ANAHEIM, Calif — No one is going to WonderCon again this year, at least in-person.
Comic-Con International said its WonderCon comic convention, held annually in Anaheim, will not be held as an in-person event this year. Instead, organizers will host a two-day virtual comic convention called WonderCon@Home on March 26 and 27.
“We have hoped that by now, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic might have subsided enough that we could once again come together in-person for a traditional WonderCon event,” Comic-Con officials said on its website and social media pages. “Sadly, as we continue to monitor the latest information from healthcare officials, we have determined the interest of public safety will prevent this spring’s WonderCon from moving forward as an in-person convention.”
WonderCon is better known as a smaller version of the much larger Comic-Con International: San Diego or San Diego Comic Con.
The WonderCon science fiction, pop culture, and comic convention is usually held in Spring at the Anaheim Convention Center. The annual three-day weekend event normally attracts around 60,000 people. San Diego Comic Con is held during the summer and brings in more than 100,000 comic and pop culture fans from around the world.
Organizers said the coronavirus pandemic has hit their event industry hard. Last year, organizers had to cancel WonderCon at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and its biggest revenue generator, the San Diego Comic Convention.
“The challenges of this past year and the postponement of our two largest events have left us with limited financial resources,” officials said, explaining why WonderCon@Home is only two days rather than three days.
Organizers said they are in the process of lining up programming, exhibitors, and other stuff for WonderCon@Home. More details about the event to come.