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Friday, March 27
 

2:00pm PDT

Comic-Con Lost Videos of the 1980s Part ll: The Trilogy
Friday March 27, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
This panel explores how digitizing media can help preserve the histories and legacies of creators and loved ones who are no longer with us and considers the question: Will A.I. help? This important issue for collectors, videographers, and archivists is highlighted through new, previously unseen videos that aim to educate and entertain, with additional surprises in store. Greg Koudoulian (Shel Dorf Archives) and Ron McFee (archivist for Comic-Con) can help answer your questions on preservation for the future.
Friday March 27, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 213CD

3:00pm PDT

Toddlers to Teens: Writing Kidlit, from Picture Books to Young Adult
Friday March 27, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Bestselling and award-winning kidlit authors discuss the craft and business of writing for young audiences, with Marcie Colleen (Kitten Ninja, Love, Triangle), Amber Morrell (The Alchemy of Letting Go), Dan Santat (A First Time for Everything, The Adventures of Beekle), Leanne Schwartz (To a Darker Shore, A Prayer for Vengeance), Sherri L. Smith (Candace, the Universe, and Everything, Pearl), Joey Spiotto (Max, a Little Axolotl; Grumpy Unicorn series), and Greg van Eekhout (Happy Town, COG).
Friday March 27, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 213CD

4:00pm PDT

Old Stories, New Voices: The Art and Risk of Modern Fairy Tale Retellings
Friday March 27, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Stacia Deutsch (New York Times bestselling author), Trond Hildahl (editor, Stay Awhile: Scenes from Temecula Valley Volumes I and II), and Chris Bannor discuss adapting fairy tales for modern, diverse audiences. Panelists will address what it takes to assemble a contemporary fairy tale retellings anthology, from selecting source material to navigating cultural sensitivity, representation, and outdated tropes. Moderated by Theresa Halvorsen (Warehouse Dreams, Dreams under Glass).
Friday March 27, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room 213CD

5:00pm PDT

How to Fight Comic Bans and Win
Friday March 27, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's Jeff Trexler, writer and CBLDF board member Amy Chu (Emma Frost, Carmilla: The First Vampire, Red Sonja), attorney Britton Payne, and librarian, educator, and author Moni Barrette discuss the latest developments in comics censorship and what can be done to defend the comic arts. Book bans in schools and libraries, victories and defeats in recent court cases, new legislation targeting comics, and arrests, prosecutions, and other legal risks now facing comics retailers, creators, publishers, and fans are among the issues addressed. Comics censorship continues to surge, but understanding what's happening can help the community prevail.
Friday March 27, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Room 213CD

6:00pm PDT

A World Without Film Remakes
Friday March 27, 2026 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Film audiences have heard the critique before, that too many sequels, remakes, and similar projects are released each year, with little-to-no push toward more original ideas and stories. But how much truth do these positions hold, and what would a world without film remakes look like? The hosts of Nothing New: A Remake Podcast, Andrew Linde and Justin Quizon, are joined by Alix Catherine (podcast and livestream host, The Welcome Party), Becky D'Anna (podcast host and marketing executive, Sony Pictures), and Ashley Maria (writer and director, Super Human Anxiety) to discuss the impact of remakes on the film industry, how to foster original storytelling in film, and how the best, most original stories still contain an homage to what has come before.
Friday March 27, 2026 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Room 213CD

7:00pm PDT

What Would Buffy Do?: Why We Need Buffy the Vampire Slayer More than Ever
Friday March 27, 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Later this year, iconic hero Buffy Summers will return in the revival TV series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale. Moderated by Bryant Dillon (president, Fanbase Press), this panel—featuring Juliet Landau (actress, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel), Sarah Gailey (writer, The Vampire Slayer, Eat the Rich), Marsia Powers (president/co-founder, Fandom Charities; HellmouthCon), Amy Chase (writer, Fixation, Archie Horror: Welcome to Riverdale), and Don Aguillo (cover artist, Spawn, King Spawn)—will examine the power and endurance of Buffy, how Buffy never truly left pop culture, and why today's challenges require a return from everyone's favorite Slayer.
Special Guests
avatar for Sarah Gailey

Sarah Gailey

WonderCon Special Guest
Sarah Gailey is a Hugo and British Fantasy Award–winning, bestselling author of speculative fiction, short stories, and essays. Their bestselling adult novel debut, Magic for Liars, was published by Tor Books in 2019. Their most recent novel, Just Like Home, and most recent ori... Read More →
Friday March 27, 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Room 213CD

8:00pm PDT

So Fetch! The Ultimate Showtune Showdown
Friday March 27, 2026 8:00pm - 9:00pm PDT
Calling all Broadway buffs, musical nerds, and casual showtune lovers! In this bracket-style game, a panel of musical theater lovers—Angela DiMartino (musical theater aficionado), Kelly Dreyer (costumer), Lauren Emery (show quality specialist), Aimee Tushinsky (cosplayer), and Chris Tushinsky (actor)—invite you to cast your vote as Broadway songs go head-to-head to crown the greatest showtune of all time. Will it be a chandelier drop of a song from The Phantom of the Opera? Or even a quirky hit from Beetlejuice or a jukebox musical like Mamma Mia!? Let the Showstopper Showdown begin!
Friday March 27, 2026 8:00pm - 9:00pm PDT
Room 213CD

9:00pm PDT

Bad Medicine in TV and Film: Med Drama-rama
Friday March 27, 2026 9:00pm - 10:00pm PDT
The physicians of Hi Everybody! A Bad Medicine Podcast are back to discuss what medical dramas (and comedies!) get right and wrong about medicine. They'll cover everything, from House to Grey's Anatomy, from ER to The Pitt, from Scrubs to . . . well, Scrubs.
Friday March 27, 2026 9:00pm - 10:00pm PDT
Room 213CD
 
Saturday, March 28
 

11:00am PDT

Autism in Comic Books
Saturday March 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Representation matters, but it comes with complications. Moderator Britton Payne (entertainment attorney, executive director of The Autism Scene) details the sometimes-troubling history of autistic characters in comic books and how comics as a medium can foster a modern understanding of autism among its readership. Fourth grader and inclusion advocate Eleanor Payne discusses YA books featuring autistic characters. Bex Burgess (YA graphic novel Speak Up!) addresses their experiences as an autistic comic book creator and creating autistic comic book characters, including Speak Up!, which features an autistic main character navigating her way through high school.
Saturday March 28, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 213CD

12:00pm PDT

Storytelling Across Games, Comics, and Beyond
Saturday March 28, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Storytelling doesn't live in just one medium anymore. From Mass Effect, League of Legends, and Fallout to Call of Duty, Mortal Kombat, and award-winning comics, this panel reveals how characters are created, performed, and adapted across games, comics, and beyond. Featuring Courtenay Taylor (voice actor), Julie Nathanson (voice actor), Keith Arem (president and creative director at PCB Productions), Matthew Yang King (actor and voice actor), and Pornsak Pichetshote (comic creator and writer), and moderated by Carrie Keranen (voice actor and voice director).
Saturday March 28, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Room 213CD

1:00pm PDT

The Comic Art of David Lynch
Saturday March 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Iconic director David Lynch is best known for his films and Twin Peaks, but he was also an accomplished artist, including in the comic arts. Award‑winning comics creator Jeff Lemire, author and former Los Angeles Reader editor Dan Barton, author and professor Michael Dooley, and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's Jeff Trexler discuss Lynch's comics and cartoons, connections to comics in Lynch's films, and Lynch's influence on comics, manga, anime, and fandom. From The Angriest Dog in the World and the animated webseries Dumbland to the quest for justice in a creative multiverse, the panel examines what can be learned from Lynch's dreams.
Saturday March 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Room 213CD

2:00pm PDT

What's the Buzz with The Beat?: Behind the Headlines
Saturday March 28, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
The folks behind The Beat, the Eisner Award–winning comics news site, go behind the scenes of all the hottest stories in comics and entertainment. Editor-in-chief Heidi MacDonald is joined by Kalai Chik (K-ComicsBeat), Taimur Dar (ComicsBeat), Greg Weisman (Gargoyles), Nat Gertler (About Comics) and Patrick A. Reed (curation/consultation, Jack Kirby: Heroes And Humanity) to give attendees the inside scoop.
Saturday March 28, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 213CD

3:00pm PDT

Watchers Cinematic Universe: New Sci-Fi/Fantasy TCG Debuts
Saturday March 28, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
The Watchers Cinematic Universe (WCU) uses a visceral and original sci-fi and fantasy approach to trading card gaming (TCG). This clean, balanced, and fast-paced game brings players back to the roots of TCG. Learn about the heroes and villains of this universe and how you can craft in this galactic war spanning world. Through bio-forging the most ferocious and intelligent creatures to populate the world of a TCG, you will help shape the expanding mythology of the WCU. The Watchers are descending. See the world premiere of the official trailer and meet creators Justin Waldner and Alexander Gray as they guide you through the WCU. Moderated by Gary Miereanu.
Saturday March 28, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 213CD

4:00pm PDT

Re-Vamped with Juliet Landau Live from WonderCon Podcast
Saturday March 28, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Re-Vamped with Juliet Landau is the first Buffyverse podcast to be hosted by a former cast member and has recently crossed 330,000 downloads in its first year. Audience members are invited to be part of the podcast as the hosts discuss all things Buffy, sharing stories about their love of the show and how it has helped and changed lives.
Saturday March 28, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room 213CD

5:00pm PDT

Scaring Audiences to Death
Saturday March 28, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Now in theaters and hitting streaming soon, Scared to Death is a new horror/comedy film featuring horror legend Lin Shaye (Insidious franchise) and Bill Moseley (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2, Rob Zombie's Firefly trilogy, The Devil's Rejects). Hear Shaye discuss a celebrated career in the genre, and get the inside scoop about the intricacies of blending comedy with horror from director/writer Paul Boyd (Vicious Circle), Legacy Effects visual effects master J. Alan Scott (Ahsoka, Skeleton Crew), and actors Victoria Konefal (Days of Our Lives), Kurt Deimer (Halloween), B.J. Minor (Bel-Air), and Olivier Paris (A.P. Bio). Noted horror journalist Brian Collins (Fangoria, Bloody Disgusting, Horror Movie A Day) will moderate.
Saturday March 28, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Room 213CD

6:00pm PDT

Stranger Things Psychology: Demogorgons N' Diagnoses
Saturday March 28, 2026 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Grab your dice, character sheet, and best friends to re-enter the Upside Down and the right side up. When life feels like the BBEG and Demogorgons could jump you at every corner, you don't need psychic powers to know you can't do it alone. Your party of psychologists/wizards—Dr. Isaac Taitz (All Mind Health), Dr. Sara Roldan (Our Oasis Community, SDSU), Dr. James Poole (The Relational Nerd), and Dr. Travis Langley (Stranger Things Psychology: Life Upside Down, Popular Culture Psychology)—discuss The Party, The Scoops Troop, and the Hellfire Club. They'll also lay down the groundwork for a session 0 on how to use D&D and other TTRPGs as your own therapeutic tool to level up your character and spec into multiple classes. Q&A to follow with giveaways.
Saturday March 28, 2026 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Room 213CD

7:00pm PDT

Military Fiction
Saturday March 28, 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
U.S. Marine Corps veterans and writers Tom Waltz (G.I. Joe, TMNT) and Benjamin Spada (The Black Spear series) talk about the depiction of the military in various types of media and how their time in the military informs what they write, from pet peeves in the genre to the need for genuine representation. Ronald Coleman, Ph.D. (scientist/writer) moderates.
Saturday March 28, 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Room 213CD

8:00pm PDT

The Dad Batch Podcast: Walking Workbench
Saturday March 28, 2026 8:00pm - 9:00pm PDT
Steven Schultz, John Rodriguez, Luke Yates, David Neth, and Kiefer Jenkins dive into the cosplay scene at WonderCon as they bring the costuming community together to share tips, tricks, and encouragement for costume builds from all around the con.
Saturday March 28, 2026 8:00pm - 9:00pm PDT
Room 213CD

9:00pm PDT

StreetPass OC: Nintendo Quizbowl XI Revenge of the Quiz
Saturday March 28, 2026 9:00pm - 10:00pm PDT
Nintendo Quizbowl invites attendees to test their Nintendo knowledge and make their way to the top of the hill. Hosts Kiet Pham, Ryan Lu, and Adam Shere lead a round of pain, laughs, and challenging video game trivia as participants compete for an opportunity to win prizes. Let the Quizzening continue!
Saturday March 28, 2026 9:00pm - 10:00pm PDT
Room 213CD
 
Sunday, March 29
 

11:00am PDT

Cosplay Is a Drag V: Drag Queens: First Class
Sunday March 29, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Chad Hatter (Queer for Fear, Robot Chicken) sits down with Pam Demic (costume designer, Workaholics; drag performer since 1989) and Broadway diva headliners Claire Voyance (Voyance Productions, Broadway Divas SCFTA), Leeko Rae (headliner at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts), Mama St. Merman (Broadway Divas SCFTA; headliner, Long Beach Pride), and April Showers (Showers Productions, Late-Night Divas @ Hamburger Mary's) to discuss the crossroads where cosplay meets drag, as well as navigating these artforms in the modern world.
Sunday March 29, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 213CD

12:00pm PDT

Nerdy Arts and Crafts for All Ages 20 to 80 and Beyond
Sunday March 29, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Arts, crafts, and cosplay are fun for all ages. Sarah Scheidegger (artist/cosplayer), Amber Frakes (seamstress/cosplayer), and Summer Pull (crafter/cosplayer) participate in a discussion with Q&A moderated by Phil Acosta (cosplayer), answering questions about painting, sewing, crafting with reclaimed items, among other topics.
Sunday March 29, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Room 213CD

1:00pm PDT

Manga, Anime, and the New World of Censorship
Sunday March 29, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Manga and anime have increasingly become the target of censorship around the world, especially in the U.S. In this panel, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's Jeff Trexler, researcher and USC Annenberg doctoral student Samantha Tecson, and writer and managing editor of KComics Beat Kalai Chikshare the latest updates on manga bans in schools and libraries; the revision of manga and content to conform to national standards; a new law in Texas that is causing manga to be removed from stores; recent legal developments in Japan; arrests for having legal material on phones or laptops while traveling; debanking and other forms of platform censorship; and other developments affecting manga and anime, along with what they mean for all comics media.
Sunday March 29, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Room 213CD

2:00pm PDT

All Batmen Are Batman
Sunday March 29, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Who is Batman? Bruce Wayne. But which one? Earth-1 or Earth-2, New 52 or Rebirth? Dick Grayson in Batman R.I.P. or James Gordon in the Rookie suit? Or Adam West or Batfleck or Pattinson's Emo-Batman? Or the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh? Or Absolute Batman? Every version of Batman is equally Batman. Jim Thompson (Eisner Awards judge), attorney Adam Adler (Super Babies v. DC Comics), and Peter Coogan (Comics Arts Conference) examine how repetition, imitation, and variation of the core brand encode the mythic nature of the superhero genre, are uniquely expressed in the iterations of Batman (including trademark and merch), and are tied to the core conventions of the genre—mission, powers, and identity. When Batman says, "Because I'm Batman," he is, no matter which Batman says it.
Sunday March 29, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 213CD

3:00pm PDT

Writing Psychologically Rich Characters
Sunday March 29, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Are you a writer or have you ever wanted to become one? Have you been struggling with imposter syndrome? Have you ever wondered how you can contribute to social justice through your writing? This panel of writers explores how to create psychologically rich characters to help you boost your writing and make it stand out. Learn how to break free from your imposter syndrome and attend to your creative passions. Panelists include writers Dr. Janina Scarlet (Superhero Therapy; The Villains Club), Deric Hughes (Arrow; Quantum Leap), Kristi Korzec (Superman & Lois), Chris Rafferty (Cobra Kai; Lucifer), Dennis Crosby (Death's Legacy), Sarah Faxon (The Animal Court; Foreign & Domestic Affairs), and Ray Utarnachitt (DC's Legends of Tomorrow). Dustin McGinnis (Creative Community Podcast) moderates.
Sunday March 29, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 213CD

4:00pm PDT

Success in Creativity Talks About Making the Best of Your Resources
Sunday March 29, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Tailored to support creatives, this interactive panel provides strategies for managing full-time responsibilities while pursuing part-time passion projects. Learn how to enhance your creative collaborations with practical advice on networking and communication, helping you unlock your creative potential and promoting effective resources, workflow, and time management. Be it comic books, TV/film, animation, podcasts, cosplay, fan groups, music, illustration, blogging, or webcomics, you'll find helpful insights here. Each attendee will get a postcard of useful information, tips, and wisdom made from the information collected from the panelists. Moderator Ron Coleman, Ph.D (molecular geneticist, comic writer) hosts panelists Gene Turnbow (founder of SciFi.Radio; author), James Frye (managing editor, TheConGuy.com; screenwriter), Stephen Burns (Photoshop digital artist, author, and lecturer), and Topher Davila (art director, TheJewelryDragon.com; illustrator and producer).
Sunday March 29, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room 213CD
 

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