Looking at the Sunday Programming for each year’s San Diego always makes us wistful, as we imagine the brain-blasted exhaustion we’ll be experiencing as we shuffle around like a zombie. If we can rouse ourselves for the following, however, we will:

10:00-11:00 Jack Kirby Tribute— It’s time once again to pay tribute to Jack “King” Kirby, the prolific writer/artist who co-created some of the world’s most famous superheroes, including the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, Thor, Captain America, the New Gods, and many more. Kirby biographer and friend Mark Evanier (Kirby: King of Comics) hosts this annual Comic-Con tradition and is joined this year by writers Marv Wolfman (Tomb of Dracula, New Teen Titans), and Kurt Busiek (Astro City, JLA/Avengers) and other Kirby fanatics to discuss the King. Room 4

10:00-11:00 BOOM Kids! Muppets Spotlight— Mark Waid moderates as Eisner Award-nominated cartoonist Roger Langridge gives up all the secrets behind creating the critically acclaimed fan-favorite The Muppet Show Comic Book. A must-attend spotlight for all Muppets fans! Room 24ABC

10:00-11:00 Techland Presents: Comics and Digital Piracy— Just about every comic book is now available online within hours of its release in stores — whether or not its publisher is selling it in digital form. Techland.com’s Douglas Wolk moderates a discussion of what’s happening in the online comics Wild West with David Steinberger (comiXology), as well as publishers, scanlation experts, digital-rights specialists, and an opinionated creator or two. Room 25ABC

10:30-11:30 Spotlight on Doug TenNapel— Writer/artist, video game creator, filmmaker—Comic-Con special guest Doug TenNapel has it all covered. His graphic novels, including Creature Tech, Tommysaurus Rex, Monster Zoo, and Ghostopolis, have been optioned as big-budget movies. Hear what’s next from this multitalented creator! Room 5AB

11:00-12:30 Secret Origin of Good Readers— Navigate the wonderful world of comic books with professors of education Dr. Robyn A. Hill (National University) and Dr. Bill McGrath (National University), writer/artists Bill Galvan (Archie) and Jim Valentino (Image Comics), and comics store owners Nancy McCann (Comics Unlimited, Westminster, CA) and Mimi Cruz (Night Flight Comics, Salt Lake City, UT). Panelists discuss how teachers, librarians, retailers, and publishers can work together to bring comic books into the classroom for use as an innovative and motivating cross-curricular teaching tool. This multimedia presentation includes personal remarks and a Q&A session; the speakers will present an overview of the medium and highlight specific ways that comic books and graphic novels have been used to engage a variety of learners while promoting reading and literacy. Room 3

11:00-12:00 DC Kids: Aww Yeah!— Don’t miss your chance to chat with Mike Norton, Art Baltazar, and Franco, the creative team behind Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam and the best kid-friendly comic on the market, Tiny Titans! DC co-publisher Dan DiDio hosts what is sure to be entertaining discussion for the whole family! Room 4

11:00-12:00 Marvel: The Women of Marvel— One of the most talked-about panels from last year is back! Forget Storm and She-Hulk; meet the real Ms. Marvels of the comic world! Join women from every discipline in the creative process at Marvel to hear what it’s like working as a woman in comics today and how you can join them. Say goodbye to the so-called “Boy’s Club” — these ladies are busting down the four-color ceiling! Panelists include Marjorie Liu (Black Widow), Kathryn Immonen (Heralds), Christina Strain (Shadowland), and others. Room 7AB

11:30-12:30 Dark Horse: Yoshitaka Amano— Please join Dark Horse Comics to celebrate the career and the rare U.S. appearance of legendary Japanese artist Yoshitako Amano. The creator of Vampire Hunter D will be joined by Hollywood darling “Mink” to discuss their recent collaboration, Shinjuku, an epic work of artistic genius that explores the seedy underworld of modern Tokyo. Room 8

12:00-1:00 WildStorm Focus on RED: the Comic Book— Wanna know more about RED — one of this fall’s most anticipated movies with an all-star cast led by Bruce Willis? Artist Cully Hamner is up front-and-center to tell all about his exciting thriller co-created with Warren Ellis. Plus, with your hosts, senior VP for creative affairs Gregory Noveck and VP/general manager Hank Kanalz, there’s more RED comic news with screenwriters Erich Hoeber, John Hoeber, Doug Wagner, and others on what’s in store for this ageless hero! Room 4

12:00-1:00 Spotlight on Dennis O’Neil— One of comics’ most legendary writer/editors, Comic-Con special guest Dennis O’Neil is best known for his work on Batman. O’Neil’s long career includes writing and editing at Marvel and guiding the Caped Crusader at DC Comics for many years. Dennis will talk about his career and what’s up next for this fan-favorite creator. WildStorm’s Scott Peterson moderates. Room 25ABC

12:00-1:00 Kids Draw with James Sturm— Create your own cartooning adventure in this fun, interactive drawing session with Eisner Award–winning cartoon adventurer James Sturm (Adventures in Cartooning)! Using simple building blocks, you’ll learn how to put together an adventure of your own — and have fun along the way! Room 30CDE

12:30-1:30 The Funny Stuff: Humor in Comics and Graphic Novels— The world of comics isn’t just about dark and mysterious superheroes. There are a lot of great funny books out there. The Cartoon Art Museum’s Andrew Farago talks to Comic-Con special guests Peter Bagge (Hate), Howard Cruse (Wendel), Nicholas Gurewitch (The Perry Bible Fellowship), Keith Knight (The K Chronicles), Larry Marder (Beanworld), and Doug TenNapel (Monster Zoo) about the humorous side of comics. Room 8

1:00-2:00 BOOM Kids! Get-a-Sketch Panel— Darkwing Duck creator Tad Stones moderates the first-ever BOOM Kids! “Get-a-Sketch” panel. Darkwing Duck comic artist James Silvani, WALL*E artist Morgan Luthi, Incredibles artist Ramanda Kamarga, and a host of other BOOM Kids! artists will be drawing sketches to be handed out to some lucky attendees! Also in attendance: Toy Story writer Jesse Blaze Snider with his Muppet Snow White co-writer Patrick Storck. Learn everything that goes into making a BOOM Kids! comic and maybe get a free sketch! Room 24ABC

1:00-2:00 Cover Story: The Art of the Cover— Despite the old adage, you can tell a book by its cover, especially if it’s a comic book! Mark Evanier talks with fellow Comic-Con special guests Neal Adams (Batman, Green Lantern/Green Arrow), Dave Dorman (Star Wars), Sean Phillips (Criminal, Incognito), and Ivan Reis (Blackest Night, Green Lantern) about what makes a great cover. Room 25ABC

1:30-2:30 Glee— One year after the cast and creators of Glee came to Comic-Con for the first time, the show has exploded with blockbuster ratings, number-one albums and a sold-out concert tour. Get an exclusive first look at what’s in store for season 2 from executive producers Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, along with stars Chris Colfer, Amber Riley, Jenna Ushkowitz, Kevin McHale, Mark Salling, Heather Morris, and Naya Rivera, as they share some never-before-seen footage, spill behind-the-scenes secrets, and take questions from the crowd. Ballroom 20

2:00-3:00 The Digital Age of Comics— Have we moved from the Bronze Age to the Modern Age to…the Digital Age of Comics? This lively discussion about eComics is moderated by Macworld senior editor Jason Snell, with IDW’s Jeff Webber, iVerse Comics’ Michael Murphey, Sony PSP’s Adriana Eyzaguirre, and creators Jeff Smith and J. Scott Campbell. Room 5AB

2:00-3:00 “The Batman Dreams of Hieronymus Machines,” or The Matt Fraction Spotlight Panel— Comic-Con special guest Matt Fraction (Casanova, Invincible Iron Man, Uncanny X-Men, The Mighty Thor) performs “The Batman Dreams of Hieronymus Machines,” a weird spoken-word history of comics, art, and his own experiences with both and how comics — and art — can save your life. Also: Bruce Lee, cave paintings, Stilt-Man, and profound brain injuries. First performed as a part of W00tstock 2.0, now it’s coming to San Diego! Then, after that, probably a discussion and some Q&A and stuff moderated by Bill Hader (SNL, Paul, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World). Room 7AB

3:00-4:00 DC Town Hall Meeting— All are welcome to join DC co-publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee for a relaxed Sunday afternoon discussion. Share your thoughts on what you love about comics now and what you hope to see in the future! Room 25ABC

3:00-4:00 Dynamite Entertainment Speaks with Fans One-on-One— Fans can meet with Dynamite’s president and publisher Nick Barrucci and editor Joseph Rybandt in a “one-on-one” with fans in their first-ever Comic-Con panel. Room 32AB

3:30-4:30 Comic-Con Talkback— Another Comic-Con — the 41st! — is coming to a close. Here’s your chance to come and tell the CCI organizers what they did wrong and right. Talk to Comic-Con executives about this year’s event and your concerns. Room 3

4:00-5:00 Buffy the Musical— Let’s end this show with a bang! The powers that be behind Fandom Charities Inc. and Whedonopolis.com present a screening of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical episode “Once More With Feeling” as Comic-Con 2010’s big closing event! Many say this is the finest, funniest, most ingenious episode ever to come out of the Buffy-verse. But remember, the best part of the show is up to you! This episode was made for talkin’ — back, that is — and singing and shouting and dancing in the aisles, with or without your dry cleaning! Audience participation: it isn’t just for Rocky Horror and mob riots anymore. Ballroom 20

1 COMMENT

  1. Other than the KIRBY and AMERICAN DAD panels, looks like I’ll be mostly on the Exhibition Floor.

    Probably’ll do a circuit or two around on a sales/swag/autographs hunt— definitely less harried and pressured than the preceeding days. And therefore a good way to prep for that post-Con “come-down”…