Denting the Future at San Diego Comic-Con 2024
Our Science/Tech Panels, Exclusive Receptions, and Private Dinners at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC 2024)
“I know from experience that the Dent the Future team throws a great event at Comic-Con.”
— LeVar Burton
Please join us for another exciting array of panels, speakers, and special events brought to you by Dent the Future. This year, we’re thrilled to feature our reception, along with our groundbreaking discussions on immersive technologies, space exploration, and espionage, as well as a unique event showcasing the renowned artist Bill Sienkiewicz.
Since 2014, Dent the Future has had the honor of organizing science and tech panels in collaboration with the San Diego Comic-Con editorial team. This effort has resulted in some of the most intriguing and forward-thinking talks to have appeared on the SDCC expo stages.
If you are attending SDCC as badged press, we welcome you to connect with us by emailing steve at dentthefuture dot com.
Our Reception on July 25
Since 2014, Dent the Future has hosted an exclusive reception at San Diego Comic-Con, bringing together innovators and enthusiasts to celebrate creativity and inspiration. This year’s reception, held on Thursday, July 25th, from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM, will follow the unveiling of Bill Sienkiewicz's groundbreaking space-themed Batman artwork. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to view the concept art up close, meet the legendary artist, and discuss the future of art and space with fellow enthusiasts. You’ll also have the chance to meet Dent the Future panelists, including astronauts, spies, industry leaders, and artists, making this an unforgettable evening of networking and inspiration. If you’d like to join us for the reception, please register here. Space is limited.
Special Unveiling: Space Station Art Project with Bill Sienkiewicz
Renowned Eisner Hall of Fame and Emmy-nominated artist Bill Sienkiewicz is set to make history with a unique art project that will take his work to new heights—literally. In collaboration with Dent the Future, Bill has created an original space-themed Batman artwork that will be sent to the International Space Station (ISS). This 11x17 inch watercolor creation will be part of the SpaceX CRS-32 mission scheduled for February 2025, making it the first superhero art to orbit the Earth. This project exemplifies the innovative spirit of combining art with space exploration, showcasing the intersection of creativity and science. (Even more details here.)
The concept art for this groundbreaking piece will be unveiled during the "Marriage of Space and Art" panel on Thursday, July 25th, from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM in Room 28DE.
Bill will join us later at our exclusive reception following the panel. The reception runs from from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM, where you can meet the artist, view the concept art, and discuss the future of art and space with fellow enthusiasts. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the fusion of art and science firsthand and to celebrate the innovative endeavors of a legendary artist.
Our Panelists For 2024
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Cady Coleman
Retired NASA astronaut and author
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Jonna Mendez
Author and former chief of disguise for the CIA
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Tim Kopra
Retired NASA astronaut and CEO of Starlab Space LLC
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Felice LaZae
Producer and founder of Sweet Spot Studios
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Dave Bushore
Vice president, franchise and marketing and immersive development for Marvel Studios
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Dave Way
4x Grammy-winning engineer/producer, leading ATMOS mixer
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Adam Leslie
Intelligence professional, CEO and co-founder of RealSpyComics
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Mark S. Zaid
National security attorney and comic book historian
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Josh Simpson
Glass artist
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Jancy McPhee
Space life scientist, founder of the SciArt Exchange
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Susan Karlin
Contributor, Fast Company
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Shereif Fattouh
Executive producer at ILM Immersive
Our San Diego Comic-Con Panels for 2024
For SDCC attendees, we invite you to join us at our four panels:
Secrets from the Spy Museum: Real-World Espionage Technologies and Techniques
Friday July 26, 2024 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT • Room 25ABC
From Agent Carter to Secret Agent X-9, espionage and spies have been integral to comic book storytelling, and the exotic gadgets and weapons they use have been pivotal to the stories being told. The same importance exists with real-world spies, but the technologies relevant today bear little resemblance to spy tech of the past. Moderated by Steve Broback (co-founder, Dent the Future), this session will feature experts and Spy Museum affiliates including Jonna Mendez (author and former chief of disguise for the CIA), Adam Leslie (intelligence professional, CEO and co-founder of RealSpyComics), and Mark S. Zaid (national security attorney, comic book historian), who will discuss what tools and technologies are relevant today and how storytellers can incorporate spy tools in their art.
The Marriage of Space and Art
Thursday July 25, 2024 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT • Room 28DE
Our journey to space takes as much creativity as engineering. Likewise, art can be informed by science—with space as an emerging new canvas. These panelists figuratively and—in the case of two of them—literally embody the marriage of those disciplines. Cady Coleman is a retired NASA astronaut who coached Sandra Bullock for Gravity. Her husband, Josh Simpson, is a glass artist who creates celestial-themed sculptures. Tim Kopra is a NASA astronaut-turned-CEO of Nanoracks, a space services company that launched the first off-world art gallery to the ISS. Jancy McPhee is a space life scientist who founded the SciArt Exchange, a nonprofit using art to envision the future living and working in space. They’ll discuss how these seemingly disparate disciplines inspire one another and how artists can get their work into orbit. Moderated by Fast Company’s Susan Karlin.
Next-Gen Fandom: Pioneering New Immersive Technologies
Thursday July 25, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT • Grand 10 & 11, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
Since 1953's 3D glasses in Mighty Mouse comics, artists have pursued creating more immersive experiences for fans. Moderator Felice LaZae (producer and founder of Sweet Spot Studios) with panelists Dave Bushore (vice president, franchise and marketing and immersive development for Marvel Studios), Dave Way (4x Grammy-winning engineer/producer, leading ATMOS mixer), and Shereif Fattouh (executive producer at ILM Immersive) will explore groundbreaking developments reshaping fan interactions with their favorite stories, characters, and entertainment experiences. They'll discuss enhancements like gamification, spatial audio, unlockable content, and immersive experiences in film, TV, music, and gaming, offering a cutting-edge perspective on how these innovations revolutionize engagement with our beloved franchises and universes.
So, You Wanna Be an Astronaut? Q&A with NASA Astronauts Cady Coleman and Tim Kopra
Friday July 26, 2024 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT• Room 28DE
We wanted to be astronauts as kids. We love sci-fi and NASA launches as adults. But what is it like to really go the distance and actually live in space? Astronauts Cady Coleman—who coached Sandra Bullock for Gravity—and Tim Kopra will give an inside peek (and amusing stories) of how you become an astronaut, what the training is like, how it feels to blast off on a rocket, and what life is like aboard the International Space Station. Plus, a look forward at how this will play out for years-long missions. Moderated by Fast Company's Susan Karlin.
Inventor Richard “Iron Man” Browning flies at Dent SDCC reception 2017. Photo by Kendall Whitehouse, copyright.
Dent the Future has hosted some of the most exciting technology demos to have ever been presented during Comic-Con dates:
