New year, new con season! February will kick off our convention year for the Fandom Hybrid Podcast, and now that the schedule has been published we can announce that we will kick off the year presenting panels for our second year at ATL Comic Convention. Taking place February 9-11, the convention will include celebrity Q&A panels, comic creators, authors & writers, featured panelists, featured cosplayers, photo ops and a celebrity row, where fans can obtain autographs.
The convention this year boasts an amazing guest list, including the likes of Jared Padalecki, Norman Reedus, Jon Bernthal, Henry Thomas, Mary McDonnell, John Rhys-Davies, Jeremy Shada, Neil Kaplan, and Daryl "DMC" McDaniels. You can view the extensive guest list here.
All of the Atlanta members of the podcast will be presenting during the convention for a total of five panels. Details are below (and subject to change based on ATLCC scheduling updates):
Friday, February 9, 2024
6:00pm-7:00pm, Father Knows Worst (Anthony, Hanako, Michael) - From Bruce Wayne to John Winchester, Fandom Fathers have had an influence on many of our favorite characters. Sometimes they grow up and do great things; sometimes they grow up to do terrible things. Did these fathers do right by their kids or screw them up beyond belief? (Floor 3, Room A316)
8:00pm-9:00pm, Let's Talk About Negan: Take 2 (Hanako, Kacey, Michele) - Whether you love him or hate him, you can't deny that The Walking Dead's Negan is probably one of the most charismatic - and controversial - characters on television. He also has one of the most hotly debated character arcs discussed within the TWD online fandom. With Season 1 of TWD: Dead City completed, has your viewpoint of Mr. Smith changed at all? Do you feel that Negan is a redeemable character? Has he earned his redemption? Let's talk about Mr. Smith and why he is so polarizing a character. (Floor 3, Room A314)
Saturday, February 10, 2024
6:00pm-7:00pm, Mothers Aren't Better (Anthony, Hanako, Michael) - From Cersei Lannister to Thalia al Ghul, fandom mothers are usually nurturing, caring, and loving; what happens when the best intentions don’t work out as expected? Their influence on some of our favorite good guys and villains can either build them up to be great heroes and heroines, or they could grow up wanting to watch the world burn. Let’s discuss some of these influences. (Floor 3, Room A316)
8:00pm-9:00pm, What If...? TWD-style - Maggie Rhee: A Villain Origin Story (Hanako, Kacey, Michele) - Most of the time when we are introduced to a villain, they are already deep into their bad guy arc and we have to rely on flashbacks and other means to get to the origins of their story. Maggie Rhee is a beloved character from The Walking Dead, and the horrible things she's had to survive have added complicated layers to the development of her character. With the release of TWD: Dead City, we saw a version of Maggie that is straddling the fence between good and not-so-good. Could we possibly be watching a villain origin story in the making? Let's walk through the timeline of the life of Maggie and contemplate the unimaginable: what if she becomes the next TWD bad guy? (Floor 3, Room A314)
Sunday, February 11, 2024
2:00pm-3:00pm, TWD: Daryl Dixon - Season 1 Recap and Discussion (Hanako, Kacey, Michele) - Daryl Dixon in France. What? HOW? The Walking Dead took a chance on a concept that made us scratch our heads in disbelief when first announced, but it turns out that yes, there is a plausible reason why Daryl ends up in France, and yes - it is (arguably) the best TWD story continuation of the spinoffs thus far. Let's discuss season 1 of the show and talk about Daryl's growth as a character, a leader, and that surprising (but not surprising) reveal that sets up season 2. (Floor 3, Room A313)
If you will be in attendance at ATLCC, please stop by one of our panels and say hello!
