The DC world is coming to D.C. — District of Columbia, that is. Today Warner Bros. Television announced that it will be hosting a DC Comics and TV event in Washington, D.C. in January over MLK weekend.
Stars from WB’s DC shows, along with comic book writers and artists from DC entertainment will appear at panels, culminating in an invitation-only, world premiere of The CW’s newest DC series, BLACK LIGHTNING, on Saturday, January 13.
The stars of Black Lightning — Cress Williams, China Anne McClain, Nafessa Williams, Christine Adams, Marvin “Krondon” Jones III, Damon Gupton and James Remar — will appear along with executive producers Salim Akil & Mara Brock Akil. In addition, you’ll see executive producers Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter plus television series stars Caity Lotz (DC’s LEGENDS OF TOMORROW), Candice Patton (THE FLASH), Danielle Panabaker (THE FLASH), J.W. Cortes (GOTHAM), Russell Tovey (FREEDOM FIGHTERS: THE RAY) and others to be announced.
DC comic book writers and artists such as DC Entertainment’s Jim Lee, Julie Benson, Shawna Benson, Shea Fontana, Agnes Garbowska, Tom King, Steve Orlando, Alice Randall, Oscar®-winning screenwriter John Ridley, Mark Russell, Mariko Tamaki and DC Entertainment’s Geoff Johns, the best-selling author of Rebirth and Doomsday Clock will also make an appearance.
The initial schedule of events is as follows. Further information can be found at www.DCinDC2018.com.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 12 — NEWSEUM
6:30–9:15 p.m. Batman: Gotham By Gaslight Premiere Screening (For Mature Audiences 18+ Years of Age) — Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment provide a new take on Batman as a steampunk Dark Knight hunts Jack the Ripper through the shadows of turn of the century Gotham City. The premiere event is for mature audiences 18 years of age or older, will kick off with a cocktail reception and will be followed with a Q&A session with the film’s voice cast and producers (Newseum Theatre).
SATURDAY, JANUARY 13 — NEWSEUM
10:00–10:45 a.m. The Art of the Matter: From Sketch to Screen — Just how do our favorite DC Super Heroes fly from the page to the screen? This behind-the-scenes look at the creative process provides an “origin story” of how some of DC’s greatest Super Heroes on the page have evolved into some of TV’s hottest Super Heroes on screens all over the world. Join executive producers Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter (Arrow, Black Lightning, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Supergirl, upcoming Titans), DC Entertainment’s Geoff Johns (Arrow, The Flash, Titans) and others as they trace the explosion of DC’s heroes — from ink panels to television and film screens worldwide. Additional panelists to be announced (Newseum).
11:00–11:45 a.m. The Many Shades of Heroism: DC Heroes Through the African-American Lens — 2018 will not only bring Black Lightning, a new African-American DC Super Hero to television screens (40 years after the electrifying hero was created), but also a new DC comic book from Oscar®-winning screenwriter John Ridley (12 Years a Slave) and more exciting storytelling featuring African-American characters. In this panel, Black Lightning star Cress Williams and executive producers Salim Akil & Mara Brock Akil will join the acclaimed John Ridley, author and comic book writer Alice Randall (The Wind Done Gone, Earth M), and Black Girl Nerds Editor-in-Chief Jamie Broadnax as they look beyond the super suit to the African-American men and women who are heroes to their community (Newseum).
12:00 p.m.–12:45 p.m. Wonder Women — DC has been flexing its power with female heroes on television screens for years, including kickass characters on SUPERGIRL, THE FLASH, ARROW, GOTHAM AND DC’S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW. Join Caity Lotz, Candice Patton, Danielle Panabaker, Berlanti Productions President Sarah Schechter, plus DC writers and artists Julie Benson (Batgirl and the Birds of Prey), Shawna Benson (Batgirl and the Birds of Prey), Shea Fontana (Wonder Woman, DC Super Heroes), Agnes Garbowska (DC Super Hero Girls) and Mariko Tamaki (Supergirl: Being Super) for this super-powered panel (Newseum).
2:00–2:45 p.m. The Pride of DC: The Art of LGBTQ Inclusion — On December 8, history was made with the debut of FREEDOM FIGHTERS: THE RAY, a new animated series on CW Seed, the digital channel of The CW Network, that features the first gay Super Hero to lead a show. Join The ray executive producer Greg Berlanti and voice star Russell Tovey for a wide-ranging discussion with DC writers Marguerite Bennett (Batwoman), Steve Orlando (Midnighter and Apollo) and Mark Russell (Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles) about inclusion for LGBTQ characters (Newseum).
3:00–3:45 p.m. The Aftermath: Battle & Trauma in Comics — DC’s Batman author and former CIA counter-terrorism operations officer Tom King takes on Jack Kirby’s Mister Miracle in a new monthly comic book which focuses on a Super Hero who grapples with post-traumatic stress disorder, an issue not often seen in comics and tragically overlooked in the real world. King will be joined by Gotham recurring guest star J.W. Cortes (a 13-year Marine combat veteran and a police officer with New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority), additional comic book writer/artists and thought leaders for a candid conversation about the lasting effects of battlefield trauma. Additional panelists to be announced (Newseum).
6:30–8:15 p.m. BLACK LIGHTNING Sneak Peek Screening — Cress Williams stars as the title character in Black Lightning, a new television series based on the first African-American DC Super Hero to have his own stand-alone comic title. Fans can get a sneak peek during this public screening at the Newseum, preceded by a reception.