ROBOT CHICKEN: Star Wars
Sat 19 at 5pm, room 1E07
Seth Green and Matthew Senreich made such a convincing pitch to Lucasfilm for their Robot Chicken Star Wars episode that George Lucas agreed to do his own voice in the parody. On Saturday, the guys screen the now-classic episode, talk about how it came together and preview the show’s new season—all in 15 minutes! (Just kidding about that last part.) Adult Swim fans should also check out Saturday’s Venture Bros. panel with creators Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer.

“GIRLS WHO KICK ASS”
Fri 19 at 7pm, room 1E15
The comics industry has always been a boys’ club, but female artists and writers have been staking a larger claim in recent years. In this provocative panel, Colleen Doran (A Distant Soil), Amanda Connor (Birds of Prey) and former X-Men editor Louise Simonson discuss how women are breaking down barriers in comics. Joining them is none other than adult-film star Jenna Jameson, who created her own series, Shadow Hunter, for Virgin Comics. Want more girl power? Wonder Woman scribe Gail Simone, one of the most sought-after writers in mainstream comics, gets her own panel on Saturday 19 at 7pm.

THE INCREDIBLE HULK
Sat 19 at 3pm, IGN.com Theater
Forget Ang Lee’s brainy snoozefest from 2003: The Green Goliath’s movie franchise is relaunching in June, with a new feature starring Ed Norton as Bruce Banner, Liv Tyler as Betty Ross and Tim Roth as the villainous Emil Blonsky. Director Louis Leterrier (The Transporter) is coming to screen clips, and Marvel is promoting the tie-in video game at its booth on the main floor. Hulk smash…box-office records!

NEIL GAIMAN
Fri 18 at 6pm, room 1E10
It’s been two decades since Gaiman’s groundbreaking Sandman was first published by DC’s Vertigo imprint. But the celebrated writer isn’t just coming to the con to hawk the new installment of the hardcover Absolute Sandman collection. He’ll be discussing upcoming projects (like the in-the-works Death: The High Cost of Living movie, perhaps?) and championing First Amendment rights in a talk sponsored by the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Need another reason to go? SNL cast member/die-hard comics fan Bill Hader is emceeing.

WILL EISNER’S THE SPIRIT
Sat 19 at 4pm, IGN.com Theater “Will Eisner always fought against a Spirit movie,” says NYCC spokesman Joe Ziemer about the late comic-book creator, whose noirish vigilante inspired generations of graphic storytellers. “But producer Michael Uslan swears this is the ultimate adaptation. He wants to do right by Will.” The Spirit is set for a January 2009 release, but Uslan joins director Frank Miller on Saturday to show scenes from the film (which incorporates some of the illustrative techniques Miller employed in Sin City and 300), along with Eva Mendes, a.k.a femme fatale Sand Saref.

IRON MAN
Sat 19 at 3pm, IGN.com Theater
Who hasn’t been salivating over the trailers for what could be Marvel’s greatest film venture? (Robert Downey Jr. as alcoholic playboy Tony Stark? Brilliant.) In addition to new clips from the movie, visitors can scope out the Iron Man Mach 3 armor featured in the film at the Stan Winston Studio booth.

“THE LEGENDS BEHIND THE COMIC BOOKS”
Fri 18 at 3pm, room 1E10
Stan Lee, Joe Kubert, Carmine Infantino and John Romita Sr.; you might not know most of their names, but you’ve marveled at their four-color masterpieces—Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, the Flash and Hawkman, among them. These giants are sharing intimate anecdotes from comics’ Silver Age on Friday and making appearances throughout the weekend. Lee, the face of Marvel Comics for more than 40 years, will be receiving the first-ever New York Comics Legends Award at the Times Square Virgin Megastore at 8pm on Thursday.

THE X-FILES 2
Fri 18 at 7:30pm, IGN.com Theater
There’s been such a shroud of mystery around this sequel, we’re not even sure that this is its final title. Maybe director Chris Carter and writer Frank Spotnitz, who will be in attendance, can set things straight. “They’ve wanted to make this movie for ten years,” says Comic Con programmer Jay Williams. “This panel will be as much about what took so long—and a look back at the whole series—as it is a tease for the new film.” There’s been no confirmation on whether or not we’ll see some actual footage, but the truth is out there.

KIDS’ DAY
Sun 20, various times and locations
Children 12 and under can come to the con for free on Sunday, when a slew of workshops have been scheduled for teen and tot creators—including ones on drawing, writing and self-publishing. Nicktoons will preview episodes of Back at the Barnyard, Speed Racer and Amy Poehler’s The Mighty B!, but we’re the most jazzed about seeing scenes from Igor, the new animated feature from the Weinstein Company.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Sat 20 at noon, IGN.com Theater
The crew of the Galactica is still trying to find its way to Earth, but BG cast members Tahmoh Penikett (Captain Karl “Helo” Agathon) and Grace Park (humanoid Cyclon Number Eight) shouldn’t have any problem making it to the West Side Saturday morning, when they’ll screen two upcoming episodes from the final season. Speaking of boob-tube hotties, Heroes star Milo Ventimiglia will appear at 4pm to shill his new project with comics publisher Devil’s Due. See, it’s not just nerds.

MARVEL AND DC PANELS
Various times and locations
If you are a comics freak, there are some panels you just can’t afford to miss. The huge shake-up in the Marvel Universe (at least this month) is going down in Secret Invasion miniseries—which sees the shape-shifting Skrulls replacing some of our favorite heroes and villains—and writer Brian Michael Bendis dishes the dirt Friday at 5:30pm. The equally earth-shattering mini Final Crisis is rumored to be rebooting Supes, Batman and the rest of DC’s costumed crimefighters, and writer Grant Morrison will be featured in his own panel Saturday at 2pm. We don’t need to tell you to check out both companies’ booths for a sneak peek at upcoming releases, right?

HAROLD & KUMAR ESCAPE FROM GUANTANAMO BAY
Sun 20 at 12:30pm, IGN.com Theater
How I Met Your Mother’s Neil Patrick Harris joins his pals John Cho and Kal Penn to preview their White Castle follow-up—if they can stop giggling and cracking “yo mama” jokes, that is.

GEARS OF WAR 2
Sun 20 at 11am, room 1E10
The original Xbox 360–exclusive Gears of War was a massive 4.5-million-unit hit, and fans are already eager for the follow-up—even though the third-person tactical action game doesn’t hit stores until November. “The original was just a tease, the appetizer to a new style of gameplay,” says Epic Games designer Cliff Bleszinski. “Gears of War 2 is an even bigger, better and more badass experience.” Epic will only tease Gears footage on Sunday, but Ubisoft, Komani and other top gaming companies will have playable demos at their booths. (Namco/Bandai is trotting out the new Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2.)

T.M.REVOLUTION
Sat 19 at 8pm, IGN.com Theater
This is the debut NYC concert for the Japanese pop superstar (real name: Takanori Nishikawa) and while his overblown industrial sound may surprise American ears—and fans of sugary sweet J-pop—his gender-bending fashion sense will seem almost tame next to the hordes of Dragon Ball Z characters and Princess Leias in the audience. Not sure what to wear? Head to Anna Fischer’s CosPlay Essentials workshop at 6pm for tips.

The New York Comic Con is at Jacob K. Javits Convention Center Apr 18–20. 2008. Visit nycomiccon.com.