Hello, fellow Comic-Con attendees!
We are just days away from San Diego Comic-Con 2025! This year is a bit less chaotic than last year’s event, with no major Marvel movie screening like the one the previous year featuring Deadpool & Wolverine. Still, there are always fun things to see and do during the con, both inside and outside the convention center. This year seems to have more anime and games featured. We have not seen that since the writers and actors’ strike in 2023. Some major studios might not have panels this year, but that doesn’t mean their presence will be absent at the Con. Luckily, Hall H will host some great panels on Friday, although there will be very few on Saturday, which is unusual since both days tend to be the busiest.
The Comic-Con Museum also features historic Star Wars movie items from Star Wars: Echoes from the Galaxy. All of the fabulous items up for sale are being done by the legendary Julien’s Auction House.
Visitors can tour the museum located in nearby historic Balboa Park, only a short distance from the convention center to see some of the historic items up for sale before the auction that will be conducted on Sunday July 27, 2025.
This year is historic, as the legendary George Lucas will make his Comic-Con debut with a panel discussing his new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. The panel will be moderated by Queen Latifah a legend in her own right. I do not doubt that with George Lucas present, Hall H will be even more crowded. The auction will be held at the museum on the last day of the con, Sunday, July 27th, at 10:00 am. Happy bidding!
Thursday, Day One of the convention, kicks off with ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ opening the Hall H panel in style, followed by a panel featuring two major comedians, Gabriel Iglesias and Jo Koy. This might be the first time comedians host their own panel at Comic-Con.
One panel I am especially excited about is ‘The Toxic Avenger’ with Peter Dinklage. It will be great to see Dinklage back in Hall H, especially since he usually appeared there for the Game of Thrones panels in earlier years.
Another exciting event at the convention is that Stern Pinball is bringing its new machine to the convention. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the iconic shark movie that started it all… JAWS. Stern Pinball is riding that wave and unveiling its JAWS-inspired machine.
Their Stern pinball machines are fantastic and feature some legendary franchises, such as John Wick, James Bond, and The Mandalorian as well as rock and roll icons like Rush and Metallica. They also have their convention room at the Marriott Marquis, where you can try out some of their featured games. I plan to try my luck with the new JAWS machine and will give a report.
I and everyone I know was eagerly hoping for a ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ panel in Hall H since the movie opens on July 25th, but unfortunately, there will be no Marvel panels this year.
I think the chaos that resulted from the ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ surprise panel premiere last year at led Comic-Con International and Marvel Studios to decide against a special screening of Fantastic Four: First Steps at this years legendary pop culture convention.
Friday at San Diego Comic-Con in Hall H starts with ‘Outlander‘ and its spinoff ‘Outlander: Blood of My Blood,’ followed by ‘Alien: Earth,’ the Stephen King movie ‘The Long Walk,’ ‘Predator: Badlands‘ which has been moved up a month to November 7, 2025 from it’s original December release.
Friday in Hall H concludes with the exciting long anticipated return of Disney Studios Tron franchise starring Jeff Bridges as the fabled Kevin Flynn. I for one am looking forward to the ‘Tron: Ares‘ panel!
If Hall H is not an option for you this year, there are still plenty of other fun panels to check out.
Some highlights include the exciting ‘Primitive War‘ set in Vietnam 1968 where a United States recon unit known as Vulture Squad is sent to an isolated jungle valley to uncover the fate of a missing Green Beret platoon. The group soon discover they are not alone.
The Primitive War panel is being presented in second largest venue, Ballroom 20. Featured stars include Ryan Kwanten, Tricia Helfer, and Jeremy Piven.
Also returning to the con is ‘Dexter: Resurrection‘ with Michael C. Hall and the cast, moderated by Jamie Chung.
Friday is always busy, with most panels taking place in the three main spots: Hall H, Ballroom 20, or the Indigo Ballroom at the Hilton Bayfront. Whatever you choose to do during the convention, plan accordingly, as most panels overlap and it can be challenging to see everything you want.
The Gaslamp restaurants will also showcase installations and offer fun food options and swag for fans. Paramount is bringing back “The Lodge”. Fans of Barbie can wear roller skates and roll around the Malibu Barbie Café. Peacock’s Twisted Metal is offering a “Bumper Battle” experience at San Diego Comic-Con. This interactive event allows fans to step into a post-apocalyptic world and participate in a bumper car tournament inspired by the show. Please note that since these activation’s don’t require a badge, lines may be long. It’s a good idea to check wait times on social media.
With Warner Bros., Fox Studios, Disney, and Netflix not having panels this year, the panel rooms might be quieter, but that could mean more time for everyone on the convention floor. I am surprised that Stranger Things doesn’t have a panel this year, given that it is their final year, and it has always been a convention favorite. It’s always interesting to see which major series will and won’t be featured at Comic-Con when the schedule is released. I know everyone has their favorites, and it can be challenging, but it’s always fun regardless of the choices.
One thing that will always remain a staple at Comic-Con is the comics and the artists. No matter where you turn on the convention center floor, you will always see lots of vendors selling comic books or their original art. Take a stroll through Artists’ Alley and discover the amazing art showcased every day. Support these incredible independent artists, whether it’s by buying a sticker or original artwork. Another great way to support these artists is by sharing their content on all your social media platforms. After all, comic books were the original reason why Comic-Con started over 50 years ago.
As I finish this post and get ready for an exciting adventure, I want to remind all fans to support local comic book shops, local artists to keep pop culture, movies, and TV series alive! Importantly, stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, comfortable shoes, pack snacks, and grab as much swag as you can. Bring your enthusiasm! See you soon in San Diego!
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 reporting with new information as Team WHR heads to San Diego Comic-Con 2025!
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Until next time,
Regards,
