WONDERCON 2005
WRAP IT UP Eager crowds fill up San Francisco’s Moscone Center, home to WonderCon. Ever have a dream where you’re throwing a major party and it starts raining, so you worry no one is going to show up but then they do and they won’t stop flooding through the front door? That was the scene at the 19th annual WonderCon in 2005, where a staggering 14,500 fans descended upon the beautiful Moscone Center in downtown San Francisco to explore the 250 Exhibit Hall booths and hours of fun programming. THE COMICS CONNECTION WonderCon began with renowned special guests Neal Adams, Sergio Aragonés, Arnold Drake, Mark Evanier, William Stout, Arthur Suydam, and the
DC comics returned once again, offering peeks at Identity Crisis, Batman, and Green Lantern, as well as projects at WildStorm, VERTIGO, and more. Bongo Comics served up the latest scoop on The Simpsons, and writer/artist Terry Moore took fans inside his long-running book Strangers in Paradise. Mark Evanier hosted his Quick Draw Cartoon Improv while other top spots included Scott Saavedra’s hilarious Comic Book Heaven LIVE!, Cinefantastique’s ’ ’s crazy “Starship Smackdown,” the Charles M. Schulz museum’s showcase of Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz, and Jeff Smith’s benefit reading of Bone for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. The most touching event was the tribute to comics legend, Will Eisner, who passed away in January 2005. WonderCon also sported numerous educational panels, including the Comic Book Law School for those interested in the industry’s business side, programs on self-publishing comics, discussions of ways comics can be used to help people read, info on fan filmmaking on a budget, how-to’s on becoming a video game designer, and more.
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indomitable Harvey Pekar, then continued with contemporary A-listers John Cassaday, Jeff Smith, Amanda Conner, Adam Hughes, Jimmy Palmiotti, Alex Ross, Gail Simone, and of course, fan favorite Kevin Smith. Beyond their own spotlight panels, these folks were also available at autograph signings throughout the weekend.
WONDERCON