‘The Walking Dead,’ Stan Lee Q&A, ‘MTV’s The Real World: Portland Hosted by WWE® Superstar The Miz®,’ Henry Winkler Panels Highlight Programming At Wizard World Portland Comic Con

‘Dean Cain, Morena Baccarin, Other Celebrity Panels, Portfolio Reviews, Creator Q&A’s, James Marsters Concert, Game Demos, Evening Parties, Costume Contests, ‘Kids Day’ at Oregon Convention Center, Feb. 22-24

NEW YORK and PORTLAND, Ore., February 4, 2013 – A wide variety of panels, from sessions with cast members from “MTV’s The Real World,” “The Walking Dead” and The Boondock Saints, to interactive Q&A’s with stars like Henry Winkler, Stan Lee, Dean Cain, Morena Baccarin and others highlight the programming offerings at the inaugural Wizard World Portland Comic Con, Feb. 22-24 at the Oregon Convention Center.  The diverse schedule also includes portfolio reviews by leading artists, gaming demonstrations, “Creator Spotlights,” an evening concert by James Marsters, evening parties, costume contests and more.

On Friday, Feb. 22, at 6:30 p.m., fans can get a preview of the 28th season of “MTV’s The Real World” – right from the cast.  “MTV’s The Real World: Portland Panel Hosted By WWE® Superstar The Miz®” features the seven new “strangers” of The Real World, who are about to stop being polite and start getting real in Portland.  Friday also features a Creator Spotlight with the one and only Gail Simone (4:30), portfolio reviews by Glass House Graphics’ David Campiti (6 p.m.) and the Wizard World Portland Comic Con Kick Off Party (8 p.m., Splash Bar, 904 NW Couch St., Portland).

Saturday starts off strong with Winkler, best known to many fans as “The Fonz” on “Happy Days,” hosting a Q&A (11 a.m.).  Cain (1 p.m.), Lee (2:30 p.m.) James Hong (3 p.m.), Bruce Campbell (4:30) and “The Walking Dead” stars Norman Reedus and Michael Rooker (5:30 p.m.) will also answer fans’ questions in sessions, while creators like Scott Lobdell, Chris Claremont and Kurt Busiek are among the “Creator Spotlights.”  Lee will also conduct two private “meet and greets” (12:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., additional ticket required).  CBS Films presents The Last Exorcism Part II star Ashley Bell for a discussion of the upcoming movie (3:30 p.m.).  And the fun goes on when the sun goes down with the Adult Costume Contest (7 p.m.), After Party (9 p.m., Holocene, 101 SE Morrison St., Portland) and “Ghost of the Robot” concert featuring Marsters (8 p.m.).

Sunday’s full slate includes Q&As with Boondock Saints stars Sean Patrick Flanery and David Della Rocco(noon), Morena Baccarin (1 p.m.) and the tandem of Marsters and Juliet Landau (2 p.m.), more thought-provoking creator panels, and a slate of “Kids Day” activities, highlighted by the Kids Costume Contest (2 p.m.) and Green Ranger Power Hour with Jason David Frank (2 p.m.).

Unless noted, programming events take place in the designated General Programming Rooms at the Oregon Convention Center.  Most are included as part of standard Wizard World Portland Comic Con admission; VIP tickets or additional costs may apply to ensure access to select activities, as noted.  Seating for panels is strictly limited and available on a first served basis. Wizard World does not clear panel rooms unless attendee is seated in a section that is marked with a sign at the end of the row reading: “Row Will Be Cleared At The End Of Each Panel.”  Programming subject to change; attendees should check the schedule board on site and the Wizard Cons smartphone app for updates.

A full list of Wizard World Portland programming is below; further details on each at www.wizardworld.com/programming-portland.html (subjects, guests, times and rooms subject to change):

Friday, February 22
4:30 – 5:15pm Creator Spotlight: Gail Simone (Room C124)
5:00 – 5:45pm Building Your Portfolio (Room C120)
5:30 – 6:15pm The Writer, Artist Relationship W/ Kurt Busiek And Carlos Pacheco (Room C124)
6:00 – 7:00pm Portfolio Reviews! w/David Campiti  (Booth 1105/1107)
6:30 – 7:30pm MTV’s The Real World: Portland Panel Hosted By WWE® Superstar The Miz® (Room C124)
7:00 – 7:45pm Unexploded Cow Game Demo (Room C120)
8:00 – 11:00pm Wizard World Drink & Draw (Stir, Convention Center)
8:00 – 2:00am Wizard World Portland Comic Con Kick Off Party (Splash Bar @ 904 NW Couch St.)

Saturday, February 23
11:00 – 11:45am Henry Winkler Q&A (Room C124)
11:00 – 11:45am Creator Spotlight: Scott Lobdell (Room C120)
11:00 – 11:45am Breaking Into Comics (Room B119)
11:30 – 12:15pm Jason David Frank Meet And Greet – Paid Event (Room B119)
12:00 – 12:45pm Vampire Lore And Other Urban Myths And Legends W/Dr. Rebecca Housel (Room C124)
12:00 – 12:45pm Comics For Social Justice: The Making Of Oil And Water (Room C120)
12:00 – 12:45pm Storytelling With Michael Golden: Taking It To The Next Level (Room B119)
12:30 – 1:15pm Stan Lee Meet And Greet – Paid Event (Room C126)
12:30 – 1:15pm Cosplay Panel (Room B114)
1:00 – 1:45pm Dean Cain Q&A (Room C124)
1:00 – 1:45pm Amped: We Are The Robots (Room C120)
1:00 – 2:00pm A Writer’s Life: Making A Living In Comics (Room B119)
2:00 – 2:45pm Jason David Frank: Power Ranger Q&A (Room C124)
2:00 – 2:45pm Creator Spotlight: Chris Claremont (Room C120)
2:00 – 2:45pm Eberron & Beyond (Room B119)
2:30 – 3:30pm Portfolio Reviews! w/David Campiti (Booth 1105/1107)
2:30 – 3:15pm Creator Spotlight: Stan Lee (Room B114)
3:00 – 3:45pm James Hong Q&A (Room C124)
3:00 – 3:45pm Creator Spotlight: Kurt Busiek (Room C120)
3:00 – 3:45pm Illustration Techniques w/Val Mayerik (Room B119)
3:30 – 4:15pm Space Goat Productions Portfolio Review – WWP 2013 (Room C126)
3:30 – 4:15pm CBS Films: The Last Excorcism Part Ii (Room B114)
4:00 – 4:45pm Science Fiction Writers: Imagining Our Future (Room C124)
4:00 – 4:45pm The Artist Life: What Does It Take To Be A Working Artist In The Industry (Room C120)
4:00 – 4:45pm Lettering As Cosmetic Surgery: What To Do When The Art Is In The Way Of The Script w/Tom Orzechowski (Room B119)
4:30 – 5:15pm Bruce Campbell Q&A (Room B114)
5:00 – 5:45pm Serious Comics: Beyond Escapism (Room C120)
5:00 – 5:45pm Developing Fantasy Worlds (Room B119)
5:30 – 6:15pm Stan Lee Meet And Greet 2– Paid Event (Room C126)
5:30 – 6:15pm The Walking Dead Q&A w/Norman Reedus And Michael Rooker (Room B114)
6:00 – 8:00pm Ghosts Underground: The Superstitions Of Ghost Mine Explored (Room C124)
6:00 – 6:45pm Geek Slant (Room C120)
6:00 – 6:45pm Fish Cook Game Demo (Room B119)
7:00 – 9:00pm Wizard World Adult Costume Contest (Room B114)
8:00 – 9:00pm Ghost Of The Robot Concert – Paid Event (Room C120)
9:00pm – 2:00am Wizard World Portland Comic Con After Party (Holocene @ 1001 Se Morrison St.)

Sunday, February 24
11:30 – 12:15 Pm The Bronze Age W/ Mike Grell, Paul Gulacy And Val Mayerik (Room B119)
12:00 – 12:45pm Jason David Frank Meet And Greet – Paid Event (Room B119)
12:00 – 12:45pm Boondocks Saints Q&A (Room C124)
12:00 – 12:45pm Panel To Panel: Hereville And Creating All-Ages Comics (Room C120)
12:30 – 1:15pm Captions & Thought Balloons: What Are They For, Where Did The Go? (Room B119)
1:00 – 1:15pm Space Goat Productions Portfolio Review – WWP 2013 (Room C126)
1:00 – 1:45pm Morena Baccarin Q&A (Room C124)
1:00 – 1:45pm Geekdad/Geekmom: Raising Geek Generation 2.0 (Room C120)
1:30 – 2:15pm Building The Next Superhero (Room B119)
2:00 – 2:45pm James Marsters/Juliet Landau Q&A (Room C124)
2:00 – 2:45pm Wizard World Kids Costume Contest (Room C120)
2:30 – 3:30pm Portfolio Reviews! W/David Campiti (Booth 1105/1107)
2:30 – 3:15pm Basics Of Game Design (Room B119)
3:00 – 4:00pm The Green Power Ranger Power Hour (Room C120)

*Seating for panels is strictly limited and available on a first served basis. each room will be cleared before panels.

Wizard World Portland Comic Con, produced by Wizard World, Inc. (WIZD.PK), will bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, comics, toys, video gaming, television, sci-fi, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more.  Admission is free for kids 10 and under, and Sunday, Feb. 24, is “Kids Day,” with an array of programming specially designed for children.

Event hours are Friday, Feb. 22, 3-8 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 23, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Feb, 24, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

For more on the 2013 Wizard World Portland Comic Con, visit http://www.wizardworld.com/home-portland.html.

About Wizard World:
Wizard World produces Comic Cons and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate graphic novels, comic books, movies, TV shows, gaming, technology, toys and social networking. The events often feature celebrities from movies and TV, artists and writers, and events such as premieres, gaming tournaments, panels, and costume contests.

The full event schedule can be found at www.wizardworld.com.

***** SAVE THE 2013-14 DATES *****
February 22-24 – Wizard World Portland Comic Con
March 22-24 – Wizard World St. Louis Comic Con
May 30 – June 2 – Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con
August 8-11 – Wizard World Chicago Comic Con
September 20-22 – Wizard World Ohio Comic Con
October 18-20 – Wizard World Nashville Comic Con
November 22-24 – Wizard World Austin Comic Con
February 7-9, 2014 – Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con