WonderCon 2023 opened its three-day run on Friday with crowds that were actually easy to navigate as long as you didn’t get too distracted by all the sights and sounds of the colorful and creative cosplay. The convention was from Fri, Mar 24, 2023 – Sun, Mar 26, 2023. I wandered the convention center looking for interesting people in cosplay as well as con goers for this weekend at Anaheim Convention center.
Something about me, I always love the obscure characters that no one else is going to dress up as but I also love my classic anime and comic book characters — nostalgia.
Highlights this year included WonderCon celebrating 30 years of Power Rangers with some favorite Power Ranger actors. Everyone have their favorites but for me, it will always be the original Mighty Morphing Power Rangers. The upcoming Netflix special, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always, is set to release next month on Apr. 19.
DC Comics revealed plenty of new Dawn of DC tidbits and art today. This included the new colored artwork for Wonder Woman #1 by Tom King and Daniel Sampere, art for Batman: The Brave and the Bold #1, and Harley Quinn #28 too. Check out brand new colored artwork from Wonder Woman #1, Cyborg, Batman: The Brave and the Bold #1, and Harley Quinn #28 below!
There was so much more to be discovered on the WonderCon floor, including Bandai-Namco, bringing the best of anime and pop culture front and center with exclusive figures and unique model kits on your favorite fandoms. I got a chance to take a closer look at one of their latest products, Nanoblocks, which allows builders of all ages to recreate their favorite characters and items in miniature block formations. Pokemon was the biggest name on display. My hands are too long for me to create that small but it’s super impressive and at a reasonable price. Bandai also features a plethora of build-it-yourself snap kits, allowing you to craft your own vehicles, figures, and more. Kits include the Millennium Falcon, several Gundam mechas, and more!
One of my favorites about going to conventions is supporting the smaller artists, look no further than Artist Alley. Two of my favorite artists is Carlations by Carla Wyzgala & Harmony Gong. Another favorite is Megan Withey, who specializes in fantasy and pop culture watercolor prints. Native to Florida, Megan’s work includes Disney, Sailor Moon, Naruto, and other cultural icons such as Selena.
One of our favorite parts of going to comic conventions is being able to see all of the amazing cosplay that people have been working on all year – including my own.
WonderCon remains one of the best shows for cosplay, with the Anaheim Convention Center providing not only the space but the weather and atmosphere for a thriving, supportive cosplay community. Meetups on the fountain steps happen throughout the weekend of the convention, and fans congregate in the gardens surrounding the main entrance to the Convention Center to take photos, build connections, and share a love of costuming.
WonderCon is much smaller than SDCC, so if you’ve ever wanted to see what a pop culture convention is like without feeling enormous crowds of people, then WonderCon is perfect for you. Comic Con International (CCI) has announced that next year’s show will be held March 29th – 31st, 2024. I’m looking forward to the next show in 2024!
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