Saturday at WonderCon 2025

 

Jeri Jacquin

Starting the morning off at WonderCon 2025 on a Saturday is one of my favorite television series but with a twist here, Only Murders in the Building: Solve the Editors’ Murder Mystery brings editors Shelly Westerman and Matthew Barbato to the table. They talked about their process in putting together comedy, drama and murder. This was a fun way to get good ideas if anyone else is thinking about writing a murder mystery. Back again into the galaxy far, far away, The Skeleton Crew Boys brings actors Ravi Cabot-Conyers and Robert Smith for this interactive panel talking about their roles and meeting fans.

When I studied to become a teacher of curriculum and instruction, comics were always frowned upon so I was thrilled to hear from the panel about Engaging Students with Comics in the Classroom. Using comics to engage students, the Comic-Con Educator Book Club is essential for teachers who want to learn how this can be achieved. Teachers from San Diego include Jaimie Chavez, Lorran Garrison, Ella Rogosin, Scott Nielsen, and Mike Cruz share.

Bad Idea brings John Wick’s Robert Venditti and Derek Kolstad take a look into what’s next including art from Planet Death and Ordained. The gentlemen were joined by Dinesh Shamdasani, Peter Stern, Benjamin Simpson and Siena Fallon. The 5^th Annual “It’s Alive!”: Designing Sci-Fi, Horror, and Comic Book Genre Film and TV is one my granddaughter would have loved. The concept of the worlds in these genres come into play and goes deep into how characters are created and how it is more than just a concept. Brett W. Bachman, Christina Wen, Johnny Han, Jon Dudkowski, Leo Birenberg and Zach Robinson share their feelings on the process.

In 1984, the film GREMLINS hit the theatres and blew audiences right out of the water. It has become an iconic film that can be seen and appreciated over and over. The panel Gremlins: The Wild Batch Screening and Q&A brings the Warner Bros. and Max Original series to WonderCon showing a never-before-seen episode. The panel Tze Chun, Brendan Hay, Joe Dante, John Glover, and Sherri Chung talk about what it takes to bring the characters of Gizmo, Sam and Elle to the animated series.

If Middle Earth is more your thing, Lord of the Rings: Previewing Up Coming Projects gives Tolkien-ites a look into what is coming since the success of the animated film THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM which I absolutely loved without taking anything away from The Rings of Power on Prime. Josh Rubinstein, Kristi Fojtik, Clifford Broadway, Cathy Udovch and Nicole Roberts join in the conversation which was full of insight of what’s happening and what’s to come for fans of Middle Earth.

Faith based films are a big box office draw and A Faith-Full Dickens Tale: The Kings of Kings Animated Movie is sure to bring in a big draw. The bible story not only brings about an adventure but it does so while taking on the story of Jesus through Charles Dickens. The cast can boast some big names such as Kenneth Branagh, Oscar Isaac, Uma Thurman, Mark Hamill, Sir Ben Kingsley, Pierce Brosnan, and Forest Whitaker. Taking the directors chair is director/producer Seong-ho Jang and screenwriter Rob Edwards and brought by Angel Studios.

Jesse Negron, Tom Moran, Dave Elliott, and Anthony Francisco (senior visual development artist for Marvel Studios) discuss what is on the horizon for Mechanical Cake and Scott Free, starting with their debut graphic novel, Modville, Ridley Scott’s first foray into graphic novels. Modville is a sci-fi Southern Gothic crime drama with AI humans in future New Orleans. Moderated by Chris Northrop (Horrible Future). Book 1 of Modville is written by Jesse Negron and drawn by Hendry Prasetya and Eko Puteh.

Sony Pictures brings a new thriller with UNTIL DAWN. One year after her sister Melanie mysteriously disappeared, Clover and her friends head into the remote valley where she vanished in search of answers. Exploring an abandoned visitor center, they find themselves stalked by a masked killer and horrifically murdered one by one…only to wake up and find themselves back at the beginning of the same evening. Trapped in the valley, they’re forced to relive the night again and again - only each time the killer threat is different, each more terrifying than the last. Hope dwindling, the group soon realizes they have a limited number of deaths left, and the only way to escape is to survive until dawn.

More programming that was worthy of WonderCon is Defiant: The Robert Smalls Story in Comics, Graphic Novel and Film, Gunslingers and Ghosts: The Rise of the Weird West, and Young Indy to Young Ani: The Origins of the Star Wars Prequels.

Wrapping up a long and eventful day filled with where we have come to where we are now with so many genres and stories is the The 2025 WonderCon Masquerade. WonderCon brings their annual competition with costumes that are created by serious fans. Judged by costume designers, the masquerade also comes with a few goodies, wins and entertainment. It is a wonderful way to gather together with friends and fellow cosplayers and celebrate everything WonderCon!

Comic Con 2017: Day Four Keeps Everyone on the Go!

Jeri Jacquin

We are on Day Four and the magic keeps happening. This definitely has been a Comic Con filled with surprises, a lot of fun and aching feet that are ignored (hey, a good soak does wonders). Being this is a Saturday; families will be out in full force to enjoy the outdoor experiences but also hitting the convention floor to find more one-of-a-kind toy or comic book.

The amazing day begins with MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000: The Return. This show was the highlight of my weekends and I will admit that I have not laughed that much in a long time. A panel will be held at the Horton Grand Theater so be there! Later Joel Hodgson along with Felicia Day, Jonah Ray, Hampton Yount and Rebecca Hanson will talk all things MST3K!

Hall H begins with a Warner Bros. Pictures presentation to include what they have coming and exclusive footage. Chris Hardwick talks Steven Spielberg’s READY PLAYER ONE with Spielberg Tye Cheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn and Zack Penn to talk. Also on hand is BLADE RUNNER 2049 directed by Denis Villeneuve. Don’t think that the superhero universe goes without a blip on the radar as Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller and Ray Fisher are in it for JUSTICE LEAGUE. Want an early look at Aquaman? Well I’m sure you will be accommodated.

On television, ABC’s ONCE UPON A TIME brings teases for its seventh season and Henry all grown up with a daughter of his own! That’s going to be an interesting story to be told. Cast and crew will be on hand to talk about those moments we are all wondering about.

My guilty pleasure is the CW show THE ORIGINALS! Returning for another season there are so many questions I need answered and only the show’s executive producer Julie Plec can answer them – but she won’t and I know that. I’m still watching! The series RIVERDALE will also bring a presentation along with a Q&A that gives a take on small town life and a new season coming October 11 on the CW.

FOX brings the bad boy back for a Q&A and the series that has everyone talking LUCIFER. This is a show that isn’t exactly what one would think when hearing that name, Lucifer, which is probably why it is a smash hit. It is a world like no other!

STAR TREK: Discovery is the new show on CBS this fall that follows another crew on voyages. A panel with cast and the minds behind the new series will be there to ask all things Star Trekky!

DC’s LEGENDS OF TOMORROW offer up the story of 2017 Los Angeles where dinosaurs seem to be taking up parking spaces and Big Ben is there. Breaking time the superhero’s need to find answers and do what super heroes do!

THE EXPANSE comes to Comic Con as SyFy has once again created a world that is amazing and hundreds of years into the future. Catch up if you will as another season is here and the panel is eager to talk about it all.

What would Comic Con be without THE SIMPSONS. Matt Groening, Al Jean and Matt Selman are ready to share secrets, surprises and what’s coming in the new season.

FOX brings another favorite with FAMILY GUY with Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Mike Henry and John Viener preview next season and an exclusive look at their 300^th episode. I mean seriously, 300 episodes means they level of epicness will be amazing. Following up is AMERICAN DAD! As the Smith’s of Wendy Schaal, Scott Grimes, Rachael MacFarlane, Dee Baker and executive producer Zack Rosenblatt talk about the July 24^th season premier.

NBC rolls out its new show of the supernatural with MIDNIGHT, TEXAS. Fans will see the premiere episode along with a Q&A session with cast Francois Arnaud, Dylan Bruce, Parisa Fitz-Henley, Arielle Kebbel, Jason Lewis, Peter Mensah and Sarah Ramos as well as the author of Midnight, Texas Charlaine Harris.

HBO brings their mega-hit WESTWORLD with a panel discussion including Ben Barnes, Ingrid Bolso Berdal, Ed Harris (gawd I love that man!), Luke Hemsworth, James Marsden, Simon Quarterman, Rodrigo Santoro (okay I love him too), Evan Rachel Wood, Jeffrey Wright and Thandie Newton back to talk all things dark and western!

NETFLIX brings the crazy hit STRANGER THINGS to Comic Call with a panel discussion on what is to come for Season 2 and giving fans of the show a look at footage of what is going to happen come this October! Are you kidding me…I have to wait that long??

Marvel Studios is also bringing president and producer Kevin Feige in to talk about the expanding Marvel Universe and I’m sure there will be plenty of surprises for everyone.

Finally, bad-ass Charlize Theron heads up the Entertainment Weekly panel of Women who Kick Ass. Theron has made her popularity in diverse roles in such films as MAD MAX: Fury Road, THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS, SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN and PROMETHEUS. Her new film ATOMIC BLONDE is on my list of don’t miss…ever!

There is only one more day of Comic Con and basically that means there is still a ton to see and do as well as make time to charge my cell phone – nah, let it go because there is too much fun to be had.

A good nights sleep and it’s off for the final day – stay with me kiddies!