In 1986, Frank Miller took Batman to a grim, dystopian future where a fascist government had taken over and only vigilantes and their followers could fend off their predations in the form of The Dark Knight Returns. How does this landmark piece of graphic storytelling stand up after 40 years?

With: Chelsy Bloomfield (moderating), JC Carter, Luke Hunsaker, and Michael Lovins

In 1986, writer Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons launched a fascinating alternate-history tale of costumed heroes and the use (and misuse) of power that became a landmark in the comic-book form. Explore the legacy of that creation--through the original series, the 2009 feature film adaptation, the 2019 HBO miniseries and other lesser-known spinoffs--in honor of WATCHMEN's 40th anniversary.

With: Chelsy Bloomfield, JC Carter, Scott Renshaw (moderating), and Bryan Richards

Released in 2005 and adapted from the graphic novel by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, V for Vendetta transformed a stylized dystopian thriller into a cultural touchstone. This panel revisits the film’s origins, its political resonance, and the evolution of the Guy Fawkes mask from comic-book icon to global symbol. We’ll discuss adaptation, authorship, and the Wachowskis’ screenplay, as well as the film’s enduring relevance in an age of surveillance, media manipulation, and protest movements.

With: Chelsy Bloomfield (moderating), Bryan Richards, and Dan Willis