Comic-Con 2026: Full Schedule

10:30am PDT

Thursday July 23, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am PDT

Small-press publishers: What makes the difference between a press release that earns news coverage, previews, and interviews, and one that gets ignored? Comics journalist Rik Offenberger (First Comics News, G-Man Comics) moderates a discussion with journalists, editors, publicists, and media professionals on what they look for when considering coverage, including what information to submit, how to present it, and how to build relationships with the press. Panelists include Ed Catto (Captain Action), Tim Chizmar (Film Threat's Best Indie Horror 2024, Comedy Central), Jaese Evermore (Temple of Geek, First Comics News), Alexander Raymond (Monstar Public Relations), Rob Salkowitz (ICv2, Forbes), Francis Sky (First Comics News, Massacre Twins), Chris Squires (Archie Comics, G-Man Comics), and Josh Waldrop (Ultima Digital Media).

Thursday July 23, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am PDT
Room 10

1: Programs, Comics, Seminars & Workshops, Technology - Science - STEM

11:30am PDT

The Jewish Experience in Comics: Characters and Creators

Thursday July 23, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT

Room 10

Danny Fingeroth (former Marvel editor and writer; author of Disguised as Clark Kent: Jews, Comics, and the Creation of the Superhero), Dr. Andrew Fogel (historian of popular culture; author of Superman's Jaw), and Mark S. Zaid, Esq (Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide advisor, comic book historian, author of GI's Rabbi) present a PowerPoint lecture exploring how the Jewish identities of iconic comic creators and characters influenced storylines. The panel traces the origins of characters like the Thing, Magneto, and Superman, examines the personal backstories of Golden and Silver Age creators, and considers whether cultural identities were intentionally woven into their work. Discussion also includes how publishers addressed sensitive topics such as the Holocaust and the public response, as well as the influence of Art Spiegelman's Maus and Will Eisner's graphic novels on Jewish storytelling in comics.

Thursday July 23, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
Room 10

1: Programs, Action/Adventure, Animation, Books, Cartooning and Comic Strips, Comics, Education, Historical, Horror and Suspense, Humor & Satire, International, Movies, Mysteries & Crime Dramas, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Superheroes, Television, Writers & Writing

12:30pm PDT

Creators Assemble: Adapting and Pitching Your Game for TV and Film

Thursday July 23, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT

Room 10

Translating your story across media can be tricky, which is why so many game-to-film adaptations feel poorly conceived. But when done well, you get The Expanse, Fallout, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, and countless others. But how do you do it without a massive IP everybody's heard of? How do you determine your lead characters? Do you need a pitch deck? A completed script? Six seasons of story arcs? This panel of film industry professionals explores what studios generally look for, how meetings get set up, and what pitfalls to avoid when adapting a game for the screen. Ryan Omega (TaskmasterLA, Darkness Emergent), Lauren Cipollo (Parallax, Dark and Zarus), Matt Conant (Mystery Science Theater 3000), Jenni Powell (Emmy Award–winning producer, The Lizzie Bennet Diaries), and moderator Joe Barrette (Creators Assemble president) participate.

Thursday July 23, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Room 10

1: Programs, BIPOC, Education, Fandom, Games, Television, TTRPG, Writers & Writing

1:30pm PDT

Main Character Energy: Black Female Storytellers

Thursday July 23, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT

Room 10

Moderated by Amanda Miller and Amber Miller (co-founders, Fangirl Central), this panel spotlights Black female storytellers from all areas of the industry who are shaping narratives across genres and platforms. ShaMya Williams (producer, Starting 5), Christian Streaty (writer, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures), Ryan Oakley (illustrator, Fortnite), Kai Grayson (producer, Roles for Initiative LA), Chelyse Abrams (editor, Michael), and Angela Entzminger (screenwriter, My Adventures with Superman) discuss their creative journeys, the challenges of forging new paths, and the power of fandom in building community and identity. One lucky audience member will have the opportunity to win a commissioned 5x7 bust illustration.

Thursday July 23, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Room 10

1: Programs, Animation, Art and Illustration, BIPOC, Comics, Fandom, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Superheroes, Television, Writers & Writing

2:30pm PDT

Kotobukiya's Versatile Hand Model: An Open Discussion with Artists and Creatives

Thursday July 23, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT

Room 10

Get a closer look at Kotobukiya's innovative "Hand Model," a drawing tool designed for artists, animators, and hobbyists. The panel explores the background and development process behind the Hand Model and discusses upcoming expansions planned for the artist-focused tool series. Panelists include Sir Richard Taylor (founder, Wētā Workshop; Academy Award winner) and Takahiro Kagami (lead animator, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters), joined by Kotobukiya master sculptor Hajime Shirahige (sculptor of the original Hand Model prototype).

Thursday July 23, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT
Room 10

1: Programs, Animation, Art and Illustration, Television

3:30pm PDT

The Comic Book Couples!

Thursday July 23, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm PDT

Room 10

Inkpot recipients Amanda Conner (Harley Quinn, Painkiller Jane), Jimmy Palmiotti (Pop Kill, Jonah Hex), Brian Pulido (Lady Death, La Muerta), Jeff Smith (Bone, Tuki), and Billy Tucci (Shi, Sgt. Rock) are joined by Cartoon Books' Vijaya Iyer, Coffin Comics' Francisca Pulido, and Crusade Comics' Deborah Tucci for one of Comic-Con's most popular, entertaining, and educational panels. In a "Newlywed Game"-type atmosphere, the couples discuss the ups and downs of being married to a comics creator, running a publishing company, and how mainstream and crowdfunding success can happen.

Special Guests

Jeff Smith

Comic-Con Special Guest

Jeff Smith is the writer and artist of such comics and graphic novels as BONE, RASL, TUKI, SHAZAM: The Monster Society of Evil and Little Mouse Gets Ready! Both BONE and RASL were self-published (Cartoon Books) and are New York Times bestsellers. BONE began the current YA graphic novel popularity explosion by launching Scholastic Books’ Graphix imprint, and it has won 52 national and international awards, including 11 Eisner Awards and 11 Harvey Awards, and has been published in 33 countries. CXC, the Columbus comics festival... Read More →

Thursday July 23, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm PDT
Room 10

1: Programs, Books, Comic-Con Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances, Comics, Writers & Writing

4:30pm PDT

Alternative Career Options in Video Games

Thursday July 23, 2026 4:30pm - 5:30pm PDT

Room 10

Many people aspire to work in the ever-growing video game industry. However, not everyone has the skills in art, design, writing, or programming that typically form the core creative teams that conceive and develop games. The game industry includes many types of jobs and needed skills that may not directly shape the creative vision but are just as important to the success of the team and the game. Game industry professionals with nontraditional backgrounds discuss what it takes to leverage unique skills into a potential career in games.

Thursday July 23, 2026 4:30pm - 5:30pm PDT
Room 10

1: Programs, Games, Video Games

5:30pm PDT

Past, Present, Future of Comics Distribution

Thursday July 23, 2026 5:30pm - 6:30pm PDT

Room 10

Who decides which comics readers discover? Distribution. From the earliest days of the industry to today's rapidly changing marketplace, distribution has shaped the success of publishers, retailers, and creators alike. Atom Freeman (publisher, COMICS! The Magazine) hosts Filip Sablik (publisher, Ignition Press), Christina Merkler (co-owner, Lunar Distribution), and Chris Arrant (editor-in-chief, Popverse) for a look at where comics distribution began, where it stands today, and where it's headed next.

Thursday July 23, 2026 5:30pm - 6:30pm PDT
Room 10

1: Programs, Comics, Education, Fandom, Historical

6:30pm PDT

Headlocked and Masked Republic: Taking Wrestling Beyond the Ring

Thursday July 23, 2026 6:30pm - 7:30pm PDT

Room 10

Denise Salcedo (Busted Open) leads a discussion with Michael Kingston (Headlocked, Vampiro: Rockabilly Apocalypse), Kevin Kleinrock (Masked Republic), Jorge Gutierrez (El Tigre, The Book of Life), and Jeff Everett (Luchadores versus Everything), plus surprise wrestling guests, on the intersection of wrestling with other storytelling mediums, including comics, film, television, and video games, and what makes wrestling so adaptable. The discussion leads into announcements from Headlocked and Masked Republic about an upcoming slate of projects featuring collaborations with major names in professional wrestling.

Thursday July 23, 2026 6:30pm - 7:30pm PDT
Room 10

1: Programs, Art and Illustration, Comics

7:30pm PDT

Trina Robbins: Comics Activist

Thursday July 23, 2026 7:30pm - 8:30pm PDT

Room 10

Liz Schiller (Friends of Lulu), Sydney Heifler (comics historian), Eisner Hall of Fame inductee Lee Marrs (Wimmen's Comix), Sister Vina Sinfurrs (Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence), and Barbara Randall Kesel (writer/editor) discuss benefit comics anthologies produced by Trina Robbins and her lifelong advocacy for equal rights for women and LGBTQ+ people. Moderated by Kim A. Munson (Conversations with Trina Robbins).

Thursday July 23, 2026 7:30pm - 8:30pm PDT
Room 10

1: Programs, Comics, Historical, Writers & Writing

8:30pm PDT

Punk Rock Artists of the '80s

Thursday July 23, 2026 8:30pm - 9:30pm PDT

Room 10

Punk rock and the DIY artists that inspired it are as relevant today as they were when the genre began. Artists and historians discuss how the art of the era influenced generations that followed, with Gerald Casale (DEVO co-founder, bassist), KRK Ryden (pop surrealist/lowbrow art for Circle Jerks, Devo, and David Bowie), Bryan Ray Turcotte (punk rock historian), Carl Schneider (editor, Black Market Magazine, which led to the documentary Mad Marc Rude: Blood, Ink and Needles), and Brad Niemann (founder of "Friends of Shawn Kerri"). Moderated by Chad Hensley (professional writer on music, art, and culture).

Thursday July 23, 2026 8:30pm - 9:30pm PDT
Room 10

1: Programs, Art and Illustration, Historical, Writers & Writing

Comic-Con 2026

10:30am PDT

11:30am PDT

12:30pm PDT

1:30pm PDT

2:30pm PDT

3:30pm PDT

Jeff Smith

4:30pm PDT

5:30pm PDT

6:30pm PDT

7:30pm PDT

8:30pm PDT

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