As schools struggle to ensure that students are not left behind in the learning process and to extend curriculum to challenge more advanced students, educators must adapt their classrooms to the developing needs of their students. Join in for a talk about visual literacy and the advantages of using sequential art to help connect with students and convey difficult concepts with ease.
Matt Stagmer and Ilya Alekseyev (blacksmiths), Andy Signore (creator), and Brent Lydic (executive producer) discuss the art of blacksmithing and their hit digital series that brings iconic weapons to life. Matt, Ilya, Andy, and Brent will talk about filming in a forge, their favorite weapons, and the craftsmanship that dates back thousands of years.
While the category has enjoyed tremendous popularity in recent years, kids' graphic novels are not a recent phenomenon. What classic titles or series should librarians have on their shelves to provide historical context and a complete survey of the medium? This will be an illimunating discussion moderated by Dawn Rutherford (branch manager, Brier Library), with panelists Jenny McCluskey (collection development librarian for Ingram Library Services LLC), Alea Perez (chair of YALSA's Great Graphic Novels for Teens Committee), Carla Riemer, and Mark Siegel (editorial director, First Second).
Comics are uniquely vulnerable to challenges and bans, especially comics for teen audiences. Learn about challenged and banned comics and what you can do if they're challenged in your school or library, with panelists Raina Telgemeier (Ghosts), Candice Mack (teen services manager, Los Angeles Public Library), Gina Gagliano (marketing and publicity manager, First Second), and David Saylor (VP/creative director/trade publishing/editorial director, Graphix). Moderated by Betsy Gomez (editorial director, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund).
Author Marc Scott Zicree (Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Twilight Zone Companion), Emmy Award-winning VFX geniuses (Star Trek: Voyager, Babylon 5), and a sci-fi superstar cast present the world premiere of the spectacular opening sequence of Space Command: Redemption, the epic adventure webseries that spans 150 years of galactic history! The cast includes Doug Jones (Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth), Bill Mumy (Lost in Space, The Twilight Zone), Bob Picardo (Star Trek: Voyager, Total Recall), Mira Furlan (Babylon 5, Lost), Bruce Boxleitner (Tron, Babylon 5), Mike Harney (Orange Is the New Black), Christina Moses (Containment), James Hong (Big Trouble in Little China), Faran Tahir (Star Trek), and worldwide Talent Search winners Ethan McDowell, Bryan McClure, and Sara Maraffino. With music by David Raiklen, plus Q&A and behind-the-scenes video.
UPDATED: Fri, Jul 14, 05:31PM The authors behind some of your favorite middle-grade graphic fiction discuss creating stories with strong, positive female characters and the importance of overcoming the lingering perception that comics are only for boys. Featuring Nidhi Chanani (Pashmina), Victoria Jamieson (Roller Girl, Great Pet Caper series), Jenni Holm (Babymouse series), Molly Ostertag (The Witch Boy), and Raina Telgemeier (Ghosts). Moderated by Brigid Alverson (writer and reviewer, Good Comics for Kids).
UPDATED: Tue, Jul 18, 11:03PM From the sacred Saturday morning rituals of yesteryear to today’s storytelling masterpieces, cartoons and animation bring the imagination to life. The animation industry is full of vibrant professionals working together across creative disciplines to tell exciting stories that readers will cherish for years. Animation Invasion podcast host Adron Buske talks with a of group of animation pros about their jobs, the collaborative process, and the joys and challenges of the animation industry. Featuring guest speakers including digital artist from DreamWorks Mike Collins (The Mr. Peabody and Sherman Show, Adventure Time), illustrator and character designer Andrea Fernandez (co-founder, Alkemy Studios), animator and storyboard artist Marie Lum (Cartoon Network, Craig of the Creek), Shadi Petosky (showrunner, Danger & Eggs), and writer Rachel Vine (Rainbow Brite, DuckTales).
UPDATED: Mon, Jul 10, 05:05PM Prepare for a raucous discussion about the latest and greatest independent films you've never heard of! You'll witness a debate about the major movie franchises that MUST DIE! Also experience a special rapid-fire edition of DVD-Duesday on the 5th anniversary of Attack of the Show! going off the air. (Yes, it's been five years.) Film Threat editor Chris Gore (G4TV) will unite legendary movie geeks including Jon Schnepp (Metalocalypse), comedian Tommy Bechtold (The Middle), Charles de Lauzirika (Twin Peaks, Blade Runner), and Anthony Ray Bench (Film Threat) for a LIVE podcast that will go down in Comic-Con history.
UPDATED: Fri, Jul 14, 05:33PM Combining text and image can make difficult or abstract subject matter more appealing, winning over even the most reluctant reader. Learn how nonfiction graphic novels and graphic memoirs can be used to supplement lessons in STEM and history and bring awareness to underheard and marginalized perspectives in the classroom. Panelists include Mairghread Scott (Science Comics: Robots), Thi Bui (The Best We Could Do), Nathan Hale (One Trick Pony), Tillie Walden (Spinning), and Alison Wilgus (Science Comics: Flying Machines). Moderated by Heidi MacDonald (Publishers Weekly, ComicsBeat.com).
This panel brings together podcast hosts to talk about the big topics this geek season: Wonder Woman and the diversity initiatives in comics. Vito Lapiccola and Tim Powers host Dani Fernandez (Krillin It), Atif S. Myers (Dateless Losers), and Sabine-Lissette Ibarra (Legion of Leia) in what is promised to be an awesome time!
UPDATED: Fri, Jul 14, 05:34PM How can the graphic novel format enhance prose texts? And how can educators use adaptations to make stories more accessible? If you read the graphic novel instead of the prose novel, does it still "count"? How does the story change if a classic is adapted into graphic novel format? Is something lost? Is something gained? And what if graphic novels are then converted into prose novels, as with the forthcoming Lumberjanes novels? Moderated by Kelly Quinn Chiu (children's librarian at the Santa Clara City Library), this panel includes Mariko Tamaki (Lumberjanes), Brook Allen (Lumberjanes), Landis Blair (The Trial: A Choose Your Own Kafka Adventure), Charles Kochman (editorial director, Abrams ComicsArts), and R. Sikoryak (Masterpiece Comics).
UPDATED: Mon, Jul 17, 03:20AM Earwolf founder and Comedy Bang! Bang! host Scott Aukerman is joined by Paul Scheer (How Did This Get Made?) plus Earwolf hosts / frequent guests Paul F. Tompkins (Spontaneanation), Lauren Lapkus (...with Special Guest Lauren Lapkus), and Kualp Vilaysack & Howard Kremer (Who Charted?), to discuss the start of Earwolf, the current success of the network, including Comedy Bang! Bang!'s 500th episode, and hilarious behind-the-scenes stories, and more, all followed by a fan Q&A.
UPDATED: Fri, Jul 14, 05:35PM Graphic novel authors and artists Jeffrey Brown (Lucy & Andy Neanderthal), Nick Abadzis (Laika), Joe Flood (Science Comics: Dinosaurs), and James Parks and Ben Costa (Rickety Stitch and the Gelatinous Goo Book 1: The Road to Epoli) describe the process behind making a comic. Moderated by Allison Tran (senior librarian for children's services, Mission Viejo Library).
Talk with publishers about how graphic novels are doing at your library and what they should know based on the feedback from your community. With Robin Herrera (editor, Oni Press), Gina Gagliano (marketing and publicity manager, First Second), and Mallory Loehr (SVP/publisher, Random House Books for Young Readers), moderated by Alea Perez (chair of YALSA's Great Graphic Novels for Teens Committee).
