Baltimore Comic Con Announces Panel Programming

Baltimore Comic-Con is a week away, so it's a good time to start planning your panel attendance at the show. The show organizers have you covered, as they've just released the panel schedule for all three days of convention excitement. Friday will feature spotlights on David Petersen's Mouse Guard, Marvel Comics' New Mutants, featuring a number of creator contributors to the classic series, and numerous panels featuring some of the industry's largest publishers including Dynamite Entertainment, IDW and Valiant Entertainment.

Saturday, you can go to Batman Day Baltimore Comic-Con style, publisher panels including Marvel, BOOM! Studios, Valiant Entertainment and Action Lab Entertainment, and spotlight panels on Charles Soule, Jules Feiffer, Russ Heath, and Guest of Honor Mark Waid and media guests Paul Blackthorne and Ming-Na Wen. Sunday, learn about Vivek Tiwary's The Fifth Beatle, the 75th anniversary of Will Eisner's The Spirit, and attend spotlights on Scott Snyder, Tom Palmer and media guests Katie Cassidy and Edward James Olmos.

Full press release below.

Baltimore Comic-Con 2015 Announces Panel Programming

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - September 16, 2015 - The 16th annual Baltimore Comic-Con returns to the Baltimore Convention Center the weekend of September 25-27, 2015. Tickets are available now for General Admission, VIP, and Harvey Awards! As is the case every year, we have received a steady stream of requests for our Panel schedule -- details are now ready for release, and it looks fantastic!

Friday will feature spotlights on David Petersen's Mouse Guard, Marvel Comics' New Mutants, featuring a number of creator contributors to the classic series, and numerous panels featuring some of the industry's largest publishers including Dynamite Entertainment, IDW, and Valiant Entertainment. Saturday, you can go to Batman Day Baltimore Comic-Con style, publisher panels including Marvel, BOOM! Studios, Valiant Entertainment, and Action Lab Entertainment, and spotlight panels on Charles Soule, Jules Feiffer, Russ Heath, and Guest of Honor Mark Waid, and media guests Paul Blackthorne and Ming-Na Wen. Sunday, learn about Vivek Tiwary's The Fifth Beatle, the 75th anniversary of Will Eisner's The Spirit, and attend spotlights on Scott Snyder, Tom Palmer, and media guests Katie Cassidy and Edward James Olmos. We also continue our series of cosplay-oriented panels through the weekend, featuring topics of interest to both participants and spectators alike. And, of course, don't let your children miss the excitement scheduled for the Kids Love Comics Pavilion!

Friday (Please note, all times and panels shown are subject to change.) Room 339-342 2:30-3:30 - The New Mutants In the early 1980s, Marvel introduced the world to the next wave of Homo superior, The New Mutants! The book has remained popular through the years and has introduced many new mutants to the Marvel Universe. Join us for a look at this remarkable team with guests including original team co-creator Bob McLeod, writer/editor Louise Simonson, and artist Bret Blevins! 3:45-4:45 - Dynamite Entertainment: The Next Ten Years Join the Dynamite gang and their star-studded line-up of editorial and creative talent for an hour of explosive power! From James Bond to Red Sonja, Grumpy Cat to Vampirella, Dynamite will cover it all! What faraway threats imperil John Carter, the hero of Ron Marz's Warlord of Mars comics? What terrors and triumphs are in store for the goddess Dawn and monster hunter Vampirella, courtesy of Joseph Michael Linsner's wild imagination? How does Francesco Francavilla turn in some of the most captivating cover artwork, month-in and month-out, for Dynamite titles like The Avenger and James Bond? Such juicy insights are just a taste of what's in store at Dynamite's "Next Ten Years" panel - as well as the latest Dynamite news and answers to all your burning questions! 5:00-6:00 - IDW Publishing: The Big Panel! This is the big one! Join IDW President Greg Goldstein and VP of Marketing Dirk Wood, along with industry legend Walter Simonson and a host of surprise special guests you won't believe, as they blow away a room full of shocked comic fans. Shocking announcements! Amazing prizes! Q&A! This one will have it all.

Room 343-344 2:30-3:30 - Valiant 101: New Fans Start Here! You've heard the buzz... You've seen the reviews... Now find out where to start with Valiant Comics! From X-O MANOWAR to NINJAK to THE DEATH-DEFYING DR. MIRAGE and QUANTUM AND WOODY, jump on board here with a concise and fun-filled introduction to Valiant's biggest, most memorable characters...and find out for yourself why Buzzfeed calls Valiant "a universe full of your new favorite superheroes"! 3:45-4:45 - Posing for Cosplay Photography Sometimes doing photographs for cosplay can be a little...awkward and intimidating, from both sides of the lens. This panel will have practical advice to help you pose yourself or your models in a way that is in character, flattering, and makes for more dynamic and interesting photographs.  5:00-6:00 - The Awesome Reasons on Why You Should Cosplay Unhappy about the direction Cosplay is going in the community, then let's do something POSITIVE about it! Let's talk about all the awesome things Cosplay is and why, YOU the FAN, have every right to cosplay no matter what society says, however you want to! Take charge and show society it's not just for Halloween anymore! Show your freedom of expression in your own way and let's have some fun with this!! Bring your positive vibes and get some cool swag! Moderator: Ireland Reid.

Room 345-346 2:30-3:30 - Energy at the Movies: From Star Trek to Breaking Bad STEM (science, technology, engineer, and math) experts from the U.S. Department of Energy discuss the interplay between science, engineering, and cinema. Participants: Cynthia Anderson, DOE Senior Advisor and Star Trek collector extraordinaire (Moderator) Marius Stan: DOE Senior Advisor and "Bogdan" in Breaking Bad Andrew Bittner: DOE Writer/Editor and comic book aficionado Mékell Mikell: DOE Special Advisor, gamer and otaku  Rodrigo (Rod) V. Rimando, Jr., DOE Senior Technical Advisor and Star Wars Rebel Alliance 3:45-4:45 - Spinner Rack Revolution In the 1970s, publishers fled from spinner racks to magazine stands to escape the bounds of the Comics Code Authority. With a larger format, in a different rack, comics could openly deal with adult content, have more horror and suspense, and be frank about sexuality. Magazines like HEAVY METAL, VAMPIRELLA, EPIC ILLUSTRATED, 1984, and SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN all broke new ground for a mainstream audience, and loosened the restrictions on some of comics' top creators. Moderated by The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's Alex Cox. 5:00-6:00 - Mouse Guard Mouse Guard, the story of mice struggling to survive in a dangerous world, has gained a devoted following of fans due to the stories and art of creator David Petersen. Mouse Guard is also the subject of this year's Baltimore Comic-Con Yearbook. So we're celebrating! Join Petersen and special guests Craig Rousseau, Stan Sakai, Mark Buckingham, and Katie Cook as they talk all things Mouse Guard!

Room 347-348 2:30-3:30 - Living in Harmony: Digital and Print The world of digital comics created quite a stir in the world of print comics. However, after a few years of co-existing, they are both still around and seem to be helping each other to become a strong industry. Join this panel to check in and see how digital and print are doing with Mark Waid, Amy Chu, Katie Cook, Christy Blanch, and James Tynion IV.  3:45-4:45 - Beg, Borrow, & Steal: Adapting, Incorporating, & Drawing Inspiration from Myth, Legend, & Literature From the start, comics have mined folklore and fiction for material, whether retellings like Classics Illustrated or re-imaginings like Wonder Woman. Creators Walter Simonson, Ron Randall, Greg Pak, and Jamal Igle, along with moderator/creator Paul D. Storrie, discuss the high points and headaches of making the old (and downright ancient) new again for a modern audience.  5:00-6:00 - Stories I Haven't Yet Told Writers are storytellers but not every comics writer can find the right venue for a story they want to tell. What stories remain lurking in their minds? In a lively discussion, Louise Simonson, Terry Moore, John Ostrander, Ron Marz, and moderator Robert Greenberger explore the matter.

Kids Love Comics Pavilion Workshop Area 4:00-5:00 -  Haiku 101 with Mark Poulton Kids, learn about haiku writing and work with Mark Poulton, writer/artist of A Cat Named Haiku, to write your very own cat-themed haiku poem. Worksheets and crayons will be available to participate! 5:00-6:00 - Cosplay Crafts with Gina Super Sox Gina makes clothing for superheroes to wear! Okay, they are everyday folks dressed as superheroes, but she makes them look super. The seamstress of Super Sox Shop will discuss making clothing and fabric crafts. She'll also help you design your own felt superhero symbol to take home and attach to a shirt or cape. 6:00-7:00 - Imagination, Creation, and Comics! with Kyle Puttkammer and Marcus Williams Learn how to become a faster and better artist with Galaxy Man, Cosmic Girl, and the Hero Cats. If you have aspirations of creating the next big hero, or just want to improve your doodles, get ready for some serious fun!

Saturday (Please note, all times and panels shown are subject to change.) Room 339-342 11:00-12:00 - The Marvel Panel In the wake of Secret Wars, it's an All-New, All-Different Marvel Universe! Want to know what this means for your favorite heroes? Then join Marvel's Senior Vice President of Publishing Tom Brevoort and creators including Charles Soule, Greg Pak, and Frank Tieri for this exciting look to the future! 12:15-1:15 - CosLove Presents: "Celebrating the Fun of Cosplay" Cosplay has become a phenomenon at conventions. This panel will explore some of the dos and don'ts of not only being a cosplayer, but also a fan. We will cover anti-bullying, harassment, and how to make cons more fun for all. 1:30-2:30 - The Spirit 75th Anniversary Panel Join the Eisner Award-winning writer Matt Wagner (Grendel, The Shadow), artist Dan Schkade (Sam Hannibal), and colorist Brennan Wagner (The Shadow: Year One) for a celebratory event seventy-five years in the making! You'll be amazed at the insight offered up by these exceptional storytellers as they discuss the creative legacy of industry legend Will Eisner and his most iconic character, The Spirit. Also, the audience will be invited to ask questions, so be sure to brush up beforehand on the adventures of Denny Colt, Sand Saref, The Octopus, and more! 2:45-3:45 - Batman Day It's Batman Day and we're celebrating! Join DC's VP of Talent Development Bobbie Chase and a stellar lineup of creators who chronicle the adventures of the Dark Knight, his allies, and his foes; including Scott Snyder, Peter Tomasi, Greg Pak, Jimmy Palmiotti, Tom King, and James Tynion IV. This is one panel you don't want to miss! 4:00-5:00 - Spotlight on Miracleman Miracleman is back! The legendary series that redefined super-heroes forever has returned at Marvel Comics. Join artists Mark Buckingham, John Totleben, and editor Cory Sedlmeier for a discussion of the acclaimed and controversial series. Featuring an advance preview of art from Neil Gaiman and Mark Buckingham's upcoming storyline, "The Silver Age." 5:15-6:15 - BOOM! Studios Celebrates 10 Years and Push Comics Forward 2015 marks the 10th year of publishing for BOOM! Studios, a multiple Eisner award-winning top 10 comic publisher. Rather than look back at what we achieved the past 10 years, join us as we look ahead to the next 10 years and how we can all push comics forward. Moderated by BOOM! President of Publishing and Marketing , Filip Sablik, join Mark Waid (Irredeemable), J.G. Jones (Wanted), James Tynion IV (The Woods), Brian Stelfreeze (Day Men), Brooke A. Allen (Lumberjanes), and BOOM! editor Dafna Pleban as they highlight the changes in the industry and what they want to see in comics.

Room 343-344 11:00-12:00 - IDW: The Masters Series: Walter Simonson Join industry legend Walter Simonson, for the first in a series of special in-depth panels exploring artists and the art they love! Ever been curious about who influenced the best artists in the business? Of course you have! IDW President Greg Goldstein moderates this unique one-on-one panel. Sure to be a spirited discussion about old influences, new impressions, and maybe even a sneak-peek at some of new work! Come early and stay late - Walter will share his great tales of the comic world, and hopefully will have time for a little Q&A at the end as well! 12:15-1:15 - 25 Years of Valiant: Book of Death and Beyond Celebrate 25 years of the largest independent universe in comics with an all-star panel spotlighting the next earth-shaking changes coming for Valiant's biggest heroes! From the epic events of BOOK OF DEATH and WRATH OF THE ETERNAL WARRIOR to seismic changes for X-O MANOWAR, BLOODSHOT REBORN, THE DEATH-DEFYING DR. MIRAGE, DIVINITY, and many more, get the jump on the future of the Valiant Universe right here with an exclusive round of news and announcements from the most acclaimed publisher in comics today! 1:30-2:30 - Comics Creators Consuming Coffee: Baltimore Edition Watch popular comics creators as they sample the world's strongest coffee while chatting about their favorite foods and comics. Featuring: Amy Chu (writer Poison Ivy, editor of the Food & Comics anthology), Greg Pak (Marvel/DC Storm, Amadeus Cho), Heidi MacDonald (The Beat, Publishers Weekly), and Rafer Roberts (Nightmare the Rat). 2:45-3:45 - Jules Feiffer Spotlight Jules Feiffer is an award-winning cartoonist, a playwright, a screenwriter, and so much more. His book Kill My Mother: A Graphic Novel was published last year and Out of Line: The Art of Jules Feiffer was published earlier this year. This spotlight is a perfect opportunity for fans of Mr. Feiffer to hear him speak about his work. Don't miss out! Moderated by Michael Cavna (Comic Riffs) of The Washington Post. 4:00-5:00 - Let's Talk Comics with RAYTIMANDROB: Part Deux Those CRAZY comic book guys are back! Join Raytimandrob as they continue the discussion on all things comics. Part 2 picks up where we left off, expanding on both the creative and business sides of comics. Come be a part of the RayTimandRob experience! 5:15-6:15 - Charles Soule Spotlight He killed Wolverine. He gave Guy Gardner a sweet 'stache. He Swamp Thinged and She-Hulked and Superman-Wonderwomaned. He is currently Landoing, Civil Warring, Inhumaning, and Letter 44ing, and will soon Daredevil. He is the comics writer Charles Soule! See him face off against moderator Ryan Browne (God Hates Astronauts) in a no-holds battle to the finish (of talking about his work).

Room 345-346 11:00-12:00 - Cosplay 101 Who should you cosplay? How do you put a costume together? What about props? What should you know your first time out on the con floor as a cosplayer? Come learn about how to get started, how to put your costume together, and some great tips for strutting your stuff from some cosplay veterans. 12:15-1:15 - It's an Ad, Ad, Ad World -- Advertising in Comics From SeaMonkeys to "The Insult that Made a Man Out of Mac" to TNT's The Last Ship, ads have been an integral part of the comic reading experience. But are they a speed bump in the entertainment process or an integral part of comics and Pop Culture? Moderator Ed Catto (Bonfire Agency, Captain Action) takes a brief backwards glance at nostalgic comic ads, and then focuses on the future of comic advertising with an all-star panel of business professionals. 1:30-2:30 - Russ Heath Spotlight If you remember Roman or Revolutionary War battle scenes in comics advertising toy soldiers, then you know the art of Russ Heath! He's drawn westerns, superheroes, horror, and most famously, war stories. He co-created DC's The Haunted Tank and Sea Devils. Now the legendary creator joins us for a spotlight panel looking at his amazing career!   2:45-3:45 - CBLDF Podcast Live The industry's top creators, editors, and publishers sit down with CBLDF for a live, long-form interview about the importance of Free Speech in comics, and protecting your right to read and create comics! Moderated by Alex Cox and featuring surprise guest stars from the world of comics. 4:00-5:00 - Listen to Jimmy This is an over-16 only, over-the-top panel where Jimmy Palmiotti, Frank Tieri, and super-special surprise guests interact with the audience and talk about everything and anything and probably break some laws in the process. You do not want to miss this. 5:15-6:15 - The Silver Age of Comic Book Art Comic book art historian Arlen Schumer's presentation based on his new book, The Silver Age of Comic Book Art (Archway Publishing), explores the origins of the superhero traditions, their personification of American ideals and values, and how those attitudes and portrayals changed during the turbulent 1960s, through the works of the eight artists in the book-Carmine Infantino, Steve Ditko, Jack Kirby, Gil Kane, Joe Kubert, Gene Colan, Jim Steranko, and Neal Adams. You'll not only see where Hollywood's love affair with superhero movies comes from-you'll see comics like you've never seen them before!

Room 347-348 11:00-12:00 - Writing Great Characters Do you really have to write what you know? Join this panel to hear how scribes write characters that differ from their everyday life experiences. Join moderator Christy Blanch with guests Louise Simonson, Amy Chu, Thom Zahler, Mark Waid, Terry Moore, and Jamal Igle. 12:15-1:15 - Superheroes Under a Microscope AtomicUniverse.org's very own Christopher Preece, who is also a science consultant for comic creators, and creators Mark Waid and Ramona Fradon discuss science in comics. Superheroes defy scientific laws all the time but how close are superheroes to reality? Just how fast can the Flash go? How can Ant-Man get so tiny? 1:30-2:30 - Drawing Fantasy Worlds What goes into making a fantasy world? How do you set it apart from every other fantasy world from literature and comics? How do you give the writer exactly what he envisions? Take a journey into the realm of the fantastic with Mark Buckingham, Mike Grell, Charles Vess, Brandon Peterson, and moderator Robert Greenberger. 2:45-3:45 - Action Lab On the eve of their fifth anniversary, Action Lab shows no signs of stopping! Join Jamal Igle (Molly Danger), Vito Delsante (Stray), and more as they talk about all the things "the Lab" has planned for 2016, including more Full Moon Productions comics, more all-ages titles, and the debut of the Actionverse! 4:00-5:00 - Mark Waid: Guest of Honor Spotlight Mark Waid is the Guest of Honor at Baltimore Comic-Con this year and we're celebrating! Join Waid and his friends and colleagues, including Barry Kitson, JG Jones, Christy Blanch, Dean Haspiel, Todd Dezago, and moderator Bob Greenberger for a fun-filled look at Mark and his work! 5:15-6:15 - A Look at Digital Comics It's a Digital Age - explore the magic, craft, and business of digital comics as we look at this ever-changing and expanding edge of the comics medium and industry! Join guests Matthew Dow Smith, Jamal Igle, and others with moderator C. Edward Sellner for a look at the new age of comics.

Ballroom (4th Floor) 11:00-12:00 - The World of Lantern City Lantern City is an exciting, new steampunk comic series just launched by Archaia and Macrocosm Entertainment, featuring wondrous settings, engaging characters, and of course, some great costumes. Come explore the development of the series and see exclusive behind-the-scenes content with co-creator Matthew James Daley, actor Raphael Sbarge (Once Upon a Time), and BOOM! editor Dafna Pleban, and learn what's new with the development of the proposed television series. Moderated by BOOM! Studios President of Publishing & Marketing Filip Sablik. 12:15-1:15 - Paul Blackthorne Spotlight Paul Blackthorne plays Captain Quentin Lance on Arrow and is known to many as Harry Dresden from The Dresden Files. Join Mr. Blackthorne and moderator Paul Storrie for what is sure to be a fun and lively look at his career! 1:30-2:30 - Ming-Na Wen Spotlight As Agent May on Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Ming-Na Wen kicks butt and takes no prisoners. Do you expect her panel to be any different? Of course not! Don't miss out on the fun! 3:00 - Costume Contest (Adults)

Kids Love Comics Pavilion Workshop Area 11:00-12:00 - Learn to Draw Owly and Everything Else! with Andy Runton Andy Runton, creator of the award-winning Owly series, teaches you how to pencil and ink your drawings. Open to kids, parents, and anyone who wants to learn how the professionals draw comics! 12:00-1:00 - Pixel Portraits with Tim Fielder Pixel Portraits: A Digital Storytelling Workshop, by the creator of Matty's Rocket, showcases his storyboarding process of panel to panel techniques for comics, animation, and film. 1:00-2:00 - Create Your Own Superhero Symbol with Carolyn Belefski Every hero needs a logo! Many superheroes have personal branding on their outfits and My Little Pony characters even have cutie marks! Join artist and designer Carolyn Belefski and learn how to incorporate graphic design elements to create an icon and establish your own powerful visual identity. 2:00-3:00 - Light Saber Training with Jedi Master Jongal Learn the ancient techniques of the light saber in this fun and safe workshop lead by Jedi Master Jongal of the Dagobah system. 3:00-4:00 - Alien Art with Dawn Griffin and Steve Conley Dawn and Steve draw fun comics about aliens. In this workshop, you'll meet Dawn and Steve, learn how they create their comics, and draw your own wacky alien! 4:00-5:00 -  Superhero University (OPEN TO THE FIRST 40 KIDS) You won't be able to fly and it won't give you super powers, but you will learn all the ins and outs of superheroics from the industry's top professors. PLUS, you'll have fun making your own cape and superhero mask! Come to this workshop as a kid, leave as a superhero! 5:00-6:00 - PIC-DRAW! with Dave Roman Dave Roman, creator of Astronaut Academy, hosts this fun, improvised drawing game that combines as many awesome things as a single piece of paper can handle! 6:00-7:00 - Creating Comic Strips with Ben Taylor and Chris Otto Do you have a funny idea for a comic strip? Chris Otto and Ben Taylor are the minds behind the popular webcomic, A Dog's Life. They'll share their insight on writing and drawing comic strips. Working with ideas from the audience, Chris and Ben will create a brand new comic strip.

Sunday (Please note, all times and panels shown are subject to change) Room 339-342 11:00-12:00 - Scott Snyder Spotlight Scott Snyder is known to readers for his stunning writing on Batman, American Vampire, Superman Unchained, Wytches, and many other comics. We turn the spotlight on Synder and his work in this entertaining panel moderated by James Tynion IV. 12:15-1:15 - The 75th Anniversary of The Spirit 2015 marks the 75th Anniversary of the legendary cartoonist Will Eisner's immortal character, The Spirit (June 1940). Join Arlen Schumer, writer/illustrator/designer and comic book historian (The Silver Age of Comic Book Art, Archway Publishing), as he presents a Master's Class on Eisner using The Spirit as its primer: a retrospective overview of Eisner's magnum opus, and all of its revolutionary graphic tropes and storytelling techniques-character design, staging, lighting, lettering, and panel and page design-that make Eisner the D. W. Griffith of comic book art! 1:30-2:30 - The Fifth Beatle: Exclusive Film Presentation! The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story was the most celebrated graphic novel of 2014, and is now becoming a feature film with the blessing of The Beatles and unprecedented access to their music. Join award-winning graphic novel and screenplay writer Vivek J. Tiwary as he presents never-before-seen scenes from the screenplay and discusses how the film will differ from the book. Moderated by Patrick Reed (ComicsAlliance, Depth Of Field). 2:45-3:45 - Tom Palmer Spotlight Award winning artist Tom Palmer is one of comics' greats. Considered by many to the best inker in the industry, his work with Neal Adams, Gene Colan, and John Buscema remains unsurpassed. He is also a distinguished penciller, painter, and colorist. Join Mr. Palmer and Jose Villarrubia, artist and chair of MICA's Illustration Department, as they look at Palmer's amazing career.

Room 343-344 11:00-12:00 - Talkin' About Marvel Want to know about your favorite Marvel hero? Ever wonder what an editor does? Curious about what working in comics is really like? Then join Marvel's Senior Vice President of Publishing Tom Brevoort for this panel where he'll be talkin' about Marvel. 12:15-1:15 - How to Make a Graphic Novel So how do you go from doodling on your homework to breaking into graphic novels? Published YA author and trained art educator Laura Lee Gulledge (MA Art Ed) walks you through her process in this inspiring and informative presentation. She dishes out her favorite Artner Advice for the writing and drawing process, and takes you behind-the-scenes of how to make a book from initial script to final inking. 1:30-2:30 - Flying High with Hang Dai Studios Brooklyn, New York's premiere comix studio, Hang Dai, houses a unique posse of cutting edge cartoonists which include Gregory Benton (B+F), Dean Haspiel (Billy Dogma, The Fox), the late Seth Kushner (Schmuck), Christa Cassano (Ghetto Klown), Swifty Lang (Plunder), Vito Delsante (Stray), and Chris Miskiewicz (Thomas Alsop). Moderated by Bleeding Cool's Hannah Means-Shannon, the studio will read from their Hang Dai Editions imprint debuts: SMOKE, BEEF WITH TOMATO, and SCHMUCK, and discuss their studio origins, where they are now, and where they're going next. 2:45-3:45 - Boys and their Toys - Fifty Years of Action Figures Ed Catto celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Captain Action, the first superhero toy, with a line-up of Action Figure experts in a panel that will celebrate toys, upcoming toys, collecting, entrepreneurs, and even a little nostalgia.

Room 345-346 11:00-12:00 - The Comic Shop Ever wonder what it's like to run your own comic shop? Do you think it's sitting around reading comics all day while getting paid? Join comic shop retailers and learn more about the comic shop business than you probably wanted to know! Moderated by Christy Blanch with guests Kyle Roberts, Mark Waid, and others. 12:15-1:15 - The Weird West The Wild West - cowboys, rustlers, train robberies. It's the stuff of legend. But add in a horrifically scarred gunman, something moving in the shadows, things that won't stay dead, or just a healthy dollop of magic, and you've entered the Weird West! Join Timothy Truman, John Ostrander, Greg Pak, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Jimmy Palmiotti, and moderator C. Edward Sellner and explore a west beyond your imagination! 1:30-2:30 - Indie Comics 101 Learn the ins and outs of starting your own comic company from industry pros. Follow them as they take you though printing to distribution. Hosted by Creature Entertainment's Editor-in-chief Juan Navarro.

Room 347-348 11:00-12:00 - Techniques for Affordable Cosplay You know the classic advice: choose simple costumes, bargain hunt, stack coupons at JoAnn Fabrics. Even with all these tricks, it can be hard to put something together on a budget! Let's talk about some of the more creative ideas and techniques to put your cosplay together affordably. 12:15-1:15 - Making Comics for Everyone An all-star panel of writers and artists talk about the power of comics, and how they work to reach new readers and make stories for all audiences. Featuring: Amy Chu (Poison Ivy, Wonder Woman, DMC Comics), Vivek J. Tiwary (The Fifth Beatle), Clayton Henry (Ivar Timewalker), and Laura Martin (Secret Wars, A-Force, Star Wars). 1:30-2:30 - Comic Books as Cultural Mirrors This panel will look at the 75 year history of comic books with a particular focus on the relationship between comics and their historical, cultural, and political contexts. Moderated by Christy Blanch with special guests Mark Waid, Walter Simonson, and Louise Simonson. 2:45-3:45 - "Heroes Helping Heroes" Presents the Dynamic Movement of Comic Book Cosplaying to Strengthen our Sense of Self and Community Join us to remember Baltimore's Batman and learn how costuming groups like Justice League Mid-Atlantic, East Coast Avengers, and others serve our community, and how you can cosplay more often and make a significant difference in your life and that of others! Listen to our members' stories; see them in action on the big screen; learn how you can join in; and participate in a Q&A session to satisfy your curiosity.

Ballroom (4th Floor) 12:00-1:00 - Katie Cassidy Spotlight Katie Cassidy is known to Arrow fans as Laurel Lance, an attorney and ex-girlfriend of Oliver Queen, who becomes Black Canary! Don't miss this spotlight panel as Ms. Cassidy looks at both her time as an actor and a philanthropist. It'll be a scream! 1:00-2:00 - Edward James Olmos Spotlight Edward James Olmos has played Gaff in Blade Runner, Admiral Adama in Battlestar Galactica, Robert Gonzales on Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., as well as many other roles in his distinguished career. Join Mr. Olmos for an exciting panel exploring his time in front of the camera! 2:30 - Costume Contest (Kids)

Kids Love Comics Pavilion Workshop Area 11:00-12:00 - Jumpin' Jamie's Musical Madness Jumpin' Jamie plays "kindie rock" for all ages! He has played everything from birthday parties for a crowd of 12, to a stadium for a crowd of 12,000, and everything in between. Your toes will tap and your hands will clap as you enjoy his energetic and interactive performance. 12:00-1:00 - Doodle! Scribble! Draw! hosted by Mark Mariano Dani Jones and Ted Tucker vs. Rich Clabaugh and Jacob Chabot  Join in a frenetic game where you and professional comic artists pit your scribbles against one another in a series of improvisational drawing quests. Do you have the courage to doodle silly things for a crowd? And will the crowd have the imagination necessary to help the teams complete the quests and win the Doodle Scribble Draw championship belts? 1:00-2:00 - Families Make Comics! with Franco and Nicolas Aureliani, and John, Katie, Will, and Jack Gallagher Families that make comics together laugh and learn together. The Aurelianis created several Aw Yeah Comics stories together. Katie and her dad, John Gallagher, created Zoey & Ketchup. John also worked with his sons, Will and Jack, to create E.P.I.C. Bros. Discover some tricks and tips on making comics with your family. 2:00-3:00 - A Piggy's Tale Comic Reading and Drawing! with Piggy and Tod Emko Join Tod Emko for a live reading of A Piggy's Tale, the universally loved all-ages comic. Piggy the Three-Legged Super Pup will be present to greet his public and model as the audience draws the heroic canine. If Piggy likes the drawing, the child will receive the first issue of A Piggy's Tale! All participants will have their photos taken with their drawings for the piggytale.com website. 3:00-4:00 - Meowsers with Power with Mike Maihack Mike Maihack, the creator of Cleopatra in Space, leads this fun feline frenzy workshop. Mike will draw cats as superheroes using ideas from the crowd. So sharpen your pencils, sharpen your wits, and see how many superhero cats you can draw! 4:00-5:00 -  Groove is in the Art with Mark Mariano and Chris O>Matic The forecast is calling for a Jam Drawing with chances of Dance Outbursts in this exciting art experiment. Music can make us happy, make us cry, and invoke childhood memories, but what kind of drawings will it inspire? YOU can draw alongside a bunch of guest artists with DJ Chris O>Matic spinning the tunes.

TICKETS

General Admission and VIP Package tickets for Weekend, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, as well as the Harvey Awards, are now on sale! Visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com/tickets/ for more information and to purchase your advanced tickets now, and as always, kids 10 and under get into the show free with a paid adult General Admission!

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS

While they are available, be sure to take advantage of discount rate arrangements we have made with hotels near the Baltimore Convention Center. For all the details, see:

http://baltimorecomiccon.com/about/hotels/

   

In the coming weeks, look for more announcements from the Baltimore Comic-Con. We are looking forward to highlighting our guests, the Harvey Awards, industry exclusives, and programming. The latest developments can always be found on our website, Twitter, and Facebook pages.

Contact Information

Please use the following e-mail addresses to contact the Baltimore Comic-Con:

press@baltimorecomiccon.com - for any general press inquiries or to be added to our PR distribution

promoter@baltimorecomiccon.com - for requesting exhibitor, publisher, and Artist Alley applications

registrar@baltimorecomiccon.com - for inquiries about submitted registrations

harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com- for the Harvey Awards ceremony and banquet

general@baltimorecomiccon.com- for general Baltimore Comic-Con inquiries

About The Baltimore Comic-Con

The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 16th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com.

About The Harvey Awards
The Harvey Awards are one of the comic book industry's oldest and most respected awards. With a history of over 20 years, the last 10 in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con, the Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories. They are the only industry awards nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. For more information, please visit www.harveyawards.org.