I don’t know about you but when I first started reading over the Thursday schedule I got a little overwhelmed. In years past it’s felt like Thursday was meant to help ease us into the weekend but this year it’s jam packed with awesome panels.
If you’re a fan of television then you’re in luck. While a lot of the heavier hitters have staked out panels on Friday and Saturday there’s still some big names hitting the stage on Thursday. The Strain, Legion, and Marvel’s latest cable series Inhumans will all be in Ballroom 20 while Teen Wolf, 20th Century Fox, and Netflix are hitting Hall H.
20th Century Fox is bringing Kingsman and Netflix’s film-specific panel will be focusing on Bright and their new Death Note live-action adaptation. Even the Indigo Ballroom at the Hilton Bayfront should be a lot fun with Stitchers, Shadowhunters, Colony, and a few SyFy exclusives rounding out the day’s programming.
But there are tons of others great panels to check out!
The 5th Annual Musical Anatomy of a Superhero
10:00 AM – 11:00 PM @ Indigo Ballroom (Hilton Bayfront)
Music is a critical part of any film or television series and this panel focuses specifically on those focused around superheroes. A panel of awesome composers including Mark Isham, Marco Beltrami, Bryan Tyler, David Russo, Ludwig Göransson, and Lorne Balfe will be talking about their work on films like Logan, Black Panther, the LEGO Batman Movie, and more. It should be a great panel – and it sounds like there are going to be giveaways during the panel!
Cosplay 101
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM @ Grand 1 & 2 (Marriott Marquis)
Ever felt like getting in on the cosplay fun? I know I have – but I’m utterly hopeless when it comes to costuming. That’s okay, though. This introductory panel is meant to help newbies understand the basics of cosplay. And if you enjoy this panel there are tons of other cosplay panels scheduled for the rest of the weekend.
IDW Publishing: Focus on Graphic Novels
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM @ Room 28DE
At its core, SDCC was always meant to be about the comics. And IDW Publishing kicks off a series of great panels by publishers highlighting their titles. IDW has some pretty great books including a brand new Clue series that critics are loving, as well as a number of Star Trek comics and the new Wynonna Earp series. They’ll also be discussing titles from imprint Top Shelf – the home of the award-winning March trilogy, among others. Check it out and find yourself some new comics to read!
DC All Access
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM @ Room 6DE
Unfortunately, the DC All Access panel is set at the same time as the IDW panel. So if you’re more of a fan of the big name publishers you’ll want to check out this panel. It’s less specific than some of the other panels DC has planned throughout the weekend, so it’s a great place for new and old fans to hear the basics and learn what DC has up their sleeves for the near future. I’ve attended a few of these panels at WonderCon and SDCC over the past few years and they are excellent. Plus they usually give shout outs to the other DC panels coming up later on during the convention.
SYFY Hosts the Great Debate
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM @ Ballroom 20
Adam Savage, Orlando Jones, Aisha Tyler, and John Barrowman arguing about pop culture? Uh, sign me up! SYFY has some really great events planned for the weekend and they’re not just focusing on their own series. The Great Debate panel promises a lot of good-natured fun with some great audience participation. Considering the other panels that come after – including the SYFY sponsored BSG reunion – you may want to get there early because it might fill up fast.
Image Comics: Creating the Future of Comics
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM @ Room 23ABC
There’s no hiding the fact that Image Comics is one of our favorite publishers. I could read pretty much anything and everything they put out. This panel features Gail Simone, Skottie Young, Doug Wagner, and Cat Staggs as they talk about what it takes to make a great comic book series. These are folks at the top of their game – and you’ll want to hear what they have to say. It promises to be an awesome panel for Image fans!
DC Universe Original Movies 10th Anniversary
2:15 PM – 3:15 PM @ Room 6BCF
While the DCTV shows are fun and the DC movie universe is getting better, the animated films have been killing it for years. DC is planning to release all of their interconnected movies from the past decade and to celebrate they are hosting a panel full of writers, producers, and actors. They’ll be discussing all the films from the past and likely some of the new films still to come. Plus there will be giveaways!
SYFY: Battlestar Galactic Reunion
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM @ Ballroom 20
Syfy’s BSG remake was one of the best science fiction series on television for years. It inspired a resurgence in science fiction television and it’s hard to believe it ended a good eight years ago. The showrunners and cast members will be getting together in Ballroom 20 to discuss the series with each other and attendees. It’s a must-see for BSG fans!
Robert Kirkman: In Conversation
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM @ Room 6A
You’ll be hard pressed to find a more influential comic book creator than Robert Kirkman. The Walking Dead and it’s subsequent televison series and spin-off helped encourage networks to give comic-based series a chance. With hits like The Walking Dead, Invincible, and Outcast to his name – all of which now have either been adapted or have adaptations in the works – he’s a creative force to be reckoned with. Check out this panel which should be great for Kirkman fans!
NBC’s Timeless: Fan Tribute Celebration
3:40 PM – 4:30 PM @ Room 6BCF
I didn’t intend to put a whole lot of television panels on this list because those are easy to find when perusing the schedule. But the Timeless fans deserve a special shoutout. Their determination helped take the show from cancelled to renewed in an incredibly short period of time. The cast and showrunners will be on hand to talk about the series and undoubtedly thank the fans for their hard work and dedication!
Marvel: Next Big Thing
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM @ Room 5AB
Wondering what’s next for Marvel? This is the panel for you, then. Axel Alonso, Nick Lowe, and Sana Amanat, along with Cullen Bunn and Margaret Stohl (two of our favorite writers) will be discussing what’s next for Marvel comics. While the panel seems focused primarily on the superheroic – Cullen is also working on the new Darth Maul comic so Star Wars fans may learn something cool, too!
The Forgotten Trio: Letterers, Inkers, and Colorists
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM @ Room 9
Everyone knows the names of the writers and artists working on comics. But what about the rest of the people whose work is indispensable? This panel focuses on the letterers, inkers, and colorists whose unique touch can help give a book it’s iconic look. These are the folks who’s work goes unnoticed — and it’s time to change that. This is a must-see panel for any fan of comic books. It’s time to learn more about what these folks do and how we as readers can appreciate it!
The Nerdist Panel with Chris Hardwick
4:45 PM – 5:45 PM @ Hall H
Chris Hardwick is back for the annual SDCC Nerdist Panel. Always a lot of fun, the panel brings together a number Nerdist bigwigs for an entertaining discussion on pop culture, the Nerdist, and more. This one is in Hall H for a reason, folks. It’s popular! Since it comes relatively late in the day for Hall H, you’ll hopefully have a good chance of walking in as the Teen Wolf crowd heads out.
IGN’s Game Changers: Nerds Win. What’s Next?
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM @ Room 7AB
This might be the best panel on Thursday. At the very least it’s the most underrated. Geoff Johns, Hideo Kojima, Gale Anne Hurd, and Carlton Cuse are all going to be in attendance on the same panel. How awesome is that? They’ll be talking about all the latest trends in pop culture and where they think things will go in the future. These are some awesome folks talking about some awesome stuff – and you won’t want to miss it!
The fun isn’t just confined to the convention center on Thursday and once you’ve checked out these panels you’ll want to head to some of the great off-site events planned that evening!
The annual Her Universe Fashion Show is going to be held at the Manchester Grand Hyatt beginning at 6 PM. Once you’re done, if you’re lucky enough to get a ticket, you can check out Netflix’s as-of-yet unannounced ‘surprise screening’ at 10 PM at the Horton Grand Theatre. They’ll be premiering either Bright or Death Note – and our money is on Bright since they’ll be featured on a panel Thursday and also filming an appearance on Conan that afternoon.
If you’re in the mood for a party that night, you’re in luck. Syfy and the Nerd Machine are teaming up for a fan party at the New Children’s Museum. There’s also a free Gunslinger-inspired party at the Tipsy Crow which has been decked out temporarily as the ‘Dixie Pig.’ And BOOM! Studios (in connection with 20th Century Fox) will be having their annual Drunk Up! party at the Odysea Bar in the Hilton Bayfront. Come early and BOOM! Studios will buy you your first drink free!
I’m telling you guys – Thursday at SDCC is the new Friday! There’s so much to do and so much fun to be had.
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