Penguicon 2019 has ended

Create Your Own Event

Penguicon 2019

4:00pm EDT

Professional Wrestling 101

Have you ever wondered just what pro wrestling is?" Have you ever wondered what the heck is the appeal of grown men and women fake fighting in their underwear? Well, have I got a panel for you! Come learn the ins-and-outs of professional wrestling. Learn what wrestling is, how it works, what makes a match good or bad, and more! Also attend the sister-panel "History of Pro Wrestling" to learn more!

Program Participants

Shane Soules

Friday May 3, 2019 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
EMC III

5:00pm EDT

Got Comic Movie Overload?

With comic book films seemingly coming out every month, how long will it take for the comic book film to go the way of the western? Join us in a fun conversation about comic book films, past, present, and future...especially future!

Program Participants

BluRaven C. Houvener

BluRaven C. Houvener is a Michigan based creator who specializes in both web and print comics, and Zines. He usually draws on his experiences growing up in the underground music scene alongside his father, and uses those experiences to craft out Slice of Life sagas with a psych stream... Read More →

Friday May 3, 2019 5:00pm - 6:00pm EDT
EMC I

5:00pm EDT

The Weird World Of Night Vale Presents

Nightvale Presents produces some of the most innovative speculative fiction podcast content available. With shows like Welcome to Night Vale, Alice Isn't Dead, Adventures in New America, and Within The Wires, its stable of shows are delightful dark, weird, incredibly queer, and extremely diverse. We'll discuss some of our favorite shows from Night Vale Presents, explore what sets them apart from more traditional SFF media, and discuss how they could serve as a model for a more inclusive SFF world.

Program Participants

Mari Brighe

Writer/Editor/Speaker/Educator

Professional scientist and healthcare pro turned queer academic, essayist, editor, and speaker.

Charlotte Wolf

Friday May 3, 2019 5:00pm - 6:00pm EDT
Portage Auditorium

6:00pm EDT

Spoilers Galore for the HBO Series: Game of Thrones - Addition Errata

SPOILER ALERT

If you are a fellow Game of Thrones, HBO Series Geek and you have seen the latest episode(s) of the HBO Series, Game of Thrones, then this is the space to come and discuss everything and anything about the Series!
This event will allow spoiler-filled discussions about Game of Thrones; The HBO Series.

If you have not seen Game of Thrones, the HBO Series, than this is not the panel you are looking for.

We strongly advise attendees to be aware that by chosing to attend this event, they are chosing to enter a Game of Thrones, HBO Series Spoiler Zone!

Program Participants

Elizabeth Jury

Friday May 3, 2019 6:00pm - 7:00pm EDT
Food [317]

7:00pm EDT

Movie: Metropolis

Friday May 3, 2019 7:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Portage Auditorium

8:00pm EDT

LIVE PODCAST: Getting Drunk with Shannon & Maggie

Join Shannon and Maggie for their 7th appearance at Penguicon as we podcast LIVE from the random location we will be assigned. Audience members will participate in the annual LIVE recording of Shannon & Maggie's mostly weekly podcast about life, food, and booze. Be prepared to participate and be called upon to be a "special guest".

Program Participants

Shannon Marshall

Rockstar

Sexual Health Educator. Podcaster. Drink and Cheese lover. @ShannonsParty (everywhere). ThatMoreThing.podbean.com ShannonsParty.com

Maggie Maiville

Friday May 3, 2019 8:00pm - 10:00pm EDT
Nicolet

9:00pm EDT

Movie: Aquaman

Friday May 3, 2019 9:00pm - Saturday May 4, 2019 12:00am EDT
Portage Auditorium

11:00am EDT

History of Pro Wrestling

Professional wrestling is one of the most storied art forms the world has ever known. Hey, wait! Come back! This panel is here to show you the history of pro wrestling. Dating from the early 1900s, all the way to present day, and all of the amazing history in-between. Pairs well with the sister-panel "Professional Wrestling 101"

Program Participants

Shane Soules

Saturday May 4, 2019 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
EMC III

11:00am EDT

Spoilers Galore for Avengers Endgame - ADDITION Errata

SPOILER ALERT

If you are a fellow Marvel Comics Universe Geek and you have seen the latest movie, Avengers: Endgame, then this is the space to come and discuss everything and anything about the movie!
This event will allow spoiler-filled discussions about Avengers: Endgame.

If you have not seen Avengers: Endgame, than this is not the panel you are looking for.

We strongly advise attendees to be aware that by chosing to attend this event, they are chosing to enter an Avengers: Endgame Spoiler Zone!

Program Participants

Ben Leach

Bagel Garrison

Penguicon ConChair 2024, Hole in the Ground Creations

Bagel makes a lot of things and watches a lot of TV. She also occasionally tries to help run Penguicon.

Saturday May 4, 2019 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Portage Auditorium

12:00pm EDT

BoF: The Expanse is Saved

Birds of a Feather: The Expanse was on SyFy then cancelled. Soon it was picked up by Amazon Prime after a media promotion by fans. Will we be able to expand SciFi using the media promotion of other great shows? What have we learned about getting funding and attention for our favorites? Can we do more?

Program Participants

Gibson Nichols

Research Specialist, Penguicon Featured Guest

Penguicon Featured Guest, Gibson Nichols (gib), has been a computer enthusiast for over 40 years while supporting large critical systems at very large companies. He stated learning about computers at U of M - Dearborn. Then, for a dozen years he worked at the Kmart headquarters. If... Read More →

Saturday May 4, 2019 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT
Baldwin

12:00pm EDT

Self-publishing Comics and Books - Participant Errata

This talk will help current and future writers learn how to self-publish and promote their work.

Program Participants

Dave Phillips

Co-Founder, IT in the D / Podcast Detroit

I'm the geek that’s been pushed into management roles over the span of my career. I've been a helpdesk jockey, a team lead, a systems architect and even a Vice President over the course of more than 20 years in information technology for a variety of industries. I've been profiled... Read More →

Stephanie Manard

Writer

I am a writer and editor working in prose and comics. I am a self-publishing and marketing pro, as well as a podcast host and actress.

Saturday May 4, 2019 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT
EMC III

1:00pm EDT

Star Wars: So Now What?

What can the fandom do to support the Star Wars saga in this new era of social media? Will the series ever be the same? Is it possible to move on to new material and still retain the magic of the original trilogy? Come join us to discuss the future Star Wars and what you would like to see, and not see, on the silver screen.

Program Participants

Lady Ana (Lucy Kitchen)

Professor X

Saturday May 4, 2019 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Algonquin B

1:00pm EDT

Movie: Ghost in the Shell (1996)

Saturday May 4, 2019 1:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Portage Auditorium

2:00pm EDT

Podcasting 101: So You Wanna Start a Podcast - Time/Participant Errata

Join us for a new and updated Podcasting 101 panel to help people get started in the wild world of podcasting!

Program Participants

Bob Waltenspiel

Founder, IT in the D

Founder IT in the D, co-host of the IT in the D Show.

Dave Phillips

Co-Founder, IT in the D / Podcast Detroit

I'm the geek that’s been pushed into management roles over the span of my career. I've been a helpdesk jockey, a team lead, a systems architect and even a Vice President over the course of more than 20 years in information technology for a variety of industries. I've been profiled... Read More →

Saturday May 4, 2019 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Computer Lab [Charlevoix C]

2:00pm EDT

The Dark Side -- The Reanimation of Horror

There has been a resurgence of dark speculative fiction in the past few years. Numerous movies and television programs have appeared including many created by specific platforms (Amazon Prime, Netflix). What is behind this reappearance of horror, or has it been there lurking in the shadows all along?

Program Participants

Michael Cieslak

Editor in Chief, Dragon's Roost Press

Michael Cieslak is a lifetime reader and writer of horror, mystery, and speculative fiction. A native of Detroit, he still lives with his wife and their dog Tesla (named for the inventor, natch) in a house is covered in Halloween decorations in October and dragons the rest of the... Read More →

Nicole E. Castle

Nicole e. Castle preferred to play by herself as a child, and out of her alone time, sprang a rich, vibrant imagination that loves all manner of monster. Her step-mother once said that Nicole would wake up screaming after seeing a scary movie, but it never stopped her from wanting... Read More →

Saturday May 4, 2019 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Charlevoix A

2:00pm EDT

Turning Your Hobby Into A Profession

Join Mikey Mason as he talks you through the process by which he made the leap from middle-management to full-time comedian to full time geek entertainer. Learn how you can apply his lessons learned to your own life and potentially use them to help make your hobby your profession, as well as some of the pitfalls you might encounter during such a transition (and hopefully, how to avoid them.)

Program Participants

Mikey Mason

Mikey Mason spent more than a decade as a full-time standup comedian. He headlined on all four coasts, performed multiple times each on NBC, at the legendary House of Blues, and the Hard Rock Casino. He even headlined the Atlantis Resort and Casino in the Bahamas. But it wasn’t... Read More →

Saturday May 4, 2019 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Charlevoix B

2:00pm EDT

Wireless Audio in the Concert World

Come learn about wireless microphones and related tech in the professional concert world, from some quick basics to coordinating frequencies over a multiple venue festival.

Program Participants

Scott Helmke

Systems & Projects, TC Furlong, Inc.

I've been working in professional audio on and off all my life, most recently for an audio production and design company in Chicago.

Saturday May 4, 2019 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
EMC II

3:00pm EDT

Movie: Ready Player One

Saturday May 4, 2019 3:00pm - 6:00pm EDT
Portage Auditorium

4:00pm EDT

Comic Books on the Big Screen

Did you enjoy Aquaman? Do you think Avengers: Endgame will live up to the hype? What would you change regarding Captain Marvel? Am I really the only one who liked Batman vs Superman? Join us to discuss comic book based films, including current, prior, and upcoming offerings. This will be a lively talk about what the movies got right, got wrong, and how they should improve with future cinematic endeavors. We look forward to seeing you there!

Program Participants

Lady Ana (Lucy Kitchen)

Professor X

Saladin Ahmed

Mikey Mason

Mikey Mason spent more than a decade as a full-time standup comedian. He headlined on all four coasts, performed multiple times each on NBC, at the legendary House of Blues, and the Hard Rock Casino. He even headlined the Atlantis Resort and Casino in the Bahamas. But it wasn’t... Read More →

Saturday May 4, 2019 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
Algonquin B

5:00pm EDT

Recreating Viking History

Join Danny Hansen as he talks about how creating historical jewelry led to recreating Viking history on the TV show Vikings.

Program Participants

Danny Hansen

Owner, Crafty Celts

Daniel Hansen discovered metal working as a teenager, learning everything he could about making weapons, armor, and other items for historical re-enactment. He took his first jewelry making class in 1988 as a college student, setting out to make a brooch for the cloak he wore to re-enactments... Read More →

Saturday May 4, 2019 5:00pm - 6:00pm EDT
EMC I

5:00pm EDT

Tom Smith Concert - Addition errata

Perennial Nifty Guest Tom Smith is back for about fifty minutes of silliness, singalongs, and SPOILERS! If you haven’t heard him before come on down and live the myth of Smith!

Program Participants

Tom Smith

Saturday May 4, 2019 5:00pm - 6:00pm EDT
Charlevoix A

6:00pm EDT

YouTube (Streaming) vs. SoundCloud (Podcasting): A Medium Experiment

Join Ian the Well-Informed (of the Retro Detroit Nerdfighters Podcast and YouTube critic) for a discussion about the basics of SoundCloud and YouTube, why they're so popular, and the differences between them.

Program Participants

Ian the Well-Informed

Head of Ops

Ian is a busy person who loves doing panels about homelessness, Autism, Video games, social media and streaming services.

Saturday May 4, 2019 6:00pm - 7:00pm EDT
EMC II

6:00pm EDT

Movie: Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse

Saturday May 4, 2019 6:00pm - 8:00pm EDT
Portage Auditorium

8:00pm EDT

Disability and Illness on Television

This talk will examine television, particularly genre television, and its portrayal (and lack of portrayal) of disabled, ill, and differently abled persons throughout the history of television.

Program Participants

Alexandra Walters

Saturday May 4, 2019 8:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Charlevoix B

8:00pm EDT

Podcasting Workshop - Participant Errata

Have more questions after "Podcasting 101?" This session will be a deep-dive into topics of interest to the audience.

Program Participants

Bob Waltenspiel

Founder, IT in the D

Founder IT in the D, co-host of the IT in the D Show.

Dave Phillips

Co-Founder, IT in the D / Podcast Detroit

I'm the geek that’s been pushed into management roles over the span of my career. I've been a helpdesk jockey, a team lead, a systems architect and even a Vice President over the course of more than 20 years in information technology for a variety of industries. I've been profiled... Read More →

Saturday May 4, 2019 8:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Charlevoix A

8:00pm EDT

Cine Mal Practice

The next evolution of The Smithee Awards! Come see an all new bad movie show! We still have clips and you still get to vote!

Program Participants

Jeanette Quirk

Matthew Quirk

Amy Conlon

B-movies, Peep Sushi, Books (especially of the weird or science fictional or fantastical kind), anime (especially of the feminist or surreal kind; Revolutionary Girl Utena or Puella Magi Madoka Magical gets you a free squeeze), food, intersectional feminism, and competitive college... Read More →

Kevin Hogan

Saturday May 4, 2019 8:00pm - Sunday May 5, 2019 12:00am EDT
Algonquin B

9:00pm EDT

Heroes, Villains, and Outsiders: Disability In Comics

A discussion on the diverse range of disabled characters in the wonderful medium that is comics, including comic based material that has branched off into television and movies. From the well known and more obvious, to those whose abilities could be seen as disabilities, and even lesser known characters, let's explore the backgrounds and portrayals of characters as well as general topics surrounding disability culture in comics. Please feel to bring your own comics, graphic novels, and insights for further discussion.

Program Participants

Alexandra Walters

Saturday May 4, 2019 9:00pm - 10:00pm EDT
Charlevoix B

10:00am EDT

BoF:Star Trek: Disco

Wear your favorite polyester jumpsuit while discussing the second season of CBS’s streaming service pilot show while sitting under a mirror ball. Okay, maybe skip the jumpsuit.

Program Participants

Joy Lucas

She/Her

Sunday May 5, 2019 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Baldwin

11:00am EDT

Surviving Social Media Visibility

Social media has provided many people the opportunity to make a name for themselves and build a following in ways that were never possible before. However, finding success and a platform comes with many downsides. Harassment, stalkers, hate mail, threats of violence, doxxing, and burnout are all common experiences for those with significant social media visibility. We'll discuss the best and worst of social media experiences, and how we learn to cope.

Program Participants

Brigham Vaughn

Author

Brigham Vaughn is on the adventure of a lifetime as a full-time author. She devours books at an alarming rate and hasn’t let her short arms and long torso stop her from doing yoga. She makes a killer key lime pie, hates green peppers, and loves wine tasting tours. A collector of... Read More →

Mari Brighe

Writer/Editor/Speaker/Educator

Professional scientist and healthcare pro turned queer academic, essayist, editor, and speaker.

Sunday May 5, 2019 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Portage Auditorium

12:00pm EDT

From History to the History Channel: The Process from Historical Inspiration to a Finished Product

Learn what it takes to take inspiration to creation when historical context is involved.

Program Participants

Danny Hansen

Owner, Crafty Celts

Daniel Hansen discovered metal working as a teenager, learning everything he could about making weapons, armor, and other items for historical re-enactment. He took his first jewelry making class in 1988 as a college student, setting out to make a brooch for the cloak he wore to re-enactments... Read More →

Sunday May 5, 2019 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT
Charlevoix B

12:00pm EDT

Movie: Back to the Future

Sunday May 5, 2019 12:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Portage Auditorium