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Comics and Culture: Wondercon 2016

Art / Fashion / Lifestyle & Culture / Travel / December 9, 2016
Wondercon 2016

Wondercon 2016

  The Anaheim Convention Center in California is home to a variety of shows. Throughout the year, the Convention Center is home to an incredible amount of shows. The shows are so varied in their subjects, and it’s hard to imagine what will be there from day to day. One day you can have a show about healthy living, and the next there is Blizzcon (a show about all things by video-game developer Blizzard). It is quite remarkable, and sitting just across the street from Disneyland, it makes it a bit of a magical place to be around.

  I remember several years ago I was renting cars from a Budget Rent-A-Car right across the way from the Convention Center. I was doing a bit of traveling, and I instead of taking my car all over the place I decided to rent and destroy Budget’s cars. I mean, I didn’t literally destroy those cars, or at least, nothing I’ll admit to. But, considering I wanted to keep my car in a good enough shape so that I could drive around, it was good enough for me. After heading to Budget at least once a week or every few weeks I got to know the staff there. They were really nice, and knew me well enough that I was constantly hooked up with deals. It was a nice incentive to go back and rent from them. There was one time that I happened to go in to rent another car and chatting it up with one of the guys there, I was reminded of a show that had just passed. I had forgotten about a show that comes around once a year, and one that is also one of the hardest events to get into. Blizzcon is a show that Blizzard Entertainment holds in Anaheim and is a massive showcase for their games past, present and future. Tickets go on sale early on in the year and sell out really quick so, just getting into the show is pretty tough. The reason a lot of folks don’t hear about the show is the fact that only those in the know know about it. So, when my buddy Marcos (from Budget Rent-A-Car) mentioned that he had seen a bunch of people walking around with battle-axes and warhammers I had just had to laugh. It is pretty funny if you’re around shows like Blizzcon or any other con. The reactions of the people that see them (especially a lot of those out-of-towners that are there to visit Disneyland) is pretty hilarious, but, it is the norm at another show. 

  Wondercon is an off-shoot of the mega-popular and mega-complex that is Comic-Con. Wonder-Con comes but once a year, but, when it shows up at the Anaheim Convention Center, it blows the doors off the entire area. While it’s just another day for my friends at the Budget there in Anaheim (seeing more craziness like they do throughout the year), it is an event that turns heads the heads of everyone in the area. Having been there every year in the past three years this was one show that I wasn’t going to miss. It is one of the biggest Comic-Cons in the U.S. and one of the two (there is another one on the rise, and that one is just as spectacular as these two and will be covered in another article down the road) major ones that we have here on the west coast. If a few warhammers and a few lightsabers is enough to get your attention then you are definitely gonna get a kick out of the zaniness that is Wondercon. It was April once again and it was time to check out the show, and once again I was pleasantly surprised. I know I say this about every one of these shows that comes up, but, the truth is, that it is true every time. 2016 was the biggest show on record for Wondercon with over 60,000 visitors from the United States and all around the world. I think part of that reason though has to do with the fact that this year the show was in Los Angeles. It was a huge change of pace to what has always been an Orange County affair (well, at least in the last few years. I know before that, Wondercon was actually held in the Bay Area, a totally different point of view compared to what it is now). 

Two Cosplayers from Wondercon 2016

Two Sailor Moon-inspired Cosplayers atWondercon 2016

 

Cosplayers showing off their Batman The Animated Series outfits

Cosplayers showing off their Batman The Animated Series outfits

 

  Fans of comic-books, anime, cosplay, art and pretty much anything pop-culture related flocked to the Los Angeles Convention Center in droves. It only makes sense though. With comic-books getting a helping hand in the media with big-budget movies and television it’s no wonder that people are chomping at the bit for anything related to these shows. I myself have been enjoying this craziness that we have been seeing the last few years. As a product of the 90’s this day and age feels a lot like it did back then. I remember being eight years old when I received my first comic book. It was Uncanny X-Men #271. Drawn by one of my biggest art inspirations of all time, Jim Lee, and one of the best writers for X-Men to have ever lived (but certainly not the only one), Chris Claremont, it was one of those moments that I will never forget. Seeing the story unfold in that one comic book and knowing there was a lot more to see in that story arc (and especially the artwork) was enough to get my little head spinning. So, seeing and hearing about comic books all of the time now really brings me back to those good old days. I think though, that kids have it a little better now. While the movies and televisions shows are pretty awesome I think having a place where one can meet up with other fans of the genre is incredible. If I knew back then that there would be shows like Wondercon nowadays, I would have lost my top (and probably my bottom as well). 

  Seeing the response of the crowds is overwhelming, and seeing people around my age bringing their children and multiple generations of fans is a true testament to what the scene has become. In a lot of ways the scene has almost come full circle. Walking around the halls of Wondercon and seeing parents my age with their kids in cosplay is such an exciting sight.  It really does bring me back to the times when things were simpler and I was a kid again. Maybe that’s the reason Wondercon and all of these other con’s are so popular. The organizers know there is a demand for anything related to comics and bringing some of the biggest vendors, artists, cosplayers and names in the industry really makes things convenient. Comic-con has become an almost mythical show to get in to (believe me when I say it is. I’ve tried to get into San Diego Comic-Con for several years now and have yet to get inside. Hopefully I can soon and report back here), and there are a lot of fans of the show that aren’t able to get into it. The void that Comic-Con has created for wanna be attendees has opened the doors to other shows that would offer similar or in some cases, even superior experiences. While it isn’t a new show by any means, Wondercon, which has been under the Comic-Con badge for some time now, is another option for people to attend a Con. Living in a capitalist society does bring about some good things, and one of those things is competition and options. The option to see a new show and try out new locations really has enhanced the show going experience, and for families that live local to the area, especially in the area around Disneyland where there is sure to be a lot of foot traffic already. 

  This year was especially nice with several comic films coming out and the marketing blitz that was following them. Wondercon was taking place not long before the release of Captain America: Civil War and the anticipation for the film was through the roof. Every where you looked there was either Iron Man or Captain America merchandise for sale. Not to mention the comics themselves (of which the movie deviates quite a bit from) were on sale for anyone that had missed it in years past. I’m writing this after the movie and Wondercon is over, and I can easily say that if the movie had been released just before, people would have been kicking other folks in the teeth for something related to our favorite Marvel heroes. It sure does help that the movie turned out to be awesome though. The year has been kind to fans of comics though. On top of Captain America we would also be treated to Batman v. Superman (yes, I know, hold your thoughts until the end), Deadpool, Doctor Strange, Suicide Squad, the Luke Cage miniseries, the Walking Dead and a ton of ther shows, movies and videogames. With all of that content it is nice to see a show like Wondercon bring together all of the craziness that fans know and expect from it. 

 

Cosplayer Julia Voth in her Jill Valentine outfit

Cosplayer Julia Voth in her Jill Valentine outfit

 

Even families get involved in Wondercon. Love these Ghostbusters cosplayers

Even families get involved in Wondercon. Love these Ghostbusters cosplayers

 

  While I haven’t had the pleasure of attending San Diego Comic-Con (it is by far the hardest show for me to go to), one should by no means discount Wondercon as anything less than that. While a bit smaller in scale, the size of the show has increased exponentially, and we have seen growth above and beyond what we could have imagined. After being at shows like Wondercon and the newer LA Comic-Con, I think we in the Los Angeles area have it pretty good. Wondercon in particular holds a special place in my heart. It was the first Con that I had ever gone to, and every time I go,  I’ve had more and more fun. The crowds are smaller compared to San Diego and for people with families, a  lot easier to walk around in. It is a lot closer than the one down south, and if you go early enough, parking isn’t really an issue. While I don’t want to sound like I’ve already convinced myself, it’s hard not to. I get excited every time I think of going to Wondercon. The energy there is always fantastic, and I wouldn’t want to have it any other way. Hopefully some of the images in this article can give you a decent idea of some of the magic that takes place in the heart of Orange County. It is hard to describe, but, when you see smiles on pretty much every one’s face, every day that the show takes place, then you know it’s a great show. For Wondercon though, it’s just another year and a good one at that. I don’t know what we have in store for next year, but, I can say that before the show was even over we got wind that Wondercon would be returning to Anaheim. I don’t know if it was an experience to see if the show might work in LA, or if there was a conflict in scheduling, but, as awesome as it was, it did feel a little off compared to years before. No matter the case, it’s always a blast, and I’m sure this next show will be just as, if not even better than the one before. That’s pretty much how 2016 went, and I wouldn’t expect it any other way. 

 

Beautiful Supergirl/Cinderella cosplay mash-up

Beautiful Supergirl/Snow White cosplay mash-up

 

Life-size Predator statue at Wondercon

Life-size Predator statue at Wondercon

 

Some crazy pirate cosplayers

Some crazy pirate cosplayers

 

Some very kawaii cosplayers at Wondercon

Some very kawaii cosplayers at Wondercon

 

New Voltron design on display

New Voltron design on display

 

Kill Bill cosplayers at Wondercon

Kill Bill cosplayers at Wondercon

 

New Batman suit design from the new Batman V. Superman movie

New Batman suit design from the new Batman V. Superman movie

 

Super cute Harley Quinn design

Super cute Harley Quinn design

 

One more shot of the Supergirl/Snow White mash-up

One more shot of the Supergirl/Snow White mash-up

 

Donatello from the TMNT made an appearance as well

Donatello from the TMNT made an appearance as well

 

Words and Photos By Daniel Navarrete 

-Spektrum Magazine

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For more information on Wondercon and San Diego Comic-Con check out their website at http://www.comic-con.org/wca

This article was prepared or accomplished by Daniel Navarrete in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Spektrum Magazine, or its affiliates.

 

 


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Daniel Navarrete




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