Intro:
With spring just beginning, so too is convention season shifting into gear. Barreling in at what feels like the start of convention season is Southern California’s ‘WonderCon 2024’!
Held in Anaheim, California since 2012, the three day annual convention will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center. Running from March 29th-31st WonderCon is a huge convention with lots to do. Included are several panels, workshops, and a cosplay masquerade!
Additionally, there will also be tons of artists and vendors in Artist Alley for people to check out! This author has never been to WonderCon, so if anyone has suggestions for vendors to visit, leave a comment below!
(A map of the 2024 WonderCon layout posted by San Diego Comic-Con Unofficial Blog)
WonderCon Special Guests:
Included in the list of special guests are comic writer Gail Simone, writer Jonathan Maberry, and animator Stephen Silver. While featured at several panels, a few notable ones include the following spotlight:
These spotlights for the aforementioned creators will be held throughout the con days. The order for these spotlights goes:
Jonathan Maberry:
Friday March 29, 2024 2:30pm – 3:30pm PDT
(Room 208)
Gail Simone:
Saturday, March 30 • 4:30pm – 5:30pm
(Room 213AB)
Character Design Journey with Stephen Silver
Sunday, March 31 • 1:30pm – 2:30pm
(Room 213AB)
We look forward to seeing these familiar faces at WonderCon! Speaking of creators, there are plenty of opportunities for new creators to get their foot in the door this year at Wondercon.
Creator Events:
While vendor spots at artist alley have already been booked several months in advance, don’t panic! Creators have several other opportunities to put themselves out there this year! Several panels throughout the convention are dedicated to writing and art portfolio reviews. Others serve as a way for creators to find each other. One such event will be held on Friday, March 29th at 3:00 PM in Room 204! If you’ve ever wanted to get in touch with other creatives, now is your chance! On top of creator events there will also be opportunities to relax and attend screenings
Anime Screenings:
Several anime will be screened throughout the evenings at WonderCon! Some notable examples include Goblin Slayer, Cowboy Bebop, One Punch Man, and Food Wars!
The majority of these screenings will take place in Room 205B with some taking place in 205A. Additionally, some lesser known anime such as Canaan will also be showcased throughout the con.
TTRPG Fan’s Guide to WonderCon Scheduling:
Throughout the con there will be several TTRPG events and activities. Among these are the Red Dragon Inn oneshot, Pathfinder tutorials, and Miniature painting sessions! Furthermore, there will also be D&D 5e Events hosted in Exhibit Hall C! The games hosted will be for everyone so make sure to stop by for the two hour mini sessions!
Tokusatsu Fan’s Guide to WonderCon Scheduling:
Because of the growing fame of Godzilla Minus One, so too has tokusatsu and kaiju media risen in popularity. As such, it’s no surprise that events centering around kaiju would be one of the highlights of WonderCon. Programs include the following:
Kaiju disaster panel ‘Godzilla Minus Lawyers’
(Friday, March 29th, 8:00 PM, Room 207)
‘Monster Makers of Film and Television’ panel (Saturday, March 30th, 10:00 AM, Room 207),
and
‘Godzilla Minus One: A Triumphant and Profound Kaiju Movie (Saturday, March 30th, 8:00 PM, Room 209)
If you’ve ever had any interest in kaiju media, stop on by for some insightful commentary on the genre!
Prices and Conclusion:
Finally, with a plethora of things to do at WonderCon, it is easy to get excited. However, it is also easy to become overwhelmed. You might be wondering what is worth seeing and how much each day costs.
As for pricing: A single day badge costs $47.00 for Friday, $50.00 for Saturday, and $40.00 for Sunday. All three days together cost $137 dollars. If you can only afford a single day pass, this author recommends looking at the WonderCon schedule to see what interests you most! Information on the programing can be found on the WonderCon app or on the WonderCon website. Looking forward to seeing you all there!
