Wizard World New Orleans is just around the corner, and the convention organizers have released the schedule of events for those looking for comics and fun in the Big Easy.
Standard New Orleans Comic Con programming will take place in Room A and Room B at Hall H of the Morial Convention Center. All programming is included with admission to the event, with the exception of the James Marsters Concert, which requires an additional ticket. Seating for panels is strictly limited and available on a first come first serve basis and each room will be cleared between panels. The full schedule is below:
Saturday
11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
WHO WANTS TO BE ON A REALITY SHOW? W/ JARRETT CRIPPEN ‘THE DEFUSER’
Have you ever wanted to be on a reality show? Are you curious as to what the producers are looking for? Come get inside tips about reality shows and what it takes to win from the winner of Stan Lee’s “Who Wants to be a Superhero?” Season II. The Defuser (Jarrett Crippen) will talk about and answer questions regarding the audition process, competition, living conditions and other topics related to his show and reality shows in general. (Room B)
12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.
JAMES MARSTERS Q&A
Best known for his role as Spike, the platinum blonde vampire on hit shows “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel,” James Marsters answers questions about everything from his evolution from acting to music and back, and the projects he plans to conquer in the next few years. (Room A)
WIZARD ART SCHOOL W/ DAVID MACK AND BILL SIENKIEWICZ
Legendary artists and long-time friends David Mack (Kabuki) and Bill Sienkiewicz (Batman: The Widening Gyre covers) unite for this insider look at their art processes, and give advice and their personal dos and don’ts of the trade to new creators interested in sequential storytelling. (Room B)
1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
BILLY DEE WILLIAMS Q&A
Lando lands at New Orleans Comic Con, as the coolest man in Star Wars history sits down to take fan questions. (Room A)
THE ART OF ‘CHEW’ AND ‘SWEETS’
Indie art sensations Kody Chamberlain (Sweets) and Rob Guillory (Chew) join the Wizard World Comic Con Tour and discuss their breakout Image hits. (Room B)
2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
BUFFYFEST Q&A W/ NICHOLAS BRENDON AND KELLY DONOVAN
Buffy’s “Xander Harris” sits down with his sinister twin brother to take fan questions about life during and after the pop culture phenomenon. (Room A)
WIZARD ART SCHOOL W/ CAMERON STEWART, KEVIN MAGUIRE AND YANICK PAQUETTE
Three of comics most renowned storytellers—Cameron Stewart (Batman & Robin), Kevin Maguire (Justice League International) and Yanick Paquette (Batman, Inc.)—discuss art, storytelling and working with collaborators in the digital age. (Room B)
3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
BUFFYFEST Q&A W/ CLARE KRAMER AND JAMES CHARLES LEARY
Join “Buffy” stars Clare Kramer (Glory) and James Charles Leary (Clem) as the duo discuss the behind the scenes shenanigans and fun of shooting one of pop culture’s biggest hits. (Room A)
VICTOR GISCHLER Q&A
Famed novelist (Go-Go Girls of the Apocalypse) and comic book scribe Victor Gischler (X-Men: Curse of the Mutants) talks about his recent runs on X-Men and Deadpool as well as his novel background and his rise in comics. (Room B)
4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
BATMAN AND ROBIN Q&A W/ ADAM WEST AND BURT WARD
The original ’60s “Dynamic Duo” re-teams for this one-of-a-kind Q&A, where Batman and Robin drop their masks and talk about their lady co-stars, the villains they faced and the wild nights after the show! (Room A)
SUPERSTARS OF WRESTLING W/ KEVIN NASH
Professional grappler Kevin Nash pile drives and body slams your questions into the mat! (Room B)
5:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.
AARON DOUGLAS Q&A
Best known for his role on “Battlestar Galactica” as Chief Galen Tyrol, Aaron Douglas can now be seen on “Hellcats” on The CW, and here he answers all your questions during this exclusive Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con session. (Room A)
THE SOUND OF MUSICAL INTERLUDE W/ ETHAN VAN SCIVER
The halls are alive with the sound of…“music.” Ethan Van Sciver (Flash: Rebirth) invites you to spend the hour trapped in a small room discussing cannibalism, Wolverine, deviancy and all manner of filth and disease through the art of song. Not since Liberace has anyone tickled the ivories with such aplomb. Well, Richard Marx was good. But Ethan is good, too! Come and see! (Room 3)
6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
KIDS’ COSTUME CONTEST
Bring any kids 10 and under for this special event with great prizes just for families and the youngsters. (Room A)
6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
ADULT COSTUME CONTEST
Get your best costume together and come on down to the Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con costume contest for huge prizes and some of the craziest outfits you’ll see this weekend. (Room A)
9:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m.
JAMES MARSTERS CONCERT
After enjoying sell-out crowds across the nation, singer/songwriter James Marsters performs a rare and intimate concert up close and personal with Wizard World fans. NOTE: ADDITIONAL TICKET REQUIRED. (Room A)
9:00 p.m.
THE WIZARD WORLD NEW ORLEANS COMIC CON LIVE ART SHOW AND AFTER PARTY W/ KODY CHAMBERLAIN AND ROB GUILLORY
Music by DJ Rüs with Jeff Hebert on drums Join us for this special after-hours event hosted by Kody Chamberlain (Sweets, 30 Days of Night) and Rob Guillory (Chew), and watch some of your favorite comic artists create original work from start to finish right before your eyes. This is a rare opportunity to hang out, network, and get to know some of the top artists in the business. Who knows, you may even get to own an original masterpiece! This is a free event; must be 18 to enter.
LOCATION: Hey! Café, 4332 Magazine St. (Corner of Magazine & Napoleon Ave.)
Sunday
11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
JULIE BENZ Q&A
The star of hit shows like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Dexter” and “No Ordinary Family,” Julie Benz talks to fans about her extensive career, ups and downs in the industry and her thoughts on the new generation of sci-fi and fantasy on television. (Room A)
TERRY MOORE Q&A
The Strangers in Paradise and Echo creator takes fan questions on his plethora of critically acclaimed and fan-favorite comics as well as talks about his upcoming plans. (Room B)
12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.
CLAUDIA CHRISTIAN Q&A PANEL W/ ‘LOOK’ PREVIEW
“Babylon 5” beauty Claudia Christian shares the secrets to her multi-faceted success, and previews a sneak peek of her new Showtime series “Look.” (Room A)
WIZARD ART SCHOOL W/ PHIL JIMENEZ AND JASON PEARSON
Superstar artists Phil Jimenez (Adventure Comics) and Jason Pearson (upcoming Astonishing X-Men) assemble to give out their tips on refining your art, pitching to Marvel and DC, and any other sound advice they can think of about working in comics (Room B)
1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
RAY PARK Q&A
The “X-Men” and “Star Wars: Episode I—The Phantom Menace” star engages fans in this one-of-a-kind Q&A, where he discusses his extensive film biography and his evolution to genre icon. (Room A)
STORYTELLING W/ MICHAEL GOLDEN
No matter if you’re a writer, artist or a reader of comics, come for this sit-down with one of the most renowned storytellers in the business, Michael Golden, as he tells you a few tricks of the trade that will help you no matter what type of story you tell or enjoy, in whatever medium. It’s a rare opportunity to talk with the co-creator of X-Men’s Rogue, and groundbreaking penciler on such projects as Bucky O’Hare, The ‘Nam, Micronauts, G.I. Joe, and much more. (Room B)
2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
WIZARD SPOTLIGHT: LOUIS GOSSETT JR.
Screen legend and Academy Award winner Louis Gossett Jr. (“Officer and a Gentleman,” “The Punisher,” “Iron Eagle,” “Enemy Mine”) joins the Wizard World Comic Con Tour and sits down for this exciting Q&A, telling the behind-the-scenes stories from the set and answering the questions you’ve always wanted to ask. (Room A)
MIKE GRELL AND MARK RYAN
The legendary comics icon behind classic Legion of Super-Heroes Tales and Warlord, Mike Grell, teams up with Transformers voice actor Mark Ryan (the voice of Bumblebee) to answer fan questions. (Room B)
3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
WALTER KOENIG Q&A
The original “Star Trek” series’ Pavel Chekov, Walter Koenig beams into this Q&A, where he’ll answer any and all questions from the elite Trek fans at New Orleans Comic Con. (Room A)
JAMES O’BARR Q&A
The Crow creator talks about his dark creation, new comics and the plans for a new Crow franchise in the movies. (Room B)
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
‘WALKING DEAD’ Q&A W/ CHANDLER RIGGS, KEISHA TILLIS AND ADRIAN KALI TURNER
AMC’s ambitious horror series, based on Robert Kirkman’s ultra-hot zombie series from Image, now comes to life from director Frank Darabont (“The Green Mile”)! Check out amazing behind-the-scenes footage and extended clips along with a Q&A with stars from AMC’s show. (Room A)
The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center is located at 900 Convention Center Blvd. in New Orleans. New Orleans Comic Con is the first stop on Wizard’s 2011 North American tour, which to date has 13 events scheduled. Hours are Saturday, Jan. 29, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Jan. 30, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.. Tickets are available in advance or by calling 1-866-882-5860 and online at www.wizardworld.com/neworleans.html at up to a 15% savings over tickets purchased at the door. Advance adult single-day tickets are $25 ($30 on site); two-day weekend tickets are $40 ($45 on site), and tickets are free for children age 10 and under when accompanied by a paid adult (limit two children per adult). VIP packages with special entry and exclusive items are also available.
The freshly renovated New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center is an essential component of what makes the city’s major business events so successful. With 1.1 million square feet of contiguous exhibit space, the Convention Center is the sixth largest convention facility in the nation, and it consistently ranks in the country’s top ten of facilities that hold the most conventions and trade shows annually.
