WonderCon – The SWAG Collector

Coronavirus Be Damned! Star Trek: Picard Needs To Be At WonderCon 2020

For convention-going nerds, the Anaheim Convention Center has most notably been recognized as the home of WonderCon. But thanks to the new CBS All Access series, Star Trek: Picard, MANY MORE nerds, now recognize the convention center as Starfleet Headquarters!

In episode two of Star Trek: Picard, when the unmistakable Anaheim Convention Center is prominently displayed during the title character’s visit to Starfleet Headquarters, its enough to cause seasoned WonderCon attendees’ heads to explode, as their fictional and real worlds collided!

Now that the Anaheim Convention Center has entered the collective consciousness as Starfleet Headquarters, Star Trek and WonderCon are forever linked! And as long as the coronavirus doesn’t continue to wreck havoc on pop-culture conventions, the series and the Comic Con organization (which owns WonderCon) are perfectly positioned to promote Star Trek: Picard with a uniquely WonderCon fan experience!

Last year, to promote Star Trek: Picard, CBS All Access held a panel, and set-up a booth & pop-up shop at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC). They had props and costumes on display… They had an autograph session with Sir Patrick Stewart… They sold exclusive merchandise… And they gave SWAG, including replicas of the “Visitor Badge” Picard wears during his onscreen visit to WonderCon… “*ahem…” I mean, “Starfleet Headquarters”.

Additionally, on January 23, CBS All Access and the Comic-Con organization hosted a Star Trek: Picard premiere episode viewing at the future site of the Comic-Con Museum, in San Diego’s Balboa Park.
Along with the episode, the streaming service, again brought props and costumes. And similar to the SDCC events, the museum presentation was a SWAG-filled event- with attendees walking away with posters and subscription gift cards!

CBS All Access SWAG from the Star Trek Picard premier at the Comic-Con Museum

These recent events demonstrate an established relationship between CBS All Access and the Comic-Con Organization. Given this relationship, and the recent Anaheim Convention Center connection… a Star Trek: Picard presence at WonderCon is one of life’s EASY, “no-brainers”.

WonderCon takes place April 10-12.
At that time, the last episode of Star Trek: Picard, season one, will have recently been released- making it an ideal time for promoting the show’s binge-worthiness.

Promoting the series, and emphasizing its Anaheim Convention Center connection during WonderCon would definitely be a crowd-pleaser…

Imagine actors in Starfleet uniforms greeting WonderCon attendees, in-character, at the convention entrance, or welcoming visitors to admire props and costumes set-up for display on the exhibit floor…
Imagine SWAG such as an exclusive Fansets pins of the convention center, adorned with the Starfleet Delta…
Imagine a panel featuring casts and other creatives…

Replica of badge worn during Picard’s visit to Starfleet Headquarters (Anaheim Convention Center) given as SWAG at SDCC. This type of immersive SWAG is perfect for WonderCon!

It’d be a travesty if CBS All Access didn’t take advantage of this fortuitous marketing opportunity, and it’s stating the obvious to say…

STAR TREK: PICARD NEEDS TO BE AT WONDERCON!!!

Hopefully, the CBS All Access marketing team recognizes this perfect pairing, and will seize the opportunity to… “Make it so!”

Comic-Con Museum Hosts WonderCon Exhibition, Opening Night Gala w Jen Bartel

WonderCon 2020 Program Cover Image by Jen Bartel

Last March, the images that graced the walls of the Comic-Con Museum “Cover Story: The Art of Comic-Con 50” exhibition perfectly illustrated San Diego Comic-Con’s (SDCC) finger on the pulse of pop-culture, throughout the years. And the museum’s new exhibition, “Sense of Wonder: The Art of WonderCon Anaheim”, does the same for SDCC’s sister convention in Anaheim, CA, April 10-12.

Similar to “Cover Story’s” focus on SDCC program cover illustrations, “Sense of Wonder” (running select days from Wednesday, Feb. 19 through Sunday, May 31) exhibits the commissioned, WonderCon program cover illustrations in various stages of the creation process.

The Walls outside the exhibition display a mural of WonderCon Covers, while inside is a gallery of drafts, thumbnails, and original pieces!

Unlike last year’s event, that focused only on past SDCC program covers, the “Sense of Wonder,” opening night event on Wednesday, February 19, took the opportunity to also DEBUT the 2020 WonderCon program cover!
And to the delight of all attendees, the Comic-Con Museum invited cover artist Jen Bartel along to help debut the cover and participate in a panel Q&A!

Museum Curatorial Director Gary Sassaman and Artist Jen Bartel debut the WonderCon Program Cover to resounding applause!

From cover debut… to past covers exhibits… to an entertaining and informative panel/Q&A… Comic-Con Museum charter members and guests were treated to a nice night celebrating WonderCon and this year’s talented cover artist.

Flyer, bookmark, and signed (In the rocks!) WonderCon program cover poster!

AND BEST OF ALL… Attendees walked away with glorious SWAG, in the form of a BEAUTIFUL poster showcasing the WonderCon 2020 cover illustration, SIGNED by Bartel!

Ready Player One a Hit at WonderCon!!!

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Ready Player One (RPO) was one of the most anticipated presences at the Anaheim Convention Center, during WonderCon, this past weekend (March 23-25).
The movie, opening March 29, had two events at the convention.

At 10:30am, on Saturday, Warner Brothers Pictures hosted an autograph signing featuring cast members and creatives from the film…

Though many RPO fans went into WonderCon Saturday morning, feeling dejected having not been selected in the new autographs online lottery (more on this in a later blogpost), several vigilant fans WERE able to successfully infiltrate the RPO autograph signing!

The autograph signing was attended by Tye Sheridan (Parzival), Philip Zhao (Sho), Lena Waithe (Aech), Olivia Cooke (Art3mis), Win Morisaki (Daito), Ben Mendelsohn (Sorrento), Screenwriter Zak Penn and Author Ernest Cline.

Autographed Ready Player One poster SWAG!

Each of the cast members and creatives engaged with autograph seekers and seemed genuinely happy to be there. And fans lucky enough to attend the signing seemed EVEN MORE happy as they chatted and walked away with autographed poster SWAG!

At 12:25pm, on Saturday, Warner Brothers hosted the cast and creatives in a 45 minute-long panel/Q&A…

Crowd outside the Arena, before the Ready Player One panel

At San Diego Comic Con, because of the need to devote several hours to line-up, fans of a particular property usually have to choose between trying to get autographs OR seeing the panel for that property. Fortunately, because of the Anaheim Arena’s huge capacity (7,500), there’s typically enough seats and enough audience turn-over to accommodate hundreds (possibly thousands) of new audience members at the start of panels.
As a result, fans who attended the RPO autograph signing could also make it into the Arena for the RPO panel!

Ready Player One panelists discussing their experience making the film

During the event, panel members reflected on their time working on the film, and each had humorous anecdotal stories of being star-struck by Director Steven Spielberg.
It was a bit disappointing that the panel didn’t include never-before-seen footage from the film. However, it’s understandable, considering many scenes in this movie contain spoilers… and fans will probably be better-off experiencing it for the first time while viewing the complete film.

On a personal note, I had a great time at the signing and panel!
During the signing, I was able to confirm with Cline that he has begun work on a RPO sequel, and he made a humorous joke about promising to be finished before R.R. Martin’s next Game of Thrones book!
And the events had awesome synchronicity for me, when Tye Sheridan shared with the panel audience how very impressed he was with Lena Waithe’s performance- given it was her first film. …Something he had just became aware of earlier in the day, after hearing me confirm this fact, while chatting with Lena during the autograph signing!

Other than the Los Angeles, red-carpet premier (March 26)… WonderCon was the last BIG stop for the RPO marketing machine!
And in only a few days, fans will finally be able to experience Cline’s universe as imagined by Spielberg!

Thanks to my love of SWAG, I found RPO and I’ll be among the masses entering the Oasis!

So should you!!!

Ready Player One: A Masterclass on Marketing with SWAG!

The term SWAG has evolved over the years, but in the purest definition, SWAG is a promotional giveaway used to create awareness and/or encourage a purchase…
It feels like you’ve hit the jackpot when you get SWAG related to something you enjoy or are anticipating.
And it can be even more exciting when you happen upon SWAG relating to something you’re totally unfamiliar with, yet intrigues you to explore further.

Some SWAG is better than others, but honestly, I don’t think there’s such a thing as “bad” SWAG!
And as a marketing device, SWAG works!

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, published 2011

My experience with Ready Player One (RPO) is a great example of the power of SWAG…

Ready Player One hits theaters March 29.
The movie is an adaption of Author Ernest Cline’s novel of the same name. Though the book was an immediate hit upon publication in 2011, RPO didn’t get on my radar until 2015.

That year, I stumbled upon a line while walking the San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) exhibit hall, and I was fortunate enough to get ensnared by publisher, Penguin Random House’s RPO promotional signing, with Cline.
The line for the signing stretched sooo far past the Penguin Random House booth, that its origin and reason for formation, was totally unclear. But with so many eager faces in line, my FOMO demanded I step to the back, and find out who/what waited at the other end!

As Penguin Random House employees walked the line, handing-out softcover copies of RPO, I struck-up a few conversations.
I asked what RPO was about, and found myself becoming more and more excited as I was told of the book’s dystopian future, the ‘80s nostalgia, the virtual world landscape, and the little guy vs evil corporation plot devices.

Ready Player One signed by Cline at San Diego Comic Con, 2015

When I got to the front and handed-off my book to be signed by Mr. Cline, he was gracious, friendly, and a great ambassador for RPO.
I left the signing feeling extremely enthusiastic, and when I got home, I started reading immediately…

Not surprisingly, I loved the book, and couldn’t resist being vocal about it.
I told everyone I know IRL…
I told everyone on my Twitter feed…
I recommended it at every opportunity…
And though I stopped short of giving away my signed copy, I’m absolutely positive I am responsible for getting AT LEAST three people to read RPO.

With a crowd pleasing property such as RPO, I’m sure my experience isn’t unique. And it’s easy to envision the publisher’s exponential positive return-on-investment from bringing Cline to SDCC, and giving away signed copies of his book, as SWAG.

In 2017, this strategy was mimicked on a larger scale when Warner Brothers Pictures brought their RPO movie promotional campaign to SDCC. The campaign included a panel/autograph signing with Cline and several of the talent associated with the movie, including Director Steven Spielberg!

This time around, I was a 2-year-veteran, Ready Player One fan, and the signing was a highly anticipated, can’t-miss event for me!
However, this second RPO SWAG opportunity was a far-cry from the easily-attended event that was the 2015 book signing.

Movie and television autograph signings are notoriously difficult to attend at SDCC.
Getting these autographs require double-digit HOURS waiting in line, overnight, for a CHANCE at an early morning drawing, that’s riddled with line-cutters and a suspiciously large number of ADA badge holders (who receive preferential line access)!

Though this scenario deters most attendees from autograph seeking, there still are quite a few (hundreds) people vying to pull a wining ticket, from a blind-bag drawing.
And in 2017, I was among those who were willing to take the chance that luck would be on my side.
I mean… it was for Ready Player One- my favorite novel of the past two years!!!
And it was for Steven Spielberg- one of my favorite directors of all time!!!

For me, the hardship endured was worth the risk of possibly walking away empty-handed.

WB Lenticular wristband cut from the wrist at signing…

Fortunately, luck was on my side…
And after sticking my hand in the bag and drawing a ticket, I walked away with one of the coveted wristband that entitled me to join the winning group at the Warner Brothers exhibit booth later that day, for a signing with Cline, Spielberg, and several others.

At the signing event, I had a great time briefly exchanging pleasantries with Cline and the creatives behind the RPO movie!
I couldn’t help but gush over Director Spielberg and tell him how much my kids (who were with me!!!) and I love his work!

Signed Ready Player One promotional poster…

The autographed poster SWAG I walked away with has become an ABSOLUTE cherished part of my SWAG collection!
When I’m asked about SDCC 2017, the RPO signing is always touted as my fondest experience! And to this day, I continue to be the vocal, enthusiastic, Ready Player One fan that the Penguin Random House and Warner Brothers marketing teams hoped to create when their autographed RPO SWAG was bestowed upon me!

RPO premiered to rave reviews at the South by SouthWest (SXSW) festival in Austin, TX.
And on MARCH 24- less than a week from wide release- RPO is making it’s final, big, pre-release, convention promotional push, with a panel/signing at WonderCon in Anaheim, CA!

Though sadly, WonderCon’s recent move to online lotteries for signings makes it unlikely I’ll walk away from the convention having added another autographed poster to my RPO SWAG collection, I’ve got my fingers crossed that the panel, featuring Cline and the “High Five” cast, will also include the “Extra Life” coin (seen at SXSW) as a surprise SWAG giveaway to panel attendees!

…A SWAGCollector can dream, can’t he?

Ready Player One, ahem, “Ready” for WonderCon!

As predicted, Warner Brothers Pictures is headed to WonderCon, Saturday, March 24, with a panel and signing for the highly anticipated movie, Ready Player One (RPO)!
WonderCon recently shared a tweet confirming Author Ernest Cline and the actors bringing the “High Five” characters to life from the page to the screen will appear courtesy of WB Pictures.

Thanks to this WonderCon Tweet, Saturday, March 24 seems like a lifetime away!

It will be interesting to see if San Diego Comic Con‘s little sister will be able to secure director Steven Spielberg for the signing/panel.
The fact that Warner Brothers thought highly enough of WonderCon to bring director Patty Jenkins to last year’s Wonder Woman events is promising…

Wonder Woman Director Patty Jenkins signing at WonderCon 2017

Ready Player One movie poster from SDCC 2017, signed by cast and creative talent- including Director Steven Spielberg!

And the fact that Spielberg made an appearance at the SDCC 2017 RPO events also bodes well.

With WonderCon’s new online lottery system for obtaining autographs, RPO fans have a slim (1-in-60,000) chance of getting signatures from the cast…
However, dedicated RPO fans will have a slightly better chance of attending the Warner Brothers panel in the 7,500-seat, Anaheim Convention Center Arena (interested fans should line-up at least two hours ahead of scheduled start-time).

RPO panels and special screenings made a huge splash at last weekend‘s South by SouthWest show in Austin Texas. As a result, it seemed WonderCon might get overlooked! Fortunately that’s not the case!
…And attendees can expect the RPO fun and goodness to continue at WonderCon!

Will Warner Bros Pictures Once Again Win WonderCon?

WonderCon 2018 is almost here!
Since arriving in Anaheim (from San Francisco) in 2012, the event has maintained its standing as a premier pop-culture convention…

As such, WonderCon should be a MUST-ATTEND event for movie studios with properties that could benefit from a promotional push between now and San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) in mid-July. Yet, despite several studios having big-budget genre films hitting theaters in the next few months, Sony Pictures is currently the only confirmed movie studio presenting at WonderCon.
But with rumors of a Warner Brothers Pictures presence, WonderCon attendees shouldn’t give-up hope of more involvement from movie studios.
…Especially considering Warner Bros’ rumored attendance isn’t too far-fetched.
Here’s three reasons why:

1. Warner Bros’ comic book and television divisions are already confirmed at WonderCon!
According to the convention’s exhibitors list, DC Comics has a booth on the event floor that could easily accommodate some shared-space for any special movie-promo events.
Additionally, WonderCon recently sent out a tweet confirming Warner Bros’ television division will attend, with the new SYFY show, Krypton in-tow.

And if past years’ events are an indication, it’s likely at least one, but probably more (hopefully) of DC’s other superhero shows will also have a presence!

2. Wonder Woman at WonderCon stole the show in 2017!
Last year, Warner Bros had the good sense to host a Wonder Woman panel that included Director Patty Jenkins and never-before-seen clips of the movie. Additionally, the DC Comics booth hosted a signing with Jenkins, where attendees received t-shirts, pins and signed posters.

Wonder Woman poster SWAG signed by Patty Jenkins

Wonder Woman definitely came away from WonderCon with a lot of positive buzz that surely added to its great word-of-mouth and huge box office receipts when it was released in theaters on June 4.
Warner Bros could effortlessly mimic the WonderCon strategy they used for Wonder Woman, and apply that same strategy to any high profile, genre movie released before SDCC.
And speaking of which…

3. Ready Player One and Rampage open nation-wide one week and three weeks respectively after WonderCon!
WonderCon presents the PERFECT opportunity for Warner Bros to build additional buzz for the hotly anticipated Ready Player One movie adaptation.
…And if The Rock actually came to WonderCon to support the April 20 release of Rampage… FORGET ABOUT IT!!!
A Warner Bros movie presence at WonderCon, anchored by Ready Player One… With an appearance by The Rock to hype Rampage… Including a trailer for Aquaman… And maybe even sneaking in a teaser for Fantastical Beast: The Crimes of Grindelwald… would be a HUGE win for the studio!
Warner Bros navigated WonderCon perfectly last year, and could again be positioned to reap the benefits of being the biggest
fish in an under-utilized pond.
…of course, without confirmation, this is all just speculation.
As an eager attendee, it’s nice to dream. And in case I’m completely off-mark in my prediction…
Someone please forward this blog post to Warner Bros’ marketing team, and let them know they have less-than a month to MAKE-IT-HAPPEN!!!

WonderCon celebrates Action Comics #1000 with Dan Jurgens Cover

The only thing better than a convention exclusive, is a SIGNED convention exclusive!

WonderCon recently revealed they’ve enlisted show guest, Dan Jurgens to create this year’s program guide cover… And with Jurgens as an invited guest, this gives attendees the opportunity to take home some SWEET, S-W-E-E-T, Signed SWAG!!!

Helping Jurgens with the cover are Inker Norm Rapmund, Colorist Alex Sinclair, and Letterer Todd Klein.
Norm and Alex will also be attending Wondercon this year. And though Todd hasn’t confirmed if he’ll attend WonderCon, a nice article about his process creating the program cover logo can be found at Todd’s Blog.

The cover itself, and the Action Comics #1000 logo visible on the cover, are good indications that DC plans to promote Superman’s milestone issue at this year’s WonderCon! Hopefully, this translates into a convention exclusive issue 1000 or even BIGGER & BETTER SWAG!

WonderCon is sure to be filled with numerous opportunities to snag some cool SWAG!
Don’t miss the opportunity to add these talented creators’ signatures to this awesome cover. And be on the lookout for SWAG celebrating Action Comics #1000!