WonderCon 2026: Most Anticipated Panels
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Well friends, we have made it. WonderCon is officially back and with it comes the beginning of a march of conventions building up to SDCC and NYCC. I am so excited to be heading back once again to WonderCon as it is one of my favorite conventions. You can always count on some fascinating panels, good company, and the delight of a vacation that’s not too far from home. As per usual, my coverage kicks off with a brief glance at the schedule and a recommendation of panels that you should attend or look for coverage from me. Let’s dive in, shall we?
Friday
Comic-Con Lost Videos of the 1980s Part ll: The Trilogy
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.
Spotlight on Jasmine Guillory
New York Times bestselling writer Jasmine Guillory is in conversation with author and screenwriter Alanna Bennett as they discuss Jasmine’s career path, writing romance for adults and young adults, and continuing to find the joy in writing amidst the ups and downs of publication.
The Vertical Drama Format Powers Up with Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Horror, and Adventure
Verticals are everywhere! Filmed in the upright format for cell phone viewing, saucy CEO and billionaire movies with a hook-you cliffhanger at the end of each 1- to 3-minute episode have been surging, grabbing millions of views and millions of dollars. Now creators are stepping forward into this space, bringing compelling stories—tales of sci-fi, fantasy, superheroes, horror, and more. This panel goes behind the scenes of the format. It wouldn’t be a vertical experience without a cliffhanger and a surprise or two, and actors and creators exploring this new universe share how they approach it: Gabe Armentano (Hear My Love Again), Evan Camacho (Game of Choice), Andre Philip Coleman (writer/director/producer, Milestone), Molly Flanagan (Tangled up in Christmas, OMG I’m Surrounded by Three Princes), Jake Hobbs (When I Was Gone, He Went Mad), Emily Lisa Jones (Callsign: Legacy), Jaki Lauper (Their Brother Lost in Space, Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.), Riley Nottingham (Hive, Love Me Like You Hate Me), and Rosa Singerman (Blood and Bones of the Disowned Daughter, Dracula’s Daughter 2). Moderated by Michael Day (Talented Universe).
Saturday
6th Annual “It’s Alive!”: Designing Sci-Fi, Horror, and Comic Book Genre Film and TV
“It’s Alive!” returns to WonderCon with an exploration of the creative work behind horror, anime, thriller, and comic book–inspired films and TV shows. Industry professionals reveal how they bring worlds and characters to life through the artistry of music, editing, and more in this deep dive into the creative process. Panelists include composer Daniel Rojas (Marvel’s Hit-Monkey), editor Eric Litman, ACE (One Piece), composer Ian Arber (Drops of God season 2), editor Kristi Shimek (Wardriver), composer Sam Boase-Miller (Good Boy), and composer Sam Jones (Didn’t Die). Moderated by editor Maura Corey, ACE (Gen V). Part 2 of Impact24 PR’s Panel Superblock.
Legendary Comics: Godzilla x Kong, Dune, Pacific Rim, and More!
Legendary Comics, the publishing arm of the studio behind the Dune and Monsterverse franchises (including Monarch and next year’s Godzilla x Kong: Supernova), as well as Trick ‘r Treat, Pacific Rim, and the upcoming Street Fighter movie, offers a behind-the-scenes look at their graphic novels, art books, and other tie-in publishing across all of the company’s franchises. A special giveaway is planned.
Welcome to Starfleet Academy
What does it take to teach and inspire the next generation of Starfleet officers? The new hit show Starfleet Academy fulfills many Trekkies’ dreams by taking viewers inside the classroom to learn alongside the cadets. The series also highlights the challenges faced by their instructors, Captain Ake, Jett Reno, the Doctor, and Lura Thok. To answer this question, professors Aaron Weinstein (California State University, Fullerton), Dr. Sara Roldan (San Diego State University), and Dr. Brenda Lara (San Diego State University) illustrates the challenges and joys of training new generations. Moderated by Benjamin Taitz (NerdNite OC). Class is now in session!
Sunday
The Magical World of LGBTQ+ Fantasy
LGBTQ+ fantasy comics and graphic novels have become very popular. The fantasy genre provides a safe space for writers and artists to explore deeply felt real-life stories, challenges, and difficulties that might be much harsher if told in realistic terms. Prism Comics, moderator William O Tyler (We Belong; Theater of Terror: Revenge of the Queers!), and panelists Ben Crane (Cosmic Cadets, Scattered Futures), WonderCon special guest Sarah Gailey (Make Me Better, Spread Me), Nicole Maines (Suicide Squad, Bad Dream), Ajuan Mance (Gender Studies; Living While Black), Emely Corona Sandoval (animator), and Jasmine Walls (Brooms, The Last Session, Vol. 1: Roll For Initiative) discuss how myths, folktales, and fantasy influence queer storytelling in comics and how fantasy helps readers both escape and gain greater understanding and empathy for queer lives and queer experiences.
Art Department of Marvel’s Wonder Man
Go behind the scenes of Marvel Studios’ newest Disney+ series Wonder Man, with the Art Directors Guild artists who brought its world to life. Production designers Cindy Chao and Michele Yu, supervising art director Jacqueline Kay, and members of the Wonder Man art department pull back the curtain on their creative processes, from initial concept to finished sets. Discover how the team captured the texture, glamour, and grit of Los Angeles while building a world that feels both authentically grounded and unmistakably Marvel. Johnny Recher moderates.
Adaptation: Developing from One Medium to Another
Moderator Spiro Skentzos (Grimm) leads a discussion with writer/producers Douglas J. Eboch (Sweet Home Alabama), Eric Heisserer (Arrival), Jill Blotevogel (Scream: The TV Series), and Brandon Easton (Iyanu) about adapting a piece of work for another medium. The panel examines what to watch out for, what not to do, and how to stay true to source material.
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