The ever popular San diego Comic-Con is just a week away, if you don’t count preview night, and with that we are launching a series of articles to get you pumped up for the con. Our first foray into the Pre-SDCC excitement is my list of must see panels for the weekend. A bit all over the place but all guaranteed to be extremely fun. Well I suppose I can’t quite guarantee that but I promise they won’t suck. I hope? Just take my word for it when I say that it would be a good idea to check these panels out. Why bother with Hall H when you can roam around a bit and find out about something new? Besides, it’s not like you’re going to get in. People are probably lined up now laughing at us.
So without further ado here is my top 10! Judge away internet commenters!
10.Mattel and WWE: Taking place Thursday from 10:15-11:15 AM in Room 6DE this panel seems like the perfect way to kick off your weekend if you happen to be a fan of the WWE. I mean they’re essentially just showing new toys they have lined up but even if you aren’t a collector there will still be plenty going on to keep you entertained. For example, both Hulk Hogan and Daniel Bryan will be part of the panel! You have Mr. Hulkamania himself and the leader of the Yes Movement in the same room? Can you say “YES!”, brother?
9.The Wonderful World of Weird Al: Going down Saturday from 3:30-4:30 PM in the Horton Grand Theatre is a Q&A with man himself to help promote his latest album “Mandatory Fun”. I’ve grown up with Weird Al essentially my entire life and if there is one thing I can say about the man is that even after all these years he still hasn’t lost the magic! The latest album is a banger to say the least and his series of music videos that have been released this week are nothing short of fantastic. Haven’t seen them yet? Well. Here. You. Go. Now see why I am so pumped! You’re damn right I will be there!
8. Breaking Barriers-Transgender Trends in Popular Culture: This panel takes place Thursday from 5:00-6:00 PM in room 28DE and it’s nice to see the trans community represented at such a huge con. If anything I would go to this to learn about trans creators and the projects their working on since I was basically unfamiliar with all the names listed in the description. Learning!
7.Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday morning at 11:15AM-12:15 PM in Room 6A we see the voice cast of the new TMNT cartoon make their triumphant return to the SDCC. Now with Seth Green in tow as Leonardo but unfortunately lacking Mae Whitman and Kevin Michael Richardson. The latter of the two had one of the best moments of the panel when he had a dramatic reading of the moderator’s hotel pamphlet in character as The Shredder. Yeah, you know this year is only going to raise the bar even higher.
6.The Definitive History of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles– A look under the shell: Thursday night at 8:15-9:15 PM in Room 6DE we see Kevin Eastman, co-creator of the teenage mutant ninja turtles, hosts a panel featuring an exclusive look at the upcoming documentary about the heroes in a half shell. An extended trailertrailer for the film was screened at Comikaze last year so one can only assume that perhaps an extended clip or something of the sort will be show here. At the very least Kevin will have lots of stories to share and that’s always a treat! Also, it’s like their 30th anniversary or something.
5.Most Dangerous Women at Comic Con-Positive Portrayals of Women in Pop Culture: The ever popular panel makes its return to SDCC Thursday 3:00-4:00 PM in Room 7AB. Filled with a who’s who from the feminist side of the nerdosphere. I essentially follow 90 percent of the panelists so I know the discussion at hand will be engaging and informative not to mention entertaining.
4.Big Ideas for Movies-Crossing Borders with Mexican Animation: On Friday from 2:00-3:00 PM in Room 23ABC La Raza takes over for a very special panel featuring an exclusive look at the upcoming film, El Americano. Filmmaker Ricardo Arnaiz brings his producing team, including Edward James Olmos, to give us the first look at his film coming sometime next year. Also coming down will be Rico Rodriguez of Modern Family as well as several others including the voices of Gabriel Iglesias, Erik Estrada, and Lisa Kudrow. I would assume there will be some clips shown featuring El Fluffy and that alone is worth the price of admission.
3.The Aquabats! Super Show! The Saga Continues: The Aquabats are joined by Jason Devillers on Friday 9:00-10:00 PM in Room 25 ABC to give a behind the scenes look of the popular show. The group will go over some of difficulties of making the show, never before seen footage, and a Q&A. It’s the band’s 20th anniversary so they probably have a lot to say unrelated to the show as well. Also, a very special guest is teased… OOOOH! GIMME GIMME GIMME!
2. Saga: Brian K Vaughn and Fiona Staples join all the fun on Saturday from 1:00-2:00 PM in Room 7AB. Saga is essentially one of the best if not the best comic out right now. Every issue leaves me wanting more. Every time I think I know what’s going on I am proven wrong. So why would I pass up a sneak peak at some upcoming story details. Not to mention I feel like the banter between these two would be amazing!
1.Sesame Street and Pop Culture-45 years of spoofs on the street: It’s Gosh Darn Sesame Street on Sunday 10:15-11:15AM in Room 6A. How could you miss it. Everyone at SDCC grew up with Sesame Street at one point or another but yours truly remembers watching PBS for years and loving Big Bird like no other. Now they have a panel hosted by Chris Hardwick? 4 year old me is high fiving 26 year old me. We both have juice boxes because why the heck not!? Just go, if only to stare at the handsomeness that is Chris Hardwick.