IT'S HERE!!! COMIC CON 2026 IS GO!!! BUT FIRST....

 

WELCOME BACK CRAZIES!!!  IT'S HERE!!!  AFTER A LONG YEAR, IT'S BACK!!!  COMIC CON 2026 HAS COME!!!  Alright, we gotta keep our cool.  It's actually in two days as we're posting a bit early as is typical Comic Con week.  But how can I keep calm when the greatest week of the year is here?  Disneyland? Christmas?  Super Bowl?  Child's play!  For me, SDCC is the grand daddy of them all and I think it's time to dive right in and get started!

As we look back today, we'll also include helpful tips to make your Comic Con experience a bit smoother, especially if you're a first timer.  For now, though, we are heading back to 2024 and yet another unique experience for SDCC weekend just happened to fall on the same weekend that the Summer Olympics in Paris opened up!  So polish off that bag of Cheetos and slap on a fresh pair of Batman Underoos because the CRAZY COMIC CON COUNTDOWN is a go!  Enjoy...

The Ghost With The Most shows Lydia some of the Gaslamp Quarter's finer hole-in-the-wall dining options!

TIP: Best time to grab a bite is between 11am and 2pm.  Hall H and Ballroom 20 are usually drawing large crowds during those times so restaurants aren't as packed.  Also, most restaurants in the Gaslamp Quarter DON'T accept reservations during SDCC due to the demand being too high.  It's also worth mentioning the further out you're willing to walk, the less crowded restaurants are, and there are some solid spots past Market Street.

Even at Comic Con the greatest of enemies put their differences aside and have fun!

Doctor Octopus was hoping hoping the extra arms would nab him some extra swag!

TIP: When cosplaying, take weather and bathroom/meal breaks into account.  It is VERY hot in San Diego year-round and a heavy costume will only add to that heat.  If you need to sit for any reason, your costume should allow for an easy exit.

Didn't get much of a chance to explore the Petco Park Interactive Zone in 2024, but it looked bigger and cooler than the stripped down slop they presented last year!  Hopefully this year's offerings will bring the Zone back to its past glory.

Google Play brought a Ferris Wheel back to Comic Con for the first time since 2019!  I didn't go on it but people seemed to enjoy it more than the infamous Mr. Robot Ferris Wheel from 2016!

Star Trek and Doctor Who combined for a fun little popup museum on 5th Avenue showcasing props and costumes from both shows!

The Peanuts Museum celebrated A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving with life-size displays of Snoopy and Woodstock fixing up a feast that only Peppermint Patty would complain about.  Seriously, with diets like these, how the hell is it that Snoopy's brother Olaf is Peanuts' only fat character?  Those kids should all be on Rascal Scooters and have reaching claws!

Through some of the sheerest dumb luck I've ever had, I got into Paramount's The Lodge thanks to a very kind bystander with an extra ticket!  I don't know where that lady is now, but your kindness still humbles me.  Overall, it was a pretty cool experience.  Just wish their ticketing system was more fair.

TIP: There are MANY free offsites and activations offered throughout the weekend, a few even start before the con starts and run after it ends!  However, not all of them are simply walk-in and enjoy.  A few require reservations that fill up quick while others offer standby lines.  Some of these lines may last longer than the offsite's operating hours.  So, take into account the risk/reward factor of getting in line.

The Voodoo Ranger and Abbot Elementary...  Two iconic moments from SDCC 2024!

TIP: Because alcohol is served, the Voodoo Ranger is NOT a free experience.

Sucks being a Red Shirt...

Hilda cosplay!  How quirky!

TIP:  Be sure to wear comfortable, closed toe shoes!  You will be doing a LOT of walking on concrete and asphalt.  High heels and sandals are without question the WORST shoes you can wear!  Also, your feet WILL get stepped on!  It's nothing personal, just part of the risk of being in a building with close to 200,000 people inside and millions more outside of it trying to join in.

Well this doesn't seem too ominous!

A true hidden gem of SDCC 2024 was the Planet Of The Apes offsite!  I don't even like those movies and I came out of this with a greater appreciation of the series!  Well run, tolerable lines, air conditioning and a live hawk...  What more could you really want in an activation?

Abbot Elementary has seen a growing presence since the con returned in 2022, and Ava Fest certainly took that presence to a whole other level.  The lines actually went pretty quick and they gave out some nifty swag.  So, naturally, last year they screwed everything up with an asinine queuing system that just left people hot and bothered.

I still don't really know what The Bear is, but this activation was SDCC 2024's most popular offsite and also featured the most coveted swag of the con!  People were literally fighting each other over tee shirts rolled up like burritos!

TIP: Water and sunblock!  Bring PLENTY of both!  You will be in the sun a lot, especially if offsites are your primary focus, and it's gonna be hot outside, so hydrate properly in between lunchtime binges of soda and energy drinks!  And although the Convention Center won't put out coolers anymore unless clients order them, the surrounding hotels all have water coolers in the rooms and are okay with people refilling their bottles, especially the Marriott.

If only Orco could have cast a spell that would've made Mattel, Amazon and MGM better promote the Masters Of The Universe movie!  Then again, this is Orco we're talking about here.  He'd probably still find a way to screw it all up!

The Deadpool Unicorn Brigade.  It was a very hot day...

TIP: BE COURTEOUS!!!  Yes, it's hot, it's crowded and there are certain people there not being upstanding citizens, but you know what?  We're all in the same boat.  Sometimes, it is much easier to ignore a pest than it is to engage them.  And if they are really being that bad, there's about 1,000 overzealous police academy rejects working security that are more than happy sweep that pest out.  No jerk is worth losing your badge and going to jail over.  Just try to keep your cool and be patient when dealing with certain attendees.

Can't stress enough that you really don't need a badge to experience Comic Con.  There are literally five offsites in this picture behind the Convention Center alone!  Free for all!

Powerline stopped by to make sure everybody was seeing things Eye 2 Eye!

TIP: Bring a portable charger and cable!  Wall outlets are at a premium with that many people on hand!  Also, don't expect to be making too many phone calls or getting social media posts out as cell service is pretty spotty at SDCC due to the crowds and Convention Center WiFi is slow and terrible! 

Lastly, since Halloween is on deck after SDCC, I'll leave you with this little bit of nightmare fuel: A Walk-Around Rainbow Brite costume!  Seriously, how hard would it have been to find a few little blonde girls to dress up like Rainbow Brite and give them and their families weekend passes so they could switch out every few hours?  That suit above looks like the first demon to greet you at the gates of Hell!

And that was Comic Con 2024!  Hard as this may be to believe, I really don't remember too much of it. I was so busy in the weeks leading up to it that I've largely had to go back and look through pictures to try and piece things together.  It looks like I had a good time, so I'll just have to go with that!

And that's another week down in the CRAZY COMIC CON COUNTDOWN, but fear not!  The show may be over soon, but we ain't stopping 'til we got pics for this year, so keep coming back until we are done!  If you're heading to San Diego this weekend, be sure to say hi if you spot me!  I'll try my best to update y'all on Twitter and BlueSky as my cellular service will allow.  As of right now I'm not on any panels, but you never know?  I wasn't expecting to be at a booth either and last year, there I was!  Until next time, take care, stay safe and I'll see y'all at Comic Con! 

COMIC CON!!! KEEPIN' IT CRAZY IN 2023!!!

ONE!!!  ONE WEEK TO GO UNTIL COMIC CON 2026!!!  Oh man I can hardly contain myself the excitement is at a fever pitch here at the CRAZYVERSE!!!  Lots of preparation is still going on as I'll likely be setting things up this weekend in the exhibit hall.  Is it cool getting a first look at everything?  Totally!  But as cool as it is, there's still a job to do, so it isn't all fun and games.  Also, it gives me no edge at all in scoring early on swag and freebies, so don't feel too jealous!

And with that, we are setting the Wayback Machine to the very recent past of 2023 as we see yet another year where SDCC was in a bit of a transition.  The previous year, Covid was still rearing its ugly head and making people very wary about attending.  In 2023, however, a very unexpected source of trouble popped up, and left many wondering what would happen if all the stars and shows suddenly couldn't take part?  Get those walking shoes broken in CRAZIES, because the CRAZY COMIC CON COUNTDOWN is off!  Enjoy...

Pikachu doesn't seem to be enjoying the festivities as much as Team Rocket is!

The Peanuts Museum, a very simple yet fun offsite that celebrates the magic that is Charlie Brown and Snoopy.  Sadly, it looks like somebody else will be using the space this here, so hopefully they will simply relocate for 2026.

The Hulu Animayhem activation.  Either the greatest experience ever or a colossal waste of time, depending on your point of view.  They gave out some pretty awesome swag without question.  However, it was a four hour wait for photo ops in front of inflatables.  Sometimes the reward isn't worth the risk.

Another longtime fixture of the Comic Con offsite scene is the Hello Kitty Cafe!  Long tucked away along the back of the Petco Park Interactive Zone, it's my niece's favorite spot.  Last year, when she couldn't attend due to wisdom tooth surgery, her brother went and bought her all the stuff she wanted without being asked.  Just a simple act of kindness between siblings.

Dear lord!  It's Professor Chaos!  What a minor inconvenience!

Sideshow Bob!  Hopefully he avoided any rogue rakes lying around!

It cannot be understated the hours of joy passerby got out of seeing complete strangers getting their asses kicked while trying to ride a giant, mechanical hotdog at the Adult Swim Block Party!

The FX Lawn switched back to their more traditional presentation of multiple activations promoting their shows, including a large stage where samurai battles took place promoting the series Shogun!

POWDERED...  TOAST...  MAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!

Careful folks, he's loaded up on Vitamin F!

The film Dazed And Confused had a fun little activation set up at the Petco Park Interactive Zone, celebrating the movie's 30th (Good God, am I really that old now?!?) anniversary!  Not a very appropriate movie by today's standards, but it launched a lot of careers and is still fondly remembered by us 90's kids.

When the Voodoo Ranger comes sailing into the bay, you know the party's about to dock!

Damn.  You know it's a tough economy when even Batman sells out!

They're back in a New York Groove!

And finally, we'll close things out today with this awesome Men In Black cosplay!  It's not an obscure movie at all, but it's certainly not a character most folks would dress up as, and this dude totally nailed it!

And that was Comic Con 2023!  Obviously the big elephant in the room was the huge writers and directors strike in Hollywood that led to actors and producers joining the picket lines in solidarity of the true creatives that make the shows and movies we all love so much.  As a result, panels were cancelled left and right as shows couldn't be promoted by casts and crews.  I must admit, it was one of the easiest times I've ever had scoring exclusives as folks were kind of abandoning ship while others took the time to *GASP* look at comics and art (Go figure?)!  Now, there were celebrities there.  However, they could only promote personal projects, and you know something?  There are a LOT of famous people active in comics and toys!  And I'll end on this note: Seeing folks simply walking into Hall H was a true novelty!  It was a fun but different Comic Con for sure.

And that's another week down as we march even closer to COMIC CON 2026!  We'll be posting a bit early next week as the show kicks off on Wednesday, but I'll still have plenty pictures, not to mention a few tips, to make your SDCC experience a breeze!  So be sure to come back and check it all out!  Until then, take care, stay safe and I'll catch y'all later!

COMIC CON 2022: THE RETURN!!!

WELCOME BACK CRAZIES!!!  TWO!!!  TWO WEEKS AWAY FROM COMIC CON!!!  AH HA HA!!!  Alright, alright, we all gotta settle down here.  We are officially into crunch time as announcements are getting more frequent!  Some big names and panels have already been announced as have some of the offsites!  It's all so exciting, isn't it?  But, we still got a wait ahead of us, so why not enjoy some past Comic Con fun to tie us over until the big day comes?

We're heading back to the year 2022, a real crossroads for SDCC as the world was only just starting to return to normal after the horrible pandemic.  It was the first time since 2019 that the con had been held and people were eager to hit the aisles again!  So, cap up those Code Red Mountain Dews and hold on tight because the CRAZY COMIC CON COUNTDOWN is coming fast!  Enjoy..

This Vulture cosplayer found a unique way to follow the Convention Center's mask policy that weekend: Work the mask into his costume!

Hey hey!  It's Uncle Murph cosplay!  A whole generation of kids grew up with this guy on XETV Channel 6, then the local FOX affiliate in San Diego.  From 1990-1998, he was a fixture of local TV and when we heard that famous battle cry "CHANEL SIX-A-ROONIE!!!', we all knew it was time for cartoons and Power Rangers to start!

Offsites weren't a very big part of Comic Con in 2022.  Though outbreaks had slowed significantly and were practically nonexistent by the holidays, Covid was still very much a threat during the summer, so many of the producers of the popular offsite activations either scaled down or skipped the show altogether.  However, that just meant an uptick in building advertisements!  Many of which I've come to learn are illegally placed but the buildings put them up anyway due to the fines being mere pocket change to them considering the publicity they're getting!

The Fox/Disney booth!  My new home away from home during Comic Con load-in!  For many years, I had a pretty solid gig doing lights and monitors for the Hasbro booths, but they've cut down a LOT since Comic Con returned.  Luckily, in 2019 I made such a good impression on the dudes at the Fox booth that they inquired if I had survived the pandemic!  When my boss alerted them that I had, they brought me back!  And it's been happy times ever since setting up their video walls!  For three years now, they've claimed the booth is gonna get redesigned.  We'll see in a couple of weeks if they make good on that promise this year!

It just wouldn't be Comic Con without the Trolleys getting wrapped up!

Does this show even come on still?

One of the biggest shockers going into SDCC 2022 was the rather sudden announcement that the legendary Sideshow Collectibles booth wasn't coming back.  A true staple of the con, many fans were heartbroken over the news.  Boom Studios, who always bordered Sideshow, expanded their booth, but were hardly a replacement.  It's gonna be very interesting in a couple of weeks when Sideshow returns after a seven year hiatus!  Will they have their old spot back?  Is Boom getting shafted?  We'll find out in a couple of weeks!

As I said earlier, the offsites were not a big part of the show in 2022, but some still did happen, albeit on a much smaller scale, like the Petco Park Interactive Zone.  Sadly, the Zone has continued shrinking every year since.

Sorry Angelica.  I don't think that Cynthia doll is mint condition.

I have no clue what this was for, but it had a long line and folks seemed to enjoy it.  One of the few offsites that seemed to throw caution to the wind that year, along with the awesome Dungeons & Dragons tavern!

FX was all too happy to return and give folks nightmares with their giant advertisement for American Horror Story!  And if you think that sign is creepy, you should've seen the maze they set up!

So thankful that America's Ass was out on patrol that weekend!

Nintendo spared no expense building a giant Lego statue of Bowser for their booth!

Lastly, we'll end this week's post with this insanely movie-accurate cosplay of the Penguin from Batman Returns!  This poor soul could not have been comfortable in that San Diego heat, but he totally crushed it as Oswald!

And that was Comic Con 2022.  As I stated earlier, a very unique year in the show's history.  Having already been sold out since 2019, it was actually not heavily attended.  People were still very wary about the pandemic, despite things having improved drastically.  It didn't help that Hollywood was having issues of its own at the time that would come to a head a year later, but that's a story for another time, particularly next week.  Despite the unease, it was still nice to get out and cruise the aisles again.  What made it all even better was that my nephew Lucas hung out with me for a couple of days, getting some quality bonding time in with my ride bud while he was still young enough to think I was cool!

Well, that's all for now, but as you well know, the CRAZY COMIC CON COUNTDOWN goes until we got pics from 2026 to post, and that's still a few weeks out!  So be sure to come back next week as we explore what Comic Con 2023 had to offer!  Until then, take care, stay safe and I'll catch y'all later!