It’s that time of year again, when the comics industry descends en masse to San Diego Comic-Con. While fans line up for panels and scramble for show exclusives, pros and anyone who can get away from their booths for an hour have an opportunity for networking and professional development. As usual, SDCC offers a loaded schedule of programming at all hours, with the pro-oriented programs frontloaded on Thursday and Friday.
Here are some of my top picks of public programs of interest to industry professionals, current and aspiring creatives, educators, librarians and retailers.
Thursday, July 24:
10am: From Script to Sketch: Crafting Comics. First Second’s Mark Siegel leads a group of creators in a practical discussion of bringing graphic novels to life. Room 5AB
10am: The Creator’s Symposium. Spotlight on organization bringing marginalized voices into comics. Room 23ABC.
10am: Beyond the Page: Immersive Story Experiences. Practical advice for participating in the “experience economy” by bringing stories into the real world. Marriott Marquis Grand 6.
10:30am: How to Get News Coverage. A solid crew led by Rik Offenberger dispense valuable advice for independent creators trying to get press attention. Room 10.
10:30am: Comic Book Law School: IP Basic Training. The first in a series of accredited legal education programs held over the weekend, this one focused on protecting IP rights. Room 11.
11:30am: Success in Creativity Mixer. Marriott Marina D. Several throughout the weekend.
Noon: Making Comics Beyond the Credit Box. Spotlight on supporting roles, including editing, marketing, sales. Marriot Marquist Grand 12&13.
Noon: Toys, Tariffs and Trade Wars. Discussion on how people at every stage of the supply chain can navigate our current self-inflicted uncertainties and turbulence in international trade. Omni Grand Ballroom.
1pm: (In)Visible: Breaking into Comics Behind the Scenes. All-star lineup of marketing and PR pros talk about their crucial role in the industry. Marriott Grand Room 12&13.
1pm: Modern Fanatic: Crowdfunding. Kickstarter publishing pros discuss successful strategies to organize, launch, promote and fulfill campaigns. Room 9.
2pm: The Journey of Superani: Hyun Jun Kim’s Artist Discovery and Recruitment Process. As the studio model becomes more popular among creators, some useful insights from the very successful South Korean studio that launched the late Kim Jung-Gi. Room 3.
2pm: Inflation, Politics, Tariffs: How Small Businesses Survive and Thrive. Must-see panel for entrepreneurs, retailers and businesses trying to navigate current uncertainties. Marriott Marquis Grand 12&13.
2:30 pm: From Ideas to Shelves. Business-focused discussion on adapting published properties into other media and merchandise. Room 24ABC.
3:30pm: PW Book Buzz: New Imprints and Indies. Hear from rising stars and upcoming news in the trade book graphic novel publishing business. Room 29CD.
4:00pm: How to get Your 2nd, 3rd and 4th Jobs in Entertainment. Advice on sustaining your career, from established pros. Marriott Marquis Grand 12&13.
4:30pm: What’s the Buzz with the Beat: Inside the Latest News. Esteemed colleague Heidi MacDonald runs through perspectives on the hottest stories in the industry, room 24ABC.
5:00pm: The Future of Collecting. Innovators in digital collectibles technology make their case. Room 28DE.
5:00pm: Manga Publishing Industry Rountable. Annual summit meeting of top manga publishers discussing the state of the business. Room 29AB.
6:00pm: Creating Comics: Ask the Pros. An interesting group of creators, industry pros and retailers give advice for breaking into the industry. Room 32AB.
6:30pm: Lifecycle of a Comic Book. Business-focused look at go-to-market, distribution and marketing strategies. Room 10.
7:00pm: Career Paths in Comics. Advice on maintaining career momentum without burning out. Room 32ABC.
7:00pm: Comic Creator Connection. First of three daily meetups for current and aspiring industry professionals, all held at Marriot Marquis Marina D.
8:00pm: What Can We Actually Do About A.I.? Stick around late for an important discussion of the biggest challenge facing all creative industries from a tech, legal, business and creative perspective.
Friday, July 25:
10am: (Don’t) Stay in Your Lane. Managing a creative career across media. Room 4.
10am: Graphic Novel Production and Pitching. Creators share their insights on taking a graphic novel from concept to execution to licensing. Omni Grand Ballroom 4.
10:30am: Comic Book Law School: Ready to Launch? Deep dive into tactics for monetizing IP, including contracts, business formation, collaborations and more. Room 11.
11am: Graphic Novel vs. Manga. Analyzing the appeal of the two hottest trends in the market, YA graphic novels and manga. SD Public Library Shiley Events Suite.
Noon: Independent Creators United. Roundtable discussion on how independent creators can survive in a fast-changing industry, expanding IP, and crowdfunding tips. Room 4.
1pm: Navigating the 2025 Comics Librarian Experience. Must-see programming for librarians, at the Central Library, naturally.
1pm: Owned: Comics Copyright and the Public Domain. CBLDF-led discussion on public domain and fair use of copyrighted material, including a debate on AI. Room 11.
2:00pm: Worlds Collide: Adapting Sci-Fi/Fantasy for Comics and Animation. Turning ideas into universes and franchises, from a variety of business and creative perspectives. Marriot Marquis Grand 12&13.
3pm: ComiXology Presents: Lights, Camera, Comix! I’ll be moderating a discussion with four multidisciplinary creators on differences between writing for comics and other media. Room 6DE.
4:30 Pro Writer AMA: Breaking in and Leveling Up. Good mix of entertainment writers dispense advice. Room 29CD.
6pm: Unleashing the Power of Play: The Monstrous Intersection of Comics, Games, Toys and the Creators Behind Them. Discussion of the business opportunities of licensing comics IP in games and merchandise. Room 29AB.
6pm: Discovering Career Paths in the Tabletop Gaming Industry. Industry and company leaders share tips on getting into the gaming business. Room 23ABC.
6:30pm: Comic Book Bestsellers with Prana DM. Can we ever get accurate sales data? Industry leaders discuss potential solutions. Room 10.
7:00pm: Collabs Amongst Collectibles. Makers of licensed toys and merchandise discuss business strategies and opportunities. Room 32AB.
8:00pm: The Will Eisner Awards. Come and cheer for ICv2 to take home the hardware! Oh, and a bunch of other great award-worthy categories as well. Hilton Bayfront Indigo Ballroom.
Saturday, July 26:
10am: Tabletop Publishing: Getting onto Store Shelves. Industry experts offer advice on monetizing your game ideas. Omni Grand Ballroom.
Noon: Spilling the Tea on Animation IP. Business-focused conversation on the ins-and-outs of adapting IP for animation. Room 9.
1pm: The Creator Economy: Owning Your Vision in Modern Media. Wide-ranging discussion on the evolution of the media and production industry. Room 7AB.
1:30pm: Manga Without Borders: The Global Evolution. How the globalization of manga presents new market opportunities. Room 29CD.
2:00pm: Teaching Pop Culture in 2025: Embracing the Past/Preparing for the Future. I’ll be participating in this session on teaching pop culture in higher education.
4:00pm: Comic Content Strikes Back: The Return of the Aftermarket. Market trends in the comic collectibles space. Room 29AB.
4:00pm: Creators in the Age of A.I. Another panel focused on the disruptive impact of AI in creative industries. Omni Grand Ballroom.
4:00pm: Massive Indisies: Navigating a Changing Market. Creators, publishers and industry insiders discuss the changing distribution for landscape for smaller publishers post-Diamond. Room 29DE.
5:30: Funding Your Project in Today’s Economy. Zoop’s perspective on crowdfunding. Room 6AB.
6:00pm: The Business of Freelance Comic Books. Useful advice for independent professionals from legal and business experts. Room 23ABC.
Sunday, July 27:
Noon: From Fandom to Career: Storytelling in Pop Culture Professions. How to forge a career path in creative industries. Omni Grand Ballroom.
2:30 pm: Comics Culture in Museums: The World of Pop Media Exhibitions. A look inside the booming business of comics art shows in museums and galleries. Room 25ABC.
3:00pm: Careers in Design, Tech and Gaming. Advice for breaking into the videogame industry. Room 3.
3:30pm: Comic-Con Talkback. How this year’s SDCC went from the perspective of vocal attendees and organizers. Room 25ABC.
4:00pm: Avoid Getting Scammed as an Artist. How to spot red flags and suspicious business deals. Room 11.
Ok, that’s a lot. But SDCC is a lot. I didn’t even list the other four that I’m on this year (on expanding the definition of comics, Eddie Campbell, Frazetta’s horror artwork, and Jules Feiffer – look ’em up if you’re interested). Apologies to all the worthies I missed.
Safe travels to everyone going to San Diego this week. Hope to see you at the show!
The opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff of ICv2.com.
Rob Salkowitz (Bluesky @robsalk) is the author of Comic-Con and the Business of Pop Culture, a two-time Eisner Award nominee, and a proud longtime contributor to Eisner-nominated ICv2.
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