X

Photos: WonderCon's Zap! Boom! and Pow!

The annual comic book convention held over the weekend in San Francisco was an exclamation of the art and pop culture worlds colliding.

James Martin
James Martin is the Managing Editor of Photography at CNET. His photos capture technology's impact on society - from the widening wealth gap in San Francisco, to the European refugee crisis and Rwanda's efforts to improve health care. From the technology pioneers of Google and Facebook, photographing Apple's Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Google's Sundar Pichai, to the most groundbreaking launches at Apple and NASA, his is a dream job for any documentary photography and journalist with a love for technology. Exhibited widely, syndicated and reprinted thousands of times over the years, James follows the people and places behind the technology changing our world, bringing their stories and ideas to life.
James Martin
wondercon.jpg
1 of 15 James Martin/CNET

Stormtroopers

SAN FRANCISCO--WonderCon returned to San Francisco's Moscone Center last weekend and these three Stormtroopers were kind enough to stand guard at the entrance Friday.

With an attendance last year of more than 29,000, WonderCon is the second largest comics convention on the West Coast (after Comic-Con International).

This slideshow offers a flavor of the event.

wondercon-25.jpg
2 of 15 James Martin/CNET

Exhibit hall

WonderCon combines the worlds of comics and popular culture by offering attendees a chance to meet some of their favorite classic comics writers and artists, do some shopping, and see Hollywood stars up-close.
wondercon-31.jpg
3 of 15 James Martin/CNET

John Wesley Shipp

A.J. poses for a photo with John Wesley Shipp, the actor who played the title role in CBS' short-lived but critically-acclaimed series, "The Flash," during its 1990 to 1991 season.
wondercon-5.jpg
4 of 15 James Martin/CNET

Comic close-up

WonderCon is equal parts art, celebrity sightings, and pop culture history, with piles and piles of classic comics and memorabilia to dig through.
wondercon-13.jpg
5 of 15 James Martin/CNET

Searching for comics

Comic conventions like WonderCon and its sister show, Comic-Con, give collectors a chance to search through thousands and thousands of comic books.

wondercon-33.jpg
6 of 15 James Martin/CNET

Mark Hamill

Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars trilogy, signs autographs and meets with fans who waited patiently in a line that wound through the exhibition hall after purchasing $100 tickets.
wondercon-17.jpg
7 of 15 James Martin/CNET

Zacklin comic artist

"Zacklin" comic artist Hyperbooster, aka Bordin Mark Marsinkul, refers to an image on his iPhone while drawing at his WonderCon booth.
wondercon-19.jpg
8 of 15 James Martin/CNET

Comic book artist

This comic book artist at WonderCon said he takes a somewhat unconventional approach, foregoing big muscles, power, and gore. Rather, he said he uses comics as a vehicle for his pastels with vibrant colors.
wondercon-18.jpg
9 of 15 James Martin/CNET

The process

The same artist says he starts out creating his comics using pens, pencils, and pastels. Then he uses computers to bring out certain attributes like color and line, he said.
wondercon-21.jpg
10 of 15 James Martin/CNET

Royce "FooRay" Southerland

Graphic designer, illustrator, and penciler Royce "FooRay" Southerland works on a sketch at his WonderCon booth.
wondercon-14.jpg
11 of 15 James Martin/CNET

Debi Derryberry

Actress Debi Derryberry is unmistakably the voice of Jimmy Neutron on "The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius."
wondercon-23.jpg
12 of 15 James Martin/CNET

Greg Beda

Redwood City, Calif., artist Greg Beda is the cartoonist/creator for "Postmodern AnXst," "Zeke & Goulash," and "Wot Is Life?"
wondercon-3.jpg
13 of 15 James Martin/CNET

Ryan Sook

DC cover artist Ryan Sook has illustrated Marvel Comics' "X-Factor" and worked on "Arkham Asylym: Living Hell," "The Spectre," "Hawkman," "Seven Soldiers: Zatanna," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," and "Angel."
wondercon-30.jpg
14 of 15 James Martin/CNET

Exhibit hall

The WonderCon exhibit hall showcases some of the biggest and best publishers in the country, including DC Comics, Dark Horse, Image, Top Cow, Aspen, IDW, Oni Press, Boom! Studios, SLG Publishing, and more.

The convention is a full weekend of comics, with fans able to see writers, publishers, artists, and film stars right alongside the classic comics themselves.

wondercon-28.jpg
15 of 15 James Martin/CNET

Costumed fans

Costumed fans roam the floor, and there is no doubt that the force is strong with this one.

If you can't get enough, click here for a separate slideshow of even more WonderCon photos.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos