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San Diego Comic-Con 2025 International and Beyond – Lucas Museum, Comic-Con Museum Julien’s Star Wars Auction, Comic-Con Cruise and SDCC Malaga!
Hello my fellow San Diego Comic-Con fans,

Image courtesy Comic-Con International

We are less than two weeks away from this year’s convention. Every year, I get excited to see what Hollywood and the pop culture world have in store for us at the ultimate event. Hordes of comic book fans, pop culture enthusiasts, anime lovers, and gamers flock to San Diego every July to make their pilgrimage to this mecca. I have been attending San Diego Comic-Con since 2012, and each year, I look forward to participating; it is always the highlight of my summer vacation.

Lucas Museum of Narrative Art:

Image courtesy Lucas Museum on Narrative Art

The schedule for this year’s convention is almost finalized; we need to see what Sunday brings. One exciting surprise that fans (me included) are looking forward to is George Lucas’ upcoming appearance, his first time attending. He will be there to promote the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.

George Lucas‘ appearance will occur in a panel on Sunday July 27, 2025 in Hall H with Guillermo del Toro (RealGDT), and award winning Doug Chiang to discuss the power of illustrated storytelling.

Image courtesy Lucas Museum

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art panel will be moderated by the legendary Queen Latifah where Mr Lucas will share a sneak peek of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. I can already imagine a huge line forming outside the famous San Diego Comic-Con Hall H for this exciting panel.

The new museum is being built by George Lucas and his wife, Mellody Hobson. The finished product is designed to feature and highlight all forms of visual storytelling – from photography and sculpture to comic art and performance arts.

Some of the fantastic artists featured in the Lucas Museum are Diego Rivera, Jack Kirby, and Carrie Mae Weems. It also acquired the Separate Cinema Archive, which includes posters, lobby cards, and other artifacts from the history of African American cinema from 1904 to the present. Some of those incredible artists are Paul Robeson, Duke Ellington, and Sidney Poitier.

Currently completing construction in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, the new museum is scheduled to open in 2026. This kind of museum is a much needed addition to spotlight the entertainment industries narrative arts efforts in the past and the future. I am happy that we will see this type of creative art celebrated and promoted by a filmmaker whose legacy speaks for itself.
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Comic-Con Museum Turner Classic Movies Julien’s Star Wars Auction:

Image courtesy Kenn of TeamWHR

Comic-Con Museum’s premiere attraction this year will be an auction of Star Wars memorabilia, Echoes From the Galaxy, which is organized by Julien’s Auction House in association with TCM and takes place at the museum on Sunday, July 27th.

I believe the auction will raise a significant amount of money, but it will also give dedicated Star Wars fans the chance to own a piece of their favorite franchise. How amazing would it be to own a part of one of the most beloved film series of all time?

Image courtesy Kenn of TeamWHR

The Comic-Con Museum is a vital part of the Convention and has displayed incredible exhibits over the years. The Museum operates year-round and is situated in Balboa Park, San Diego. Focusing on comics and popular arts, it offers the opportunity to get up close and personal with art through featured exhibits and events from Comic-Con. In past years, exhibits have featured Stan Lee, Batman, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, and Pac-Man.

In the past the museum hosted “Excelsior! The Life and Legacy of Stan Lee – Interviews with Michael Uslan and David Uslan” included below. The exhibit included artifacts ranging from the origins of the comics to the movies and everything in between. If you get the chance to visit the museum, you should. It provides a much more intimate look at what Comic-Con International is all about and the fantastic art that can be seen. Additionally, it’s a great way to avoid the crowds and enjoy a more personalized experience at the convention.
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Comic-Con Cruise:

Image courtesy Comic-Con Cruise

This year, we also learned about the Comic-Con Cruise, which will depart on January 30th, 2026, from Tampa to Nassau, Bahamas. The cruise is celebrating the 25th anniversary of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

Hosted by Felicia Day, onboard, fans can expect terrific themed parties, exclusive screenings, Q&A sessions with special guests, and much more. What an exciting time to be part of that fan base! I have not gone on the cruise myself, but it sounds like it will be a wonderful experience!

SDCC Malaga:

Image courtesy Comic-Con Malaga

For the first time, Comic-Con International will be going overseas! San Diego Comic-Con Málaga will take place at the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos from September 25 to 28, 2025. This event will feature a mix of international and local pop culture, including panels, exhibits, and special guests.

I am happy to see Comic-Con expanding to different countries. I hope we get to see more countries added to the list in the future.

With all the new announcements for this year’s Comic-Con International, I do not doubt that the future of Comic-Con in San Diego will continue to expand and that we will see it soar to new heights in the years to come. Comic-Con is such an integral part of the creative arts, keeping the medium alive and thriving. We include the SDCC Theme below for your enjoyment.

🇬🇧 Lucas Vidal, composer awarded with an Emmy, a Hollywood Music Award and two Goyas, has created the official soundtrack of #SDCCMálaga.

Recorded in Vienna, it’s a powerful, soaring score, designed to make you dream, cheer, and feel every moment. pic.twitter.com/ydNgK12Kyc

— Comic-Con Málaga (@comicconmalaga) July 9, 2025

In closing for now, It is always a pleasure to see what Comic-Con International has to offer each year, as well as the amazing treats that fans can immerse themselves in. As the convention draws closer, prepare yourself for the whirlwind of comics, movies, art, pop culture, toys, figures, and television that this amazing convention has to offer. See you there!

Thanks to Kenn for video and image embedding for my feature article and many thanks to you for visiting WormholeRiders News Agency. I will be back in the near future with new information as Team WHR heads to San Diego Comic-Con 2025!

Please feel free to leave a comment here or If you prefer, you may also click the social media icons below to share this news article or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit me on Twitter by clicking the links or images avatars in this news story.

See You on The Other Side!

Until next time,

Regards,

Lori
July 12, 2025
SDCC2024 Juliens Auctions and Turner Classic Movies Auction Interview at the Iconic Comic-Con Museum!
Welcome Back Comic-Con Museum Admirers!

Images courtesy Comic-Con Museum

On Tuesday July 23, 2024 WormholeRiders was granted the extraordinary honor of interviewing Kody Frederick, Director of Marketing at Julien’s Auctions and Rita Vandergaw, the Director of the Comic-Con Museum to discuss at length the “Spotlight Series: Harry Potter & Other Heroes” auction that is now accepting bids on over 120 fabulous memorabilia collectables in conjunction with Turner Classic Movies.

Final bids for these cherished items will be conducted live from the Comic-Con Museum on Sunday July 28, 2024 beginning at 10:00 am. The auction will also be streamed live at the Juliens Auction site for those who are unable to attend in person.

Image by Kenn of #TeamWHR WormholeRiders

During our time at the Comic-Con Museum we were excited to learn about the Comic-Con Museum Legends program that for a largely tax deductable donation, a four day pass to the legendary (pun intended) San Diego Comic-Con 2024 is included in addition to membership at the museum!

The Comic-Con Museum Legends program will extend to 2025. so if you cannot attend this year, plan on next year to leverage your donation to this fabulous museum and pop culture convention.

Image by Kenn of #TeamWHR WormholeRiders

We were ecstatic when the privilege of interviewing Kody and Rita to share special knowledge about the treasured items up for auction that include purchasing a piece of movie and television history! During Comic-Con San Diego, the Comic-Con Museum and Juliens will be auctioning incomparable items including a Deadpool and Wolverine shirt screen worn by Ryan Reynolds, authentic movie memorabilia, screen used props, storyboard illustrations, signed photos and much more!

We include this revealing and insightful interview below for your enjoyment.
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About Kody Frederick and Julien’s Auction Spotlight Series:

Image by Kenn of #TeamWHR WormholeRiders

Kody Frederick is the Director of Marketing for Julien’s Auctions. Around the world, fans are preparing to enter the fantastic world of Turner Classic Movies and Julien’s Auctions in a fabulous collaboration “Spotlight Series: Harry Potter & Other Heroes” taking place through July 28, 2024.

This absolutely awesome auction is set to captivate fans greatest collectable desires with a superbly stunning array of pop culture treasures from Harry Potter and fabled superheroes such as Captain America whose mask is up for auction as this one of a kind event!

Image by Kenn of #TeamWHR WormholeRiders

Rare artifacts and memorabilia relating to the cast and crew of the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts franchises, set dressings, crew jackets, and paint test props on offer for the first time at auction. From the film X-2 (X2: X-Men United), over forty hand-drawn storyboards by famed storyboard and comic book artist, Gabriel Hardman.

Other extraordinary heroes are represented in full force, including significant artifacts from Marvel Studios and the DC Comics Universe. The auction will also pay tribute to Warner Brothers Consumer Products’ legendary founder, Dan Romanelli, featuring items from his a personal collection. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Comic Con Museum.

Image by Kenn of #TeamWHR WormholeRiders

Imagine having the opportunity to acquire magical props from your favorite movies or production ephemera used to create these iconic films.

Not only do such items hold sentimental value, but they also serve as tangible connections to the films that have shaped our lives.

This inaugural auction is a chance to bring home a piece of nostalgia, a symbol of creativity, and a slice of the magic that makes entertainment so memorable and timeless.

Kody Frederick will be conducting the final bids for this awesome auction live beginning on Sunday July 28, 2024 at 10:00 am in the Comic-Con Museum theater!

About Rita Vandergaw and the Comic-Con Museum:

Rita Vandergaw is the Director of the Comic-Con Museum, a division of San Diego Comic-Con International (SDCC) a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation.

SDCC and Comic-Con Museum are organized for charitable purposes, and dedicated to creating the general public’s awareness of and appreciation for comics and related popular art forms, including participation in and support of public presentations, conventions, exhibits, museums, and other public outreach activities which celebrate the historic and ongoing contribution of comics to art and culture.

In addition to its San Diego Comic-Con convention each summer (the premier comics convention of its kind in the world), SDCC organizes the Anaheim-based WonderCon each spring, and the SAM: Storytelling Across Media symposium in the fall!

We will continue reporting on our adventures in San Diego for Comic-Con 2024, including exclusive interviews, so check back soon! In the meantime, please feel free to share this article with your friends, co-workers and or family and leave your comments! We look forward to you visiting our dedicated review and analysis web site here in the future! Or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit TeamWHR on Twitter, or visit me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story. I and TeamWHR look forward to Seeing You on The Other Side!“

Thank you.

Best Regards,

Kenn of #TeamWHR
July 24, 2024
Stern Pinball – Making Your Pop Culture Dreams Come True at SDCC 2022!
Hello, My Fellow WormholeRiders Pinball Enthusiasts!

Image courtesy Comic-Con International

With Comic-Con 2022 firmly in the past and me fully recovered from the whirlwind again, I begin my coverage of the Pop-Culture event that returned for the first time in three years when I had the exquisite pleasure of interviewing Jody Dankberg, Senior Director of Licensing and New Business Development of Stern Pinball for Team WHR on July 21, 2022. And what a wonderful Pin-Ball gaming experience it was!

As a child of the 80s, video games and pinball were a staple at the local arcade. I was one of those awkward kids that used to stand for hours and pump quarters into the pinball machines, trying to hit that top score and add your name to the list of legends already there. I have always been a huge fan of pinball, so when the opportunity arose to interview Jody, I jumped at the chance. I include a video sample of the great Stern Pinball games below for your enjoyment.
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Image by Lori Glumac for WormholeRiders News Agency

Stern Pinball specializes in unique and pop culture pinball machines. From classic tv shows and movies like Batman ‘66, Star Trek and The Munsters to ones from music icons such as Rolling Stones, AC/DC and Kiss.

It was so cool to see all the literal bells and whistles that these games come with. The way the player can be interactive with the game is incredible. Just looking at all the cool hidden gems that are part of each game is really a treat for those of us that remember the shows or movies.

The newest Stern Pinball editions are Led Zeppelin and Rush, complete with flashing lights and symbols from their most famous songs. Here in my hometown of San Francisco there are a multitude of bars and arcades that feature many of the incredible games from Stern. We include the the Stern Pinball Rush Edition video below for your enjoyment.
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Image by Lori Glumac for WormholeRiders News Agency

One of the places I have gone to several times is the Emporium, an arcade and bar that features several of these games. I have had the pleasure of playing these incredibly fun games and it is not easy. Pinball requires good hand eye coordination. You must make sure to hit those targets and make the bells ring. Some games, like Stranger Things (video included below), you must get the ball in the Demogorgon’s mouth, no easy task. You get three tries and if not, well then back to the upside down it goes.

Speaking with Jody, who is a guru of pinball, I learned a little more about what pinball is and why it has always been such a fun game to play. There will be an exciting announcement of new games in the Fall and toward Christmas.

My first question to him is why is pinball so popular? His answer was that his “objective was when he became a part of the company 13 years ago that he turns pinball into the popular game it once was” (and frankly in my opinion always has been). There is “such a high demand now for games not only from the core customers but so many casual folks, families, younger fans and even little kids.” He mentioned the folks at The Emporium who are great friends of Stern and from Chicago as well. Their pinball machines are also demanded in places like Nashville and Las Vegas. “They are giving you entertainment and nostalgia; the nostalgia brings you in” Jody had said about why these machines are played more. “It is something, social, it is something fun, it gets you out, it also brings people together. It can be something you do by yourself…” to me this is another reason pinball is so vital to the gaming community.

Image by Lori Glumac for WormholeRiders News Agency

Stern Pinball has a program call the Stern Heads-Up Pinball Invitational which is a competitive show that is available to watch on YouTube for the competitive pinball players. He mentioned that there is the Godzilla pinball being released very soon. There were two rooms dedicated to these incredible pinball machines at the Marriott Marquis. Entering the room was fun and all you could see were the fans playing the machines like Deadpool, Jurassic Park and one of the newest music ones Rush. There was a big Godzilla figure in the room as the hint of what is to come from Stern.

Being a global company that ships all over the world, “when we obtain a license, it must be known all over the world, everywhere. From Australia, to here in the States, to Europe, South America.” Jody stressed that the license being global and widely known makes for a good game. With games like The Mandalorian (video below) with a small Grogu and his force wielding powers or Godzilla there are good guys and bad guys, battles, etc., which makes for a fun game. You want to combine a really A+ title, with fun and that is a winning success. The do have different genres as well, sci-fi, music, retro, tv shows, cultural zeitgeist such as The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Stranger Things. He mentioned that he is always thinking about what the next one is. He had mentioned the television show The Boys, who knows that will be in the works soon, fingers crossed.
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Image by Lori Glumac for WormholeRiders News Agency

When I asked Jody what his favorite pinball machine was growing up, he mentioned that his grandfather owned an arcade (how perfect) in Tucson, Arizona and he would spend a lot of time there when he was little. He remembers that when nighttime came the older kids would come in, “with their mustaches and long hair, smoking cigarettes,” they would play the pinball machines. He did mention some of the older games that he wished he were exposed to like Flash Gordon, because he loved that movie (I mean who does not love it?). For the time, the Flash Gordon game was an innovative, neat game to have around, made cool sounds and was just very nostalgic for him. I can totally relate to what Jody is saying, it is those nostalgic games, movies, television shows that need to be revived for the simple fact that they will always be cool. It is also another way for the current generation to be exposed to those iconic movies, shows and pop culture of that era. He mentioned that one game he would love to have been the Robocop game. There is one at Logan Arcade in Chicago, so if you are in the Chicago area and want to experience what it is like to be Robocop, stop on by.

I asked Jody out of the current ones that are out right now which one is his favorite. He mentioned that he “comes from the music business and my heart and soul is really into music” two bands he mentioned were Iron Maiden and Metallica. Between those two powerhouse mega metal groups Metallica is his favorite. The music inspired games from Led Zeppelin and Rush, two of the most iconic and beloved bands in the world, held a bit of fond memories for him. Jody remembers his father showing him those albums and listening to the music while sitting on the floor of his home, and now he gets to collaborate with them, talk about dream come true!
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My last question was a bit of a mystery, and I am okay with that. I asked him what would be his “dream themed game.” He said that “people that know me, know the answer to that question, he couldn’t reveal the answer” because well…I will leave it at that. They are working on his dream theme; he could only tell me that it is retro and something from his childhood. I am looking forward to seeing what incredible theme Stern has coming down the pipeline. It is something “dear to his heart, he is really excited about it,” since Jody and I are of the same generation, I am also excited to see what that new dream theme machine that is coming.

This interview was so much fun, and I learned a lot about a game that I grew up with and dearly love. I want to thank Jody Dankberg and Stern Pinball for giving me this very cool and fun interview to start off my Comic-Con 2022 adventure. Please support your local arcades and check out Stern’s Youtube Channel or web site by clicking their banner above to find these incredible games near you!

Thanks to Kenn for video and image embedding for my feature article and many thanks to you for visiting WormholeRiders News Agency. We will be back soon with more analysis about our favorite television series, movies and conventions in this year and beyond!

Please feel free to leave a comment here or If you prefer, you may also click the social media icons below to share this news article or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit me on Twitter by clicking the links or images avatars in this news story.

See You on The Other Side!

Until next time,

Regards,

Lori
August 6, 2022

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