‘Buffyfest,’ ‘Batman,’ Julie Benz, Billy Dee Williams, Scott Thompson Panels Plus Fan Groups Parade, ‘Are You Smarter Than A Ghostbuster?’ Highlight Miami Comic Con Programming

‘Secrets of Pro Wrestling,’ Wizard Spotlights, ‘Wizard School’ and Costume Contests Also On Tap February 26-27 at Miami Airport Convention Center (MACC)

MIAMI, February 2011 – Wizard World Miami Comic Con today announced its diverse programming schedule, featuring unique celebrity Q&A’s, movie screenings, game shows, artist schools and more for the event, set for Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 26-27 at the Miami Airport Convention Center.

Some of the highlights include:

• Rare Q&A panels with Scott Thompson and Julie Benz , as well as popular Comic Con guests Billy Dee Williams, Adam West and Burt Ward

• “Are You Smarter than a Ghostbuster” featuring Wizard World’s favorite Ghostbuster, Ernie Hudson

• “Buffyfest” with Nicholas Brendon and “Vampire Diaries” with Clare Kramer and Mercedes McNab

• Troopers, knights, Ghostbusters and other groups take over the Convention floor with a parade of fan groups

• Wizard Art School and Q&A’s featuring leading artists like Bill Sinkiewicz, Mike Grell, Phil Jimenez, Alé Garza, Michael Golden, Greg Horn and others

• The popular adult costume contest and fun kids costume contest with great prizes

Miami Comic Con programming will take place in Room A and Room B at the Miami Airport Convention Center, and is included with admission to the event. Seating for panels is strictly limited and available on a first come first serve basis and each room will be cleared between panels. The full schedule is below:

Saturday 02/26

11:30AM-12:00PM
EXPOSED: SECRETS OF PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING
Wrestlers Kevin Nash, Candice Michelle and Angela Fong give fans the low down on what’s real and what’s not in the world of professional wrestling. (Room B)

12:00-12:30PM
JULIE BENZ Q&A
As a star of hit shows like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Dexter" and "No Ordinary Family," Benz talks to fans about her extensive career, ups and downs in the industry and her thoughts on the new generation of sci-fi and fantasy on television. (Room A)

1:00-1:45PM
BILLY DEE WILLIAMS Q&A
Lando lands at Miami Comic Con, as the coolest man in Star Wars history sits down to take fan questions. (Room A)

FILIPE ANDRADE UNLEASHED
Andrade dishes on his new X-Men project: X-Men Unleashed, and offers tips about sustaining a career in comics whether you live in Manhattan or Siberia. (Room B)

2:00-2:15PM
GROUPS OF THE CON PARADE
Join troopers, knights, Ghostbusters and more as they parade around the convention floor. (Starts/Ends at show floor main entrance)

2:15-3:00PM
FIGHTING DEMOS
Join Shire of Sangre del Sol, Shire of South Keep and the Shire of Sea March groups as they give basic fighting demos in the Wizard Arena. (End of Aisle 500)

2:00-2:45PM
BUFFYFEST WITH NICHOLAS BRENDON
Buffy's Xander Harris sits down to take fan questions about life during and after the pop culture phenomenon. (Room A)

THE CUTTING EDGE WITH BILL SIENKIEWICZ, DAVID MACK AND J .DAVID SPURLOCK
Innovators Bill Sienkiewicz, David Mack, and J. David Spurlock discuss the wilder side of comics art. (Room B)

3:00-3:30PM
ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A GHOSTBUSTER? WITH ERNIE HUDSON
Think you know Ghostbusters? Go head-to-head with Mr. Winston Zeddemore himself, as the Orlando Ghostbusters test your movie knowledge of the 1984 classic. (Room A)
TEX: THE ART OF MARK TEXEIRA
The legendary Ghost Rider, Sabertooth, Wolverine artist talks with award-winning author J. David Spurlock (Room B)

3:30-4:00PM
DISCUSSION: PARANORMAL INVESTIGATIONS WITH THE FLORIDA GHOST TEAM
Florida Ghost Team members will discuss their experiences as paranormal investigators. Among the topics covered are team and equipment selection, investigative protocol, some of south Florida's haunted locations and a question and answer period with the audience. (Room A)

4:00-4:45PM
BATMAN & ROBIN WITH ADAM WEST & BURT WARD
The original ’60s Dynamic Duo reteams for this one-of-a-kind Q&A, where Batman and Robin drop their masks and talk about their lady co-stars, the villains they faced and the wild nights after the show!
(Room A)

WIZARD SPOTLIGHT: JIM STARLIN
Join award-winning Warlock and Captain Marvel writer-artist Jim Starlin, as he hosts a crash-course in comic writing. (Room B)

4:45-5:00PM
MIAMI BALLROOM DANCERS
Come watch this Miami dance troupe heat up the dance floor with an amazing cha-cha routine. (Room A)

5:00-5:45PM
BEHIND THE SCENES OF “DANNY HUSK: THE HOLLOW PLANET” Scott Thompson (“The Kids in the Hall”) and Stephan Nilson (President of Frozen Beach Studios) will take you behind the scenes and into the pages of their newest graphic novel “Danny Husk: The Hollow Planet.” At the Q&A panel, several lucky attendees will win an autographed copy of “Danny Husk: The Hollow Planet,” the signed CGC preview of the OGN and a CGC certified autographed photo of Scott Thompson. (Room A)

BETWEEN THE LINES WITH ALÉ GARZA
Fan-favorite artist Alé Garza takes fans on an artistic tour of his style and storytelling. (Room B)

6:00-6:30PM
KID’S COSTUME CONTEST
Bring any kids 10 and under for this special event with great prizes just for families and the youngsters. Hosted by Jarrett “The Defuser” Crippen. (Room A)

6:30-8:30PM
COSTUME CONTEST
Get your best costume together and come on down to Wizard’s Miami Comic Con costume contest for huge prizes and some of the craziest outfits you’ll see this weekend. Hosted by Jarrett “The Defuser” Crippen. (Room A)

8:30-9:00PM
WHOSE COSPLAY IS IT ANYWAY? HOSTED BY MR. D
Think you can be the last cosplay improv comic standing? If you think have the talent...the gumption...the testicular fortitude, to be wacky and spontaneous, and aren't afraid to make a fool of yourself, then come on down! This is an event where audience participation is encouraged! Each round is a different scene, and contestants will be eliminated until the last person standing is declared the COSPLAY IMPROV KING! For mature audiences only. (Room B)

9:00-9:45PM
THE 3000 BRIGADE PRESENTS: THE ALMOST GOT EM’ – VILLAINS UNITE SHOW!
This show is a parody of all aspects of convention, video game, comic, and anime fandom life. This time the 3000 Brigade will battle formidable foes, have sexy girls dances that interrupt everything, and of course ROCK YOUR SOCKS OFF in their 6th Spectacular Show! So be prepared to have your eyes and ears assaulted by the finest bunch of Cosplay/Comic Entertainers this side of the Mississippi. WARNING: This show can be crude, rude, explicit, and just plain wrong, so if you are easily offended please find something else to do at this fantastically awesome convention! (Room A)

Sunday 02/27
11:00-11:45AM
WIZARD SPOTLIGHT: DENISE CROSBY
Starring as Tasha Yar on “Star Trek: The Next Generation”, Crosby dishes on her early exit from the series, her memories of the first episodes and how “Next Generation” continues to endure. (Room A)

WHO WANTS TO BE ON A REALITY SHOW?! HOSTED BY JARRETT “THE DEFUSER” CRIPPEN
Have you ever wanted to be on a reality show? Are you curious as to what the producers are looking for? Come get inside tips about reality shows and what it takes to win from the winner of Stan Lee’s “Who Wants to be a Superhero?” Season II. The Defuser (Jarrett Crippen) will talk about and answer questions regarding the audition process, competition, living conditions and other topics related to his show and reality shows in general. (Room B)

12:00-12:30PM
BUFFYFEST WITH CLARE KRAMER & MERCEDES MCNAB
Kramer and McNab talk about their days as Glory and Harmony in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” (Room A)

PHIL JIMENEZ: BREAKING INTO COMICS
The School of Visual Arts instructor and long-time comic pro covers the dos and don'ts on pitching yourself to comic companies and editors. (Room B)

12:00-1:00PM
FIGHTING DEMOS
Join Shire of Sangre del Sol, Shire of South Keep and the Shire of Sea March groups as they give basic fighting demos in the Wizard Arena. (End of aisle 500)

1:00-1:45PM
RAY PARK Q&A
The “X-Men” and “Star Wars: Episode I—The Phantom Menace” star engages fans in this one-of-a-kind Q&A, where he discusses his extensive film biography and his evolution to genre icon. (Room A)

STORYTELLING WITH MICHAEL GOLDEN
No matter if you’re a writer, artist or a reader of comics, come for this sit-down with one of the most renowned storytellers in the business, Michael Golden, as he tells you a few tricks of the trade that will help you no matter what type of story you tell or enjoy, in whatever medium. It’s a rare opportunity to talk with the co-creator of X-Men Rogue, and groundbreaking penciler on such projects as Bucky O’Hare, The ’Nam, Micronauts, G.I. Joe, and much more. (Room B)

2:00-2:45PM
BETWEEN THE LINES WITH MIKE GRELL
The legendary comics icon behind classic Legion of Super-Heroes Tales and Warlord talks about his tips of the trade and shares his secrets from making it in comics. (Room A)

3:00-3:45PM
WIZARD’S DIGITAL ART SCHOOL WITH GREG HORN
Superstar Marvel and DC artist Greg Horn (Blackest Night covers) leads a discussion on digital art and takes you through his creative process. (Room A)

* Seating for panels is strictly limited and available on a first come, first serve basis. Each room will be cleared between panels.

Miami Comic Con is the second stop on Wizard’s 2011 North American tour, which to date has 13 events scheduled. Hours are Saturday, February 26, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., and Sunday, February 27, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.. Tickets are available in advance online at www.wizardworld.com/miami.html at up to a 20% savings over tickets purchased at the door. Advance adult single-day tickets are $25 ($30 on site); two-day weekend tickets are $40 ($45 on site), and tickets are free for children age 10 and under when accompanied by a paid adult (limit two children per adult). VIP packages with special entry and exclusive items are also available.

The newly redesigned MACC will feature 172,000 square feet of luxurious, state-of-the-art meeting, social function and exhibition space. The adjacent 334-room Doubletree Hotel is also newly updated, with remodeled guest rooms, and new signature restaurant, lobby and lounge. The Doubletree is situated just three miles south of Miami International Airport (MIA), adjacent the Waterford Blue Lagoon Business District and seven miles from the Miami City Center, Bayside Marketplace and the Port of Miami, as well as just minutes away from Miami’s Internationally famous South Beach.

Join tens of thousands of fellow fans as they converge on the Miami Airport Convention Center (MACC) at Miami Comic Con to celebrate the best in pop culture. Miami Comic Con brings it all - Movies, Comics, Toys, Video Gaming, Games, TV, Horror, Wrestling, MMA, Original Art, Collectibles, Anime, Manga & More! This is Florida's best new Comic Con! Miami Comic Con is brought to you by the group who produces the most widely attended Comic Con tour!