By bringing Comic-Con into everyone’s homes this year, Comic-Con International has given everyone the perfect opportunity to truly customize their convention for the first time! Attendees no longer have to decide between Hall H or Ballroom 20 panels happening at the same time because most of the panels will be available after the convention on their Youtube Channel! With that in mind, we’ve put together a number of different themed highlights articles that will speak to different interests this year! Check out some of the Comic-Con@Home womxn-focused panel highlights that we’ve identified in the schedule!
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!
Thursday
Batgirls! • 11:00am – 12:00pm
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/YI5efMvwXBE
Odds are, when most people hear the name “Batgirl, ” the first character to come to mind is Barbara Gordon, Commissioner Gordon’s daughter. First appearing in 1967, she’s been a comic mainstay, first as Batgirl and then as Oracle. But as is tradition in the Bat-family, when things happen, the cowl can be passed from hero to hero. From Stephanie Brown to Cassandra Cain to The Bat Girls, each having a wildly different take on the role of the caped crusader. Join Cecil Castellucci (Batgirl -Barbara Gordon), Sarah Kuhn (Batgirl -Cassandra Cain), Bryan Q. Miller (Batgirl -Stephanie Brown), Nancy Kiu (Batwoman -Kate Kane), Marieke Nijkamp (Oracle -Barbara Gordon) and Dr. Andrea Letamendi (The Arkham Sessions) who have brought these different iconic versions of Batgirl to life in a celebration of what makes them different and what makes them Batgirl.
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.
Women of Color in Comics: Race, Gender & the Comic Book Medium • 12:00pm – 1:00pm
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/bzOpfXUAiV8
The Women in Comics Collective International is an organization that focuses on the merit and craftwork of Women and Non-Binary People working in the comic book industry. They host comic book education events across the country, including their own convention, Women in Comics Con. In this segment of their ongoing panel discussion series, they will discuss the current state of the comic book industry and how it’s been impacted by the events of 2020; from COVID19 Pandemic to Racial unrest due to Police Violence. Panelists include, Jonita Davis (film reviewer, and pop culture journalist), Jules Rivera (comic book artist), Vanee Matsalia (writer, educator), Camilla Zhang (writer, editor, consultant), Marqueeda LaStar (tech & pop culture journalist), and moderator Regine L. Sawyer, (writer/publisher).
Insider Art: A Compendium of Comics, Crafts & Cats for All Ages • 1:00pm – 2:00pm
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/8C0UTAP1r38
Insider Art is a comics initiative that began during the early days of the COVID19 pandemic; a way to bring female and non-binary creators together to raise money for our own: female and non-binary comic book retailers who faced financial hardships under quarantine. 8 editors, 1 retailer liaison, and over 100 creators from around the world united for one grand mission: to bring over 250 pages of comics, crafts and cats to the masses and conquer the tedium of the great indoors.
The Women Behind Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet – Collaboration Across Gaming & Television to Create A Successful Crossover • 1:00pm – 2:00pm
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/ZxSB-JdWovc
In February, Apple TV+ released the series Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet in partnership with Lionsgate, 3 Arts Entertainment, and Ubisoft Film & Television. In this moderated panel, the female powerhouses behind Mythic Quest, Ubisoft Film & Television, and Red Storm Entertainment, will share how they came together and leveraged their particular expertise in the gaming and television worlds to create and tell an authentic story. Through this discussion, the panelists will also address their experience working and being leaders in their respective fields in historically male-dominated industries and their advice for the next generation.
Wonder Women: Superstars of Paranormal • 1:00pm – 2:00pm
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/0kc7TJrOoVI
The Women of Paranormal unite in this powerful panel, presented by Travel Channel. Join some of the biggest female stars from Travel Channel’s multiple hit series as they share what it means to be a fearless female force in the paranormal industry. Panelists include paranormal investigators and researchers Amy Bruni (Kindred Spirits) and Katrina Weidman (Portals to Hell), paranormal explorer Chelsea Laden (Destination Fear), and psychic medium Cindy Kaza (The Holzer Files). Fans will be inspired by their stories and get firsthand advice from a group of women who ain’t afraid of no ghosts. #WonderWomenTRVL
The Most Dangerous Women at Comic-Con: Building a Better Heroine • 6:00pm – 7:00pm
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/Gidmz5GZcmc
More heroines are being represented in the media, but are they well-rounded characters or bland beings going from point A to point B without any distinct traits or personalities? Why might writers shy away from writing women as fully-developed people? Here to discuss everyone’s favorite female/nonbinary characters of the past decade, and what we can learn from them, are women dangerous in their own right: Charlie Jane Anders (author of Victories Greater Than Death, co-host of Our Opinions Are Correct podcast), Tamara Brooks (writer for DC Universe, host of Tales from the Tapes podcast), Dani Fernandez (host of Nerdificent podcast, writer for Girls on the Bus), Hanh Nguyen (Salon’s Senior Culture Editor, Television Critics Association board member), Diya Mishra (writer for Masters of the Universe: Revelation), and moderator Katrina Hill (author of Action Movie Freak, 100 Greatest Graphic Novels).
Friday
Charlize Theron: Evolution of a Badass – An Action Hero Career Retrospective • 10:00am – 11:00am
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/MeeH5s3U-bA
Actress and producer Charlize Theron reflects on portraying over two decades of action heroes, from Æon Flux to The Old Guard’s Andromache, Mad Max: Fury Road’s Furiosa to Atomic Blonde’s Lorraine Broughton. In a lengthy retrospective Q&A moderated by IGN’s Terri Schwartz, Theron discusses the evolution of the modern female action hero, the roles that inspired her and what drives her to constantly push her limits with fight training.
Entertainment is Female: a Conversation with Hollywood Executives • 11:00am – 12:00pm
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/I4-OhRvNBCA
From the companies that brought you Transformers, the LEGO movies, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Walking Dead, Lumberjanes, and Star Wars: the Rise of Skywalker, women executives discuss how they are pushing for female representation in Hollywood while adapting comics and games to the big screen. Moderator Tiffany Smith (actress and presenter), along with panelists Jeannette Francis (Bad Robot), Mette Norkjaer (BOOM! Studios), Grey Cusack (Entertainment One), Aubrey Lee (Lord Miller), Nikki Baida (Lord Miller), and Sam Crawley (Skybound Entertainment) will partake in a talk about the film and television industry.
GirlsDrawinGirls: Industry Professional Women Artists in Quarantine: Balancing work, art, homeschooling, and life • 2:00pm – 3:00pm
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/j3b-PhVmOdE
GirlsDrawinGirls founder Melody Severns, The Simpsons director Debbie Bruce Mahan, Disney Television Animation artist Sherry DeLorme, and other industry professional women artists address working from home during a pandemic and all the challenges they’ve faced with staying productive in the ever changing world that is the year 2020.
Galaxy Grrls, or the Female and Non-Binary Authors who Bridge the New Frontier of Space Fiction • 3:00pm – 4:00pm
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/Ztw7LcviyCM
Authors Nicky Drayden (Escaping Exodus), Marina Lostetter (Noumenon Ultra), Jessie Mihalik (Chaos Reigning), Valerie Valdes (Chilling Effect), and K.B. Wagers (A Pale Light in the Black) eye the history of space fiction through an entirely new lens. This panel is focused on the legacy of female and non-binary writers who came before, and the trailblazing of modern authors who are re-defining sex, gender, and society against the tapestry of the stars.
Saturday
Women Rocking Hollywood 2020: Supporting Female-Helmed Film and TV • 2:00pm – 3:00pm
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/jq_KBAWB8nM
What is so great about working as executive producer and director on a Frank Miller/Tom Wheeler project? What is it like to direct Charlize Theron and Kiki Layne in complicated fight scenes? How does working with women above and below the line make a film with Kelvin Harrison Jr, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Dakota Johnson more nuanced and believable? What does a producing director on Queen Sugar do? Find out all this and more, including why supporting women in film is so vital to equality for all, and how fans can make a difference, on this exciting female filmmaker-focused panel. Watch Nisha Ganatra (director: Late Night, The High Note), Lauren Wolkstein (director: Cloak & Dagger, supervising director: Queen Sugar), Gina Prince-Bythewood (writer/director: Love and Basketball, director: The Old Guard), Zetna Fuentes (director: Jessica Jones, executive producer/director: Cursed), and Alison Emilio (director of ReFrame) as they share their experiences and insights. Moderated by Leslie Combemale (creator: Women Rocking Hollywood, freelance writer: AWFJ.org).
Gender, Race, and Comic Book Coloring • 2:00pm – 3:00pm
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/vhaMJ8LcURs
Did you know that comic book colors used to be hand-separated by an army of women in Connecticut? That “benday dots” are named after a real person? Or that there’s a technical reason African-American skin tones look wrong in old comics? Geek out on the hidden corners of comics history, from the Golden Age up to today’s digital era, and learn about the craft of coloring with color artist Marissa Louise (Amethyst), comics creator Mildred Louis (Astrea’s Nexus Studio), researcher and essayist Zoë D. Smith (University of Chicago), and master letterer/former DC production artist Todd Klein (Sandman). Moderated by author Anina Bennett (Boilerplate).
Sailor Moon: The Power of Female Friendship • 3:00pm – 4:00pm
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/zXJ1k1NhC8I
When Naoko Takeuchi created Sailor Moon, she never knew it would be so popular. Takeuchi was lonely and the idea of Sailor Moon came about as female friends that she wishes that she could have. With her soul reflected in her work, it spoke to fandom as many others understood the feeling that she had. Sailor Moon expanded into anime, video games, merchandise, and became one of the major icons of Japan. Join in on a discussion with Jessica Tseang (comic book historian), Michelle Ruff (voice of Luna-Sailor Moon: Crystal), Kate Higgins (voice of Sailor Mercury-Sailor Moon: Crystal), Amanda Celine Miller (voice of Sailor Jupiter-Sailor Moon: Crystal), Sam Maggs (writer Captain Marvel, Unstoppable Wasp: Built on Hope), and Chris Bryant (activist, comedian: Netflix’s Cooking on High, Amazon’s Out on Stage) on what is it about this franchise that continues to survive today, and still speaks to the hearts of fans (women and LGBT) and bringing in a new generation.
Sunday
Women on the Dark Side • 12:00pm – 1:00pm
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/s0nC40dUjvM
Not all female artists/creators are about unicorns and glittery vampires and silly pseudo-bondage. Some women create truly dark and challenging art and content, with just a touch of humor and whimsy. Whether it’s comic books, novels, or art, these are the women who are creating content that connects with our deeper, darker side. Featuring Susan Lee (writer/artist, Wraith of Love), Sandy King Carpenter (producer/writer, Storm King Productions), Chelsea Cain (writer, Heartsick), MD Marie (writer, Vindication), and moderator Barbra Dillon (editor-in-chief, Fanbase Press).
Comics about Motherhood and Reproductive Choice • 1:00pm – 2:00pm
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/oZPD3Nnq4eY
Reproductive choice, women’s autonomy, and the challenges of parenthood and families are at the heart of memoirs by Lisa Wool-rim Sjoblom (Palimpsest: Documents from a Korean Adoption), Leslie Stein (I Know You Rider), and Teresa Wong (Dear Scarlet: The Story of My Postpartum Depression). Hillary Chute (Why Comics? From Underground to Everywhere) speaks to these award-winning and bestselling cartoonists about how and why they depict these joys and traumas in comics.
What do you think about our identified Comic-Con@Home womxn-focused 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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