WonderCon
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WonderCon | |
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![]() ![]() WonderCon 2010 main exhibit hall | |
Status | Active |
Genre | Multi-genre |
Venue | 1987–2002: Oakland Convention Center 2003–2011: Moscone Center 2012–2015 Anaheim Convention Center 2016: Los Angeles Convention Center 2017– : Anaheim Convention Center |
Location(s) | California |
Country | United States |
Inaugurated | May 2, 1987 | (as Wonderful World of Comics Convention)
Most recent | Present |
Attendance | 60,000 (2016)[1] |
Organized by | Comic-Con International |
Filing status | Nonprofit |
Website | comic-con |
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–), 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.
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
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 the San Diego Comic-Con International 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.
Event history
Dates | Location | Guests |
---|---|---|
May 2-3, 1987 | Oakland Convention Center Oakland, CA | [10] |
April 23-24, 1988 | Oakland Convention Center Oakland, CA | [11] |
April 28-30, 1989 | Oakland Convention Center Oakland, CA | [12] |
May 11-13, 1990 | Oakland Convention Center Oakland, CA | Dan Brereton, Erik Larsen, Jim Lee, Rob Liefeld, Ron Lim, Ken Macklin, Chris Marrinan, Trina Robbins, Jim Valentino, Tim Vigil, Marv Wolfman [13] |
April 24-26, 1992 | Oakland Convention Center Oakland, CA | [14] |
April 22-24, 1994 | Oakland Convention Center Oakland, CA | [15] |
April 26-28, 1996 | Oakland Convention Center Oakland, CA | [16] |
April 1-3, 2001 | Oakland Convention Center Oakland, CA | [17] |
April 19-21, 2002 | Oakland Convention Center Oakland, CA | [18] |
April 25-27, 2003 | Moscone Center San Francisco, CA | [19] |
April 30 - May 2, 2004 | Moscone Center San Francisco, CA | [20] |
February 18-20, 2005 | Moscone Center North San Francisco, CA | [21] |
February 10-12, 2006 | Moscone Center West San Francisco, CA | [22] |
March 2-4, 2007 | Moscone Center South San Francisco, CA | [23] |
February 22-24, 2008 | Moscone Center South San Francisco, CA | [24] |
February 27 - March 1, 2009 | Moscone Center South San Francisco, CA | [25] |
April 2-4, 2010 | Moscone Center South San Francisco, CA | Peter S. Beagle, Geoff Johns, Adam Kubert, Jimmy Palmiotti, Tim Powers, Kevin Smith, Judd Winick [26] |
April 1-3, 2011 | Moscone Center South San Francisco, CA | Sergio Aragonés, Robert Kirkman, Francis Manapul, Joe Quesada, Frank Quitely, Amy Reeder, Bill Sienkiewicz, Judd Winick, Marv Wolfman [27] |
March 16-18, 2012 | Anaheim Convention Center Anaheim, CA | [28] |
March 29-31, 2013 | Anaheim Convention Center Anaheim, CA | [29] |
April 18-20, 2014 | Anaheim Convention Center Anaheim, CA | Tony Daniel, Jim Lee, Mark Waid [30] |
April 3-5, 2015 | Anaheim Convention Center Anaheim, CA | Neal Adams, Becky Cloonan, Sam de la Rosa, Steve Epting, Greg Horn, Phil Noto, Greg Weisman [31] |
March 25-27, 2016 | Los Angeles Convention Center Los Angeles, CA | Brian Michael Bendis, Amber Benson, Jason Faunt, Lou Ferrigno, Christopher Khayman Lee, Jim Lee, Humberto Ramos, John Romita, Jr., Bill Sienkiewicz, David Sobolov [32] |
March 31 - April 2, 2017 | Anaheim Convention Center Anaheim, CA | Sergio Aragonés, Kevin Eastman, Chad Hardin, Phil Jimenez, Jim Lee, Mark Waid [33] |
March 23-25, 2018 | Anaheim Convention Center Anaheim, CA | Sergio Aragonés, Larry Hama, Faith Erin Hicks, Jim Lee, Patrick Rothfuss, Gail Simone, Mark Waid [34] |
March 29-31, 2019 | Anaheim Convention Center Anaheim, CA | [35] |
Features and events
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Star_Wars_cosplay_WonderCon_2018.jpg/220px-Star_Wars_cosplay_WonderCon_2018.jpg)
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 1997–1999.[36] 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
- ^ MacDonald, Heidi. "WonderCon Hosts DC's Rebirth Debut in Los Angeles". PublishersWeekly.com. Publishers Weekly. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
- ^ a b "WonderCon Moves To Anaheim With Costumed Avengers In Tow," CBS 2 San Francisco (March 17, 2012).
- ^ "WonderCon". Comic-Con International. Archived from the original on December 8, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Albert, Aaron. "Wondercon Profile", About.com.
- ^ Boucher, Geoff. "WonderCon shows the comic convention circuit's power is growing". Los Angeles Times. April 6, 2010
- ^ MacDonald, Heidi. "WonderCon Brings Fans, Publishers, Excitement to San Francisco", Publishers Weekly. April 4, 2011
- ^ 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.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ 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.
{{cite news}}
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ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ 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.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Wonderful World of Comics Convention 1987 Information". Fancons. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ "Wonderful World of Comics Convention 1988 Information". Fancons. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 1989 Information". Fancons. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 1990 Information". Fancons. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 1992 Information". Fancons. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 1994 Information". Fancons. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 1996 Information". Fancons. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2001 Information". Fancons. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2002 Information". Fancons. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2003 Information". Fancons. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2004 Information". Fancons. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2005 Information". Fancons. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2006 Information". Fancons. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2007 Information". Fancons. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2008 Information". Fancons. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2009 Information". Fancons. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2010 Information". Fancons. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2011 Information". Fancons. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2012 Information". Fancons. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2013 Information". Fancons. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2014 Information". Fancons. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2015 Information". Fancons. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2016 Information". Fancons. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2017 Information". Fancons. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2018 Information". Fancons. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ "Wonderful WonderCon 2019 Information". Fancons. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
- ^ Press release. "2003 Harvey Awards Banquet Cancelled, Awards Unaffected, Comic Book Resources (January 24, 2003).
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)