A scintillating conversation and Q&A with WonderCon Anaheim special guest John Layman (Chew), where the much-reviled writer, letterer, and ex-editor will discuss his work on Chew, Detective Comics, Mars Attacks, and so very, very much more.
Saturday March 30, 2013 10:30am - 11:30am PDT
Room 213
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 Anaheim crowd and back for its seventh 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.
Saturday March 30, 2013 10:30am - 11:30am PDT
Room 203
From a performance studies perspective, Maria Patrice Amon (University of California, Irvine) argues that cosplaying is the ultimate embodiment of Scott McCloud's assertion of universal identification with characters through the simplification of the cartoon image. Rooted in contemporary comic and Foucauldian theory, Cameron McKee (University of California, Berkeley) argues that Tom of Finland's comics were seminal to the emergence of a radical gay identity pre-Stonewall through the AIDS crisis. Christine Ferguson argues that Batman illustrates the superpower of S&M and, in the process of exploring the submissive side of Batman, demonstrates the importance of aftercare, bonding, and how not to call the Commissioner down.
Saturday March 30, 2013 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 210BCD
Want to know what it takes to make super awesome comics for kids? Come hang out with the guys and girls who are making it happen every day. Panelists include Neo Edmund (Windy Hollows, Jurassic Strike Force 5), Joe LeFavi (Fraggle Rock, editorial director for Jim Henson Co.), Tim Beedle (Muppet Robin Hood,Fraggle Rock), Paul Morrissey (The Incredibles,Mouse Guard), Heather Nuhfer (Fraggle Rock, Strawberry Shortcake), and Barbara Kesel (Night Turtles, My Little Pony).
Saturday March 30, 2013 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 210A
Writing a script for a comic book or graphic novel is not unlike writing one for a film or TV show, but there are marked differences. Telling an artist to "go crazy" on a panel isn't always the best option. What are some of the things aspiring comic book writers should know, and what are some resources they have available to them? Join a lively discussion with Archaia graphic novelists R. J. Ryan (Syndrome, The Joyners in 3D), Chris Northrop (The Reason for Dragons), Saurav Mohapatra (Mumbai Confidential, Devi), Mike Kennedy (Bleedout, Star Wars), and Tom Pinchuk (Hybrid Bastards!) as they talk about their experiences and give their advice on how you can write a really great comic script!
Saturday March 30, 2013 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
Room 208
Join DC Comics co-publisher and WonderCon Anaheim special guest Jim Lee as he discusses his work as an artist on such titles as Justice League and the upcoming new series, Superman Unchained, written by Scott Snyder.
Saturday March 30, 2013 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
Room 300DE
A look at comics in what some call the Bronze Age...a time of massive change within in the industry. What made that era unique from comics that came before and after? Perhaps we'll learn as Mark Evanier (Groo theWanderer) chats with Marv Wolfman (Tomb of Dracula), J. M. DeMatteis (Justice League), Len Wein (Swamp Thing), and Brent Anderson (Astro City).
Saturday March 30, 2013 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
Room 203
Get an inside look at some of the newest product updates and announcements from Kotobukiya! Have a question? Join in on the Q&A session. Plenty of surprises are in store, including a Lucky Draw prize giveaway.
Saturday March 30, 2013 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Room 207
Karma Waltonen (University of California, Davis) argues that the form and content of David Mazzucchelli's masterwork Asterios Polyp are wedded in such a medium-specific way that it resists adaptation completely, and, through the relationship between form and content, it serves as a unique example of the medium. John Rodzvilla (Emerson College) discusses how Wallace Wood's unpublished handout of "22 panels that always work" has influenced the pacing and layout of comics over the last 30 years in everything from superhero stories to independent graphic novels. Michael J. Muniz (Liberty University) presents a philosophical introspection on the fourth wall as a device to manifest narrative worlds that, when broken, becomes more transparent and even metaphysically malleable to the reader.
Saturday March 30, 2013 12:00pm - 1:30pm PDT
Room 210BCD
"Digital First" comic releases have electrified fans by breaking print publishing conventions and pushing the boundaries of comic storytelling. Now you can join the major players in the "Digital First" movement -- DC's Hank Kanalz, Thrillbent's Mark Waid, MonkeyBrain Comics's Masks and Mobsters writer Joshua Williamson, and ComiXology's Chip Mosher -- to hear all about the future of the medium!
Saturday March 30, 2013 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Room 213
Chief creative officer and editor-in-chief Chris Ryall and VP of marketing Dirk Wood host a cavalcade of IDW creators, past, present, and future! Expect announcements, prizes, Q&A, semi-professional wrestling, and more!
Saturday March 30, 2013 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Room 208
Witness amazing live art created before your eyes by the industry's greatest superstars! WonderCon Anaheim special guest Jim Lee leads an all-star panel of special surprise guests who will make original art on the big screen, giving you a one-of-a-kind glimpse into their creative process, and then have a chance to bid to take their work home. The proceeds from this auction benefit Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, which protects the industry's First Amendment rights. Stop by the CBLDF booth (#909) for your bidder number, then come watch great art happen before your eyes at the CBLDF Live Art Jam!
Saturday March 30, 2013 12:30pm - 2:00pm PDT
Room 203
Join moderator Mark Waid (Thrillbent) as he finds out what enables us as readers to root for "the bad guy." Jeff Parker (Thunderbolts), Jane Espenson (Once Upon A Time), Brent Anderson (The Phantom Stranger), Jimmy Palmiotti (All Star Western), and Dan Slott (Superior Spider-Man) share with us their tips and tricks for making us pledge our allegiance to characters that may not always play the role of the hero.
Saturday March 30, 2013 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Room 300AB
Meet the over-caffeinated and over-worked writers and producers who make genre entertainment what it is today and get an incredible insider look from the scribes behind some of TV's hottest shows as they share their candid thoughts on how to make the series we love (and sometimes loathe). Find out the highly classified secrets to getting TV shows made and how to break-in and break-out in a highly competitive broadcast environment, the deep dark secrets (and low-calorie snacks) of the writer's room -- and why network executives actually care about what you say on message boards! No canned speeches and press releases here, get the straight scoop from television's most talented writers and producers including Javier Grillo-Marxuach (The Middleman, Lost), Jesse Alexander (Heroes, Alias, Hannibal), Gabrielle Stanton (Haven, Moonlight, Arrow), Ashley E. Miller (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, X-Men: First Class, Fringe), Jose Molina (The Vampire Diaries, Firefly), Steve Kriozere (Femme Fatales, NCIS), Amy Berg (Eureka, Leverage), Steve Melching (The Clone Wars, Transformers: Prime), David Simkins (Grimm, Warehouse 13), and Mark A. Altman (Femme Fatales, Necessary Roughness). Presented by GEEK Magazine.
Saturday March 30, 2013 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Room 207
Award-winning cartoonist Scott Shaw! (Annoying Orange, Simpsons Comics, Sonic The Hedgehog, Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew!, The Flintstones) invades WonderCon Anaheim with an extra-lurid, extra-funny new edition of his popular show featuring "the craziest comic books ever published" -- including those notorious "crotch-centric" covers from issues of Superman's Girlfriend, Lois Lane! Even if you've seen some of these comic book covers many times before, when you see them blown up to the size of the side of a barn, you'll be amazed and delighted at the unbelievably hilarious hidden-in-plain-sight imagery that's revealed! See why Stan Lee says, "Wow, True Believers, I thought I'd seen it all, but Scott Shaw!'s hysterically hilarious Oddball Comics Live is the wildest, wackiest exposé of some of the craziest comic books I've ever seen! Or, to put it mildly, Scott's outrageous opuses are a blast!"
Saturday March 30, 2013 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Room 213
Founder & CEO Ross Richie, editor-in-chief Matt Gagnon, and vice president of publishing & marketing Filip Sablik reintroduce BOOM! Studios to the world of comics. This won't be your average publisher panel droning on and on through a series of press releases and stale cover images. Find out what makes BOOM! Studios different than every other comic publisher in the market and why 2013 will be a transformative year for us. Come innovate with us.
Saturday March 30, 2013 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Room 208
Harvey Award-winning independent voice and CAC special guest Matt Kindt (Mind Mgmt) discusses his approach to making comics with CAC co-chair Travis Langley (Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight). They will discuss Kindt's use of sequential artistry in his works and the creative process in formulating elements like character and plot as well as the way he draws on his background in book production to design the physical books.
Saturday March 30, 2013 1:30pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 210BCD
Join Leah Cevoli (Robot Chicken), Miracle Laurie (Dollhouse), Adrianne Curry (Adrianne Curry's SuperFans), Helenna Santos Levy (founder, MsInTheBiz.com), Amber Krzys (founder, BodyHeart.com), and Lynn Chen (founder, www.theActorsDiet.com) as these outspoken actresses, models, writers, and entrepreneurs will share openly their own journey with body image, eating disorders, and the road to recovery and self-love. The panel will discuss healthy lifestyles and acceptance for women of all shapes and sizes in the entertainment industry, while inspiring others to get out there and live their best life. Moderated by Leah Cevoli.
Saturday March 30, 2013 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 210A
Wonder-Con Anaheim special guest, Steranko, the Hall of Fame writer/illustrator/filmmaker/escape artist, presents a provocative forum featuring his work on Captain America, X-Men, S.H.I.E.L.D., The Shadow, Indiana Jones and more, including a new series of Batman covers and his groundbreaking graphic novel Red Tide, Acclaimed author and agent of Steranko, J. David Spurlock moderates and promises to reveal a new storm of secrets from the Steranko bag of tricks.
Saturday March 30, 2013 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 203
Learn the ins and outs and secrets of writing animation for today's television and Internet market. Craig Miller (Beast Wars, Curious George) will lead a group of other working writers and producers including Nicole Dubuc (Young Justice, Transformers: Rescue Bots), Cort Lane (VP, animation development & production, Marvel), Steve Melching (Transformers Prime, Star Wars: The Clone Wars), and Matt Wayne (Justice League Unlimited, Ben 10: Omniverse) in a discussion to tell you what you need to know to write and sell scripts.
Saturday March 30, 2013 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 207
Creative director Nathan Kane, managing editor Terry Delegeane, and art director Jason Ho give you the lowdown on Bongo Comics Group and twenty years of making the best humor comic books in the business. Find out what's in store for the next twenty years and what's in stores in the coming months!
Saturday March 30, 2013 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT
Room 208
It's no surprise that if your job is to be creative, that's going to be your focus, but losing sight of important business issues has been the downfall of more than one artist in the past. Luckily, the popular Comic Book Law School® will help by supplying the "ABCs" of legal protections for creators, and maybe help you discover how to make protecting yourself an every-day part of the creative process. Join noted IP attorney Michael Lovitz, author of The Trademark and Copyright Book comic book, as he sets down a solid foundation on intellectual property for attendees of this informative seminar. Starting with the basics on the ownership and protection of ideas, an understanding of copyright and trademark rights, including for works of authorship, characters, and names, this seminar will help guide you 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.]
Saturday March 30, 2013 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 210BCD
DC Comics-The New 52 is one of the most exciting events in the industry's history! And we're not done making news by a long shot! Come by and be a part of history as we discuss what's coming next in this exciting time for DC Entertainment!
Saturday March 30, 2013 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 300AB
Emmy Award-winning artist-writer and WonderCon Anaheim special guest Frank Cho will showcase some of the art and comics that made him a favorite with critics and fans alike, including a quick drawing demonstration. He will also give an advance preview of his upcoming comic projects, How To Draw Women art book and his first horror movie - Zombie King!
Saturday March 30, 2013 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 207
Get the latest updates and exciting news from VIZ Media staff on your favorite manga and anime! You'll also get the scoop on new acquisitions and upcoming releases and projects from VIZ Manga, Weekly Shonen Jump, kids publishing, Neon Alley channel, and more! Plus, be the first to hear about an exclusive collector's item, available only during WonderCon Anaheim!
Saturday March 30, 2013 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 203
Frank Mastromauro (Shrugged), Peter Steigerwald (Zoo Hunters), Vince Hernandez (Charismagic), Mark Roslan (BubbleGun), J.T. Krul (Jirni), David Wohl (Legend of the Shadow Clan), Beth Sotelo (Fathom), Jonathan Marks (Shrugged), and more special guests discuss Aspen's huge "10 for 10" initiative and highlight the company's ten years in the industry and what's in store for the next ten years. All fans in attendance will receive a free Aspen gift courtesy of the publisher.
Saturday March 30, 2013 3:30pm - 4:30pm PDT
Room 208
Celebrating her return to comics with Catwoman and Katana, Ann Nocenti has written comics for both DC and Marvel over the years and has also traveled the world as a teacher. Come and listen to her thoughts on all things comics, moderated by Jim Lee.
Saturday March 30, 2013 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room 203
Join producers Michael Jelenic and Aaron Horvath as well as voice actors Greg Cipes (Beast Boy) and Khary Payton (Cyborg) from the new half-hour action-comedy series for a Q&A moderated by Warner Bros. Animation's Sam Register as well as an exclusive sneak peek of the show's premiere episode-coming to Cartoon Network in April (and as part of the DC Nation programming block). Inspired by Warner Bros. Animation's original fan-favorite series, Teen Titans Go! highlights the humorous side of being a burgeoning superhero. Featuring the return of Robin, Starfire, Raven, Beast Boy, and Cyborg, this hilarious new series focuses on the funny business that happens to teenage super heroes between saving the world and doing the laundry. DC Nation airs Saturdays from 10:00-11:00 a.m. ET/PT on Cartoon Network.
Saturday March 30, 2013 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room 300AB
For artists and writers who get "stuck," veteran writer/editor Barbara Randall Kesel (TMNT: April, Meridian, Hawk & Dove) brings proven tips, tricks, and strategies for vanquishing those blocked brain cells and deadline demons! Part information, part motivation, all entertaining!
Saturday March 30, 2013 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room 210A
UPDATED: Fri, Mar 22, 03:12PM LGBTQ subtext has almost always existed in comics, films and TV shows-from Dr. Wertham's writings on Batman and Robin to audiences' musings on Star Wars, Xena, Buffy, Doctor Who and the current Once Upon A Time TV show. "Wink-wink, nudge-nudge" asides, glances and dialogue still get fans talking and slash fictioners "slashing." Subtext is a legitimate literary and artistic device. But now with the greater prominence and acceptance of LGBTQ characters in media, subtext has even more opportunity to become "maintext." Will subtext ever come out of the closet? Will the prince ever get the prince-or the princess her princess? How often is subtext in the mind of the beholder? Join Prism Comics and Marc Andreyko (Black Lightning and Blue Devil, Manhunter), Brad Bell (Husbands), Jane Espenson (Buffy, Once Upon A Time, Husbands), Wendy Pini (Elfquest, Masque of the Red Death) Sean-Z (Myth, Bent-Con), and moderator Jody Wheeler (DoorQ, Bent-Con), as they explore how creators and audiences balance queer subtext.
Saturday March 30, 2013 4:30pm - 5:30pm PDT
Room 213
Everything you need to know about the Valiant Universe in 2013 will be revealed right here! With the opening shot of Harbinger Wars just around the corner, what surprises lay in wait for the brutal first collision of Bloodshot and Harbinger? Can X-O Manowar conquer the forces of Planet Death? Where-and when-are Archer & Armstrong headed next? And what surprise heroes will Shadowman draft into his battle against the Deadside? Join New York Times best-selling writer Joshua Dysart (Harbinger Wars, Harbinger), Valiant CCO Dinesh Shamdasani, and a slew of surprise guests to find out the answers to what the future holds. Plus no fan will want to miss an exclusive round of announcements that will rock 2013! The future of the Valiant Universe starts right here at WonderCon Anaheim!
Saturday March 30, 2013 4:30pm - 5:30pm PDT
Room 208
New to DC Comics? Don't worry; we've got you covered! Come by for an all-ages tutorial on the essentials of what make DC Comics one of the leading comic book publishers!
Saturday March 30, 2013 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Room 300AB
Get a first look at this fall's RASL Hardcover release, WonderCon special guest Jeff Smith's sci-fi/noir masterpiece in full color when the artist does a reading of the first two chapters. Followed by a moderated Q&A session, and a sneak peek at Jeff's next project.
Saturday March 30, 2013 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Room 203
WonderCon Anaheim's Comic Creator Connection is an event that puts writers and artists together to see whether they can find their creative counterparts. Here's how it works: in two 2-hour sessions -- on Friday and Saturday from 5:00 to 7:00 PM -- writers and artists can sit down and meet each other in a neutral environment. (Please note: Preliminary sign-ups for the CCC took place online before WonderCon Anaheim. To check and see if space is still available, visit Room 206B on the second level between 4:30 and 5:00 PM on Friday and Saturday.)
Saturday March 30, 2013 5:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Room 206B
UPDATED: Thu, Mar 21, 12:45PM Learn how to create a comic book that movie studios will buy in this illuminating discussion with a group of notable comic creators who have broken into the film and TV business, and built successful careers as screenwriters and producers. Panelists include Martin Shapiro (Chopper), Marc Guggenheim (Green Lantern), Jesse Berger (Oblivion), Derek Hoffman (X-Men: First Class), and Duncan Rouleau (The Great Unknown), Jimmy Palmiotti (Jonah Hex), and Phillip Kobylanski (Gale Anne Hurd's Valhalla Motion Pictures).
Saturday March 30, 2013 5:30pm - 6:30pm PDT
Room 208
Doug Mahnke (Green Lantern, Final Crisis) is celebrating a quarter century of drawing comics. With a career beginning with Dark Horse's The Mask, then running a gauntlet of DCU characters culminating in a four-year run on DC's Green Lantern with writer Geoff Johns, Doug has nearly drawn it all. Join Doug Mahnke for Q&A, a walk through his comics career, and whatever else we can think of.
Saturday March 30, 2013 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Room 203
Dark Horse's continuation of Joss Whedon's cult favorite remains one of the most talked-about comics in today's market. As we head toward the Season 9 finale, Dark Horse and WonderCon Anaheim are giving you an exclusive chance to hear all there is to tell about the final arcs of both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel & Faith from the creative teams themselves! Join Dark Horse PR director Jeremy Atkins, along with longtime Buffy writer Jane Espenson, Season 9 writer Andrew Chambliss and artist Georges Jeanty, Angel & Faith writer Christos Gage, and maybe a few surprise guests for what is guaranteed to be one panel you don't wanna miss!
Saturday March 30, 2013 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Room 207
DC Comics colorist Alex Sinclair will show you how he uses textures to enhance his work on comic book panels, pages, and covers. He will share tips on how to use the Adobe Photoshop brush tool to its full potential and to help you create different textures. Alex will do various demos and answer questions about his techniques.
Saturday March 30, 2013 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Room 210BCD
One of comics' greatest traditions, self-publishing, is making a comeback thanks to the proliferation of digital comics and a network of indie-friendly comic shops coast to coast. But launching your own series successfully isn't a task for the weak of heart. Indie comics icons Sam Humphries (Sacrifice, Uncanny X-Force) and Ian Brill (Dracula World Order, Darkwing Duck) are joined by new faces such as Joshua Henaman (Bigfoot: Sword of the Earthman) for a frank discussion on making your comic stand out, networking with retailers and fans, and keeping the spirit of self-publishing alive. Moderated by Comic Book Resources news editor Kiel Phegley.
Saturday March 30, 2013 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Room 210A
UPDATED: Wed, Mar 27, 12:45PM Since its earliest days in the South Bronx, Hip Hop culture has been linked to comic books-graffiti and album covers utilize superhero imagery, rappers adopt secret identities and grandiose aliases, producers incorporate sensibilities and samples into their music, all using the vocabulary of comics to help forge a new urban culture. Comics creators have responded by using the elements of Hip Hop in street-level storytelling, incorporating graffiti techniques into logo design and art styles, and using rap lyrics for context and content. Here, Patrick A. Reed (Depth of Field magazine) brings together James Reitano (Nineteen Eighty-Five), Kenny Keil (Rhyme Travelers), Chali 2na (Jurassic 5), Dan The Automator (Deltron 3030), Toni Isabella (Bulk Recordings), Kutmaster Kurt (Threshold Recordings), and other panelists to talk about the worlds of Hip Hop and comics, how the forms have intersected over the last four decades, and current and upcoming projects.
Saturday March 30, 2013 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Room 210A
Every aspiring writer wants to know one thing: "How do I break into the business?" If you are an unpublished writer with dreams of making it in the transmedia marketplace and you don't know how or where to begin, this is the panel for you. Hollywood screenwriters and graphic novel producers Brandon M. Easton (ThunderCats [2011], Transformers: Rescue Bots), Geoffrey Thorne (TNT's Leverage, Ben 10), and Jonathan Callan (Ben 10, Generator Rex) plus actor/writer Anthony Montgomery (Star Trek: Enterprise, VH1's Single Ladies, Miles Away) share insider information, publishing secrets, and the professional realities on how to develop your ideas into a viable comics proposal. Topics include how to hire artists and build a strong contract, how to seek out a publisher, and how to navigate the tough new world of intellectual property management in the digital frontier.
Saturday March 30, 2013 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Room 203
The Sideshow Network, Juan-Manuel Rocha, and Vito Lapiccola present Comics on Comics, the talk show that pits comedians against comic book creators in nerd debates, in its triumphant return to WonderCon Anaheim! Host Vito Lapiccola welcomes superstar comic creator Scott Lobdell (Superman, Red Hood and The Outlaws) and the world's funniest geek comedians as they rip through the latest developments in comics, movies, video games, and pop culture.
Saturday March 30, 2013 7:30pm - 8:30pm PDT
Room 208
It's nerdy girls meet geeky guys in this very special live edition of PodCRASH with That Chris Gore (Attack of the Show). Join cosplay goddess Adrianne Curry (America's Next Top Model) and a surprise special guest for a nerdtacular time. Plus: improv comedians from IO West's Comic Book Live (Patrick Ian Moore, Tommy Bechtold) perform their brand of cosplay comedy.
Saturday March 30, 2013 7:30pm - 8:30pm PDT
Room 213
