Top 20 Must-See Manga Events at Comic-Con 2008

It's rare enough that a Japanese manga artist comes to Comic-Con – it's rarer still that an artist of Kubo-sensei's caliber and popularity makes the trek to San Diego. So VIZ Media and Shonen Jump are making the most of it, by promoting Saturday as Bleach Day with giveaways to attendees in Bleach gear, hosting two autograph sessions, a panel and a movie screening to celebrate Kubo-sensei's first visit to Comic-Con.

• Bleach Movie Screening: Friday, July 25, 7:00 – 9:00 pm at the Gaslamp 15 Theater at 701 5th Street
• Tite Kubo Spotlight Panel: Saturday, July 26, 1:15 – 2:00 pm at Room 7AB
• Autograph sessions: Saturday, July 26, 10:00 – 11:00 am, and Saturday, July 26, 3:30 – 4:30 pm at VIZ Media Booth #4113

As if Kubo-sensei's appearance wasn't enough of a treat, Del Rey Manga has upped the excitement factor a notch by welcoming Hiro Mashima, the manga creator responsible for Rave Master (TokyoPop) and Del Rey's new hit series, Fairy Tail. Look for two autograph sessions, plus a panel appearance by this fun and talented manga-ka.

• Hiro Mashima Spotlight Panel: Saturday, July 26, 2:30-3:30 pm at Room 10
• Autograph Sessions: Friday, July 25 2:30-3:30 p.m. at Del Rey Manga Booth, #1128 and Saturday, July 26 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at Autograph Area 1

Dark Horse Manga is welcoming two legendary manga-ka to San Diego: Yasuhiro Nightow and Yoshitaka Amano. Nightow-sensei will be signing his books at two ticketed autograph sessions on Friday and Sunday.

• Autograph Sessions: Friday; 5:00 – 6:00 pm and Sunday: 12:00 – 1:00 pm; at Dark Horse booth #2615

Amano-sensei's lush and distinctive artwork has earned him legendary status in the world of anime, manga, video games, science fiction and fantasy illustration. In addition to his work on Vampire Hunter D and Final Fantasy, Amano-sensei has also created a few crossover stories with Western comics creators, including Neil Gaiman (Sandman: The Dream Hunters) and Greg Rucka (Elektra and Wolverine: The Redeemer). Dark Horse has one autograph session with Amano-sensei scheduled for Friday.

• Autograph Session: Friday, July 25 - 12:00 – 1:30, at Dark Horse Booth #2615

With the success of Dramacon under her belt, Chmakova has become one of the most popular creators of global manga in the U.S. Chmakova will be signing books and posters for fans at the Yen Press booth on Saturday, to celebrate the debut of her new series, Nightschool in the first issue of Yen Plus magazine.

• Autograph Session: Saturday, July 26, 1:00 – 2:00 pm, at Yen Press Booth #1120

Easily one of Fall 2008's most anticipated releases, Bat Manga! is a luxe collection of Batman comics from 1967 by Japanese manga-ka Jiro Kuwata. Originally published in Shonen King magazine, these long-lost Batman stories are now collected in a labor-of-love collection due out in October from Pantheon. Kidd is an award-winning graphic designer and a passionate Batman memorabilia collector who will surely give a entertaining presentation of this blast from the past.

• Bat Manga! Presentation with Chip Kidd: Thursday, July 24, 3:30-4:30, at Room 30AB

There'll be no shortage of star-power at Thursday's Afro Samurai panel. Star and executive producer Samuel L. Jackson, original creator Takashi Okazaki, musical artist The RZA and executive producer Leo Chu from Spike TV will be in the house to premiere Afro Samurai: Resurrection, the second installment in the Afro Samurai anime saga.

Also, drop by the Seven Seas Manga / Tor Books booths (#2649, 2748) to pick up a free Afro Samurai poster, and maybe even get it signed by Okazaki-sensei himself!

• Afro Samurai Panel: Thursday, July 24, 4:15-5:15 at Room 6B
• Takashi Okazaki Autograph Session: Friday, July 25, 12:15 – 1:15 pm at Seven Seas Manga Booth #2649

Wednesday night is Preview Night, a.k.a. "Toy Freaks' Riot Night." Yeah, yeah, there's comics, movies. games and all kinds of cool stuff in the exhibit hall, but the main action on Preview Night is for collectors to get first crack at those limited edition toys, ehrr... I mean "action figures" that are only available at Comic-Con.

Check out what's up for sale this year at the Comic-Con Action Figures Exclusives page, including the limited edition yellow flocked Domo figure, available at the Dark Horse booth #2615.

• Preview Night: Wednesday, July 23, 6:00 – 9:00 pm at the Exhibit Hall (open only to attendees with 4-day passes)

Friday night brings us the Eisner Awards, the Emmys / Oscars / Tonys of the American comics scene. While manga isn't the major focus here, there will be 13 manga nominees doing their part to score an award or two from the capes and spandex crowd. Go go, Ice Wanderer! Kick butt, Yotsuba&! Come on – give Naoki Urasawa's Monster some love, people. Seriously.

• Eisner Awards: Friday, July 25, 8:30 – 11:00 pm at Ballroom 20
• Doors open for professionals: 7:30 pm
• Doors open to general public: 8:15 pm

From the producer of Madagascar, the director of A Shark's Tale and the studio that brought you The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comes the big screen versions of Astro Boy and Gatchaman, (a.k.a. Battle of the Planets). Both films are due out in theaters worldwide in 2009.

Imagi Studio's bang-zoom version of Osamu Tezuka's iconic robot boy seeks to reinvent Japan's most beloved cartoon character for Western audiences. Intriguingly, Yoshitaka Amano, the original character designer for Gatchaman will also be at Comic-Con. Coincidence? Mmmaybe.

Will these new versions soar to new heights or crash and burn? Drop by booth #3530 and see concept art from the film now in production and get a contact high from the possibilities.