By Dan Joyce (and Bonkers, of course)
WonderCon 2025 wasn’t just another comic convention — for me, it was a chance to connect, create, and carry a message that matters: mental health awareness deserves a seat at the creative table. And we brought it, loud and proud.
From the moment we walked into the Anaheim Convention Center, Bonkers and I were hit with that wild WonderCon energy — part costume carnival, part creative explosion, part deep human connection. And this year, it felt more personal than ever.
A Booth With a Message
At my table, nestled in the vibrant chaos of Small Press, I didn’t just display my art and comics — I displayed my soul. My books, Have You Taken Your Meds?, JKAT, and The War of the Soul, all sat proudly on display, each one shining a spotlight on mental illness, addiction, and the systems that too often fail us. These aren’t just stories. They’re lived experiences, transformed into art — funny, painful, surreal, and ultimately human.
To everyone who stopped by and said, “This speaks to me” — thank you. I saw you. I heard your stories too. That’s why I do this. That’s why we all do this. Not for fame, not for fortune, but for connection and healing through creativity.
Mental Health and Comics: A Growing Conversation
I made it to a few panels, but the one that really stuck was about mental health representation in comics. Finally, creators are talking openly — about trauma, therapy, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, grief, addiction. And not just as plot twists, but as real experiences. It made me proud to be part of that wave, contributing my own lived truth through graphic storytelling and visual poetry.
Have You Taken Your Meds? especially got some strong reactions. People laughed, cried, and nodded in understanding. One cosplayer told me she read part of it at lunch and said, “You just made my whole con worth it.” That’s what I live for.
Cosplay, Community, and Conversations
Of course, WonderCon wouldn’t be WonderCon without a dazzling dose of cosplay. From stormtroopers and Spider-Men to original creations like “Steampunk Therapist” and “Caffeine Demon,” the creativity was off the charts. But even through the makeup and foam armor, I saw real people — many of them artists and fans using fantasy to cope, to process, and to express what words can’t.
In between autographs and zine swaps, we had real talks — about surviving the system, navigating diagnosis, finding art as therapy, and rewriting our own narratives. I even heard from a few fans who said JKAT helped them understand what their brother or daughter or roommate is going through. That kind of feedback means more than any five-star review.
Why This Matters
For me, art isn’t just expression — it’s survival. It’s advocacy. It’s proof that we’re still here. That we’re thinking, feeling, imagining — even when the world tries to flatten us into statistics.
At WonderCon 2025, I saw a growing hunger for authenticity. People are tired of stigma, tired of silence, tired of pretending. And that’s why I’ll keep making books. I’ll keep painting, writing, talking. Whether it’s through Bonkers’ surreal commentary or my own raw truths, I’m here to remind people that mental health matters — and creativity can be a lifeline.
Next Stop: Comic-Con
WonderCon lit the fire. Comic-Con is next. I’ll be there with new art, new stories, and the same message: You are not alone. Your mind is not broken. Your story is worth telling. And if we laugh along the way? Even better.
Until next time —
Dan Joyce (and Bonkers)
Author of Have You Taken Your Meds?, JKAT, and The War of the Soul
Advocate for creativity, recovery, and the beautiful mess of being human.
SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS NOW!!!
