Evan Wardwell (or, the artist known as ET Wardwell) is a longtime genre fan. He has been a costume maker, performer, artist, and model maker since he was a kid. He has written his first novel, a genre crossing epic fantasy, 1979: A Novel. Still an Oklahoma native, he likes to discuss his interests and knowledge on topics like old-school SF, comics, horror, fantasy, and adventure.
1933 saw the introduction of the "movie monster" that went beyond Dracula, Frankenstein and the Mummy. King Kong led to large monsters that led to dinosaurs and radiation-based creatures like Godzilla and giant insects. Monsters movies continue to this day with both Kong and Godzilla still leading the way.
Are today's kids missing out by not having the ritual of Saturday-morning cartoons? Or are we just romanticising excessive Hasbro ads wrapped in subpar animation? Was there ever a good era for kids' TV, or do we all grow out of it for a reason?
The Star Wars universe now spans films, streaming shows, books, comics, games, and animation. With so many stories available, new fans often wonder where to start. This interactive panel explores different entry points into the galaxy far, far away and what each path offers. Whether you begin with the movies or another corner of the saga, there is always more to discover.