AI, Andor and Anime: SDSU researchers present at Comic-Con International
Faculty appear on 10 panels covering such topics as banned books, Manga, and careers in comics.
San Diego State University faculty again bring their expansive knowledge and research to Comic-Con International, July 24-27.
Attendees will engage with faculty from the departments of history, art and design, American Indian studies, rhetoric and writing studies, Africana studies, and psychology. From AI in film to the social implications of vampires, 10 panels cover a range of topics by SDSU researchers.
“It’s rewarding to see SDSU’s presence at Comic-Con growing each year, matching the growth of our curriculum and comics-related opportunities here on campus,” said Beth Pollard, co-director of SDSU’s Center for Comics Studies and professor and chair of history, who has attended every San Diego Comic-Con International since 2006.
Ajani Brown, lecturer of Africana Studies, a 16-time Comic-Con devotee, will discuss artificial intelligence in film, TV and books. ”I will be joining the executive producer of the TV show, ‘Agents of Shield,’ along with scientists to discuss artificial intelligence in pop culture and reality,” he said. “Specifically, how science fiction has warned us about the ramifications of this advancing technology.” He enjoys participating in panels blending science fiction with science fact.
Sara Roldan, a lecturer in psychology and Comic-Con panelist since 2023, plans to share her expertise on the panel: “I Want to Play a Game: A Deep Dive into Squid Game from a Psychologist’s Perspective.” Roldan said, “In this panel, I’ll be exploring how class disparity, narrative psychology, and character choices in ‘Squid Game’ reveal the deeper emotional and societal struggles people face under pressure. My lens comes from research on restorative practices, mental wellness and neurodivergent inclusion in both education and pop culture.”
Open the image full screen.She is also participating as an invited industry expert in a second session focused on storytelling and wellness.
“What I’m most excited about this year is showing audiences the true value of comics and video games not just as entertainment, but as powerful tools for healing, learning and emotional connection,” said Roldan.
While Pollard has presented several times at Comic-Con about SDSU comics curriculum and programming, this will be the first time she is presenting about her research expertise.”I’m excited to share how the depiction of witches in comics changes over time and reflects contemporary social issues, especially at the intersection of women, aging and otherness.”
Here are descriptions of the SDSU panels (Check the official Comic-Con program for locations and times as they may change):
“Andor: From Resistance to Rebellion”
Who: Desmond Hassing (SDSU American Indian studies lecturer), Robert Dagnall (SDSU rhetoric and writing studies lecturer), psychologists Drea Letamendi and Catherine Hicks, and Jendia Gammon (speculative fiction author). Hosted by James Floyd (“Star Wars” author, Star Wars Insider regular contributor, “Star Warsologies” podcast co-host).
What: Fighting the tyranny of the Galactic Empire is dangerous work, whether in the halls of power on Coruscant or in the dark recesses of the Outer Rim. This panel will dive deep into the popular show “Star Wars: Andor,” especially season two, and examine themes of resisting authoritarianism and aspects of outright rebellion. How do the choices made by Cassian Andor, Mon Mothma and Luthen Rael make the galaxy freer but also more perilous?
When: Thursday, July 24, Noon–1 p.m.
Where: Grand 10 & 11, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
“Banned in the USA?! Freedom, Comics, and Education”
Who: William Nericcio (SDSU English professor) and Pamela Jackson (SDSU Center for Comics Studies co-director and pop culture librarian).
What: This panel will focus on comics censorship history and the current issues regarding censorship and curriculum development, including library collections. The panel will discuss what has happened, what is happening, and suggestions for comics curriculum advocacy. Framing the historical context will be especially helpful for understanding this new agenda, and moving forward, the education curriculum will remain a combative space between these contending forces.
When: Thursday, July 24, 3–4 p.m.
Where: Shiley Special Events Suite, San Diego Central Library
“Nostalgia as a Double-Edged Sword”
Who: Law Sharma (actor, entertainment journalist), Victoria Male (writer, producer), Marwa Abdalla (lecturer of television, film, media, School of Theatre, Television, and Film), Dale Godboldo (actor, producer, author), Peter Guse (influencer, author, podcaster), and Bryce Charles (actor, singer, voiceover artist).
What: Audiences now more than ever depend on the concept of nostalgia — how the love for past decades dictates people’s moods, financial choices, and futures. Why do so many generations cling to their past pop culture loves, and how is that affecting the space as a whole? Panelists discuss the sociopolitics of loving yesteryear, artistic expression while looking through the lens of the past, and the love/hate relationship with nostalgia that can help or hinder an audience from new and interesting ideas.
When: Thursday, July 24, 8–9 p.m.
Where: Room 23ABC
“Oh, Grow Up! Adulting in Anime and Manga”
Who: Van Tarpley (SDSU history lecturer), Tony Weaver Jr. (Weirdo), JuYoun Lee (Yen Press editor), Mangaka Vandel Marchen, and Deb Aoki (Mangasplaining) discuss older characters and mature fans of manga and anime.
What: Who says adulting is boring? This panel discusses older characters and mature fans of manga and anime. Moderated by comics editor, writer and scholar Shamika Mitchell (State University of New York, Rockland Community College/Women in Comics).
When: Friday, July 25, 10–11 a.m.
Where: Room 9
“The Evolution of AI through Film and in Reality”
Who: Ajani Brown (SDSU Africana studies lecturer), Craig Titley (Executive Producer, “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D”), and local scientists.
What: It started with “Metropolis” in 1927. Since then pop culture has explored the capabilities and consequences of a world with AI in countless books, TV shows and movies such as “Terminator,” “Ex Machina” and “M3gan.” The Fleet Science Center brings together a panel to explore the creative process of writing about AI, where AI technology currently is, and where scientists see its future.
When: Friday, July 25, 5:30–6:30 p.m.
Where: Room 24ABC
“Comics Art Conference Session #9: Roundtable on ‘My Favorite Thing is Monsters’ Book 2”
Who: Neil Kendricks (SDSU lecturer, School of Art and Design), writer/curator Kim Munson, Alonso Nunez, Robert L. Reiner, and Diana Green.
What: A discussion of the panelists’ series of essays (and Kendricks' short comic book interview with Emil Ferris) slated for publication in The American Book Review this summer.
When: Saturday July 26, 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Where: Room 26AB
“I Want to Play a Game: A Deep Dive into Squid Game from a Psychologist’s Perspective”
Who: Sara Roldan (SDSU psychology lecturer and “Our Oasis Community” podcast ), Brittani Oliver Sillas-Navarro (Black Panther Psychology), Travis Langley (Batman and Psychology), Scott Jordan (Dark Loops Productions), Billicent San Juan (“Shadow and Verse”), Kaela Joseph (Side Quest Psychology), and Benjamin Taiz (“Psychology for Geeks”).
What: Is “Squid Game” a brutal contest of survival or a mirror reflecting the harsh realities of class warfare? This panel unpacks how the global phenomenon challenges our views on human behavior, economic inequality and the psychological toll of desperation. It will explore how each character’s story invites us to examine moral injury, agency and the emotional price of survival. Join psychologists and thought leaders as they discuss how “Squid Game” captures the complexity of the human condition, from loyalty and guilt to ambition and grief. Through the lens of narrative psychology, this conversation will tackle the deeper questions: What drives our choices when the stakes are high? How do systems of power shape identity, values and sacrifice? Let’s break down who really wins and at what cost.
When: Saturday, July 26, 1–2 p.m.
Where: Room 24ABC
“Honoring the Kumeyaay Nation’s Past, Present, and Future Through Visual Storytelling”
Who: Ethan Banegas (Luiseno-Kumeyaay; SDSU American Indian Studies lecturer, San Diego History Center historian), Michael Connolly Miskwish (Campo Kumeyaay Nation, Kumeyaay historian), Lorraine Oroscok (Kumeyaay-Ipai, education executive director for San Pasqual Band of Indians), and Stanley Rodriguez (Kumeyaay, instructor of Kumeyaay language and director of the board at the Kumeyaay Community College) as well as additional project team members Jen Shannon (program manager and curator, National Museum of the American Indian), John Swogger (archaeologist and comics creator), and moderator Jewyl Alderson (Innovation Division, San Diego County Office of Education).
What: Released in November, this comic tells stories of Kumeyaay people from past to present and engages with their own communities, schools, and beyond. Hear about the project from Kumeyaay elders and historians. This community-engaged comic speaks from the perspective of the Kumeyaay people, on whose land Comic-Con is held every year. At this session, learn how to access the free digital version of the comics “Beyond Gaming” and “Our Past, Present and Future,” as well as additional resources.
When: Saturday, July 26, 5–6 p.m.
Where: Room 29AB
“Unholy Trinity: Vampires, Witches, and Ghosts in Comics”
Who: Pamela Jackson (SDSU Center for Comics Studies co-director, and pop culture librarian), Beth Pollard (SDSU Center for Comics Studies co-director, and history professor), and James Thompson (People’s History of Comics)
What: Old hags, sexy vixens, ghoulish specters … witches, vampires, and ghosts in comics have long thrilled, spooked and entertained readers. But these characters also reflect a complicated history of social issues. Take an engaging and image-filled romp through three of the most popular genres of comic book monsters in an exploration of their real and metaphorical connections to civil rights, age, domestic violence, race, physical and mental illness.
When: Saturday, July 26, 8–9 p.m.
Where: Room 29AB
“Careers in Design, Tech, and Gaming: Lessons from the Pros”
Who: Sara Roldan (SDSU psychology lecturer and author), moderator Heather Cook (community engagement, Microsoft) and panelists iAsia Brown (senior producer, Xbox), April Gittens (founder, Pretty Wired Builds and cloud advocate, Microsoft), Angela D. Scott (senior personalization and content manager, Activision), and Marianne Parker, (costume designer, Costume Doodles).
What: A discussion on best practices in how to break into careers in video games, design, content creation and tech.
When: Sunday, July 27, 3–4 p.m.
Where: Room 3
