WonderCon Anaheim 2015

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? Peter Coogan (Washington University, St. Louis), Travis Langley (Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight), Molly Mahan (Dynamite Entertainment), and Chris Gavaler (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.

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? Robert G. Weiner (Texas Tech University), Robert Moses Peaslee (Texas Tech University), Christina Angel (Metropolitan State University of Denver), and Hannah Means-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.

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. Michele Brittany (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. Ajani Brown (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.

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 Michael Lovitz, 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.]

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 Molly Celaschi (Malena Public Relations), Joe LeFavi (Quixotic Transmedia), Craig Miller (Star Wars, The Dark Crystal), and Amy Ratcliffe (Nerdist, StarWars.com) will give you their thoughts and advice on how you can do it for your project.

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.

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 Nunzio DeFilippis (New X-Men, chair of the screenwriting department), Adam Finer (chair of industry outreach and professional development, transmedia professor), and Christina Weir (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.