This panel will consist of beginner friendly lessons/information about photography basics, and how they can be applied to cosplay photography, with portfolio examples.

Presenter: Kyndahl Wiseman

For the fans of Ouran High School, Nana, Fruits Basket, and more! We'll be discussing the origins of our favorite manga genres aimed at women in this lecture panel. Bring questions about your favorite anime, author, or even American rockstar, and see where they fit into shoujo history!

Presenters: Lenore Kohtz

Join Loremaster to learn how to construct your own LARP safe weapon!

Presenter/Panelists: Loremaster

Come see how to bring your retro consoles and handhelds into the modern era with Jeff and Josh. They'll show you what's possible, from HDMI upscaling to shiny new IPS full color backlit displays, and everything in between! 

Squad up with some of your favorite Apex Legends as they talk about the community and their careers. Learn what it takes to become a voice actor and all the challenges that go with it versus traditional acting.

There's gonna be a panel you attend that talks about why you should start that creative project you've been sitting on. It's important that you go! This is that panel, probably! Join artist David and Sam as they talk about how and why they brought their passion projects to life, and why the world needs yours in it, too!

Presenters: David L. Puga, Sam Gaitan

Join Gabby as she shares about how to get started in cosplay and shares her tips and tricks with you.

Join superstar artists Balam! and Mitch Gerads as they battle it out to draw a one of a kind piece inspired by the audience! They’ll also be talking about their journey into comics, what it takes to make them and give advice to aspiring artists. Stick around until the end to win one of the sketches!

A very successful panel at last year's Lubbock Con, we will discuss why we like horror and real life horror (true crime).

Presenters: Rob Weiner, Joshua Salmans

Think you’ve got what it takes to become a voice actor? Well, step up to the mic and take a shot with the AphCrew! Selected audience members will read scripts, while fellow, experienced voice actors Corinne Sudberg (Kim), Kestin Howard (Zane), and Erik Lawrence (Pierce) will provide fun feedback! Get some insightful notes on how to bring characters to life and answers to start your own personal voiceover journey! Whether you’re a fan of Aphmau or love the art of voice acting, you won't want to miss this panel! 

Join Alex and Freddy to learn how to tell authentic Pokemon cards from fake ones and chat all things Pokemon Trading Card Game with a couple Pokemon Professors.

Join Kubert School teacher Frank J. Barbeire as he shows you how to take your story idea from brain to book. Learn the dos-and-don'ts of what makes a successful pitch and how to deliver it. Great for storytellers of any level.

This panel has been a part of Lubbock Con for a few years now. Come visit with Texas Tech Librarians to talk about Popular Culture and why it is important.

Presenters: Rob Weiner, Shelby Hebert, Erin Burns, Jenni Jacobs

Join Jacob and Josh for a quick rundown of what speedrunning is, how it started, and where it's going! They will also perform a live speedrun of Ninja Gaiden and Castlevania on original NES hardware!

A long standing tradition at Lubbock Con, the Talk with the Professors panels have been a part of Lubbock Con since its beginning. We welcome a discussion of all things Superhero, comics, and comic book movies.

Presenters: Rob Weiner, Matt McEniry, Ryan Litsey

In the past five years, I have worked on a new form of audio media: the Musical Radio Documentary. In this format, narration is provided through original tones, music, and sound effects, without the use of a narrator or text. The entire content is produced and created using sound, including the voices of famous individuals. The producer focuses solely on audio design, using original tone sounds to convey the message to the audience. This approach allows the audience to engage with the production on a deeper level, enabling them to interpret and assess the accuracy of the result based on the content presented

Presenter/Panelists: Pedram Bahaeabadi Ravari

It's time for a Trivia Off! Participants will compete head-to-head in to see who can answer more of the rapid-fire questions of their selected category in a minute 30 seconds. Each round is based on a different geek/nerd topic including (Comic books & movies, Horror, TTRPG's, Video games, Anime, Literature, etc.). My brother and I have pooled our distinct nerd knowledge, the expertise of fellow nerd friends, and the power of Google to make these questions extra difficult. Battle it out in this fun and interactive event! We'd like to see you try.

Presenter/Panelists: Theresa Brown and Sebastian Brown

Art is most often spawned from emotion and passion. Whether it be from loving a piece of media, to a creation from your own imagination, or a piece of vent art as a coping mechanism. No matter what style you have it comes from you (including drawn, written, acting, etc)! So what happens when you start being too afraid of messing up, it feels like a chore, or you’ve become so obsessed with perfection the joy you once had is gone?

I am a very emotional and passionate person, and there is nothing wrong with that. The same goes for you! In this panel I want to cover some of the coping mechanisms and mental health tips and tricks that have helped me overcome these challenges myself. So whether it’s: a fear, art block, or obsession with perfection, my goal is to help you find something that sticks with you to help find you joy in art again! :D

Some of the topics I will be covering:

Identifying the “problem” (Why has art become more difficult? Dig deep and get to the root cause, and how to find that)

Mental outlook (How to re-wire your brain to be more self-positive)

Self care (Things to do that help you feel better, without medication, because of the chemical changes within your own brain.)

Art block (What it usually comes from and how to help)

Obsession with perfection and self-comparison (The thing that stops most artist and how to overcome it)

It’s ok to be emotional! <3(A reminder that emotions are completely normal and a good thing, and while it’s not always easy it is possible to find a new mental state and outlook. It is ok to struggle, it’s completely natural. Encouragement to keep trying and moving forward, and that it’s ok to not be perfect!)

Q&A (Use your current examples of what you're struggling with or further questions about what was talked about and I will answer to the fullest of my abilities! :D)

Presenter/Panelists: Katelyn Lucus

In this panel we will go into detail on tips to make your booth stand out, and increase your acceptance chances. This discussion will be aimed towards beginner market artists, to help navigate the new age of marketing. Demographic, social media performance, application standards, and how to avoid scams will be just some of the main topics.

This panel will also be open for questions during as well as afterwards, at Inky's table, to make sure all of your questions are answered!

Presenter/Panelists: Inky Garcia

What lessons can storytellers glean from D&D, RPGs, and other player driven games? Quite a lot! Get an insight on how to broaden your narrative prowess by taking a deeper look at the mechanics behind player driven stories.

Presenter/Panelists: Richard Mendoza III

Come talk about all things retro gaming and watch a live Speed Run!

This panel will explore how Tumblr's fandom became a breeding ground for social justice movements and a safe haven for marginalized voices. For many, Tumblr's fandom wasn't just a place to geek out, it was a refuge, a digital utopia where difference was celebrated and everyone could belong. This panel will explore how Tumblr’s unique platform, with its focus on anonymity and community-building, became the unlikely birthplace of a social justice revolution.

Drawing on the research, the panel will examine:

- How Tumblr's fandom mobilized around issues like LGBTQ+ rights, body positivity, and racial justice, using their collective voice to challenge harmful stereotypes and fight for a more equitable world.

- How Tumblr's fandom popularized concepts like trigger warnings and helped shape a more inclusive and progressive understanding of topics like sexuality, gender identity, and mental health, fostering conversations that often went unheard in offline spaces.

- How Tumblr offered a safe space for fans who felt ostracized in their offline lives, particularly those from marginalized communities.

- How Tumblr fostered a culture of radical acceptance, allowing fans to explore their identities, find solidarity with like-minded individuals, and challenge societal norms that excluded them.

- How, similar to the hippies of the 1960s who leveraged physical spaces to foster community and share radical ideas, Tumblr provided a digital space where young users could explore, express, and advocate for social justice causes, mirroring and expanding on the causes defined and fought for in the 1960s.

- How the research dubbed this generation of fans "digital hippies" for their embrace of countercultural ideals and their commitment to social change.

Join us as we discuss how Tumblr's fandom used their passion to make a difference, leaving an indelible mark on fan culture and the world beyond. We will discuss the lasting legacy of Tumblr’s fandom and how its influence continues to ripple throughout today's digital landscape, leaving a lasting impact on everything from online discourse to fan conventions

Presenter/Panelists: Sydney Scheller

A panel to discuss how we create our fan art. Tips and tricks on how to improve your art.

Presenter/Panelists: Katy Standridge, Logan Pack, Inky Garcia, Shelbye Karr, and Illya Mc

On a chilly October evening, a lantern-bearing student guides a group across the moon-lit Texas Tech University. Awaiting their presence are student storytellers, ready to recount the macabre histories and legends that haunt the campus. But how did this new tradition, and the organization that hosts it, come into being? Join us for the world premiere of Legends & Legacy: How a Student Club Created a New Tradition from University Ghost Stories, and a conversation about the roles paranormal beliefs play in culture and society.

Presenter/Panelists: Members of Raider Power of Paranormal

Want to start playing D&D or are intimidated by the TTRPG choices nowadays? Or are you feeling insecure about expanding your role-playing at the table? Maybe, you’re a GM scared of killing off your favorite PCs or NPCs. Join podcasters, Alex and Adrian of Dungeons & Degrees, where they will discuss anything and everything TTRPG. Come with questions or stop by and listen to get new tips to improve your tabletop experience.

Presenter/Panelists: Alex Saulnier and Adrian Lawrence

Come and discuss Popular Culture Topics with faculty from Texas Tech University.

Presenter/Panelists: Rob Weiner, Erin Burns, Jenni Jacobs, and Shelby Hebert

Join Loremaster to learn how to construct your own LARP safe weapon!

Presenter/Panelists: Loremaster

With so much real horror in the world, why is the horror/true crime genre one of the most popular forms of entertainment? This academic discussion will talk about why we love horror and real life horror in the form of true crime. True Crime podcasts, books, and movies are some of the most consumed in American Culture. In addition horror novels, comics, movies, and videogames are equally popular. It has been argued that horror and true crime can provide a cathartic experience. This panel seeks to understand why?

Presenter/Panelists: Rob Weiner and Joshua Salmans

We'll speak about fiction writing and the art of using our imaginations to create characters and the stories they tell.

Presenter/Panelists: Jennifer Standridge, Ricky Mendoza, Alyssa Marzili, and Kaity Swecker