Jump to content

WonderCon

Coordinates:37°48′00″N122°24′00″W/ 37.8000°N 122.4000°W/37.8000; -122.4000
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected fromWondercon)

WonderCon
WonderCon 2010 main exhibit hall
StatusActive
GenreMulti-genre
Venue1987–2002: Oakland Convention Center
2003–2011:Moscone Center
2012–2015Anaheim Convention Center
2016:Los Angeles Convention Center
2017–present: Anaheim Convention Center
Location(s)California
Coordinates37°48′00″N122°24′00″W/ 37.8000°N 122.4000°W/37.8000; -122.4000
CountryUnited States
InauguratedMay 2, 1987;37 years ago(1987-05-02)(as Wonderful World of Comics Convention)
Most recentMarch 29, 2024;5 months ago(2024-03-29)
Next eventMarch 28, 2025;6 months' time(2025-03-28)
Attendance60,000 (2016)[1]
Organized byComic-Con International
Filing statusNonprofit
Websitewww.comic-con.org/wc//

WonderConis an annualcomic book,science fiction,andfilmconventionheld in theSan Francisco Bay Area(1987–2011), then—under the nameWonderCon Anaheim—inAnaheim, California(2012–2015, 2017–present), andWonderCon Los Angelesin 2016.[2]The convention returned to theAnaheim Convention Centerin 2017 after a one-year stint in Los Angeles due to construction at the Anaheim Convention Center.

The convention was conceived by retailerJohn Barrett(a founder of the retail chainComics and Comix) and originally held in the Oakland Convention Center. In 2003, it moved to San Francisco'sMoscone Center.[3][failed verification]The show's original name was theWonderful World of Comics Convention.

History

[edit]

Retailer Joe Field (of Flying Colors Comics and Other Cool Stuff) and his partnerMike Friedrichowned and operated the convention for fifteen years. In 2001, they brokered a deal with the management team that runsSan Diego Comic-Conto make it part of theComic-Con Internationalconvention family.[4]This gave theSan Franciscoshow a wider audience and has made it a venue for previews and early screenings of major motion pictures, in particular ones based on comic books. These have includedSpider-Man 2in 2004,Batman BeginsandFantastic Fourin 2005,Superman Returnsin 2006,300in 2007,Watchmenin 2009, andKick-Assin 2010. All of these events featured the stars of the films fielding questions from the audience.

WonderCon had 34,000 attendees in 2009,[5]39,000 in 2010, and 49,500 in 2011.[6]

The show left the Bay Area after the 2011 con, because San Francisco'sMoscone Centerwas being remodeled. The convention moved toAnaheimin 2012, and was rebranded WonderCon Anaheim.[2]When the move to Anaheim was first announced, Comic-Con International said they would be returning to San Francisco after the Moscone Center renovations were complete; however, the convention ultimately stayed in Southern California. In 2016, a new convention started in the Bay Area, called theSilicon Valley Comic Con.[7]

WonderCon relocated from Anaheim toLos Angelesin 2016, and is now called WonderCon Los Angeles and was held March 25–27, 2016 at theLos Angeles Convention Center.[8]The 2017 edition of the convention returned to Anaheim and was held March 31 – April 2, 2017.[9]

The WonderCon logo was designed byRichard Bruningand Tim Zach.

Logo for WonderCon@Home.

The 2020 edition of the show, scheduled for April 10–12, was cancelled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[10]The 2021 edition of the show, scheduled for March 26–27, was cancelled again due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.

Event history

[edit]
Dates Location Guests
May 2–3, 1987 Oakland Convention Center
Oakland, Calif.		[11]
April 23–24, 1988 Oakland Convention Center
Oakland, Calif.		[12]
April 28–30, 1989 Oakland Convention Center
Oakland, Calif.		[13]
May 11–13, 1990 Oakland Convention Center
Oakland, Calif.		Dan Brereton,Erik Larsen,Jim Lee,Rob Liefeld,Ron Lim,Ken Macklin, Chris Marrinan,Trina Robbins,Jim Valentino,Tim Vigil,Marv Wolfman[14]
April 24–26, 1992 Oakland Convention Center
Oakland, Calif.		[15]
April 22–24, 1994 Oakland Convention Center
Oakland, Calif.		[16]
April 26–28, 1996 Oakland Convention Center
Oakland, Calif.		[17]
April 1–3, 2001 Oakland Convention Center
Oakland, Calif.		[18]
April 19–21, 2002 Oakland Convention Center
Oakland, Calif.		[19]
April 25–27, 2003 Moscone Center
San Francisco, Calif.		[20]
April 30 – May 2, 2004 Moscone Center
San Francisco, Calif.		[21]
February 18–20, 2005 Moscone CenterNorth
San Francisco, Calif.		[22]
February 10–12, 2006 Moscone CenterWest
San Francisco, Calif.		[23]
March 2–4, 2007 Moscone CenterSouth
San Francisco, Calif.		[24]
February 22–24, 2008 Moscone CenterSouth
San Francisco, Calif.		[25]
February 27 – March 1, 2009 Moscone CenterSouth
San Francisco, Calif.		[26]
April 2–4, 2010 Moscone CenterSouth
San Francisco, Calif.		Peter S. Beagle,Geoff Johns,Adam Kubert,Jimmy Palmiotti,Tim Powers,Kevin Smith,Judd Winick[27]
April 1–3, 2011 Moscone CenterSouth
San Francisco, Calif.		Sergio Aragonés,Robert Kirkman,Francis Manapul,Joe Quesada,Frank Quitely,Amy Reeder,Bill Sienkiewicz,Judd Winick,Marv Wolfman[28]
March 16–18, 2012 Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, Calif.		[29]
March 29–31, 2013 Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, Calif.		[30]
April 18–20, 2014 Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, Calif.		Tony Daniel,Jim Lee,Mark Waid[31]
April 3–5, 2015 Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, Calif.		Neal Adams,Becky Cloonan,Sam de la Rosa,Steve Epting,Greg Horn,Phil Noto,Greg Weisman[32]
March 25–27, 2016 Los Angeles Convention Center
Los Angeles, Calif.		Brian Michael Bendis,Amber Benson,Jason Faunt,Lou Ferrigno,Christopher Khayman Lee,Jim Lee,Humberto Ramos,John Romita, Jr.,Bill Sienkiewicz,David Sobolov[33]
March 31 – April 2, 2017 Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, Calif.		Sergio Aragonés,Kevin Eastman,Chad Hardin,Phil Jimenez,Jim Lee,Mark Waid[34]
March 23–25, 2018 Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, Calif.		Sergio Aragonés,Larry Hama,Faith Erin Hicks,Jim Lee,Patrick Rothfuss,Gail Simone,Mark Waid[35]
March 29–31, 2019 Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, Calif.		[36]
April 10–12, 2020 Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, Calif.		Cancelled due toCOVID-19 pandemic
March 26–27, 2021 Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, Calif.		Cancelled again due toCOVID-19 pandemic
April 1–3, 2022 Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, Calif.		Rico E. Anderson,Michael Cho,Bobby Clark,Becky Cloonan,Tracee Lee Cocco, Michael W. Conrad,David Dastmalchian,Kevin Eastman,Ashley Eckstein,Mary Gibbs,Shannon Hale, Herbert Jefferson Jr.,Neil Kaplan,Sarah Kuhn,Lex Lang,Cherami Leigh,Elliot S! Maggin,Deneen Melody,Amanda C. MIller,Trung Le Nguyen, David A. Robertson,Kevin Smith,Michael A. Stackpole, Babs Tarr,Larry Thomas,David F. Walker, Tula Lotay/Lisa Wood, Gene Luen Yang, Skottie Young
March 24–26, 2023 Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, Calif.		Jason Aaron,Alane Adams,Beau Billingslea,Steve Blum,Griffin Burns, Mingjue Helen Chen, Tom Cook,Ian James Corlett,Mark Evanier,Jenny Frison,Mitch Gerads,Kyle Herbert,Adam Hughes,Brian Hull,Phil Jimenez,Daniel Warren Johnson,Tom King,Jae Lee,Steve Leialoha,Mary Elizabeth McGlynn,Cynthia McWilliams,Annalee Newitz,Joe Ochman,Gary Phillips, Joe Quinones,Trina Robbins,Kaitlyn Robrock,James Rollins,Neil Ross,Tom Ruegger,Paul Rugg,Mark Russell,Evan "Doc" Shaner,Kaiji Tang,Greg van Eekhout,Marv Wolfman,Gene Luen Yang
March 29–31, 2024 Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, Calif.		Patrick Ballesteros,Irene Bedard,Susanne Blakeslee,Niketa Calame-Harris, Jeff Dekal,Colleen Doran,Ashley Eckstein, Grace Ellis,Steve Englehart,Mary Gibbs,Rachel Howzell Hall,Hugh Howey,Tony Isabella,Terry Kavanagh,Jae Lee,Jonathan Maberry,David W. Mack,Sarah Natochenny,Todd Nauck,Dustin Nguyen,Steve Oliff,Steve Orlando,Lisa Ortiz,Jimmie Robinson,Daniel Ross,Erica Schroeder,Stephen Silver,Gail Simone,Tracy Wolff,Marv Wolfman
March 28–30, 2025 Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, Calif.		TBA

Features and events

[edit]
The exterior of WonderCon at the Anaheim Convention Center

While the main attraction of WonderCon has always been various retailers selling back issues of comic books and action figures, the exhibitor list has grown to include retailers of specialty DVDs. There is also an "Artists Alley" featuring mainly comic book artists selling artwork, signing books, and doing sketches; and mainstream celebrities signing autographed pictures.

WonderCon hosted theHarvey Awardceremonies from 1997 to 1999.[37]Since 2007, academicians and comic industry professionals have held theComics Arts Conferencein conjunction with WonderCon.

In addition, WonderCon features an event called "Trailer Park", where trailers for upcoming films are shown.

The WonderCon masquerade competition usually takes place on Saturday after the convention closes. Awards are given to those with the most creative performances, though anyone can participate.[citation needed]

References

[edit]
  1. ^MacDonald, Heidi."WonderCon Hosts DC's Rebirth Debut in Los Angeles".PublishersWeekly.com.Publishers Weekly.Archivedfrom the original on July 6, 2016.RetrievedAugust 3,2016.
  2. ^ab"WonderCon Moves To Anaheim With Costumed Avengers In Tow",ArchivedJuly 3, 2012, at theWayback MachineCBS 2 San Francisco (March 17, 2012).
  3. ^"WonderCon".Comic-Con International.Archived fromthe originalon December 8, 2012.RetrievedNovember 19,2012.
  4. ^Albert, Aaron."Wondercon Profile"ArchivedJuly 7, 2011, at theWayback Machine,About.com.
  5. ^Boucher, Geoff."WonderCon shows the comic convention circuit's power is growing".Los Angeles Times.April 6, 2010
  6. ^MacDonald, Heidi."WonderCon Brings Fans, Publishers, Excitement to San Francisco"ArchivedAugust 23, 2011, at theWayback Machine,Publishers Weekly.April 4, 2011
  7. ^Minotti, Mike (April 17, 2015)."Steve Wozniak and Stan Lee are bringing Silicon Valley its own comic con".VentureBeat.Archivedfrom the original on March 4, 2016.RetrievedMarch 30,2016.
  8. ^Variety Staff (April 6, 2015)."WonderCon Moving to Los Angeles for 2016 Convention".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on March 17, 2016.RetrievedMarch 30,2016.
  9. ^Woerner, Meredith (March 25, 2016)."WonderCon will go back to Anaheim in 2017, but L.A. wants it back for 2019".The Los Angeles Times.Archivedfrom the original on March 30, 2016.RetrievedMarch 30,2016.
  10. ^Mancuso, Vinnie."WonderCon 2020 Postponed Indefinitely Due to Coronavirus; No Decision Yet on San Diego Comic-Con",Collider(MAR 12, 2020).
  11. ^"Wonderful World of Comics Convention 1987 Information".Fancons.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2018.RetrievedJuly 24,2018.
  12. ^"Wonderful World of Comics Convention 1988 Information".Fancons.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2018.RetrievedJuly 24,2018.
  13. ^"Wonderful WonderCon 1989 Information".Fancons.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2018.RetrievedJuly 24,2018.
  14. ^"Wonderful WonderCon 1990 Information".Fancons.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2018.RetrievedJuly 24,2018.
  15. ^"Wonderful WonderCon 1992 Information".Fancons.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2018.RetrievedJuly 24,2018.
  16. ^"Wonderful WonderCon 1994 Information".Fancons.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2018.RetrievedJuly 24,2018.
  17. ^"Wonderful WonderCon 1996 Information".Fancons.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2018.RetrievedJuly 24,2018.
  18. ^"Wonderful WonderCon 2001 Information".Fancons.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2018.RetrievedJuly 24,2018.
  19. ^"Wonderful WonderCon 2002 Information".Fancons.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2018.RetrievedJuly 24,2018.
  20. ^"Wonderful WonderCon 2003 Information".Fancons.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2018.RetrievedJuly 24,2018.
  21. ^"Wonderful WonderCon 2004 Information".Fancons.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2018.RetrievedJuly 24,2018.
  22. ^"Wonderful WonderCon 2005 Information".Fancons.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2018.RetrievedJuly 24,2018.
  23. ^"Wonderful WonderCon 2006 Information".Fancons.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2018.RetrievedJuly 24,2018.
  24. ^"Wonderful WonderCon 2007 Information".Fancons.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2018.RetrievedJuly 24,2018.
  25. ^"Wonderful WonderCon 2008 Information".Fancons.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2018.RetrievedJuly 24,2018.
  26. ^"Wonderful WonderCon 2009 Information".Fancons.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2018.RetrievedJuly 24,2018.
  27. ^"Wonderful WonderCon 2010 Information".Fancons.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2018.RetrievedJuly 24,2018.
  28. ^"Wonderful WonderCon 2011 Information".Fancons.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2018.RetrievedJuly 24,2018.
  29. ^"Wonderful WonderCon 2012 Information".Fancons.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2018.RetrievedJuly 24,2018.
  30. ^"Wonderful WonderCon 2013 Information".Fancons.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2018.RetrievedJuly 24,2018.
  31. ^"Wonderful WonderCon 2014 Information".Fancons.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2018.RetrievedJuly 24,2018.
  32. ^"Wonderful WonderCon 2015 Information".Fancons.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2018.RetrievedJuly 24,2018.
  33. ^"Wonderful WonderCon 2016 Information".Fancons.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2018.RetrievedJuly 24,2018.
  34. ^"Wonderful WonderCon 2017 Information".Fancons.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2018.RetrievedJuly 24,2018.
  35. ^"Wonderful WonderCon 2018 Information".Fancons.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2018.RetrievedJuly 24,2018.
  36. ^"Wonderful WonderCon 2019 Information".Fancons.Archivedfrom the original on July 25, 2018.RetrievedJuly 24,2018.
  37. ^Press release."2003 Harvey Awards Banquet Cancelled, Awards Unaffected,Comic Book Resources (January 24, 2003).
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related toWonderCon.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WonderCon&oldid=1240468128"