So, what's a poor fanboy/girl to do? Well, you can pretty much rule out attending everything, unless you can muster up some of those time-traveling powers. So, thanks to the organizers of the event, here are a tiny handful of sessions and panels over the course of the event, just to give you a glimpse into the breadth of subject matter.
With over 400 events over all four days, Comic-Con’s program slate is the largest in the nation. Programs include major comics publisher presentations, “Spotlight” panels on all the special guests, and the greatest number of events geared toward the entire spectrum of comics of any convention. Hall H features major movie studio programs and the TV networks give presentations that showcase favorite and new shows. (Comic-Con has a tradition of premiering network shows and Hollywood films months before they air.)
Mind you, these suggested highlights are only a small drop in the gigantic bucket of Comic-Con sessions. Just remember, you will never be able to attend all of them. It's that big!
Wed., July 20 (Preview Night)
6:00-9:00 Special Sneak Peek Pilot Screenings: Alcatraz, Person of Interest, The Secret Circle, and Supernatural: The Anime Series — Comic-Con and Warner Bros. Television proudly continue their annual Preview Night tradition with exclusive world premiere screenings of the pilot episodes of three of the most highly anticipated TV series pilots of the 2011-12 television season -- Alcatraz, Person of Interest, and The Secret Circle -- as well as Supernatural: The Anime Series, the first-ever anime adaptation of a U.S. television series. Ballroom 20
Thurs., July 21
10:00-11:00 IDW and Hasbro: 2012 Transformations — What's coming up in IDW's Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Dungeons & Dragons titles? Find out as IDW's newest editor makes his presence known. Room 910:00-11:00 Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe — For fans of USA's hit series Burn Notice who've always wanted to know what happened before Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell) teamed up with Michael Weston and Fiona, Comic-Con attendees are invited inside the USA made-for-TV movie Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe, debuting on DVD exclusively at Comic-Con! Ballroom 20
10:15-11:15 Marvel: Breaking into Comics the Marvel Way — You have the talent. You have the imagination. You have the "Go get 'em Tiger" determination that would make the Bullpen proud. But where do you go from there? Room 6DE
10:45-11:45 Oh, You Sexy Geek! — Does displaying the sexiness of fangirls benefit or demean them? When geek girls show off, are they liberating themselves or pandering to men? Do some "fake fangirls" blend sex appeal with nerdiness just to appeal to the growing geek/nerd market, or is that question itself unfair? Room 6A
11:15-12:15 Covert Affairs — For the first time, TV's sexiest spy show, USA Network's Covert Affairs, comes to Comic-Con! Spend some time with stars Piper Perabo (Annie Walker), Christopher Gorham (Auggie Anderson), Sendhil Ramamurthy (Jai Wilcox), Kari Matchett (Joan Campbell), Anne Dudek (Danielle), and Peter Gallagher (Arthur Campbell). Ballroom 20
11:15-12:15 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 — Summit Entertainment presents a sneak peek at the highly anticipated next chapter of The Twilight Saga. Hall H
12:15-1:00 Focus on Rick Baker — The multi-Oscar winning master of makeup effects will take us on an overview of his remarkable career with a special emphasis on his work with director Barry Sonnenfeld on Men In Black 1 & 2, as well as a first look at some of his creatures and makeup for the upcoming Men In Black 3. Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
12:45-1:45 Animation Showcase — Sony Pictures Animation plunges Hall H into a 3D animation universe with previews of upcoming films with Aardman, the home studio of Wallace and Gromit, as they make their first trip across the pond to Comic-Con to present a first look at two of their upcoming animated feature films. Hall H
1:00-2:00 Stan Lee, Yoshiki, and Todd McFarlane — The worlds of music and comics collide, as legendary creators Stan Lee (POW! Entertainment) and Todd McFarlane (Spawn) join forces with rock superstar, Yoshiki (X Japan) to create a bold new hero, Blood Red Dragon. Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
1:45-2:45 Ringer — Sarah Michelle Gellar makes her highly anticipated television return in the gripping new thriller Ringer, as a woman who, after witnessing a murder, goes on the run, hiding out by assuming the life of her wealthy identical twin -- only to learn that her sister's seemingly idyllic life is just as complicated and dangerous as the one she's trying to leave behind. Ballroom 20
2:00-3:00 Napoleon Dynamite — Original cast members from the hit indie film including Jon Heder, Tina Majorino, Efren Ramirez, Jon Gries, Sandy Martin, Diedrich Bader and executive producer Mike Scully (The Simpsons) present a new series following your favorite awkward teenager like you've never seen him before -- animated! Room 7AB
2:30-3:30 Hasbro Transformers Panel — Would you like to see what's new with Transformers? The marketing and design teams responsible for the current Transformers: Dark of the Moon line present all the latest toys at this panel. Also, see a sneak peek into the 2012 line. Room 24ABC
3:00-4:00 Game of Thrones Panel and Q&A session — Based on the bestselling fantasy book series A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin, HBO's Game of Thrones concluded its 10-episode debut season on June 19. Ballroom 20
3:15-4:30 20th Century Fox — At past Comic-Cons, 20th Century Fox has previewed Independence Day, X2, Avatar, and X-Men Origins: Wolverine. You won't want to miss the excitement this year, as Fox presents first-looks at some of its most-anticipated pictures of 2011 and 2012. Hall H
