All in the family

Wizard World Comic Con returns to Tulsa, uniting geeks of all stripes

This weekend, October 21-23, the Cox Business Center will once again be ground zero for all things sci-fi, horror, fantasy and comic book-related, as Wizard World Comic Con returns to Tulsa for a third year with a diverse array of panel discussions, special guests, gaming tournaments and costume contests. 

The roster this year is especially impressive—guests include, among others, Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes from “Captain America”), Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood from “Harry Potter”), Michael Rooker (“Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer”) and Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner. 

Read on for a guide to the weekend. 

For tickets, panel summaries and more information, visit wizardworld.com/comiccon/tulsa.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21ST 

3:00 PM
TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION AND CHECK IN OPENS
(GAMING STAGE / SHOW FLOOR)

4:00-4:45 PM
ARE FAN BOYS TOO MEAN? 3.0
(CONFERENCE HALL A)
If you’ve ever found yourself on the wrong end of an argument with a fan boy, you’ll want to chime in at this lighthearted, irreverent panel discussion, back for its third year.

4:00-6:00 PM
MYSTERY PARTY GAMES!
(GAMING STAGE / SHOW FLOOR)

4:30-5:15 PM 
GETTING STARTED IN GAME DEVELOPMENT
(CONFERENCE HALL B)

5:00-5:45 PM 
BATMAN AND PSYCHOLOGY: A DARK AND STORMY KNIGHT
(CONFERENCE HALL A)
Dr. Travis Langley (“Batman and Psychology”; “Captain America vs. Iron Man”) takes a deep dive into the Batcave and explores the dubious psychology of our most tortured hero.

5:00-5:45 PM 
VIPS OF SELF PUBLISHING
(CONFERENCE HALL D)

5:00-5:45 PM 
THE CREATIVE MIND: TOP ARTISTS DRAW COMICS with SPIDER-MAN’S STEVE GEIGER, BATMAN’S BO HAMPTON, GRIMJACK’S STEVE ERWIN AND DR. STRANGE’S GEOF ISHERWOOD
(CREATIVE STAGE / ARTIST ALLEY)

5:30-6:15 PM 
VILLAINS VERSUS VILLAINS
(CONFERENCE HALL B)
Why do some villains win our hearts while others creep us out? Genese Davis (“The Holder’s Dominion”), Jack Burgos (“Dark and Dangerous Things”) Shannon A. Thompson (“Bad Bloods”), and RA Jones (“Wolverine”) share their perspectives and creative process, including what key ingredients they focus on when creating vicious characters.

6:00-6:45 PM 
DRAWING DISNEY with CLINTON HOBART
(CREATIVE STAGE / ARTIST ALLEY)

6:00-6:45 PM 
WONDER WOMAN DAY!
TRIPLE DC ANNIVERSARY: FLASH, BATMAN & WONDER WOMAN with “BATMAN AND PSYCHOLOGY’S” TRAVIS LANGLEY and “SUPERMAN’S” DANNY FINGEROTH
(CONFERENCE HALL A)

6:00-8:00 PM 
TEKKEN 7: THE KING OF THE IRON FIST - PLAY A PRO!
(GAMING STAGE / SHOW FLOOR)

6:30-7:15 PM 
ALL THINGS PRO WRESTLING with WRESTLINGAUDIO.COM
(CONFERENCE HALL B)

7:00-7:45 PM 
COSPLAY 101: TIPS & TRICKS with WIZARD WORLD COSPLAY GUEST SUPER KAYCE
(CONFERENCE HALL A)
Veteran cosplayers offer tips of the trade and advice for aspiring cosplayers on how to get started.

7:00-7:45 PM 
START YOUR CREATIVE ENGINES! AND YOUR CREATIVE CAREER!
(CREATIVE STAGE / ARTIST ALLEY)

7:30-8:00 PM 
INSIDE THE RING WITH WWE® SUPERSTAR BECKY LYNCH™
(CONFERENCE HALL B)
Moderated by Ryan Ball (WrestlingAudio.com, Figuratively Speaking podcast).

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22ND 

11:00 AM 
STREET FIGHTER V - DOUBLE ELIMINATION TOURNAMENT POOLS
(GAMING STAGE / SHOW FLOOR)

11:00-11:45 AM 
LONGING. RUSTED. SEVENTEEN. DAYBREAK. FURNACE. NINE. BENIGN. HOMECOMING. ONE. FREIGHTCAR. SEBASTIAN STAN.
(BALLROOM A)
Actor Sebastian Stan will discuss his role as Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier in the “Captain America” film series, as well as his experiences acting in “Black Swan,” “Gossip Girl,” and “The Martian,” among others.

11:00-11:45 AM 
IT TAKES TWO: HOW ARTISTS AND WRITERS WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE COMICS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS YOU LOVE
(CONFERENCE HALL A)

11:00-11:45 AM 
HOW TO DRAW THE HULK THE MARVEL WAY
(CREATIVE STAGE / ARTIST ALLEY)

11:30-12:15 PM 
THE ART OF ROB SCHAMBERGER
(CONFERENCE HALL B)

12:00-12:45 PM 
ADVENTURES IN MIDDLE EARTH WITH BILLY BOYD
(BALLROOM A)

12:00-12:45 PM 
RETURN TO HALLOWEENTOWN with KIMBERLY J. BROWN
(ASSEMBLY HALL)

12:00-1:45 PM 
THE ART OF SATURDAY MORNING CARTOON PRODUCTION WITH ANIMATOR/DIRECTOR TOM COOK 
(CONFERENCE HALL A)
World-renowned animator Tom Cook (“Tarzan,” “Flash Gordon,” “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe”) will discuss his life and career, and demonstrate the process of animating from script to screen.

12:00-12:45 PM 
DRAFTING AN UNDERBUST CORSET PATTERN with WIZARD WORLD COSPLAY GUEST BRIT BLISS
(CREATIVE STAGE / ARTIST ALLEY) 

12:30-1:00 PM 
INSIDE THE RING WITH WWE® SUPERSTAR FINN BALOR™
(CONFERNCE HALL B)

12:30-1:15 PM 
STORYTELLING WITH MICHAEL GOLDEN
(CONFERENCE HALL D)

1:00 PM 
OFFICIAL BANDAI NAMCO ANIME COSPLAY GROUP PHOTO
(BANDAI BOOTH / SHOW FLOOR)

1:00-1:45 PM 
BACK TO HOGWARTS with EVANNA LYNCH
(BALLROOM A)
Luna Lovegood herself will stare into the audience and make matter-of-fact observations about life. And she won’t blink once.

1:00-1:45 PM 
THE MARVEL LEGACY: THE 77-YEAR HISTORY OF THE HOUSE OF IDEAS, FROM THE BEGINNING TO DEADPOOL TO CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR with SPIDER-MAN’S DANNY FINGEROTH
(CONFERENCE HALL A)

1:00-1:45 PM 
BODY PAINT BASICS with WIZARD WORLD COSPLAY GUEST
PRINCESS MORGAN COSPLAY
(CREATIVE STAGE / ARTIST ALLEY)

1:30-2:15 PM 
SYNERGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF ENTERTAINMENT: HOW TV, FILM, BOOKS, VIDEO GAMES AND TECHNOLOGY COLLIDE
(GAMING STAGE / SHOW FLOOR)
Transmedia is influencing entertainment at large, intertwining TV, video games, film, technology and the literary industry. TV series pull from novels, video games incorporate filmic cutscenes, and many movies blend all of the above. How does this impact creators and how will this synergy impact these industries in the future? Join Genese Davis (“The Holder’s Dominion”), Alex Langley (“The Geek Handbook” series) RA Jones (“Wolverine”) and Richard Cook (Game Developer and Filmmaker) as they divulge their perspectives and discuss these colliding genres.

1:30-2:15 PM 
(STILL) CHASING WHIMSY: THE JOURNEY CONTINUES!
(CONFERENCE HALL B)

2:00-2:45 PM 
BOLDLY GOING WITH WILLIAM SHATNER
(BALLROOM A)

2:00-2:45 PM 
TAKING THE STAGE: JOEY FATONE
(ASSEMBLY HALL)

2:00-2:45 PM 
Q&A PANEL WITH TMNT ARTIST STEVE LAVIGNE
(CREATIVE STAGE / ARTIST ALLEY)

2:00-2:45 PM 
STAR WARS DEBATE: SITH VS. JEDI
(CONFERENCE HALL A)
Star Wars portrays the Jedi as noble heroes and the Sith as self-centered villains, but is it really that simple? “Action Flick Chick” Katrina Hill moderates the battle between the Henderson State University’s warriors for the light and dark sides. For the Jedi: Coley Henson, Cameron Nickels, Oscar Mandragon, Hunter Cox. For the Sith: Evan Seale, Jackson Ables, Jessie Hickerson, Elliott Jackson. This is the fight you’re looking for....

2:30-3:15 PM 
WHO RUNS THE WORLD: GIRLS IN THE COMICS INDUSTRY
(CONFERENCE HALL B)
Three teen comic creators discuss the challenges they have faced as young women in the comic industry and how they are working to overcome them, all while trying to inspire the newest generation of female creators.

2:30-3:15 PM 
UNBREAKABLE SKIN?: HOW TO CRITIQUE CREATIONS OF COLOR WITHOUT SOUNDING…YOU KNOW
(CONFERENCE HALL D) 

3:00 PM 
TEKKEN 7: THE KING OF THE IRON FIRST TOURNAMENT POOLS
(GAMING STAGE / SHOW FLOOR)

3:00-3:30 PM 
MICHAEL ROOKER VS THE AUDIENCE
(BALLROOM A)
Character actor Michael Rooker (“Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer”) will engage—no doubt, intensely—with the audience.

3:00-3:45 PM 
DRAWING DISNEY with CLINTON HOBART
(CREATIVE STAGE / ARTIST ALLEY)

3:00-3:45 PM 
ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE GREEN POWER RANGER: JASON DAVID FRANK
(ASSEMBLY HALL)

3:00-3:45 PM 
USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO DEVELOP YOUR BUSINESS AND PROMOTE YOUR WORK with WIZARD WORLD COSPLAY GUEST ANNA QUINN
(CONFERENCE HALL A)

3:30-4:15 PM 
ODE TO LEADING LADIES
(CONFERENCE HALL B)
Women leads and female heroes are rapidly evolving. What have creators fought for in the past for their women title characters and what key ingredients do creators pour into their female leads today? Hear from Genese Davis (“The Holder’s Dominion”), Tamara Grantham (“Dream Thief”) and Sabrina A. Fish (“Shine” Series) as they share their creation process for women heroes, what they think about when creating a female lead or collaborating on women superheroes, and what they foresee happening to female heroes in the future.

4:00-4:45 PM 
OUT FOR A BITE WITH JAMES MARSTERS
(BALLROOM A)

4:00-4:45 PM 
YOU CAN LEARN TO DRAW IN 30 MINUTES!
(CREATIVE STAGE / ARTIST ALLEY)

4:00-4:45 PM 
IN-CHARACTER COSPLAY with WIZARD WORLD COSPLAY GUEST PRINCESS MORGAN COSPLAY
(CONFERENCE HALL A)

4:30-5:15 PM 
THE STATE OF TREK 2016: STAR TREK TURNS 50
(CONFERENCE HALL B)
2016 is the 50th anniversary of one of the most beloved franchises in fandom and so far, many hardcore Trek fans have felt…underwhelmed… by the “celebration.” This panel is an attempt to discuss with Trek Fans the current – and possibly lacking – state of the “Star Trek” franchise. 

5:00 PM 
NARUTOF SHIPPUDEN: ULTIMATE NINJA STORM 4 - TOP 8 FINALS
(GAMING STAGE / SHOW FLOOR)

5:00–5:45 PM 
CREATE-A-COMICS -STORY with SPIDER-MAN’S DANNY FINGEROTH AND DR. STRANGE’S GEOF ISHERWOOD (CONFERENCE HALL A)

5:30-6:15 PM 
WHO: WHAT NOW?
(CONFERENCE HALL B)
There will be no new “Doctor Who” episodes until 2017, but that doesn’t mean new adventures aren’t coming out. This panel will help those having “Who” withdrawls. Presented by The Tulsa Doctor Who Viewing Society.

5:30-6:15 PM 
JASON DAVID FRANK MEET & GREET *PAID EVENT*
(CONFERENCE HALL D)
Must purchase separate admission to attend this event.

6:00–6:45 PM 
VAMPIRES: NIGHTMARES 2.0 (CONFERENCE HALL A)

6:00-7:00 PM 
TAKE ONE IMPROV COMEDY SHOW (ASSEMBLY HALL)

6:30-7:00 PM 
ELI ROTH’S CRYPT TV FIRST LOOK (CONFERENCE HALL B)
CryptTV will give fans an early look at never before seen Crypt TV original horror shorts and showcase its most exciting content. (Recommended for ages 18+)

7:00-9:00 PM 
WIZARD WORLD COSTUME CONTEST SPONSORED BY BANDAI NAMCO
(BALLROOM A)
The Wizard World Costume Contest is no joke; be prepared for some serious cosplay. Special guest judges Super Kayce, Brit Bliss, Anna Quinn and Princess Morgan Cosplay.
Anyone interested in participating can sign-up at the Wizard World Information booth on the exhibition floor on Saturday. Registration closes at 5 p.m. (Recommended for ages 13+)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23RD 

10:00-12:00 PM 
MYSTERY PARTY GAMES!
(GAMING STAGE / SHOW FLOOR)
What happens when you pin 4 gamers in a multiplayer mystery game? Stop by and find out as Tasty Steve, TempoRip, Sajam, and a mystery guest play party games! 

11:00–11:45 AM 
LIVING IN THE MARGINS
(CONFERENCE HALL A)
This panel discussion will center around current and past representation of people of color, women, handicapped, and LGBTQ people, among others, in popular media. Emphasis on the importance of representation, on media that’s doing it well and places where we could still improve.

11:00-11:45 PM 
YOU CAN LEARN TO DRAW IN 30 MINUTES!
(CREATIVE STAGE / ARTIST ALLEY)

11:00-11:45 PM 
U CRE-8 COMICS PRESENTS: CHARACTER CRAFTERS
(CONFERENCE HALL D)

11:30-12:15 PM 
DISCOUNT DRESSINGS – BEGINNING COSPLAY ON A BUDGET
(CONFERENCE HALL B)

12:00 PM 
STREET FIGHTER V - TOP 8 FINALS
(GAMING STAGE / SHOW FLOOR)

12:00-12:45 PM 
BEHIND THE VOICES with WILL FRIEDLE and CHRISTY CARLSON ROMANO
(ASSEMBLY HALL)

12:00-12:45 PM 
DOES GENDER MATTER?
(CONFERENCE HALL A)
From how a movie reboot should cast its characters to how a comic should draw its female superheroes, questions of gender remain a powerful issue in the world of sci-fi, fantasy, horror, gaming, films, and more. A panel of local authors, comic book experts, and fans will discuss what’s working, what isn’t, and where to go from here.

12:00-12:45 PM 
DRAWING WITH KATIE COOK
(CREATIVE STAGE / ARTIST ALLEY)

12:30-1:15 PM 
THE ART OF PROP MAKING
(CONFERENCE HALL B)

12:30-1:15 PM 
NERDS IN MODERN DAY
(CONFERENCE HALL D)
A round table discussion on the way things have changed in the nerd culture.

1:00-1:45 PM 
HOW TO DRAW THE MARVEL WAY
(CREATIVE STAGE / ARTIST ALLEY)

1:00-1:45 PM 
THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE: ADRIAN PAUL
(ASSEMBLY HALL)

1:00-1:45 PM 
WHO’S THE MOST NEUROTIC SUPERHERO?
(CONFERENCE HALL A)
Inside the minds of Batman, Spider-Man, Captain America, Jessica Jones, and more, with “Batman and Psychology’s” Dr. Travis Langley, “The Geek Handbook’s” Alex Langley, “She-Hulk’s” Renee Witterstaetter, “Origin Unknown’s” Victor Dandridge, and “Spider-Man’s” Danny Fingeroth.

1:30-2:15 PM 
FROM CONCEPT TO CONTRACT: TIPS ON CREATING AND PUBLISHING
(CONFERENCE HALL B)

2:00 PM 
TEKKEN 7: THE KING OF THE IRON FIST TOURNAMENT - TOP 8 FINALS
(GAMING STAGE / SHOW FLOOR)

2:00-2:45 PM 
JUMPING THE SHARK! HENRY WINKLER (ASSEMBLY HALL)
The Fonz comes to Tulsa. ‘Nuff said.

2:00-2:45 PM 
WORDS INTO PICTURES: HOW TO WRITE COMICS with WOLVERINE/CAPTAIN AMERICA’S R.A. JONES, CAPTAIN NEMO’S MICHAEL VANCE and SPIDER-MAN’S DANNY FINGEROTH
(CONFERENCE HALL A)

2:00-2:45 PM 
THE 8 BIT GUY RETURNS
(CREATIVE STAGE / ARTIST ALLEY)

2:30-3:15 PM 
SO BAD THEY’RE GREAT: PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE! BIRDEMIC! DEATH BED! SAMURAI COP! TROLL 2! THE ROOM! AND MORE!
(CONFERENCE HALL B)
Why are some terrible movies so much fun to watch? How guilty should we feel about our guilty pleasures when we find ourselves enjoying ridiculous dialogue, illogical plots, stiff acting, idiotic direction, and cheesy visual effects? A panel discussion of the love of movies produced by “stupid, stupid minds.” Ready to discuss their love of movies produced by “stupid, stupid minds.”

3:00-3:45 PM 
KIDS COSTUME CONTEST
(CONFERENCE HALL A)
Children ages 13 and under are invited to strut their stuff in this costume contest. (Light-hearted competition. Not intended for serious competitors.)