mxdwn was able to attend the Stuart Fails to Save the Universe panel at San Diego Comic-Con. During the panel hosted by Felicia Day (The Guild, Supernatural), the crowd was treated to a surprise guest — DC Comics President Jim Lee. Lee joined series creators and executive producers Zak Penn (The Grand, Loch Ness), Bill Prady (The Big Bang Theory, The Muppets) and Chuck Lorre (Two and a Half Men, Mom), and actors Brian Posehn (The Sarah Silverman Program, Run Ronnie Run), John Ross Bowie (Speechless, The Big Bang Theory), Lauren Lapkus (Orange is the New Black, Crashing) and Kevin Sussman (Ugly Betty, The Big Bang Theory).

Lee, who began as a comic artist, came to the stage to discusses how he was able to mesh DC characters— such as Mr. Freeze — into the sci-fi sitcom environment. He expressed how natural it felt for the character to be in this environment that enquires more humor than usual.

“It was just amazing how they [Brady & Lorre] were trying to do something that was true to our characters but at the same time find comedy in it,” Lee said during the panel.

Attendees were also treated to the premiere episode of the HBO Max series. The spinoff of CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory opens showing Bert (Posehn) walking in a dystopian version of South Pasadena to go to the comic book store that protagonist Stuart (Sussman) owns. Stuart further encounters a version of himself from another dimension, warning him that he must return to that universe to avoid the dystopia and chaos. Stuart and Bert embark on a journey to return to a different dimension. Stuart then reunites with ex-girlfriend Denise (Lapkus) and her new boyfriend Gary (Tommy Walker, Henry Danger, Boxer) .

Stuart also encounters Howard’s (Simon Helberg, The Audacity) nemesis Barry Kripke (Bowie), who is the ruler of the dystopian world. One of The Big Bang Theory’s main characters, Raj (Kunal Nayyar, Trolls) also returns as a prisoner and is included in the action. Bert shows Raj and Stuart how to make grenades using his geology skills. Denise gets taken by Barry to a secret room in attempts to coerce her, but she attacks him and reunites with the three other protagonists. As Raj attempts to set the time travel machine that is in the shape of a microwave, Barry shoots Raj and leaves him to bleed out. Denise hides out as she and Stuart do the secret code on the microwave. Only Barry, Bert and Stuart are transformed to the peaceful dimension with its own twist.

Stream the first episode of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe on HBO Max.

Photo credit: Abby Juarez