As the Fearist family pulls into the parking space we look to the left and see Negan pull Lucille out from the trunk of his car. To the right is a giant chicken. And we are stuck in the middle with Rey and a Jawa.
Yup, we must be at WonderCon!
We readied our kids in their cosplay and made our way across Harbor Blvd. The electricity isn’t quite as vibrant as SDCC; yet there is a definite camaraderie as attendees embark on their first day of the con.
The first thing I noticed is that there were no lines, no throng of people sweating their prosthetic zombie flesh off. Last year, attendees were waiting outside in the hot sun for an hour or more before they could pick up their badges. This year the bulk of the badges were mailed out and I can only guess that it cut down on the madness of people standing in line. It was a definite improvement.
Per usual, the gathering of spectacular cosplayers in front of the fountain as well as roaming in front of the convention center was a terrific place to take pictures or just people watch. But we weren’t there to people watch, today was all about roaming the exhibit hall.
The set up didn’t seem too different from last year, I found it manageable as the crowd wasn’t super packed. There was enough room to stop and take pictures or to pose for pictures of ourselves. I love the first day of cons because the exhibitors seem excited to get the weekend started, they’re fresh and happy to show you their wares.
Some booths that I recommend for families who like to read or have young readers:
Author/artist Rhode Montijo’s corner booth dedicated to things Halloween and beyond. Make sure to grab a copy of “The Halloween Kid.” Already have the book? That’s ok because something else caught my eye: a personalized piece of art featuring super cute pumpkins. A must-have for the family that loves Halloween. Say hi at booth 912.
We jumped at the chance to pick up a copy of “Scary School” from Author Derek Taylor Kent. Perfect for kids ages 7-12 (but as always, you know your kid best so ages can fluctuate) book one in the four-book series won “Funniest Chapter Book of the Year” by the Children’s Literature Network. Find Derek at booth 903 and let him know that Mommy Fearist sent you!
It’s always nice to see our favorite undead hares, Zombie Bunnies! These comics are a Fearist kid fave and there is a new issue out! Small press area, table SP-60
We found a comic for young readers and if you’re reading this…it’s right up your alley. Monster Kids, a comic book from Kevin Glover, caught our eye instantly. We picked up issue No. 1 for our 6 year old. But lets face it, I’ll be reading it as well because I can’t resist a comic that combines kids, classic monsters and superheroes. If you can’t make it out to small press table 47 at WonderCon this weekend, you can find out more here.
Also of interest to the families who like things a little…odd:
Zombie Gnomes! I need them all. Hand crafted and hand painted, these little figures add just the right touch to anyones yard, work desk or cemetery plot. My favorite of the bunch were the zombie gnomes chowing down on a pink flamingo. Bonus: my daughter loved them and she’s not usually a fan of the zombies. Get your hands on a gnome today at DL-44
Find the perfect hair accessory at “Cutecee Bows.” Big bows, little bows, superhero bows, emoji poop bows and our favorite–Jason, Freddy and the Scream guy. If you have to ask if I’m going to put my 4 year old little girl in a Freddy Krueger bow, the answer is yes! I also got her a Vampirina bow because we love that little loveable vamp. Booth 580
You’ve seen these fuzzy fiends online now see them in person! Feisty Pets are at the Jazwares booth #841. We love them, our kids love them and I know that you’ll love them too. Perfect for a prank or just because your 4 year old daughter likes the bunny’s pointy teeth. Or because your 6 year old boy thinks the name “Glenda Glitterpoop” is downright hysterical.
As always, there is so much to see and do during WonderCon. The cosplay is impressive and Mommy Fearist loves seeing all of the family cosplayers. Keep checking back in with Horrorbuzz for more updates during this wonderful WonderCon Weekend!
