What to do, whom to see at Comic Con
It can be hard to decide what to do when planning a trip to the Wizard World Chicago Comic Con.
The weekend will be jam-packed with panel discussions, autograph signings, mini-classes and of course the buying and selling of comic books. Where's a pop-culture nerd to begin?
Here are some highlights of the con you might want to keep in mind. Remember that all times and appearances are subject to change. Go to wizardworld.com for a full programming list.
<b>Captains ahoy:</b> The Earth is bound to rumble when three "Star Trek" captains take the stage together for a discussion of galactic journeys past and present. The biggie here will be William Shatner, who - and if you don't know this you've been living on an alien planet for the past 40 years - played Capt. James T. Kirk in the original "Star Trek." He'll be joined by Avery Brooks (Capt. Benjamin Sisko from "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine") and Scott Bakula (Capt. Jonathan Archer from "Star Trek: Enterprise"). 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 10
<b>Stan the Man:</b> Stan Lee is one of the most important figures in American comics. With help from artist collaborators like Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, Lee remade superhero comics by introducing troubled, moody characters to the genre. He created or co-created heroes who continue to do big business in comics and on movie screens today - Spider-Man, Iron Man, the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, the X-Men and many more. He will be appearing at several "meet and greet" events throughout the weekend, and will be the focus of a Q-and-A. Meet-and-greet events (extra ticket required) scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. Q-and-A scheduled for 11 a.m. Sunday.
<b>Local 'Art':</b> Streamwood resident Art Balthazar has had a busy year. He started cowriting and drawing a younger-readers Superman comic book for DC Comics; he opened his own comic-book store, Aw Yeah Comics, in downtown Skokie; and he announced plans to release new original work later this year. Balthazar has earned raves for his witty stories for younger audiences and his cartoony, Hanna-Barbera-inspired art. He's also a magnetic presence at conventions. He'll be meeting with fans throughout the weekend, and he'll lead the "Draw Like a Superhero with Art Balthazar" panel. Panel scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday.
<b>'Twin Peaks' duo:</b> "Twin Peaks," the groundbreaking television show (1990-91) created by David Lynch and Mark Frost, remains one of the most intelligent, strange and compelling dramas ever to appear on broadcast TV. Two of its stars, Sheryl Lee and Sherilyn Fenn, will be signing autographs at the Comic Con this year. Lee played Laura Palmer, the doomed high-school homecoming queen whose murder was the centerpiece of the show, as well as Laura's look-alike cousin, Maddy. Fenn played Audrey Horne, the beautiful and scheming daughter of a local bigwig. Signing throughout the show (autographs extra)
<b>B-movie hero:</b> Bruce Campbell, star of such genre classics as the "Evil Dead" films, "Bubba Ho-Tep" and the hilarious "My Name Is Bruce," will sit for a Q-and-A session during the Chicago Comic Con. Campbell is a funny, engaging and self-deprecating speaker, and he's full of amazing stories about working on the fringes of Hollywood stardom. Don't let the weekend go by without seeing this unique entertainer. 4 p.m. Saturday (Campbell will be appearing on Saturday only)
<b>And don't forget:</b> Other celebrities scheduled to appear at the show include Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the "Harry Potter" films; "Blade Runner" actress Sean Young; "The Walking Dead" star Jon Bernthal; and legendary comic-book artist Neal Adams.
Wizard World Chicago Comic Con
What: A weekend-long pop-culture convention featuring dozens of comic-book creators, movie and television stars, and comic-book dealers from all over the Midwest.
When: Noon to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 9, and Friday, Aug. 10; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 12
Where: Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont
Tickets: $35 per day, autographs and some special events extra. For full schedule, go to wizardworld.com.