May
30 Book Expo sets Saturday aside for comics

I haven't written much about Book Expo America, which kicked off yesterday at the Los Angeles Convention Center and runs through Sunday, for two reasons: One, I've never been to BEA and don't know quite what to expect from this trade show; and, two, I haven't had a chance to go down to the show yet because of other commitments.

But tomorrow that changes as I will be moderating a panel called "The New Comic Book to Film Machinery: What's Next and Who is Buying What from Whom," as part of the show's Comics and Graphic Novel Day. I'm lucky to have joining me for this discussion IDW prexy Ted Adams; Brendan Deneen, senior VP of Objective Entertainment and comicbook writer; Jon Silk, VP production at Lin Pictures, which is developing several comics properties for WB; agent Peter McHugh of The Gotham Group; and Rick Jacobs, a producer and manager at Circle of Confusion. The panel is set for 11 a.m. to noon in room 406B, located in the concourse section connecting the two main halls.

Other comics panels set for tomorrow (full schedule here) include: 

* A graphic novel author breakfast with Art Spiegelman, Mike Mignola, Jeph Loeb and Jeff Smith.
* A panel titled "What's Hot, What's Good, What's Next in Graphic Novels" moderated by Milton Griepp of ICV2.
* "Manga's New Generational Trade-up: The Publishers' Quest for New Readers," moderated by Calvin Reid of Publisher's Weekly.
* "The New Literacy:  How Graphic Novels, the Web, and Video Games are Changing the Way We Process Information."
* And Variety's own Peter Debruge will moderate "Upfront and Unscripted: Stan Lee."