Comic-Con International has brought Comic-Con into everyone’s homes this year, giving attendees the perfect opportunity to customize their convention experience! There’s no need to choose between Hall H or Ballroom 20 panels happening at the same time this year because most panels will be available after the convention is over! We’ve put together a list of Comic-Con@Home history panel highlights. Delve into the history of some beloved franchises and look at the actual history of how certain cultures have been depicted throughout time. The history of exclusive Comic-Con action figures looks especially interesting for fanatics who are missing out on their Lego mini-figs this year!
If you’re totally lost, check out our Comic-Con@Home Schedule FAQs article right here. If you’re ready to dig further into the panels on offer this year, keep reading to see some of the panels we’re most excited about!
Wednesday
GeekED: Re-storied: Re-imagining creative privilege • 3:00pm – 4:00pm
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/wo5ukr8575s
History is a story told by the victors: until it’s not. The story landscape is changing. There is more space in the narrative world for stories both by and about people with diverse experiences. Join our lively panel debate to see how that re-storying is emerging; in academic institutions, in live performance, in digital experiences, and in a proliferation of creative tools that empower people to tell their stories.
Thursday
All the Starfleet Ladies: Then and Now • 12:00pm – 1:00pm
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/Bn8F0BDks_g
From Uhura to Janeway to Burnham, Star Trek has a rich history of portraying complex, powerful female-identifying characters. How do Star Trek authors perceive their role in continuing this legacy in their Star Trek novels? Join Una McCormack (author of Picard: The Last Best Hope), Swapna Krishna (space, tech, and pop culture journalist), author Cassandra Rose Clarke, LJ Jackson (publicity manager at Saga Press), and moderator Kendra James (editor at StarTrek.com), as they examine the ladies of Star Trek from its inception to the present.
75th Anniversary of Moomin Appreciation • 12:00pm – 1:00pm
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/8gR1bBmvgrs
Moomins are beloved around the world, these famous characters were created by Swedish-speaking Finnish writer and artist Tove Jansson. Despite leaving us in 2001, her legacy leaves behind a Moomin Museum, Moomin theme parks, (both in her native country of Finland, and one in Japan), countless other ways to experience the joy of her creations: films, comic strips, picture books, and a brand new TV 2019 series featuring the voices of Academy Award-winning Kate Winslet, Taron Egerton, Warwick Davis, and Rosamund Pike. Join Marika Makaroff (executive producer of 2019 Moominvalley animated series and CEO of Gutsy Animation), Riika Kuittenen (museum curator for the Moomin Museum), Sirke Happonen (associate professor of the University of Helsinki; author The Moomin Guide/ Muumiopas (Finnish), National Museum of Finland), and Jessica Tseang (comic book historian, pop culture speaker) as they explore 75 years of history of Moomin and the secret to the franchise’s longevity. ©MoominCharacters’ are copyrighted by Moomin Character Oy LTD and are globally registered trademarks. All clips used with permission by Gutsy Animation.
Friday
Reclaiming Indigenous History and Culture Through Comics • 10:00am – 11:00am
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/EKnEeODyCo8
For hundreds of years, the history of the indigenous peoples of the Americas has been told by everyone but themselves, by people who often diminished and distorted it, and even suppressed their cultures and languages. Thankfully, this situation is changing, with indigenous peoples increasingly reclaiming their history, languages, and cultures. Comics and such visual technologies as augmented and virtual reality are ideal tools being used to accomplish this. Join our panelists Johnny Bear Contreras (Kumeyaay, public artist), Kilma Lattin (Pala Band, founder of OurWorlds.io), and Chag Lowry (Yurok/Maidu/Achumawi, graphic novelist) as they discuss their projects to reclaim indigenous history and culture.
History Goes Graphic • 12:00pm – 1:00pm
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/SSf-rAJR85Q
Authors behind graphic adaptations of cultural pasttimes, historical figures, social justice movements, and autobiographies discuss their process. How does one adapt “real life” into a comic format? How is it different from fiction? In what way must art stick to (or differ from) “authenticity”? Featuring Fred Van Lente (The Comic Book Story of Basketball), Tom Scioli (Jack Kirby), David F. Walker (The Life of Frederick Douglass), Mikki Kendall (Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists), and Malaka Gharib (I Was Their American Dream), moderated by Ten Speed Press associate editorial director Kaitlin Ketchum.
Saturday
Warner Archive’s Secret Origins of Saturday Morning Cartoons • 10:00am – 11:00am
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/6b6mpfiYTFI
Dip behind the curtain to reveal the beginnings of the beloved tradition of Saturday Morning cartoons with movie historian, author and TV personality Leonard Maltin (Entertainment Tonight), animation historian and author Jerry Beck (Animation Scoop), Warner Archive Home Entertainment senior vice president of theatre catalog marketing George Feltenstein, and the Warner Archive Podcast team of D.W. Ferranti and Matthew Patterson. The panelists will offer a grand history of the evolution of animation–from silver screen shorts to full-fledged television cartoons–with glimpses along the way of Tex Avery, Popeye, and Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies, as well as Space Ghost and DinoBoy, Jonny Quest, Lippy the Lion, and more! Accomplished author, NBC/MSNBC political analyst and SiriusXM on-air host and director of progressive programming Zerlina Maxwell (The End of White Politics) will moderate the proceedings.
20 Years of DeviantArt: An Oral History • 4:00pm – 5:00pm
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/0Ot6Dic1DPk
Angelo Sotira (co-founder and CEO), Justin Maller (CCO), Andrew McCann (co-founder), and Danielle McKay (director of community relations) dive into the 20-year history of the art community and social media network. Tune in for a discussion of DeviantArt’s place in the early culture of the internet, creating an online home for artists, and how the site handles change. Angelo Sotira (https://www.deviantart.com/spyed) Justin Maller (https://www.deviantart.com/ekud) Andrew McCann (https://www.deviantart.com/mccann) Danielle McKay (https://www.deviantart.com/moonbeam13)
How Do Ya Figure: A History of Comic Con Exclusive Action Figures • 4:00pm – 5:00pm
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/-36hMQvK534
Comic-Con has been home to some of the greatest action figures of all time, and every year fans try their hardest to get the toy they need. However, the history and checklists for these are sometimes tougher to find than the figures themselves. Blake Schultz (Hollywood Already Did It) and Justin Donaldson (Tournament of Nerds) explore the history of SDCC exclusive figures along with their guests: Randy Falk (NECA), Bill Miekina (Mattel), and Rocom (Hasbro) to discuss their time creating toys for comic-con, and how it has changed over the years.
Mexican Lucha Libre: History, Tradition, Legacy • 5:00pm – 6:00pm
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/Ho2V_SnuPi0
This panel will focus on the history, living legacy and future of Mexican Lucha Libre, a free-form wrestling, famous for its dramatic and colorful display of masks and characters. Lucha Libre has inspired many manifestations, having a huge impact in Mexican popular culture and beyond, including films, comics, cartoons, television programs, toys, etc. Panelists analyzed the history and role of Lucha Libre in Mexican culture, its current situation and its future as a traditional sport in Mexico.
Sunday
Aztec Depictions in Pop Culture: 500 Years After the Fall • 1:00pm – 2:00pm
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/_VV0_9CzwyY
The Aztec Empire fell to Spanish invaders 500 years ago. It’s a true story that shaped the world we live in and yet is still widely misunderstood. Panelists will talk about how they use elements of Mexican history in their stories and how our understanding of that history has evolved. With author and Nahuatl translator David Bowles (Rise of the Halfling King), video game writer/director Javier Rayón and historian Mario Fuente (Dream of Darkness), animation director Flora Alexandra Rees-Arredondo (Malinchista), graphic novel creator Paul Guinan (Aztec Empire), and author Anina Bennett (Boilerplate).
Public Domain Comics: From Sherlock Holmes to Mickey Mouse and Beyond • 4:00pm – 5:00pm
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/YX6H7Q0v-Uk
The rich history of comic series, characters, creators and stories don’t disappear into history thanks to laws governing public domain intellectual properties. By looking at the public domain status and history of properties like Sherlock Holmes, Mickey Mouse, Amazing Man and many others we can learn much about preserving history and making old things new again. Join the lively discussion with Tom Mason (Uncensored Mouse editor), Dave Olbrich (Malibu publisher), Barry Gregory (writer/publisher Gallant Comics), and Michael Lovitz (trademark, copyright and entertainment attorney and Comic Book Law School® founder).
What do you think about our chosen Comic-Con@Home history panel highlights? Tell us about any panels we might have missed and what your must-see panels are in the comments!
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