WonderCon 2025: Full Schedule

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10:00am PDT

Pop Culture as a Sociocultural Predictor

Saturday March 29, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am PDT

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

1: Programs, Animation, Cartooning and Comic Strips, Comics, Cosplay, Education, Fandom, Historical, Movies, Podcasts, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Superheroes, Television, Video Games

11:00am PDT

Autism in Comics

Saturday March 29, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT

Room 211

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

1: Programs, Animation, Art and Illustration, Books, Cartooning and Comic Strips, Comics, Education, Fandom, Historical, Kids, Movies, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Seminars & Workshops, Superheroes, Television, Writers & Writing

12:00pm PDT

Where Do Ideas Come From?

Saturday March 29, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT

Room 211

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

1: Programs, Art and Illustration, Comics, Education, Humor & Satire, Writers & Writing

1:00pm PDT

Tarzan’s Creator Celebrates 150 Years!

Saturday March 29, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT

Room 211

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

1: Programs, Action/Adventure, Animation, Anniversaries, Art and Illustration, Books, Comics, Historical, Movies, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Superheroes, Television

2:00pm PDT

Lord of the Rings: Previewing Upcoming Projects

Saturday March 29, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT

Room 211

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

1: Programs

3:00pm PDT

Queer Comics in Color

Saturday March 29, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

Room 211

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

1: Programs, Animation, BIPOC, Cartooning and Comic Strips, Comics, LGBTQIA+

4:00pm PDT

Progress and Possibilities: A 2024 Retrospective on Representation in Animation

Saturday March 29, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT

Room 211

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

1: Programs, Animation, Anime & Manga, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, Movies, Television

5:00pm PDT

Aniplex of America Industry Panel

Saturday March 29, 2025 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT

Room 211

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

1: Programs, Action/Adventure, Anime & Manga, Movies, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Television

6:00pm PDT

Crowdfunding Comics in 2025!

Saturday March 29, 2025 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT

Room 211

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

1: Programs, Art and Illustration, Comics, Web, Writers & Writing

7:00pm PDT

How to Win the War on Truth

Saturday March 29, 2025 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT

Room 211

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

1: Programs, Books, Education, Historical, Humor & Satire, Seminars & Workshops

8:00pm PDT

Avoid Getting Scammed as an Artist

Saturday March 29, 2025 8:00pm - 9:00pm PDT

Room 211

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

1: Programs