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
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.
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.
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.]
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.
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 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.
Erika Rothberg (Loyola Marymount University) argues that "Prisoner on the Hell Planet: A Case History" in Maus helps bridge the gap between Artie and Vladek by exposing their shared trauma and survivor's guilt and requires the reader to witness and actively interpret trauma. Christine Zabala (Texas State University) analyzes the way genre and medium enable artists such as Oscar Wilde, Shaun Tan, and Neil Gaiman to use fairy tales and comic books to present controversial views on homosexuality, immigration, and AIDS without being rejected by the societies to which they react. Deanna Rodriguez (Texas State University) compares the attributes of Captain America in his first appearances and the conflicts he faces in Ed Brubaker's run to show how a WWII icon resonates with a post-911 culture and how the anxieties facing society today mirror those of post-war America.
Saturday April 4, 2015 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 210
Given the acclaim that Jill Lepore's The Secret History of Wonder Woman is receiving, the attention given to the new female Thor, a controversial Spider-Woman cover, and the burgeoning of the "Carol Corps" movement, the "super heroine" is back in the spotlight of academia and popular culture. Susan Kirtley (Portland State University), Nhora Lucía Serrano (Harvard University), and Andréa Gilroy (University of Oregon) present a roundtable exploration of representations and archetypes of the super heroine from early incarnations like Wonder Woman to the newest version of Batwoman (and beyond), in order to debate the kinship between reader expectation, popular culture, feminism, and cultural theory.
Saturday April 4, 2015 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Room 210
WonderCon Anaheim special guest Devin Grayson (Nightwing) discusses education, career, and the craft of writing comic books, novels, and video games. In addition to writing many DC Comics stories and creating Batman: Gotham Knights, she has scribed Marvel's Black Widow, Dynamite's Red Sonja, and more. Her Vertigo title USER was nominated for the GLAAD Outstanding Comic Book award. Travis Langley (Batman and Psychology) moderates.
Saturday April 4, 2015 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Room 210
With the rise in popularity of geek-oriented media, tomorrow's psychotherapists need new tools to bring into therapy. Patrick O'Connor (The Chicago School of Professional Psychology), Josué Cardona (Geek Therapy), Elizabeth Smith (The Chicago School of Professional Psychology), Desiree Misanko-Louvat (The Chicago School of Professional Psychology), Edward Perin (The Chicago School of Professional Psychology), and Cary Shepard (The Chicago School of Professional Psychology) discuss classroom experiences and real-world applications of a university course, "Geek Culture in Therapy," that aims to discover culturally sensitive methods to increase rapport, examine research on fantasy, and develop techniques using comic books, video and board games, television shows, and movies to best connect with impassioned clients. They demonstrate how the course has been helpful through the presentation of case examples using geek-friendly therapy techniques.
Saturday April 4, 2015 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 210
Miranda Downey (event producer and partnership coordinator at SparkFun Electronics)will guide you through a beginner's way to integrate electronics into your cosplay and projects without soldering or wires. In this free workshop you'll hand-sew a working LED light circuit to take with you.
Saturday April 4, 2015 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 210
Benson Shum (Big Hero 6, Frozen),Trent Correy (Big Hero 6, Frozen) Hyun Min Lee (Big Hero 6, Feast),and Eric Goldberg (Aladdin, Winnie the Pooh) walk kids and adults through some of the key principles of animation. Bring your love of art and drawing. Supplies will be provided.
Saturday April 4, 2015 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room 210
Emilio Soltero, Ph.D. (John Buscema: A Life in Sketches; Draw the Line) presents a primer on drawing the figure for popular media, including drawing for comics and character design. The focus will be on anatomy and figure drawing. There will be time to draw as well. Professionals and beginners are welcome. Bring your drawing supplies to draw models/cosplayers during this interactive presentation. Come ready to take notes and to draw.
Saturday April 4, 2015 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Room 210
UPDATED: Wed, Apr 01, 01:11PM A discussion for Nintendo fans with StreetPass OC about becoming a part of or creating a thriving StreetPass community group. StreetPass OC will answer your questions about StreetPassing, Nintendo, and gaming in a Q&A session and may even test your knowledge with some Nintendo trivia! Moderated by Andres Cervantes.
Saturday April 4, 2015 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Room 210
Have you ever said, "I want to write a book" or "what about writing a song?" Is it possible to do both? Aspiring writers will want to take part in this hands-on opportunity to ask questions and learn about what it takes to write a book and be a published author or write a song. Author, songwriter, touring music artist, and philanthropist James Morris (SkyBound, Surface), with an introduction by Maryelizabeth Hart (Mysterious Galaxy co-owner and reviewer for Publishers Weekly), will talk about his journey, experiences, and motivation and share valuable tips and organizational skills to help get you writing and see you through the process. He will also be discussing how he got from his idea to "the end" of a trilogy, his music, and how fiction and music writing influence and inspire each other. This workshop is perfect for all ages of writers and aspiring writers.
Sunday April 5, 2015 10:30am - 11:30am PDT
Room 210
The Walking Dead explores ways people struggle to survive and hang onto their humanity in the worst situations. Psychology professionals Travis Langley (Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight), Elizabeth Ann (NerdLush), Josué Cardona (Geek Therapy), Patrick O'Connor (The Chicago School of Professional Psychology), Billy San Juan, and Janina Scarlet (Superhero Therapy) use examples from the comics to discuss the psychology of trauma and triumph. They will be joined by novelist S. G. Browne (Breathers) and journalist Janey Tracey (Outer Places). Why do horrific circumstances bring out the worst in some people and the best in others? Is there hope?
Sunday April 5, 2015 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
Room 210
How is the study of sequential art explaining the mechanisms that make comics work? Do readers of American comics and Japanese manga use their brains differently? Do comic books naturally create a sense of community among readers in ways text-only books cannot? Do Jack Kirby's machines engage readers in ways they never knew? Neil Cohn (University of California, San Diego), Mathieu Li-Goyette (Université de Montréal), and T. Keith Edmunds (Brandon University) look into the brain, across the real world, and throughout many fictional worlds to examine how comics work for the creators they come from and the readers who consume them.
Sunday April 5, 2015 12:30pm - 2:00pm PDT
Room 210
Comics and graphic novels are increasingly valued as a legitimate medium, both literary and visual. This panel focuses on approaches to using comics in the classroom by both teaching comics and using comics to teach. Lesley S. J. Farmer (California State University, Long Beach) describes how comics and comic cons help learners comprehend, critique, and create through the particular way comics structure knowledge. Rebecca Thompson (American Physical Society) discusses APS's series of comics designed to teach physics and demonstrates how a compelling comic story, delicately balancing education and entertainment, can excite students who might otherwise be turned off by traditional teaching. Derek Held (Temecula Valley High School) discards arbitrary limitations on which comics should be taught and demonstrates how mainstream "floppies" can be used to teach classical literary theory and critical reading skills at the secondary level.
Hey, Kids! It's time to get happy, have fun, and be funny! Kristian Andrew Sather (Cartoon Design Revealed) returns to WonderCon Anaheim with his popular cartooning workshop. Kristian will demonstrate the techniques used in drawing fun cartoon characters. Learn how to draw your own funny cartoon characters using basic geometric shapes and more.
