With a large, lively gathering of Star Trek redshirts posing for a group photo, WonderCon kicked off at the Anaheim Convention Center on Friday, March 29. Now in its 36th year, the comics convention runs through Easter Sunday and brings together costumed fans, artists, authors and celebrity guests sharing their love and enthusiasm for pop culture.
The redshirts – who are renowned for often dying in “Star Trek” episodes – were among the throngs of Spider-Men, Batmen, pirates from the anime “One Piece” and Disney princesses who posed in front of the “Ocean Fountain” just outside the entrance to the convention center.
Miguel Capuchino, and his wife Lucy Capuchino, dressed as Vulcans, helped organize a Star Trek meet-up in front of during WonderCon in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, March 29, 2024. The three-day comic convention takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Kasandra Higgins is dressed as Sun, the Daycare Attendant from Five Nights at Freddy’s, during WonderCon in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, March 29, 2024. The three-day comic convention takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Photographer Kyle Matthew directs Troy Booth, dressed as Superman, outside WonderCon in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, March 29, 2024. Booth traveled from the U.K. for the comic convention. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Adrian Ramirez, dressed as Spider-Man, cuddles with Gianna Barrera, dressed as Doc Ock, outsdie WonderCon in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, March 29, 2024. The three-day comic convention takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Marina Sharpe, dressed as Barbie, takes a video of Melissa Matteson, dressed as Thumbelina, during WonderCon in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, March 29, 2024. The three-day comic convention takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Alec Zarate, dressed as Symbiote Spider-Man, balances on top of a trash can outside WonderCon in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, March 29, 2024. The three-day comic convention takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Andrew Dougherty is dressed as a Stormtrooper mashup outside WonderCon in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, March 29, 2024. The three-day comic convention takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
RIgby Ramirez checks out books at Phantom Zone Comics booth, during WonderCon in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, March 29, 2024. The three-day comic convention takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Troy Booth, dressed as Superman, soaks up the sun outside WonderCon in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, March 29, 2024. Booth traveled from the U.K. for the comic convention. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sara Zitney and her daughter, Evelynn Zitney, 7, are dressed as Nimona, in different forms, from the movie of the same name, during WonderCon in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, March 29, 2024. The three-day comic convention takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Morgan Summers is dressed as Queen of the Damned during WonderCon in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, March 29, 2024. The three-day comic convention takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Joshua Turner is dressed as Super Saiyan 3 outside WonderCon in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, March 29, 2024. The three-day comic convention takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Tess Ramtohul, dressed as Supergirl, poses for photographers outside WonderCon in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, March 29, 2024. Ramtohul traveled from the U.K. for the comic convention. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Marina Sharpe, dressed as Barbie, takes a video of Melissa Matteson, dressed as Thumbelina, during WonderCon in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, March 29, 2024. The three-day comic convention takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Octave Villar, dressed as The Riddler, Darius Villar, as Batman, Octavius Villar, as The Riddler and Elizabeth King-Villar, dressed as Poison Ivy, outside WonderCon in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, March 29, 2024. The three-day comic convention takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
David Sander dons a biker jacket from the 501st Legion during WonderCon in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, March 29, 2024. The three-day comic convention takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cosplayers outside WonderCon in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, March 29, 2024. The three-day comic convention takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Shari Haynes, dressed as Lt. Nyota Uhura from Star Trek, holds on to her communication device during WonderCon in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, March 29, 2024. The three-day comic convention takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Bridget Arias, dressed as Wonder Woman, takes pictures of Morgan Summers, dressed as Queen of the Damned during WonderCon in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, March 29, 2024. The three-day comic convention takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Armani Catlin, dressed as a samurai Miles Morales from the Spiderverse, during WonderCon in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, March 29, 2024. The three-day comic convention takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ezra Robles, 9, plays a Jaws pinball machine during WonderCon in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, March 29, 2024. The three-day comic convention takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Robles family plays Jaws pinball machines during WonderCon in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, March 29, 2024. The three-day comic convention takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Natalie Dodgen, dressed as Rey, wanders the aisles of WonderCon with R2-D2 in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, March 29, 2024. The three-day comic convention takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dinah Salas tries on a handmade leather mask at the Mad Masks booth during WonderCon in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, March 29, 2024. The three-day comic convention takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Husband and wife, Rachel and David Quintana, at their Mad Masks booth during WonderCon in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, March 29, 2024. The three-day comic convention takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Christopher Canole, 77, dressed as his own creation – Dude Vader, says he’s the oldest cosplayer at WonderCon in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, March 29, 2024. The three-day comic convention takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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While waiting for more Spider-Men to show up for a prearranged group photo, Alec Zarate from Whittier, dressed as Spidey’s Venom symbiote, struck the superhero’s classic crouch position on the top of a garbage can by the fountain. A mask of the alien symbiote’s face sprang from the neck of Zarate’s black outfit on a wire, as a nod to Venom’s bond with Peter Parker.
“Venom’s really rowdy, but he’s friendly,” Zarate joked.
Zarate said he hopes to see a Saturday panel with Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel, co-creators of the animated series “Smiling Friends” from Adult Swim. This year, WonderCon’s panels will spotlight comic books writers and artists like Gail Simone and Dustin Nguyen, as well as the cast and crew of TV shows and movies such as “The Spiderwick Chronicles” with Christian Slater and “Boy Kills World,” with Famke Janssen.
Low-key con
Run by the same organizers as San Diego Comic-Con, the largest comics and pop culture convention in the world, WonderCon is known for being a friendly, more chill experience for attendees. There’s no nerves-shredding lottery system for badges, nor are the lines for panels and merchandise anywhere near as exhaustingly long as those at SDCC. At the time this article was written, badges were still available for sale on-site.
Inside the convention center on the exhibition floor, Barbara Robles and her family were playing pinball on a “Jaws”-themed pinball machine. Robles, her husband and stepdaughter were respectively dressed as Dark Phoenix, “Beast” and “Rogue” from “X-Men.” Her son Ezra, 9, was dressed as Sebastian from the children’s book, “The Impossible Quest.”
“He wanted to do his own thing this year,” Robles said with a laugh. “We all like to dress up, and usually we vote on the group costume we want to do. Last year, we dressed as Scooby-Doo characters, and we even had the Mystery Machine van.”
Regular WonderCon-goers, Robles said they traveled down from Lompoc to attend WonderCon, although they will head back home for Easter. “Even though we’re not here long, it’s a great family event for us.”
Droids from Star Wars roamed the exhibition hall, stopping every few feet for photos and videos with fans. Five-year-old Alison Yao from Pasadena struck a pose with R2D2.
“I’m a huge Star Wars fan,” said her father, Tony Yao. “So she recognizes R2 now.”
Yao hopes WonderCon sees good crowds this year, even with the rainy forecast for Saturday and Sunday. “I’m worried that the weather will put a damper on it a little bit. But it’s a fun weekend, so I hope folks still come out.”
A toy designer, Yao was attending WonderCon as both a fan and a creator of action figures. He works with some of the companies presenting merchandise on the floor, including Toynami.
Rather than the industry giants at SDCC, WonderCon’s floor tends to run to independent artists and small press. A couple of the bigger names this year are IDW comics, which will host a few of its artists for signings, and FiGPiN, which will have exclusive Star Wars Rebels, My Hero Academia and Scooby-Doo collectibles only available to con-goers.
Face time
Fans who needed masks for their cosplay could visit the “Mad Masks” booth run by Rachel and David Quintana of Mission Viejo. Rachel Quintana said they began making masks from their home 12 years ago.
“My husband was dressed as the Joker and I was doing Harley Quinn, but the mask that came with my costume didn’t fit properly,” she said. “So I made my own, and a couple extra, and sold them on eBay, and they were just snapped up.”
The couple have been selling their handmade leather masks at WonderCon for the last four years, and will also have a presence at San Diego Comic Con this July.
“I love WonderCon and Comic Con because I love seeing my customers in person, and just the buzz of the whole atmosphere,” Quintana said. “I look forward to it every year.”
