Dublin 2019: Some Comic Panels Suggestions

Dublin 2019, a WorldCon is almost upon us and the team has released their panel schedule (and it is a dozy). I have gone through it and extracted most of the comics related ones. I may have missed one or two as James Bacon and his team have presented a lot for comics fans.

Btw kaffeeklatsch: German, from Kaffee ‘coffee’ + Klatsch ‘gossip’. You’ll need that info.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15th

11:30 The popularity of anti-heroes in comics
Panel 50 minutes Point Square: Odeon 3
Deadpool, Harley Quinn, the Punisher, Ghost Rider: in many ways they are evil individuals – hardly what we would call heroes! And yet they are some of the most popular and interesting comics characters around. Are they
better-written characters (and if so, why)? Do readers, and creators, need a counterpoint to all the feats of noble heroism to which action heroes are typically inspired?
RJ Barker (M), Michael Carroll, CE Murphy, Helena Nash

14:30 Comic creators’ tools
Panel 50 minutes Point Square: Odeon 2
Does the artist choose the tool or the tool choose the artist? Many artists are making the shift to digital, partly due to the increased pace of deadlines but also in large part to the additional freedom that the ‘undo’ button allows. The downside is the lack of a physical ‘original’ to sell, and some artists just prefer the physical interaction between brush and canvas, pen and paper. How do we discover what works best for each artist, and is there a clear advantage to one over the other?
Oisin McGann (M), Sana Takeda, Lee Moyer, Charles Vess

16:00 Reviewing books, art, and media
Panel 50 minutes CCD: Wicklow Hall 2B
Every creator needs reviews, but writing useful reviews takes skill and care since they are critical building blocks for a creator’s career. So what should reviewers keep in mind? What makes a well-written review? What makes a review ‘good’ – or ‘bad’, for that matter? And what should you do when an author responds? Reviewers share their experience, advice, and tips for reading and writing reviews.
D Franklin (M), Graham Sleight, Leticia Lara, David Ferguson, Karen Haber

16:00 Kaffeeklatsch: Mr Declan Shalvey
Kaffeeklatsch 50 minutes CCD: Level 3 Foyer
Mr Declan Shalvey

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16th

10:30 Have publishers got your back?
Panel 50 minutes Point Square: Odeon 4
Artists and authors are the public face of books and comics and, as a result, can be the main targets of online abuse when fans take offence at something. Should publishers protect the creators of the work they are marketing? In what ways do publishers offer support at times like these? Is there or should there be a difference if the work is being done on commission, rather than originating from the author or artist?
Tara Ferguson (M), Paul Cornell, Atlin Merrick, Ms Catherine Cho

11:30 Do we really need all that Spandex?
Panel 50 minutes Point Square: Odeon 3
When we think of superheroes, we immediately think about gaudily coloured, tight-fitting outfits. Is this still the right style choice? Even with the shifting trends of pouches and jackets in the 1990s and black leather in the 2000s, we can’t seem to escape from the impractical and revealing four-colour standard. Can we update costumes for the new millennium?
Gavia Baker-Whitelaw (M), Mr Declan Shalvey, Liz Gilio, Liz Bragg

12:30 Webcomics
Panel 50 minutes Point Square: Odeon 5
What web comics should you be reading? How do they differ from printed comics? Is there a difference in the creation process between web comics and print?
Kate Larking (M), Phil Foglio, Nora E. Derrington, Tamsyn Muir

12:30 The art of Sana Takeda
Presentation 50 minutes Point Square: Odeon 1
Join multiple award-winning illustrator and comic book artist Sana Takeda as she talks about the philosophy behind her art style and its evolution from her work in video game design, through superhero comics, to her current creator-owned (with writer Marjorie Liu) dark fantasy series Monstress. There will be a short Q&A session after the presentation.
Sana Takeda

13:30 Everyone is invited: LGBTQIA+ in comics
Panel 50 minutes Point Square: Odeon 1
Despite the lack of earlier representation, there have always been queer fans of and professionals working in comics. Now with creators being more vocal and visible members of the LGBTQIA+ community, we’re seeing
characters who don’t even need to come out but are written and drawn with queer text rather than subtext. Let’s talk about what’s out there, where to find it, and what we’d all like to see more of!
Gavia Baker-Whitelaw (M), Jacq Applebee, Rosa Devine, Diana M. Pho

13:30 Autographs: Sana Takeda
Autographing 50 minutes Point Square: Mezzanine – Signing space
Sana Takeda

14:30 What we want to see: representation in comics
Panel 50 minutes Point Square: Odeon 2
While superhero comics have explored questions of identity from their inception, most main characters have traditionally been white, cishet, men. Although there have been exceptions, marginalised main characters existed, quite literally, in the margins. In recent years mainstream comics have become more inclusive, but still not everyone feels represented. Let’s talk about what’s there and what’s still needed.
Christopher Hwang (M), Darcie Little Badger, Maquel A. Jacob, Marieke Nijkamp

15:30 Which comic was your manual?
Panel 50 minutes Point Square: Odeon 2
We ask our panel of comics professionals which comics, graphic novels, and series they regularly use as reference and for inspiration. Who do they personally consider to be the comic book greats and why? And are these works useful to everyone, or just to comics creators?
Paul Carroll (M), Sana Takeda, CE Murphy, Paul Cornell

16:00 Kaffeeklatsch: Kieron Gillen
Kaffeeklatsch 50 minutes CCD: Level 3 Foyer
Kieron Gillen

17:00 Kaffeeklatsch: Paul Cornell
Kaffeeklatsch 50 minutes CCD: Level 3 Foyer
Paul Cornell

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17th

10:00 Reading: Paul Cornell
Reading 20 minutes CCD: Liffey Room-3
Paul Cornell

10:30 Getting your hands dirty
Panel 50 minutes Point Square: Odeon 1
As digital art continues its steady takeover of the commercial art world, we have a chat about the old school ways and the physical materials we’re leaving behind. Will we miss them when they’re gone?
Maeve Clancy, Kaja Foglio, Rob Carlos

10:30 The cost of comics: what format works best?
Panel 50 minutes Point Square: Odeon 5
Roy of the Rovers went from a weekly strip to a book and is now being relaunched as quarterly graphic novels. Shonen Jump (the world’s most famous weekly comic) is moving to a free online model with downloads on
subscription. As costs increase for individual issues, should we move to larger publications released at longer intervals? Is it possible to balance what is best for readers, creators, and publishers?
Ed Fortune (M), Jaime Garmendia III, Scott Edelman, Raya Golden

10:30 Autographs: Sana Takeda
Autographing 50 minutes Point Square: Mezzanine – Signing space
Sana Takeda

11:30 Comic art: a buyer’s market
Panel 50 minutes Point Square: Alhambra
There are far more artists trying to get into mainstream comics than there is work for them to do. This means that firms always have the advantage when they’re dealing with new artists. What are the less obvious areas
where it’s possible to find comics work, and how do you avoid being taken for a ride?
Christopher Hwang (M), CE Murphy, Tara Ferguson, Leeann Hamilton

13:00 Autographs: Saturday at 13:00
Autographing 50 minutes CCD: Level 4 Foyer
Michael Carroll

13:30 The business of webcomics
Panel 50 minutes Point Square: Alhambra
Webcomics are a business. But it can be a confusing one, with the advent of crowdfunding and Patreon adding to the more traditional revenue sources of books and T-shirts. Are print sales still necessary in an increasingly
digital world? How does one go about making a living through publishing a webcomic?
Kaja Foglio, Joey Yu, Galina Rin

14:00 The Irish publishing market
Panel 50 minutes CCD: Liffey Room-3
Join us for a survey of Ireland’s publishing industry. From celebrated small presses to top tier publishers, our panellists share their thoughts and perspectives on the opportunities and challenges within the Irish market. How are we doing? Which authors should we be reading? And what new books should we be watching for?
David Ferguson (M), Dr Patricia Kennon, Ms Michelle NicPhaidin

14:30 Can’t stop the signal: continuing through comics
Panel 50 minutes Point Square: Odeon 5
Firefly, Buffy, The X-Files, The Dark Crystal, Aliens, Predator, and more have all found new life off the screen in comics adaptations or official continuations. How much is changed and/or lost when moving from one medium to another? What more can be done with the move? How is fidelity maintained with the original?
Lisa Tuttle (M), Grace P. Fong, Paul Cornell, Stephen Mooney

15:30 Graphic novel adaptations of genre work
Panel 50 minutes Point Square: Odeon 2
Is there such a thing as a good adaptation of a pure prose text? While some people argue that movies can never live up to the reader’s imagination, graphic novels have fewer limits and can add a significant visual element to
our favourite genre literature. But they still might not look ‘right’, and a picture might not always be worth losing a thousand words. Join us to consider the challenges!
Holly Black (M), Victoria “V.E.” Schwab, Gail Carriger, Raya Golden

16:00 Kaffeeklatsch: Paddy Lennon
Kaffeeklatsch 50 minutes CCD: Level 3 Foyer
Paddy Lennon

16:30 The comics galaxy of Star Wars
Panel 50 minutes Point Square: Stratocaster BC
A long time ago, Star Wars comics were published by Marvel and bore little relation to the movies. After a critically acclaimed run with Dark Horse, Star Wars comics returned to Marvel in 2015, giving new depth to
existing characters (Princess Leia, Darth Vader) and introducing new fan favourites (Doctor Aphra, the Second Sister). Should the comics follow the big screen more closely, or vice versa?
John Coxon (M), Stephen Mooney, Gabriel Petersen

16:30 Autographs: Jim Fitzpatrick
Autographing 50 minutes Point Square: Mezzanine – Signing space
Jim Fitzpatrick

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18th

10:30 We love Image Comics!
Panel 50 minutes Point Square: Odeon 2
Outside the ‘big two’, Image Comics is the most successful publisher in the USA and arguably has the most diverse range of titles. Once focused on superhero and fantasy titles, Image now has a policy of promoting
creator-owned works – with popular titles including Saga, The Walking Dead, Monstress, and The Wicked + The Divine. Our panellists discuss their own projects and work with Image.
Derek Kunsken (M), Afua Richardson, Sana Takeda, Mr Declan Shalvey, Kieron Gillen

11:30 Interview with Charles Vess
Interview 50 minutes Point Square: Odeon 2
The hugely accomplished artist talks about his life and career in a one-to-one interview with William Simpson. Charles Vess is an award-winning illustrator and a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Artist. From his work on Sandman with Neil Gaiman and his covers for Charles de Lint to the beautifully illustrated volume of Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Books of Earthsea, Charles’s art spans not only book covers but comics as well.
Charles Vess, William Simpson

12:30 Maeve Clancy: visualising a refugee story
Presentation 50 minutes Point Square: Odeon 1
Maeve Clancy’s artwork for the Worldcon is a story installation outlining the experiences of Rouba and Noura Merzah, recent refugees from Syria who now live in Ireland. Comic strip panels, original drawings, and sculpture are all part of the piece.
Maeve and Rouba will be in conversation with an interviewer, discussing the work, Rouba’s story, and how it all came together.
Maeve Clancy

13:30 Unashamed BIOS
Talk 50 minutes Point Square: Odeon 3
‘The more fingers you lose, the harder it is to pick them up.’ Wise words there from Twitcho, the unicycling knifejuggler. But what does that have to do with the nature of reality, or the reality of nature? Amateurfessor Michael Carroll presents a new and only marginally terrifying way of putting the very fabric of the universe through the economy rinse.

In honour of Bob Shaw’s Serious Scientific Talks.

Michael Carroll

13:30 Irish small press comics
Panel 50 minutes Point Square: Odeon 4
Ireland is full of Indie comics, zines, independent artists and illustrators – but few of their works have made it out of local circulation. If you’re local, come and talk about your favourites; and if you’re from out of town, come and see what you’ve been missing out on!
Kevin Weldon (M), Paul Carroll, David Ferguson, Rosa Devine

17:00 Kaffeeklatsch: Michael Carroll
Kaffeeklatsch 50 minutes CCD: Level 3 Foyer
Michael Carroll

17:00 Where is Ireland in the comics universe?
Panel 50 minutes CCD: Wicklow Room-4
Apart from a few stereotypical characters here and there (Shamrock, Judge Joyce, Banshee etc.), Ireland doesn’t seem to have made much of an impact in the comics medium – or has it? Let’s talk about the growth of Irish
comics and, we hope, the appearance of more Irish characters overall.
Maura McHugh (M), David Ferguson, Stephen Mooney, Kieron Gillen

MONDAY, AUGUST 19th

10:00 Kaffeeklatsch: C. E. Murphy
Kaffeeklatsch 50 minutes CCD: Level 3 Foyer
CE Murphy

11:30 Giant robots in science fiction
Presentation 50 minutes Point Square: Odeon 2
From time immemorial, humankind has asked the question: ‘When are giant robots going to be made real and how do I apply to pilot one?’ In this presentation we discuss this overarching dream of human civilisation, take a trip down memory lane to talk about some prime examples of the impossible desire, and try to answer: what precisely is a Gundam?
Paddy Lennon

12:00 2000 AD: the Irish connection
Panel 50 minutes CCD: Wicklow Hall 2B
For the past 35 years Irish writers and artists have been involved with 2000 AD. We discuss the impact that Irish creators have had on the comic and its stories, and consider recent additions to the line-up of Irish creators.
David Ferguson (M), Maura McHugh, Michael Carroll, William Simpson

12:30 The life and times of Jim Fitzpatrick, artist
Presentation 50 minutes Point Square: Odeon 2
Jim takes a look at the oeuvre of his life’s work, and what keeps him interested. Mention may be made of art, Irish folklore and history, musicians, and of course cats. To be followed by a question and answer session.
Jim Fitzpatrick

13:00 Familiarity breeds… comics
Panel 50 minutes CCD: Liffey Room-2
There’s no place like home. And that is why comic creators Bryan Talbot (Alice in Sunderland) and Declan Shalvey (Savage Town) chose to set their graphic novels in their respective home towns of Sunderland and Limerick. But was that decision an easy pitch to collaborators and retailers? Did any unexpected difficulties arise? And what did they learn about their homes that they had never known before?
Mr Declan Shalvey, Bryan Talbot

14:30 Mythology in comics
Panel 50 minutes Point Square: Odeon 1
It would surprise many people to learn that Thor isn’t traditionally beardless or blond, since that’s how he has been portrayed in Marvel Comics for nearly 60 years. How have world mythologies influenced comics – and vice versa?
Paul Carroll (M), D Franklin, Ms Sultana Raza, Charles Vess

You can talk a look at the full list here.