2009 Panel Schedule

Saturday, October 3rd

Panel Room 1

10:30 a.m. Good Morning, Mid-Ohio-Con!
Mid-Ohio-Con Founder and Publicity Director Roger Price will give you the full scoop on what’s happening at the show on Saturday. Whether you’re a first-timer or a Mid-Ohio-Con veteran, this is the right way to start your day.

11:00 a.m. The Creation of Wolverine
Writer Len Wein and artist Herb Trimpe debuted Wolverine in the final page of The Incredible Hulk #180 in October 1974. Get the scoop on the birth of one of the most iconic and successful characters in the history of comics from the creators themselves.

12:00 p.m. MOC Presents: James Kyson Lee
Join us as we spotlight featured media guest James Kyson Lee, who is best known for his starring role as Ando Masahashi, a quiet Tokyo executive who embarks on wild adventures with his time-traveling friend Hiro Nakamura in the hit TV show Heroes.

1:00 p.m. Sketch Card Panel
Sketch cards based on comics, film, gaming, and television properties are a hot market that has opened up new opportunities for artists. Sketch card artists George Calloway, Jonathan Gordon and Scott Simmons talk about how they broke into the business and what the major card companies are doing now.

2:00 p.m. MOC Presents: Bernie Wrightson
Join us for a panel discussion moderated by Brian Kane as we highlight the life and work of guest of honor Bernie Wrightson, a legendary creator who has been chilling, thrilling, and horrifying fans for more than four decades.

3:00 p.m. 1,000 Comics You Must Read
Comics Buyer’s Guide Senior Editor Maggie Thompson will lead a discussion with author Tony Isabella about his much-anticipated new book 1,000 Comics You Must Read, available fall 2009 from retailers nationwide.

4:00 p.m. DC versus Marvel
Dark Reign? Blackest Night? Explore who’s winning, who’s losing, and why in this creative and financial clash of the titans in the comic industry.

Panel Room 2

11:00 a.m. MOC Presents: Michael Golden
Comics Buyer’s Guide Senior Editor Maggie Thompson moderates a discussion with guest of honor Michael Golden, whose groundbreaking work on titles such as The 'Nam, Micronauts, G.I. Joe Yearbook, The Avengers, Batman, and Dr. Strange has dazzled generations of fans and established him as one of the most influential creators in comics.

12:00 p.m. Prince Valiant Panel
Hal Foster’s Prince Valiant strip is among the more powerful creative influences for creators in comics, film, literature, and film over the past 50 years. Join Foster’s biographer Brian Kane along with Mike Grell and P. Craig Russell in this celebration of Hal Foster and his creation Prince Valiant.

1:00 p.m. Men of Bronze III
Join moderator Mark Evanier along with Ron Frenz, Gary Friedrich, Tony Isabella, Herb Trimpe, and Marv Wolfman in this celebration of the spectacular 70’s and awesome 80’s, a period of incredible creative change and development for the comics industry.

2:00 p.m. All-Ages Comics Panel
Who says comics aren’t for kids anymore? Join moderator Marc Sumerak along with Art Baltazar, Jacob Chabot, Chris Giarrusso in this discussion about the successful push by DC and Marvel to create a broad array of titles that truly are entertaining for readers of all ages.

3:00 p.m. MOC Presents: Ray Park
Join us as we talk with featured media guest Ray Park, the fan-favorite action movie star who has played an incredible array of characters during his remarkable career, including his recent appearance as Snake Eyes in the summer blockbuster G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.

4:00 p.m. Jack Kirby Tribute Panel
Join biographer Mark Evanier along with Barry Kitson, Scott Kolins, and Marv Wolfman in this celebration of the life and work of the King of Comics, Jack Kirby, whose contribution to comics and inspiration for generations of comics creators is truly unrivaled.

Sunday, October 4th

Panel Room 1

10:30 a.m. Good Morning, Mid-Ohio-Con!
Mid-Ohio-Con Founder and Publicity Director Roger Price will give you the full scoop on what’s happening at the show on Sunday.

11:00 a.m. Tony’s Tips Live
Tony Isabella presents a live version of his Tony’s Tips column, which has become a fan favorite for readers of Comics Buyer’s Guide and World Famous Comics Network. Enjoy his wit, wisdom, and even a dose of Tony’s Trivia in this session.

12:00 p.m. Swamp Thing: Panel of Secrets
Legendary creative team Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson will discuss the creation and legacy of Swamp Thing, which originally appeared in the pages of House of Secrets #92 in July 1971 and remains incredibly popular to this day.

1:00 p.m. Tales from the Marvel Bullpen
Join moderator Mark Evanier along with Gary Friedrich, Fred Hembeck, Tony Isabella, Len Wein, and Marv Wolfman as they take a walk down memory lane to share amusing anecdotes and fond recollections from the Marvel Comics Bullpen.

2:00 p.m. Voice Animation Panel
Writer Mark Evanier, whose cartoon animation work ranges from Garfield to Thundarr the Barbarian, and Gregg Berger, perhaps best known as the voice of Grimlock in the Transformers cartoon, discuss voice work for animation, film, and video games.

3:00 p.m. Implications of Disney + Marvel
The acquisition of Marvel by Disney is sure to have ripple effects across comics, film, gaming, and television for many years to come. Join Comics Buyer’s Guide Senior Editor Maggie Thompson along with our panel of experts as they discuss the far-reaching implications of this historic transaction.

Panel Room 2

11:00 a.m. MOC Presents: Dick Ayers
Join us in celebrating the remarkable career of living legend Dick Ayers, who has spend over six decades working in comics and was one of the founding members of the Marvel Bullpen along with Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

12:00 p.m. Web Comics Panel
Web comics are a dynamic medium that have opened new ways for creators and publishers to get their work in front of fans. Join moderator Steve Horton along with Lora Innes, Wes Molebash, Trevor Mueller, and Thom Zahler as they discuss the creative and financial aspects of web comics.

1:00 p.m. Investment Grade Collectibles Panel
Join Brett Carreras of Brett’s Comics Pile and VA Comicon along with his panel of comic dealers talk about what’s hot and what’s not in the investment-grade collectibles market. This session will focus primarily on high-grade comics from the Gold, Silver, and Bronze ages and is sure to be informative for pros and novices alike.

2:00 p.m. Sgt. Fury Retrospective
Join moderator Beau Smith along with creators Dick Ayers and Gary Friedrich as they discuss their definitive work on Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos, whose characters have withstood the test of time and remain ever popular today.

3:00 p.m. Indie and Small Press Comics Panel
Indie and Small Press comics have always offered a way for creators to launch their work but have recently been recognized as one of the most fertile grounds for new ideas and breakout titles. Join Bob Corby, Lora Innes, and Chuck Moore for this panel discussion.