Thinking of attending this year’s Wizard World Big Apple Comic Con?  They recently announced its diverse programming schedule, featuring unique celebrity Q&A’s, music, screenings, artist schools and more for the event, set for Saturday and Sunday, May 21-22 at Penn Plaza Pavilion.
Some of the highlights include:

• A trio of events with ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’ star James Marsters, including a Q&A, cocktail reception and Shakespeare seminar

• ‘Harry Potter’ discussion with Tom Felton, who portrayed Draco Malfoy in the hugely successful film series

• Rare Q&A sessions with Morena Baccarin, discussing her roles in ‘Firefly,’ ‘Stargate SG-1’ and ‘V,’ and Chandler Riggs, star child actor in ‘Walking Dead’

• Special screening of Disney’s ‘Messenger from Hell,’ the first episode of the important new Stan Lee/Neal Adams motion comic ‘They Spoke Out: American Voices of Protest Against the Holocaust’

• Wizard Art and Writing School and Q&A’s featuring leading creators like Christos Gage, Matt Kindt, Brian Wood, Kevin Colden, Greg Horn, Luke Ross, Jim Cheung and Kaare Andrews

• The famed Kubert School’s ‘How to Make A Comic from Script to Print’

• The popular adult costume contest and fun kids costume contest with great prizes

Unless noted, Big Apple Comic Con programming will take place in the panel room at Penn Plaza Pavilion, and is included with admission to the event.  Seating for panels is strictly limited and available on a first come first serve basis and each room will be cleared between panels.  The full schedule is available at http://www.wizardworld.com/programming-nyc.html and listed below:

Saturday:
11:00-11:45AM  – Comic Book Club Panel

12:00-12:45AM – Digital Art School With Greg Horn

Superstar Marvel and DC artist Greg Horn (‘Blackest Night’) leads a discussion on digital art and takes you through his creative process.

1:00-1:45PM – Wizard World Writing School With Christos Gage, Matt Kindt, Brian Wood And Kevin Colden.

Get your questions together for this all-star writer’s panel, with Christos Gage (‘X-Men,’ ‘Superman’), Matt Kindt (‘Revolver,’ ‘Pistolwhip’), Brian Wood (‘DMZ,’ ‘The New York Five’) and Kevin Colden (‘Fishtown,’ ‘I Rule the Night’).

2:00-2:45PM – James Marsters Q&A

Best known for his role as Spike, the platinum blonde vampire on hit shows ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ and ‘Angel,’ James Marsters answers questions about everything from his evolution from acting to music and back, and the projects he plans to conquer in the next few years. 

3:00-3:45PM – Moca Panel

4:00-4:45PM – Tom Felton Q&A

Best known for his portrayal of ‘Draco Malfoy,’ the villain and arch-nemesis of Harry Potter in the series of blockbuster films, Tom Felton makes a rare appearance at Big Apple Comic Con for a special Q&A session to answer all of your fan questions.

5:00-5:45PM – Morena Baccarin Q&A

Whether you know her as Inara Serra in ‘Firefly,’ Adria in ‘Stargate SG-1,’ or Anna in the newest remake of ‘V,’ Morena Baccarin is undoubtedly one of the female superstars of sci-fi.  Join her for a special Q&A session with fans, as she answers all of your questions and shares her thoughts on the future of sci-fi television.

6:00-8:00PM – Wizard World Adult Costume Contest

Get your best costume together and come on down to Wizard World’s Big Apple Comic Con costume contest for fun prizes and some of the craziest outfits you’ll see this weekend. 

7:00-9:00PM – Wizard World Drink & Draw

Wizard World’s original Drink & Draw is back! Join some of your favorite comic artists for a fun-filled night as they drink and draw for a cause.  (Jack Demsey’s @ 36 West 33rd St. between 5th & 6th Ave.) 

7:30-9:30PM – Cocktail Reception With James Marsters

Be one of 85 lucky guests to mingle with James Marsters and enjoy small group and one-on-one conversations in a private setting.  James will rotate around the room throughout the two hour cocktail reception.  Event is held exclusively for James Marsters Saturday VIP Ticket Holders. Photography will be allowed.  (Location TBD)

Sunday – 10:00AM-12:00PM

Bard Seminar With James Marsters

James Marsters will conduct a seminar on one of his favorite subjects – Shakespeare.  He will perform some of Shakespeare’s sonnets and discuss his interpretations.  This will be an open forum where the audience may also ask questions and share their thoughts. Event is held exclusively for James Marsters Sunday VIP Ticket Holders. (Location TBD)

12:00-1:00PM – Special Presentation: Stan Lee, Neal Adams And Disney Take On The Holocaust

Comic book legends Stan Lee and Neal Adams have teamed up with Disney Educational Productions and Holocaust historian Dr. Rafael Medoff to create ‘They Spoke Out: American Voices of Protest Against the Holocaust,’ a series of motion comics that are changing the way the Holocaust is taught in the United States. Dr. Medoff and Neal Adams will present the first episode of this remarkable new series, narrated by Lee and illustrated by Adams. ‘Messenger from Hell’ tells the amazing story of a Polish courier who smuggled himself into a Nazi death camp, and then made his way to the U.S. to alert Americans about the genocide.

1:00-1:45PM  – Wizard World Kids Costume Contest

Bring kids 10 and under for this special event with fun prizes just for families and the youngsters.

2:00-2:45PM – Chandler Riggs Q&A With ‘Walking Dead’ Behind-The-Scenes Footage

AMC’s ambitious horror series, based on Robert Kirkman’s ultra-hot zombie series from Image, now comes to life from director Frank Darabont (‘The Green Mile’)! Check out amazing behind-the-scenes footage and extended clips along with a Q&A with star Chandler Riggs.

3:00-3:45PM – Breaking Into Comics With Luke Ross, Jim Cheung And Kaare Andrews

Superstar artists Luke Ross (‘Captain America,’ ‘Amazing Spiderman’), Jim Cheung (‘Avengers,’ ‘Uncanny X-Men’), and Kaare Andrews
(‘Astonishing X-Men,’ ‘Iron Man’) assemble to give their tips on refining your art, pitching to Marvel and DC, and any other advice they can give on breaking into comics.

4:00-4:45PM – How To Make A Comic From Script To Print

The Kubert School presents ‘How to Make a Comic From Script to Print.’ Archie Comics artist and Kubert School instructor, Fernando Ruiz, walks you through the process of making a comic – from story, to pencils, inks, colors and then finally lettering – this a great introduction to all the different disciplines that go into creating a comic. 

The Penn Plaza Pavilion is located at 401 Seventh Avenue at 33rd St., in the historic Hotel Pennsylvania.  Big Apple Comic Con Spring Edition is the fifth stop on Wizard World’s 13-city 2011 North American tour.  Hours are Saturday, May 21, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; and Sunday, May 22, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.  Tickets are available in advance online at http://www.wizardworld.com/newyorkcity.html at up to a 15% savings over tickets purchased at the door.  Advance adult single-day tickets are $20; two-day weekend tickets are $35, and tickets are free for children age 10 and under when accompanied by a paid adult (limit two children per adult).  VIP packages with special entry and exclusive items are also available.