Looking Ahead to WonderCon!

WonderCon in Anaheim is only a couple weeks away! It’s running April 18-20, and I’m excited to be there. It’s the first time I’ll be attending this particular con since it moved from San Francisco.

There’s plenty to see and do, so I thought I’d throw out some of the panels that I’m looking forward to seeing (or that you should all go to and I can’t because of scheduling conflicts).

I’ll be wandering around all weekend, so I hope to see you there!

Friday

Comics Arts Conference – Beyond the Page

Friday April 18, 2014 1:30pm – 3:00pm
Room 210BCD

The influence of comics extends far beyond their paper. Victoria Minnich explores the value of comics as a research and education tool to visualize and personalize the operations of the southern California spiny lobster fishery, providing a case study of the possibilities for new media to generate collective meaning for a diverse and broad suite of audiences. Jeremy Johnson (University of Minnesota) explores the possibilities and limitations of graphic novels for the visually impaired and discusses the journey to create an “accessible” graphic narrative. In the process, he highlights the benefits of collaboration in the creation of narrative visualizations while raising an awareness of the accessibility of graphic novels. Renee Krusemark (Creighton University) builds on theories that reading graphic narratives involves both leadership and critical thinking, and uses The Walking Dead as a case study to explore how readers perceive leadership in comics and to discuss the potential of using comic books in the college classroom to address student critical thinking and leadership perceptions.

Saturday

(Image via BBC)

Psychology of Cult TV Shows

Saturday April 19, 2014 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Room 210A

Join a panel of therapists and scientists (mad or otherwise), Dr. Janina Scarlet (The Superhero Manual), Josué Cardona (Geek Therapy), Dr. Travis Langley (Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight), and Elizabeth Ann (NerdLush), as well as some surprise guests in discussing the psychology behind TV shows such as Doctor Who, Sherlock, Firefly, Arrow, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and others. Find out how TV shows might help us cope with painful experiences and geek out in discussing such fundamental questions as: With all the regenerations, what is the Doctor’s true identity? What makes Sherlock a better detective than London’s finest? What does psychology tell us about the demons that live inside us? With these questions and more, this panel is a must for loyal fans of these shows.

Wild Queer Women of the Web

Saturday April 19, 2014 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Room 210A

Often neglected in mainstream comics publishing, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women comics creators have found the freedom and opportunity to express themselves in the “anything goes” world of web comics. Online venues give artists a chance to experiment with different styles and personal stories with fewer commercial restraints. And women creators have used this new space to make their mark, bringing daring and revelatory LGBTQ stories to the public. Join Prism Comics and moderator Tara Madison Avery (Gooch, Dirtheads, Prism Comics board member) and panelists Emy Bittner (Trying Human), Dusty Jack and JadePrince (Mahou Shounen Fight, Skuttlebutt Ink), Nina Kester (Tapastic), Mari Naomi (Kiss and Tell, Anything That Loves), Shayna Why (Overshare Party), and others to be announced as they explore women’s comics on the web.

Comics Arts Conference – Batgirl Begins Again