Location: Comic Arts Conference #1), Room 26AB

Elizabeth Pollard (Chair of History; Co-Director Center for Comics Studies); Pamela Jackson (Comic Arts Librarian; Co-Director Center for Comics Studies); Mary Stout (Lecturer in History and Weber Honors College); Laurence Grove (former College of Arts and Letters  visiting scholar-in-residence in comics studies)

This panel explores how a comics special collection can serve as a unifying framework for interdisciplinary teaching, collaborative scholarship, and innovative pedagogy. Centered on San Diego State University’s Comic Arts Collection, the papers demonstrate how primary sources in comics are used not only to support existing curricula but to actively generate new courses, research questions, and teaching partnerships. Pamela Jackson examines the librarian’s role in curating collections and providing primary source instruction that positions comics as central to student learning, showing how the collection itself became a catalyst for curricular growth. Elizabeth Pollard and Mary Stout then offer course-based case studies that draw directly on Special Collections: Pollard uses comics about ancient Rome to teach both historical content and visual literacy across ancient and modern media, while Stout engages students in feminist research by placing comic creators in dialogue with feminist scholars and activists. Finally, Laurence Grove,  former College of Arts and Letters  visiting  scholar-in-residence in comics studies and University of Glasgow, professor of French and text/image studies (via video) reflects on developing a comics history course structured around “ten treasures” from the collection, offering a model for teaching the long history of comics through archival strengths. Together, these papers highlight how comics collections can anchor meaningful, research-driven teaching across disciplines.

Location: Room 5AB

Jake Rowlett (Undergraduate Program Advisor and a Lecturer in the Department of Geography)

San Diego appears on screen in everything from the Top Gun films to TV series like Veronica Mars and even this year's Best Picture, One Battle After Another, with filming locations across the city and county playing a role. The panel covers historical context, logistics, and the economic impact of filming in San Diego with Beth Accomando (KPBS Cinema Junkie host; founder, Film Geeks SD), Tonya Mantooth (CEO and artistic director, the San Diego International Film Festival), Greg Sowizdrzal (president, IATSE Local 122; leader, the San Diego County Film Initiative), Jake Rowlett (SDSU researcher in media and tourism geographies), and J. Stephen Peace and Costa Dillon, who co-created, co-wrote, and acted in the Attack of the Killer Tomatoes franchise from 1978 through the 2026 release Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence. Moderated by Melissa T. Miller.

Location Room Shiley Special Events Suite, San Diego Central Library

Pamela Jackson (Comic Arts Librarian; Co-Director Center for Comics Studies); Beth Pollard (Chair of History; Co-Director Center for Comics Studies); Conor McLaughlin (Staff Development Manager, Center for Inclusive Excellence); Van Tarpley (Lecturer in History).

What happens when faculty swap journal articles for comic books? We’ll explore the creation and impact of a faculty comic book reading club as a space for intellectual play, community building, and interdisciplinary dialogue. Drawing on examples from shared readings across comics genres, we’ll show how a low-stakes, high-engagement reading club can strengthen collegial connections, model lifelong learning, and legitimize comics as serious scholarly and teaching tools — while still being fun! San Diego State University’s Pamela Jackson, Beth Pollard, Conor McLaughlin and Van Tarpley.

Location: Room 29CD

Sara Roldan (Lecturer, Department of Psychology)

While many superhero stories focus on the thrill of the fight, Invincible stands out for its unflinching look at the emotional and psychological toll of wearing the mask. This panel brings together mental health experts to explore the complex dynamics of the Grayson family, the trauma of legacy, and how Mark navigates a world where being "indestructible" doesn't mean you can't be broken. We will dive into the series' portrayal of resilience and the deep-seated human need for connection in the face of intergalactic betrayal. It is an essential discussion for fans who want to look beneath the surface of the gore to find the heart of this modern epic.

Location: Room: Shiley Special Events Suite, San Diego Central Library

Mary Stout (Lecturer, History and Honors College)

Comic books are under attack in schools and libraries across the country. This panel covers the latest threats, what is being done, what to know, and ways to help protect the freedom to read comics. Featuring Jeff Trexler (interim director, CBLDF), Gamal Hennessy (comic book attorney), Moni Barrette (comics librarian), and Mary Ellen Stout (lecturer, SDSU), with a surprise guest creator.

Location: Room 7AB

Jake Rowlett (SDSU geography and film lecturer)

From the deserts of Tunisia and California in the original trilogy to the palaces of Italy and Spain in the prequels to the newest sites from Andor and The Mandalorian, Star Wars filming locations are on many fans' travel bucket lists. A panel of globetrotters shares where to go, how to get there, and how to make the most of the experience with fellow fans, from England to Madeira Island to the Imperial Valley. Featuring James Floyd (Star Wars Insider, Star Wars Crossword Puzzles), Charla Teeters-Stewart (Imperial Valley Film Commission), Melissa Miller (Star Wars Insider), and Jake Rowlett (SDSU geography and film lecturer).

Location: Room 5AB

Elena Blanco-Suárez (Assistant Professor of Biology) and Audrey Hokoda (Professor Emerita, College of Education) 

As the Mandalorian and Grogu embark on a dangerous new adventure, the Fleet Science Center brings local scientists together to look at the science behind the space saga. Neuroscientists, engineers, child development specialists, and even a local Star Wars expert discuss all the important questions: will we ever have armor like Mando? Is Grogu's evolution similar to that of human children? What would life on other planets really look like? Moderators James Floyd and Andrea Decker

Location: Room 25ABC

Pamela Jackson

In recent years, comic art and pop culture exhibitions have exploded, with new museums opening to showcase these creative fields, existing institutions acknowledging the vitality and importance of these oft-overlooked mediums, and blockbuster shows touring around the world. This program features moderator Patrick A. Reed (curator, Jack Kirby: Heroes And Humanity and Spider-Man: Beyond Amazing) in conversation with distinguished scholars, collectors, artists, and industry professionals to discuss this field's ongoing evolution, and consider how the popular arts are celebrated and elevated through galleries and museums.