The Fanbase Press staff is very excited to be exhibiting once again at WonderCon 2018, alongside a number of other talented independent creators! Taking place from March 23-25, 2018, at the Anaheim Convention Center, the annual event is a celebration of comic books and pop culture that showcases the exceptional works of talented writers, artists, illustrators, and creators of all pop culture genres. Throughout the weekend, we will be reporting live from the convention floor, providing you with the coolest interviews, commentaries, screening details, and photos – along with meeting fans at the Fanbase Press booth (Small Press SP-97), where you can purchase all of our comics and graphic novels! Plus, Fanbase Press’ staff and contributors will be participating in quite a few intriguing panels throughout the weekend that you will not want to miss!

Fans in attendance will have a chance to stop by the Fanbase Press booth to pick up copies of Quince, The Gamma Gals, Hero Hotel, Penguins vs. Possums, The Arcs, Something Animal, and Identity Thief!  Plus, be sure to ask the Fanbase Press staff about their upcoming audio drama adaption of Robert J. Peterson’s novel, The Odds!  As a special treat, Fanbase Press will be selling the official Fanbase Press t-shirt in sizes Small – XXL, as well as the official Fanbase Press pin, so that attendees may show their geek pride in style. Plus, don’t miss your chance to pre-order a copy of Fanbase Press’ upcoming graphic novel, The Margins, by David Accampo, Paul Montgomery, and Amanda Donahue!

In addition, Yehudi Mercado (writer/artist of Hero Hotel), Kit Steinkellner (writer of Quince), and Emma Steinkellner (artist, Quince) will be signing copies of their comic books at the booth! (Fanbase Press’ creator signing schedule may be found below.)

You will not want to miss all of the panels featuring Fanbase Press’ staff and contributors, which will include the following:

Friday, March 23

• 1:00 p.m.:  SubZero and the Evolution of Mr. Freeze – In anticipation of Warner Archive Collection’s release of Batman & Mr. Freeze: Sub-Zero on Blu-ray this spring, WAC podcast hosts D. W. Ferranti and Matthew Patterson are joined by some surprise panelists (including Dr. Andrea Letamendi of The Arkham Sessions podcast) as they show remastered footage and discuss the film and the evolution of Mr. Freeze from a goofy threat into an endearing multidimensional villain who just wants to find a cure for his dying wife. Moderator Gary Miereanu might even bring some cool giveaways for select fans.  Room 300B

• 2:00 p.m.: Fanbase Press: Exploring Legacy in Star Wars – Long ago on a desert planet far, far way, audiences were first introduced to Luke Skywalker and the Jedi legacy that had been passed down through generations. This hero’s journey has resonated with audiences on a grand scale over the past forty years in movies, television, books, comics, and more. Led by Michele Brittany (editorials manager, Fanbase Press), panelists Craig Miller (Star Wars publicist), Dr. Kevin Wetmore, Jr. (Empire Triumphant), Michael Kogge (Everything You Need to Know…), Daniel Cooney (Star Wars: Rogue One Trading Cards), and Livio Ramondelli (Star Wars cover artist) will discuss the themes of legacy within the Star Wars mythos both from storytelling and academic perspectives. Room 300B

• 3:30 p.m.: Fanbase Press: Introducing Quince — Quince is a 15-issue comic book series being released in English and Spanish about teenager Lupe who discovers she has superpowers at her quinceañera. Artist Emma Steinkellner (Ayzenberg) and Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon will discuss the series and the importance of inclusivity and representation in the comic book medium in a Q&A session moderated by Jason “JPG” Galit (Ready Set Geek podcast, Geek Say What? Network). Room 208

• 7:30 p.m.: Fanbase Press: Art of Trading Cards – Themed collector cards have been around for over 100 years, originally packaged with cigarettes. By the 1950s, bubble gum was packaged with trading cards that began to spotlight media-based subjects such as popular television shows and films. Trading card sets typically include sketch cards, which feature the work of established and aspiring artists. Led by Michele Brittany (editorials manager, Fanbase Press), panelists Daniel Cooney (Star Wars: Rogue One), Chris Thorne (DC Comics’ New 52), and Ashleigh Popplewell (The Walking Dead) will talk about their experiences working with Topps, Cryptozoic Entertainment, and other companies to create trading cards that celebrate some of our favorite franchises. Room 213AB

Saturday, March 24

• 10:30 a.m.: Comic Arts Conference: Comic Monsters – Michele Brittany (Horror in Space: Critical Essays on a Film Subgenre) uses historical and intertextual approaches to identify themes and tropes in comic books featuring the mummy as the main character. James R. Thompson (Comic Book Historians Group) examines how techniques of the comics form are used to represent “Authority” in the police interrogation scene from diverse comic book adaptations of Poe’s “A Tell-Tale Heart.” Nicholas Diak (The New Peplum: Essays on Sword and Sandal Films and Television Programs Since the 1990s) employs concepts such as gender representation and the hero’s journey to explore how Dynamite Comics’ Re-Animater series re-imagines and subverts H. P. Lovecraft’s “Herbert West–Reanimator.” Room 210
  
• 6:00 p.m.: Fanbase Press: Latinx Comics Creators & Readers — Quince is a 15-issue comic book series being released in English and Spanish about teenager Lupe who discovers she has superpowers at her quinceañera. Comadres y Comics is a podcast hosted by three Latina women hoping to highlight the role that Latinos have in the comic book industry. Join Quince creator Sebastian Kadlecik and Comadres y Comics hosts Kristen Parraz, Sara Bazan, and Jennifer Lopez as they discuss the importance of inclusivity and representation in the comic book medium in a Q&A session moderated by Barbra Dillon (editor-in-chief of Fanbase Press). Room 209

• 7:00 p.m.: Women on the Dark Side – Join Susan Lee (Wraith of Love, creator of Women on the Dark Side), Maria Alexander (Snowed), Mairghread Scott (Toil & Trouble, Transformers: Till All Are One), and Bel Deliá (The Tangle, The Tunnel) as we all explore what drew each of us to the dark side of creation and what exactly that means. Hopefully, you’ll learn to love your dark side, as well. Moderated by Barbra Dillon (editor-in-chief of Fanbase Press). Room 209

• 8:00 p.m.: The Arkham Sessions: The Psychology of Batman: The Animated Series – The Arkham Sessions podcast returns to WonderCon to continue the celebration of Batman: The Animated Series through the critical lens of a clinical psychologist. Joined by their special guest Londyn Jackson (History of the Batman), podcast hosts Dr. Andrea Letamendi and Brian Ward discuss the use of Batman in their work to explore the characters, stories, and psychological themes from this iconic series. Join them to discuss how the art and narrative of the Caped Crusader can engage and inspire wide audiences. Room 209

Sunday, March 25

• 11:00 a.m.: GeekED: Caring for the Nerd Mind – Teachers, administrators, and student affairs professionals are increasingly called upon to respond to a variety of mental health concerns across the education landscape. This panel of educators and mental health experts, including Dr. Andrea Letamendi (UCLA, The Arkham Sessions podcast), Dr. Brent Crandal (Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego), Alfred Day (UC Berkeley), Adrian Perdue (UCLA), and Brian MacDonald (UCLA), share how they have applied their passion for fandom and the lessons they have learned from superheroes to develop new best practices for promoting mental health in schools and on campuses. Room 209
  

In addition, you will not want to miss the other indie creators, writers, artists, and publishers who will be exhibiting their work at the convention.

• Writer Russell Nohelty (Katrina Hates Dead Shit, Ichabod Jones: Monster Hunter) and Wannabe Press will be at Table SP-11.
• Author Justin Robinson (Fifty Feet of Trouble, City of Devils, Daughters of Arkham) will be exhibiting in the Small Press Area (SP-96). (You can always spot his booth by looking for the red banner and the question mark!)
• Writer Madeleine Holly-Rosing and her series, Boston Metaphysical Society, will be at Table SP-31. Stop by and see her new pins and get a sneak peek at the brand new standalone Boston Metaphysical story, The Scourge of the Mechanical Men.
• Sketch card and comic artist Chris Thorne will be in Artists’ Alley C14.  Be sure to check out his new Zombie Commission website, “YourZombieFuture.com.” He will be doing zombie commissions, and there will be a drawing for a zombie commission sketchcover.  He will also have his latest Star Wars and Walking Dead artist proof sketchcards available at the show.
• Artist extraordinaire Lonnie Millsap will be at table number SP-78 in the Small Press area. On Saturday at 4:30 p.m., he will be on the Quick Draw panel with Sergio Aragones and Tom Richmond! (Don’t miss it!)
• Karate Petshop will be at table SP-32 with copies of their all-ages graphic novels, including the Eisner Award-nominated Rikki!
• Writer/artist Christie Shinn of HoraTora Studios will be at Artist Alley table E50 with her new webcomic, Demon Bitch.
• Independent comic creator Allen Carter of Carter Comics will be at SP-114 with his three titles, Damn Tourists, Cosmic Force, and Mongoose Mondays. In addition, Carter will be doing a 3 for $20 deal with Cosmic Force (This will include the trade paperback, the issue 5 comic, and the prequel comic.), and a 5 for $25 deal with Damn Tourists. (This will include all four issues of the visitor satire comic series, and a signed inked piece of original comic art.)
• Writer/artist Joshua Hauke of Tales of the Brothers Three will be at Artist Alley Table E-35 with copies of his books, prints, and posters.  He will also be taking pre-orders for his brand new book, Sweater Vest Switcheroo!
• Monster Elementary will be in Small Press at SP-34. Writer Nicholas Doan, editor Gwendolyn Dreyer, and artist Bobby Timony will all be in attendance.

Please visit the WonderCon website to purchase your tickets for this exciting event.

Everyone at Fanbase Press is greatly looking forward to the convention, and we hope to see you there!

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Fanbase Press Signing Schedule

All Weekend:
Bryant Dillon (Writer, Something Animal, Identity Thief)

Friday, March 23
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.: Kit Steinkellner (Writer, Quince) and Emma Steinkellner (Artist, Quince)

Saturday, March 24
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Yehudi Mercado (Creator/Writer/Artist, Hero Hotel)

Sunday, March 25
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Yehudi Mercado (Creator/Writer/Artist, Hero Hotel)
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: The Arkham Sessions podcast meet-and-greet with co-hosts Dr. Andrea Letamendi and Brian Ward