Gallery: Comic-Con Cometh: 11 Must-See Panels at the Pop Culture Extravaganza
01Godzilla
*Comic-Con* is coming. Although press will be attending preview night at the San Diego Convention center this evening, the madness of Comic-Con International--where attendance topped 100,000 in recent years--begins tomorrow for the general public, offering first looks, creator commentary and celebrity appearances for fan-favorite movies, TV shows and comics that attendees can lord over friends who didn't make it for months to come. But looking through the [programming schedule](http://www.comic-con.org/cci/programming-schedule), much like walking through the convention itself, can be a daunting affair. There's just too much. Every year Comic-Con gets bigger and broader in its scope as an entertainment event, making it's nearly impossible to hit every relevant panel and still make it to every necessary comic signing and photo op (especially considering the gargantuan lines). But we're here to help. While it's impossible to pack everything interesting into one trip to Comic-Con--or one article--we combed the schedule and located 11 must-see panels coming to the San Diego Convention Center, from epic trilogy-ending flicks like *The World's End* to Marvel-universe uniting television shows like *Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.* Peruse the gallery above to check out our list of picks, from *Walking Dead* to digital comics. __Above:__ *Godzilla* ---------- __Why It's a Must-See:__ Last year Legendary Pictures head honcho Thomas Tull surprised the crap out of Comic-Con's Hall H by showing a dark, brooding, J. Robert Oppenheimer-quoting teaser for *Godzilla*. The [crowd went nuts](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2012/07/godzilla-comic-con/). Now that *Pacific Rim* has put Legendary firmly in the kaiju business, it only seems right that the OG of the genre gets a big showing at this year's con. Considering the above teaser in which director Gareth Edwards says, "for all of you Godzilla fans something very big is heading to San Diego," it's probably safe to say the monster himself will be sitting in on the Legendary panel. Right? Right?! Either way, we can't wait to find out. *—Angela Watercutter*
02X-Men Days of Future Past
*X-Men: Days of Future Past* ---------------------------- __Why It's a Must-See:__ It seems like it's been an eternity since *X-Men: First Class* first introduced us to its school of young mutants. Ok, it's been like two years. But, seriously, even though we're getting *The Wolverine* this summer, we won't be reuniting with the old school X-Men until 2014. The flick, wherein Bryan Singer picks up where *First Class* director Matthew Vaughn left off, is still being filmed, but hopefully that doesn't mean no footage from the movie will make it to its Hall H panel. After all, Singer's a teaser machine—have you seen [his Twitter](https://twitter.com/BryanSinger)?—it would seem insane for his film to come to Comic-Con empty-handed. *—Angela Watercutter* *Image via [Bryan Singer's Twitter](https://twitter.com/BryanSinger/status/334065511707078656/photo/1)*
03The Hunger Games Cathing Fire
*The Hunger Games: Catching Fire* --------------------------------- __Why It's a Must-See:__ It's become an unspoken rule that every Comic-Con now must have at least one panel devoted to a massive film adaptation of a young adult novel. *Twilight* said its bittersweet goodbye to the con in 2012, just in time to make room for the first Hall H appearance by *The Hunger Games* franchise. (We're already crossing our fingers for lots of Katniss and Capitol cosplay.) Based on the first trailer (above) it seems like *Catching Fire* director Francis Lawrence is taking the second *Games* installment in even darker directions than Gary Ross did with the first film. With any luck, the film's panel presentation will provide a deeper look into just how dark it's going to get (and maybe some actual footage from after the Victory Tour?!). Also, Jennifer Lawrence, who plays Katniss Everdeen, will most likely be there – and do/say something that will [be a meme in 24 hours or less](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2013/02/oscars-2013-viral-moments/). *—Angela Watercutter*
04The Amazing Spider-Man 2
*The Amazing Spider-Man 2* -------------------------- __Why It's a Must-See:__ Marc Webb's superhero super-sequel, which features Jamie Foxx as villain Electro, hasn't given out too many teasers yet, so there's hope that they're saving a slew of them for Comic-Con, where (hopefully) ultimate Spidey fanboy—and also Spidey himself—Andrew Garfield can give us more details on that [romance he wants Peter Parker to have](http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/07/10/andrew-garfield-spider-man-gay/) with a male MJ. (Yes, please, more of that!) *—Angela Watercutter* *Image courtesy Sony Pictures*
05Kick-Ass 2
*Kick-Ass 2* ------------ __Why It's a Must-See:__ The first trailer for this (above) was, well, kick ass. Hopefully, that trend of awesome continues with whatever from the film gets shown to the Comic-Con audience. So far no word on who will actually participate in the film's panel, but presumably Jim Carrey won't be there now that he's announced he [can't support it](https://twitter.com/JimCarrey/status/348886602384281600) in good conscience, but we're all crossing our fingers that Hit Girl herself Chloë Grace Moretz and the film's eponymous hero—played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson—will show up. And possibly play fight and make tampon jokes. *—Angela Watercutter*
06Ender's Game
*Ender's Game* -------------- __Why It's a Must-See:__ Sci-fi fans have been anticipating a movie adaptation of Orson Scott Card's children-vs.-buggers book for a very long time. Next fall they'll get one when Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate's version hits theaters. There hasn't been much teased out from the movie beyond a trailer (above) and a few stills—and in recent weeks the movie itself has been overshadowed by [the anti-gay-marriage views](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2013/07/orson-scott-card-boycott/) of Card himself—so all eyes will be on the flick as it heads to San Diego – with its Oscar-nominated cast and (hopefully) some new footage in tow. *—Angela Watercutter*
07Agents of SHIELD
*Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.* ------------------------- __Why It's a Must-See:__ Um, duh? It's a TV show set in the Marvel universe that heralds the return of Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) after he was presumed dead in *The Avengers*. There's no way to not obsessively follow everything about this show that happens during the con. Creator Joss Whedon is expected to be at the show's panel as will others from the show. Hopefully, they'll come ready to answer the ever-important question, "How on Earth did Coulson come back to life?" *—Angela Watercutter*
08The World's End
*The World's End: Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost Reunited* ---------------------------------------------------------------- __Why It's a Must-See:__ Sure, on the face of it, you could try and write *The World's End* off as being a little too close to *This Is The End*--Male party gets interrupted by events of cosmic seriousness and world-endangering scope--but anyone who's seen *Spaced*, *Shawn of The Dead* or *Hot Fuzz* can already testify that the combination of Wright, Pegg and Frost is something that elevates whatever material it comes into contact with, which translates into the likelihood that this particular movie may be the funniest thing you'll see all year. For those who need more evidence, there's this Friday panel (10am in Hall H), offering "candid chatter and spirited surprises" as the trio spill the beans on the making of the movie and likely show some previously unseen footage, as well. -- Graeme McMillan
09Digital and Print: Friends or Foes?
*Digital and Print: Friends or Foes?* ------------------------------------- __Why It's a Must-See:__ There are a lot of panels about digital comics at this year's Comic-Con, and with good reason: It's arguably the fastest growing segment of the industry, and something that's bringing a whole audience into the medium. This panel, in Room 9 on Friday at 6pm, may be *the* must-see on the subject this year, as ComiXology co-founder John Roberts and print retailer Joe Field discuss how digital and print interact in today's marketplace, with creator Mark Waid (who writes *Daredevil* and *Indestructible Hulk* for Marvel and co-founded the digital publisher Thrillbent) and Jeff Webber, the director of ePublishing for traditionally print publisher IDW. For those interested, earlier on Friday (2:30 in Room 8, to be precise), Waid and Webber are also on the *Digital First Comics: The New Trend* panel with ComiXology's other co-founder David Steinberger, DC Entertainment's SVP of Integrated Publishing Hank Kanalz and Monkeybrain co-founder Allison Baker; that one is also pretty much guaranteed to be worth showing up for. - Graeme McMillan
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*The Walking Dead 10th Anniversary Panel* ----------------------------------------- __Why It's a Must-See:__ There are actually two separate *Walking Dead* panels at Comic-Con this year; this one -- on Thursday at 4:15 in Room 6A -- is the one that *isn't* the official TV series panel (That happens on Friday). Instead, this panel sees *Walking Dead* creator Robert Kirkman answering fan questions about the past decade of the phenomenon, from its earliest days as a brand new comic through the development of the AMC series to its incredible success today. Expect some behind the scenes gossip, teases of what's to come in both comic and television show, and Kirkman's inimitable brand of self-depreciating humor. While you're there, ask him how many time's he's managed to complete [The Walking Dead Escape](http://www.thewalkingdeadescape.com/). -- Graeme McMillan
11Dark Horse: Joss Whedon
*Dark Horse: Joss Whedon* ------------------------- __Why It's a Must-See:__ Oh, I don't know. Maybe it's possible that the prospect of an hour-long panel where Whedon - a funny, funny man, in case you have somehow missed that fact in his work on such shows as *Buffy*, *Firefly* or *Angel*, or movies like *The Cabin in the Woods*, *Serenity* or *Marvel's The Avengers* - gets to talk about his work and whatever else pops into his head at the time *doesn't* appeal to you, but odds are this will be one of the most entertaining panels of the entire show, as well as one of the most interesting. Will there be *Agents of SHIELD* or *Avengers 2* spoilers to be found in Ballroom 20 at 6:15 on Friday? Possibly, along with updates on his *Buffy*, *Angel and Faith* and *Dollhouse* comic projects… And maybe a little *Serenity* too, if we're lucky. -- Graeme McMillan
