]]> http://thelxl.com/2013/05/07/sgla-game-night/feed/ 0 http://thelxl.com/2013/03/27/the-lxl-at-wondercon-2013/ http://thelxl.com/2013/03/27/the-lxl-at-wondercon-2013/#comments Wed, 27 Mar 2013 19:16:58 +0000 theresa_who http://thelxl.com/?p=946 The women of the LxL are going to be busy this weekend! Here’s a peek at where to find us. If you’d like your event or booth listed, just let us know!

Panels

Friday

1:30pm - The Psychology of Star Trek vs. Star Wars
Room 213
Boldly go where no one has gone before and explore a galaxy far, far away! Psychologists Dr. Andrea Letamendi (UCLA) and Dr. Ali Mattu (NYU) are joined by writers Hugh Sterbakov (Robot Chicken, City Under the Moon) and Larry “Dr. Trek” Nemecek (The Con of Wrath,Trekland: On Speaker) for an epic sci-fi battle as they throw down the science behind the heroes, villains, galactic governments, and even the fandom of Star Trekand Star Wars. Join a side and cast your vote as we crown one the winner of WonderCon Anaheim! Refereed by Brian Ward (Shout! Factory).

2:30pm - The Most Dangerous Women at WonderCon Anaheim!
Room 203
Actresses, stuntwomen, storytellers, outspoken bloggers, creative cosplayers — which women are the movers and shakers on the convention scene? Who are the innovators and game changers breaking barriers in the world of fandom? Is the convention experience really different for women? To discuss these issues, Action Flick Chick Katrina Hill (Fanhattan, MTV Geek) brings together some women dangerous in their own right: Jenna Busch(Cocktails with Stan), Emma Caulfield (Essnemma on My Damn Channel), Jane Espenson (Once Upon a Time), Dr. Andrea Letamendi (Batgirl’s therapist), Dorina Arellano(Office Ninja), Luci Romberg (Ninja Warrior), Dana Braziel-Solovy (Adventures of a Comic Con Girl), andAmerica Young (Stan Lee’s World of Heroes).

Saturday

12:00pm - Geeking Out with the League of Extraordinary Ladies
Room 210A
Formed by a small but fierce group of girl geek friends, the LxL has grown to be a worldwide community that has fostered countless friendships, created a safe space online, and spawned a thousand geeky discussions. Find out more about the League, meet the founders, and hear great tips on how to connect with fellow geeks in your area. The League of Extraordinary Ladies is dedicated to keeping the Con spirit alive all year round, wherever you are. Hear from representatives (and co-founders) Autumn Massey, Dina Kampmeyer, Emily Heyer, Geek Girl Diva, Jenn Fujikawa, Sarah Kuhn, Stephanie Thorpeand Theresa Wollenstein.

2:00pm - All Shapes and Sizes Welcome
Room 210A
Join Leah Cevoli (Robot Chicken), Miracle Laurie(Dollhouse), Adrianne Curry (Adrianne Curry’s SuperFans), Helenna Santos Levy (founder, MsInTheBiz.com), Amber Krzys (founder, BodyHeart.com), and Lynn Chen (founder, www.theActorsDiet.com) as these outspoken actresses, models, writers, and entrepreneurs will share openly their own journey with body image, eating disorders, and the road to recovery and self-love. The panel will discuss healthy lifestyles and acceptance for women of all shapes and sizes in the entertainment industry, while inspiring others to get out there and live their best life. Moderated by Leah Cevoli.

6:30pm - ElfQuest 35th Anniversary
Room 213
Join Wendy Pini (the “Elf Mom” herself), and Stephanie Thorpe and Paula Rhodes (the producers who recently acquired the film/TV rights to this epic fantasy series) for this panel celebrating 35 years of this legendary comic. They’ll engage in a lively discussion of ElfQuest‘s generation-spanning past and present, with some exciting hints of what’s to come. EQ cosplay encouraged; you never know what you could win!

7:00pm - Steampunk 101
Room 207
Trendwatchers predict that 2013 will be the year of steampunk, but what exactly is steampunk? Fashion trend? Literary genre? Anything involving corsets and goggles? Experts in the field delve into the origins of the movement, the active community that has formed around it, and what we can learn about the future by looking to the past. Panelists include Andrew Fogel (League of S.T.E.A.M.), Brian Kesinger (creator of Otto and Victoria),Donna Ricci (Clockwork Couture), Nick Baumann(creative director, League of S.T.E.A.M.), Robin Blackburn (League of S.T.E.A.M.), and moderator Dina Kampmeyer (Lady Steam).

Sunday

11:30am - Comics Arts Conference Session #7: The Filter of Fiction: Batman, Spider-Man, and Real-Life Trauma
Room 210BCD
What’s the point in examining fictional characters, especially fantastic superheroes unlike any people we encounter in real life? Psychologist Travis Langley(Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight) andAndrea Letamendi (Barbara Gordon’s therapist in Batgirl#16), comics scholar Kathleen McClancy (Wake Forest University), and comic book writer Bryan Q. Miller(Batgirl) explore how the filter of fiction can allow people to face some of the worst events that happen in real life without turning away and how that, in turn, helps us learn more about the way actual crises affect living human beings.

2:30pm - IDW: Behind the Hasbro Titles
Room 300DE
Join editor John Barber along with a veritable who’s who of creators on all your favorite Hasbro books! Mike Costaof G.I. JOE fame! Mairghread Scott, Livio Ramondelli,Chris Metzen, and Flint Dille from Transformers! Amy Mebberson and Heather Nuhfer from My Little Pony! Announcements and inside info you won’t believe!

3:00pm - Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog
Arena
WonderCon Anaheim is going out on a high note! FandomCharities.org and Whedonopolis.com, the folks who bring you the Buffy musical Once More With Feeling, to close out San Diego Comic-Con, present a screening of Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog! This will be an event to remember, so come to the show and revel in the musical genius of The Whedons! But remember, the best part of the show is up to you! Cheer for Dr. Horrible! Cheer for Penny! Cheer for Moist! Cheer for the Freeze Ray! Cheer-or whatever-for “Captain Hammer, Corporate Tool”! Just have fun and be sure to make Bad Horse gleeful. Audience participation: it isn’t just for Rocky Horror and mob riots anymore.

Other Stuff to Check Out

Epic fantasy author SP Hendrick signing
Main Hall B, Booth 1022 (Greater Los Angeles Writers’ Society)
Saturday 10a-4p

WE Comics (all ages & heroine comics)
Booth SP-48

Alicia Hollinger Art
Booth F10 (with Battlestar Galactica)

House of Darkly
Booth 481

Gothic steampunk fiction by Elizabeth Watasin
Small Press Booth SP-28

Transformers comics/tv author Mairghread Scott signing
Booth 709 (IDW Publishing)
4-5pm Saturday & 1-2pm Sunday - Transformers “Jam” Signing

Love & Capes creator Thom Zahler
Artists’ Alley Booth AA-184
Kids’ Comics Panel at 11:00am on Saturday in Room 210A
Signing Sunday 2:00 – 3:00 @ IDW Publishing Booth 709

Cupcake Quarterly Magazine signing with Leah Cevoli, Stephanie Thorpe, Helenna Santos-Levy, and Jenna Busch
Geekscape Booth 953
11am Saturday

WeLoveFine.com WonderCon Signings
Booth #1219
Saturday
10a – Meet Catbug aka Sam Lavagnino! 6-year old Sam is the voice of “Catbug,” the adorable sidekick on Cartoon Hangover’s hit online series Bravest Warriors!
12 noon – Meet Brian Kesinger! MFA Artists and Steampunk Designer, creator of “Otto and Victoria” (featured in an upcoming illustrated book!)
2 pm – Meet Team Unicorn! The marvelous ladies of Team Unicorn are joining us in our MF Partners program to art direct some cool designs. FTW!
Sunday
11 am – Meet Wendy Pini! The legendary creator of the ElfQuest comics series will be with us, and we’ll have a WonderCon EXCLUSIVE ElfQuest tee!

Before the convention season starts up and keeps us all busy, let’s meet up for a picnic brunch at the Griffith Park Observatory. This will be a casual event where you can meet some new people, show off your baking skills (if you have them) and wander around the fabulous Observatory complex. No need to RSVP, just bring a blanket, a chair (if you want), some food or drink to share and maybe even a friend. There are no assigned picnic areas, so just meet me on the lawn in front of the Observatory. I’ll be the one playing Munchkin or some sort of geeky game.   

Who?: Single Geeks

When?: Sunday, March 24^th

Time?: 11am-1pm

Where?: The lawn in front of the Griffith Park Observatory

http://www.griffithobservatory.org/

More details on Facebook!

Here’s a complete list of our amazing vendors:

Foulbitten

@foulbitten

http://www.etsy.com/shop/foulbitten

-Etched copper creations

BSD Studios

http://www.etsy.com/shop/bsdstudios

-Leather earrings, masks, etc

Autumn Massey

@autumnbuck

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Autumnbuck

-Sci-Fi symbol artwork

Lady Steam Designs

@ladysteam13

http://www.etsy.com/shop/LadySteamDesigns

-Geeky stockings and wrist cuffs

Stephanie Thorpe cosmetics 

@TheStephThorpe

-Cosmetics and bangles

Domestic Goddess Enterprises 

@wrpnwft

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Domestic-Goddess-Enterprises/126473487512

-Jewelry

Super Emo Friends! 

@imjsalvador

http://superemofriends.com/

-Artwork

Seventh Wolf Creations

@Theresa_Who

-Knitting

Rockets & Rainbows

@JenniferLanda

-Star Wars and MLP Jewelry, hand bags

 Mombie Zombie 

@Mombieshop

http://www.etsy.com/shop/mombiezombie

-Jewelry and chocolate molds

Elizabeth Watasin

@ewatasin

http://www.a-girlstudio.com/

-RISEN novel, artwork and pinback accessories.

Marvelously Macabre

@MacabreCrafts

http://www.etsy.com/shop/marvelouslymacabre

-Hairpieces, purses and accessories

Becky Young

-Headbands, jewelry and accessories

Eclectic Little Birds

@dadalibrarian

http://www.etsy.com/shop/eclecticlittlebirds

-Geeky head bands

Hintage Designs

http://www.hintagedesigns.etsy.com

-Cards and vintage paper/comic book jewelry + Prints, totes, and scarves w/ exclusive superheroes designed by Doug TenNapel, Phil Hester, and Josh Kenfield.

Barbara Bownds

-Jewelry and Cards

Scruffy Rebel

@scruffyrebel

www.scruffyrebel.com

-Coasters, ornaments, bath bombs @ decoupaged accessories

uGeek Designs

@hollywoodjane

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ugeekdesigns?ref=si_shop

-Geek Ornaments and Necklaces

Crafty Geeks

-Gifts for geeky knitters, created by geeks.

Kimi Hughes

@LadyAdeena

-Geeky Skirts

Cecil Castellucci

@misscecil

http://castellucci.wordpress.com/
-Books for the nerdy girl

WE Comics

@WEComics

http://wecomics.com/

-Comics for all-ages

The Thursday schedule is already up on the official Con website and we’ll be compiling a list here of panels and events organized by and including LxL members and close friends. We’ll update this list as more information comes out and please let us know if we missed anything. We can’t wait to see you there!

Everyday

Come visit our own justJENN designs in Small Press N-10. Her booth not only has adorable things to buy, but this seems to be the unofficial LxL hangout spot, so you’ll more than likely to run into a friend there!

**LxL Meetup at ComicCon 2012!**

Thursday at 8pm at the Manchester Grand Hyatt: To get the show kicked off we’re meeting up at the TOP OF THE HYATT LOUNGE for drinks, wookiee hugs, and catching up with our convention buddies! Just take the elevator up to the 40th floor of the hotel to party with the geekiest girls on the web!

This is a public event so please take note that we will not put attendees on lists or guarantee entry. Our best advice is to arrive early! Please note that the venue is 21+ only.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/events/394924123876710/

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Full Thursday Schedule at: http://comic-con.org/cci/cci12_prog_thu.php

10:00-11:00 The Witty Women of Steampunk— The Victorian era was one marked by constraints on behavior, morals and bosoms. When you add a bit of sci-fi to the mix, however, those corset laces begin to loosen. The steampunk genre has allowed a new wave of female creators and personalities to explore how liberating, sexy, and adventurous the age of steam can be. Robin Blackburn (The League of S.T.E.A.M.), Anina Bennett (Boilerplate: History’s Mechanical Marvel), Gail Carriger (The Parasol Protectorate Series), Kaja Foglio (Girl Genius), Robin Thorsen (The Guild), and moderator Dina “Lady Steam” Kampmeyer (Steampunk LA) discuss literature, fashion, romance, adventure, and more. Room 5AB

10:00-11:00 Racebending.com: Creating Spaces for Diverse Characters and Representations— Creators and artists are developing engrossing characters from underrepresented groups. Panelists from different mediums will discuss their creative processes and how can fans support their diversity efforts. Featuring novelist and comic book writer Marjorie Liu (Astonishing X-Men), video game writer David Gaider (Dragon Age), comic book writer Brandon Thomas (Miranda Mercury), showrunner and screenwriter Javier Grillo-Marxuach (The Middleman), writer Sarah Kuhn (One Con Glory), and Comic-Con special guest N.K. Jemisin (The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms); moderated by Racebending.com. Room 23ABC

10:30-11:30 How to Get News Coverage— Small press comic publishers: What makes the difference between an item that will get news coverage, previews, and interviews, and what doesn’t? A lot of publishers have no idea what to submit to the press, how to submit it, and why they are being overlooked for coverage. Comics journalist Rik Offenberger (First Comics News, Archie Comics) moderates this panel on just what it takes to get coverage, with the comic journalists themselves telling you what they are looking for. Panelist include Alan Kistler (Comic Mix, Newsarama), Chris Thompson (First Comics News), Bryan Young (Huffington Post, Big Shiny Robot), Dan Manser (Diamond), Holly Golightly (BroadSword Comics), Rich Johnston (Bleeding Cool), J. C. Vaughn (The Scoop), Josh Waldrop (M1W Entertainment), Matt Moore (Associated Press), and Heidi MacDonald (The Beat). Find out what it takes to self-promote and make a significant impact on your ability to sell your comic project. Room 8

11:45-12:45 Stan Lee’s World of Heroes— The legendary Stan Lee introduces his new YouTube channel that tells the stories of heroes, villains, and the fans who love them. In this epic panel, Stan, Mark Hamill (Star Wars), Adrianne Curry (America’s Next Top Model), Peter David (The Hulk), Jace Hall (The Jace Hall Show), and Bonnie Burton (Star Wars Craft book) talk about their new shows, debut new episodes and trailers, answer questions from fans, and provide a few Stan Lee surprises. Room 6BCF

12:00-1:00 Comics Arts Conference Session #2: Once More, with Comics: How the Whedon Universes Continue in Comic Book Form— Authors Katrina Hill (Action Movie Freak, GeekNation.com), Jennifer K. Stuller (Ink-StainedAmazon, GeekGirlCon), and Traci Cohen (CSU-Sacramento) examine how comic books and graphic novels provide a new form of media adaptation in which the graphic novel form furthers the canon or official continuity of television series as sequels to the original material. Creator Joss Whedon’s television universes enjoy new life in print (e.g. Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9). Sharing their own thoughts on these Whedon comic book follow-ups are comic book writer/actress Amber Benson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Willow and Tara), editors Scott Allie (Dark House) and Mariah Huehner (IDW), and actors Clare Kramer (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Bring It On) and Tom Lenk (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Cabin in the Woods). Room 26AB

1:00-2:00 Progressive Politics in Comics— Can comics still inspire real-world change? Susie Cagle (AlterNet), Cecil Castellucci (The Year of the Beasts), Shannon Watters (Adventure Time), Stan Mack (Road to Revolution), and a surprise guest or two discuss the history and future of politically progressive comics with moderator Douglas Wolk (Reading Comics). Room 32AB

2:00-3:00 Power Rangers: 20 Years and Beyond— Saban Brands and Shout! Factory officially kick off the 20th anniversary celebration of Power Rangers with a discussion featuring Elie Dekel (president, Saban Brands), Paul Schrier (“Bulk”), and other on-screen talent and members of the creative team. Moderated by Brian Ward (DVD producer of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Complete Series), the panel will dive into the origin and evolution of the Power Rangers franchise, including the long-awaited debut of the series on DVD and the show’s resurgence on Nickelodeon with Power Rangers Super Samurai and much more! Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

4:00-5:00 Womanthology— One woman’s (Renae De Liz) question on Twitter became a fully realized all-female graphic novel anthology in under a year. A legion of supporters helped fund Womanthology: Heroic through a considerably successful Kickstarter campaign, and recently IDW announced the continuation of Womanthology as an ongoing series, starting with Womanthology: Space. Meet some of the more than 170 creators who made the book happen: Trina Robbins (The Brinkley Girls), Kelly Turnbull (Ugly Americans Season 1), Jean Kang (In Every Heart a Masterwork), Bonnie Burton (You Can Draw Star Wars), Ma’at Crook (Womanthology), Cassandra James (The Gathering), Jolene Houser (Dusk Vol. 2), Jody Houser (Everwell), and editor Mariah Huehner (Womanthology). Moderated by Womanthology contributor Barbara Kesel (TokyoPop’s Legends of the Dark Crystal). Room 25ABC

4:30-5:30 Masters of the Web— The annual gathering of some of the most prominent and influential film pundits on the web discuss the film industry, writing for film online, film fandom, and a whole lot more. Moderated by star of the new Lionsgate film Dredd, Karl Urban (Star Trek, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King), with special surprise cast members from the film. Panelists include Mike Sampson (ScreenCrush.com), Jen Yamato (MovieLine.com), Mali Elfman (ScreenCrave.com), Erik Davis (Movies.com), Steve “Frosty” Weintraub (Colider.com), Grae Drake (Fandango.com), Jenna Busch (Cocktails with Stan Lee), and Edward Douglas (ComingSoon.net), and hosted by John Campea (AMC Theatres). AMC is generously providing free movies passes to all attendees of the panel this year! Room 24ABC

5:00-6:00 The Most Dangerous Women at Comic-Con— Actresses, stuntwomen, creative cosplayers, outspoken bloggers, and groundbreaking comic book creators-which women are the movers and shakers on the convention scene? Who are the innovators breaking barriers in the world of fandom? To discuss these game changers, Action Flick Chick Katrina Hill (GeekNation, MTV Geek) has assembled a team of women dangerous in their own right: Leah Cevoli (Robot Chicken), Holly Conrad (Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope), Adrianne Curry (Stan Lee’s World of Heroes), Abbie Heppe (Respawn Entertainment), Clare Kramer (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Kristen Nedopak (Skyrim: To Lydia with Love), Milynn Sarley (GeekNation’s Lairs), Stephanie Thorpe (ElfQuest: A Fan Imagining), and Patricia Tallman (Night of the Living Dead, Babylon 5). With moderator Bonnie Burton (SFX Magazine). Room 7AB

6:00-7:00 The Science of Science Fiction: Canon Fodder— Aliens, robots, wormholes, superheroes…there’s more than a little science in all of these, but how can that science be kept straight and consistent across multiple movies and seasons of TV shows? Panelists Jon Spaihts (writer, Prometheus), Jane Espenson (producer/writer, Battlestar Galactica, Caprica), Zack Stentz and Ashley Miller (writers, Thor, X-Men: First Class), Jaime Paglia (producer/writer, Eureka), and Dr. Kevin Grazier (science advisor, Battlestar Galactica, Defiance),  talk about the ups and downs of respecting the science in ongoing science fiction TV and movie series. Moderated by Dr. Phil Plait (writer/host, Phil Plait’s Bad Universe, Discover magazine’s Bad Astronomy blog), and courtesy of The Science and Entertainment Exchange, a program of the National Academy of Sciences. Room 25ABC

Friday, July 13, 2012

Full Friday Schedule at: http://comic-con.org/cci/cci12_prog_fri.php

11:30-12:30 Remixed Fairy Tales and Superhero Lore— Between this year’s Mirror Mask and Snow White and the Huntsman and forthcoming retellings of Beauty and the Beast and Hansel and Gretel — not to mention recent reexaminations such as Soon I Shall Be Invincible and The Magicians — the mythology of fairy tales and superheroes is embedded in our popular culture. But some of the characters aren’t quite what they used to be. Discuss the enduring power of these archetypes and how they can also be reinterpreted with panelists Sarah Maas (Throne of Glass), Marissa Meyer (Cinder), Rae Carson (The Girl of Fire and Thorns), Paul Tobin (Prepare to Die), Tom King (A Once Crowded Sky), Michael Scott (The Enchantress), Tracy Hickman (Wayne of Gotham), and Cecil Castellucci (The Year of the Beasts). Moderated by David Mariotte of Mysterious Galaxy. Room 5AB

5:00-6:00 Sci-fi That Will Change Your Life— Sometimes science fiction does more than mangle your eyeballs with awesome explosions — it can also make you think. Come discuss the year’s most brain-expanding sci-fi with io9 staffers Annalee Newitz, Cyriaque Lamar, and Charlie Jane Anders, plus amazing guests Phil Plait (writer/scientist, Bad Astronomy), Deric A. Hughes (producer/writer, Warehouse 13), and Sarah Kuhn (writer, One Con Glory). Room 7AB

6:00-7:00 Girls Gone Genre— Listen to and talk with women who write, read, game, and perform in arenas that are statistically dominated by men. What happens when traditionally “male” genres are reinvented by female writers and embraced by female fans? Sex and the City (or for that matter, Girls), it ain’t. Meet the women who like to play with trucks and Barbies. And Wolverine action figures. And flux capacitors. Panelists: Marti Noxon (Buffy, Angel), Jane Espenson (Battlestar Galactica, Torchwood), Karyn Kusama (Jennifer’s Body), and Angela Robinson (True Blood). Room 7AB

7:30-8:30 Moving to the Web: Be Your Own Producer— Actors Yuri Lowenthal (Ben 10), Tara Platt (Resistance: Burning Skies), Phil Morris (Smallville), and Stephanie Thorpe (Elfquest: A Fan Imagining) and director Steven Calcote (Shelf Life) discuss how producing content for the web has liberated them from an often obstructive studio system. Room 26AB

8:30-9:30 Space Command: Bold Adventures in the Far Reaches of Space— Science fiction legends Marc Scott Zicree (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Doug Drexler (Battlestar Galactica), Neil Johnson (Humanity’s End), Michael Reaves (Star Wars, Batman), and Ian McCaig (Star Wars) premiere footage from the highly anticipated epic adventure series that spans 200 years of Galactic History. Stars Doug Jones (Pan’s Labyrinth), Katherine McEwan (Humanity’s End), Christina Moses (Star Trek New Voyages), and Amber Benson (Buffy) discuss their roles. The visionary team gives you an early look at the stunning character design and visual effects, plus the epic score from David Raiklen. Inspired by heroic science fiction of the ’50s. A revolution in film funding and distribution, made by A-list creators for the fans free from studio restrictions. Room 5AB

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Full Saturday Schedule at: http://comic-con.org/cci/cci12_prog_sat.php

11:00-12:00 Geek & Sundry— Felicia Day (The Guild, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog), Wil Wheaton (Big Bang Theory, Eureka), director Daniel Strange (Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis), and the cast of The Guild — Vince Caso, Jeff Lewis, Amy Okuda, Sandeep Parkih, and Robin Thorsen — make some big announcements and offer an exclusive sneak peek at what’s to come. Moderated by Kim Evey (producer, Geek & Sundry). Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

6:00-7:00 Are You a Geek Girl Trendsetter? Show Off Your Style to the Fashion Experts and Win Prizes!— Inspired by the NBC television show Fashion Star, Her Universe founder Ashley Eckstein (voice of Ahsoka Tano from Star Wars:  The Clone Wars) wants to give geek girl trendsetters the opportunity to show their unique style and original designs to the experts! Comic-Con is full of geek girls who create, design, and construct their own fashions, and what better way to get feedback than to show your trendsetting creations to this panel of fashion professionals. Girls are asked to attend in their own custom-made everyday geek/sci-fi inspired outfits and accessories. A select number of girls in the audience will be chosen for a chance to present their look in front of the panel to get their feedback and advice. Each panelist will choose one girl who truly impressed them with their overall design and flair, and those girls will receive a special prize. The panel is made up of fashion buyers, designers, stylists, and actresses from the sci-fi world who will also give their advice on how to create your own geek style and look. MTV Geek will be filming the panel for their Comic-Con coverage. Room 25ABC

7:00-8:00 Building Props for Sci-Fi in the 21st Century— Sci-fi props already have the advantage of a sharp aesthetic, but in this day and age, how do you take sci-fi prop making and the replica making that tends to follow to the next level? Andy Gore (QMx), Jack Kenney (Warehouse 13), Andy Siegel (Avatar, The Amazing Spiderman, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), John Eblan (Star Wars Episodes II and III), and Nick Robatto (Doctor Who, Torchwood) discuss how your favorite props are made, from concept to execution. The panel will discuss the impact of accelerated production schedules and technology on how TV and movie props are conceived and created. You will also learn the various types of prop making, from working props and digital modeling to 3D printers and the use of advanced materials. Room 24ABC

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Full Sunday Schedule at: http://comic-con.org/cci/cci12_prog_sun.php

10:30-11:30 Global Sensation Merlin Celebrates Season 5— International hit series Merlin returns to Comic-Con to celebrate its upcoming fifth season premiere with a presentation of advance footage, a peek behind-the-scenes, and access to its stars and creators. Leading the panel are Colin Morgan, the magical title character of Merlin, and Katie McGrath, the wickedly beautiful sorceress Morgana. The pair will be joined by co-creators and executive producers Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy, as well as some fan favorite, gotta-be-there-to-see guests. Popular hostess and “writer of all things geek” Jenna Busch moderates the festivities, which will include an eye-opening offering of Merlin’s expansive new entertainment scope, some unique prizes, and a few special-for-Comic-Con surprises from the series that airs in more than 180 countries. Room 6BCF

12:00-1:00 Espenson: an Anagram for Openness— Writer Jane Espenson (Once Upon a Time, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Battlestar Galactica, Game of Thrones, Husbands) discusses past and current work with moderator Jenna Busch (Zap2It). Artwork from an upcoming Buffy comic will provide the first look at an anticipated new character, and Husbands’ Brad Bell (Pop-Up Videos), Sean Hemeon, and Jeff Greenstein (Will and Grace, Desperate Housewives) will be on hand to discuss the upcoming season 2. Attend to learn which sci-fi superstar is joining the Husbands cast. Room 7AB

1:45-2:45 Foes Beyond Fur and Fangs— Vampires have staked their claim on readers, and werewolves have certainly taken a bite out of pop fiction. But these paranormal creatures aren’t the only ones that run havoc in the pages of science fiction and fantasy novels. Authors discuss the villains and vixens-from witches to zombies and beyond-in their action-packed adventures. Moderator Kim Alexander (Fiction Nation on Sirius XM radio) interviews participants Amber Benson (Calliope-Reaper Jones novels), Rachel Caine (Morganville Vampires series), Tom Sniegoski (Remy Chandler series), Kiersten White (Paranormalcy series), Gail Carriger (Timeless), Amelia Atwater-Rhodes (Poison Tree), and Maggie Stiefvater (The Scorpio Races). Room 5AB

2:15-3:15 Buffy Turns 20: Celebrating 20 Years of Buffy the Vampire Slayer— Once upon a time, Buffy Summers became the Slayer, the Chosen One who proved a young heroine could battle the forces of darkness instead of playing damsel in distress. Stars from the hit TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Nicholas Brendon, Clare Kramer) join forces with Dark Horse editor Scott Allie, writer/producer Jane Espenson, illustrator Georges Jentry, and the original Buffy herself (Kristy Swanson, star of the 1992 motion picture), not to mention a surprise guest or two, to celebrate 20 years of slayage. Room 6BCF

It’s been a pretty cold winter (as LA goes) and you still haven’t found that special someone to snuggle up with and keep warm. Have no fear, your good friend Lady Steam is here! Sorry it’s been so long since our last singles event, but I’ve finally managed to secure a venue for our second event. If you’re interested in meeting some single geeks on Saturday, May 5th from 7-10pm in Hollywood, please email me at ladysteam@thelxl.com. Please include your name, age, gender and email address and send that off to me and I’ll let you know if there are still spaces available. Thanks everyone!

-Dina, AKA Lady Steam

I’ll admit it, I’m a huge musical theatre geek. Ever since my mother took me to see Into the Woods when I was in 5^th grade, I’ve been hooked. Half of my ipod is filled with the sounds of Broadway and my heart skips a beat whenever someone bursts into song on Smash.

When I first heard about Geeks! The Musical!, I couldn’t help but get a little excited. Of course, there’s not much worse than bad musical theatre, so I kept my optimism cautious. Once I found out that my dear friend Liz Heathcoat was choreographing the production, I knew the production was in good hands.

I was able to attend the opening weekend of the three-week run and was very pleasantly surprised. Taking place in a quiet neighborhood in Hollywood, the set was large and professional and the audience was full and happy to be there. You could easily tell which members of the audience were friends, family and casual viewers vs. those of us who are hard-core geeks. Thankfully for this group, the production is geared towards the latter. I started laughing from the very first song, “Comic Con”, where the entire musical takes place. Are there geeky stereotypes in this musical? Yes, but they are written with love and I could easily think of examples from my own circle of friends for each character. The comic book geek, the negative guy who seems to hate everything, yet still comes to conventions, the sweet geeky girl, the has-been 80s sci-fi actor and the overly dramatic artist.

Geeks! The Musical! has some rough edges, but it was created with geeky love by Thomas J. Misuraca and I had a fantastic time. Seldom do I look forward to a second act, but I happily waited through the brief intermission so I could find out what happened to Jordan and Kerry, our charming main characters. There were songs about Doctor Who, “A Girl at Comic Con” and “Women in Sci-Fi” which made my female geeky heart all warm and fuzzy.

With two more weeks left in its run, I highly recommend that you grab a few friends and head down to the Write Act Repertory theatre and prepare to laugh. While non-geeks may enjoy the show, it is clearly written and performed for geeks and will be best enjoyed with friends who can laugh along at the Watchmen, BSG and Dick Grayson references. Have fun geeking out!

Geeks! The Musical! runs March 1-17, 2002 and you can buy tickets at https://www.plays411.net/newsite/show/play_info.asp?show_id=3037 and if you’re available this Thursday night, there are still a few tickets available on Goldstar. http://www.goldstar.com/events/hollywood-ca/geeks-the-musical.

Last year, many members of the League of Extraordinary Ladies made it up to San Francisco to enjoy the small but mighty WonderCon. It was an amazing time all around and this year, it’s going to be right in our backyard at the Anaheim Convention Center! For one year, and one year only, us Southern Californians get to enjoy this smaller cousin of San Diego ComicCon and don’t even need to fight over hotel rooms! To celebrate, we are hosting a meetup on Saturday, March 17^th starting at 8pm at Trader Sam’s in the Disneyland Hotel. We promise, it’s a very quick walk from the convention center and you get to see Downtown Disney which is a lot of fun. Here’s a FB invite for the festivities: http://www.facebook.com/#!/events/119628924832029/

Also, once again, several of the founders have been chosen to moderate, participate in and/or organize a few panels. I’m sure we’d all love to see you stop by. I’ve also made a quick list of other LxL members (and friends of the LxL) whom I saw on the schedule. Let me know if you’d like me to add anything. Hope to see you all in a few weeks!

*LxL Founder Panels*

SATURDAY: 12:30-1:30 CAC Session 6: Lessons Learned from Batgirl about Female Superheroes and Trauma: Resilience, Recovery, and Relaunch— Is it healthy to be a female character in today’s comics? Do comic book superheroines still face different traumas from those faced by their male counterparts? Psychologists Andrea Letamendi (UCLA), Robin Rosenberg (The Psychology of Superheroes), and Travis Langley (Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight), with the help of writer Bryan Q. Miller (Batgirl, Smallville), explore how gender differences figure into storytelling issues and reflect on the dangers, support, and expectations encountered by women in real-world high-risk and life-threatening environments. Room 210

SATURDAY: 2:00-3:00 Geek & Sundry— Felicia Day (The Guild), Wil Wheaton (Awesome), Veronica Belmont (Tekzilla), and Tom Merrit (Sword & Laser) present a sneak preview of Day’s new Geek & Sundry YouTube channel lineup. Room 204

SATURDAY: 5:30-6:30 Geek Girls Create— Kristen Nedopak (Think Hero TV), Stephanie Thorpe (ElfQuest), Crix Lee (Girl Gamer/Dread Central), Jessica Mills (Awkward Embraces), Leah Cevoli (Robot Chicken), and Helenna Santos Levy (Girl and Boy) are women who took their love of the geek life and turned it into a career. As producers, hosts, actresses, and multi-hyphenate personalities, they have spent time and love creating their own award-winning content for film, TV, and the web. Learn how each of these smart and sexy ladies built her unique, individual brand, and gain insight into the struggles and success of creating your own work, from networking to production to marketing…and staying sane along the way. Room 207

SUNDAY: 11:30-12:30 Steampunk 101— H.G. Wells, leather corsets, goggles, gears and steam-powered blasters: these are all marks of the genre, but what exactly is Steampunk? Explore the answer to this basic question and much more with scintillating steampunk experts Donna Ricci (Clockwork Couture), Joe Benitez (Lady Mechanika); Thomas Willeford (Brute Force Studios); Nick Bauman, Andrew Fogel and Duane Matthews (The League of S.T.E.A.M.); and moderator Dina Kampmeyer (The Manticore Society). Room 213

*Other LxL Panels*

FRIDAY: 12:30-1:30 TheOneRing.net Hobbit Movie Insider’s Preview— Ringers everywhere are eagerly awaiting Peter Jackson’s new Hobbit films during the 75th anniversary year of the book’s publication! Staff writers and scholars from TheOneRing.net web portal invite you to join this lively panel revealing film production surprises and a zealous shredding of rumors! Led by Clifford Broadway (Ringers: Lord of the Fans), Josh Rubinstein (Star Trek: TNG Blu-ray), Cathy Udovch (Cruise to Middle-earth), and Mike Urban (The People’s Guide to J. R. R. Tolkien). Room 207

FRIDAY: 4:30-5:30 Spotlight on Renae De Liz— Meet one of the rising stars of the industry! Acclaimed artist and WonderCon special guest Renae De Liz (The Last Unicorn) was building a rabid following even before she masterminded the Kickstarter runaway smash success project Womanthology! Room 203

SATURDAY: 11:00-12:00 Womanthology— Get the story behind the hottest Kickstarter project of the year, a graphic novel produced entirely by the top women in the industry! Over 200 creators combined to create Womanthology,  and all profits go to the charities of GlobalGiving.org! Project mastermind Renae De Liz and a host of surprise creators offer sneak peeks, inside tips on how to break into comics, and more! Room 213

SATURDAY: 1:30-2:30 How to Get News Coverage— Small press publishers, what makes the difference between an item that will get news coverage, previews, and interviews and an item that doesn’t? A lot of publishers have no idea what to submit to the press, how to submit it, and why they are being overlooked for coverage. Comics journalist Rik Offenberger (First Comics News, Archie Comics) moderates this panel on just what it takes to get coverage, with the comics journalist themselves telling you what they are looking for in your submission. Panelists include Alan Kistler (Comic Mix, Newsarama), Heidi McDonald (The Beat), Kiel Phegley (Comic Book Resources), and Josh Waldrop (M1W Entertainment). Find out what it takes to self-promote and make a significant impact on your ability to sell your comics project. Room 208

SATURDAY: 6:00-7:00 Archaia Entertainment Presents: How to Build a Better Story— Are you an aspiring storyteller? Archaia has a tradition of publishing great stories, such as Mouse Guard, Return of the Dapper Men, and The Killer. Archaia editor-in-chief Stephen Christy and founder and chief creative officer Mark Smylie lead an information-packed session on what it takes to create a better original graphic novel. From world building to storytelling to what Archaia looks for in submissions, if you’re an aspiring graphic novelist, this is the panel you don’t want to miss. Plus, get a sneak peek of some of Archaia’s upcoming titles, with never-before-seen art and exclusive information! Please note: Archaia will not be accepting submissions or reviewing portfolios during this panel. Room 203

SUNDAY: 4:00-5:00 Jane Espenson: Sci Fi and Beyond— A TV writing fixture for the past 20 years, Jane Espenson has written episodes for Sci-Fi and fantasy shows including Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, Dollhouse, Battlestar Galactica, Caprica, Torchwood: Miracle Day, Game of Thrones, and ABC’s current hit Once Upon a Time. Her work in TV comedy includes work on Dinosaurs, Ellen, Jake in Progress, Andy Richter’s Andy Barker PI and Gilmore Girls. Espenson has also made online inroads with Battlestar Galactica webisodes and her current web series, Husbands. The panel is a moderated discussion and lively Q&A about her work in different genres and across different platforms. She will be joined by Husbands co-writer, co-creator and star, Brad Bell. Room 203

Hi WrongSiders!

How excited was I to see Vera Brosgol’s graphic novel Anya’s Ghost under my Christmas tree? Super excited! I had actually tried to buy the book at SDCC over the summer, but it was sold out by the second day. It was the first thing I read from my holiday horde and it did not dissapoint.

The story: Without revealing too much, the basic story follows the modern highschooler Anya Borzakovskaya who is a Russian immigrant (though she left when still a young child) trying to fit into American suburbia. After falling down a well, Anya meets and befriends the ghost of Emily Reilly, a girl who died after falling down the same well while trying to escape the man who killed her family.

The story is as beautiful, simple and spare as the art, with a series of surprising turns that take it far beyond a simple Casper-style buddy comedy.

Of course, Anya’s problems are the predictable problems of any highschool girl: weight, boys, grades, fitting in, so this may not be the book for your more macho friends. But Anya’s issues are addressed in sometimes surprising ways (especially in regards to teen heartthrob Sean and his perfect girlfriend Elizabeth), so anyone who hated highschool has a decent chance of liking this book.

Still Anya’s Ghost is best suited for the highschool reader. If you have a niece you’ve been trying to get into comics, this is a very approachable, very relatable read, a great place to start. Middleschoolers is a little bit of a gray area as there are some mature themes (implied sex, smoking, non-graphic murder), but I have no doubt the characters will resonate.

Read up, Wrongsiders!

Mairghread

*Originally posted on http://www.wrongsidecomics.com/ on 1-15-2012*

I love this book.

The story so far: Without butchering all the lovely details creator Ben Costa sought to put in, Pang: The Wandering Shaolin Monk (Vol. 1: “Refuge of the Heart”) is the story of a short, pudgy reject of a shaolin monk who looks like Charlie Brown. He also happens to be the last surviving member of his temple (which was destroyed by the new Emperor’s army). Pang has two goals: to safeguard the single precious book he managed to save from his temple’s library and to find the other surviving monks he believes are out there, somewhere.

Now, the on-the-lam noble hero and the beautiful inn keeper’s daughter (played here by the feisty Yang Yang) is not a new story, but Costa’s simple art and attention to detail breathes fresh life into it. Characters speak in modern English equivalents to their ancient stations; yokels speak like yokels without extraneous thou’s or thee’s to make them sound old-timey. On the other hand, characters frequently use actual Chinese phrases and reference “current events” which are translated and explained in foot notes. This level of detail fills out the otherwise simple story and gives the world of Pang a depth not normally seen. The same strategy was used in the non-graphic novel Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell to similar effect.

I won’t lie; the book is dense. It took me several tries to get all the way through it. The page layout can also be a bit confusing. It’s a traditional left-to-right, up-to-down read, but look for tiny arrows in panels that change course. On the bright side, the spare art and sheer fun of the wiggling panels are a nice counter-balance to the more expository bits.

And, honestly, the main character’s lovable goodwill captured me. In a genre of tough guys, Pang is truly the sweet-hearted monk you hope he is and once the books finally grounds you in the world the pace picks up considerable.

For those of you who are unsure about the story or feel intimidated by so much exposition, I adored the prequel Eight Herbs Mtn.: The Rice Paddy Kid as well. It’s a much more lightweight story about young Pang training (at least, trying to train) for a local martial arts competition. Funny and touching, it’s also a good place to get acquainted with many characters that appear in Pang.

Still, I can’t recommend the primary book highly enough. This is a great and rare gem for the history buffs, kung fu students and hopeless romantics in your life.

Pang can be purchased through Costa’s website: www.shilongpang.com where you can also view it in web comic form. But the hardcover is so reasonably priced ($20 for 188 pages), I suggest you support Mr. Costa by buying the book. You can also get it from your comic book store. Tell your retailer its Diamond order number is: JUL111134  F

*Originally posted on http://www.wrongsidecomics.com/ on 1-5-2012*