DARK HORSE COMICS AT SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON 2023
DARK HORSE ANNOUNCES SIGNING AND
EVENT SCHEDULE FOR SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON 2023
DARK HORSE COMICS @ SDCC 2023 – BOOTH #2615
That’s right–Dark Horse Comics is back at SDCC… and so is PopCultHQ! I, Jason Bennett, will be making the drive down to San Diego to cover Comic Con International: San Diego 2023 (SDCC) for the third year in a row. This year, our coverage of SDCC 2023 will be the biggest ever! I’ll be joined by staff writer Joshua Winchester, who is flying in from Chicago to cover the event for PopCultHQ as well. We’ve already begun scheduling interviews with people in the comic book industry, as well as other pop culture businesses appearing this year.
One of my favorite publishers to work with at conventions is Dark Horse Comics. They have a remarkable staff, they’re very media friendly, and their booth has so much presence (at any event). In short, Dark Horse & their epic booth/display kick ass.
Dark Horse has officially announced their plans for 2023’s Comic-Con. By the looks of it, DHC may have one of their best year’s yet! Peep the info below to see how Dark Horse will be making an impact at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con!
Stop by the Dark Horse booth #2615 at San Diego Comic-Con to meet some of your favorite creators and get some free swag, such as comics, pins, posters, and more! Let out your artistic side with their communal coloring wall featuring artwork from some of our coloring books, including Critical Role, Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Legend of Korra, and The Witcher! Speaking of The Witcher, CD Projekt RED will be partnering with Dark Horse this year at the booth and will join them for signings, panels, and more.
Below, find the full schedule of signings taking place at the Dark Horse Comics booth from Thursday-Sunday. Following that, find a complete list of their panels and programming around the convention.
***Details and guests may be added or subject to change.
DARK HORSE SDCC 2023 SIGNING SCHEDULE
All creators signing in the Dark Horse Comics booth offer their autographs for FREE. FREE prints, comics, or posters are provided for most of their signings (while supplies last). Convention exclusives can be purchased at their booth, or bring your own items to be signed; however, Dark Horse may limit the type or number of items to be signed as necessary. See details for each signing below.
Some signings require a wristband for entry, as noted on the schedule. Drawings for wristbands for these events will begin when the exhibit hall opens to the public the day before and day of each signing, and will end when all allotted wristbands have been given out. Head to the Dark Horse booth early for the wristband drawings and for the best chance to join these events.
Lines may also be closed for some signings due to crowding or time restrictions.
All events are subject to change. Some restrictions apply. See Dark Horse Comics staff at the booth if you have questions.
—THURSDAY, 7/20—
11-11:45 am
HOTEL REM
Zack Keller
SONS OF ASHGARD: ILL MET IN ELMGARD
Chad Corrie
12-12:45 pm
ELFQUEST
Wendy and Richard Pini
1-1:45 pm
THE ODDLY PEDESTRIAN LIFE OF CHRISTOPHER CHAOS
James Tynion IV, Tate Brombal
2-2:45 pm
GROO
Mark Evanier, Carrie Strachan
3-3:45 pm
THE HOUSE
Phillip Sevy, Drew Zucker
KILLER QUEENS
David M. Booher
KEPLER
Phillip Sevy
4-4:45 pm
CREEPY
Dan Braun, Ben Braun
5-6:30 pm
MINOR THREATS
Patton Oswalt, Jordan Blum, Scott Hepburn
BLACK HAMMER
Jeff Lemire, Tate Brombal, Patton Oswalt
WRISTBAND REQUIRED
*** NO POSED PHOTOGRAPHY
*** LIMIT ONE FREE PRINT AND ANY MINOR THREATS COMICS/ART
*** OTHER RESTRICTIONS WILL APPLY–SEE STAFF FOR INFO
—FRIDAY, 7/21—
11-11:45 am
USAGI YOJIMBO
Stan Sakai
12-1:30 pm
MINOR THREATS
Patton Oswalt, Jordan Blum, Scott Hepburn, Joëlle Jones, Nate Piekos
WRISTBAND REQUIRED
***NO POSED PHOTOGRAPHY
***LIMIT ONE FREE PRINT AND ANY MINOR THREATS COMICS/ART
*** OTHER RESTRICTIONS WILL APPLY–SEE STAFF FOR INFO
2-2:45 pm
THE GOON
Eric Powell
3-3:45 pm
JAMES CAMERON’S AVATAR
Sherri L. Smith, Corinna Bechko, Michael Heisler
4-4:45 pm
HELLBOY, KOSHCHEI IN HELL, YOUNG HELLBOY
Mike Mignola
YOUNG HELLBOY
Tom Sniegoski
KOSHCHEI IN HELL
Ben Stenbeck
HELLBOY WEB OF WYRD
Amanda Kruse
WRISTBAND REQUIRED
*** LIMIT FOUR ITEMS MAXIMUM PER PERSON (INCLUDING FREE PRINTS)
*** OTHER RESTRICTIONS WILL APPLY–SEE STAFF FOR INFO
5-5:45 pm
STRANGER THINGS AND DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
Jim Zub, Jody Houser, Nate Piekos
—SATURDAY, 7/22—
11-11:45 am
STAR WARS: THE HIGH REPUBLIC ADVENTURES; JAXXON ANNUAL; HYPERSPACE STORIES
Cecil Castellucci, Cavan Scott, Amanda Deibert, George Mann, Fico Ossio
12-12:45 pm
SURVIVAL STREET
James Asmus, Jim Festante
DEATH STRIKES: THE EMPEROR OF ATLANTIS
Dave Maass
HANS VOGEL IS DEAD
Sierra Barnes
BREAK OUT
Zack Kaplan
1-1:45 pm
ELFQUEST
Wendy and Richard Pini
2-2:45 pm
SHOOK! A BLACK HORROR ANTHOLOGY
Bradley Golden, Brandon Easton, John Jennings, Alverne Ball, Rodney Barnes
3-3:45 pm
TURTLE BREAD
Kim-Joy
WRISTBAND REQUIRED
*** PIN PURCHASE REQUIRED FOR POSED PHOTOGRAPHY
*** LIMIT ONE FREE PRINT, THREE ITEMS MAXIMUM PER PERSON
*** OTHER RESTRICTIONS WILL APPLY–SEE STAFF FOR INFO
4-4:45 pm
BARNSTORMERS
Scott Snyder, Tula Lotay
WRISTBAND REQUIRED
*** NO POSED PHOTOGRAPHY
*** LIMIT ONE FREE PRINT, THREE ITEMS MAXIMUM PER PERSON
*** OTHER RESTRICTIONS WILL APPLY–SEE STAFF FOR INFO
5-5:45 pm
THE WITCHER; CYBERPUNK 2077
Bartosz Sztybor, Marcin Batylda, more to confirm
—SUNDAY, 7/23—
11-11:45 am
COUNT CROWLEY
David Dastmalchian
WRISTBAND REQUIRED
*** NO POSED PHOTOGRAPHY
*** LIMIT ONE FREE PRINT, THREE ITEMS MAXIMUM PER PERSON
*** OTHER RESTRICTIONS WILL APPLY–SEE STAFF FOR INFO
12-12:45 pm
KALI, BIRDKING
Daniel Freedman
1-1:45 pm
CARMILLA: THE FIRST VAMPIRE
Amy Chu
2-2:45 pm
ADORA AND THE DISTANCE
Marc Bernardin
3-3:45 pm
PLANETES
Makoto Yukimura
DARK HORSE SDCC 2023 PANEL SCHEDULE
Please join us at the panels below, brought to you by Dark Horse Comics and friends! Please visit https://www.comic-con.org/cci/programming-schedule for more details and panels featuring Dark Horse creators, as well as guidelines for attending panels.
—THURSDAY, 7/20—
12:30-1:30 PM
Room: 10
Neurodiversity and Comics
The creative community contains a neurodiverse population, but it can be a challenge to understand how to approach working in comics while managing ND. Panelists Christie Porter (The Color of Always), Blake Howard (Punchline), Connor Goldsmith (Cerebro Podcast), Jana Tropper (Animal Rescue Friends), and Konner Knudsen (editor, Dark Horse Comics) offer a frank and helpful conversation. Moderated by Phillip Sevy (X-Men Unlimited), as they discuss navigating a creative career with neurodivergence.
3:15-4:15 PM
Room: 6DE
Creating Superheroes and Not-so-Supervillains
Patton Oswalt (Minor Threats, Black Hammer: Visions), Jordan Blum (Minor Threats, Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K.), Scott Hepburn (Minor Threats), James Tynion IV (The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos, Something is Killing the Children), Tate Brombal (The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos, Barbalien: Red Planet), and Jeff Lemire (Black Hammer, Mazebook) discuss creating their own heroes, villains, and worlds in their creator-owned comics and more. Moderated by Ben Blacker (Thrilling Adventure Hour, DC’s Hex Wives).
4:30-5:30 PM
Room: 29DE
Direct Market 50th Anniversary Celebration
Mike Richardson (CEO of Dark Horse), Bill Schanes (Pacific Comics co-founder, longtime VP at Diamond Comic Distributors), and Bob Wayne (longtime DC SVP), and moderator Milton Griepp (co-founder of Capital City Distribution, ICv2 CEO) discuss the origins, growth, importance, and future of the comics Direct Market, the foundation of geek culture.
5:00-6:00 PM
Room: 29AB
Manga Publishing Industry Roundtable
One of the big surprises of 2020-2022 was the astronomical growth of manga sales. Although sales are leveling off, manga’s sales strength in North America appears here to stay. Get a taste of what’s hot, what’s not, and what’s next from the perspective of top publishing pros, including Kevin Hamric (vice president, marketing sales, VIZ Media), Ben Applegate (director, publisher services, Penguin Random House), Bobbi Chase (executive editor, WEBTOON Unscrolled), Ed Chavez (publisher, Denpa Books), Kae Winters (marketing lead, TOKYOPOP), Erik Ko (director, Udon Entertainment), Michael Gombos (director, international publishing and licensing, Dark Horse Comics), Beth Kawasaki (executive director, content and marketing, Media-Do International), Jamie Kim (business development lead, Manta), and Matt Haasch (publisher, Starfruit Books). Moderated by Deb Aoki (Publishers Weekly, Mangasplaining).
7:00-8:00 PM
Room: 9
Digital Comics–Digital Creation, Distribution, and Marketing
Speakers discuss innovative tech tools to create, distribute, and market digital comics for self, indie, and big publishers. Speakers will discuss cutting-edge favorite tools—including digital drawing tablets, programs, apps, and more—to write, draw, animate, and layout digital comics. Experts will then discuss best practices for digital publishing and distribution, as well as marketing and social media, to engage online communities. Featuring B.Earl (Marvel: Spider-Man, Daredevil, and Echo), Jeremy Adams (writer, Green Lantern, Flash, Flashpoint Beyond), Cara O’Neil (Dark Horse), and Akhsar Kharebov (Intera), with moderator Kevin Winston (Digital LA).
—FRIDAY, 7/21—
4:00PM – 5:00 PM
Room: 4
The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077: Expanding Worlds
The worlds of The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077 are rich in untold stories — from collectibles and cookbooks to comic books and more. Join CD PROJEKT RED’s Bartosz Sztybor (comic book and animation narrative director), Marcin Batylda (franchise and lore designer), and Nick McWhorter (global licensing director) for a look into the current and upcoming comic books and media set in these two genre-spanning universes — as well as some other surprises. Moderated by Cara O’Neil (VP of marketing, Dark Horse Comics).
4:30-5:30 PM
Room: 26AB
Found in Translation: Acquiring Comics from Around the World
There is gorgeous art being created all over the world—how do you find it? What are the ins and outs of foreign rights acquisition? And what are translation best practices? Leading comics industry professionals Conrad Groth (Fantagraphics), Tom Devlin (creative director at Drawn & Quarterly), Michele Foschini (BAO Publishing), Michael Gombos (senior director of licensed publications, Dark Horse), Charlotte Greenbaum (Abrams Books), and Olivier Jalabert (senior editor at Dupuis) answer these questions with moderator Amber Garza (Full Bleed Rights, LLC).
—SATURDAY, 7/22—
10:00-11:00 AM
Room: 23ABC
Usagi Yojimbo and Friends
Spotlight on Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo, Chibi Usagi) and his new Dogu Publishing imprint with Dark Horse Comics, featuring new Usagi Yojimbo comics, new titles with up-and-coming creators, and what’s next for Stan and the team at Dogu!
12:30-1:30 PM
Room: 24ABC
Water, Earth, Fire, Air–Continuing the Avatar Legacy
Abrams Books, Dark Horse Comics, Nickelodeon, and Magpie Games are thrilled to treat fans to a panel worthy of the Avatar! Creators and writers of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, including F.C. Yee (Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Legacy of Yangchen), and more special guests go on an exploration of the beloved world. Moderated by Cara O’Neil (VP of marketing, Dark Horse Comics).
2:30-3:30 PM
Room: 5AB
Hellboy: From Comics to Games
Comics creators Mike Mignola (Hellboy, B.P.R.D.), Ben Stenbeck (Koshchei in Hell, Frankenstein: New World), and Tom Sniegoski (Young Hellboy) join members of the team working on the upcoming video game, Hellboy Web of Wyrd, including Amanda Kruse (EP of Hellboy Web of Wyrd, head of publishing at Good Shepherd Games) and more special guests to discuss the ever-expanding world of Mignola’s beloved creation, Hellboy.
3:00-4:00 PM
Room: 11
The New Comics Career: How to Create Comics Without Gatekeepers
Until recently, there were a few gatekeepers who decided what got published and who got published. That’s all been blown up. While those industry giants still exist, there are far more ways to make your comics a reality than there ever have been before. But there’s more involved than just making a comic—there’s building an audience and a career. Andy Schmidt (CEX), Gamal Hennessy (The Business of Freelance Comic Book Publishing), Phillip Sevy (X-Men Unlimited), Kit Caoagas (Devil’s Due), and David Marshall (EIC at Dark Horse) show how to build your stories and your audience so that you won’t need the gatekeepers to tell your stories. Real advice, real talk, about making your own way and making it your way.
3:30-4:30 PM
Room: 5AB
Dave McKean: From DC to AI
Take a look back at Dave McKean’s 36-year career in comics, books, films, theatre, music, and other creative stuff, collected together in a massive retrospective book from Dark Horse, due out in November. It covers everything from Arkham Asylum, Sandman, and Mirrormask to The Magic of Reality, Bradbury, Blumenthal, Bruford, Rolling Stones, and Harry Potter. Plus: a final terrifying glimpse into the black hole that is artificial intelligence and Dave’s recent comic book essay “Prompt: Conversations with AI.”
4:15-5:15 PM
Room: 6DE
From the Dark Knight to Count Crowley:
David Dastmalchian’s Journey from
Comic Book Movie Actor to Comic Book Creator
From his haunting debut in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight to appearances in Marvel’s Ant-Man franchise to his beloved portrayal of Polka-Dot Man in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad and to the pages of his acclaimed Dark Horse Comics series Count Crowley, David Dastmalchian’s career has been touched by the medium of comics at nearly every page turn. An avid comic book reader since childhood, David wouldn’t have it any other way. Join David as he leads the room on a journey from comic book reader, to adapted comic book film, tv star, and voice actor, to comic book creator and writer.
—SUNDAY, 7/23—
10:30-11:30 AM
Room: 23ABC
Tabletop Gaming x Comics
Gather your party! Jody Houser (Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins, Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons), Cecil Castellucci (Critical Role: The Mighty Nein Origins—Yasha Nydoorin, Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories), Brian Schirmer (Quests Aside, Fairlady), Spencer Cushing (editor, Dark Horse Comics), and more special guests discuss roleplaying games, comics, and what it’s like adapting these stories from one medium to another! Moderated by Cara O’Neil, Dark Horse Comics VP of marketing.
12:30-2:00 PM
Room: 6DE
Horror Comics
Calling all Horror Hounds! Join David Dastmalchian (Count Crowley, The Suicide Squad), Leah Kilpatrick (Headless Horseman Halloween Annual), Ben Stenbeck (Koshchei the Deathless, Baltimore: The Plague Ships), Scott Snyder (We Have Demons, Night of the Ghoul, Book of Evil), Rodney Barnes (SHOOK! A Black Horror Anthology, Killadelphia), LySandra Vuong (Covenant) and newcomer Jimmy Stamp (The Beekeeper’s Due) as they talk about creating horror comics that keep readers up at night. Moderated by Jonathan James, Daily Dead.
About Dark Horse Comics:
Founded in 1986 as an offshoot of his comics retail chain, Mike Richardson, launched Dark Horse Comics with the goal of creating a welcoming environment for comics professionals. The company strives to be an example of how integrity and innovation can broaden a unique storytelling medium and transform a company with humble beginnings into an industry giant. Dark Horse has published modern masters such as Yoshitaka Amano, Margaret Atwood, Brian Michael Bendis, Paul Chadwick, Geof Darrow, Colleen Doran, Janet Evanovich, Neil Gaiman, Dave Gibbons, Faith Erin Hicks, Kazuo Koike, Matt Kindt, Jeff Lemire, Kentaro Miura, Moebius, Chuck Palahniuk, Eric Powell, Stan Sakai, and Gerard Way, as well as Hall of Fame legends Will Eisner, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and Richard Corben. The company also set the industry standard for quality licensed comics, graphic novels, collectibles, and art books, based on properties such as Star Wars, Stranger Things, Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Legend of Korra, Minecraft, The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario, Dragon Age, James Cameron’s Avatar, Game of Thrones, Mass Effect, The Witcher, and Halo. Dark Horse established an entertainment division in 1989, finding immediate success with company-owned projects The Mask and TimeCop. Current hits from Dark Horse Entertainment include The Umbrella Academy on Netflix and Resident Alien on SyFy. Additionally, Dark Horse has a long tradition of establishing new creative talent throughout all of its divisions.
In 2022, Dark Horse Media, LLC was established as the parent company of all three divisions, and became part of Embracer Group AB, forming the tenth operative group, strengthening the company’s transmedia capabilities.
Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC)
About SDCC:
The SAN DIEGO COMIC CONVENTION (Comic-Con International) is a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation organized for charitable purposes and dedicated to creating the general public’s awareness of and appreciation for comics and related popular art forms, including participation in and support of public presentations, conventions, exhibits, museums and other public outreach activities which celebrate the historic and ongoing contribution of comics to art and culture.
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PopCultHQ is a professional entertainment media company covering all things pop culture, with concentrations in comic books, cosplay, and conventions. We have exclusive interviews with comic book creators, cosplayers, publishers, local comic shops, and entertainment celebrities. PopCultHQ is also active on the convention scene, covering many events on-site to obtain & provide exclusive content for our viewing audience. Celebrate your fandom with us!
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Jason Bennett (@TahoeJBennett) is a writer & chief editor for PopCultHQ, As a team member since PopCultHQ’s inception, Jason has written over 8,300 articles covering all aspects of pop culture. He established relationships with many of the comic book publishers with whom we work on a regular basis. Whether sharing news from the comic book industry, conducting spoiler-free reviews, interviewing creators, or working with publicity reps, he is dedicated in promoting those within the comic book scene, giving people a platform to share their projects, as well as always seeking to find ways in which PopCultHQ can grow and improve. Jason also attends comic conventions, representing PopCultHQ as a member of the press, and can often be seen at conventions up and down the west coast.
