Best of WonderCon 2011

Fanboys, geeks and superhero wannabes are flocking to WonderCon, the annual comic book, sci-fi and movie convention at the Moscone Center South.

Come join in on the fun with all kinds of movie previews, panels of comic book artists, autograph sessions, exhibits, special showings and workshops, vendor booths and, as always, gawk at all the cool costumes worn by fans.

There are so many things to do there we thought we’d give you a highlight of cool stuff from each of the three days of WonderCon.

WonderCon 2011 Tickets:  [details]
– Friday: $20 adv/$25 door;
– Saturday: $20 adv/$25 door;
– Sunday: $10 adv/$15 door;
Or get a 3-day pass for $40 (purchase online only – no onsite sales of 3-day pass)

Friday, April 1

2 pm – 3:30 pm Why Do Some Comic Book Movies Suck? (Rooms 204 & 206)

This panel’s all about adaptations. Pitting Kick Ass against Scott Pilgrim, they discuss why the first succeeded and the other failed. An art teacher uses Sartre to examine survival in the zombie tale of 28 Days Later.

2:30 – 3:30 pm Meet Zombie Survival Guide‘s Max Brooks (Room 104)

Max Brooks, screenwriter and author of the best selling books The Zombie Survival Guide, World War Z, and The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks, is the world’s leading authority on the defense against a ghoulish uprising.

Workshop & Portfolio Reviews for Young Artists

— Get Your Portfolio Checked Out (11 am to 4 pm in Room 226): Lucas Licensing at 11 am, BOOM! Studios at 1 pm, Aspen Comics at 2 pm, eigoMANGA at 3 pm

— Indie Comics Marketing 101 Panel (4:30 – 5:30 in Room 220): Some of the best and brightest in comics today (including Too Much Coffee Man creator Shannon Wheeler) present a roundtable discussion, revealing all the secrets of success in marketing your comics.

5 pm – 6 pm Green Lantern Movie Panel (Esplanade Ballroom)

Green Lantern will shine bright at WonderCon, beginning with a panel with the stars of the upcoming feature film. The Green Lantern movie will be the first live-action feature film to star the alter ego of Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds). Also the cast signs autographs at 4 pm at Booth #301.

8 pm – 11 pm WonderCon After-Party at The Escapist Bookstore (Berkeley)

After appearing at WonderCon DC Comics luminaries Paul Levitz, Marv Wolfman, Len Wein, Sergio Aragones, Mark Evanier and others are coming to the brand new comic bookstore The Escapist in Berkeley. See FunCheap’s posting for more details.

Saturday, April 2

Summer Movie Previews in the Esplanade Ballroom

1 pm – 1:30 pm — Cowboys and Aliens

Iron Man director Jon Favreau’s newest features Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford in western flick crossed with an alien invasion movie.

1:30 pm – 2 pm — The Three Musketeers 3D

Hot-headed D’Artagnan (Percy Jackson‘s Logan Lerman) joins forces with the rogue Three Musketeers against the evil Richelieu (Christopher Waltz); with Orlando Bloom.

2 pm – 3 pm — Hanna

Acclaimed director Joe Wright (Atonement) turns Saoirse Ronan (The Lovely Bones) into a trained badass assassin. With Eric Bana as Ronan’s CIA father and Cate Blanchett as the enemy.

3:30 – 4:30 pm Marvel Comics’ Cup O’ Joe with Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada (Room 103)

Marvel boss-man Joe Quesada takes on all questions, shocks the audience with jaw-dropping announcements, and keeps you guessing with guests Axel Alonso (Marvel’s editor-in-chief), Jason Aaron (Wolverine), Jeph Loeb (Marvel’s head of television).

8:30 pm – 11:30 pm WonderCon Masquerade (Esplanade Ballroom)

At WonderCon many fans of TV shows, comics, movies, toys, manga come in full costume. This is their night. Show off the unique design of your costume in the competition on a stage with a large video screen to zoom in on the details.

Sunday, April 3

Star Wars Crafts For Kids and Adults

— R2-D2 Droid Building Basics (12:30 to 1:30 in Room 220): Techies from the Bay Area R2 Builders club share and demonstrate full-size, functional R2D2s that they built themselves.

— Kids’ Star Wars Craft Class (11:30 to 12:30 in Rooms 204 & 206): Join author Bonnie Burton (The Star Wars Craft Book, StarWars.com) for a fun craft activity on how to make quick and easy Star Wars puppets.

12:30-2:00 Cover Story: The Art of the Cover (Room 104)

Hear the story behind comic book covers created by the likes  of Adam Hughes (Catwoman, Wonder Woman), Francis Manapul (The Flash, Adventure Comics), Frank Quitely (All Star Superman, Batman and Robin). Comics historian Mark Evanier picks the covers and talks to the artists behind them.

4:00-5:00 DC Comics Artists Draw Live on Big Screen (Room 204 & 206)

Superstar artists Francis Manapul and Amy Reeder show off their distinctive styles while drawing on a projector. Check out this unique presentation that will give you an inside glimpse into the artistic process.

Of course, there’s also hundreds of booths and vendors from the likes of Nintendo, Marvel Comics, Mattel, Ugly Dolls, Capcom, Charles M. Schulz Museum, Suicide Girls, Emily The Strange, Drawn & Quarterly, Dark Horse Comics, Gama-Go, HBO and more.