Thursday, July 18

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM / Room 8
SPOTLIGHT ON JOHN BUSCEMA
One hates to think what Marvel history would have been like without JOHN BUSCEMA.  He didn't start a lot of comics but he was the guy who came along later and kept them up and running, with books like Fantastic Four, Thor, Silver Surfer, The Avengers and Conan the Barbarian.

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM / Room 8
SPOTLIGHT ON JOHN ROMITA
Hard to believe that, once upon a time, JOHN ROMITA was a romance artist, hesitant to venture too deep into super-heroes, for fear he couldn't compete.  We'll discuss how he went from applying for work at Marvel to being the guy you applied to for work at Marvel.  Oughta be interesting.

4:00 PM - 5:30 PM / Room 8
THE GENE COLAN BIRTHDAY SURPRISE PANEL!
The name of the event in the program book will be NEW ART TECHNIQUES but it's not really that.  One of comics' all-time greats, GENE COLAN is going to be 75 years old not long after the con.  We think it's about time someone threw him a party...and he doesn't know a thing about it.

Friday, July 19

NOON- 12:30 PM / Room 8
THE SERGIO AND MARK SHOW
It's the umpteenth annual panel featuring the people who bring you Groo and other Sergio/Mark comics, such as Space Circus, Fanboy and Boogeyman, plus maybe an editor or two, if anyone will own up to the job.  Join SERGIO ARAGONÉS, TOM LUTH, STAN SAKAI and ME.

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM / Room 8
TRIBUTE TO CARL BARKS
We remember the man who gave us Uncle Scrooge, Gladstone Gander, Gyro Gearloose and hundreds of the best comic book stories ever created.  Join RUSS COCHRAN, BYRON ERICKSON, BRUCE HAMILTON, R.C. HARVEY, RUSSELL MYERS and DON ROSA.

4:00 PM - 5:30 PM / Room 8
A CONVERSATION WITH IRWIN DONENFELD
We chat with IRWIN DONENFELD, who served as Editorial Director of DC Comics from the late forties until the late sixties, presiding over an important period in comics, culminating in the Silver Age of Super-Heroes.  We'll talk about that and the birth of DC, founded by his father.

Saturday, July 20

10:30 AM - NOON / Room 8
THE GOLDEN AGE PANEL
This year, we feature CHUCK CUIDERA, IRWIN DONENFELD, RIC ESTRADA, RAMONA FRADON, MART NODELL, ALVIN SCHWARTZ and JULIUS SCHWARTZ.  And we'll pause at the outset to remember our friend Rich Morrissey, who wouldn't have missed an event like this if he could help it.

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM / Room 8
CARTOON VOICE ARTISTS
Folks who speak for your favorite cartoon characters explain how they do what they do and demonstrate the art of acting for animation.  Featuring BOB BERGEN (Porky Pig), GREGG BERGER (Men in Black), GREG BERG (Muppet Babies) and TOM KANE (Powerpuff Girls).

4:00 PM - 5:30 PM / Room 8
THE GREAT MARVEL BULLPEN REUNION
If you loved Marvel Comics of the sixties and seventies, you'll line up immediately for this gathering of folks who worked there back then.  They include JOHN BUSCEMA, JOHN ROMITA, MARIE SEVERIN, GENE COLAN and maybe one or two others who've yet to confirm.

Sunday, July 21

11:00 AM - NOON / Room 16AB
SPOTLIGHT ON RUSSELL MYERS
We sit and talk with one of our favorite cartoonists...the man who brings you Broom-Hilda and all her perverse friends of the forest.  RUSSELL MYERS is a very funny gent who does his syndicated strip about as well as a strip can be done, and he'll tell us how he does what he does.

NOON - 1:30 PM / Room 8
THE JACK KIRBY/CAPTAIN AMERICA PANEL
Captain America, who turns 60 years of age this year.  Discussing Kirby and Cap will be JOHN ROMITA and JOHN BUSCEMA, who often drew Captain America and who followed Kirby on many strips. And we'll also chat with WILL EISNER and one of Jack's best inkers, MIKE ROYER.

1:30 PM - 3:00 PM / Room 8
SPOTLIGHT ON DAN SPIEGLE
I think DAN SPIEGLE is one of the ten-or-so best artists to ever work in comics.  Among his many credits are Crossfire, Korak, Scooby Doo, Maverick, Blackhawk, Space Family Robinson and tons of movie and TV adaptations published by Dell and Gold Key.  You'll enjoy spending time with him.