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WonderCon

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WonderCon is an annual comic book, science fiction, and film convention held in the San Francisco Bay Area (1987–2011), then—under the name WonderCon Anaheim—in Anaheim, California (2012–2015, 2017–present), and WonderCon Los Angeles in 2016.[2] The convention returned to the Anaheim Convention Center in 2017 after a one-year stint in Los Angeles due to construction at the Anaheim Convention Center.

WonderCon
WonderCon 2010 main exhibit hall
StatusActive
GenreMulti-genre
Venue1987–2002: Oakland Convention Center
2003–2011: Moscone Center
2012–2015 Anaheim Convention Center
2016: Los Angeles Convention Center
2017–present: Anaheim Convention Center
Location(s)California
Coordinates37°48′00″N 122°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; 7 months ago (2024-03-29)
Next eventMarch 28, 2025; 4 months' time (2025-03-28)
Attendance60,000 (2016)[1]
Organized byComic-Con International
Filing statusNonprofit
Websitewww.comic-con.org/wc//

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

History

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Retailer Joe Field (of Flying Colors Comics and Other Cool Stuff) and his partner Mike Friedrich owned and operated the convention for fifteen years. In 2001, they brokered a deal with the management team that runs San Diego Comic-Con to make it part of the Comic-Con International convention family.[4] This gave the San Francisco show 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 included Spider-Man 2 in 2004, Batman Begins and Fantastic Four in 2005, Superman Returns in 2006, 300 in 2007, Watchmen in 2009, and Kick-Ass in 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's Moscone Center was being remodeled. The convention moved to Anaheim in 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 the Silicon Valley Comic Con.[7]

WonderCon relocated from Anaheim to Los Angeles in 2016, and is now called WonderCon Los Angeles and was held March 25–27, 2016 at the Los 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 by Richard Bruning and Tim Zach.

 
Logo for WonderCon@Home

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

Event history

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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 Center North
San Francisco, Calif.		[22]
February 10–12, 2006 Moscone Center West
San Francisco, Calif.		[23]
March 2–4, 2007 Moscone Center South
San Francisco, Calif.		[24]
February 22–24, 2008 Moscone Center South
San Francisco, Calif.		[25]
February 27 – March 1, 2009 Moscone Center South
San Francisco, Calif.		[26]
April 2–4, 2010 Moscone Center South
San Francisco, Calif.		Peter S. Beagle, Geoff Johns, Adam Kubert, Jimmy Palmiotti, Tim Powers, Kevin Smith, Judd Winick[27]
April 1–3, 2011 Moscone Center South
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 to COVID-19 pandemic
March 26–27, 2021 Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, Calif.		Cancelled again due to COVID-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

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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 the Harvey Award ceremonies from 1997 to 1999.[37] Since 2007, academicians and comic industry professionals have held the Comics Arts Conference in 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

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  1. ^ MacDonald, Heidi. "WonderCon Hosts DC's Rebirth Debut in Los Angeles". PublishersWeekly.com. Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on July 6, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  2. ^ a b "WonderCon Moves To Anaheim With Costumed Avengers In Tow", Archived July 3, 2012, at the Wayback Machine CBS 2 San Francisco (March 17, 2012).
  3. ^ "WonderCon". Comic-Con International. Archived from the original on December 8, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  4. ^ Albert, Aaron. "Wondercon Profile" Archived July 7, 2011, at the Wayback 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" Archived August 23, 2011, at the Wayback 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. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  8. ^ Variety Staff (April 6, 2015). "WonderCon Moving to Los Angeles for 2016 Convention". Variety. Archived from the original on March 17, 2016. Retrieved March 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. Archived from the original on March 30, 2016. Retrieved March 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. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  12. ^ "Wonderful World of Comics Convention 1988 Information". Fancons. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  13. ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 1989 Information". Fancons. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  14. ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 1990 Information". Fancons. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  15. ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 1992 Information". Fancons. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  16. ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 1994 Information". Fancons. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  17. ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 1996 Information". Fancons. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  18. ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2001 Information". Fancons. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  19. ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2002 Information". Fancons. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  20. ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2003 Information". Fancons. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  21. ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2004 Information". Fancons. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  22. ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2005 Information". Fancons. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  23. ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2006 Information". Fancons. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  24. ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2007 Information". Fancons. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  25. ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2008 Information". Fancons. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  26. ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2009 Information". Fancons. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  27. ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2010 Information". Fancons. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  28. ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2011 Information". Fancons. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  29. ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2012 Information". Fancons. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  30. ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2013 Information". Fancons. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  31. ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2014 Information". Fancons. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  32. ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2015 Information". Fancons. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  33. ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2016 Information". Fancons. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  34. ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2017 Information". Fancons. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  35. ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2018 Information". Fancons. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  36. ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2019 Information". Fancons. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  37. ^ Press release. "2003 Harvey Awards Banquet Cancelled, Awards Unaffected, Comic Book Resources (January 24, 2003).
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