New York Comic Con: 5 Must-See Panels From Day 2
The second day of programming for New York Comic Con doesn't just bring out Stan Lee for a conversation with two other comic book legends — although the lineup for that panel is amazing, mighty and uncanny — but there's also Star Wars, 50 years of Marvel's first black superhero and breaking gender stereotypes, too. (Not to mention BBC America taking over Madison Square Garden for a Doctor Who/Class presentation.)
Wondering where to be during Friday at NYCC? Here are some suggestions.
Marvel: 50 Years of Black Panther
It's been half a century since Stan Lee and Jack Kirby unleashed T'Challa on the world in the pages of Fantastic Four No. 54, and with a New York Times best-selling comic book series and an upcoming movie starring Chadwick Boseman on the horizon, the hero's profile has never been higher. Ta-Nehisi Coates and Brian Stelfreeze, creators of the current comic, talk with fan-favorite writer Christopher Priest and others about the character's appeal. Room 1A06, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Star Wars Presents: A Writers Roundtable
Writers of Star Wars novels and comics — including Aftermath's Chuck Wendig and Poe Dameron comic writer Charles Soule — talk about what it's like to write for a galaxy far, far away, in this Lucasfilm-sponsored panel that's sure to unveil at least one previously unknown tidbit of information. After all, Rogue One and Episode VIII aren't that far away, by comparison … BookCon@NYCC, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
DC's Young Animal
The creators of Doom Patrol, Shade the Changing Girl and Mother Panic are on hand to talk about DC's latest imprint, dedicated to reviving some of the company's stranger heroes with even more unusual twists. For those who like their superheroes offering up something different than the norm, this is where you probably want to be. Room 1A06, 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
Stan Lee Creators Roundtable
As if the prospect of hearing Stan Lee spin a tale or two about the old days wasn't entertaining enough, this Kevin Smith-moderated panel has two secret weapons in fellow guests Chris Claremont — aka the man responsible for the X-Men that you love — and Walter Simonson, whose fan-favorite run on The Mighty Thor might be even more fun than Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's take on Norse mythology. The Theater at Madison Square Garden, 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
Moving Beyond the Strong Female Character
It's not just about ensuring that there's gender parity in pop culture — it's about the way that characters are portrayed, as well. A group of pop culture writers and critics discuss ways in which things can move beyond stereotypes and well-meaning cliches, and point to some examples of shows, books and comics that got things right. Room 1A18, 6:45 p.m.-7:45 p.m.
New York Comic Con runs Oct. 6-9 at the Javits Center, and other locations across New York City.
