Comic-Con: Batman spin-offs legitimize opening night, 'It' will thrive

SAN DIEGO — Warner Bros. Television will unveil a pair of Batman-related screenings for fans arriving early to Preview Night at this year's Comic-Con International. Ballroom 20 is the place to be at 6 p.m. PDT as Warner Bros. presents the first episode of "Batwoman" along with the series pilot for "Pennyworth."

Detective Comics is expected to present new details on "Harley Quinn," "Titans" and "Doom Patrol," but look for those goodies during Saturday's DC Universe Series panel at 7 p.m.

While Warner Television is present at this year's Comic-Con, it is odd that Warner Bros. films does not have a panel at the event. Also noticeably absent are both Universal and Columbia Pictures. Unless Warner is planning to surprise D.C. fans, there will be no "Wonder Woman 1984" or "Joker" sneak peeks.

#ScareDiego at the Horton Grand Theater (8:30 p.m.) will focus solely on "It Chapter Tw0" which hits theaters on September 6. New footage is promised, and don't be surprised if another horror flick or two is revealed during Scare Diego. The Horton theater is only a 10-minute walk from the San Diego Convention Center.

Sadly, this is the first Comic-Con since the passing of Marvel Comics' icon Stan Lee. Expect many tributes to the visionary creator of the majority of the Marvel Universe from fans and panels alike. Perhaps, the cosplay community will up their game and give Stan-The-Man the homage he deserves over the weekend through innovative costume designs.

The Comic-Con officially kicks off at 9 a.m. Wednesday with the five-day Robert A. Heinlein Blood Drive. For a detailed schedule of all day one's events, check out Comic-Con's itinerary (courtesy the SDCC website) below:

Robert A. Heinlein Blood Drive (9 a.m.)

Comic-Con’s Robert A. Heinlein Blood Drive returns for its 43rd massive year in 2019 with a 5-day drive.

Our blood drive is San Diego Blood Bank’s largest and longest-running event: last year we collected 2,804 pints of blood over our 4-day convention, our biggest year ever.

The growth of our blood drive over the years has been phenomenal. The Robert A. Heinlein Blood Drive began at San Diego Comic-Con back in 1977. That first year, 148 pints of blood were collected, and as the convention has grown, so has our blood drive. Over the past 42 years 22,607 pints of blood have been donated by Comic-Con attendees! San Diego Blood Bank estimates that our 42-year total has saved more than 67 thousand lives!!

This year blood donors will receive a free Avengers: End Game tee shirt and other goodies.
PLUS, donors are also entered into daily drawings for many fantastic prizes donated by Exhibitors, Professionals, and Staff.

Grand Hyatt Hotel, 4th floor, in the Coronado Ballroom


Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Teaching with Comics: An Interactive Workshop for Educators (4 p.m.)

Peter Carlson (Green Dot Public Schools) and Susan Kirtley (Portland State University) lead this hands-on workshop designed for educators looking to integrate comics into classrooms. This workshop guides participants through activities that model how to develop superhero readers and writers in classrooms through the implementation of a critical comics pedagogy and includes the incredible voices of Ebony Flowers (Hot Comb), David F. Walker (Solid Comix), Chanti Burnette (Animo South Los Angeles High School), and Samantha Diego (UCLA). Workshop materials will be provided and everyone is welcome. Shiley Special Events Suite, San Diego Central Library

The Adventures of Captain Marvel ( 5 p.m. — 6 p.m.)

(1941, directed by William Witney, John English, starring Stanley Price, Bryant Washburn, and Leyland Hodgson. NR) The first 3 of 12 episodes of the Republic serial based on the comic book character of the same name, who is now simply recognized by the name; Shazam! Young Billy Batson is part of a scientific expedition in a remote section of Siam. Trapped in an ancient tomb, Billy happens upon an ancient shaman acronymically named SHAZAM. Because Billy has obeyed the warnings written on the sacred chamber, the old man rewards the boy with the ability to turn into superhero Captain Marvel by uttering the word "Shazam!"! Billy finds that his alter ego comes in handy in determining the identity of "The Scorpion", a member of the expedition who plans to kill his colleagues after learning the secret hiding places of the components of a super-weapon! Marriott Grand Ballroom 5

Pokémon Detective Pikachu (5 p.m.)

Experience the magic of Ryme City in an immersive walkthrough pop-up based on the hit film Pokémon Detective Pikachu. Guests will be able to explore the city and capture Instagrammable moments including the neon cityscape, Ryme City marketplace, film prop displays, an infinity room and more. Fans can win prizes while having the opportunity to take photos with multiple characters from the film including Detective Pikachu himself!

MLK Promenade, behind the Omni Hotel


Wednesday: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

World Premiere Screenings of Batwoman and Pilot Screening of New Series Pennyworth Plus Special Sneak Peek Screening of The 100 and Rooster Teeth (6 p.m. — 10 p.m.)

Comic-Con and Warner Bros. Television proudly continue their annual Preview Night tradition with the exclusive world premiere screening of new series Batwoman and a pilot screening of new series Pennyworth as well as a sneak peek of fan favorite The 100, Rooster Teeth, and more. Ballroom 20

Captain Marvel (6:10 p.m.)

(2019, directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, starring Brie Larson, and Samuel L. Jackson. PG-13) Carol Danvers is a member of an elite unit of Kree soldiers who does not remember her past until she is sent to a small insignificant planet called Earth. She starts to find clues with the help of a local benched spy by the name of Nick Fury, and the revelation of her origin will change her destiny! 6:10pm - 8:13pm Marriott Grand Ballroom 5

ANIME: Hozuki's Coolheadedness (6 p.m.), Outlaw Star (6:25 p.m.), ARGEVOLLEN (6:50 p.m.), Twin Star Exorcists (7:15 p.m.), Dimension W (7:40 p.m.), the Dirty Pair OVA (8:05 p.m.), the Third: The Girl With The Blue Eye (8:30 p.m.), Rocket Girls (8:55 p.m.), Fate/Kaleid Liner Prisma Illya 2 Wei (9:20 p.m.), Spice and Wolf (9:45 p.m.), Armored Trooper VOTOMS (10:10 p.m.) Marriott Grand Ballroom 4; Anime

Shazam! (8:20 p.m.)

(2019, directed by David F. Sandberg, starring Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, and Asher Angel. PG-13) By shouting out one word: SHAZAM!, Billy Batson turns from a streetwise 14-year-old foster kid into an adult Super Hero! Can he fly? Does he have X-ray vision? Can he shoot lightning out of his hands? Can he skip his social studies test? Billy sets out to test the limits of his abilities with joyful recklessness, but he’ll need to master these powers quickly in order to fight the deadly forces of evil controlled by Dr. Thaddeus Sivana! Marriott Grand Ballroom 5

The Adventures of Captain Marvel (10:40 p.m.)

(1941, directed by William Witney, John English, starring Stanley Price, Bryant Washburn, and Leyland Hodgson. NR) The last 9 of 12 episodes of the Republic serial based on the comic book character of the same name, who is now simply recognized by the name; Shazam! Young Billy Batson is part of a scientific expedition in a remote section of Siam. Trapped in an ancient tomb, Billy happens upon an ancient shaman acronymically named SHAZAM. Because Billy has obeyed the warnings written on the sacred chamber, the old man rewards the boy with the ability to turn into superhero Captain Marvel by uttering the word "Shazam!"! Billy finds that his alter ego comes in handy in determining the identity of "The Scorpion", a member of the expedition who plans to kill his colleagues after learning the secret hiding places of the components of a super-weapon! Marriott Grand Ballroom 5

For more information on this year's Comic-Con, visit the official website: https://www.comic-con.org/