WonderCon 2023

An annual event since 1970, the San Diego Comic-Con is a big part of our lives. Presenting and discussing their love of pop culture are Greg Koudoulian (early SDCC film program contributor; manager of the Shel Dorf Archives), Sasha Achrem (George Clayton Johnson’s last apprentice), Anthony Keith (former SDCC committee member and El Cortez alumnus), Terry Stroud (dealer at every Comic-Con and co-founder of American Comic Book Company), and John Morrow (TwoMorrows Publishing and author).

Tabletop games are having a golden age with new releases coming out every month. Learn about the board game design process, including prototyping, playtesting, and more tips and tricks of the trade from industry experts. Bring your questions and participate in an open forum fireside chat. Moderated by Chris Castagnetto.

For a special episode of her science podcast Ologies, Alie Ward (podcaster and science correspondent) will discuss the past and future of activist poster art with historian Carol Wells (founder/executive director; Center for the Study of Political Graphics). Alie will also catch up with C. Andrew Hall (creative director; Functional Magic) about his search for iconic poster art inspired by solutions to climate change and the latest screen-prints from the Drawdown Design Project, his climate art project by gig poster and comic book illustrators.

Copyright and Trademark protections are almost as important to comics as a Punchline™. Technology combined with an ever-increasing appetite for content means that it’s easier than ever for creators to get their works in front of an audience; but at the same time, this has also made the copying of content, ideas, and now even artistic styles easier than ever. The economics are always tricky, even with the rise of crowdfunding, digital publishing and print-on-demand services, so more than ever, knowledge is key to navigating the ever-shifting landscape. And although with great power there must also come great responsibility, today’s creators are finding that with great technological power comes great (potential) reward and also greater risk, with thieves gaining an ever-expanding bag of tools to fleece the unwary. End result: it’s vital to know what your rights are in order to best defend your valuable IP. Luckily, Matthew Murdock, Mallory Book, and Wolff and Byrd aren’t the only lawyers available to the superhero set, as WonderCon once again brings back noted IP attorney Michael Lovitz (author of The Trademark and Copyright Book comic book) to discuss the truths (and debunk some urban legends) about protecting your creative capital. Attendees are invited to participate in an interactive discussion led by Lovitz concerning the basic rights provided under the U.S. Copyright and Trademark laws, including the basics on the ownership and protection of ideas, a brief overview of copyright and trademark rights and their application to works of authorship, characters, and names, as well as an overview of the registration process for each, and (time permitting) a brief discussion on how loose lips can sometimes sink ships, why written agreement are good, and why not all lawyers are villains. Along the way, there will be plenty to learn about the protections, and pitfalls, of the U.S. intellectual property systems. Please Note: The Comic Book Law School® seminars are designed to provide relevant information and practice tips to practicing attorneys, as well as practical tips to creators and other professionals who may wish to attend. However, the seminar is presented for information and entertainment purposes only, and the information presented and opinions expressed at the seminars do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. [This program is approved for one (1) credit of California MCLE.].

Brock Smith (ZRock Comics co-founder and writer The Ferryman) and his team— Zen Snowden (co-founder and artist), Kathleen Lewis (editor/media), Maile Eusebio (media/shorts),and Christian Pedersen (operations coordinator)—share their experiences in learning to overcome the challenges of balancing their creative lives and everyday lives to help inspire other future creatives.

Like most toy collectors out there, you probably like to customize your figures to make them just right for you. With 3D printing now you can do just that. Learn from the best digital designers, customizers, and printers from around the world. They will cover how to start designing, where to get predesigned files, what printers and paints to buy, and what it takes to make these collectibles your own.

Celebrating the art and inventions of Max Fleischer, animation historian Ray Pointer will be showcasing new restorations of cartoons featuring Betty Boop, Popeye, Koko the Clown, Superman, and more. Join him for a Q&A with Max’s granddaughter, Jane Reid, and to learn about the history of Fleischer studios.

For artists and writers who get “stuck," neteran writer/editor Barbara Randall Kesel (Hawk & Dove, Avengers: Marvels Snapshots) slings rapid-fire tips, tricks, and strategies for vanquishing those blocked brain cells and deadline demons! Part information, part motivation, all entertaining!

You’d like to adapt your book or comic series into a successful movie or television pilot, but where do you begin and who do you talk to about it? It’s time for a frank, honest discussion about the dos and don't from those industry pros who have done it before. Award-winning and bestselling writer/filmmaker Tim Chizmar (founder, Horror Writers Association Las Vegas; president, SpookyNinjaKitty Comics; VP at FUNI MEDIA) moderates this panel of industry professionals who will tell you the truth about adapting your words, from a piece of literature or comic series into a successful visual medium. Panelists include industry pros Stephen Stern (creator of Zen Intergalactic Ninja), Amber Hassler (VP of writing integrity, SpookyNinjaKitty publishing), Mark Savage (director of films Hells Coming for You, Pain Killer, etc.), Rik Offenberger (Archie Comics, editor at First Comics News), and Melody Munson (cartoon illustrator and actress, The Nudels of Nudeland).

Go behind the scenes of popular movies and television shows to see what it takes to bring characters and worlds to life. Costume, makeup, hair, and production designers in entertainment dive into the incredible skill and creativity that goes into making movie and TV magic. Featuring makeup department head Rebecca Wachtel (Daisy Jones & the Six), hair stylist/ wig maker Justi Embree (Missing), costume designer Jennifer May Nickel (Gotham Knights), costume designer Carrie Grace (Doom Patrol, The Boys Episodes 1 and 2), costume designer Dominique Dawson (Swarm), and production designer James Bolenaugh (Kevin Can Go F**k Himself). Moderated by voiceover artist and actor Queen Noveen (Redfall). Part 3 of Impact24 PR’s Panel Superblock.

A fast, loose, and fun technique to ink with, inspired by the ancient art of Sumi inking. Anyone can practice it with a little introduction, and even advanced masters will enjoy the wide range of potential this technique holds. It has no limit, and the more one lets the ink do what it wants, the more wonder it brings. Hays will do a demo and answer any questions - maybe even take requests.

Annalee Newitz (The Terraformers), Tara Madison Avery (Prism Comics), Sonya Saturday (A Ninja Dinosaur Christmas!!!), Knave Murdock (Transcat), Liam Coballes (Aggretsuko), Zhen (Hello We Are Rats), and moderator Lorran Garrison (Little Brainstorm) spotlight the talent and creativity of trans creators in comics and pop culture. From comics, film, and television to music and literature, trans individuals have been making a huge impact in shaping our cultural landscape. This panel will feature trans artists, writers, and producers discussing their work and the challenges they have faced in the industry. They will also explore ways in which trans creators can be supported and ensure that their voices are heard and acknowledged. There will be giveaways.

Do you want to learn how to create epic comic book characters, tell captivating stories through art, and develop your unique style? Get ready to dive into the exciting world of comic book art from industry experts Ryan Benjamin and Alex Sinclair.

Brian Crosby (director, Marvel Themed Entertainment and host of Marvel DRAW!) walks aspiring artists of all levels step-by-step through drawing the Invincible Iron Man. So sharpen those pencils and come learn from one of Marvel’s own how you can bring your drawings to life!

Ralph Lee Miranda (senior union storyboard artist) and Chris Kawagiwa (storyboard artist on Waffles + Mochi) walk you through how to develop and apply storyboarding skills. Ralph will also discuss how storyboarding led to the creation of the cartoon Oh, Bubba Lu! Jen Lu (writer), Kelvin Chung (art director), and David Seung (producer) will discuss how storyboards affect all parts of production and how you can use storyboarding on your projects. The first 80 in attendance will receive an exclusive Oh, Bubba Lu! acrylic keychain. Moderated by Daisy Miranda.

Shannon Eric Denton (Monster Forge Productions), Arabian Prince (NWA), Kevin Grevioux (Underworld), Andrew Cosby (co-founder BOOM! Studios), and Andy Suriano (creator, Rise of the TMNT) discuss what it takes to create and navigate creations across the multiple media worlds of publishing, animation, films, toys, games, and more.

Writer/executive producer A.C. Bradley (What If?, Ms. Marvel), production coordinator Steven Edwards (Spider-Man Into the Spiderverse, Across the Spiderverse), and illustrator Lee Kohse (Star Wars, Kindergoth) tell stories and discuss how they broke into the entertainment industry working on films, television, and comics. Find out how to be ready when your lucky break comes. Is it really all about who you know? Find out how to promote yourself and network. Moderated by Johnny Kolasinski (Roddenberry Productions, Hi Everybody: A Bad Medicine Podcast).

Stephen Burns (3D artist and author), Nikolai Svakhin (Adobe 3D engineer), and John Eaves (Paramount Pictures and Marvel Comics concept artist) demonstrate the exciting possibilities of using Blender 3D to design and create concepts that aid in telling great stories. They will also expound on how this exciting technology allows concept and 3D artists to collaborate in bringing their visions to life. This presentation will focus on getting to know Blender 3D to build, texture, and render your 3D environments to bring your vision to life.

When Casper the Friendly Ghost's artist visited the Marvel Bullpen, Marie Severin remarked "They don't know it, but this is the best artist that ever walked through these doors." Was she right? Jim Thompson (A People's History of Comics, 2021 Eisner Awards judge), Alonso Nuñez (executive director, Little Fish Comic Book Studio, 2021 Eisner Awards judge), Mark Badger (artist, DC/Marvel, creator of Badgetoons), Jerry Beck (author and animation historian), and Isidro Valdez Palmer (artist) examine Kremer's Casper, Wendy the Good Little Witch, Hot Stuff, Little Dot, Little Lotta, Stumbo the Giant, and Richie Rich covers in a master class on color, brushstrokes, design, direction, character expression and the art of the gag.

Senior illustrators from the series Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and Star Trek: Discovery will demonstrate and share their process for creating illustrations and storyboards used to create the Star Trek universe sets, vehicles, etc. Panelists will include members of the Art Directors Guild/IATSE Local 800 Dan Caplan, Andrea Dopaso, John Eaves, Neville Page, Aaron Sowd, and Daniel Hyun Lim. Moderated by Tim Burgard.

Led by Barbra Dillon (editor-in-chief, Fanbase Press), this panel will provide a thoughtful conversation that goes far beyond the fact that representation is necessary. Featuring David M. Booher (writer, Killer Queens), Ashley V. Robinson (co-writer, Jupiter Jet), Tilly Bridges (writer, Trans Tuesdays), and Kayden Phoenix (writer, A La Brava), the conversation will include how each panelist defines "healthy" queer representation, whether it's necessary to only tackle the positive stories and aspects of life, and much more.

Dale Deforest (Hero Twins), Mark Nazal (Diwata Komiks), Chag Lowry (Soldiers Unknown), Johnny Bear Contreras (artist), Sara Roldan (Our Oasis), and moderator Lorran Garrison (Little Brainstorm) explore the role of indigenous storytelling in comics and pop culture through their experiences of indigenous creators. The discussion will include the importance of cultural authenticity in their work and how they use traditional storytelling techniques in their comics. They will also delve into the challenges of depicting indigenous culture in a medium that is not necessarily rooted in it, and the ways in which they navigate those challenges. Also covered will be the impact of their work on indigenous youth and how comics and pop culture can be used as a tool for education and empowerment. There will be giveaways.

Kayden Phoenix (A La Brava, Jalisco), Ghezal Omar (. 357 Magnum Opus, Pimp Killer), Maxi Rodriguez (Chubby Bunny), and Christine Pasalo Norland (writer; founder and president, Hello Barkada) discuss how changing the vanguard allows for new characters and untold stories to be told with pride and authenticity.

Award-winning authors Chris Baron (All of Me), Reggie Brown (Who Are Your People?), Tara Gilboy (Unwritten), Henry Herz (I Am Smoke), and Dee Leone (Dough Knights & Dragons) share insights into children's book publishing, how to get started, and lessons learned.

Dr. Wei Xu (artist, mathematician, computer scientist, author) will talk about how to correctly and efficiently draw shapes with science. He has developed an Angle-Based Constructive (ABC) method to control shapes, rather than using length-measurement, for observational drawing. People at all drawing levels will benefit from this talk.

If you want to write a children’s picture book but don’t know where to start, this panel is for you. Stephen W. Martin (Fluffy McWhiskers Cuteness Explosion) takes you through the process of picking the perfect idea, using classical structure to polish it up, and then sending it out with a creative query to capture any editor or agent’s attention. Bring your pencils, paper, and crayons—let’s pitch some picture books!