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If You're At Wizard World Portland, You Can Hear About Kurt Busiek, The Creator-Owned Movement, Comics At College And More

Published Fri, 24 Jan 2014 11:00:55 -0600

Last updated Fri, 24 Jan 2014 12:11:25 -0600

If you find yourself at the Wizard World Portland Comic Con today, and this weekend, as one does, there's quite a lot of smart programming going on with a wide range of topics to pique your interest, from talented creators, to thought-provoking discussions of trends in comics creating and techniques from comics pros. Here's a selection of some of the best you might want to check out to make the most of your con experience.

Friday, January 24th

5:00 – 5:45PM Spotlight on Kurt Busiek

Kurt Busiek has been writing comics professionally since 1982, when he sold a backup story that appeared in Green Lantern #162. Since then, he's worked on just about everything from Action Comics to Zot!, including runs on Avengers, Superman, Conan and others, and has co-created Thunderbolts, Shockrockets and more. Best known for his work on the multiple-award-winning Marvels and Astro City, he's been turning more and more to creator-owned work of late, including such projects as Arrowsmith, Superstar, Shockrockets and The Wizard's Tale. He's currently working on more Astro City, along with other creator-owned series. Kurt's former Marvel editor Danny Fingeroth (Spider-Man; The Stan Lee Universe) speaks with Kurt about his amazing career. (C120)

Saturday, January 25th

11:30 – 12:15PM Image Comics and the Rise of the Creator Owned

More than 20 years ago, a group of artists left Marvel Comics to create their own company, Image Comics, a company that continues to influence mainstream comics and culture to this day. Image co-founder Jim Valentino (Shadowhawk,) joined by fellow Image creators including Brian Joines (Krampus!) and Joe Linsner (DAWN,) talks about the company's founding and its evolution over the decades. Plus: Exciting clips will be shown from The Image Revolution, the new Sequart documentary, directed by Patrick Meaney, that tells the story of Image from its founders' work at Marvel, through Image's early days, the ups and downs of the '90s, and the publisher's new generation of properties like The Walking Dead. The panel is moderated by writer and editor Danny Fingeroth (Superman on the Couch) who worked with the Image founders in their Marvel days! (OREGON BALLROOM 202)

12:30 – 1:15PM Getting Respect: Comics Go to College

Comics and graphic novels have come into their own as subjects worthy of—indeed, demanding—attention from academia. Historians and cultural theorists teach courses, hold conferences, and publish books on various aspects of sequential art colleges and universities teach courses in comics as literature and social history as well as how to make them. Here, to give an overview of various ideas about and approaches to comics studies are a cross-section of comics scholars and teachers, including: Diana Schutz (Dark Horse executive editor and instructor at Portland Community College,) Trevor Dodge (Pacific Northwest College of Art,) Perrin Kerns (Marylhurst University,) Katya Amato (Portland State University) and Susan Kirtley (Portland State University.) The panel is moderated by Danny Fingeroth (Disguised as Clark Kent.) (OREGON BALLROOM 202)

3:00 – 3:45PM Titans of Independent Comics with Mike Allred, Shannon Wheeler, David Chelsea and Jonathan Hill

The model of comics creators tethered to one or two major publishers, working on adventures of corporately-owned characters is no longer the only game in town. Many of the top talents in comics work either exclusively on their own material, while others work both sides of the street, alternating independent work with mainstream assignments done in their own distinctive styles. Here, speaking about how they have forged their own paths, are some of the most distinctive creators in comics today: Mike Allred (Madman; X-Statix) Shannon Wheeler (Too Much Coffee Man; Villain House) David Chelsea (David Chelsea in Love; Everybody Gets It Wrong!) and Jonathan Hill (One of the Johns; Americus) The panel is moderated by Danny Fingeroth (Rough Guide to Graphic Novels) (C120)

4:30 – 5:15PM How to Write Comics with Kurt Busiek, Michael Oeming and Danny Fingeroth

Accomplished comics writers Kurt Busiek (Marvels; Astro City), Michael Oeming (Thor; God Complex) and Danny Fingeroth (Deadly Foes of Spider-Man; Darkhawk) show and tell you how to write comics and graphic novels, going from initial idea to outline to script to finished story. Plus, the panelists will answer your questions about both the creative and business sides of the comics writing profession, including how to find an artist to work with (hint: a comics convention is the number one place!) and how to write exciting dialogue! *SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Brian Michael Bendis will now be joining this panel also. (OREGON BALLROOM 202)

Sunday January 26th

11:30 – 12:15PM Colorists on Coloring

With literally millions of colors in their digital palettes, comics colorists have a more challenging job than ever, with the responsibility of adding mood to the stories they work on, while keeping the narrative clear and compelling. Ace color artists Jeremy Colwell (Dark Horse Presents; Powerpuff Girls) and Bill Crabtree (Invincible; The Sixth Gun) discuss their careers and their craft. Includes a demonstration of how comics are colored. Moderated by Danny Fingeroth (How to Create Comics From Script to Print) (OREGON BALLROOM 202)

12:30 – 1:15PM Superstar Artists Roundtable with Humberto Ramos, Michael Oeming, Steve Lieber and David Marquez

Four of the top artists in comics talk about their careers, their craft, the comics business and whatever else might come up. Join Humberto Ramos (Impulse; Amazing Spider-Man), Michael Oeming (Powers; The Mice Templar), Steve Lieber (Superior Foes of Spider-Man; Whiteout) and David Marquez (Ultimate Comics Spider-Man; Fantastic Four: Season One) for this pencil-powered panel. Danny Fingeroth (How to Draw Comics from Script to Print) moderates. (OREGON BALLROOM 202)

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