A Different Emphasis for 2025
Unlike the WonderCons of recent years, this year’s annual pop culture fest in Anaheim, California (right across the street from Disneyland) had surprisingly fewer A-list actors and big studio representation. Marvel, Disney, Warner Bros and Paramount had nothing earth-shattering to unveil at this year’s con. With the huge, 7,500-seat Arena venue of the convention center still closed off (either for remodeling or lack of need), WonderCon 2025 was more or less centered in the Dealer Hall and its smaller meeting rooms, with the larger North Tower auditoriums holding previews and other events, which weren’t quite as grandiose in their scale as past movie/TV premieres, etc. The only movie getting any kind of promotion at the con was the upcoming Sony horror flick “Until Dawn,” which comes to theaters April 25th.
The exterior and interiors of the Anaheim Convention Center recently doubled for Starfleet Command Headquarters in 25th century San Francisco for the Paramount+ streaming series, “Star Trek: Picard.”
Despite this dialed-down feel, WonderCon 2025 shifted its emphasis from glitz and glamour to substance; and for me, this was greatly appreciated. Unlike the usual panels of big studios showing teasing clips from their upcoming movies and TV shows, this year’s WonderCon spotlighted the creators from behind the scenes; the showrunners, producers and writers. Those largely unseen folks in the trenches whose grand ideas and nimble thinking make them almost as recognizable by their names as their reputations. Folks like Todd McFarlane (“Spawn”), Nicholas Meyer (“Time After Time,” “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan”), Ronald D. Moore (“Battlestar Galactica,” “For All Mankind”) and even Oscar-winner Sir Ridley Scott (“ALIEN,” “Blade Runner,” “The Martian”), who was wasn’t at the convention, yet his presence was very much felt, as he unveiled a new graphic novel project called “Modville,” with the sort of promotion usually reserved for high-end movies.
A view from the second floor of the Anaheim Convention Center.
In addition to the shift from recognizable onscreen faces to behind-the-scenes names, there was also the usual ocean of merchandise available in the main dealer hall, as well as the colorful cosplay, which is one of my personal favorite elements of sci-fi/fantasy/horror conventions. Without further ado, let’s dig in…
The Dealer Hall
Once more, there was the familiar mix of small, independent vendors to big ticket merchandizing; with fan-made merchandise and self-published authors to brand names like Funko, and comics publishers such as IDW. It’s a fully democratic display of wares at WonderCon 2025, with equal opportunities to attract a convention-goer’s fickle eye and limited funds. Whether you’re a collector, a reader, or an oldster like myself, hoping to recapture a sentimental token of one’s childhood, there’s something for nearly everyone in the WonderCon Dealer Hall, which allows much more elbow room than the “Soylent Green”-sized crowds seen (and felt) at San Diego Comic Con. In the Artist’s Alley section of the Dealer Hall, there were free autographs, available from special guests of the convention; others in the main hall were priced at talent/handler’s discretion.
Like the Doctor’s TARDIS, it’s a lot bigger on the inside; just take a stroll down any one of its deep, merch-laden aisles.
An AT-AT walker, a snowspeeder, Boba Fett’s “Slave One” spaceship, and a Naboo starfighter with “a lot of special modifications” that is purchased by “Mando’ (aka ‘Din Djarin’) in “The Mandalorian.”
A “JAWS” poster sculpted in 3D, a USS Enterprise-D from “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and ‘Stitch’ from “Lilo and Stitch.”
Doctor Who merchandise mystery boxes, each containing unknown merch for the collector with a gambler’s courage. Wonder if they’re bigger on the inside…?
I just had to get one of those lenticular holographic “Back to the Future 2” caps for my friend’s son.
Stuart Ng Books has some of the greatest art/animation and pop art books anywhere in California, including a handsome collection of Frank Frazetta artwork. Their booth is always a first stop at WonderCon and San Diego Comic Con. Shop ’em here: stuartngbooks.com
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
As mentioned above, Sir Ridley Scott (who was not personally present) unveiled a new graphic novel called “Modville,” a new graphic novel series created by Jesse Negron, written by Negron and Joe Matsumoto, with line art by Hendry Prasetya and color art by Eko Puteh. Set in a partially-submerged, dystopian 22nd century New Orleans, “Modville” concerns a hard-boiled detective right out of film noir who’s investigating a community of androids living in a neon-drenched, retro futuristic ghetto. While Scott himself isn’t the credited author of this graphic novel, his “Blade Runner” influence is all over it. “Modville” was unveiled with the kind of promotion usually reserved for big-ticket movies; with props, vehicles and set pieces directly inspired by its artwork. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if “Modville” becomes a movie or streaming series soon.
This was a set/booth filled with props and posters inspired by director/writer/producer Ridley Scott’s first graphic novel “Modville”; the free sample of which struck me as a 22nd century, film-noir mashup of “Blade Runner” and “Humans.” The booth’s full-scale props suggest this graphic novel is more a sideways movie pitch than a comic book
These props, used by the “Modville” androids seeking refuge in an ecologically-challenged New Orleans of the 22nd century, were from what is perhaps the grandest rollout I’ve yet seen for a graphic novel. I would swear these came from a finished film.
In addition to the humanoid mechs of “Modville,” there were also the less humanoid variety of droids at WonderCon, with the return of the R2 Builders’ Club; a group of talented fan hobbyists who make screen-ready droid props from the Star Wars galaxy and beyond. Some of their other creations include Disney-Pixar’s “Wall-E,” and even a “K-9” prop from “Doctor Who.” Some of their R2 units have been used in onscreen Star Wars projects, including “Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker” and some of the recent live-action Star Wars streaming series on Disney+. Having seen an actual screen-used R2-D2 costume at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles, I can vouch that the R2 Builders Club’s work is even more polished and perfected than the pieces actually used in the original “Star Wars” movies.
At the R2 Builders’ Booth, there was a full-sized K2SO rod puppet (which is manipulated from behind) from “Star Wars: Rogue One,” as well as B2EMO droids from the Disney+ series “Andor.” I briefly caught a glimpse of the K2SO rod puppet in motion later on.
The R2 unit on the left has a clear domed head with pieces inspired by “Forbidden Planet”‘s ‘Robby the Robot.’
A big surprise at the R2 Builders’ Booth was the appearance of a slick, technologically sophisticated “K-9” mechanical dog from the classic BBC sci-fi series “Doctor Who.” Note the slick computer screen with changing text/graphics on the robot’s side.
Chopper, aka C1-1OP, is the beat-up and crusty, yet heroic astromech droid of “Star Wars Rebels.”
Meet & Greets
In the dealer hall, I also had the chance to meet and talk with actor/stuntman Bobby Clark, who played the infamous “Gorn” captain in the classic Star Trek episode, “Arena,” in addition to non-creature roles in other episodes (“Return of the Archons,” “Mirror, Mirror”). I also had the chance to meet legendary movie poster artist, Robert Tanenbaum (“A Christmas Story,” “Moonraker,” “Battlestar Galactica,” “Airport” and countless others). I’d bought Tanenbaum’s book (“The Movie Poster Art of Robert Tanenbaum”) from the Stuart Ng book booth last summer at San Diego Comic Con 2024. It was during my meeting with Tanenbaum that I was actually interviewed by NBC as a fan of his work (I have no idea how the interview segment turned out, or even if it was aired later than night; but it did happen).
Posing with actor/stuntman Bobby Clark, one of two stuntmen who famously played the “Gorn” captain that Kirk fought on an unnamed planetoid in the iconic Star Trek episode, “Arena” (1967). Clark also appeared (sans Gorn suit) in the episodes “Return of the Archons” and “Mirror, Mirror.” The actor/performer and his wife were recently recovered from pneumonia, which they contracted on a cruise ship (just as my own recovering in-laws had, only a few weeks ago). Suit performers are pantomimic artists in their own right, and I wish Clark and his wife well. It was a pleasure to meet the man beneath the reptilian hide.
Legendary movie poster artist Robert Tanenbaum was promoting the book of his movie poster art, “The Movie Poster Art of Robert Tanenbaum,” which I bought last year from Stuart Ng Books’ booth at San Diego Comic Con. It was great to finally meet the man whose many posters inspired my childhood obsession with movie pop art. I was also a bit gobsmacked to be interviewed by NBC TV, who wanted to know how Tanenbaum’s artwork inspired me in my own childhood. Tanenbaum was a real gentlemen, and it gave me a few goosebumps to finally meet the artist whose poster art I used to cut from newspaper movie ads and tape to my walls as a kid, nearly 50 years ago!
Writers and Producers and Authors–Oh My!
With the shift in emphasis from actors to writers, showrunners and authors, this year’s WonderCon gave me the opportunity to see and meet some of the less-heralded yet very important members of the entertainment industry; the people whose words and ideas make things happen. It was at WonderCon 2025 that I had the chance to meet writer/director/author Nicholas Meyer (“The Seven Percent Solution,” “Time After Time,” “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country”), Ronald D. Moore (“Star Trek: First Contact,” “Battlestar Galactica,” “For All Mankind”) and author/producer/director Adam Nimoy (“Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “The Outer Limits”), who’s written a book chronicling his difficult yet ultimately rewarding relationship with his father, Leonard Nimoy (1931-2015); the actor who first played Mr. Spock in the classic “Star Trek” TV series, “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” and eight of the Star Trek movies. There were also panels featuring the writers and producers of Amazon Prime’s “Invincible,” as well as the writers, artists and producers behind the DC Comics animated shows.
Moderated by Danny Fingeroth (“Jack Ruby: The Many Faces of Oswald’s Assassin”) screenwriter/director/novelist Nicholas Meyer (“The Seven Percent Solution,” “Time After Time,” “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” “The Day After”) discussed growing up in Manhattan in a soon-to-be gentrified neighborhood with his highly academic parents, who exposed their self-admitted ADD son to great culture and literature. Meyer’s education at University of Iowa also served him well in his career as a dramatist.
When he was 7, Meyer’s parents hosted a Thanksgiving whose guests included Robert Oppenheimer and Albert Einstein (!). He also discussed how his father stoked his love of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s master sleuth, Sherlock Holmes; a lifelong subject of obsession for whom he’s written several novels, including “The Seven Percent Solution,” and more recently, “Sherlock Holmes and the Telegram from Hell.”
Q & A from the audience included a gentlemen who became very emotional just meeting Meyer, as “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” was a huge influence on him when he was 11 years old. I found Meyer’s tongue-in-cheek, cultivated persona of an intellectual “snob” to be at odds with the much kinder gentleman I met, who was very giving with his time and with his fans (he was also very punctual).
After listening to his panel, I realize that I need to get my greedy mitts on Meyer’s more recent Sherlock Holmes novels. I got hooked on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories after reading “The Hound of the Baskervilles” in the eighth grade.
There were many hilarious anecdotes from panelists Jim Krieg, Jeremy Adams, Ernie Altbacker, Tim Sheridan and Meghan Fitzmartin, who talked of the perils and rewards of playing in DC’s animation sandbox.
Panelists included moderator Dan Casey, writers/producers Simon Racciopa, Dou Hong, Shaun O’Neil and Dan Duncan. One of the most memorable stories from this panel was how they each dreaded having to write eating scenes more than any other (“We don’t do brunch!”), since eating is such a complex series of movements that is surprisingly difficult to capture effectively in animation.
During his interview with moderator Mary Anne Butler (“Inglorious Treksperts”), Moore told the story of how he got his start on Star Trek TNG by slipping his spec script for “The Bonding” during a tour of the sets arranged by a friend on the Paramount lot, and which were given by Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry’s personal assistant, Richard Arnold.
Arnold liked Moore’s spec script and he passed it on. This quickly secured Moore a staff writing position under new showrunner/producer Michael Piller. This is not exactly how it’s normally works, yet on the strength of Moore’s script, it got him the job! Moore then had to try very hard to hide his inner-Trekkie from the other writers, since it ‘wasn’t cool’ in those days for a writer to also be a fan. Moore would go on to cowrite the TNG films, “Generations” and “First Contact.”
Moore also chronicled his involvement with “Battlestar Galactica” (2003-2009) which began in 2002 after he was approached by coproducer David Eick to develop the remake. Moore began by rewatching the 1978 original pilot, and he saw how much better its “Pearl Harbor in Space” story resonated in our post-9/11. BSG became one of the best sci-fi shows ever written, and my personal favorite sci-fi series of the 21st century.
He then talked about the initial pitch of “For All Mankind,” which was envisioned as a ‘Mad Men meets NASA’ show, but Moore had the idea of setting it in a more ambitious universe than our own, where the dreams of spaceflight he had as a kid came true. He also discussed the new spinoff series “Star City,” which is set in the same universe yet told from the Russian perspective. It’s currently being shot in Lithuania.
Nimoy related many personal stories of his difficult relationship with his famous father, as both of them struggled with substance abuses (drugs and alcohol, respectively). Both father and son also struggled through difficult marriages which only exacerbated their addictions, until they divorced and remarried (Adam is currently married to “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” actress Terry Ferrell).
Nimoy also spoke about happier times, when he was a kid touring the Star Trek sets, which smelled like epoxies from all the glued on buttons and controls, calling it a “glue sniffer’s paradise.” He also showed pictures of himself at 10 years old in Spock makeup; a prank he played on his father during the filming of the Star Trek episode “What Are Little Girls Made Of?”
There were also stories of how proud he was of his father, watching him give an amazing stage performance of “Equus” in 1977. It was around this time Leonard Nimoy was approached to play Spock again in “Star Trek: The Motion Picture,” despite his ongoing lawsuit with Paramount over royalties.
With Scott Mantz, a huge self-admitted Star Trek geek, hilariously rattling off titles and verbatim quotes from various Star Trek episodes during the slideshow, this was both an entertaining and deeply moving panel. It made for a nice companion piece to his own documentary about his dad, “For the Love of Spock” (aka the “Spock-doc,” as Adam calls it), which is still streaming on Netflix.
Cosplayers
Once again, this brings me to my favorite part of any fandom convention; the cosplay. Forgoing another of my usual longwinded intros, I’ll let these selected photos of mine do the heavy-lifting. Enjoy!
Left: Velma & Fred, of “Scooby-Doo,” still mystery-machining, after all these years.
Right: Meet the Flintstones! Longtime readers of this column might be aware that I used to cosplay as Fred Flintstone for 15 or so years at various conventions, but after seeing these awesome Fred, Wilma and Betty cosplayers? I’m officially retired now!
Left: A picture-perfect cosplayer as the lovable ‘Mawg’ (man-dog) named “Barf,” from the 1987 Mel Brooks Star Wars parody “Spaceballs.” Right: Cosplayer dressed as “Dr. Clayton Forrester” from the delightful, long-running movie-mocking TV series out of Minnesota known as “Mystery Science Theater 3000.”
A family of cosplayers from “The Little Mermaid,” including mother “Ursula” and her kids, dressed as “Flounder” and “Ariel.” I forgot to mention that my first name is Sebastian… yes, just like the singing crab. Oh, if only I had a nickel for every time I heard “Hey! Your name is just like the crab” back in the 1990s…
“Doc Ock” aka “Dr. Otto Octavius,” aka “Doctor Octopus”; the multi-armed bad guy from the SpiderMan universe!
It appears that he now has SpiderMan in his grip(s?).
Marvel X-Men cosplayers, including a bad ass Wolverine (center). They made a terrific trio.
Right: No, Anime fans; I haven’t forgotten about you. Here’s a “Dragonball Z” cosplayer (right) posing with another superhero cosplayer as well. Truth be told, anime’s not my favorite genre, but I do very much enjoy the colorful cosplay generated by its imaginative fandom.
Ariel from “The Little Mermaid,” Glinda the Good Witch from “Wicked,” and Tiana Rogers from “The Princess and the Frog.”
But wait–there’s more!
All 161 of my full-sized photos from WonderCon 2025 can be found in this link to my Flickr photo album. Enjoy! Until next year, Anaheim…
glorious! 107 2025 “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” has a teaser trailer (and vague release date) for Season 3… optimal