The 2008 San Diego Comic-Con is underway even as we speak at the San Diego Convention Center, and Asian and Asian American comic book creators are everywhere. Just a few items to note on the schedule over the next few days:
Friday, July 25
12:30-1:30 Spotlight on Jim Lee: The Art of DC Universe Online (DCUO)
Jim Lee (All Star Batman and Robin, The Boy Wonder, Batman: Hush, Superman: For Tomorrow) and Carlos D'Anda (Brass, WildC.A.T.S, Bionicle, The Outsiders, JLA: Classified, Deathblow) of WildStorm Productions fame join with Chris Cao, Jared Carr and Jason Smith of Sony Online Entertainment's DC Universe Online game development team to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities faced in adapting the rich comic book art of the DC Universe to a 3D game world and delivering the same emotional impact online as the brand evokes in its other mediums; moderated by Mat Broome (Batman: No Man's Land, WildC.A.T.S) Room 6B
3:00-4:00 Spotlight on Lynda Barry
Iconic alt-cartoonist and Comic-Con special guest Lynda Barry is the author of the recently released -- to much acclaim -- graphic-how-to-memoir, What It Is. Barry has been at the forefront of alternative comics since Matt Groening published her first comics while they were both students in college. This presentation takes an inside look at Barry's creative energy, genius, and approach to making art. "The ordinary is extraordinary" in Barry's world, and everyone can write and be creative -- we just have to ask ourselves the right questions. Have your pencils ready and your mind prepared to be blown with this once in a lifetime chance to meet the! Lynda! Barry!, creator of Ernie Pook's Comeek, One! Hundred! Demons! and The! Greatest! of! Marlys!. Room 7AB
8:30 pm - Eisner Awards ceremony.
Click here for a list of Asian American nominees.
Saturday, July 26
1:15-2:00 Spotlight on Tite Kubo
VIZ Media welcomes prolific manga (graphic novel) creator Tite Kubo for a series of rare in-person appearance. Mr. Kubo is the creator of the wildly successful manga series Bleach and ZOMBIEPOWDER. Both series are published domestically by VIZ Media, and Bleach is currently serialized in Shonen Jump. This is the first time the artist will appear at a North American convention. Mr. Kubo, along with his editor, Mr. Atsushi Nakasaki, will provide insight regarding his past, current, and future projects. Room 7AB
Tomine Saturday 5:30
5:30-6:30 Spotlight on Adrian Tomine
New Yorker illustrator and Optic Nerve cartoonist Adrian Tomine is the author of one of 2007's most critically lauded graphic novels, Shortcomings. For this Spotlight, Tomine will be interviewed by the first editor ever to give him an actual paying gig, Marc Weidenbaum, editor-in-chief of magazines at VIZ Media. The two will discuss what it was about the then UC Berkeley student's comic that attracted Weidenbaum to offer him a regular spot in Tower Records' Pulse magazine and how Tomine has matured over the last decade to become one of North America's leading literary cartoonists. Room 10
Sunday, July 27
2:45-3:45 Virgin Comics: Grant Morrison and Deepak Chopra: The Spirit of the Superhero
The tradition continues! As Virgin Comics gears up to launch the new animated on-line series MBX, series writer Grant Morrison (New X-Men, Superman, Final Crisis) once again teams with best-selling author and Virgin Comics co-founder Deepak Chopra (The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment) to talk...superheroes! Join the ongoing conversation investigating the id, ego, superego, and spirituality of the superhero -- we're talking social theory with sound effects, four colors fused with existentialism. Two of the greatest minds of comics and culture talking comics and culture -- this is not to be missed! Ballroom 20
Also, check out the list of Artists Alley participants -- including Jim Lee, Ron Lim, David Nakayama, Dustin Nguyen, Christina Strain, and many others!
And click here for Greg Pak's panel and signing schedule.
