Every year, film, television, and comic enthusiasts come together at the San Diego Convention Center for one reason: Comic-Con. For a few days only, Downtown San Diego becomes the mecca for any man, woman, or child who hopes to catch a preview of a highly anticipated blockbuster film or spot their favorite celebrity walking among the crowd in costume. Kicking things off with a Preview Night on Wednesday, July 20 and running Thursday, July 21 through Sunday, July 24, 2016, expect San Diego to get much more crowded with the superheroes we’ve grown to love.
Concern struck many Comic-Con fans as the Director of Marketing and Public Relations of Comic-Con International, David Glanzer, stated that the convention’s popularity has pushed Comic-Con to outgrow the San Diego Convention Center. Many feared that the convention would not return to its San Diego home, however, Glanzer went on to say that the convention was working directly with the center to expand the space in the near future. Comic-Con International has signed a contract to stay in San Diego through 2018, at least.
As of March 7, 2016, Comic-Con has released nine waves of special guest announcement lists. The list of guests includes writers, artists, producers, vloggers, cartoonists, authors, and many other talented game-changers in the comic industry. As for the program schedule that announces the featured panels for the casts and crews of various films and television shows, that information will appear approximately two weeks before Comic-Con takes place. Past panels have included the cast of The Avengers, The Hunger Games, Game of Thrones, Dr. Who, The Walking Dead, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and many more.
For those still interested in attending Comic-Con, tickets might be scarce to find as the convention sold-out within an hour of the sale going live. Tickets can be found on external ticketing sites, where one day passes are listed for hundreds of dollars while the four-day pass is in the thousands. For any large comic fan, this is a small price to pay in exchange for breathing the same air as some of the greatest film heroes of our time. If you’re in San Diego this summer, you won’t want to miss out on all of the action, both in the movies and at San Diego Comic-Con.
Written by Hannah Strange