{"id":1130,"date":"2013-03-03T09:32:00","date_gmt":"2013-03-03T17:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comic-con.org\/toucan\/?p=1130"},"modified":"2023-12-14T10:00:07","modified_gmt":"2023-12-14T18:00:07","slug":"maggies-world-003-plus-you-get","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comic-con.org\/toucan\/maggies-world-003-plus-you-get\/","title":{"rendered":"Maggie’s World 003: Plus You Get . . ."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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MAGGIE’S THOUGHTS ON WONDERCON ANAHEIM!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maggie’s World 003: Plus You Get . . .<\/h1>\n\n\n
Maggie Thompson<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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For the month of March on <\/em>Toucan, we’ve asked all of our regular contributors to talk about conventions in general and WonderCon Anaheim in particular. Each Toucan Tuesday, our monthly columnists will offer their own advice and thoughts about attending conventions. We begin WonderCon Anaheim Month with Maggie Thompson’s own WonderCon memories and some advice on attending this year’s event in Anaheim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Full disclosure: Conflicting schedules have recently messed up my being able to travel to the early-season event that is WonderCon Anaheim. Nevertheless, I\u2019ve found whichever times I have been able to attend to be among the most memorable of the varied comics events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The many wonders of WonderCons for me personally have included: (1) a preview of a comic-book computer-inventory program that I use to this day; (2) a convention speech that actually changed my attitude about my convention behavior; and (3) my first meal at a dim sum restaurant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While your mileage will certainly vary, these experiences are typical of what you can find at WonderCon Anaheim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(1) Previews:<\/strong> WonderCon is big enough to attract a wide variety of exhibitors\u2014and, for that matter, fellow attendees\u2014who have the potential of introducing you to tools, concepts, projects, and friends you\u2019ll treasure for years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(2) Lessons:<\/strong> It was at a WonderCon-associated event that Todd McFarlane (at the height of the Image debut) addressed a number of young creators with an anecdote. It\u2019s not the only good lesson I ever took away from a con\u2014but I\u2019ll always remember it in connection with WonderCon. I summarize it as follows: \u201cWhen I was first going to comics conventions and there was a creator I wanted to meet, I\u2019d go to his table. If he wasn\u2019t there, I\u2019d say to myself, \u2018Well, he\u2019s probably busy; I\u2019ll come back later.\u2019 If he wasn\u2019t there the second time, I\u2019d say, \u2018OK, I\u2019m a fan; I\u2019ll try again later.\u2019 But, if I stopped a third time and he still wasn\u2019t there, I\u2019d say, \u2018I give up and I guess I didn\u2019t like his work that much, anyway.\u2019 Be at your table when you say you\u2019ll be there; when you can\u2019t be there, leave a note saying when you will be there\u2014and then keep that promise.\u201d Todd changed my attitudes about \u201ctable duty.\u201d You won\u2019t know till you\u2019ve experienced them what sort of information this year\u2019s WonderCon will have to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(3) Bonuses:<\/strong> Previews and lessons: I\u2019ve also experienced them at a variety of shows. But that dim sum restaurant (in which small servings were brought from table to table, providing diners with a wide variety) comes to my mind in connection with WonderCon. It was the first time I\u2019d eaten at such a restaurant, and the reason I was able to do it was what the con city had available within walking distance of the con. It\u2019s a different venue this year, but, as Mark Evanier commented in February, \u201cYou certainly won\u2019t lack for things to buy or programming to attend at WonderCon Anaheim.\u201d He\u2019s right\u2014but you also don\u2019t know what you may find in addition in what I call a \u201cplus you get\u201d experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In his love letter to Comic-Con\u2014Comic Book: The Movie<\/em> (2004)\u2014Mark Hamill\u2019s film included a scene in which \u201cDerek Sprang\u201d and his wife and son (played by Tom Kenney and his wife and son) took a break in the San Diego Convention Center lobby. Derek enthused about the event, \u201cSan Diego\u2019s a great town.\u201d He said, \u201cThey\u2019ve got museums, they\u2019ve got zoos here.\u201d But his wife responded, \u201cHow would you know? How would you know? We haven\u2019t left the convention!\u201d Despite all that San Diego had to offer to a family, Derek told her, \u201cI didn\u2019t say we\u2019d go<\/em> to the beach. I said we\u2019d be near<\/em> the beach. We saw it on the drive up with the sand and the water, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year, the \u201cplus you get\u201d experience of WonderCon includes the location of WonderCon Anaheim. Though hopes are to return WonderCon to the San Francisco area, this year it\u2019s located at the Anaheim Convention Center, where attendees can take advantage of the extra lures. Maybe you\u2019ll bring family and friends and come early and stay late to make it the sort of full-fledged family event \u201cDerek Sprang\u201d didn\u2019t. Disneyland, the California Adventure Park, and the Downtown Disney district are nearby. (Even if, like \u201cDerek,\u201d you don\u2019t leave the convention, these will all be treats for your family.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But you know what? No matter what you\u2019re looking for at a comics con, the neat thing is: I will bet you\u2019ll find it at WonderCon Anaheim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Maggie’s World by Maggie Thompson appears the first Tuesday of every month on <\/em>Toucan.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Written by<\/p>\n\n\n

Maggie Thompson<\/div>\n\n\n

Published<\/p>\n\n\n