Ladies and gentlemen, Comic-Con is open for business. The weather is warm, the energy is high, the aisles are crowded, and the lines are already long.

My goal today was to get a feel for the panels. This con provides so many panel options that you could likely spend an entire month just going to panels.

Even if you haven’t been to Comic-Con, if you’re a fan of comics and nerd-culture you know that this is the place for big announcements for movie and TV franchises. Studios and comic book publishers present the big names in acting and directing for fans who are willing to spend hours, and in some cases days, in line to see them on stage. But those aren’t the only panels to enjoy.

Today I went to a panel on getting news coverage. The panelists, all professionals in media fields, offered their advice, pointers, and guidance to people who are trying to get their own work out there. Another panel was focused on Dark Horse’s line of comics based on Joss Whedon’s projects. I went to one about the need for diversity in comics and ways that that situation can improve. My last panel of the day focused on the artistry and necessity of inking, lettering, and coloring.

I plan to attend more panels throughout the weekend and these, both informative and entertaining, were a very cool start.

-Amanda Sheriff