Robert A. Heinlein and Theodore Sturgeon signing books at the first Comic-Con Blood Drive in 1977. Photo: Jackie Estrada
2020 Blood Drive shirt, while supplies last

Last year the Blood Drive collected 3,343 pints of blood during the convention, its biggest year ever, and the growth of the Blood Drive over the years has been absolutely phenomenal. In its first year, 148 pints of blood were collected, and as the convention has grown, so has the Blood Drive. Over the past 43 years, 25,950 pints of blood have been donated by Comic-Con attendees, exhibitors, pros, volunteers, and staff. The San Diego Blood Bank estimates that these donations have impacted more than 75,000 lives over the course of 43 years! In recognition of these efforts, America’s Blood Centers selected the Robert A Heinlein Blood Drive for their Outstanding Blood Drive of the Year award in 2016, and the Difference Maker award in 2007 was given by the San Diego Blood Bank.
 
Please join Comic-Con for the 44th Robert A. Heinlein Blood Drive, which will run from July 22 through August 16 , 2020. Your donations are desperately needed. Donors for this year’s Blood Drive will receive a limited-edition Marvel Black Widow t‑shirt for donating on the dates of Comic-Con@Home, while supplies last. In addition, all donors will receive a free antibody screening for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 (for donations made through the end of July). Results will be posted on your SDBB Wellness Portal in 7 to 10 days. Due to the current safety concerns, appointments are required (sorry, no walk-ins accepted at this time).
 
You can make your appointment at any one of the six San Diego Blood Bank Donor Centers or any bloodmobile locations around the county. Appointments are being accepted now at www.sandiegobloodbank.org/donate or call (619) 400-8251. Only a limited number of slots are available, so act quickly! Please use Comic-Con’s group code: “CCON”.Will Eisner Comic Industry Award ResultsThe 32nd Annual Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards were presented at a virtual ceremony last night.
 
The top recipients of the evening were Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O’Connell’s graphic novel Laura Dean Is Breaking Up with Me (Best Publication for Teens, Best Writer, Best Penciller/Inker; published by First Second/Macmillan) and G. Willow Wilson and Christian Ward’s comic book series Invisible Kingdom (Best New Series, Best Writer, Best Painter; published by Berger Books/Dark Horse).
 
Multiple Eisners also went to Lynda Barry for Making Comics (Best Comics-Related Book, Best Publication Design; published by Drawn & Quarterly); Raina Telgelemier for Guts (Best Publication for Kids, Best Writer/Artist; published by Scholastic/Graphix); and Stan Sakai for Best Lettering (on Usagi Yojimbo, published by IDW) and Best Archival Collection/Project (Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo: The Complete Grasscutter; IDW).
 
And the Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Goes to …
 
Best Short Story: “Hot Comb,” by Ebony Flowers, in Hot Comb (Drawn & Quarterly)
 
Best Single Issue/One-Shot: Our Favorite Thing Is My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, by Emil Ferris (Fantagraphics)
 
Best Continuing Series: Bitter Root, by David Walker, Chuck Brown, and Sanford Greene (Image)
 
Best Limited Series: Little Bird by Darcy Van Poelgeest andIan Bertram (Image)
 
Best New Series: Invisible Kingdom, by G. Willow Wilson and Christian Ward (Berger Books/Dark Horse)
 
Best Publication for Early Readers: Comics: Easy as ABC, by Ivan Brunetti (TOON)
 
Best Publication for Kids: Guts, by Raina Telgemeier (Scholastic Graphix)
 
Best Publication for Teens: Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me, by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O'Connell (First Second/Macmillan)
 
Best Humor Publication : The Way of the Househusband, vol. 1, by Kousuke Oono, translation by Sheldon Drzka (VIZ Media)
 
Best Anthology: Drawing Power: Women’s Stories of Sexual Violence, Harassment, and Survival, edited by Diane Noomin (Abrams)
 
Best Reality-Based Work: They Called Us Enemy, by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott, and Harmony Becker (Top Shelf)
 
Best Graphic Album—New: Are You Listening? by Tillie Walden (First Second/Macmillan)
 
Best Graphic Album—Reprint: LaGuardia, by Nnedi Okorafor and Tana Ford (Berger Books/Dark Horse)
 
Best Adaptation from Another Medium: Snow, Glass, Apples, by Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran (Dark Horse Books)
 
Best U.S. Edition of International Material: The House, by Paco Roca, translation by Andrea Rosenberg (Fantagraphics)
 
Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia (TIE): Cats of the Louvre, by Taiyo Matsumoto, translation by Michael Arias (VIZ Media) AND Witch Hat Atelier, by Kamome Shirahama, translation by Stephen Kohler (Kodansha)
 
Best Archival Collection/Project—Strips: Krazy Kat: The Complete Color Sundays, by George Herriman, edited by Alexander Braun (TASCHEN)
 
Best Archival Collection/Project—Comic Books:
Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo: The Complete Grasscutter Artist Select, by Stan Sakai, edited by Scott Dunbier (IDW)
 
Best Writer: Mariko Tamaki, Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass (DC); Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me (First Second/Macmillan); Archie (Archie)
 
Best Writer/Artist: Raina Telgemeier, Guts (Scholastic Graphix)
 
Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team: Rosemary Valero-O'Connell, Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me (First Second/Macmillan)
 
Best Painter/Digital Artist: Christian Ward, Invisible Kingdom (Berger Books/Dark Horse)
 
Best Cover Artist: Emma Rios, Pretty Deadly (Image)
 
Best Coloring: Dave Stewart, Black Hammer, B.P.R.D.: The Devil You Know, Hellboy and the BPRD (Dark Horse); Gideon Falls (Image); Silver Surfer Black, Spider-Man (Marvel)
 
Best Lettering: Stan Sakai, Usagi Yojimbo (IDW)
 
Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism: Women Write About Comics, edited by Nola Pfau and Wendy Browne, www.WomenWriteAboutComics.com
 
Best Comics-Related Book: Making Comics, by Lynda Barry (Drawn & Quarterly)
 
Best Academic/Scholarly Work: EC Comics: Race, Shock, and Social Protest, by Qiana Whitted (Rutgers University Press)
 
Best Publication Design: Making Comics, designed by Lynda Barry (Drawn & Quarterly)
 
Best Digital Comic: Afterlift, by Chip Zdarsky and Jason Loo (comiXology Originals)
 
Best Webcomic: Fried Rice Comic, by Erica Eng, https://friedricecomic.tumblr.com
 
Hall of Fame: Judges’ choices: Nell Brinkley, E. Simms Campbell; voters’ choices: Alison Bechdel, Howard Cruse, Stan Sakai, Louise Simonson, Don and Maggie Thompson, Bill Watterson
 
Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award: Hero Initiative; Creators4Comics; Comic Book United Fund
 
In addition, yesterday, the Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award was given to:
Nostromo Sevilla, Sergio López, Seville, Spain.
 
Comic-Con thanks the Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award Judges: Troy-Jeffrey Allen (Diamond Comic Distributors), Cecil Castellucci (Writer, Batgirl, The Plain Janes), Alejandro Gonzalez (La Revisteria Comics, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2019 Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award winner), Ross Richie (Publisher, BOOM! Studios), and Steve Saffel (Editor, Titan Books), and Facilitator, Joe Ferrara (Atlantis Fantasyworld, Santa Cruz, CA).
 
Comic-Con congratulates all of the award recipients and nominees. You’re all winners in our book!

Please be sure to visit the Art Show to see lots of great artwork, from original art and prints to jewelry to sculpture, crochet, and more:
Comic-Con@Home Art Show on TumblrCheck Out the Comic-Con@Home Virtual MasqueradeFor this year’s 46th annual Masquerade costume competition, our regular large stage show with 4,000 in the audience enjoying large groups of costumes was just not possible. This time a page is our stage, and the show has moved online to the social media site tumblr, where contestants were able to upload photos and videos to best show off their creations.
 
Once again, our Master of Ceremonies is 5-time Hugo Award winning writer-artist Phil Foglio and family, providing a video intro and outro to the event. A panel of guest judges viewed the entries shortly before the convention, choosing the most outstanding in several categories.  The trophy winners will receive not only our elegant Comic-Con trophy medallions, but also free badges to our 2021 Comic-Con!
 
In addition, one lucky winner will receive $1,000 cash from Frank and Son Collectible Show of the City of Industry, California, and another will win $500 in Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts gift cards from the Costume Designer’s Guild Local 892, representing professional Hollywood costume designers, assistant costume designers, and costume illustrators.
 
For the first time, SINGER® Sewing Brand is thrilled to carry the spirit of creativity and innovative design into the Comic-Con cosplay and costuming community and will present a prize of a new SINGER® Heavy Duty 6800 computerized sewing machine and a SINGER® Heavy Duty 0400s serger to the costume entry that best demonstrates exceptional sewing techniques.
 
The link from the Comic-Con@Home main page to the Masquerade tumblr site went live yesterday and remains active through the convention and for a time after. Tumblr accounts are free and easy to set up and use, and all entries can be viewed on the Comic-Con@Home Virtual Masquerade page on tumblr. Later today the winners will be announced on the Comic-Con@Home website and also across the Comic-Con social media platforms, but if you miss it there, we’ll have the results and pictures in tomorrow’s Newsletter.
 
One fun perk of being virtual is that among our 50 entries are residents of ten countries beyond the US:  Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Scotland, England, Italy, Germany, Lithuania, and Australia.
 
Some costume entries include music and dialogue, so be sure to have your speakers on to enjoy the videos and photo montages as you scroll through all the photos, where you can see many construction photos too!
 
Our guest judges this year are:

• Laura Jean Shannon – Costume Designer Laura Jean Shannon's recent television credits include serving as Superhero/Specialty Costume Designer on DC’s Black Lightning, Titans, Doom Patrol, and Stargirl. Her film credits include: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Two Guns, and Scott Pilgrim Vs the World, as well as The Jungle Book, Chef , Elf, and Iron Man, the latter earned Shannon a nomination for the Costume Design Guild Award for Excellence in Contemporary Film Design.
• Gigi Bannister – An experienced producer, director, writer and special effects makeup artist and coordinator for a wide variety of independent feature films, TV shows, and live events, she’s been in the film industry for 45 years. Between making films is often a guest speaker at conventions, film festivals, seminars, and appears regularly at Comic-Con: International where she donates her time and talents with professional make-up assistance for Masquerade contestants.
• Allan Lavigne – Costumer, make-up special effects artist, sculptor, and painter with 40+ years with credits from Lucasfilm, Sony Pictures, Disney, and more, his work has been exhibited around the world in museums, film premieres, and numerous conventions. His Bronze Armory studio is in the San Francisco Bay area where he creates, lectures, and teaches. Formerly a top winner for many years in fan costuming at many conventions, he brings with him great insight from having learned and honed his costume skills as a contestant himself.

Hermes Press and Gothic Comics in America
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The panel, moderated by publisher Daniel Herman (Silver Age the Second Generation of Comic Book Artists), will feature Kaz Windness (Mother Goth Rhymes), who will talk about her upcoming book, If UR Stabby, which focuses on a grumpy unicorn whose name is indicative of what he does to people who irritate him; Bill Holbrook (On the Fast Track) and H.H. Glynn, who will talk about their new graphic novel, Dethany and the Other Clique, exploring middle school life and how to be yourself even in a clique; and Molly Mercier, whose new book, The Lazy Goth: Method How to Alienate Friends and Avoid People, is a collection of comic strips exploring the adventures and misadventures of a Goth in her day to day life. The panel will feature artwork from each of these titles discussed by its creators.

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Horizon Zero Dawn Comic #SanDiegoComicCon@Home!
Watch the Panel live –
Tomorrow 2pm (PDT)

HORIZON ZERO DAWN #1
SDCC EXCLUSIVE PEACH MOMOKO
Available to pre-order from: 
US, Canada & Rest of the World
UK & EUROPE: Forbidden Planet ​

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This August, Titan Comics and Guerrilla will embark on an exciting adventure together, as the first original comic book series set in the world of the global smash-hit PS4 game Horizon Zero Dawn comes to comics. This new series takes place after the events of the game as Talanah, a strong and determined hunter, struggles to find purpose after her trusted friend Aloy disappears. When a mysterious threat emerges in the wilds, she sets out to hunt and to defeat it, only to learn that a whole new breed of killer machines stalk the land!
 
You can join the story too at this year's Horizon Zero Dawn Comic SDCC@Home panel, where the creative team behind this hotly-anticipated comic book launch -- writer Anne Toole, artist Ann Maulina, Guerrilla narrative director Ben McCaw, principal artist Gilbert Sanders, and Guerrilla studio director/art director Jan-Bart van Beek -- discuss bringing the critically-acclaimed Horizon world to this illustrated medium. Follow this link on Thursday July 23 to watch the panel live and learn more about
Horizon Zero Dawn: The Comic Series. 
 
To celebrate SDCC 2020, Titan Comics are delighted to be revealing 
a never-before-seen issue #1 cover by Peach Momoko
(Ghost Spider, Captain Marvel)! 
 
Horizon Zero Dawn #1 is set to debut in comic stores on
August 5, 2020. ​

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Warner Archive’s Secret Origins of Saturday Morning Cartoons — Dip behind the curtain to reveal the beginnings of the beloved tradition of Saturday morning cartoons with movie historian/author/TV personality Leonard Maltin (Entertainment Tonight, Leonard Maltin’s Movie Crazy), animation historian/author Jerry Beck (Animation Scoop), George Feltenstein and the Warner Archive Podcast team of D.W. Ferranti and Matthew Patterson. The panelists will offer fans a grand history of the evolution of animation — from silver screen shorts to full-fledged television cartoons, with glimpses along the way of Tex Avery, Popeye and Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies, as well as Space Ghost and Dino Boy, Jonny Quest, Lippy the Lion and more! NBC/MSNBC political analyst/SiriusXM on-air host and Director of Progressive Programming Zerlina Maxwell will moderate. Panel will post on Saturday, July 25 at 10:00am PT at https://youtu.be/6b6mpfiYTFI.

PORTLAND, Ore. 07/21/2020 — Image Comics is pleased to participate in Comic-Con@Home—a virtual alternative to the usual San Diego Comic-Con festivities hosted by Comic-Con International in light of COVID-19. It will be held on July 22-26, 2020 at the Comic-Con website. Follow along and connect with the fandom when you use the official hashtag, #ComicConAtHome.


—PANELS SCHEDULE--

Comics as a conduit | Wednesday, 07/22/20, 4:00 PM  
Henry Barajas (LA VOZ DE M.A.Y.O.: TATA RAMBO), Rodney Barnes (KILLADELPHIA), Darcy Van Poelgeest (LITTLE BIRD), and David F. Walker (BITTER ROOT) discuss comic books that tackle real world issues; be it environmental activism, civic engagement, physical and mental health awareness, and more, (including how their work is being used by librarians and educators). Audience members will leave with programming and acquisition ideas designed to inspire their readers to see the world differently and then change it for the better.  

SYFY: untold tales of Todd McFarlane | Thursday, 07/23/20, 2:00 PM
Comic-Con wouldn’t be Comic-Con without Todd McFarlane—the innovative artist and entrepreneur who is the subject of the brand new SYFY WIRE documentary film, Todd McFarlane: Like Hell I Won’t. McFarlane is the creative mastermind behind SPAWN and some of Marvel Comics’ most famous characters, one of the founders of Image Comics and is known for (quite literally) breaking down barriers. To celebrate the documentary and these achievements, Marc Silvestri and J. Scott Campbell join McFarlane on a panel as they commend him on his contributions to the industry and have some fun roasting the man who essentially “raised hell” to get where he is today. For more information on the documentary, visit SYFY.com.

CROSSOVER spotlight | Thursday, 07/23/20, 5:00 PM
Bestselling creative powerhouse team Donny Cates (GOD COUNTRY, REDNECK), Geoff Shaw (GOD COUNTRY), Dee Cunniffe (REDNECK), and John J. Hill (NAILBITER) come together to announce what will be the biggest event of the year—CROSSOVER. Join us to get the exclusive scoop on this exciting new project.

Exclusive behind-the-scenes with UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY | Friday, 07/24/20, 12:00 PM
Join Scott Snyder, Charles Soule, and Giuseppe Camuncoli as they reveal the secrets behind the Eisner Award nominated, chart topping series out from Image Comics, UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY. Listen in as they share their story about the making of the series, anecdotes about the first story arc's creative process, and hints at what's to come. Moderated by series editor Will Dennis.

Comic-Con Robert Kirkman at home | Friday, 07/24/20, 4:00 PM
Robert Kirkman (THE WALKING DEAD, INVINCIBLE, FIRE POWER) shares his latest projects and answers your questions!

Legendary SPAWN creator Todd McFarlane talks toys, comics, and more! | Friday, 07/24/20, 4:00 PM
Host Jim Viscardi, executive editor of Comicbook.com and Todd McFarlane, SPAWN and Venom creator, McFarlane Toys' CEO and president of Image Comics, talk about all your favorite geekdom things. McFarlane gives fans a sneak peek into the future of upcoming toys, comics, and what's on his entertainment horizon.

Masters of storytelling | Saturday, 07/25/20, 1:00 PM  
Join the all-stars in storytelling from Image Comics--Ed Brubaker (PULP, CRUEL SUMMER), Chuck Brown (ON THE STUMP), Alex De Campi (DRACULA, MOTHERF**KER), Matt Fraction (ADVENTUREMAN), and Emma Kubert (INKBLOT)—as they reveal their secrets behind creating some of the best stories in comics. Moderator: Marla Eizik, Executive Assistant at Image Comics.

Creating memorable characters | Saturday, 07/25/20, 4:00 PM
What makes readers so attached to comics characters that they keep returning issue after issue to keep reading? Join Image Comics creators Dani (COFFIN BOUND), Jeff Lemire (GIDEON FALLS), David Walker (BITTER ROOT), Darcy Van Poelgeest (LITTLE BIRD), Kit Seaton (NORROWAY), and Johnnie Christmas (TARTARUS) as they discuss what (or who!) inspires some of the most beloved characters in comics. Moderator: Marla Eizik, Executive Assistant at Image Comics.

25th anniversary of Witchblade & beyond | Saturday, 07/25/20, 6:00 PM
Marc Silvestri (CEO) and Matt Hawkins (president & COO) remember the legendary WITCHBLADE sensation on her 25th anniversary—and showcase what's to come from Top Cow Productions! Conversations with Colleen Doran (THE CLOCK), Stephanie Phillips (A MAN AMONG YE), and Stjepan Sejic (SUNSTONE) moderated by Henry Barajas (LA VOZ DE M.A.Y.O.: TATA RAMBO, Director of Operations at Top Cow).

The craft of worldbuilding in comics | Sunday, 07/26/20, 12:00 PM  
Join Image Comics creators Kieron Gillen (LUDOCRATS, DIE), Stephanie Hands (DIE), W. Maxwell Prince (ICE CREAM MAN), Mirka Andolfo (MERCY), and Sanford Greene (BITTER ROOT) for a free-wheeling conversation on immersive, authentic worldbuilding technique in comics. Moderator: Marla Eizik, Executive Assistant at Image Comics.
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ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of bestselling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has six individuals on the Board of Directors: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri, Jim Valentino, and Eric Stephenson. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline Comics, Skybound Entertainment, and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.