As the business of video games now surpasses the annual revenues of both film and music combined, interest in pursuing a career in the game industry has increased staggeringly in recent years. This has spawned a wide variety of educational and vocational options for individuals to pursue game development, but how exactly does one get the knowledge they need and then find a job in this very competitive industry? Learn from veteran game industry professionals about what it takes to launch a game development career and how there are many paths into the industry.
Saturday March 29, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Room 213CD
What sort of activities do the crew of the IKV Stranglehold engage in between missions and conventions? They present a special WonderCon mission that may tie into future missions and problems. All alien races are welcome.
Saturday March 29, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Room 300E
Matt Ryan talks with Only Murders in the Building editors Shelly Westerman and Matthew Barbato about the art of editing Mabel, Charles, and Oliver’s story. Through clips and behind-the-scenes tales, Ms. Westerman and Mr. Barbato will solve the Only Murders in the Building editors’ mystery of how they crafted sequences of comedy, drama, and murder. Celebrate Only Murders in the Building, editing, and how podcasters and event moderators solve crime.
Saturday March 29, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Room 300A
When it comes to building narratives, the best and most enduring stories are the ones that feel plausible. The more believable the story is, the more we can invest in its fantastical parts. But what happens when fictional stories become reality or when narratives have scarily similar story beats to what we’re experiencing socially, politically, or culturally? The hosts of Tangential Giants Podcast (Kareem Anderson, Patrick Kellenberger, and Ken Rolow) are joined by Arge O'Neal (film/TV editor), Magical Girl Marina (fandom, cosplay content creator), Kimberly Pace-Nieva (standup comic; actor, Open to It), and Ray-Anthony Height (creator/founder, SKYE-TIGER Studio) to talk about recent news stories and their pop culture counterparts, reasons why pop culture can be prophetic at times, and the nature of connecting fiction to reality.
Saturday March 29, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Room 211
Starting as an assistant to Will Eisner on The Spirit, through his “Feiffer” syndicated strip, to his groundbreaking history The Great Comic Book Heroes, to movies like Carnal Knowledge and Popeye, to his Kill My Mother graphic novel trilogy, to his many children’s books, Jules Feiffer (who passed away in January at age95) was a true titan in a wide array of media. Remembering Feiffer’s life and career today is an expert panel, including Charles Hatfield (CSU Northridge), Michael Dooley (Art Center College of Design), Jim Thompson (Duke University), and moderator Danny Fingeroth (Will Eisner Studios).
Danny Fingeroth is a cultural historian and commentator. His books include Superman on the Couch: What Superheroes Really Tell Us About Ourselves and Our Society and Disguised as Clark Kent: Jews, Comics, and the Creation of the Superhero. His 2019 biography of Stan Lee, A Marvelous... Read More →
Saturday March 29, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Room 209
How do you craft a compelling story that combines horror and comedy? Movies like Army of Darkness, Zombieland, The Cabin in the Woods, and Renfield all ventured into the realm of chuckles and goosebumps. Join Art Directors Guild/IATSE Local 800 members and hear from storyboard artists behind those pictures as they discuss their contributions to pulling off such a seeming contradiction. Panelists include Doug Lefler (Army of Darkness, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness), Joel Venti (Zombieland, Ash vs Evil Dead, The Batman), Simeon Wilkins (The Cabin in the Woods, Hellboy, Black Panther), Robin Richesson (Scary Movie 2, Starship Troopers, Mars Attacks), and Heiko von Drengenberg (Renfield, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Sonic the Hedgehog). Moderated by Storyboard artist Sam Tung (Teacup, Twisters, The Dark Tower).
Saturday March 29, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Room 207
Thrilljoy hosts Brian Mariotti (founder and CEO) and Karissa Marston (director of marketing) are joined by panelists who will help share thrilling updates and spread joy through giveaways. And this isn’t just any giveaway . . . it’s Thrilljoy’s biggest, wildest giveaway ever! Get ready for surprises that will have the entire convention buzzing.
Saturday March 29, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
North 100B
Creating your own board game is not only fun, it’s educational! Learn about systems and the iterative process, teamwork, time and resource management, research, critical analysis, and even science, history, math, and language development. This workshop will take you through the rapid prototyping process for a board game facilitated by Aaron Vanek, who has been teaching analog game design to middle school students for more than seven years.
Saturday March 29, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
North 151
The annual Los Angeles International Children’s Film Festival continues with its three days of short films from around the world for all ages, featuring animation, live-action, and documentaries. Animators and filmmakers will talk to the audience following their films, including offering advice for kids on how to become a professional animator or filmmaker. For the full LAICFF schedule, click here.
Saturday March 29, 2025 10:00am - 9:00pm PDT
Room 303AB
The Protospiel Game Lab at WonderCon (part of d4) is an event where you can bring a board or card game prototype to play with other designers, play testers, and publishers. It's a great way to break your game and fix it. It doesn't matter what level of polish your game has; it can be near final or made on the spot here. This event is open-house style, come and go, intended for both game designers and players who like to try new things. Help test the next best board games! Hosted by Cardboard Alchemy.
Saturday March 29, 2025 10:00am - 9:00pm PDT
North 152
What is it like to work on a Star Wars show on Disney+? Key droid technician and puppeteer Mike Senna, droid assistant and puppeteer Victor Franco, and puppeteers William Miyamoto and Rob Wight discuss their experiences working on Skeleton Crew and Kenobi.
Saturday March 29, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am PDT
North 200A
Moderator Spiro Skentzos (Arrow) and TV writers, showrunners, and executives from your favorite genre shows discuss navigating the TV spec terrain, including beginner’s mistakes, what is looked for in a writer, and what it takes for you to write a killer spec that will stand above the crowd. Be sure to bring your questions.
Saturday March 29, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am PDT
Room 300C
Mark Waid (JLU, Kingdom Come, Daredevil) is here for a rapid-fire, no-boundaries Q&A, answering audience questions about himself, his career, and comics in general! Will he get through 50 questions in 50 minutes? Come prepared to join in and find out!
Mark Waid is a multiple New York Times bestselling author whose work has appeared in countless languages across the globe. Over the course of his four decades in the comic book industry, Waid has developed characters and written stories for Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, The Avengers... Read More →
Saturday March 29, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am PDT
Room 213AB
Authors Vanessa Le (His Mortal Demise), Bree Paulsen (The Firelight Apprentice), Sasha Peyton Smith (The Rose Bargain), and LaDarrion Williams (Blood at the Root) delve into magic systems, power structures, and the creatures who hold their secrets. Moderated by I.V. Marie (Immortal Consequences).
Saturday March 29, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am PDT
Room 208
The lack of Black professionals in comics is staggering, though likely not surprising to those familiar with the complexities of the industry. More often than not, white people provide the primary decision-making concerning the representation of Black characters in comics. The risks of non-Black people crafting stories attempting to reflect Black experiences include inauthenticity, unintended reinforcement of stereotypes, and tokenism for any Black people who may be involved in the creative process. Professionals and scholars Vanessa Hintz (Carroll University), Victor Dandridge, Jr. (Vantage:Inhouse Productions), Ajani Brown (San Diego State University), and John Jennings (MEGASCOPE) discuss the value of authentic representations of Black lived experiences, created for Black people by Black people, and the dynamics and complexities of diversifying representation in both the comics industry and readership.
Saturday March 29, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 210
Industry experts, including producers, directors, editors, and more, share insights into their craft and break down memorable scenes from iconic productions. Discover how these talented professionals bring stories to life. With composer/music producer Aaron Gilhuis (Queen of the Ring), composer Ian Arber (Paris Has Fallen), casting director Jazzy Collins (Very Important People), creators/executive producers Michael Price and Matthew Claybrooks (Lil Kev), and documentary editor Wax Taber (Down To Earth). Moderated by writer/ producer Victoria Male. Part 1 of Impact24 PR’s Panel Superblock.
Saturday March 29, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 300A
Representation matters but comes with complications. Moderator Britton Payne (VP of business and legal affairs, Nickelodeon/Paramount) details the sometimes-troubling history of autistic characters in comic books with panelists Bex Burgess (YA graphic novel Speak Up!) and Eleanor Payne (3rd Grade Inclusion Advocate). They’ll explore how comics as a medium can foster a modern understanding of autism among its readership. Bex will also discuss their experiences as an autistic comic book creator and of creating comic books that feature an autistic main character navigating her way through high school.
Saturday March 29, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 211
Hear how incorporating comics into the curriculum increases engagement and access for all students while developing a love for learning (and secretly powering up literacy skills) and how the Comic-Con Educator Book Club brings together teachers from across the region in pursuit of great reads, community, and strategies for the classroom. Panelists will share resources, tips, and tools you can add to your utility belt. Featuring Jaime Chavez (school counselor, San Diego Unified), Mick Rabin (resource counselor, Youth Advocacy Dept., San Diego Unified), Mike Cruz (elementary teacher, Temecula Valley USD), Ella “Dizzy” Rogosin (social science teacher, Sweetwater UHSD), and Scott Nielsen (mild/moderate special education teacher, Grossmont UHSD) and moderated by Jewyl Alderson (San Diego County Office of Education). You too can become a super teacher!
Saturday March 29, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 213CD
Want to make something out of leather but don't know where to start? Amy and Brayton Carpenter (owners, Legendary Costume Works) demonstrate how to tackle a leathercraft project from beginning to end, including tips and tricks from the pros and where to buy leather and tools.
Saturday March 29, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 300E
Comics and games are the two largest mediums in geek culture that intersect for most of fandom. From adaptations of the same IPs to why fans love both of them is explored by creators and players alike. Why choose comics or games when you can fall in love with both?
Saturday March 29, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 209
Whether you’re halfway done with your vampire saga or just jotting down ideas for an urban fantasy novel, this panel is for you. Industry story veterans Stephan Franck (writer/creator/artist, Silver; animation supervisor, Marvel’s What If? . . .),Brandon Easton (writer, Vampire Hunter D: Message from Mars, Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy), and Doug Lefler (director, The Last Legion,Xena Warrior Princess) share their vast knowledge of storytelling and answer your writing questions. Moderated by Sean Rourke (host, The Vampire’s Castle YouTube channel). Your Nosferatu epic awaits!
Saturday March 29, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 207
Gaming industry professionals Jon Wolheim (VP, People and Culture), Chris Castagnetto (advisory board member), and other members of the Games for Love team and gaming professionals hold an open conversation around recruiting, partnerships, and marketing. Learn how charities are helping to make a difference in gaming.
Saturday March 29, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
North 151
The last few years have been difficult for artists working in the screen industries. This has been especially true for women. And yet, they persevere. This year’s panel celebrates the showrunners, directors, and advocates creating great work despite the challenges. From fan favorites to genre films and compelling stories on the small screen, female filmmakers reflect diverse voices onscreen. This panel of powerful women changing the landscape of film & TV from the inside discusses their newest projects and how they navigate the worlds inside and outside Hollywood. Scheduled to appear are writer/executive producer Aeysha Carr (Woke, the upcoming Government Cheese), director Rosemary Rodriguez (Peacemaker, The Walking Dead franchise), producer/executive producer Dara Resnick (Daredevil, Home Before Dark), writer/executive producer Carla Ching (Fear the Walking Dead, Mr. & Mrs. Smith), writer/executive producer Danielle Sanchez-Witzel (Up Here, Survival of the Thickest), and advocate Chandra Jackson (director of marketing and communications for Women in Film). Moderated by Leslie Combemale (lead contributor, Alliance of Women Film Journalists).
Saturday March 29, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm PDT
North 100B
BAD IDEA impresarios Dinesh Shamdasani, Peter Stern, Benjamin Simpson, and Siena Fallon give an exclusive look at BAD IDEA's biggest slate yet! Witness new art from Planet Death, Ordained, Survive, Cul-De-Sac, Habitat, Hero Trade, and much more. Plus, surprise panelists and a convention exclusive giveaway!
Saturday March 29, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
Room 213AB
In the YA and MG world, there are several popular prose books and graphic novels. Moderator Joshua Pruett (Gyro and the Argonauts), and authors Sara Phoebe Miller (You Belong Here), Simón Estrada (Otto Normal's Monsterton), Tom Phillips (The Curious League of Detectives and Thieves), and Patrick Ness (Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody) discuss the different challenges of creating their stories, characters, and plots.
Saturday March 29, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
Room 208
Pitching is a critical skill for a career in screen or television writing. Writers Douglas J. Eboch (Sweet Home Alabama, The Hollywood Pitching Bible), J. Holtham (Supergirl, The Handmaid’s Tale), Spiro Skentzos (Arrow, Grimm), Jill Blotevogel (Scream: the TV Series,Eureka), and Karen Stillman (The Assets, Smoke Screen) and producer Ken Aguado (An Interview with God, The Salton Sea) discuss pitching original ideas as well as pitching to win assignments for movies and television. They’ll delve into how to identify what’s unique and marketable about your concept, how to construct a compelling pitch, and how to present it effectively.
Saturday March 29, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
Room 300C
An alumni reunion of screenwriters from the 18-year history of the DC Universe animated movies gives you the lowdown on the creation of some of the most beloved animated films in superhero history—and how those treasured words were crafted for the screen. Hear from popular writers Tim Sheridan (Batman: The Long Halloween), Meghan Fitzmartin (Justice Society: World War II), Jeremy Adams (Batman: Soul of the Dragon), Jim Krieg (Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths), Ernie Altbacker (Justice League Dark: Apokolips War), and others as they give insight into honing your skills as a professional animation writer. Come for the writing tips and stay for the audience Q&A, when moderator Gary Miereanu will reward the best questions with some limited-edition prizes.
Saturday March 29, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
North 200A
The game pitch review is conducted by a panel of professional game developers who will offer their invaluable advice and insights to those seeking to further their dreams of making their game idea a reality. Participants will have the opportunity to pitch a game for around 5 minutes and then receive constructive feedback on how it went. This session will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis, and sign-ups will be taken on-site.
Saturday March 29, 2025 11:30am - 1:00pm PDT
Room 204C
Industry professionals reveal how they bring worlds and characters to life through the artistry of editing, music, sound, and more. With editor Brett W. Bachman, ACE (Companion, Heart Eyes), re-recording mixer Christina “Chuyue” Wen (What We Do in the Shadows Season 6), VFX supervisor/2nd unit director Johnny Han (HBO and DC’s The Penguin), editor/director Jon Dudkowski (Star Trek: Discovery), and composers Leo Birenberg and Zach Robinson (Cobra Kai, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man). Moderated by director/actor/writer/co-founder of Not Your Daddy's Films Carlye Tamaren. Part 2 of Impact24 PR’s Panel Superblock.
Saturday March 29, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Room 300A
Marvel fans, are you interested in cosplay but unsure where to begin? Or perhaps you've suited up before but are curious how to use your fandom for a good cause. Members of the Avengers Initiative, a national fan organization of Marvel cosplay volunteers, discuss how to get started in cosplay as well as giving back to your communities via charity service events, visiting kids in hospitals, and much more. Bryan Lee (head executive officer, Avengers Initiative) moderates panelists Jen Athey (commanding officer, West Coast Avengers of California), Alice Irvin (executive officer, West Coast Avengers of California), Coby Thornton (commanding officer, Avengers Mid-Pacific of Hawaii), Mark Chu-Lin (head commanding officer, Avengers Initiative), and Judy Stephens (author of Cosplay the Marvel Way and co-founder of the Women of Marvel podcast).
Saturday March 29, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Room 300E
Everyone may be the hero of their own story, but what does it take to summon main character energy that can carry a compelling narrative, whether in romantasy, folklore, mystery, silent film stunt work, or high-tech suspense? Rachel Howzell Hall (The Last One), Darby Kane (What the Wife Knew), Autumn Krause (Before the Devil Knows You're Here), Nicole Maggi (A Murder in Zion), Mallory O’Meara (Daughter of Daring), and Sara Sligar (Vantage Point) discuss how their MCs hold center stage and strive against conflicts and obstacles; moderated by Southern CA Bookseller Maryelizabeth Yturralde.
Saturday March 29, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Room 209
Coming off of our first successful crowdfunding effort, Ultima Comics is excited to share about the process of running and fulfilling a successful campaign, what's up with the Founding Four, how Ultima is viewing change as an opportunity as it pertains to the distribution disruption and a look ahead of what's to come this summer! Featuring Francis Ssyskowski (The Massacre Twins), Todd Tochioka (Meat Farm), and Anthony Ray Bench (Ultima Comics). Moderated by publisher/EIC, Joshua Waldrop.
Saturday March 29, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Room 207
For artists and writers who get “stuck”! Veteran writer/editor Barbara Randall Kesel (Hawk & Dove, Marvels Snapshots: Avengers) slings rapid-fire tips, tricks, and strategies for vanquishing those blocked brain cells and deadline demons! Part information, part motivation, all entertaining!
Saturday March 29, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Room 211
Jeopardy fans rejoice! We present to you the state of women in the comics industry—past, present, and future—in a fun quiz show format. Editor/journalist Heidi MacDonald (Comics Beat, Publishers Weekly) joins comics and TV writer Amy Chu (Carmilla: The First Vampire, Red Sonja) and writers Tilly Bridges and Susan Bridges (Monster High, Star Trek Prodigy). Winners get a No-Prize!
Saturday March 29, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Room 213CD
Moderator Jes Wade (tabletop charity content producer) leads five talented (and busy) tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) content creators through a discussion on content fatigue and imposter syndrome. Aleks David Royt (co-creator of StoryQuest and prop master for Encounter Party), Brooke Eyler (cosplayer and professional dungeon master), Mayanna Berrin (writer and TTRPG performer), Cai Kagawa (costumer and TTRPG performer), and Johnny Stanton (creator of SINK RPG) explore combat in TTRPGs through the lens of defeating self-doubt and taking care of themselves with long rests.
Saturday March 29, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
North 151
Juan Carlos Fermin (University of California, Irvine) compares Art Spiegelman's Maus and Joe Sacco's Palestine, examining their formal, narrative, and rhetorical content as commentaries on imperialism, fascism, ethnic nationalism, and how these forces rise to power. Mike Bittner (Stanford University) looks at the ways Native superheroes continue to be portrayed in mainstream comics and beyond, and how those representations can lead to harmful assumptions being made during wartime. Anuradha Dosad (Adamas University) uses the psychoanalytical theories of Sigmund Freud and the Lacanian framework of symbolic, real, and imaginary stages of the personality structure to offer insight into the mechanics of sequential narratives featuring the Joker. Daniel Ambord presents a feminist reading of Peter Milligan's Sub-Mariner: The Depths with an eye to what it has to teach us about Western attitudes towards chaos.
Saturday March 29, 2025 12:00pm - 1:30pm PDT
Room 210
The pioneers of creator-owned comics work whole-cloth, not only to construct characters and plots, but to develop sprawling worlds and ecosystems with a scope that defies expectation. The creators on this panel represent this era’s biggest mythmakers, traversing media to establish new frontiers of fiction. Chuck Austen (Defiant), Joe Henderson (The Big Burn), and Scott Hoffman (Warm Fusion) deconstruct the art of summoning new universes from their imaginations. Moderated by Sami DeMonster.
Saturday March 29, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Room 213AB
From inception to the shelf, graphic novels are a labor of love, patience, creativity, and a whole lot of perseverance—and no one knows that better than creators Jen Wang (Ash’s Cabin), Jordan Morris (Youth Group), Brittney Williams (Mixed-Up), and Sara Phoebe Miller (You Belong Here). They explore the making of a graphic novel, including the journey of bringing their own recent and upcoming graphic novels to life. Moderated by Thien Pham (Family Style).
Saturday March 29, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Room 208
The past decade has seen an explosion in the scope of journalism—from the rise of citizen journalism to blogging to vloggers, podcasters, and online-only news sources. This panel of writers and hosts from CBR, Geek Magazine, Digital Bits, Bleeding Cool, Film Threat, and others will talk about the roles new media play between their readers and the industries and communities they serve. Topics include varying levels of informality vs. classic ideas of professionalism, show-specific outlets vs. general news sites, and more.
Saturday March 29, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Room 300C
Eric and Julia Lewald (X-Men story editors), Rick Hoberg (X-Men character designer), Mark Lewis (X-Men production artist), Cal Dodd (voice of Wolverine), Chris Potter (voice of OG Gambit/Cable), Isaac Robinson-Smith (voice of Bishop), Matthew Waterson (voice of Magneto), and Lenore Zann (voice of Rogue) discuss their behind-the-scenes experiences. Everyone will participate in a Q&A session by moderator Larry Houston (X-Men'92 producer/director).
Saturday March 29, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
North 100B
Co-showrunner and executive producer Simon Racioppa, art director Dou Hong, and supervising producers and supervising directors Shaun O’Neil and Dan Duncan discuss key storylines and groundbreaking moments from season 3 of Invincible. The series is based on the award-winning comic book series by Robert Kirkman, co-creator Cory Walker, and contributing creator Ryan Ottley.
Saturday March 29, 2025 12:45pm - 1:45pm PDT
North 200A
Step behind the curtain of popular film and television projects to discover what it takes to bring characters to life! Composers, costume designers, makeup artists, and hair designers share their creative process and reveal how they transform actors into unforgettable characters. Featuring director Carlos Baena (Star Trek: Unification), prosthetics designer Chris Bridges of Gaslight FX (Heretic), costume designer Cris Araujo (Uglies), makeup department head Desiree Falcon (Thelma), co-composer Michael Paraskevas (Agatha All Along), and composer Tim Kelly (Watchmen Chapter I and II). Moderated by actor Chris Villain. Part 3 of Impact24 PR’s Panel Superblock.
Saturday March 29, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Room 300A
Mogwai Rule #5: Never miss a Gremlins panel! The cast and producers of the hit Warner Bros. Animation and Max Original animated prequel series show an exclusive screening of a never-before-seen episode, followed by an in-depth discussion of season 2. Hear straight from the creatives and voice actors about crafting this current chapter of the beloved franchise, and enjoy a sneak peek at the mystery and mayhem ahead for Gizmo, Sam, and Elle along their epic American West adventure. Gremlins: The Wild Batch is produced by Amblin Television in association with Warner Bros. Animation.
Saturday March 29, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Room 207
A century and a half ago, a man was born who changed the face of popular culture, writing some of the most iconic and bestselling books of the 20th century and spawning a multimedia franchise that has endured to this day: Edgar Rice Burroughs, creator of Tarzan of the Apes and John Carter of Mars! The team at Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.—James Sullos (president), Cathy Wilbanks (vice president of operations), and Christopher Paul Carey (vice president of publishing)—discuss this monumental milestone as well as announce the next wave of forthcoming Burroughs projects. Wolf Larson—writer, producer, former Tarzan TV star, and now head of ERB Entertainment—will also be on hand to discuss the company’s new entertainment division, including an ERB Universe animated TV series in development and other prospects for both the big and small screens.
Saturday March 29, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Room 211
The creator of the viral The Disneybound Blog and author of Disney Publishing’s DisneyBound: Dress Disney and Make It Fashion,Leslie Kay, and a panel of (Disney)bounding pros Dolly Lee, Clarione Gutierrez-Owens, and Helen Kelly Davis share their expertise in conceptualizing, building, and styling and how to apply that knowledge and creativity to fandoms from across other universes, mediums, and more. Moderated by Kelsey Walmer.
Saturday March 29, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Room 300E
The new year has brought new challenges to free expression through the comic arts, and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is here to share the latest news and strategies. How could new laws affect comic books, graphic novels, manga, and even cosplay? What is happening with the CBLDF's current court cases? What is the connection between the attempted TikTok ban and the Comics Code—and what, if anything, can be done about censorship on online platforms? Interim director Jeff Trexler and others will share their thoughts on these and other important issues, as well as what you can do to make a difference.
Saturday March 29, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Room 213CD
Get ready to unwind and step into a realm of enchanting, low-stakes adventures with Ann Aguirre (I Think I’m in Love with an Alien), C. B. Lee (Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe), S. A. MacLean (The Phoenix Keeper), and Purpah (Suitor Armor). Moderated by Michelle Bucud (Mysterious Galaxy).
Saturday March 29, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Room 209
The StoryQuest crew embarks on a comedic, improvised D&D one-shot that brings the audience along for the ride. Combining their storytelling, improv, and comedy skills, the folks from Story Quest (David Tilstra, Aleks David Royt, Oscar Montoya, Mayanna Berrin, Reed Sights, Jordy Martin, and Serenity Garcia) aim to tell a satisfying, collaborative, and family-friendly story on the WonderCon stage. A focus on the introduction to TTRPG games will be a guiding principle, on top of teaching audience members about storytelling strategies and how they can be a joint effort. Audience participation is both invited and encouraged, and prizes will be given out to the most enthusiastic audience members!
Saturday March 29, 2025 1:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
North 151
Jesse Negron (Mechanical Cake), Tom Moran (Scott Free), Dave Elliott (Mechanical Cake), and Anthony Francisco (senior visual development artist for Marvel Studios) discuss what is on the horizon for Mechanical Cake and Scott Free, starting with their debut graphic novel, Modville, Ridley Scott’s first foray into graphic novels. Modville is a sci-fi Southern Gothic crime drama with AI humans in future New Orleans. Moderated by Chris Northrop (Horrible Future). Book 1 of Modville is written by Jesse Negron and drawn by Hendry Prasetya and Eko Puteh.
Saturday March 29, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Room 208
In a nearly 50-year journey, Denys Cowan, has carved out one of the most unique and varied resumes in the history of comics, ranging from comic book creator, animation producer/director, wrestling manager, and even whiskey pitchman. Michael Stradford, author of the upcoming career retrospective book, Graphic Samurai: The Art of Denys Cowan has a conversation with the man himself about his past, present, and future!
A co-founder of Milestone Media, which sold over 10 million copies of groundbreaking comic books, Denys Cowan has numerous credits to his name, including Black Racer, Deathstroke, Black Lightning & Hong Kong Phooey, Batman: Lovers & Madmen, Blind Justice, Black Panther: Flags of Our... Read More →
Saturday March 29, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Room 213AB
In a rapidly changing and unpredictable entertainment landscape, the one thing everybody can agree on is that writers need to create their own intellectual properties (IP) and get that material into the marketplace ASAP for any chance at success. This can be a challenging concept for creators at every level of their careers, and there's no single path to victory. Creators David Crowson (Harriet Tubman: Demon Slayer) and Brian Fitzpatrick (Mechcraft) join others who have taken their IPs from concept to execution and managed to build strong careers from their efforts. Moderated by Brandon Easton (Transformers: War for Cybertron, Iyanu).
Saturday March 29, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Room 300C
Ishita Sehgal (Indiana University, Bloomington) explores the construction and reproduction of memory through the graphic medium while focusing on female authorial agency in Malaka Gharib’s I Was Their American Dream, Mira Jacobs’s Good Talk, and Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis. Audrey Garcia (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill) uses Maaheen Ahmed’s theory of openness in comics in a case study of 1940s Franco-Belgian cowboys to examine social values in children’s comics magazines. Callum McNutt (Cape Breton University) argues for the integrity of the Batman Noir series, notwithstanding its having appeared originally as individual comics written and drawn by different artists. Michael Mazzacane (University of California, Los Angeles) reads Spy x Family through the lens of asexuality in order to deconstruct compulsory sexuality and gender through the manga's reflexive construction of the “normal” heterosexual family.
Saturday March 29, 2025 1:30pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 210
Celebrated storytellers Mark Waid and Dan Slott come together in this fun panel as they discuss their love of Superman and share what’s in store for the Man (and Boy) of Steel in Action Comics and Superman Unlimited.
Dan Slott has worked with Marvel for many years, giving fans an action-packed 10-year run on The Amazing Spider-Man! His writing credits include She-Hulk, Avengers, Batman, and The Silver Surfer. He recently finished working on a run of The Fantastic Four and Iron Man. Currently... Read More →
Mark Waid is a multiple New York Times bestselling author whose work has appeared in countless languages across the globe. Over the course of his four decades in the comic book industry, Waid has developed characters and written stories for Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, The Avengers... Read More →
Saturday March 29, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm PDT
North 100B
Fans from TheOneRing.net Josh Rubinstein (former host of TORn Book Club), Kristi Fojtik (founder of Tolkien Forever), Clifford Broadway (host of TORn Tuesday), Cathy Udovch (senior features programmer at the Newport Beach Film Festival), and Nicole Roberts (TORn outreach coordinator) discuss all the new LOTR movies, TV shows, games, and books from Middle-earth. Is it all connected? Where are Tolkien stories headed after the recent releases of The War of the Rohirrim and season 2 of The Rings of Power? Hear all the news and rumors lighting up the community. Moderated by Justin Sewell (producer of TORn Tuesday).
Saturday March 29, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 211
What happens when big nerds raise little nerds? Do powers multiply with each new generation? A group of professional geek and nerd parents discuss how nerdy jobs, hobbies, and fandoms inform parenting and help guide parents in raising the next generation of physically and emotionally healthy nerds.
Saturday March 29, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 300A
Act 4 Publishing is off and running! Scott and Amanda Dunbier walk fans through what is in store for discerning aficionados of Artist’s Editions, deluxe archival collections, and even some brand-new comics. Besides the recently announced Jim Aparo’s DC Classics Artist’s Edition and Darwyn Cooke’s The Complete Spirit Connoisseur Edition, they’ll be announcing several new releases in the coming year—all with lots of art presented.
Saturday March 29, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 209
This is your chance to get to know WonderCon special guest Yaya Han as a designer, cosplayer, and author. Ask her questions on cosplay-related topics, as well as her experiences going to cons, making costumes, dressing up, and traveling worldwide.
Yaya Han is a cosplayer, designer, and author with more than 20 years of activity in the fandom world. Yaya has made over 400 costumes and has been featured in two U.S. network TV shows, countless magazines, books, newspapers, and online media. Yaya’s work has impacted cosplay profoundly... Read More →
Saturday March 29, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 300E
For 85 years, Marvel has built an unparalleled library of characters and stories that have shaped pop culture. What makes a Marvel story unforgettable? Is it the classic characters, the dynamic dialogue, or the action and adventure? Acclaimed writer and actor Patton Oswalt chats with acclaimed writer Jordan Blum about Marvel Comics storytelling.
Saturday March 29, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 207
ComicsBeat kicks off its 21st year with discussions of all the hottest stories in comics and entertainment. Editor-in-chief Heidi MacDonald is joined by a panel of experts who will give you the inside scoop on what’s in and what’s out. Bring your most burning questions! With Heidi MacDonald, Yael Tygiel (Inside the Con, Fanversations), Henry Barajas (Death to Pachuco, Gil Thorp), Patrick Meaney (House of Demons), and others.
Saturday March 29, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 213CD
The Gaming Creator Connection is an opportunity for game developers—whether currently working in the industry or aspiring to do so—to receive valuable advice, insights, and mentoring from seasoned veterans of the game industry representing diverse professional backgrounds. The GCC is a perfect opportunity to seek expert guidance in art/design, narrative, business, and career advice. Participants will have 10–15 minutes to speak with a mentor and will be able to rotate between mentors during the two-hour session in order to maximize the amount of feedback.
Saturday March 29, 2025 2:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 204C
From humble beginnings as a member of the official fan club to writing and producing three Star Trek series (and two movies!), reimagining the classic 1970s series Battlestar Galactica as perhaps one of the greatest modern television series of all time, adapting the beloved book series Outlander for the small screen, capturing our imaginations with the hopeful and inspirational For All Mankind, and much, much more: a conversation with the one and only Ronald D. Moore, moderated by Mary Anne Butler (editor-in-chief, Nerdbot).
Saturday March 29, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT
North 200A
Dive into the captivating world of Young Adult fiction with a panel of celebrated authors who masterfully traverse diverse genres. Jade Adia (Batgirl: Possession), LaDarrion Williams (Blood at the Root), and Alexa Donne (The Bitter End) share their insights and experiences on crafting the perfect YA novel, no matter the genre. From the enchanting realms of fantasy to the heart-pounding twists of thrillers, discover the secrets behind creating stories that resonate with young readers. Moderated by I. V. Marie (Immortal Consequences).
Saturday March 29, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT
Room 300C
Kumari Bakhru (Paramount, Disney; teacher), Susan Spohr (postproduction supervisor, associate producer, author), Victoria Blake (distributor, Seismic Releasing), and Valerie Lettera-Spletzer (DreamWorks Animation; animator, content creator) talk about the latest in the industry, and everything from developing your project to distributing it and finding creative ways through production. Moderated by Dustin Quick (actress, model, musician, and filmmaker).
Saturday March 29, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT
Room 208
In 1939, MLJ Comics, the company later rebranded as Archie Comics, published Blue Ribbon Comics, entering the world of superheroes with Bob Phantom. They would go on to create a pantheon of superheroes, including the first patriotic superhero, The Shield, as well as fan favorites like The Comet, Hangman, The Fly, Lancelot Strong, and many more. These heroes have appeared in both Archie Comics and DC Comics. Their stories have been reprinted in England, France, Germany, and Brazil. They have crossed over to radio, film, and the pulps. Presented here is the 86-year history of the greatest superheroes of the Archie Universe. Moderated by Rik Offenberger (The MLJ Companion), with Tim Chizmar (Fangoria, co-chair of the Horror Writers Association), and Ray MacKay (Big Bang Comics, EYRIE magazine).
Saturday March 29, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT
Room 213AB
Get the inside scoop on The King of Kings, an all-new, faith-based family film starring the voices of Kenneth Branagh, Oscar Isaac, Uma Thurman, Mark Hamill, Sir Ben Kingsley, Pierce Brosnan, Forest Whitaker, and more. In the film, Charles Dickens (Branagh) and his son Walter embark on a multidimensional adventure as the master storyteller engages his youngest son’s vivid imagination with the fascinating life of Jesus (Isaac), his well-known trials and tribulations, and his notable colleagues and foes. The film’s rich animation allows the Dickens pair (and the family cat, Willa) to become intrinsically immersed in the ancient tale. The result is an animated film that makes the biblical journey easily relatable, readily understood, and captivatingly entertaining for families and, especially, children of all ages. The film’s director/producer Seong-ho “Jay” Jang (Joint Security Area,The Taste of Money), producer and BAFTA Award-winning cinematographer Woo-Hyung Kim, co-screenwriter Rob Edwards (Captain America: Brave New World, Disney’s The Princess and the Frog) are joined by Emmy Award–winning casting/dialogue director and executive producer Jamie Thomason (Young Justice,Spirited Away, The Tigger Movie), ), Angel Studios chief distribution officer Jared Geesey, and several of the film’s acclaimed voice actors like Jim Cummings (voice of Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Darkwing Duck), James Arnold Taylor (Star Wars animated franchise), Fred Tatasciore (Hit Monkey, I Am Groot), and Vanessa Marshall (Harley Quinn, Star Wars Rebels) to reveal the magic behind the making of this imaginative film. Publicist Gary Miereanu moderates. Produced by Mofac Studios and distributed by Angel Studios, The King of Kings arrives in theaters on April 11.
Saturday March 29, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 207
Actor Thomas Jane (Troppo, The Lycan), writer/producer Matthew Arnold (Emerald City, Eden), animator/producer and writer Chuck Austen (She-Ra and the Princess of Power, The Tormented, Edgeworld), and newcomer Omar Morales (Major Thomás, LA Strong) discuss comics, storytelling, their passions, inspirations, and latest projects. Moderated by Barbra Dillon of Fanbase Press.
Saturday March 29, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 213CD
Emilio Soltero, Ph.D., M.A. (John Buscema: A Life in Sketches; Gorillas in da Mix) 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. Emilio will lecture and demonstrate on figure drawing.
Saturday March 29, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 210
Creating cosplays can be a challenge, from patterning to sewing and more. It can be even more of a challenge to know where to start. Join Hylian Cream, a master-level cosplayer, sewing educator, and Janome maker, in learning how to "Frankenstein" commercial sewing patterns into the perfect fit for your next cosplay build. This program will include interactive elements and go over important, beginner-friendly details to help you get started.
Saturday March 29, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 300E
From executive producers Dwayne Johnson, Brian Volk-Weiss, and Dany Garica comes RoboForce: The Animated Series. This six-episode series is the first installment in the Nacelleverse, an interconnected universe of animated shows and toys that includes Biker Mice from Mars, Sectaurs, Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa, The Great Garloo, and Power Lords.Brian Volk-Weiss (The Toys That Made Us, Disney's Behind the Attraction) and the Nacelle team discuss RoboForce: The Animated Series, show exclusive never-before-seen clips, and tell behind-the-scenes stories from the making of the show.
Saturday March 29, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 300A
More and more, diverse cultural voices of people of color are being heard in comics today. Prism Comics, moderator Viktor Kerney (StrangeLore, We Belong), and panelists Amy Chu (Carmilla: The First Vampire,Red Sonja), Ajuan Mance (Gender Studies), William O. Tyler (Queerbait), and others discuss the contributions of queer people of color to comics and creating a more inclusive and powerful queer geek community.
Saturday March 29, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 211
With the new Fantastic Four: First Steps movie coming out in just a few short months, Gary Sassaman (former director of programming and publications, Comic-Con and WonderCon) takes a nostalgic look back at “The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine!” in this graphics-filled presentation featuring the “first steps” of the Fantastic Four comic book series by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Joining Sassaman to discuss growing up with the FF and Kirby’s boundless creativity is WonderCon special guest Mark Evanier (Kirby: King of Comics, Groo the Wanderer), friend and former assistant of the artist.
Mark Evanier attended his first San Diego Comic-Con in 1970 and has been to every one of these annual events ever since. He was then an assistant to the great Jack Kirby, whom he wrote about in his book Kirby, King of Comics. Mark has also written for live-action TV shows, animated... Read More →
Saturday March 29, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 209
Jim Lee, the world-renowned comic book artist, writer, editor, and publisher, is currently president, publisher, and chief creative officer of DC. He leads creative efforts to integrate DC’s publishing portfolio of characters and stories across all media, supporting Warner Bros... Read More →
Todd McFarlane is the Emmy and Grammy Award–winning director/producer and creator of one of the world’s best-selling comics, Spawn. He is known for his work on Spider-Man and The Amazing Spider-Man, where he co-created Venom. Todd is co-founder and President of Image Comics and... Read More →
Saturday March 29, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
North 100B
Games are more than just entertainment—they are engines of learning, connection, and transformation. From fostering literacy and mathematical reasoning to enhancing emotional self-regulation, games provide dynamic spaces for individual growth. This panel will examine how player communities—whether in tabletop RPGs, esports, or online cooperative worlds—build camaraderie, reduce social isolation, and support identity development. Whether you're a player, educator, or game designer, this panel will showcase how the magic of play extends far beyond the screen or the tabletop.
Saturday March 29, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
North 151
NBC's new high-concept procedural The Hunting Party stars Melissa Roxburgh (Manifest) as a former FBI profiler who leads a small team of investigators to track down and capture the most dangerous serial killers the world has ever seen, all of whom have just escaped from "The Pit"—a top-secret government prison that's not supposed to exist. Cast members Roxburgh,Patrick Sabongui (The Flash), Nick Wechsler (Revenge, Roswell), and Josh McKenzie (La Brea), and showrunners J. J. Bailey (Echo) and Jake Coburn (Arrow,Quantico, Gossip Girl) share an exclusive sneak peek of the penultimate episode from Universal Television.
Saturday March 29, 2025 3:15pm - 4:15pm PDT
North 200A
As technology reshapes the entertainment landscape, physical media continue to hold a unique appeal—what drives their staying power? Industry leaders Vicki Tunkel, Kasey Yee, Dino Espinosa, and Chris Kawagiwa (Foundry LA) join Matthew Marone (business development manager at Scanavo) for an in-depth discussion of the past, present, and future of home entertainment. Explore the creative process through the eyes of designers, marketers, and ultrafans. Moderated by Joe LeFavi (Genuine Entertainment).
Saturday March 29, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm PDT
Room 208
WonderCon special guest and Emmy Award–winning makeup designer Neville Page discusses the processes, challenges, and thrills of creating practical makeup for film and television. He will be sharing with you how he works with the writers and producers from the very beginning of a project all the way through to the post-process and everything in between.
Neville Page is an Emmy Award–winning designer, concept artist, and educator whose work has shaped some of Hollywood’s most iconic films, including Avatar, Star Trek, Tron: Legacy, and Cloverfield. Originally from England, he studied at the Art Center College of Design before... Read More →
Saturday March 29, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm PDT
Room 300C
Jessica Fong (Poison Ivy) is an artist known for her surreal cover art in DC's GLAAD (2023) Award–winning Poison Ivy series. Join Jessica for this Q&A and presentation session.
Jessica Fong is a Bay Area–based illustrator known for her stunning cover art in DC Comics' GLAAD Award–winning Poison Ivy series. Her artwork blends surrealism with nature, often featuring dark yet beautiful imagery. Fong's work captures the "terribly sublime," a theme that is... Read More →
Saturday March 29, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm PDT
Room 213AB
It wouldn’t be WonderCon without one of Mark Evanier’s famous panels of folks who supply the voices for your favorite cartoon characters and TV shows. This time, Mark has assembled Kimberly Woods (Archer, X-Men ’97), Wally Wingert (Invader Zim, The Garfield Show), Candi Milo (Looney Tunes, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends), Daniel Ross (Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures) and a surprise or two!
Mark Evanier attended his first San Diego Comic-Con in 1970 and has been to every one of these annual events ever since. He was then an assistant to the great Jack Kirby, whom he wrote about in his book Kirby, King of Comics. Mark has also written for live-action TV shows, animated... Read More →
Saturday March 29, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room 207
Cartoonist and librarian Julie Fiveash, filmmaker and award-winning graphic novelist James Spooner (The High Desert), and cartoonist Emmanuel Guerrero (Cactus Kid) share what it means to be storytellers in a global culture that's becoming more suppressive and exploitative, the ways they stay rooted in collective care to keep on, and how readers and fans can continue advocating for diverse stories. Moderated by Christine Pasalo Norland (writer, founder, Hello Barkada).
Saturday March 29, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room 209
Pamm Riddle (TheMandalorian) and Walter Welsh (FaceOff) join cosplayers Linz Stanley, Aidan Wagner, Sean Shaw, Natalie Lucia, and Michelle Lorenzen as they share expert tips on sculpting, prosthetics, and makeup. Moderated by Crystal Schaefer.
Saturday March 29, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room 300E
Property Masters Guild members James “Skip” Torvinen, PMG, and John Harrington, PMG, reveal what it takes to translate fan-favorite iconic film props from script to screen in a discussion and Q&A session moderated by Michael Corrie (Props to History).
Saturday March 29, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room 210
Moderated by animation activist and educator Sam Goff, panelists examine the progress made in 2024 and the opportunities ahead in authentically representing marginalized identities on screen Searit Huluf (Pixar Spark Short: Self), David DePasquale (Invincible Fight Girl, Golden Axe), Ren Bernal (Rey Mysterio, The Harley Quinn Show), Bryan K. Turner (Justice League, Rise of the TMNT), and Rodrigo Nogueira (Blue Sky Development Deal) share their insights on creating impactful and inclusive animation content.
Saturday March 29, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room 211
The Legend of Taylore is an actual-play D&D podcast based on the music, memes, and lore of Taylor Swift, as played by a bunch of nerdy television writers. Produced by D&D WGA Strike Day organizers, it’s a great adventure for Swifties and non-Swifties alike, where characters encounter dangers, intrigue, and easter eggs at every turn. Moderator Jose Molina (Marvel’s Agent Carter, The Vampire Diaries) chats with dungeon master Lindsey Allen (Marvel’s Agent Carter, MacGyver) and players Casey Fisher (Altered Carbon, Walker), Daphne Miles (Batwoman, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow), Lauren Muir (The 100), Ray Utarnachitt (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow), and Nick Bragg (Death and Other Details, The 100).
Saturday March 29, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room 300A
Weird Tales is in its 102nd year of publishing stories that are a bit too strange, too dark, too odd, too . . . weird . . . for any other magazine. New York Times bestseller Jonathan Maberry has been editing the magazine since its return, bringing it into the 21st century while still honoring the tradition that built the “unique magazine,” which features stories, essays, and poetry by writers ranging from bestsellers to newbies. Panelists include Weird Tales contributors Dennis Crosby, Scott Sigler, Lisa Kastner, Ray Porter, and Chris Ryall.
Saturday March 29, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room 213CD
The cast of Venture Forth—Russel Bartek, Rodney Campbell, Rebecca Hausman, and Shane O'Loughlin—led by dungeon master Seth Fowler demonstrate roleplaying prowess, keen storytelling skills, creative gameplay implementation, cohesive ensemble performance style, and the impact of their immersive ruleset in a canon one-shot session. Drama, laughs, and detailed descriptions of violence are guaranteed!
Saturday March 29, 2025 4:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
North 151
The unbelievable life of American hero Robert Smalls has been memorialized in an inspiring run of comics, a graphic novel on the near-horizon, and soon a feature film from Legion M. As an enslaved harbor pilot in Charleston at the height of the Civil War, Robert Smalls pulled off the most audacious heist in history by commandeering a Confederate warship and filling it with family and friends to run the naval blockade to freedom in the North. Smalls then helped convince Abraham Lincoln to accept African American soldiers into the Union Army—and became a naval hero. And that was only the beginning of Smalls’ extraordinary life. Comics/graphic novelist and screenwriter Rob Edwards (Captain America: Brave New World, Academy Award–nominated The Princess and The Frog), producer Marvin Jones (Black Lightning), and other members of the Legion M team talk about the process of adapting Small’s amazing story to comics and film. Legion M executives Chris Cooper and David Baxter will moderate the discussion.
Saturday March 29, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm PDT
North 100B
Wormholes, magic spells, and singing lions may seem unrealistic, but there are scientists involved in bringing those to life onscreen and on the page. Science advisors Erin Macdonald (Star Trek shows, Space Cadet), Stuart Sumida (Kung Fu Panda, The Wild Robot), Elizabeth Rega (World of Warcraft, Strange World), and Ronald Coleman (Joe Ledger book series) work with the creatives behind your favorite TV shows, movies, video games, and books to add a dose of reality to the magic of science fiction and fantasy storytelling. Hear about the questions they get asked and how they help writers, actors, directors, and designers bring just the right amount of facts to your favorite fiction.
Saturday March 29, 2025 4:30pm - 5:30pm PDT
Room 208
Writer, actor, comedian, and comic book creator Brian Posehn chats about his career with artist Darick Robertson (The Boys, Transmetropolitan). Brian has been busy with his new books Grommets, Rifters, and Scotch McTiernan Versus the Forces of Evil—not to mention his D&D podcast Nerd Poker, and his many other adventures, including Star Wars: The Mandalorian, The Big Bang Theory, and lots of comedy.
Brian Posehn is a writer/actor/stand-up comic. His credits include Disney+’s The Mandalorian, Netflix’s Lady Dynamite, and FX’s You’re the Worst, along with recurring roles on The Big Bang Theory and New Girl. He was one of the stars of Comedy Central's The Sarah Silverman... Read More →
Darick Robertson is an American comic book artist, writer, creator, and executive producer with a decades-long career in the industry. His notable works include co-creating with Warren Ellis the award-winning Transmetropolitan and co-creating with Garth Ennis the comic that inspired... Read More →
Saturday March 29, 2025 4:30pm - 5:30pm PDT
Room 213AB
Cast and filmmakers discuss their upcoming horror film before it hits theaters April 25. Be among the first to see exclusive material and go behind the scenes. Until Dawn: Every night a different nightmare.
Saturday March 29, 2025 4:30pm - 5:30pm PDT
North 200A
Juliet Landau (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Bosch Legacy), Mara Wilson (Matilda, Mrs. Doubtfire), Alimi Ballard (Doom Patrol, Sabrina the Teenage Witch), producer Lizzie Worsdell, and director Ursula Burton (Dark Shadows) discuss the world of Vam PD, an audio series where vampires keep an uneasy peace between the living and the undead. But who polices the vampires? Vam PD is a wholly unique, wickedly funny universe unlike anything you’ve ever heard before.
Saturday March 29, 2025 4:30pm - 5:30pm PDT
Room 300C
The Behind the Camera House invites you to an entertainment industry mixer dedicated to bringing together professionals and creatives looking to build connections and community. Whether you’re an editor, composer, director, artist, agent, manager, or other creative contributor, this is your chance to network with like-minded talents, exchange ideas, and spark new collaborations.
Saturday March 29, 2025 4:30pm - 6:30pm PDT
Room 206B
It’s a panel! It’s a party! It’s a coming out party for comic book characters who are LGBTQ+! Over the past several years, dozens of preexisting characters have been revealed to be LGBTQ+ in the pages of comic books, from Iceman to Jughead to Allan Scott and more. Join this raucous group of panelists—Tim Sheridan (writer, Allan Scott: Green Lantern), David Booher (writer, Canto), Meghan Fitzmartin (writer, Tim Drake: Robin), Dylan Carter (cosplayer, co-host, House of X podcast)—and moderator Jack Phoenix (comics librarian) as they celebrate these characters and the importance of LGBTQ+ representation in comics.
Saturday March 29, 2025 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Room 300A
Do titles like Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Sword Art Online, or Mashle: Magic and Muscles make your otaku heart skip a beat? Then, you don’t want to miss this panel, which brings you the latest news on all your favorite Aniplex shows.
Saturday March 29, 2025 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Room 211
What is a pitch? A pitch is simply a way to present yourself or your project to others. It is usually a brief speech designed to persuade your listener into supporting what you’re doing or what you’ve made. Giving a good pitch is a vital skill in bringing your project to life. Fortunately, it’s also a skill you can learn and improve with practice—and Pitch Review is a great place to do that. If you’re someone who wants to get better at pitching your work (and especially if you’re a writer or artist attending the Comic Creator Connection immediately after this event), this is your chance to practice giving your pitch and get some invaluable help. Pitch reviews will be conducted by Douglas Neff, a professional speechwriter, speaker coach, and host of the Comic Creator Connection. Note: This is not a typical panel. These are 3- to 5-minute individual coaching sessions for as many people as can be accommodated in the scheduled time. Spaces are allotted on a first-come, first-served basis, and everyone is welcome to watch and learn from the sessions.
Saturday March 29, 2025 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Room 204C
Esteban Cifuentes (toy designer and creator of FIST) and Michelle Alvarez (marketing and social media) reveal the path to building an original franchise in Colombia and then taking it to the global stage. From action figures to comics, animation, and video games, you will discover the challenges and strategies to consolidate intellectual property in the entertainment industry.
Saturday March 29, 2025 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Room 213CD
Ever wondered what it’s like to be in a group cosplay? What about one that went viral? This program is for those looking to expand not only their group cosplays but their community as well. But where do you start? Panelists will discuss the beginning stages of concept to execution. Get your friends together and get organized, from spreadsheets, Facebook groups, meetings, cohesive patterns, and fabrication all the way down to scheduling meetups and photo shoots, as well as utilizing social media to do those latest trends.
Saturday March 29, 2025 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Room 300E
The importance of Middle Eastern/North African (MENA) representation in arts and entertainment remains strong today, but there is still more to be done and also much to recognize and celebrate. Learn from a panel of talented MENA Americans how their background and experiences shaped them and the progress to make for further representation. Featuring actor/writer Yas Modares Ghasiri (MVP,Babysplitters), DGA assistant director Esraa Darwish (Brooklyn Nine-Nine,Fast X), comedian Sarah Fatemi (LA's Roast Battle Champion 2023,SkankFest 2024), cartoonist/podcast host Kaveh Taherian (Mothman’s Compendium of Southern California Cryptids,500 Open Tabs), content creator/cosplayer Jasmin Joestar (Twitch), and graphic designer T. J. Searl (The Morning Show,Schooled). Moderated by actor/filmmaker Paul Zecharia (Mr. Student Body President,Last Call).
Saturday March 29, 2025 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Room 209
From a struggling theatre actor in Chicago to landing his first film role in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight through three Marvel Ant-Man films and starring as Polka Dot Man in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad,David Dastmalchian has turned his life-long love of comic books into a cinematic career and now a publishing career. With three ongoing comic titles—Count Crowley at Dark Horse, Knights vs Samurai at Image, and The Creature Commandos at DC—Perri Nemiroff (Collider) talks with Dastmalchian about his creative process, behind-the-scenes moments, and the future he is plotting for his company, Good Fiend Films.
David Dastmalchian’s feature film debut was as the Joker’s deranged henchman Thomas Schiff in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. In 2014 he wrote and starred in the feature film Animals, directed by Collin Schiffli. In 2018, David wrote and starred in All Creatures Here Below... Read More →
Saturday March 29, 2025 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Room 207
Daniel Fingeroth is the author of A Marvelous Life: The Amazing Story of Stan Lee. Mark Evanier is the author of Kirby, King of Comics. So the authors of the most-read books about Stan Lee and Jack Kirby will discuss both men and what they meant to the comic book industry, the Marvel Age of Comics, and the childhoods of an awful lot of people.
Mark Evanier attended his first San Diego Comic-Con in 1970 and has been to every one of these annual events ever since. He was then an assistant to the great Jack Kirby, whom he wrote about in his book Kirby, King of Comics. Mark has also written for live-action TV shows, animated... Read More →
Danny Fingeroth is a cultural historian and commentator. His books include Superman on the Couch: What Superheroes Really Tell Us About Ourselves and Our Society and Disguised as Clark Kent: Jews, Comics, and the Creation of the Superhero. His 2019 biography of Stan Lee, A Marvelous... Read More →
Saturday March 29, 2025 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Room 210
Step into the "weird west," a genre that blends the raw history of the Old West with supernatural oddities and fantastical forces. A panel of experts from literature and gaming delve into what makes characters like Wynonna Earp, Jonah Hex, Roland the Gunslinger, and countless others so captivating to fans. Jennifer Brody (A Sacrifice of Blood & Stars,Disney Chills), Deborah Smith Daughetee (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,Kolchak the Night Stalker: Touch of Silk), Ross Fisher-Davis (Doomtown: Reloaded and Vampire: the Masquerade) and Eric J. Guignard (A Graveside Gallery,That Which Grows Wild), along with moderator K. C. Grifant (The Monster Gunslinger series and Women of the Weird West) share how to successfully create weird west worlds to explore the myths of American history, as well as their top recommendations for must-read books, films, and games.
Saturday March 29, 2025 5:30pm - 6:30pm PDT
Room 213AB
Small press publishers: What makes the difference between an item that will get news coverage, previews, and interviews and what won’t? Many publishers have no idea what to submit to the press, how to submit it, and why they are being overlooked for coverage. Comics journalist Rik Offenberger (First Comics News, G-Man Comics) moderates this panel on just what it takes to get coverage, with the comic journalists themselves telling you what they are looking for in your submission. Panelists include Tim Chizmar (Fangoria, co-chair of the Horror Writers Association), Jaesa Evermore (Temple of Geek, First Comics News), Jez Ibelle (First Comics News) Heidi MacDonald (The Beat) Grant Offenberger (Grant Me Peace), Alex Raymond (Monstar, Hollywood Gone Geek), Francis Sky (First Comics News), and Josh Waldrop (Ultima Media).
Saturday March 29, 2025 5:30pm - 6:30pm PDT
Room 208
Craig Miller, whose Hollywood career dates back to working on the original Star Wars, tells tales of marketing genre films of the 1980s, including The Empire Strikes Back, Superman II, The Thing, Krull, The Dark Crystal, The Last Starfighter, and more. He’ll also talk about writing for animation, from Curious George and The Smurfs to The Real Ghostbusters to G.I. Joe and Beast Wars.
Saturday March 29, 2025 5:30pm - 6:30pm PDT
Room 300C
Educators, mental health professionals, and creators explore the impact of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander representation in recent films and animation. Panelists share personal experiences from their work with students, clients, and the entertainment industry while discussing ways to challenge stereotypes and tell authentic stories.
Saturday March 29, 2025 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Room 209
A pastor, a kindergarten teacher, a school counselor, and a branch chief walk into a convention. It might sound like the opening of a joke, but it's actually a panel about the mostly positive but sometimes negative aspects of cosplaying in the workplace. Lisa Richter (kindergarten teacher), Brian Robison (pastor), Irene Yu (school counselor), and Shelly Grace (branch chief, CA Department of Social Services) discuss their experiences implementing cosplay into typically professional environments where they work.
Saturday March 29, 2025 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Room 300E
Eric Moss (co-founder and COO, Zoop), Kris Longo (CEO and publisher, Panick Entertainment), and Shannon Eric Denton (founder, Monster Forge Productions) discuss everything you want to know about crowdfunding comics, including the growth of crowdfunding, how it’s helping fill the void in today’s comic market, tips, experiences, stories, and more. Moderated by Jordan Plosky (co-founder and CEO, Zoop).
Saturday March 29, 2025 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Room 211
Small companies and creators are creating, crowdfunding, and selling their own action figures. Do you want to be one of them? Attendees will hear directly from creators who are making and marketing their own independent toys and making their mark on the collectible community. Moderators ToyShiz and Richard Mayerik will be joined by Doc Wyatt and Gavin Hignight of Wandering Planet Toys and others to discuss how they turn their ideas into reality and make independent toys for collectors everywhere.
Saturday March 29, 2025 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Room 213CD
Illustrator and comic book artist Cutter Hays will demonstrate and teach his fast methods of achieving cool-looking inks in a flashy, sped-up sumi style. It's fun to watch; he takes questions while doing it, and you, too, can learn to be fast, good, and braver with a brush and ink. Often Cutter will even take on suggestions for subjects as a fun challenge. These drawings are 1–5 minutes, but the method can be taken as far as you want. If you're a beginner, this can be your launching pad. If you're advanced, you can put a new tool in your arsenal.
Saturday March 29, 2025 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Room 210
Two people very knowledgeable about the Spider-Man comics—TJ Shevlin (2023 Eisner Judge, product development, Upper Deck) and Alonso Nunez (executive director, Little Fish Comic Book Studio)—join with scientists who understand the limits of biology (Ronald Coleman, Ph.D., Regenerative Medicine) and physics (Chelsea Ballinger, physicist/co-founder of Ishihara Solutions) examine the science of the character. Starting with the mutations induced by the radioactive spider that bit him, through the genius of his web slingers, panelists will explore the things that are possible, the things that are impossible, and the things we just can't know. Moderated by Jonathan Bacon-Liu (host, All the Time We Have podcast).
Saturday March 29, 2025 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Room 207
Avi Roque (Disney's The Owl House), Gabriel Shane Dunn (Netflix's Big Mouth), Theo Tiedemann (Amazon's Transparent and cosplayer), Maze Felix (Apple TV's Give Me an A), Mars Wright (fashion designer and content creator), and Yas Modares Ghasiri (Sylvester Stallone's MPV) discuss the unique struggles trans masculine artists face in entertainment and the importance of trans masculine representation in the arts.
Saturday March 29, 2025 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Room 300A
The cast of Mythical Entertainment’s hilarious and heartfelt D&D actual play series appear ahead of their season 2 finale for a special live one-shot adventure where things will surely go awry, followed by Q&A where things will surely go smoothly! Mythical’s Emily Fleming, Trevor Evarts, Mikayla Barnes, Lucas Strader, and Jenna Purdy join for the fighting and fun. Moderated by DM T. J. Chambers.
Saturday March 29, 2025 6:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
North 151
Mayanna Berrin (writer and TTRPG performer), Cai Kagawa (costumer and TTRPG performer), Darby Pak (TTRPG performer), and Johnny Stanton (creator of SINK RPG) chat about the transformative power of TTRPGs as a medium for self-discovery and identity exploration. They'll share experiences using character creation and storytelling as a means of exploring gender and sexual identity, and more. Moderated by Jes Wade (tabletop charity content producer).
Saturday March 29, 2025 6:30pm - 7:30pm PDT
Room 213AB
James Thompson (A People's History of Comics), Alonso Nunez (Little Fish Comic Book Studio), Mary Ellen Stout (San Diego State University), Charles Hatfield (California State University Northridge), Fadi Bayaa (writer, technology/gaming expert), and Jameson Rohrer (Butte County Library) explore the fantasy and horror tropes that dominate comic youth markets from early readers to young adult, allowing for magic metaphors of acceptance, tolerance, and awakening sexuality and difference within traditional romance, melodrama, and comedy narratives. Favorite books and authors will be discussed.
Saturday March 29, 2025 6:30pm - 7:30pm PDT
Room 208
The Young Indy Chroniclers podcast takes you back to where the Star Wars prequels all began . . . with Indiana Jones. Before George Lucas returned to the Galaxy Far, Far Away, he turned back the clock on the Indiana Jones franchise to tell the tales of the fedora-wearing hero's early years. What transpired was truly a labor of love for Lucas and Lucasfilm and served as a proving ground for many of the techniques and themes that would be utilized in the Star Wars prequels. The Young Indy Chroniclers podcast, hosted by filmmakers Peter Holmstrom and Daniel Noa, traces the origins of the Star Wars prequels from the development and implementation of cutting-edge technology to how the themes and characters explored in Young Indiana Jones would find their way to the Galaxy Far, Far Away.
Saturday March 29, 2025 6:30pm - 7:30pm PDT
Room 300C
Esteban Cifuentes (FIST; GI Joe design expert), Rob Wiggins (Get R Done Dudes; ex-designer for Hasbro), Elliot Garnett (Centerpoint Studios; Star Wars custom figure designer and painter), and Adam Rodriguez (designer for micro action figures) discuss the successes and failures of creating toys we will never see in the stores. From digital design to custom painting to new technology in 3D printing, they will show and talk about what it takes to make these figures come to life and how you can, too. Moderated by Mike Syfritt (HTB Toys; toy designer and 3D printing expert). Stay to the end for a chance to win a resin 3D printer of your own!
Saturday March 29, 2025 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Room 210
For centuries, people shared stories to explain the world and our place in it. But in a public sphere that’s increasingly online, storytellers are no longer tribal elders or Hollywood screenwriters. They’re marketers, political strategists, and troll farms weaving stories designed to misinform, mislead, and manipulate. So what can consumers do about it? Using humorous comic art from his graphic novel, author Samuel C. Spitale (How to Win the War on Truth) will provide a crash course in media literacy to help concerned citizens become more savvy media consumers.
Saturday March 29, 2025 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Room 211
Fans love a good tragedy, whether in Shakespearean plays, modern-day true crime documentaries and podcasts, or dystopian novels. There is something about seeing these stories play out that has long captured the attention of consumers. Stories of people grabbing up penny dreadfuls and original newspaper articles focused on the (then) latest Jack the Ripper development continue to fascinate scholars. We followed alongside Katniss as she dismantled the system in Hunger Games and are now finding Shatter Me thanks to #booktok’s boyfriend obsessions. We debate innocence, guilt, or punishment of the heroes and villains of true crime. In this presentation, Dr. Britani Black (assistant professor of psychology, Marshall University), Dr. April Fugett (executive director, Center for Teaching and Learning, Marshall University), Dr. Keith W. Beard (professor of psychology, Marshall University), and Addison Guilliams, B.A. (graduate student, Marshall University) explore the idea of escapism and psychological themes involved in the love of dystopian and true crime media.
Saturday March 29, 2025 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Room 207
A panel of renowned composers discuss the unique challenges and creative process involved in scoring horror films and television. Discover how music elevates the fright factor and plays a key role in shaping iconic scenes that haunt audiences long after the credits roll. The panel will be led by Louie Stephens of BMI and Chandler Poling of White Bear PR.
Saturday March 29, 2025 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Room 213CD
The general audience and film fanatics alike have seen a large shift in how studios create movies now. With the combination of big budgets, star power, and hundreds of millions spent on “safe” content, studios are looking more at the bottom line and returns moreso than audience impact. What happened to the mid-budget films of yesteryear, and how did the constraints of those budgets breed even more creativity in a creative-driven media? Derick McDuff (the host of the Underrated Movie Podcast) alongside Alix Catherine (host, The Welcome Party), Andrew Linde (host, Nothing New: A Remake Podcast), Tricia Aurand (award-winning screenwriter; podcast host), Law Sharma (actor, entertainment journalist), and JPG (pop culture educator, consultant; InterMyth) address topics like the best mid-budgets films, speculate about which years the industry pivoted, and discuss the importance of low-budget and mid-budget filmmaking.
Saturday March 29, 2025 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Room 300A
Seasoned cosplay veterans lightheartedly show you a selection of heinous crimes they have committed in craftsmanship so you can learn from their fails.
Saturday March 29, 2025 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Room 300E
Women working professionally in small businesses and art studios are trying to keep their careers afloat or build them in a world of more and more AI art imitations and fewer jobs. What will the future hold? Panelists discuss working in the animation business as either freelance or for a studio and what that entails. Featuring Star Wars fine artist Tricia Buchanan Benson and The Simpsons director Debbie Mahan. Moderated by Melody Severns.
Saturday March 29, 2025 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Room 209
Are you a writer with a great idea for a comic book series but you can’t draw? Or maybe you’re an artist looking to illustrate an incredible story but you can’t write. WonderCon is proud to once again host the Comic Creator Connection, a fast-paced networking event that puts writers and artists together to help them meet new creative partners. Here’s how it works: In a two-hour period, writers and artists will sit down across from each other at a table. (And by artists, we mean pencillers, inkers, colorists, etc.—all are welcome!) Then, in five-minute sessions, you will talk one-on-one with each other about your ideas and skills. At the end of each five-minute period, you will get up and move on to the next person. If you’re interested in furthering the conversation, you’ll exchange contact information. Think of it as speed-dating, but for writers and artists! Sign-ups are taken in advance for this event, but space may still be available on-site.
Saturday March 29, 2025 7:00pm - 9:00pm PDT
Room 204C
Droid builders Mike Senna, Michael McMaster, William Miyamoto, Chris Romines, and VictorFranco from the R2 Builders Fan Club discuss how their droids were built and how they work. Topics will include materials, blueprints, building techniques, tools, and electronics that bring their droids to life.
Saturday March 29, 2025 7:30pm - 8:30pm PDT
Room 300C
Dr. Vanessa Hintz (Umm . . . About That! podcast), Dr. Kaela Joseph (Side Quest Psychology), and Ruby McCoy (thanatologist and doctoral candidate) discuss representations of both Blackness and queerness in horror and the impacts on identity development and overall wellness. In addition, panelists will highlight the efforts of modern-day horror to combat harmful tropes and to feature more authentic representations of diverse characters.
Saturday March 29, 2025 7:30pm - 8:30pm PDT
Room 208
Are you a writer or have you ever wanted to become one? Have you been struggling with imposter syndrome? Have you started and abandoned your creative projects? This panel of writers teaches how to create psychologically rich characters to help you boost your writing and make it stand out. Learn how to break free from your imposter syndrome and attend to your creative passions. Panelists include Dr. Janina Scarlet (Superhero Therapy; Through Bullets and Thunderstorms), Jonathan Maberry (V-Wars; Joe Ledger series), Deric Hughes (Arrow; Quantum Leap), Sarah Faxon (The Blue Dragon Society: Origins), Travis Langley (Batman and Psychology), and Dennis Crosby (Death’s Legacy). Dustin McGinnis (Creative Community Podcast) moderates.
Saturday March 29, 2025 7:30pm - 8:30pm PDT
Room 213AB
Franco Te (co-creator, Tee No Evil), Paolo Encarnacion (artist, PaoWorks), Chris Kawagiwa (ADG 800 senior artist, creator of Sunless Circus comics), Ralph Miranda (ADG 800 senior artist, co-creator of Oh, Bubba Lu!), and a panel of industry vets share tips on spotting red flags in messaging and contracts. They’ll also reveal the scams they’ve encountered (and some they've fallen for) to help creatives guard themselves and ensure getting treated and paid fairly.
Saturday March 29, 2025 8:00pm - 9:00pm PDT
Room 211
Reviewing video games for an audience is a balancing act that’s very different from other journalistic reviews. One part business and one part entertainment, content creators focused on video games navigate this nuance with every video they post on social media. But how can you practice this balance of being both critic and creator when it comes to your content? Kurosh Jozavi (host of The KJP Show) and panelists Lisa Wallen (stand-up comedian, professional nerd), Myles Obenza (editor, games journalist), Danreb Victorio (community manager, games journalist), MerdreaStar (content creator, streamer), and Ronell Crawford (co-creator, 8-Bit Closed Fist) speak about navigating negative press, their roles as reviewers to a fanbase, and how their words can shape the success of the games they cover.
Saturday March 29, 2025 8:00pm - 9:00pm PDT
Room 300E
Learn techniques from Fon Davis (25-year veteran of miniature VFX who has worked on over 25 movies), Brooke Wheeler (technical sales manager and materials specialist with Reynolds Advanced Materials and distributor of Smooth-On), Sam Girgis (owner of BiggerBoxModels), Shawn Thorsson (founder of Thorsson & Assoc. Workshop whose props and armor are produced for films and collectors), and Julia Jenkins (cosplayer, seamstress, and builder with experience in 3D printing).
Saturday March 29, 2025 8:00pm - 9:00pm PDT
Room 210
Poster artists Kyle Lambert (Stranger Things) and Ethan Pro (Star Wars) talk about the art of creating awesome painted movie posters, how they got their start, and the future of poster art. Historian Chad Frye presents a tour of the history of movie posters from their earliest days. Moderated by Tom Racine.
Saturday March 29, 2025 8:00pm - 9:00pm PDT
Room 213CD
As Batman's archnemesis turns 85, does the anniversary of the Joker's debut mark the anniversary of supervillainy itself? Many call the Joker the original supervillain, but what about Hugo Strange and other baddies who arrived first? Or their predecessors in pulp fiction, legends, and ancient myths? Dr. Travis Langley (The Joker Psychology, Daredevil Psychology) leads the discussion as Jonathan Butler (The Flash), Dr. Shelly Clevenger (Understanding Victimology), Victor Dandridge, Jr. (Vantage:inHouse), Alex Langley (100 Greatest Graphic Novels, Spider-Man Psychology), Britton Payne (Nickelodeon), and Dr. Brittani Oliver Sillas-Navarro (Black Panther Psychology) discuss the enduring popularity of fantastic troublemakers as controversial as Killmonger or Magneto, as grand as Thanos or Doctor Doom, as quirky as Kite-Man, or as much fun as Harley Quinn. Beware!
Saturday March 29, 2025 8:00pm - 9:00pm PDT
Room 209
Daniel W. Rasmus (University of Washington, Serious Insights) and NASA physicists Dr. Morgan L. Cable (co-deputy, PI Planetary Instrument for X-Ray Lithochemistry, NASA JPL), Dr. James T. Keane (planetary scientist, NASA JPL), Dr. Tiffany Kataria (research scientist, NASA JPL) will answer your deepest questions about the science behind science fiction. Ever wondered if lightsabers could actually work? Will warp drives ever break the limits of physics? Is AI on the verge of sentience, or is it just great at faking it? Learn from our panel how to separate science fact from fiction in your favorite books, movies, and shows. Prepare to challenge what you think you know about the world today and what will be possible tomorrow!
Saturday March 29, 2025 8:00pm - 9:00pm PDT
Room 207
Dr. Isaac Taitz (All Mind Health), Dr. Sara Roldan (All Mind Health, Our Oasis), and Dr. Benjamin Taitz (Mental Health Quest, My Hero Therapy) discuss the psychology of your favorite characters in Eiichiro Oda's fantastical journey of One Piece!
Saturday March 29, 2025 8:00pm - 9:00pm PDT
Room 300A
The annual onstage costume competition celebrates the amazing cosplay creativity and talents of WonderCon attendees. Not a dance or party, the masquerade is a series of onstage presentations of terrific fan-crafted costumes, with trophies, generous cash prizes, and other awards, and judged by professional costume designers. The guest mistress of ceremonies will be Ashley Eckstein (founder of the Her Universe fashion and lifestyle brand, and the voice of Ahsoka Tano for Star Wars: The Clone Wars,Star Wars: Rebels,Star Wars: Forces of Destiny, and more). There will also be special entertainment during the judging break with a new performance by the talented Corps Dance Crew, and then a big new Star Wars–inspired show by the amazing Saber Guild lightsaber group. Doors will open at 8:00 PM for audience seating, but the line for choice seating always starts to form earlier. No flash photography, please.
Saturday March 29, 2025 8:30pm - 11:00pm PDT
North 200A
