The schedule for this year’s events for Wonder-Con 2012 have been announced by comic-con.org.
Check out the list below (subject to change):
SATURDAY, MARCH 17
10:30-11:30 From Fan to Creator: Goal-Setting for Creative Types— Which side of the convention table do you want to be on, professional or fan? And what’s keeping you from getting there? If you’ve been inspired to create something but you’re having trouble bringing it into reality, you need to attend this fun and informative goal-setting workshop, designed specifically for the WonderCon crowd and back for its sixth year in a row. Douglas Neff (the “Tony Robbins of Geeks”) will give you simple and proven tips for achieving what’s most important to you. Whether you want to write your own screenplay, draw your first comic, or shoot your independent film, you’ll walk away from this workshop with new ideas and useful tools to help you reach your dream. Room 203
Tags: Comic Books | Movies | Seminars & Workshops | Television
10:30-11:30 Spotlight on Scott Snyder— WonderCon special guest, writer Scott Snyder (Batman, Swamp Thing, American Vampire, Severed), answers your questions in this open discussion on the craft and business of writing comics. Room 207
Tags: Comic Books | Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances
10:30-11:30 How to Build Your Own R2— Do you want to know what it takes to build your own Star Wars droid? Southern California R2 builders Chris Romine, Michael McMaster, and William Miyamoto; builder Godfather Mike Senna; and builder/moderator Victor Franco discuss how their robots were built and how they work. Topics include materials, blueprints, building techniques, tools, and the electronics used to bring R2 to life. Room 208
Tags: Fandom | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy
10:30-11:30 CAC Session 4: Focus on Bob Schreck— WonderCon special guest Bob Schreck (Legendary Comics) joins the Comics Arts Conference to discuss his life in the comics industry. Stanford Carpenter (School of the Art Institute of Chicago) talks with Bob about his time as an art director, writer, and editor at both Dark Horse and DC Comics, the founding of Oni Press, and his new venture at Legendary Comics — and last but not least, his impressions of the industry as both a creative and an editorial force. Room 210
Tags: Comic Books | Comics Arts Conference | Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances
10:30-11:30 Spotlight on Richard Starkings— Writer Joshua Fialkov (Tumor, Last of the Greats), talks to WonderCon special guest Richard Starkings about the success of his sleeper hit Image Comics series Elephantmen, progress on the movie, and all other aspects of Richard’s career in comics as a writer, publisher, colorist, cartoonist, editor, and digital lettering pioneer. Room 211
Tags: Comic Books | Movies | Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances
11:00-12:00 Cartoon Network: Adventure Time— What could make WonderCon even more wonderful? How about a Totally Rhombus Adventure Time Q&A? Hear what executive producer and creator Pendleton Ward (voice of Lumpy Space Princess) and special guests have in store for our heroes Finn and Jake coming up in Season 4! Come on, grab your friends and join the fun! Room 204
Tags: Animation | Television
11:00-12:00 Womanthology— Get the story behind the hottest Kickstarter project of the year, a graphic novel produced entirely by the top women in the industry! Over 200 creators combined to create Womanthology, and all profits go to the charities of GlobalGiving.org! Project mastermind Renae De Liz and a host of surprise creators offer sneak peeks, inside tips on how to break into comics, and more! Room 213
Tags: Comic Books | Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances
11:30-12:30 Comic Book Law School— “C” Is for creator (and Copyright!) and “P” is for preparation, the cornerstone of any creative enterprises. After all, rushing a new property out the door without the proper IP protections in place could be more costly down the road. Luckily, the popular Comic Book Law School ® will help by supplying the “ABCs” of legal protections for creators. Noted IP attorney Michael Lovitz, author of The Trademark and Copyright Book comic book, assists attendees in establishing a basic foundation for their copyright and trademark rights. Up first is the basics of protection and ownership of ideas, works of authorship, characters, and names, from conception through publication and beyond. Attendees are invited to participate in an interactive discussion about basic rights provided under U.S. copyright and trademark laws, as well as the registration process for each (and time permitting, how recent court decisions and changes in the law could affect those rights). Along the way, there will be plenty to learn about the protections, and pitfalls, of the U.S. trademark and copyright 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.] Room 203
Tags: Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops
11:30-12:30 Rewriting History: Past, Present, and Future— Whether writing alternate, near future, or far future history, how do authors make historical “facts” fit their fiction? Panelists include Naomi Novik (Crucible of Gold), Todd McCaffrey (Dragon’s Time), Rob Reid (Year Zero), and WonderCon special guest Ernest Cline (Ready Player One), in discussion with Maryelizabeth Hart of Mysterious Galaxy. Room 207
Tags: Science Fiction & Fantasy | Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances
11:30-12:30 Digital Comics Price Fight— Everyone is talking about what the “right” price is for digital comics. Should it be full price for same day as print? Or should every comic be 99 cents à la iTunes? The conversation online has been heated, and today it jumps into the physical realm! Legendary comics writer Mark Waid, comiXology’s David Steinberger (the CEO and co-founder of the leading digital comics retailer and platform), and Marvel’s senior VP of sales David Gabriel present a lively discussion on the price of digital comics. “Refereeing” this panel will be publisher and writer of Our Love Is Real and Sacrifice, Sam Humphries, who was the driving force behind MySpace Comics. Room 208
Tags: Comic Books | Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances
11:30-12:30 CAC Session 5: Batman vs. Iron Man: Can Biology Best Technology?— Batman and Iron Man belong to a very small group of accessible superheroes — that is, the group of superheroes who have a veneer of reality related to their powers and abilities. This reality makes them appealing and accessible to many and captivates the imagination in a way other heroes cannot. Both Iron Man and Batman are defined by the combination of their human frailty with extreme training and use of technological enhancements. E. Paul Zehr (Becoming Batman, Inventing Iron Man) compares these two heroes and their two approaches to transcending human limitation. The concept of Batman is one of extreme human performance — Bruce Wayne creates the Batman persona through extreme training. That of Iron Man is the story of Tony Stark, a genius scientist and engineer who amplifies human performance with technology in the form of the fantastic suit of armor. Considering the scientific realities behind these two icons presents a revealing look at how close we are to technological fusion between brain, biology, and technology. It also brings to mind a question truly grounded in popular culture. With these two superheroes in action, who beats whom? Answering this question involves a fascinating examination at the outer limits of human performance where neuroscience, kinesiology, brain-machine interface, and Kung-fu fighting converge. Room 210
Tags: Comic Books | Comics Arts Conference
11:30-12:30 Ruby & Spears— Since the sixties, Joe Ruby and Ken Spears have been the most successful writing, creating, and producing team in Saturday morning television. Among the shows they brought you were Scooby-Doo, Wacky Racers, Jabberjaw, Dynomutt, Thundarr The Barbarian, Plastic Man, and dozens of others. Here they are in a rare convention appearance, interviewed by animation writer (and former Ruby-Spears writer) Mark Evanier. Room 211
Tags: Animation | Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Television
12:00-1:00 The World of CAPCOM!— Francis Mao leads a panel of Capcom product managers who will share trailers and sneak peeks at all the hot, new upcoming Capcom games, such as Dragon’s Dogma, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City, the just-released Street Fighter X Tekken, Resident Evil 6, and more! A few lucky gamers will be called onstage to demonstrate their fighting skills in Street Fighter X Tekken to win exclusive Capcom prizes! Followed by a Q&A session. Room 204
Tags: Games
12:00-1:00 Marvel Television Presents— Be among the first to go inside the Marvel Universe on Disney XD with the head of Marvel Television, Jeph Loeb, as he presents the world premiere of the highly anticipated Ultimate Spider-Man animated series and a look at the premiere episode of the The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes Season 2. He’ll also reveal the inside scoop on animated and live-action series in development, and more surprises from Marvel TV. Room 213
Tags: Animation | Comic Books | Television
12:30-2:00 CBLDF Live Art Jam— Witness amazing live art created before your eyes by the industry’s greatest superstars! WonderCon special guests Jim Lee, Rebekah Isaacs, and Eric Powell plus special surprise guests will make original art on the big screen, giving you a one-of-a-kind glimpse of their creative process, and then a chance to bid to take their work home. The proceeds of this auction benefit Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, who protect the industry’s First Amendment rights. Stop by the CBLDF booth (417) for your bidder number, then come watch great art happen before your eyes at the CBLDF Live Art Jam! Room 203
Tags: CBLDF | Comic Books
12:30-1:30 Fairy Dust: LGBT Disney Fandom— We’re lucky to be right next door to the “Happiest Place on Earth.” Disney characters, films, comics, media, and theme parks are popular around the world. But Disney is especially popular among the LGBT community. Young or old, LGBT folk identify with the stories, characters, fantasy, and imagination of Disney. Prism Comics (the nonprofit organization promoting awareness of LGBT comics, creators, and fans) joins Tommy Kovac (The Royal Historian of Oz; Wonderland, Skelebunnies), Worthie Meacham (Disney Gay Days, expert on Disney Parks and Disneyana), Dusty Sage (founder and CEO of MiceChat.com), and other fans and creators as they explore why the queer community loves all things Disney. Moderated by Ted Abenheim (Prism Comics board member). Room 207
Tags: Animation | Comic Books | Fandom | Games | Movies | Television
12:30-1:30 Where Do Ideas Come From?— For artists and writers who face the fear of the blank page, veteran writer/editor Barbara Randall Kesel (New Teen Titans, Meridian, Hawk & Dove) brings proven tips, tricks, and strategies for vanquishing those dead brain and deadline demons! Room 208
Tags: Comic Books
12:30-1:30 CAC Session 6: Lessons Learned from Batgirl about Female Superheroes and Trauma: Resilience, Recovery, and Relaunch— Is it healthy to be a female character in today’s comics? Do comic book superheroines still face different traumas from those faced by their male counterparts? Psychologists Andrea Letamendi (UCLA), Robin Rosenberg (The Psychology of Superheroes), and Travis Langley (Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight), with the help of writer Bryan Q. Miller (Batgirl, Smallville), explore how gender differences figure into storytelling issues and reflect on the dangers, support, and expectations encountered by women in real-world high-risk and life-threatening environments. Room 210
Tags: Comic Books | Comics Arts Conference
12:30-1:30 Spotlight on Michael Golden— WonderCon special guest, artist Michael Golden is known for his dynamic and beautifully designed cover work and his exciting storytelling in series such as Dr. Strange, Micronauts, and The ‘Nam. Michael talks about his career — past, present, and future — in this special spotlight panel. Room 211
Tags: Art & Illustration | Comic Books | Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances
12:30-1:15 Fox Searchlight: The Sound of My Voice— Producer, writer, and actress Brit Marling is a rising talent and new voice in the genre world, creating independent films about everyday people finding themselves in fantastic circumstances. In her new film, The Sound of My Voice, Peter (Christopher Denham) and Lorna (Nicole Vicius), a couple and documentary filmmaking team, infiltrate a mysterious group led by an enigmatic young woman named Maggie (Brit Marling). Intent on exposing her as a charlatan and freeing the followers from her grip, Peter and Lorna start to question their objective and each other as they unravel the secrets of Maggie’s underworld. Appearing in person: star, producer, and co-writer Brit Marling (Another Earth), and the film’s director/co-writer Zal Batmanglij. Ballroom, Third Level
Tags: Horror and Suspense | Movies
1:00-2:00 DC Comics: The New 52— The New 52 is comics’ most talked about industry-shattering event of the last year. Although the landscape has changed, DC’s not done making news! Be a part of history as DC editor-in-chief Bob Harras, executive editor Eddie Berganza, and group editor Matt Idelson are joined by Brian Buccellato (Flash), Dustin Nguyen (Batman Beyond Unlimited), Scott Snyder (Batman), Ryan Sook (DC Universe Presents), and more of your favorite top-notch talent to discuss the books that are shaping the dawn of this new era! Room 204
Tags: Comic Books
1:00-2:00 Spotlight on Joe Hill— WonderCon special guest Joe Hill, Eisner Award-winning creator of Locke & Key, talks about the final chapters of the series, who will be the next person to wear The Cape, IDW’s Road Rage, his next novel (and accompanying comic series), and future projects. His discussion with editor Chris Ryall will be followed by a Q&A and pole-dancing demonstration. Room 213
Tags: Comic Books | Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances
1:15-2:15 Twentieth Century Fox— Twentieth Century Fox (and some very special guests) presents an exclusive look at some of the most anticipated events of the summer. Ballroom, Third Level
Tags: Movies
1:30-2:30 I Can’t Write, I Can’t Draw, But I Love Comics!— Comic-Con International’s annual jobs panel comes to WonderCon! Just ’cause you missed out on the writing and drawing genes doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for you in the comics, animation, and gaming industries. Companies still need managers, publishers, producers, directors, mo-cap and voice-over actors, game masters, and programmers. Panelists Scott Agostoni (independent manager of comic creators and comics expert), Derron Ross (Blur Studio), actor Michael Rooker (The Walking Dead), writer/director James Gunn (Lollipop Chainsaw), and Mike Fischer (Square Enix) will alert you to some of these careers and tell you how to find your niche. Moderated by Susan Karlin (Fast Company). Room 207
Tags: Comic Books
1:30-2:30 How to Get News Coverage— Small press publishers, what makes the difference between an item that will get news coverage, previews, and interviews and an item that doesn’t? A lot of 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, Archie Comics) moderates this panel on just what it takes to get coverage, with the comics journalist themselves telling you what they are looking for in your submission. Panelists include Alan Kistler (Comic Mix, Newsarama), Heidi McDonald (The Beat), Kiel Phegley (Comic Book Resources), and Josh Waldrop (M1W Entertainment). Find out what it takes to self-promote and make a significant impact on your ability to sell your comics project. Room 208
Tags: Comic Books
1:30-3:00 CAC Session 7: Females and Feminism— Christin Green (The George Washington University) looks at how Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra’s series Y: The Last Man confronts stereotypes, breaks traditional formulas, steps out of comfort zones, and makes potentially bold statements about gender norms, masculinity, sexuality, and feminism, defining Y: The Last Man as a postfeminist narrative while drawing critical conclusions about its relative success in re-imagining contemporary popular discourses about feminism. Ayanna Dozier (Chapman University) examines the costumes of female superheroes, uncovering the meaning of such overtly sexual representations of female superheroes and their costumes, which themselves create a power struggle between the character and her costume. When are these designs sexist and when are they an expression of female liberation? Diana Martinez (University of Oregon) studies the many shifts in Wonder Woman’s body and costume design, arguing that Wonder Woman in particular has still not reached physical stability because she has no ideological stability. Wonder Woman’s body is important because she is not just a character, she is an encoding of ideology — an ideology reliant on her body and the way she is perceived. Room 210
Tags: Comic Books | Comics Arts Conference
1:30-2:30 Spotlight on Fiona Staples— WonderCon special guest Fiona Staples is known for her art on series such as Mystery Society (created with fellow special guest Steve Niles) and North 40 and her cover work on titles such as T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents. Now she embarks on a whole new phase of her career with the new Image Comics series Saga, co-created by Brian K. Vaughan. Fiona talks about her newest work and more in this special Spotlight panel. Room 211
Tags: Art & Illustration | Comic Books | Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances
2:00-3:00 Bongo Comics Sneak Peek— Creative director Nathan Kane and managing editor Terry Delegeane showcase Bongo Comics Group’s brand-new look and preview upcoming projects and a few other surprises. Find out what’s in the future for Futurama Comics and what to surmise about Simpsons Comics. This is a “must-attend” panel for all fans of The Simpsons and Futurama and anyone looking for a place to sit down! Room 203
Tags: Comic Books
2:00-3:00 Geek & Sundry— Felicia Day (The Guild), Wil Wheaton (Awesome), Veronica Belmont (Tekzilla), and Tom Merrit (Sword & Laser) present a sneak preview of Day’s new Geek & Sundry YouTube channel lineup. Room 204
Tags: Comic Books | Fandom | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy
2:00-3:00 MARVEL: Avengers vs. X-Men— Are you ready for the biggest superhero war ever in Avengers vs. X-Men? Get the scoop on the groundbreaking event of 2012 as Earth’s Mightiest take on the Children of the Atom with the Marvel Universe at stake. One side believes the Phoenix Force will save their race, the other believes it will destroy the world! What do you believe? Find out everything you need to know as Marvel’s SVP of publishing/executive editor Tom Brevoort (Avengers vs. X-Men), superstar writer Jeph Loeb (Avengers: X-Sanction) and others give you the inside track, right here! Room 213
Tags: Comic Books
2:30-3:30 Spotlight on Richard Kadrey— Q&A time with WonderCon special guest Richard Kadrey, author of the Sandman Slim series. Bring your questions. Bring your accusations. Bring your mom. He doesn’t care. He’ll probably be lying most of the time. Room 207
Tags: Science Fiction & Fantasy | Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances
2:30-3:30 Video Game Characters Reborn! Namco Bandai Games’ ShiftyLook— Namco Bandai Games is re-imagining gaming classics like Xevious, Sky Kid, and Bravoman through new multimedia project ShiftyLook. Join producer, editor-in-chief, and head of ShiftyLook Rob Pereyda as he introduces some of the talent behind the project’s webcomics, including appearances by Sky Kid writer Jim Zub (Skullkickers); Alien Confidential: Black & White writer Sharon Scott (More Than Mortal) and artist Andrew Pepoy (Monica Moon); Bravoman writer Matt Moylan (LilFormers) and artist Dax Gordine (Mega Man Tribute); and Xevious writer Mike Costa (Transformers) and artist Mike Norton (Runaways). A live demo of the upcoming Rocket Fox game, an introduction of the talent behind the upcoming Rocket Fox webcomic, ShiftyLook service updates, and even free swag await! Room 208
Tags: Games
2:30-3:30 Spotlight on Arthur Adams— WonderCon special guest Arthur Adams is known for his intricate and design-oriented covers and interior art, and his penchant for all things ape, including his own creation, Monkeyman and O’Brian. Arthur talks about his work and what’s coming up next for him in his career. Room 211
Tags: Comic Books | Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances
2:30-3:15 Open Road Films: Lockout— Global exclusive! Be among the first in the world to see footage of the highly anticipated new film, Lockout. Starring Guy Pearce (Memento, The King’s Speech, upcoming Prometheus) and Maggie Grace (Taken, Taken 2, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Parts 1 & 2). Set in the near future, Lockout follows a falsely convicted ex-government agent (Pearce), whose one chance at obtaining freedom lies in the dangerous mission of rescuing the President’s daughter (Grace) from rioting convicts at an outer space maximum security prison. Lockout was directed by James Mather and Stephen Saint Leger from their script, co-written with Luc Besson, who is also a producer. Peter Stormare co-stars. Ballroom, Third Level
Tags: Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy
3:00-4:00 The Official Aspen Comics Panel— Aspen creators Frank Mastromauro (Shrugged), Peter Steigerwald (Lady Mechanika), Vince Hernandez (Charismagic), Mark Roslan (Broken Pieces), Joe Benitez (Lady Mechanika), Oliver Nome (Fathom: Kiani), Scott Lobdell (Fathom), J. T. Krul (Soulfire), Beth Sotelo (Fathom), David Wohl (Executive Assistant: Iris), David Schwartz (Idolized), and letterer Josh Reed discuss exciting new Aspen projects and reveal never-before-seen art. A special Q&A session with fans will take place, and every person in attendance will receive a gift courtesy of Aspen Comics! Room 203
Tags: Comic Books
3:00-4:00 DC Comics: All Access Special Edition— Don’t miss this panel about the sure-to-be most talked about project of 2012! DC Comics co-publisher Dan DiDio, editor Will Dennis, and writers J. Michael Straczynski and Len Wein talk about this next game-changing event. No comics fan will want to miss this! Room 204
Tags: Comic Books | Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances
3:00-4:00 Kids Can Draw Cartoons with Kristian Sather— Hey kids! Kristian Sather (Bonkers, Jetsons, kristiansather.blogspot.com) will demonstrate the techniques used in drawing funny cartoon characters. You will learn how to draw your own funny cartoon characters using basic geometric shapes. Join Kristian for this fun & informative session! Room 210
Tags: Art & Illustration | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Kids | Seminars & Workshops
3:00-4:00 Cartoon Voices— It’s another one of those panels where folks who speak for animated characters demonstrate their craft. On the dais are Gregg Berger (The Garfield Show), Laraine Newman (The Fairly OddParents), Wally Wingert (The Avengers), Bill Farmer (Goofy), Alicyn Packard (The Mr. Men Show), Michael Bell (G.I. Joe), and maybe a few others, all put through their paces by voice director Mark Evanier. Room 213
Tags: Animation | Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances
3:15-4:15 Universal Pictures: Battleship and Snow White and the Huntsman— Universal Pictures will present footage and special guests from two of its upcoming epic action-adventures: Battleship (May 18) and Snow White and the Huntsman (June 1). Battleship director/producer Peter Berg will be joined by two of the star’s from the film, Alexander Skarsgård and Brooklyn Decker, to discuss the project. Snow White and the Huntsman’s director, Rupert Sanders, will answer questions about the new movie starring Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth and Sam Claflin. Ballroom, Third Level
Tags: Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy
3:30-4:30 Spotlight on Ernest Cline— WonderCon special guest Ernest Cline is a New York Times bestselling novelist (Ready Player One) and a screenwriter (Fanboys). Join him for an hour-long Q&A session about his various book and film projects. Room 207
Tags: Fandom | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances
3:30-4:30 Fallout: New Vegas DLCs: Games as a Graphic Novel— After Bethesda and Obsidian released Fallout: New Vegas, there came an opportunity to continue the story in the Mojave Wasteland through four narrative downloadable content packs (DLCs). What were the challenges and the rewards? Obsidian’s creative director Chris Avellone discusses the design methodology and narrative constraints for the DLCs that followed the hit video game. Room 208
Tags: Comic Books | Games
3:30-4:30 Comic Book Entrepreneurs— Self-publishing success Sam Humphries leads a discussion about building your business around comic books with some of the comic book industry’s leading entrepreneurs. CEO and co-founder David Steinberger of comiXology, Mike Richardson of Dark Horse Comics, Jonah Weiland of ComicBookResources.com, Peter Levin of Nerdist Industries, and Thomas Gaul of Beach Ball Comics describe how each built a business from the ground up around their love of the comic book medium. Don’t miss this rare look into the business side of comics. Room 211
Tags: Comic Books | Fandom
4:00-5:00 Kotobukiya Spring Preview— Representatives offer an exclusive look into what products are in development for 2012 and beyond, a Q&A session, and surprise giveaways! Room 203
Tags: Anime & Manga | Comic Books
4:00-5:00 MARVEL: Talk to the Hat— This is it, Mighty Marvel fans — the no-holds-barred, anything goes, full-of-surprises panel you wait all year for! Tom Brevoort, Marvel’s SVP of publishing/executive editor, takes on all questions, shocks the audience with jaw-dropping announcements, and keeps you guessing with surprise guests. You never know who will show up, but you better be here, because this is the panel that everyone will be talking about! Room 204
Tags: Comic Books
4:00-5:00 Coloring with Alex Sinclair— Spend an hour talking with comic book colorist Alex Sinclair. He will show a video demonstration of how he takes a page from start to finish as well as answer any questions you may have about the process, special effects, breaking in, tips and tricks, and, of course…COLOR! Room 210
Tags: Art & Illustration | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops
4:00-5:00 MTV Comics with Tom Akel and J. Michael Straczynski— MTV Comics executive editor Tom Akel and creators J. Michael Straczynski ( The Adventures of Apocalypse Al ), Karl Altstaetter ( Me2 ), Heather Kenealy ( Stan Lee’s The Seekers ), and Joshua Hale Fialkov (PUNKS ) reveal and discuss art and information on their new MTV series! Room 213
Tags: Comic Books | Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances
4:15-5:30 Sony Screen Gems: Resident Evil: Retribution Plus More Sony Films— We learn more about Alice’s mysterious past as she continues to hunt those at The Umbrella Corporation responsible for the T-virus outbreak, a chase that takes her from Tokyo to New York, Washington, DC, and Moscow, culminating in a mind-blowing revelation that will force her to rethink everything she once thought to be true. Aided by newfound allies and familiar friends, Alice must fight to survive long enough to escape a hostile world on the brink of oblivion. The countdown has begun. Resident Evil: Retribution stars Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Sienna Guillory, Kevin Durand, Shawn Roberts, and Boris Kodjoe. Appearing in person is Alice herself, Milla Jovovich, who along with writer/director Paul W. S. Anderson will host a preview and discussion of the wildly successful film franchise based on the popular video game series Resident Evil and this highly anticipated fifth installment, Resident Evil: Retribution in state-of-the art 3D. Additional info on other films to come! Ballroom, Third Level
Tags: Games | Horror and Suspense | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy
4:30-5:30 Geek Slant: How the East Meets West— From comics and film to television and new media, Asian Americans have been making their mark on pop culture. Racebending-Media Consumers for Entertainment Equality hosts this no-holds-barred conversation featuring Phil Yu (Angry Asian Man), Jen Wang and Diana Nguyen (Disgrasian), Freddie Wong (YouTube’s freddiew), and other mavens of their industry to discuss the state of Asian Pacific Americans in niche and mainstream media. Room 207
Tags: Animation | Anime & Manga | Comic Books | Fandom | Movies | Television
4:30-5:30 Animation Writing for Television— For over 20 years, television has been filled with an amazing variety of shows based on comics, films, and original properties. Writer/story editor/UCLA faculty member Robert N. Skir (X-Men, Gargoyles) leads a discussion with Steven Melching (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Transformers Prime), Andrew Robinson (Young Justice, Generator Rex), Mitch Watson (Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated, Freakazoid!), David McDermott (Ben 10: Ultimate Alien, Transformers Prime), and Kurt Weldon (Kim Possible, The Penguins of Madagascar) as they relate tales — exhilarating, hilarious, and often horrifying — of writing for these groundbreaking shows. Room 208
Tags: Animation | Television
4:30-5:30 SLG Publishing and Going Digital First— Company president Dan Vado previews some of the digital only comics being published by SLG and discusses what the future for comics distribution might look like. Apocalyptic scenarios will be bandied about for sure! Room 211
Tags: Comic Books
5:00-6:00 The Myth of Nostalgia: Collecting and Memory— Cesare Asaro (creator, Finding Frank and His Friend), Peter Maresca (editor, Sunday Press Books), Kirstie Shepherd (Gadabout Time Machine User’s Manual), and James T. Walker (Batman: The Brave and the Bold) have been collecting, creating, and selling nostalgia for over 40 years. Join them for a panel discussion on how collecting allows us to revisit memories from the past — even a past that we might have been too young to have seen or may never have existed at all. They’ll explore how nostalgia can be invented, whether it goes in and out of fashion, and what happens when the collector becomes the creator. Room 203
Tags: Comic Books | Fandom
5:00-6:00 DC Nation Special Video Presentation and Q&A— From the pages of DC Comics to the television screens of fans across the country comes DC Nation, a new one-hour exclusive kids programming block from Cartoon Network, Warner Bros. Animation, and DC Entertainment. DC Nation stars some of the most beloved and legendary heroes of the DC Universe, brought to life by some of the most talented directors, writers, and producers working in animation today. Anchored by Green Lantern: The Animated Series and Young Justice, DC Nation airs Saturdays 10:00-11:00 AM ET/PT. Fans attending the WonderCon 2012 DC Nation panel will be treated to exclusive video content filled with plenty of sneak peeks from the DC Nation block. In addition, an all-star panel featuring Young Justice producers Brandon Vietti (Batman Under the Red Hood) and Greg Weisman (Gargoyles), Green Lantern: The Animated Series producers Jim Krieg (Ben 10: Alien Swarm) and Giancarlo Volpe (Star Wars: The Clone Wars), and DC animated shorts producers Lauren Faust (The Powerpuff Girls, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic) and Ben Jones (Batman: The Brave and The Bold) will take the stage for a moderated Q&A. Learn more about DC Nation at www.dcnation.com. Room 204
Tags: Animation | Comic Books | Movies
5:00-6:00 Workshop with Ryan Sook— Join artist Ryan Sook for an informative discussion on the value of sketching, doodling, and drawing for illustration and comic art. Ryan will be doing a live projected sketching workshop and speak on the importance of keeping a sketchbook and working in it, as well as taking questions on the subject. If you are interested in drawing comics or doing illustration of any kind, this is a must attend workshop! Room 210
Tags: Art & Illustration | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops | Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances
5:00-6:00 East Meets West— Paul Power Publications talk about the sci-fi western comic East Meets West with Paul Power, Steve Leialoha, Tom Luth, Tim Burgard, Steve Oliff, Terry Wilson, and a mystery guest. Gift prizes of East Meets West will be handed out during a comics quiz. Fun tales of storyboarding films in Hollywood will be told, plus news on the graphic novel. Room 213
Tags: Comic Books | Science Fiction & Fantasy
5:30-6:30 Geek Girls Create— Kristen Nedopak (Think Hero TV), Stephanie Thorpe (ElfQuest), Crix Lee (Girl Gamer/Dread Central), Jessica Mills (Awkward Embraces), Leah Cevoli (Robot Chicken), and Helenna Santos Levy (Girl and Boy) are women who took their love of the geek life and turned it into a career. As producers, hosts, actresses, and multi-hyphenate personalities, they have spent time and love creating their own award-winning content for film, TV, and the web. Learn how each of these smart and sexy ladies built her unique, individual brand, and gain insight into the struggles and success of creating your own work, from networking to production to marketing…and staying sane along the way. Room 207
Tags: Animation | Movies | Television
5:30-6:30 Science in Science Fiction— Kyle Kurpinski and Terry Johnson (How to Defeat Your Own Clone: And Other Tips for Surviving the Biotech Revolution) discuss the scientific breakthroughs that inspire science fiction and the ways that science is depicted in popular media, books, movies, and more. After a brief presentation, these bioengineers will be available to answer your questions in a Q&A session. Room 208
Tags: Science Fiction & Fantasy
5:30-6:30 BOOM!: Adventure Time Comic— What time is it? It’s Adventure Time! The top-rated Cartoon Network show now has its own comic book! With the show exploding in the ratings, garnering rave online reviews and major cosplay at comic conventions, it’s clear fandom is obsessed and 2012 is the Year of Adventure Time! Don’t miss out this panel, and be sure to hear all the exciting news and the latest details about the hit comic book series. Room 211
Tags: Animation | Comic Books | Television
6:00-7:00 Archaia Entertainment Presents: How to Build a Better Story— Are you an aspiring storyteller? Archaia has a tradition of publishing great stories, such as Mouse Guard, Return of the Dapper Men, and The Killer. Archaia editor-in-chief Stephen Christy and founder and chief creative officer Mark Smylie lead an information-packed session on what it takes to create a better original graphic novel. From world building to storytelling to what Archaia looks for in submissions, if you’re an aspiring graphic novelist, this is the panel you don’t want to miss. Plus, get a sneak peek of some of Archaia’s upcoming titles, with never-before-seen art and exclusive information! Please note: Archaia will not be accepting submissions or reviewing portfolios during this panel. Room 203
Tags: Comic Books
6:00-7:00 Femme Fatales Revealed: Behind the Scenes of the New Hit TV Series— Meet the cast and crew of the surprise summer hit on Cinemax that Entertainment Weekly hailed as a “badass chick anthology series.” Inspired by pulp novels, comic books, and classic film noir, Femme Fatales is based on the bestselling magazine of the same name. Every episode features the exploits of powerful and dangerous women who use their survival instincts to escape perilous situations and exude their inner guile. UGO TV raves “if you haven’t been watching Femme Fatales, you don’t know what you’re missing.” Creators and executive producers Mark A. Altman (Necessary Roughness, Castle) and Steve Kriozere (NCIS, Necessary Roughness, Elvis Van Helsing) host a panel of the show’s best-known guest stars as well as its most popular and beautiful femme fatales (who will be autographing all weekend at the Femme Fatales booth), along with special surprise guests, giveaways, and an exclusive preview of the highly anticipated second season , premiering Friday, May 25, only on Cinemax. (Recommended for adult audiences.) Room 204
Tags: Television
6:00-7:00 J. Michael Straczynski Writing Workshop— It’s a rare event when JMS conducts one of his writing workshops, but this year we’ve got him. This is a Q&A about writing for comics, TV, movies, and anything else the man’s done. We prefer only attendees who are actively pursuing a career in writing, and we ask those who attend to come armed with really good, salient questions about technique, the business, and so on. The workshop is only as good as the questions. This is your chance to get the inside scoop from one of the most successful writers in the biz. Room 210
Tags: Comic Books | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances | Television
6:00-7:00 Horror in Comics— Whether it in movies, TV shows, books, or comics, everyone loves to be scared. This panel focuses on horror in comics with WonderCon special guests Joe Hill (Locke & Key), Rebekah Isaacs (Angel & Faith), Mike Mignola (Hellboy, B.P.R.D.), Eric Powell (The Goon), and Scott Snyder (American Vampire), as they talk to the not-scary-at-all Mark Waid about things that go bump in the night in comic books. Room 213
Tags: Comic Books | Horror and Suspense | Special Guest Spotlights & Appearances
6:30-8:30 Wizards: 35 Years Later— Director, writer, producer, and animation legend Ralph Bakshi presents a Q&A session after the premiere of his classic animated film Wizards, now remastered by FOX on Blu-ray! (Recommended for adult audiences.) Room 207
Tags: Animation | Fandom | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy
6:30-7:30 Devil in the Details: Writing and Producing for TV— Terrence McDonnell (Battlestar Galactica, 1978) and Cherie Buchheim (Win Ben Stein’s Money) have collaborated on numerous television productions. Join them as they discuss the creative process of writing, editing, and researching scripted drama and game shows. Room 208
Tags: Television
6:30-8:30 The 99 Unbound— From the American heartland to the capitols of Europe and the Middle East and to the jungles of Indonesia and beyond, a young group of international superheroes battle a time-traveling megalomaniac in The 99 Unbound, the surprisingly controversial new animated feature from Endemol UK and Teshkeel Media. See the new animated movie based on the acclaimed comic book series The 99. The film presents the origin story for the upcoming TV series of the same name. Please join (tentatively scheduled) panelists Naif al-Mutawa (executive producer), Subniv Babuta (executive producer), Henry Gilroy (writer), Stan Berkowitz (story editor), and Marie Javins (managing editor, The 99 comics) for a discussion and Q&A after the movie. Room 211
Tags: Animation | Comic Books | Movies
7:00-8:00 Lessons from the Future— Producer Monique Yamaguchi (NYPDM, Tales from the Dead), Lancer director AJ Raitano, and actors Kevin Dorman (Real Steel, Avatar) and Gary Perez (Awake, Monstrous Nature) are joined by The Last Push director Eric Hayden and actors Khary Payton (Young Justice, Powers), Lance Henriksen (Aliens), and Brian Baumgartner (The Office), as they look at the challenges of the near future. In Lancer, characters fight for humanity in the face of inhuman greed while The Last Push examines humanity surviving in solitude. Both films examine the very human reactions that new worlds present while painting a portrait of a future that examines the ever-present burdens society that individuals carry with them, wherever and whenever they go. Room 203
Tags: Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy
7:00-8:00 Tournament of Nerds!— Who would win in a fight, Batman or Wolverine? Superman or Gandalf? Debates like these have raged for decades. In dorm rooms, cubicles, classrooms, comic shops, and video stores, fans have pondered these questions that seemed unanswerable…until now. Tournament of Nerds pits two fans, or “Nerds,” against each other to battle it out in heated debate. Which comic book, sci-fi, action, or horror character has the stuff to take down a fellow iconic character? The action is fast and furious, as debaters pick characters to debate on behalf of. A compelling argument can slay a more powerful foe. Nerds are screaming, laughing, and crying as titans clash. Their goal: to advance their character through a “March Madness” set of brackets in hopes of being crowned the ultimate Nerd and having their character reign supreme! The regular group of debaters includes Thomas Lennon and Ben Garant (Reno 911, The State), Maddox (The Alphabet of Manliness, The Best Page in the Universe), Alex Fernie (Funny or Die, Reno 911), Roger Barr (I-Mockery, Doc Mock’s Movie Mausoleum), Chris Tallman (Reno 911, Crossballs), and more! Room 204
Tags: Animation | Comic Books | Fandom | Horror and Suspense | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy
7:00-8:00 Star Trek: Between the Cracks: Double Whammy Anniversary Edition!— Author/historian/producer and “mayor of Trekland” Larry Nemecek lets you know just what’s up as we party early for the 30th anniversary of The Wrath of Khan and the 25th anniversary for The Next Generation. Behind the scenes, humor, the what-ifs, the bizarre — and, oh yeah: always some all-new blooper stills to boot. Room 210
Tags: Fandom | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy
7:00-8:00 Chris Gore’s Wild Cartoon Kingdom— Get a first look at upcoming animated shows from Chris Gore (G4TV). The science fiction comedy The Last Guys on Earth is the ongoing tale of the last two survivors of a worldwide cataclysm. Stop-motion animated series FetishVIL is the story of the sexy ladies who work at the world’s most exclusive fetish dungeon. Celebrity guests and special surprises will accompany the first screening of footage from these upcoming shows. (Recommended for adult audiences.) Room 213
Tags: Animation | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television
8:30-11:00 WonderCon Masquerade— It’s Saturday night’s big event! Join the crowd and be enthralled with the parade of costumes and characters across the big WonderCon main stage. Click here for complete details. Ballroom, Third Level
Tags: Costuming | Fandom
2012 DATES
Friday, March 16:
12-7 PM*
Saturday, March 17:
10 AM-7 PM*
Sunday, March 18:
11 AM-5 PM
*Nighttime programs and events Fri. and Sat.
LOCATION
ANAHEIM CONVENTION CENTER
800 West Katella Avenue
Anaheim, CA 92802
