What was it about comics in the seventies that made them so different from the ones that had gone before and the ones since? Witness a lively discussion on the topic among four folks who brought you comics then: Marty Pasko (Superman), Len Wein (Swamp Thing), Marv Wolfman (Tomb of Dracula), and your moderator, Mark Evanier (Scooby Doo).
Saturday April 19, 2014 10:30am - 11:30am PDT
Room 203
The pop culture explosion through gaming, comics, TV, and film has opened up new opportunities for cultural diversity; however, many obstacles still exist. In this humorous but poignant discussion, diverse geek experts discuss breaking ethnic stereotypes, current casting controversies, and what changes need to happen for us to boldly go into the future. Panelists include Tony Kim (founder of Crazy4ComicCon.com), comedian Andre Meadows, Emily Ong (founder of TheStylishGeek.com), and clinical psychologist Dr. Andrea Letamendi.
Saturday April 19, 2014 10:30am - 11:30am PDT
Room 208
Get an exclusive look into the newest Kotobukiya products coming out soon and in development. Have a question or comment? The Q&A session is the perfect place to be heard! Want to win some free stuff? The now famous Lucky Draw will give you a chance to walk away with some awesome Kotobukiya collectible prizes!
Saturday April 19, 2014 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Room 210A
Jessica Chobot (Mass Effect 3) and the Nerdist News team will catch you up on the latest in movie, TV, comic book, gaming, and tech news. The Nerdist team will break down the day's news, interview guests, and then turn some of the questions (and jokes!) over to you.
Saturday April 19, 2014 3:30pm - 4:30pm PDT
Room 213
Staffers from TheOneRing.net, experts in Tolkien and fandom for almost 15 years, gather clues, speculation, and inside information about what the final cinematic experience in Middle-earth will be like. They will answer questions and engage fellow fans about anything under the Tolkien sun and, maybe, some special guests.
Saturday April 19, 2014 5:30pm - 6:30pm PDT
Room 300DE
As Steampunk becomes more and more popular, many of its devotees have begun to explore new genres to focus their creative energies and explore new time periods and mash-ups. Panelists will talk a bit about the origins of Steampunk, delve into the popular Dieselpunk and Cyberpunk movements, and then start exploring some new niche areas like Nerfpunk, Rococopunk, and any other fun styles they've recently dreamed up or discovered. Join moderator Glenn Freund (The League of S.T.E.A.M.) and XYZ-Punks Johnny Bias (Black Hand Mercantile), Greg DeStefano (photographer), Andrew Fogel (The League of S.T.E.A.M.), and Dina Kampmeyer (Lady Steam Designs) for this discussion and Q&A.
Saturday April 19, 2014 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Room 207
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 UC Berkeley bioengineers will be available to answer questions about your favorite science and science fiction.
Saturday April 19, 2014 6:30pm - 7:30pm PDT
Room 213
UPDATED: Mon, Apr 14, 10:49AM Face off with your favorite Rotten Tomatoes critics -- Alonso Duralde (The Wrap), Christy Lemire (ChristyLemire.com), Scott Mantz (Access Hollywood) and Alynda Wheat (People Magazine) -- when they join editor-in-chief Matt Atchity and senior editors Grae Drake and Tim Ryan of Rotten Tomatoes. As Matt and Grae name popular movies of 2012 and 2013, everyone in the room uses their "Personal Tomatometer Paddle" to dis/agree with the score and debate questions such as "Do reviews even matter anymore?" Remember: fortune favors the bold.
Saturday April 19, 2014 6:30pm - 7:30pm PDT
Room 203
Hip-Hop and comics reflect each other in many ways-rappers and graffiti artists use superheroic imagery and adopt alter-egos; comic creators use Hip-Hop's rich visual vocabulary. Here, Patrick A. Reed (Depth of Field magazine) brings together luminaries from across the artistic spectrum to discuss the ties between these two innovative cultures.
Saturday April 19, 2014 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Room 207
There's no better way to start WonderCon Anaheim's Saturday night than with a spotlight on toe-tapping, music-themed animated TV series from the past 50 years, including Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kids, The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan, Jabberjaw, and more. Warner Archive Collection podcast hosts Matt Patterson and DW Ferranti-and a few surprises-offer a fun look/listen to great themes songs from 1960-1990s.
Saturday April 19, 2014 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Room 300AB
This terrible trio has terrified audiences worldwide...but what makes each one tick? Is Michael simply a sociopathic stalker, Freddy merely a manipulative monster, and Jason just a killing machine? Or is there more to these slashers if we slice below the surface? The forensic psychiatrists of Broadcast Thought, H. Eric Bender, M.D., Praveen R. Kambam, M.D., and Vasilis K. Pozios, M.D. and special guest Mark Swift (writer of Freddy vs. Jason, Friday the 13th [2009]) analyze these villains' murderous motivations. Can we make sense of a vengeful boogeyman's sister obsession? Could fire turn a violent predator into a sadistic serial killer? Did "mommy issues" and bullying birth a brutish butcher? Who is the most dangerous killer, and which, if any, would be considered insane? Discover the answers to these and other questions, and take a stab at these iconic slashers!
Saturday April 19, 2014 7:30pm - 8:30pm PDT
Room 208
Psychologists Dr. Andrea Letamendi (UnderTheMaskOnline.com) and Dr. Ali Mattu (BrainKnowsBetter.com) bring their popular, intergalactic sci-fi battle back to WonderCon Anaheim for round 3! These geeky psychologists step into the pop culture ring, this time with a focus on the character relationships from these two legendary franchises. Special panelists include actors Chase Masterson (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) and Catherine Taber (Star Wars: The Clone Wars). Join a side and cast your vote as they crown one as the winner! Impartially moderated by Brian Ward (The Arkham Sessions).
Saturday April 19, 2014 7:30pm - 8:30pm PDT
Room 213
The Sideshow Network presents Comics on Comics, the talk show that pits comedians against comic book creators in nerd debates. Hosts Juan-Manuel Rocha and Vito Lapiccola welcome superstar wrestler Rob Van Dam (WWE) writer Javier Grillo-Marxuach (Helix, The Middleman), and Geekdom's funniest comedians as they rip through the latest developments in comics, movies, video games, and pop culture.
Saturday April 19, 2014 7:30pm - 9:00pm PDT
Room 203
