WonderCon commences next Friday at the newly-refurbished and enlarged Anaheim Convention Center. I hear they've made it nicer and bigger and that it has way more parking spaces. If they'd moved it far enough away from Disneyland to not share the same off-ramps, it might be the best place ever to hold a convention. The entire programming schedule is online here and the list of panels I'm doing is below…
Friday, March 31 – 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM, Room 208
THE MARK, SERGIO, STAN AND MAYBE TOM SHOW
The folks who bring you Groo the Wanderer tell you how (and maybe why) they bring you Groo the Wanderer and maybe other things, as well. They are Mark Evanier, Sergio Aragonés, Stan Sakai, and maybe the hardest-working man in comics, Tom Luth. Learn what it is that compels these men to, month after month and year after year, tell their tales of the stupidest character ever in comics. [NOTE: Looks like Stan Sakai will not be present at the con. Dunno yet about Tom.]Friday, March 31 – 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM, Room 213
WRITING FOR ANIMATION
Ever think you might want to write cartoons? Well, Mark Evanier has written more than 500 half-hours of animated programming, including such programs as The Garfield Show, Garfield and Friends, Dungeons & Dragons, Scooby-Doo, Richie Rich, ABC Weekend Special, Superman Adventures, Thundarr the Barbarian, CBS Storybreak, and many more. He doesn't claim to know everything but thinks he can fill the hour telling you what he does know.Saturday, April 1 – 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM, Room 300DE
QUICK DRAW!
It's another cartooning battle royale, a duel with sketch pads and Sharpies as three super swift scribblers attempt to make the Flash look lethargic. Competing will be (of course) Sergio Aragonés of MAD and Groo the Wanderer; The Simpsons and The Flintstones artist Scott Shaw! and the new kid on the dais, popular Internet cartoonist Lonnie Millsap. Putting them through their paces will be Mark Evanier, aided by suggestions from the audience. As always, no wagering, and may the best cartoonist win!Saturday, April 1 – 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM, Room 300DE
CARTOON VOICES
Once more, your host Mark Evanier assembles a dais of talented folks who speak for characters in animated cartoons and video games, and they demonstrate their artistry for you! This time, Mark has Dan Gilvezan (Spider-Man, Dennis the Menace), Elle Newlands (Skylanders, Star Trek into Darkness), Bill Farmer (Goofy, The 7D), Katie Leigh (Muppet Babies, Dungeons & Dragons), Daniel Ross (Donald Duck, Transformers) and maybe a few surprises!Sunday, April 2 – 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, Room 207
COVER STORY
Some say the most important part of any comic book is the cover. If that's so, we need to talk more about cover designs-and talk we will with these acclaimed cover creators: Michael Cho (Civil War II, DC reprint series), Sanford Greene (Power Man and Iron Fist, Runaways), Phil Jimenez (Wonder Woman, The Invisibles), Bob Layton (Iron Man, Turok: Dinosaur Hunter), and Lissa Treiman (Slam!, Lumberjanes). Your moderator as usual is Mark Evanier.Sunday, April 2 – 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM, Room 211
JACK KIRBY TRIBUTE
2017 marks an entire century since the birth of the man many call the most important creative talent ever in comics. This year more than ever, comic fans celebrate the legacy of Jack Kirby. On hand will be former Kirby assistant Steve Sherman, Scott Dunbier from IDW Publishing, Rand Hoppe from the Jack Kirby Museum & Research Center, and Paul S. Levine, attorney for the Rosalind Kirby Trust. Your moderator is another former Kirby assistant, Mark Evanier.
Anything and everything can change, including times, room numbers, panelists and the bushiness of Sergio's mustache. If you see me around, say howdy.