July 2, 2003 - With Comic-Con International: San Diego 2003 set to begin on the evening of July 16, DC Comics reveals an extensive lineup of panels. Featuring some of the biggest names in comics, these panels focus on the DC Universe, WildStorm, VERTIGO, and DC Direct. In addition, several spotlight and one-on-one panels will give readers the chance to get to know some of their favorite comics writers and artists.

Here are this year's panels:

THURSDAY, JULY 17:

DC DIRECT BRAINSTORMING SESSION
2:30 - 3:30
As comics' top producer of action figures, statues, mini-busts and more, DC Direct is always looking for new ways to bring DC characters to life. Join Georg Brewer (VP - Design & Retail Product Development), Syndee Barwick (Director - Product Management, DC Direct), Ed Bolkus (Senior Art Director - DC Direct), and Anne-Marie Philis (Product Manager - DC Direct) for this lively brainstorming session!

SPOTLIGHT ON JIM LEE: WILDSTORM, BATMAN, AND MORE
3:30 - 4:30
Get to know Jim Lee, the artist behind this year's spectacular, best-selling run on BATMAN and founder and Editorial Director of WildStorm Productions in a special session focusing on drawing for comics.

DC: BEYOND CAPES AND COWLS
4:30 - 5:30
DC Comics publishes comics in a wide variety of genres beyond its core super-heroes, including fantasy, crime, science fiction, war, humor, and much more! Discover and discuss the power of diversity in this panel moderated by VERTIGO editor Will Dennis, with the writer/artist team of Wendy and Richard Pini (ELFQUEST), the writer/artist team of Kurt Busiek and Carlos Pacheco, (ARROWSMITH), writers Greg Rucka, Andy Diggle and Mike Carey, and artists Scott Hampton (LIFE EATERS), Michael Lark (GOTHAM CENTRAL) and Amanda Conner (TWO-STEP, MAD Magazine) and others.

WILDSTORM: COMICS GONE WILD
5:30 - 7:00
Find out what's coming up from WildStorm in this slide presentation with Editorial Director Jim Lee, Group Editor Scott Dunbier, writers Ed Brubaker, Kurt Busiek, Peter Hogan, Geoff Johns, Jimmy Palmiotti, Micah Ian Wright, and artists Amanda Conner, Kevin O'Neill, Scott Hampton, Whilce Portacio, and more! Moderated by DC's Director - Sales & Marketing Communication Patty Jeres.

FRIDAY, JULY 18

ONE-ON-ONE: GEOFF JOHNS AND JUDD WINICK
10:30 - 11:30
Geoff Johns and Judd Winick have established their own corner of the DC Universe with two of DC's biggest launches of the summer of 2003: THE OUTSIDERS and TEEN TITANS. Join Judd and Geoff for this one-on-one interview and Q&A session!

BATMAN: A KNIGHT IN GOTHAM
11:30 - 12:30
From the best-selling, hard-hitting renderings of Jim Lee to the stark shadows of Eduardo Risso, the Dark Knight continues to be portrayed in distinctive styles. Find out what's in store for Batman in this panel hosted by Group Editor Bob Schreck, with writers Brian Azzarello, Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka, artists Michael Lark, Jim Lee, Eduardo Risso, the Pander Brothers and more.

VERTIGO TENTH ANNIVERSARY PANEL
12:30 - 2:00
From its launch, VERTIGO has been comics' leader in cutting-edge comics and graphic novels for mature readers. Now celebrating its tenth anniversary, VERTIGO looks to the future. Learn what's coming for VERTIGO in this slide presentation with VP - Executive Editor Karen Berger, Group Editor Shelly Bond, Editor Will Dennis, plus writers Neil Gaiman, Grant Morrison, Brian Azzarello, Bill Willingham, Mike Carey, Andy Diggle, and writer/artist Jill Thompson, artists Eduardo Risso, Marcelo Frusin and many more.

AN EXTRAORDINARY ARTIST: SPOTLIGHT ON KEVIN O'NEILL
2:00 - 3:00
Few comics have been as widely acclaimed as Alan Moore's and Kevin O'Neill's THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN. Take this rare opportunity to get to know artist Kevin O'Neill in a spotlight hosted by WildStorm Group Editor Scott Dunbier.

DC COMICS AROUND THE WORLD
3:00 - 4:00
DC Comics searches the globe for talented writers and artists, broadening comics' scope with new styles and approaches. Find out what these international creators bring to the table in this panel hosted by DC Universe Group Editor Eddie Berganza and VERTIGO Editor Will Dennis, with writer Andy Diggle, artists Jock, Eduardo Risso, Carlos Pacheco, Marcelo Frusin and others.

SATURDAY, JULY 19

INSIDE AMERICA'S BEST COMICS
12:30 - 1:30
Alan Moore has been praised as today's greatest comics writer. Find out what it's like to work with him, and what's coming up for America's Best Comics, in this panel hosted by Group Editor Scott Dunbier, with writer Peter Hogan, artists Jim Lee, Kevin O'Neill, J.H. Williams III, Arthur Adams and others.

DECONSTRUCTING FABLES: SPOTLIGHT ON BILL WILLINGHAM
3:30 - 4:30
Bill Willingham, one of comics' master storytellers, made a huge splash last summer with the stunning debut of the Eisner Award-nominated VERTIGO series FABLES. With FABLES gathering more critical acclaim with each passing issue, join VERTIGO Group Editor Shelly Bond in a spotlight on this writer of inimitable charm and caustic wit.

DC COMICS: TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL
4:30 - 6:00
There's never a dull moment for the heroes of the DC Universe! Discover what's in the offing for Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and so many more of your favorite super-heroes in this slide show presentation hosted by DC's VP - Editorial Dan DiDio and Group Editor Eddie Berganza, with writers Brian Azzarello, Ed Brubaker, Max Allan Collins, Geoff Johns, Joe Kelly, Jimmy Palmiotti, Bill Willingham, Judd Winick, plus artists Colleen Doran, Jim Lee, Mike McKone, and others.

DEATH: A MANGA MAKEOVER WITH JILL THOMPSON
6:00 - 7:00
Jill Thompson went from drawing the adventures of Wonder Woman to illustrating The Sandman tales FABLES & REFLECTIONS and BRIEF LIVES. Now, after receiving accolades from her own groundbreaking creation Scary Godmother, she's returned to the Dreaming with this month's manga masterpiece DEATH: AT DEATH'S DOOR. Join VERTIGO Group Editor Shelly Bond in this spotlight on one of comics most talented and intriguing cartoonists.

SUNDAY, JULY 20

DC: GREAT CARTOONS, GREAT COMICS
10:30 - 11:30
How do the antics and adventures of the Warner Bros. Entertainment's and Cartoon Network's titanic toons get translated into four-color comics? Find out in this panel hosted by DC Editor Joan Hilty, along with writers Sean Carolan, Earl Kress, and Jesse Leon McCann, artist Stephanie Gladden, and more.

DC: THE WORLD'S GREATEST SUPER-TEAMS
11:30 - 12:30
They call the JLA the World's Greatest Super-Team - but the JSA, Teen Titans, and Outsiders aren't exactly slouches! Find out what makes these incredible teams tick, and what's coming up in their monthly comics, in this panel moderated by DC Senior Group Editor Mike Carlin and Senior Editor Peter Tomasi, with writers Kurt Busiek, Geoff Johns, Joe Kelly and Judd Winick, plus penciller Mike McKone!

WILDSTORM: A MODERN-DAY COMICS STUDIO
12:30 - 1:30
Pencillers, inkers, colorists, designers: They all work under one roof at WildStorm Studios! Find out how Jim Lee built a modern-day comics studio, nurturing talent and giving some of the biggest names in comics their start! With WildStorm Editorial Director Jim Lee, pencillers Al� Garza, Lee Bermejo, Carlos D'Anda and Whilce Portacio, inker Scott Williams, Designer Ed Roeder, and more!

ONE-ON-ONE: ED BRUBAKER AND GREG RUCKA
1:30 - 2:30
They write some of the most hard-boiled characters in comics. Now, Ed Brubaker (DETECTIVE, CATWOMAN, SLEEPER) and Greg Rucka (BATMAN: DEATH AND THE MAIDENS, WONDER WOMAN) - the duo that launched the Eisner Award-nominated GOTHAM CENTRAL - get together for an hour of tough talk. Get the straight story in this chat and Q&A session.

For further information on the convention, please visit the official Comic-Con International 2003 website at http://www.comic-con.org/.