IvyDoomkitty (SyFy's Heroes of Cosplay, international cosplayer), ChrissyLynn (cosplayer/makeup artist), KimiHughes (Golden Lasso Cosplay/Nerdstrong Gym coach), and PoisonScarlettCosplay discuss body image and confidence in oneself, self-worth, and how to stay positive in the community when faced with negative people or negative comments on social media.
Filmmakers JasonAron, LouisKrubich, and LeeLeshen discuss their film Back in Time, a feature-length documentary that shows the cultural impact of the Back to the Future franchise-just in time to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the initial film
Friday April 3, 2015 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Room 207
The Christian Comics Arts Society offers a cross-section of contemporary patterns of spiritual and religious thought in today's comics. From far out theology to down home philosophy, each comics' creator brings something of their beliefs to the page. Join panelists as they trace the threads in our cultural tapestry.
Friday April 3, 2015 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Room 209
Stuntmen and stunt actors from some of your favorite blockbuster movies (300, IronMan2, Thor, and JurassicWorld) answer your questions and discuss their experiences in the Hollywood stunt industry. Moderated by EricCajiuat.
Friday April 3, 2015 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Room 211
Curator RonDiamond, for the third year running, introduces the newest and best in animated short films from Russia, France, Great Britain, Canada, Norway, the Netherlands, and the USA. Features all five of the 87th Academy Award Nominees for Best Animated Short Film, leading contenders for the 88th Academy Awards, as well as Pixar's newest short, Lava, to be released with Pete Docter's Inside Out on June 19 and Google ATAP's directorial debut of Glen Keane's Duet. Diamond will lead a discussion with panelist and Pixar Academy Award-winning (Geri's Game) director JanPinkava on making interactive shorts and funding models with the new Internet paradigm. Diamond will moderate a Q&A session with audience members and panelists.
UPDATED: Thu, Apr 02, 09:21AM Last year marked the 75th anniversary of the Batman. Now let's take a look into what the future may have to offer for the iconic Caped Crusader and the "Bat Family." Moderated by Tiffany Smith (DC All Access), we'll hear from WonderCon Anaheim special guests Brenden Fletcher (Batgirl, Black Canary), Tom King (co-writer, Grayson), Greg Pak (writer, Batman/Superman), and Babs Tarr (artist, Batgirl) as they talk about how the Dark Knight has gotten to where he is today and what's in store for the Batman, and all of his supporting characters, for the coming years.
Friday April 3, 2015 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Room 300DE
An aristocrat dresses in a weird batlike costume and fights evil. Batman? Nope; it's Spring-Heeled Jack from the 19th century. A genius uses weaponized armor to battle bad guys. Iron Man? Nope; it's the Flaming Avenger from 1933. Who were the superheroes before Superman? PeterCoogan (Washington University, St. Louis), TravisLangley (Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight), MollyMahan (Dynamite Entertainment), and ChrisGavaler (Washington and Lee University) travel back before the big bang of Action Comics #1 in 1938 to examine the pulp vigilantes, mystery men, gentleman thieves, and sci-fi Ubermenschen who laid the groundwork for the superhero genre, as well as the role of eugenics in the emergence of the superhero and how these proto-superheroes are being revived today.
Friday April 3, 2015 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Room 210
Club members ShawnCrosby, GabrielFlores, ChrisHale, GaryHowe, ShannonHowe, and IngridMoon discuss what it takes to make a costume from the galaxy far, far away. Join the Rebel and 501st Legions as they discuss how to get started, where to find help, and helpful tips for creating your own costume.
Friday April 3, 2015 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Room 213
For years now, a Sergio & Mark panel has consisted of them promising that the new GROO would be out soon; but now there is new GROO out! It's the new limited series, GROO: Friends and Foes, starring the stupidest barbarian ever, plus a lot of folks who want to kill him. The panel will talk about it, what's coming next, and forthcoming Sergio & Mark projects. Join Sergio Aragones, Mark Evanier, Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo), and maybe, if he can be pried away from the computer, Tom Luth!
Friday April 3, 2015 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Room 208
We've seen the job title, but what does it mean? There are lots of answers. Join veteran editors BarbaraRandallKesel, SarahGaydos, ShannonEricDenton, and others for some of the many answers!
Incorporate your love of your fandom into everyday fashion. Panelists explore the multitude of designers creating high-end "red carpet" fashion and casual looks for men and women with a digital fashion show and a panel discussion. Up-and-coming brand designers will talk about their lines and how to dress fashionably while expressing yourself and the things you love. Moderated by StephaniePressman (Fashionably Nerdy, Geek 360), with panelists XanderJeanneret (Fashionably Nerdy, King of the Nerds), AnastasiaWashington (Fashionably Nerdy, Jet Set Nerds), BonnieGordon (Fashionably Nerdy, The Quest), and LaurenBregman (Castle Corsetry, Birds of Play).
WonderCon Anaheim special guest Samde laRosa, comic book finisher/inker since 1982, will recount his efforts to break into comics starting in the early 1970s, his accomplishments, and his favorite work: Spider-Man, Venom, and Carnage. Have some questions for Sam ready for the Q&A to follow.
Access Hollywood's ScottMantz moderates a panel reflecting on the lives of those we've lost this year including the incomparable Leonard Nimoy, Star Trek movie auteur Harve Bennett (Star Trek II, III, IV, V), and Maurice Hurley (creator of the Borg and the ST:TNG showrunner for season one and season two). We'll also look back at the 50th anniversary of Trek's second pilot, "Where No Man Has Gone Before," as well as the 35th anniversary of Star Trek The Motion Picture, including the galaxy's leading Treksperts EdwardGross (The 50 Year Mission from St. Martin's Press), ChaseMasterson (Deep Space Nine, The Flash), DarenDochterman (visual effects supervisor, ST: TMP director's edition) and RobertMeyerBurnett (Free Enterprise, ST: TNG Blu-ray editions). The human adventure is just beginning.
Spider-Man has been one of the most widely known superheroes in popular culture for over 50 years. What is it about this character-based on an arachnid that most people hate or are afraid of-that has made Spider-Man resonate with the populace? RobertG. Weiner (Texas Tech University), RobertMosesPeaslee (Texas Tech University), ChristinaAngel (Metropolitan State University of Denver), and HannahMeans-Shannon (Bleeding Cool.com) address this issue and discuss the process of putting together the collection Web-Spinning Heroics: Critical Essays on the History and Meaning of Spider-Man (McFarland Books) and their individual contributions-"the hermeneutics of Spider-Man," Peter Parker's role in Elizabethan England from Neil Gaiman's 1602, why Mary Jane is really the only girl for Spider-Man, and how Freudian analysis can help us understand the inner workings of the Sam Raimi Spider-Man films.
From spies to assassins to private detectives, crime comics are a staple, and one that is having a resurgence. Moderator JessicaTseang (comic book historian) discusses how crime comics pay off with DarwynCooke (Richard Stark: Parker series of graphic novels), FredVanLente (Archer & Armstrong), MarcAndreyko (Manhunter), PhilNoto (Black Widow), and SteveEpting (Velvet).
Friday April 3, 2015 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Room 300DE
WonderCon Anaheim special guest CullenBunn broke into comics with books like TheDamned and TheSixthGun. Now he writes for several major publishers, working on books like Magneto, Deadpool'sSecretSecretWars, Sinestro, Lobo, Aquaman, Hellbreak, and HarrowCounty. Join Cullen for a look at his upcoming projects and an open Q&A session.
Are mass-market collector toys dying? The price of raw materials and costs of the production process continue to skyrocket. Action figures that were $7.99 five years ago are now in stores for over $20. At that price can you still be a "completist?" Is Kickstarter the better way to go for an up-and-coming toy company to get figures in the hands of collectors? Are toy collectors prepared for the onslaught of all of the new Star Wars figures that will come from the new movies? A panel of toy industry insiders and collectors examine just what is going on today and where it's all going in the future. Moderator DanielPickett (ActionFigureInsider.com, host of Geek Shall Inherit podcast) is joined by industry experts JustinDonaldson (collector, director, TheTournamentofNerds), JasonLenzi (co-founder, Bif Bang Pow!), ScottNeitlich (director of play, Jakks Pacific, collector), and DavidVonner (senior designer/product manager Spin Master).
Moderator FrancisMao (Capcom) returns with another edition of this very popular panel shedding insight on the wide variety of professions available in the video game industry. You'll find out that it's not all programming and digital art, as a panel of industry insiders from various companies share the unique ways that they got into the video game business, what they do each day, and suggestions on how you can get into the industry, too. A Q&A session, as well as networking opportunities with panelists, will occur after the panel.
Friday April 3, 2015 1:45pm - 2:45pm PDT
Room 300AB
UPDATED: Thu, Apr 02, 02:01PM ComiXology Submit has released thousands of independent comic books, graphic novels, and manga from celebrated creators and cartoonists such as Shannon Wheeler, Becky Cloonan, Gail Simone, and more. Join comiXology's co-founder and director of comiXology Submit JohnD. Roberts and marketing maven ChipMosher, along with breakout Submit creators JasonBrubaker (reMIND), JoshuaFialkov (TheBunker, TheLifeAfter), Jody Houser (Cupcake POW!), and Elliot Blake (The Package) for a tell-all discussion on how you too can create, submit, and reach the ranks of comiXology Submit stardom!
From LooneyToons to The Lego Movie, music has come a long way through animation. Whether a subtle underscore or heavily composed themes, music is an essential part of animated projects to help flesh out the imagined world that the characters live in. Composers JoelDouek (Yu-Gi-Oh!, Pokémon), LolitaRitmanis, MichaelMcCuistion, and KristopherCarter (Justice League, Avengers Assemble) discuss the craft of adding music to animation for film and television and their inspirations for bringing these characters to life. A Q&A will follow including special giveaways. BMI director of film & TV relations, AnneCecere, and president of Krakower Poling PR, ChandlerPoling, moderate.
AnastasiaWashington (Nerd Reactor, Jet Set Nerds), AngeliqueToschi (Ms in the Biz writer, content strategist), and StacyRenfroe (Knit Hits the Fan, production coordinator for Cartoon Network) of Nerds in LaLaLand teach you tips about incorporating geek into your everyday lives through crafts, cooking, and fashion. Moderated by DinaKampmeyer (League of Extraordinary Ladies, Geek Fashion Week).
WonderCon Anaheim special guest, artist NealAdams (Batman, X-Men, MsMystic) has been making a name for himself in the comic book world since the very beginning. His impact on Batman, nearly 30 years ago, has paved the way for a darker caped crusader to this day. Neal discusses his career from Marvel to DC, his Hall of Fame awards, and much more.
HALON Entertainment's A. J. Briones (previsualization supervisor) and RyanStafford (visual effect producer) take you behind the scenes of creating a new Dawn for FOX's blockbuster Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Briones and Stafford will discuss the exciting creative process behind the most climactic scenes in the film's final battle. From concept to final feature, the audience will be led through the collaboration with director Matt Reeves and the production and stunt teams, using previs on a motion-capture shoot, and the final road to final visual effects. This is a great opportunity for artists and filmmakers to gain an insider perspective on one of the most visually exciting films there is!
Friday April 3, 2015 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT
Room 300DE
Artist's Edition guru and special projects editor ScottDunbier lifts back the veil on the secrecy surrounding upcoming Artist's Editions! There will be announcements, special guests, and a rumored special appearance from IDW president (and art lover) GregGoldstein.
In the 1960s and '70s, publishers fled from spinner racks to magazine stands to escape the bounds of the Comics Code Authority. While comic books continued to labor under the stigma of low-value, juvenile speech, the larger-format magazine comics broke out, giving artists a safe haven to openly deal with adult content, provide more horror and suspense, and be frank about sexuality. Magazines like Mad, Creepy, and Eerie paved the way for a generation of titles that included Heavy Metal, Vampirella, Epic Illustrated, 1984, and SavageSwordofConan to break new ground for a general audience and loosen the reins on some of comics' top creators. CBLDF deputy director AlexCox reveals the untold history of magazine comics, reviewing the impact of publications from Warren, Marvel, Heavy Metal, National Lampoon, and more!
How do comics use the future to examine the present? Christine (Capes and Whips) explores how Sarah Stone's art in the Transformers comics Starscream and More than Meets the Eye is particularly female and queer-friendly through character design and facial expressions. MicheleBrittany (Spyfi & Superspies) analyzes how Garth Ennis effectively employs space opera and horror genre tropes, with particular attention to gender identity, body transformation, and societal values. AjaniBrown (San Diego State University) uses the lens of AfroFuturism to explore what it means to be identified as "alien" or "other" in figures such as ICON, Concrete, Deathlok, Papa Midnite, and the Black Panther.
WonderCon Anaheim and Warner Bros. Television proudly continue their annual Preview Screenings tradition, with episodes of The Flash and Gotham, plus advance sneak peek screenings of new episodes of iZOMBIE and Teen Titans Go!
The Flash-The Flash is a fast-paced superhero drama that follows the high-speed adventures of the Fastest Man Alive. After the unexpected and devastating explosion of the S.T.A.R. Labs Particle Accelerator, Central City Police Department CSI Barry Allen finds himself suddenly charged with the incredible power to move at super speeds. While Barry has always been a hero in his soul, his newfound powers have finally given him the ability to act like one. However, Barry was not the only one affected that fateful night, and now a rash of super-powered villains are popping up all over Central City. With the help of his friends at S.T.A.R. Labs and his foster-father, Detective Joe West, Barry works to keep his city safe from these "metahumans," while working to uncover the secrets of and defeat his arch-nemesis, The Man in Yellow, who is responsible for the death of his mother and the wrongful imprisonment of his father. The Flash airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on The CW.
Gotham- Before there was Batman, there was Gotham. The origin story of the great DC supervillains and vigilantes has only just begun. Gotham follows Jim Gordon's rise through the Gotham City police department and the spawning ground of the world's most iconic villains. Gotham airs Mondays at 8/7c on FOX.
iZOMBIE-iZOMBIE makes its WonderCon Anaheim debut with an advance screening of a brand-new upcoming episode. Olivia "Liv" Moore was a rosy-cheeked, disciplined, overachieving medical resident who had her life path completely mapped out . . . until the night she attended a party that unexpectedly turned into a zombie feeding frenzy. Now stuck somewhere between half-alive and undead, Liv transfers her residency to the coroner's office for access to the brains she must reluctantly eat, but with each brain she consumes, she inherits the corpse's memories. With her medical examiner boss and a police detective, she now solves homicides to quiet the voices in her head. Based on characters created by Chris Roberson and Michael Allred, published by DC Entertainment's Vertigo imprint, iZOMBIE airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on The CW.
Teen Titans Go!- The Teen Titans are back at it again, in Teen Titans Go!, with all-new comedic adventures both in and out of Titans Tower, and your Titans craving will be satiated by screening of a brand-new episode. Based on DC Comics characters and produced by Warner Bros. Animation, Teen Titans Go! airs Thursdays at 6/5c on Cartoon Network.
Based on Blake Crouch's international bestselling series of books and brought to life by suspenseful storyteller M. Night Shyamalan, WaywardPines is a 10-episode, intense psychological thriller, starring Academy Award nominee Matt Dillon as a secret service agent on a mission to find two missing federal agents in the bucolic town of Wayward Pines, ID. Every step closer to the truth makes him question if he will ever get out of Wayward Pines alive. The show was developed for television by Chad Hodge and executive-produced by Donald De Line, Ashwin Rajan, Hodge, and Shyamalan. Chad Hodge wrote and M. Night Shyamalan directed the premiere episode. An insightful Q&A will follow the screening.
Friday April 3, 2015 2:45pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 300AB
Moderator ScottMantz (AccessHollywood) discusses the great geek year of 1985 as we go back to the future with such films as Back to the Future, Lifeforce, The Breakfast Club, The Goonies, Clue, Legend, Lifeforce, Rocky IV, Brazil, Commando, Weird Science, Silverado, Fletch, A View to a Kill, Cocoon, Witness, Return to Oz, Re-Animator, The Purple Rose of Cairo, Fright Night, Real Genius, Subway, AfterHours, Ladyhawke, EnemyMine, and, yes, Robert Burnett, just for you: To Live & Die In L.A. And for good measure, you'll discover a new type of martial arts-Gymkata-and prove to Virginia there really is a Santa Claus: The Movie. Enrolling in the brunch club are rocking RobertMeyerBurnett (FreeEnterprise), super SteveMelching (StarWarsRebels), ass-kicking Ashley E. Miller (Thor, X: Men: First Class), dashing DarenDochterman, gymkataspert SteveKriozere, and newbie NikkiGriffin (Fast & The Furious 3, Femme Fatales). Charge it to the Underhills!
AndrewDeutsch (owner, Nerdstrong Gym), DavidNett (writer, actor), KimiHughes (cosplayer, goldenlasso.net), AndrewSeely, ChristyBlack (morethanageekgirl.net), and ScruffyRebel (cosplayer, geek fashion blogger) discuss and break down the benefits of including fitness in your geek life. Moderated by Tiffany Smith.
WonderCon Anaheim special guest DustinNguyen is the co-creator of both Batman: Lil Gotham and Image's new series Descender. Join this Q&A session about his career, work, and things to come.
It's that time again. If you've been to any of WonderCon Anaheim special guest JamesRobinson's spotlights in the past, you'll know that it's very simple; he takes the podium and you ask him anything you want-personal, professional, absurd, obscene, nothing is off limits. James will do his best to answer with utter veracity and candor. Come and enjoy a fun, chill time with a creator who's been around long enough that he no longer takes himself or the world around him too seriously.
The Disney-ABC Creative Talent Development programs have launched the careers of many writers who have worked on some of your favorite shows, such as ABC's Forever, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Once Upon a Time. What makes these individuals perfect for the program and right for the room? Disney-ABC's Creative Talent Development team, current program participants, and alumni offer an engaging conversation about standing out, fitting in, and putting your best pitch forward.
Friday April 3, 2015 3:30pm - 4:30pm PDT
Room 300DE
New to Valiant Comics? Start here with an accessible introductory panel filling you in on everything you need to know about the heavy hitters of the Valiant Universe! This panel will take you step by step through the origins of X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, Quantum and Woody, Ninjak, and more of Valiant's top heroes and villains right here with Valiant 101!
UPDATED: Fri, Mar 20, 04:48PM With the seemingly weekly advancements in technology, it has never been easier as a creator to get your works in front of an audience, and hopefully in a profitable way. But the rise of crowdfunding, digital publishing, and print-on-demand services means there are more potential pitfalls than ever to navigate your way through. And while it's true that with great (technological) power comes greater reward, it also gives rise to even greater risk, with thieves gaining an ever-expanding bag of tools to use in fleecing the unwary. Bottom line: You need somebody's help (and not just a little help from your friends). Luckily, Ms. Walters and Mr. Murdock aren't the only lawyers available to the superhero set, as WonderCon Anaheim welcomes back noted IP attorney MichaelLovitz, author of The Trademark and Copyright Book comic book, to discuss the truths and myths of protecting your intellectual capital. Attendees are invited to come together and join Lovitz in an interactive discussion about basic rights provided under U.S. copyright and trademark laws. Starting with the basics on the ownership and protection of ideas, the panel will also provide a brief overview of copyright and trademark rights, including for works of authorship, characters, and names, as well as the registration process for each, a brief discussion on why written agreements are good, and not all lawyers are bad. Along the way, there will be plenty to learn about the protections, and pitfalls, of the U.S. intellectual property systems. Please note: The Comic Book Law School® seminars are designed to provide relevant information and practice tips to practicing attorneys, as well as practical tips to creators and other professionals who may wish to attend. However, the seminar is presented for information and entertainment purposes only, and the information presented and opinions expressed at the seminars do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. [This program is approved for one (1) credit of California MCLE.]
In the past 15 years WonderCon Anaheim special guest RickRemender (BlackScience, DeadlyClass, FearAgent) has co-created numerous acclaimed creator-owned titles in every genre. Join Rick for a one-on-one interview and Q&A session about the trials and rewards of creating a new series from ground up, and learn how to do it yourself.
In a world where superheroes, StarWars, AdventureTime, and DoctorWho are taking over the culinary world, it's no wonder that geeks and nerds are the current reigning champions. We find innovative ways to combine our hobbies with what we love, and in this case, it's food! Culinary chefs, movie sculptors, and comic book artists actually have more in common than you might think. Ranging from food-themed manga, Martian Manhunter's obsession with Oreos, and Food Network shows, the topic of what we eat has been creeping into geek lives for years. DuffGoldman (Ace of Cakes, Food Network celebrity chef), along with Marvel and DC artists, will partake in a discussion moderated by JessicaTseang (comic book historian). The foodie in you can learn everything from the secrets of how to bake the perfect cake in TARDIS form to what your favorite artists snack on to fuel their inspiration.
This panel is an intimate conversation and Q&A session with writer/artist and WonderCon Anaheim special guest JamalIgle. Jamal will talk with writer Alan "Sizzler" Kistler (Doctor Who: A History, The Marysue.com) about everything from acting to his career as a veteran comics creator. Come by and spend an hour with a guy his teachers called "a little rambunctious but basically a good kid."
What would you do if you were the last person on earth? Join this panel to screen a never-before-seen upcoming episode from the series critics are calling "the most original comedy in years." Plus, a Q&A, moderated by JarettWieselman (BuzzFeed), with star and creator WillForte (Nebraska, SaturdayNightLive), and directors/producers ChrisMiller and PhilLord (The Lego Movie, 21 Jump Street) as they discuss the twists and turns of this hilarious new comedy.
Friday April 3, 2015 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room 300AB
The force is strong with these special guests! Moderator GregWeisman (Star Wars Rebels) will lead a stellar discussion of what it takes to work in the Star Wars Universe, with BradenLamb (Star Wars: Shadows of Endor), JohnOstrander (Star Wars: Legacy), SamdeLaRosa (StarWars comics), MikeMayhew (The Star Wars), KevinJ. Anderson (Star Wars: Young Jedi Knights series) and RebeccaMoesta (Star Wars: Young Jedi Knights series). Hear about what it takes to get from this galaxy to one far, far away.
For attendees (writers or artists) of the Comic Creator Connection. Before you give your pitch to twenty strangers, use this opportunity to practice your presentation and get some free coaching from a pro. Sit one-on-one with DouglasNeff (host of the Comic Creator Connection and From Fan to Creator: Goal-Setting for Creative Types) for a personalized crash course in pitching your work. Note that all reviews will occur on a first-come, first-served basis and will only be accommodated as time allows.
Friday April 3, 2015 4:30pm - 5:30pm PDT
Room 206B
Can you be a star in 30 seconds? The biz won't give you much more than that. Elite Hollywood consultants will advise you on how to seize the spotlight with your optimal story, strategy, and style, along with live critiques of personal logline pitches from Disney ABC Talent Development folk! Wide Lantern's KenChoy and TV writer KayrethWilliams (producer's assistant, Community) host this panel with story consultant Jen Grisanti (instructor, NBC's Writers on the Verge), LeeJessup (career coach for screenwriters), script consultant DaraMarks (Inside Story: The Power of the Transformational Arc), and writer/producer Nelson Soler (Ravenwood).
Friday April 3, 2015 4:30pm - 5:30pm PDT
Room 300DE
Cartoonist ScottShaw! (Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew!, Sonic The Hedgehog, Simpsons Comics, Annoying Orange) once again presents his uniquely hilarious slideshow of "the craziest comic books ever published!" Once you've seen this mind-roasting presentation-which has played to standing-room-only crowds in San Diego for the better part of four decades-you'll never forget such covers as those of the "crotch-centric" issues of Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane, those with someone getting slapped with a "fish-in-the-face," and those Silver Age issues of Batman and DetectiveComics with "Robin-in-the-corner!" Scott promises, "My hilarious presentation is for everyone who's enjoyed reading a comic book, whether as an avid collector or as a young patient in a dentist's office-in fact, even for people who have never read a single comic book in their life. Even if you've seen my acclaimed slideshow presentation many times before, when you see their covers blown up to the size of the side of a barn, you'll be amazed and delighted at the unbelievable imagery that is revealed!" See for yourself why Stan Lee calls Scott's show "the wildest, wackiest exposé of some of the craziest comic books I've ever seen!"
You can all name a favorite villain or two: the Joker, Darth Vader, or Loki. But how many of your favorite bad guys are actually bad girls? Here to discuss the best and baddest of the lady villains (and their lack of representation) is a panel of women equally dangerous in their own rights: KatrinaHill (Action Movie Freak), DevinGrayson (Catwoman, BlackWidow), ChaseMasterson (StarTrek: Deep Space 9), JessicaMerizan (Heroes of Cosplay, PizzaAndPorn), PattyJeanRobinson (Pike and Trident), Dr. JaninaScarlet (Superhero Therapy), VictoriaSchmidt (Scruffy Rebel), PatriciaTallman (actor, Creating Badassery for Women Over 50), and JaneyTracey (OuterPlaces.com).
Could 2015 be the greatest geek year ever? This panel of geeksperts salivate with excitement and have their midichlorian count awakened with Star Wars: Episode Seven, get back into Bondage for SPECTRE, get ready to pick up the hammer for Avengers: Age of Ultron, unearth Jurassic World, and will be back for Terminator: Genisys. These special executives for coolness, titillation, retorts, and excitement join forces to ponder whether 2015 will be a new benchmark for sci-fi, fantasy, comic books, and horror, or a bust. Panelists include savvy Scott Mantz (Access Hollywood), erudite EdwardGross (The 50 Year Mission), rocking Robert Meyer Burnett (Free Enterprise, The Hils Run Red), scintillating Steve Melching (Star Wars Rebels), ass-kicking Ashley E. Miller (Thor, X: Men: First Class, Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers), dashing DarenDochterman (Chronicles of Riddick, Real Steel), and newbie NikkiGriffin (Fast & The Furious 3, Femme Fatales).
Friday April 3, 2015 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Room 300AB
Got a new comic, a new web series, a new novel, a new TV show or a movie? That's great, but pretty meaningless if you and your friends are the only ones who know about it. How do you get the word out? Facebook and a webpage like everyone else? What can you do to cut through the clutter and get your stuff actually seen, actually talked about, actually out there so people can see it, read it, watch it, and buy it? Experts who have been getting projects seen dating back to Star Wars, including MollyCelaschi (Malena Public Relations), JoeLeFavi (Quixotic Transmedia), CraigMiller (Star Wars, The Dark Crystal), and AmyRatcliffe (Nerdist, StarWars.com) will give you their thoughts and advice on how you can do it for your project.
WonderCon Anaheim special guest KevinMaguire (artist, JusticeLeagueInternational) holds a Q&A session and more. He likes to make jokes, so you may get a laugh or two.
Meet New York Times bestselling writer and WonderCon Anaheim special guest MarcAndreyko. Hear about his 20 years in comics, ranging from Torso with Brian Michael Bendis to the cult classic Manhunter, to Batwoman, WonderWoman'77, and beyond! Fun stories, talking craft, and an audience Q&A!
Could lightsabers ever be a reality? Does science matter when designing a Star Wars spacecraft? What does it take to resist the Dark Side of the Force? FonDavis (production designer, StarWars prequel movies), BobakFerdowsi (NASA flight engineer), KieranDickson (editor, Outerplaces.com), TravisLangley (Star Wars Psychology), and moderator JennaBusch (Legion of Leia) break down the science behind a galaxy far, far away and discuss whether or not Kylo Ren's ForceAwakens lightsaber is sacrilege or genius.
UPDATED: Wed, Apr 01, 11:46AM Comics publisher BOOM! Studios is actively developing several of its original titles for film and television. Have you ever wondered what that process is like? Hear from BOOM! Studios founder and CEO RossRichie, president of development StephenChristy, screenwriter ArashAmel (Butterfly), and entertainment attorney MattSugarman as they talk about the process of shopping a comic book property in Hollywood. Moderated by The Hollywood Reporter'sBorys Kit.
The publishing world was rocked this year with the news that IDW Publishing had acquired Top Shelf Productions. Now, join Top Shelf editor-in-chief ChrisStaros and IDW marketing VP DirkWood for a spirited discussion of all things Top Shelf-announcements, hi-jinx, sneak peeks at new projects, Q&A and more! Come find out what's changing about your favorite indie publisher. Hint: Not much! More of the great groundbreaking projects you've come to expect from Top Shelf are on the way!
Mark Evanier has been writing cartoons since they were actually drawn on paper. He has worked on many shows including, The Garfield Show, Garfield & Friends, Dungeons & Dragons, Mother Goose and Grimm, Scooby Doo, Thundarr the Barbarian, Richie Rich, Yogi Bear, Superman: The Animated Series, The Wuzzles, CBS Storybook, ABC Weekend Special, Plastic Man, and many more! If you've ever wanted to write for animation, Mark is the guy to tell you how to do it, and maybe even how to sell it.
Friday April 3, 2015 5:30pm - 6:30pm PDT
Room 300DE
Executive producers BrannonBraga (Star Trek, Cosmos: A SpaceTime Odyssey) and AdamSimon, star ShaneWest (Nikita, ER, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) and actors Janet Montgomery (Made in Jersey, Human Target) and Seth Gabel (Arrow, Fringe) join moderator EricGoldman (IGN TV executive editor) to reveal a sneak peek at the highly anticipated season two premiere episode of this epically witchy series from WGN America and Fox 21 Television Studios. In a bold re-imagination of the infamous 17th-century witch trials in colonial Massachusetts, Salem returns for a second season at the dawn of a witch war. As the disease and devastation unleashed by the Grand Rite in last season's finale continue to spread through the war-torn village, Salem's deadliest witch, Mary Sibley, must face off against new and old adversaries vying for her throne. Salem returns Sunday, April 5 on WGN America. The screening will be followed by an audience Q&A session.
Friday April 3, 2015 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Room 300AB
JakeWyatt (Ms. Marvel) examines, breaks down, and jokes around with WonderCon Anaheim special guest KrisAnka (Uncanny X-Men). Jake will look into the life and education that led to Kris's career with Marvel. A lot of dumb jokes will most likely happen.
From Admiral Ackbar to Steam Vader, enjoy a lively discussion and slide show on how your favorite Star Wars characters have been re-engineered in Steampunk style. Local Star Wars Steampunk costumers who will discuss how they created their unique style. The program will finish off with the "how to Steampunk that Star Wars character in less than sixty seconds" challenge, with the audience choosing their favorite! Panelists include Christopher "Dude Vader" Canole,Shawn "Obi-Shawn" Crosby, Alex "Dapper Fett" Vargas, and moderator AnastasiaHunter (chair of Gaslight Gathering Steampunk Convention).
Richard Hatch (Battlestar Galactica's Tom Zarek/Capt Apollo, Axanar, CowBoys and Engines) shares the secrets, art, and craft of succeeding in today's entertainment industry and taking your acting, auditioning, writing, and performing skills to the highest level imaginable. Q&A, improvisation, and scene work included.
This panel will address the question every aspiring writer wants answered: "How do I break into the business?" If you are an unpublished writer with dreams of making it in the transmedia marketplace and you don't know how or where to begin, this is the panel for you. Hollywood screenwriters and graphic novel producers share insider information, publishing secrets, and the professional realities on how to develop your ideas into a viable comics proposal. Moderated by 2015 Disney/ABC Writing Program finalist and 2014 Eisner Award nominee Brandon Easton (ThunderCats, Andre the Giant biography), the panel includes GeoffreyThorne (Leverage, The Librarians), Jonathan Callan (Ben 10: Omniverse, Slugterra), Erika Alexander (Concrete Park, Living Single), and Tony Puryear (Concrete Park, the Schwarzenegger film Eraser). Topics will include how to hire artists and build a strong contract, how to seek out a publisher, and how to navigate the tough new world of intellectual property management in the digital frontier.
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation welcome WonderCon Anaheim attendees to the World Premiere of Batman vs. Robin; the latest entry in the ongoing series of DC Universe Original Movies. In the film, Damian Wayne, now bearing the mantle of Robin, blazes a headstrong and sometimes reckless trail alongside his father, Batman. While investigating a crime scene, Robin encounters a mysterious figure, Talon, who leads him on a life-altering course through the depths of Gotham's secret society, known as The Court of Owls. It's a dangerous journey that will force Batman and Robin to face their most dangerous adversary: each other! Be among the first to see this new film, then stay for a star-studded panel led by the voices of Batman, JasonO'Mara (Terra Nova, Complications), Robin, StuartAllan (Son of Batman), and Sean Maher (Firefly/Serenity, Much Ado About Nothing), respectively, alongside producer JamesTucker (Justice League: Throne of Atlantis), director JayOliva (Batman: Assault on Arkham), Eisner Award-winning writer J.M. DeMatteis (Justice League, Teen Titans Go!), character designer PhilBourassa (Justice League: Throne of Atlantis), dialogue director AndreaRomano (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns), and some special guests. DC All-Access host Tiffany Smith will moderate the fun, including the awarding of a few exclusive prizes. Inspired by the storyline from the bestselling graphic novel, Batman: Court of Owls, Batman vs. Robin arrives April 14 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD.
The Geek & Sundry family of Twitch Channel hosts and you, the audience, are tested in your geek culture knowledge. Cheer your favorites on or prove them wrong! There's a giveaway too! Come game with this panel for your chance to win a prize from the limited-edition International TableTop Day Gaming Kit. The items from this kit cannot be bought anywhere, ever!
Friday April 3, 2015 6:30pm - 7:30pm PDT
Room 300DE
Do you want to make your own board game or publish via Kickstarter? Get practical advice, key resources, and tips for pitching to publishers, and learn how to avoid common Kickstarter mistakes. Panelists include game designers Jeremy , Commandeur, Chris Castagnetto, Candy Weber, and Payton Lee and publishers BrianHenk, Ali Showkati, and Steve Nix.
ADDED: Mon, Mar 23, 02:27PM It could be argued that J.J. Abrams' upcoming Star Wars movie is actually a very big fan film. J.J. Abrams is long known to be a fan of Star Wars, and he certainly didn't create the universe, but he does get to play in the sandbox. So how does a fan grow into a creator? What examples exist in fandom of fans becoming successful creators? Can fanfic writers transition into working professionals? Join Chris Gore (Film Threat, G4TV's Attack of the Show), Adrianne Curry (cosplay queen, America’s Next Top Model), Mary Forrest (The Biloon-Forrest Project podcast), Tommy Bechtold (ABC’s The Middle), Matt Keil (G4TV’s X-Play), Jon Schnepp (Metalocalypse, The Death of Superman Lives) and more for a lively discussion. In addition, one panelist will write a piece of fan fiction based on audience suggestions that will be read aloud for the finale.
With the comics and entertainment industries' landscapes changing so rapidly, The Antidote Trust, America's #1 indie collective, returns with more insights on you and your creative output. Panel participants are DeWayne Copeland (Ja Rel Sunstormer & the Port Controller of Cruzar co-creator/producer of the webseries CV Nation), DaniDixon (creator of 13, M.I.S.//ing and the upcoming YA fantasy series Five Nations), SebastianJones (The Untamed, Dusu, I Am book series, president of Stranger Comics), HannibalTabu (writer, web producer, journalist, winner of 2012 Top Cow Talent Hunt, Artifact #35, Project: Wildfire), RobertRoach (two-decade pro in the entertainment and comics industries and winner of the inaugural Glyph award for indie comics, returning with six new issues of his vanguard project, Menthu). Moderator AndreOwens is the writer/publisher of Force Galaxia comics and the writer/director of The Psychedelic Detective webseries.
From marriage equality becoming a reality in state after state to queer performers and sports figures coming out in all corners of popular media, LGBTQ people have made great strides in society at large. Queer people and their relationships are more and more mainstream in the world of comics as well. As yesterday's radical notions become today's popular culture, what's new and cutting edge in LGBTQ comics? What new responsibilities do comics creators have to themselves and their readers in presenting LGBTQ characters and stories? Join Prism Comics and moderator TaraMadisonAvery (Gooch, Prism Comics board member) as they explore these and other questions with panelists MarcAndreyko (Batwoman, WonderWoman'77), P. Kristen Enos (Web of Lives, Deseo, Prism Comics board member), DevinGrayson (Nightwing, USER), EdLuce (WuvableOaf), SamSaturday (Death's Door), and JoshTrujillo (Love Machines). The recipient of the 2015 Prism Comics Queer Press Grant, an annual financial grant to help an aspiring comics creator publish their work, will also be announced at this panel.
Studios today are looking for more than just an individual movie. They want franchises-story worlds that can exist across multiple mediums. What are the elements of a successful franchise? Where do transmedia properties come from? How can you create a story world that spans multiple platforms? How does franchise creation influence, expand, and even enhance the storytelling process? Moderated by members of the New York Film Academy's screenwriting department, professors NunzioDeFilippis (NewX-Men, chair of the screenwriting department), AdamFiner (chair of industry outreach and professional development, transmedia professor), and ChristinaWeir (New X-Men,Amazing Agent Luna) analyze the core elements of a variety of preexisting properties. They will take attendee ideas and examine their transmedia franchise potential.
In The Walking Dead, ethical lines are crossed and taboos broken as survivors adapt to a new way of life. But what drives the living to do terrible things, and how far will they go? Why do the atrocities committed by The Governor and The Hunters attract followers? Did society's breakdown break Morgan's psyche? Does Abraham's traumatic past direct his "mission?" How does Rick remain sane? Is he immune to the "insanity?" Join forensic psychiatrists H. Eric Bender, M.D., Praveen R. Kambam, M.D., and Vasilis K. Pozios, M.D., of Broadcast Thought, as well as special guest MichaelCudlitz (Abraham Ford on AMC's The Walking Dead) as they analyze the minds of heroes and villains of The Walking Dead. In a world of walkers, is humanity a liability? Learn how some rise above the mayhem while others fall into the depths of derangement where walkers prey on the living, the living prey on each other, and everyone prays that they survive!
WonderCon Anaheim will once again host the Comic Creator Connection, an event that puts writers and artists together to see whether they can find their creative counterparts. Here's how it works: in two 2-hour sessions - on Friday, April 3, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM and Sunday, April 5, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM - writers and artists can sit down and meet each other in a neutral environment. (Please note: This isn't an ordinary WonderCon Anahiem program. Preliminary sign-ups for the CCC took place online before WonderCon Anaheim. Since we are registering creators in advance they will get priority seating. Any seats that are still open once the event starts will be given on a first come first serve basis. To check and see if space is still available, visit Room 206B on the second level about 30 minutes prior to the start of each session.) Complete details are available on the Comic Creator Connection page on our website.
Friday April 3, 2015 7:00pm - 9:00pm PDT
Room 206B
JessicaChobot (Mass Effect 3) and the Nerdist News team catch you up on the latest in movie, TV, comic book, gaming, and tech news. The Nerdist crew break down the day's news, interview guests, and then turn some of the questions (and jokes!) over to you.
Dungeons and Dragons 5e - Game for up to 7 players (+ myself), character levels 1–4
Anyone can sign up for either D&D 5e game. If they don't have a character, a pre-generated character will be provided.
Dungeons and Dragons: 5th Edition — The core of D&D is storytelling. You and your friends tell a story together, guiding your heroes through quests for treasure, battles with deadly foes, daring rescues, courtly intrigue, and much more, and each D&D group tells a different story. This newest edition draws from every prior edition to create a universally compelling play experience and exemplifies the true spirit of a game that holds captive the hearts and minds of millions of players worldwide.
Ending time is approximate and for scheduling purposes only.
From The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Los Angeles comes Tournament of Nerds!-the original pop culture comedy debate show. Who would win in a fight, Batman or Wolverine? Superman or Gandalf? Debates like these have raged on for decades. In dorm rooms, cubicles, and comic shops, fans have pondered these questions that seemed unanswerable-until now. Tournament of Nerds! pits comedians against each other to battle it out in heated debate. Their goal is to advance their character through a "March Madness" type bracket in hopes of being crowned the ultimate Nerd. Which pop culture character has the stuff to win? Helping decide who wins is a panel of celebrity judges. Created and hosted by JustinDonaldson (Reno911!, How Do Ya Figure) and HalRudnick (Screen Junkies, Key & Peele), Tournament of Nerds! has been a staple of the UCB Theatre in Hollywood, playing to sold-out crowds every month for the past seven years. It has also been seen on the Nerdist and can be heard on Sirius XM Radio.
Take a trip to the frontiers of gaming culture as Nerdist Gaming editor MalikForté and guests look ahead at the exciting year of video games to come. Join Malik to discuss everything from next-gen systems to the state of gaming culture directly with the people behind the bits.
Comedic actors and improvisers ColeStratton and VanessaRagland are joined by special guests as they discuss movies, music, television, celebrity gossip, and so on without all those pesky "serious" topics like politics, religion, and the environment. They'll just tackle the trivial watercooler stuff, okay?
Friday April 3, 2015 9:10pm - 10:00pm PDT
Room 208
