Wondercon 2025: Day One Wrapup

 

Comic creators have a lot of passion, and certainly true of Edward Davis. On Friday at Wondercon 2025, Edward told me about his Immortal Era series. When people live forever, and some enjoy it more than others. This leads to violence. Without healing factors, if you lose a limb or organ, they don't grow back. Imagine living for a hundred years as a severed head!

Edward started writing his Immortal Era series in the late 1990s, when everyone was worried about computer systems breaking down due to the Y2K bug. People also feared that the year 2000 might bring about the Rapture, or the end of the world like in the movie 2012. Thankfully, the world didn't end, and he found a talented Brazilian artist to bring his series to life. Thanks for sharing your comic journey with me, Edward!

Check out Edward's stories at Finish Line Comics.

Joe Benitez produces the Lady Mechanika series. Benitez Productions always has a spectacular booth at Wondercon, and this year was no exception. There are lots of comics, variant covers, art and merchandise available. For more on Joe Benitez and Lady Mechanica, check out the Benitez Productions website.

 

There's always plenty of comics and other fun items for sale at Wondercon. These posters caught my eye. I particularly love the Japanese Star Wars poster.

Harry Potter fans rejoice! You can purchase your wands at Wondercon 2025! Perhaps you can even find a holly wand with a phoenix feather core!

 

Want to play some games? There are lots of table top and role playing games on offer. And then there are these retro arcade games you can check out!

 

The Anaheim Library had a Spin And Win wheel. These folks are so generous! They offered me some tips to increase my online readership and an Iron Man bobblehead! Thanks for all you do for the fans, Anaheim Public Library!

They're hosting a free mini-convention on Saturday, April 12. For more info, see their Anacon page. 

The biggest surprise was meeting Dave Dwonch at Wondercon 2025. His series The Loose End from Titan Comics is based on an experience he had in Lebanon several years ago. If you've been following his series, he promises that the next two issues will be even more exciting!

For more on Dave's new series, see my review of The Loose End #1.

 

Livio Ramondelli is a terrific comic artist. I'm most familiar with his cover art for Transformers. One of Livio's favorite childhood heroes was Optimus Prime, and the Autobot leader is still a firm favorite today. I attended a panel on a series called The Rupert Wars that he is creating with his brother Yuri. It's based on little known history of World War II in Italy. The brothers' story features a robot as the central character, and will be published later this year via a Kickstarter by Pan-Universal Galactic Worldwide.

To check out his art, see Livio's website. 

Check out the Pan-Universal Galactic Worldwide website. (They've got a Conan The Barbarian book available!)

 

Dan Slott is finishing up his Spider-Boy series. I asked him about Bailey Briggs' popularity. He said that Spider-Man #7 (2023), which was Spider-Boy's first appearance, was the top selling Marvel book for the year. With books flying off the shelves, Marvel asked him about his plans for a Spider-Boy series. When Dan told them he had no plans, they told him "You are writing a Spider-Boy series!"

Spider-Boy #1 was the top selling Marvel comic when it came out, although it didn't end up being the top seller for the year. For more on Dan's popular creation, see the Spider-Boy Wikipedia Page.

This is the most beautiful backpack purse ever! A lady at the Funko Pop booth showed it to us. The visor showing the Power Rangers is lenticular, and the back reminds you that It's Morphin' Time! 

Make Tommy Oliver proud! Pick up your Green Ranger Mini Backpack at the Loungefly website.

 

Travis Hanson has a lot of great art and books for sale. He also offers free 1-minute sketches. He kindly made a sketch of Groot for my wife. Thanks, Travis!

Check out more of his work, and read his web comics, and Bean Leaf Press.

Standup comedian Matt Weinheld held a Q & A panel with his friend Darick Robertson, the co-creator of series like Transmetropolitan and The Boys. Darick has written or drawn most of the characters at DC and Marvel. When he discovered Spider-Man as an 8 year old, Darick thought Peter Parker was a villain. Imagine a person who bit you, and webbed you so he could return to feast on your blood! 

For more of Darick's work as a writer and artist, see Darick Robertson's website.

 

Last but not least, Bad Idea Comics wants you to armor-up! Forget Joe Haldeman's novel The Forever War! Forget John Steakly's story Armor! Check out the ultimate military sci-fi adventure coming to comic shops this May. It's called Planet Death, and it looks terrific! If you attend Wondercon, you can pick up a free sampler comic of their upcoming titles. 

For more on all their offerings, see the Bad Idea website.

That's my wrap up of Friday's highlights. Thanks to the great folks at Wondercon 2025 for inviting me to cover their cool con!