Comic-Con San Diego 2022

For the last 30 years, I’ve been attending the infamous San Diego Comic-Con. My first Con was way back in 1987 at the tender age of 14 when it was held in the old Convention and Performing Arts Center. One of the celebrated events was the 10^th anniversary of Star Wars, along with the launch of the cable Sci-Fi (now Syfy) channel. I was a die-hard fan of Robotech and the X-Men comics and have many fond memories of exploring the sales floor (then a tiny fraction of what it is now) with my buddy Conrad. 

I started regularly going in 1993 (the only year I missed was 2013) and have seen the Con morph and change over the years. What was once a large convention focused chiefly on comic books is now a massive event that encompasses all the popular media arts. It’s sad to say, but comic books are an afterthought, as they make up a fraction of the vast exhibition sales floor space. Most people attending the convention are there for the many exclusive toys, gaming, and whatever film or TV series Hollywood decides to promote. And I can’t complain, as I stopped collecting comics many moons ago, although there is still a sugar rush when I flip through the back issue bins.

After a two-year absence from an in-person convention, San Diego Comic-Con made a dramatic return this year. Seeing the crowds back and many traditional elements in place with a few modifications was a relief. I’m grateful that the convention imposed an indoor mask and vaccine/testing requirement to (hopefully) keep the Con from becoming a super spreader event. I attended the Convention for two and half days, arriving Thursday afternoon, staying through Saturday night, and skipping Sunday. While it was a relief to be back in the (mostly) old Comic Con shenanigans, here are a few random thoughts on my experience this year:

1. I was fortunate to secure a guest badge for my boyfriend Gary, who had never been to the convention. It was great fun to experience the Con through his eyes for the first time. I’ll never forget the pause and shocked expression when he wandered into the vast, cavernous sales floor. He had to take a break after a few hours because he was experiencing sensory overload. We did attend a few panels, which gave us a much-needed break, and Gary loved the many cosplayers on the convention floor. He gave a big thumbs up to the experience and is still mulling a decision to return. 
2. Even with the thousands upon thousands of crowds returning, there was a subdued quality to the convention this year. It’s like the temperature was turned down a few notches. The booths were smaller in scale, and there were hardly any freebies, a usual staple where many companies typically give out free posters, shirts, and ash can comics. There was also a noticeable reduction in cosplay action this year, a disappointment since the elaborate costumes are fun to admire and photograph. 
3. Speaking of cosplay, the popular costume for 2022 was hands down The Mandalorian, followed by Stormtroopers and Ashoka Tano. I think I counted 18 Mandalorians, complete with Baby Yoda, on Friday alone. Star War-themed cosplay continued to be quite popular, with many mashups. My favorite is an Austin Powers-themed Vader with his stormtrooper fembots.
4. Sadly, there was no souvenir collectors book this year. Instead, we could download a digital copy which is not the same as a physical copy. I have close to 30 Souvenir books on my shelf, and they are like a high school yearbook for the Con. They highlight the featured guests that year and exclusive artwork celebrating superhero anniversaries. I suspect that after being closed for two years, Comic-Con International is tight on funds and needs to cut corners. It’s disappointing because I now have two gaping holes in my 30-year collection.
5. Another missing element was no exhibition booths for DC Comics and its parent company Time Warner. Part of the fun of the convention was watching the two big comic publishers try to outdo each other in the booth department. And DC typically has a vast cave-like space where they display film costumes and props, creator signings, and lots of free comics and buttons. Ditto for Warner Bros, which had a ridiculous city corner size space at the 2019 convention. Besides DC’s splashy Hall H presentation for their upcoming film slate, the Time Warner team was MIA this year. A shame as Marvel had a substantial booth showing off their many comics and merchandise. I chalk it up to Time Warner’s acquisition by Discovery and the reorganization the company is experiencing.
6. The Hall H Line continues to be a Quixotic mission for me. For those not in the know, Hall H is a huge, dedicated section of the Con, seating close to 7,000, that houses the large panels for the many Hollywood Film and TV presentations. Typically, Saturday is the big day where DC and Marvel announce their upcoming slate of projects, and if you’re lucky to get inside, you can see exclusive footage and teasers. This year at the Marvel panel, they showed sequences for the upcoming “Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantomania” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” that was not released to the public. The Hall H line snakes around the convention center down to Seaport Village, especially for the popular Friday and Saturday presentations. Some people camp out in tents and sleeping bags days before each presentation. The convention has tried to bring order and organization to the line with a wristband system, where you must wait in a separate line the day before, which also snakes around the convention center. It’s all very confusing, and I have better things to do at the Con than stand in a ridiculously long line. 
7. There were so, so many Funko Pops this year. Funko Pops are like the tribbles from Star Trek, as the weird-shaped plastic figures keep multiplying and multiplying. It’s terrifying to witness.
8. I may be mistaken, but this is the first time NASA had a booth. The section promoted NASA’s upcoming Artemis mission to the moon and the James Webb Telescope. This is a genius move for NASA, as their core audience is at the Con. And as a bonus, this was one of the few booths giving out free swag. Someone at NASA must know the value of branding. And the Webb telescope panel was standing room only, as my group failed to get inside, and we got in line 15 minutes early. This was a great way to prime the pump as both the Webb Telescope and the U.S. return to the Moon will garner much publicity in the coming years. 
9. The lunch and snacks at the Convention Center café continue to be ridiculously expensive. Three pretzels and water will set you back $37 bucks! Here’s a Comic-Con tip for all future attendees, pack bottles of water, snacks, and granola bars. Your bank account will thank you. 

In closing, this was a great return to form for the beloved convention. I know the Covid numbers have been up and down, but I think from here on out, Comic Con is back and here to stay. This year was a nervous step back into the light, and I hope the Con will be firing on all cylinders next year.