: Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.comSAN FRANCISCO — It's all about the fans at the WonderCon comic book convention. From attendees who dress as their favorite costumed crusaders to the writers, artists and actors who bring superhero stories to life on the page and screen, the Moscone Center floor is flooded with colorful characters.
Marvel, DC, Dark Horse and other comics powerhouses are in attendance this year, trying to satisfy that fan obsession. But, just as at last summer's Comic Con International in San Diego, Hollywood's pull can be felt as well.
"WonderCon was chosen by Paramount as the only convention to have a Star Trek presence and we're all very excited about that," said David Glanzer, WonderCon director, in an e-mail interview.
A panel presentation and a sneak peek screening of Watchmen, which made a big splash at Comic-Con last year, add to the draw at WonderCon this year: Advance ticket sales are up over 2008, said Glanzer, although he declined to release specific numbers.
Click through Wired.com's gallery of to see the faces of costumed attendees, cult actors and exhibitors from the show floor.
Left:
Name: Ricky Lui
Age: 40
From: Salinas, California
"I'm excited about the new Transformers movie, also the way superheroes are brought to live action movies," said Lui, who was part of the volunteer security staff working line control.
: Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.comName: Jim Friel
Age: 62
From: Oakland, California
"I'm the old comic guy. I've been collecting comics for 50 years. Things have changed a great deal. Prices are higher ... it's less of a mass-interest medium," said Friel, who works at Comic Relief in Berkeley.
: Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.comName: Joey Tufo
Age: 22
From: Fremont, California
"I love comics and get hyped up at these things," Tufo said. "I'll definitely be attending all the DC panels. This is the second time I've ever dressed up."
: Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com
Name: Richard Kiel
Age: 70
From: Detroit, Michigan, now lives in California's Central Valley
Perhaps most famous as the James Bond nemesis Jaws, Richard Kiel now makes convention appearances four to six times a year and enjoys meeting all his fans.
: Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.comName: "The Honky Tonk Man" Roy Wayne Farris
Age: 56
From: Memphis, Tennessee
The former WWF Intercontinental Champion is still in the ring every weekend, but likes taking a break to work the convention circuit. Farris explained, "I started last year. It's something I never knew about. The days are long, but the rewards are worth the wait,"
: Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com
Name: Barron Toler
Age: 58
From: San Francisco Bay Area
"This is my first time at Wondercon — it's very nice," said Toler, who is trying to open a sci-fi restaurant in San Jose, California. "I'm embarrassed I've never been here before. This is something entertaining that everyone can afford. People are their own entertainment,"
: Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.comName: Spenser Barranco
Age: 20
From: Sacramento, California
"The comic industry has its good and bad points," said Barranco. "Marvel's Ultimate Universe is going in a great direction; Spiderman has never been married and has less of a messed-up life."
: Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.comName: Sean Smith Jr.
Age: 23
From: San Francisco
"This is my first time at WonderCon. It's once in a lifetime. Everything is incredible," said Smith.
: Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.comName: Pam Simpson
Age: 37
From: Hilmar, California
"We have fun doing this every year. A lot of guy's wives don't like it, but it's a lot more fun to go out as a couple," explained Simpson.
: Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.comName: Hilary Branner
Age: 27
From: Los Angeles
"So fun, so good. It's very busy and the crowd is in very high energy. People are dressed in funky, punky attire which bodes well for me," noted Branner, who is CEO of Hilary's Vanity, a gothic and fetish clothing and apparel shop.
: Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.comName: Justin Turner
Age: 26
From: Portland, Oregon
"It's one of my favorite conventions I go to," said Turner. Dressed up as Cobra Commander, he explained, "I was sick of doing a Storm Trooper."
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: Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.comMembers of the media swarm Panasonic chairman Yoshi Yamada after a press conference Wednesday at the Venetian hotel.
: Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.comPalm's executive chairman Jon Rubinstein announces the new Palm Pre at the invite-only press briefing in the Venetian.
: Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.comAttendees flock to product stations at the LG booth, eager to test out their new electronics, like the LG Cookie.
: Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.comHigh-definition home-audio listening booths are among the most popular attractions on the floor of the Las Vegas Convention Center.
: Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.comConventioneers mill around outside the hall as a hard day of gadgeting finally wraps.
: Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.comA splash of red light illuminates a CES devotee outside the Microsoft exhibit.
: Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.comAn exhibitor looks on while a CES junkie plays with the CXC Motion Pro II Racing Simulator at the Intel booth.
: Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.comThe sun sets on fleeing gadget lovers after a long day at CES.
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