet, The Hangman, The Jaguar, and many more, collectively known as the Mighty Crusaders. These heroes have enjoyed a remarkable legacy, with their stories reprinted in England, France, Germany, and Brazil, while also crossing over into radio, film, and pulp fiction. Moderator Rik Offenberger (The MLJ Companion) and panelists Lily Butler (Archie Comics), Steven Butler (Archie Comics), Tim Chizmar (Spooky Ninja Kitty), Ronald Fleming (Fantastic Comic Fan), Ray MacKay (G-Man Comics, Big Bang Comics), and Chris Squires (Archie Comics) explore the 80-plus-year history of the greatest superheroes in the Archie Universe.

Special Guests

Steven Butler

Comic-Con Special Guest

Steven Butler is a 37-year veteran comic book creator who has worked for a wide variety of companies on many well-known titles, including The Badger for First Comics; Web of Spider-Man, Silver Sable and the Wildpack, and Punisher War Journal for Marvel Comics; Superman for DC... Read More →

Saturday July 25, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 9

1: Programs, Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances, Comics, Historical, Superheroes

4:00pm PDT

DNA of Fear: How New England Shapes Horror

Saturday July 25, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT

Room 9

Jeremy Haun (The Beauty; Murder Podcast), Doug Wagner (Batman, Marvel Zombies, Plastic), Matt Hawkins (Top Cow president/COO; Postal), Cullen Bunn (The Empty Man, Harrow County, The Unsound), and Hilarie Schmalke (co-owner/publisher Midnight Factory) discuss how New England influences horror across comics, film, and television. Moderated by Adrian Reyes (El Rey Comics).

Saturday July 25, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room 9

1: Programs, Comics, Horror and Suspense, Superheroes

5:00pm PDT

2000 AD: The Galaxy's Greatest Panel!

Saturday July 25, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT

Room 9

2000 AD has crashed America. The Galaxy's Greatest Comic is home to characters including Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper, Strontium Dog, and many more, and now hits comic stores every week in the U.S. Hosts Steve Morris (Shelfdust) are joined by others, including Jock (Judge Dredd), Ryan O’Sullivan (Judge Dredd, Biker Mice From Mars), and Oliver Pickles (2000 AD), to share surprises as 2000 AD celebrates 50 years of weekly publication in 2027.

Saturday July 25, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Room 9

1: Programs, Comics, Humor & Satire, Science Fiction & Fantasy

6:00pm PDT

Frazetta's Fiercest Females: Space Vampires, Cave Girls, and Egyptian Queens

Saturday July 25, 2026 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT

Room 9

Fantasy art grandmaster Frank Frazetta (1928–2010) inspired creators and electrified fans with depictions of strong, confident heroines. How does that vision resonate in the fan culture of the 2020s? Creator-entrepreneur Sara Frazetta (FrazettaGirls), actress and cosplay superstar Erica Fett, artist Sozo Maika, and art industry specialist and podcaster Taffeta Darling (formerly at Heritage Auctions) offer new, PG-rated perspectives on Frank Frazetta's body of work. Moderated by Rob Salkowitz (Forbes).

Saturday July 25, 2026 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Room 9

1: Programs, Art and Illustration, Fandom, Science Fiction & Fantasy

7:00pm PDT

From Idea to Page to Screen

Saturday July 25, 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT

Room 9

What does it take for a story to go from a blank page to a bookshelf and then onto the screen? Agents, publishing pros, and producers come together for an honest look at the modern path to publication and adaptation. From securing representation to navigating book-to-film opportunities, this panel explores how today's most exciting stories are discovered, developed, and brought to life across platforms. Kathleen Ortiz (KO Media Management), Holly Root (Root Literary), Matt Sugarman (Weintraub Tobin), and Max Siemers (Magic Hour Entertainment) discuss and answer questions about the process. Moderated by Nathan Bransford.

Saturday July 25, 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Room 9

1: Programs, Books, Writers & Writing

8:00pm PDT

Made by Humans: Immersive Storytelling in the Age of Machines

Saturday July 25, 2026 8:00pm - 9:00pm PDT

Room 9

Every time technology has transformed how stories are made, creators have faced the same choice: shape the tools before the standards are set, or adapt to the systems that follow. The MP3. Streaming. Now A.I. Felice LaZae (Ctrl Alt Create Labs) returns for her third consecutive Comic-Con panel on the future of immersive storytelling, exploring what it actually looks like to build at the intersection of emerging technology and human creativity and why the builders getting it right are the ones who keep creative voices at the center of the process.

Saturday July 25, 2026 8:00pm - 9:00pm PDT
Room 9

1: Programs, BIPOC, Education, Movies, Music, Seminars & Workshops, Technology - Science - STEM, After Dark

9:00pm PDT

Advancing STEM Through Comics

Saturday July 25, 2026 9:00pm - 10:00pm PDT

Room 9

Shane Haggard (chemistry/engineering), Jessica Stanfield (chemistry), Rachel Surprenant (paleontology), and Ronald L. Coleman (genetics, Kevin the Drunk Jedi) discuss advancing STEM through comics, how science and engineering are portrayed positively versus negatively (or even inaccurately), and the possibilities in science depicted in comic canon. Moderated by Lisa Chaddock (geoscience).

Saturday July 25, 2026 9:00pm - 10:00pm PDT
Room 9

1: Programs, Action/Adventure, Comics, Education, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Superheroes, Technology - Science - STEM, After Dark

Comic-Con 2026

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Steven Butler

4:00pm PDT

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9:00pm PDT

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