“I need you to trust me, one last time” – Mission: Impossible. This actually isn’t the last San Diego Comic-Con by any means but every year always feels like a once in a lifetime event. The streets of downtown San Diego began transforming earlier than ever it seems with AMC’s building wraps for The Vampire Lestat, The Walking Dead and new show Yaga. Amazon has The Rings of Power Season 3 and Space Balls 2: The New One up. Never to be outdone, Paramount is highlighting Star Trek on all con attendee badges along with displays for Strange New Worlds and their ever popular Paramount+ Lodge under construction.
2026 special guests include Frank Miller, the legendary creator behind iconic runs on Daredevil, Batman and his own 300 and Sin City. Along with artist extraordinaire Jim Lee and inker Scott Williams, Bone creator Jeff Smith, writer Mark Waid and many more. After taking over a literal downtown, San Diego Comic-Con shines because of its immense programming schedule like no other show. You can spend all day learning and participating in the creative arts, hear from pros about their craft, the business or go do some gaming, watch movies and anime. Panel wise I’ve got a smorgasbord to choose from highlighting Masters of the Universe, Conan the Barbarian, Jack Kirby, Star Wars, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, toys and Saturday Morning Cartoons.
Rob Liefeld is doing an episode of podcast Robservations, comedian Marc Maron is on hand to release a book about his legendary pod and I’ll try to get into the Reacher panel as Alan Ritchson is in town too. After a rocky post-Endgame stint, I’m sure Marvel will make a huge return to promote Avengers: Doomsday which anchors Saturday’s Hall H schedule. I was hoping SDCC ‘26 would continue the Michael Biehnaissance as there’s an Aliens 40th anniversary panel along with a preview for A24’s Onslaught with writer/director Adam Wingard and co-star Dan Stevens attending. Alas it looks like Biehn is no longer attending the show due to work commitments, but that doesn’t seem like a bad thing.
