Its the end of August and San Diego Comic Con has come and gone and i’m still thinking about the event and trying to decide if I’m up for a few more years of the crowds, heat and 20k steps per day! Let’s see what 2024 had to offer me, as never think one person can do everything, even over 4 days. This year I was fortunate enough to have tickets and again return to the pop culture extravaganza that takes over downtown San Diego.

Last year, not having a ticket I learned that you can have full days of fun experiencing all the outside activities.  Did I learn to balance my time?  I say I have, I also learned that I didn’t have to endlessly run from one panel to another, or pace the exhibit hall endless in the hope of not missing out.

Meeting people at comic con is probably the best part of the show, my tickets were secured through the online sales portal with the help of a fellow attendee who gracious jumped into the “waiting room” online to give me another chance of getting tickets.

Walking into the Gaslamp quarter of San Diego and seeing the banners and building wraps brings a sense of familiarity while being all new and exciting.

The local SUPER7 store transformed into a Dungeons and Dragons lair, hosting exclusives and a look at the new Tiamat Vinyl figure that they launched as a companion to the D&D figures that they recently announced.  They had a smoke machine to billow out from the front door that was adorned to look like the ride entrance from the classic TV cartoon from the 80s. 

The convention itself boasted a large exhibitor floor, and it was nice to see that “exclusives” were on hand for purchase once again.  Gone were the scan codes for pre-order and delivery later.  Being able to walk out with Hasbro’s Cobra Commander (Once a man) or Marvel Legends Death’s Head was an awesome feeling.  It was like the convention was really 100% back!

I thought I’d be left out for convention exclusive action figures and was trying to figure out how to leverage the friends I had that actually had won booth accesses.  Then even on Thursday many of the booths either had really short standby lines or just opened up to the public.  

When they brought out the Hasbro HasLab Rattler from the GIJOE team and placed it on display, it was amazing to see it firsthand and to take in all the details.  I’m sure that played a small part in the crowd fund project getting backed in a day.  Getting such a large piece is not for everyone, size and price will always be a factor.  At $325 and knowing that with the wings in the up position would take an entire shelf for itself will be a determining factor for many.  I always promise myself to wait till after the convention to back projects like this so I know its not because I was caught up in the moment.

Not just the HasLab, it was exciting to see the newly announced figures being put out for the first time, so you could see first-hand the actual figures that are coming.

There were some exciting panels and a screening for Marvel’s Deadpool and Wolverine, followed by a spectacular drone show!  This weekend Marvel announced the upcoming Secret Wars Movie and announced that Robert Downey Jr. will be back, as Doctor Doom!

As for me, I wandered the floor and leisurely took in the show around me.  Meeting people for the first-time who I have only known through comments through my YouTube channel or from social media, and reconnecting with people I had met before.  

I found some new action figure lines; FIST by Invincible Toys and Zoo JITSU from Icon Heroes seemed promising.  With limited figures on hand it was nice to see these lines that are starting out with products to sell.

I also made time to hit up a few outside activities. Peacock had a miniature arena where you raced against 4 other teams with a horse drawn chariot!  Of course, the horse drawn chariots were about a 1/10 scale and ran similar to a carnival game.  The actors in the booth really brought the drama and did their best to get you into the action.  It was a lot of fun, but besides chariot races I’m still not sure what “Those about to Die,” the peacock show is about. 

They of course Paramount Plus had The Lodge.  It was a 45-minute self-guided experience.  Once in was a t-shirt station where you designed your own Star Trek inspired shirt and watched as the made it before your eyes.  The Lodge housed an ink Master (temporary) tattoo parlor, Sponge Bob integrative game, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pizza parlor, and bar themed from the show Tulsa King.  You had coupons for food and drink.  The bar served alcohol!  The Lodge was a relaxing experience especially for a middle of the day activity.  It seemed like 45 minutes just wasn’t long enough!  

San Diego Comic Con has an exclusives portal that you participate in ahead of time.  This is your opportunity to get into certain booth for exclusives and to win cast signings being sponsored by Movie and TV Studios.

I only won one thing in the SDCC portal and that was a cast signing for the TV Show Tracker.  Justin Hartley was there to sign a mini poster from the show and was very personable. Even at 10am on Saturday, he really brought the energy.  Of course, even if you didn’t win a signing you could still walk by and get close enough to grab a cool picture of your favorite celebrity. 

I had to make sure and check out the smaller retailers because you never know what treasure you could find!  Also, artist alley is the best place to get one on one with your favorite artists and pick up a treasure and show them your support.

I have to say that not having had tickets last year and spending my days wandering form outside activity to activity and then being able to get tickets for this year changed my perspective on how I approached the show.  I think I’ve realized that I have had the most fun at Comic Con in alot of years.

So i guess O’m defiantly looking forward to 2025, tickets or not there will be plenty to do and see!