The crazy good times at Comic-Con 2024 in San Diego have begun!
I took one final walk late this afternoon, a couple hours before the San Diego Convention Center would open its doors for Preview Night. And what did my camera capture?
Fun people! Creative activities! Cool sights in every conceivable direction!
And Comic-Con hasn’t even begun in earnest! I can’t wait for tomorrow!
Reporter for IGN prepares to go on camera in San Diego’s Gaslamp during Comic-Con 2024.IT’SUGAR candy store in the Gaslamp has exclusive tokidoki merch for sale.Crowds are growing in the Gaslamp near the San Diego Convention Center on the afternoon of Comic-Con Preview Night.Dragon Tamer cosplay!Batman nemesis Penguin has brought his Gotham Ice truck to San Diego. Uh, oh!Banners on Harbor Drive indicate Heroes At Work.Have a question about Comic-Con? Ask this friendly guy!Here comes Tinker Bell!Do you dare enter the Adult Swim Pirate Parrrty offsite? You have to pass through this gigantic skull!It’s a pirate parrrty! And one heck of a big nose ring!These pirates seem awfully civilized. What are they really up to?These guys can spell A.V.A. FEST. They get a passing grade.Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed cosplay! Very cool!Fans are already exploring the Dragon Ball offsite.Here’s the end of the line for Dragon Ball exclusives, I believe.Hot Wheels is back again with their cool truck!However, the Sharpie truck is stuck in Harbor Drive traffic.Looking for a restroom? Watch for this sign!Part of the Bathroom Battlestation under construction. Looks like he needs a laxative.Cool artwork by a local artist along MLK Promenade.I’m now back to Fifth Avenue looking at the Omni Hotel’s big FOX Animation Domination building wrap.My goodness! These Borderlands Psychos seem to be everywhere!I’ve seen this caricature artist in Balboa Park.Gambit cosplay!Batgirl cosplay!
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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!
A fierce dragon mural was the first thing I spotted on my Wednesday afternoon walk in downtown San Diego. It’s the day of Comic-Con 2024 Preview Night, and the action was picking up outside the San Diego Convention Center as you’ll see in my upcoming photographs.
That toothy dragon, by the way, was being installed in front of the Super7 shop, where they have a special Dungeons & Dragons theme this year.
Okay! On with the photos! Read the captions…
More graphics and activity inside the Sonic the Hedgehog Speed Café on Wednesday! Tomorrow Sonic himself will be making an appearance!Fandom PARTY banner now hanging at the Hard Rock Hotel.SpongeBob wasn’t squirting passersby…yet!A peek over the fence of the Petco Park Interactive Zone. That’s one big hand!The Petco Park Interactive Zone is taking form.Many faces now appear behind FX.The IMDb Boat’s big screen is active.Balls now fill the A.V.A. FEST ball pit!Lots of people are carrying swag bags as they walk about.Photo ops everywhere, including at the Dragon Ball offsite.Cool Comic-Con 2024 swag bag.OMG! It’s Chucky!The Bathroom Battlestation is being set up. Hopefully people don’t sit inside playing games on their phone for long. Other people have to go, too!Barb’s Bashroom.Looking down MLK Promenade past the Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes offsite.Star Wars rebel pilot and his super cool Star Cruiser poses for photos!The Crow poses in Gaslamp Square with his own movie poster!Moxxi’s Borderlands bar entrance has appeared at the Hard Rock Hotel.A line has already formed for the Unknown Comics Pop Up Store.Captain America must have been here!
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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!
A horde of insane, terrifying Psychos was observed prowling about San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter today. The bandits, arriving from the Borderlands, meandered about Fifth Avenue, startling innocent civilians who merely wanted to have a good time at Comic-Con 2024.
I suppose this gang of Psychos thought the Vault must be located somewhere in the Gaslamp Quarter. I’m not sure how they hoped to find it, however. They didn’t appear too bright.
One approached me and I thought of running for dear life. But when it asked whether I was its mother, I could only feel sorry for the poor bandit.
Of course, these guys were out during Comic-Con promoting the upcoming movie Borderlands. And they were handing out Entertainment Weekly Comic-Con Special Issue magazines, too!
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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!
It’s Wednesday in San Diego. This evening thousands will converge on the San Diego Convention Center for Comic-Con 2024 Preview Night.
This morning during my walk around downtown everything was still relatively quiet. Most offsites for Comic-Con were still getting ready. Vendors and event participants could be seen trickling in toward the convention center through the Gaslamp Quarter and from nearby hotels.
I took these photographs during my walk…
Quiet on early Wednesday morning at the Those About to Die offsite in Gaslamp Square.SpongeBob graphics now fill the Hard Rock Hotel! Check it out!SpongeBob greets guests at the Hard Rock Hotel’s front desk!The Petco Park Interactive Zone has more to go before it’s ready.Before you know it, crowds will be visible everywhere around the San Diego Convention Center.Hulu animated show graphics adorn the elevators at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront.Bart Simpson is loose in the hotel!The big FX offsite is quiet on Wednesday morning.Adult Swim will be having a pirate parrrty on the green!Do pirates and dinosaurs go together?The IMDb Boat appears about ready.The entrance to the long green Hulu animayhem tunnel.It was early. Few people about.I didn’t realize pirates could board ships so easily.The A.V.A. FEST is looking ever more festive.Blessed and Pressed.The Dragon Ball offsite is looking just as cool as ever.Setting up the transportation tent near Harbor Drive.This will be the Bathroom Battlestation offsite, on First Avenue just north of Harbor Drive. The Mr. Beast Labs offsite is also supposed to be on this parking lot–where cars are still parked! Better get busy!I love Peanuts. Two of their classic television specials in the window of their offsite activation along MLK Promenade.The Subway sandwich sign spinners are ready on Fifth Avenue!
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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!
A big, awesome statue of Goku has risen in San Diego for Comic-Con 2024!
The cool statue will welcome visitors to the Dragon Ball offsite activation, located on the Marina Terrace behind the Marriott Marquis hotel. I was told by Daniel, the first in line for the offsite, that it will open this afternoon at 4 o’clock, before the start of Comic-Con Preview Night! It’s free to the public, and they’ll be giving out swag!
When I walked past this morning it appeared that the Dragon Ball site was mostly set up and ready to go. Among other things, the activation will be promoting the upcoming anime series Dragon Ball DAIMA, which features Goku as a leading character.
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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!
More offsite activations are appearing in San Diego outside Comic-Con 2024, just a day before Preview Night!
The Petco Park Interactive Zone has finally begun to materialize, and a couple smaller activations have suddenly appeared along the boardwalk near the Omni Hotel. I saw as I walked along MLK Promenade that two offsites in particular are really taking form.
First, behind the San Diego Convention Center, the IMDb Boat has arrived and is getting itself decorated in time for the start of Comic-Con.
Now over to the parking lot near Petco Park, where activations are being built in the Interactive Zone. I learned the next two photos show construction of the Elden Ring offsite.
Nearby is another activation–I don’t know what.
You’ll be glad to know those concrete stairs leading to the Harbor Drive pedestrian bridge are finally being repaired today. Remember them from last year? I was told by a friendly city worker that the bridge will be open tomorrow in time for Preview Night. Good thing!
Walking from the Petco Park Interactive Zone past the ballpark, you’ll find this new Dexter activation. I was told people will walk through it.
Next along the walkway is a super fun SpongeBob activation. It squirts water, streaming like a sponge! Workers were testing it as I approached, and it suddenly squirted some delighted kids!
Walking along Martin Luther King, Jr. Promenade, I noticed some superheroes were being placed on their feet. Yes, the Marvel Contest of Champions big Ferris wheel has been setting up for several days, but I thought these photos would be fun.
Further along MLK Promenade, the Peanuts offsite has its exterior graphics ready. I saw workers through the windows getting everything inside ready. Next year will be the 75th anniversary of Peanuts. Might as well celebrate early!
Then, lastly, I saw how Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is getting its front entrance ready. Lots of junglelike foliage. (I’m afraid I’m the guy who made the lame “off the rails” joke. You’re not going to throw that net over me, are you?)
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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!
An iconic prop: the famous phaser used by William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk in the original Star Trek television show.
A very special exhibit is on display during San Diego Comic-Con week. You’ll find it at the Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park. Famous one-of-a-kind movie and television props, original artwork and collectibles can be viewed before they are auctioned off this coming Sunday, July 28, 2024!
Comic-Con Museum Presents: TCM | Julien’s Auctions 2024 Spotlight Series: Harry Potter and Other Heroes will excite fans of the Harry Potter movies, Batman movies, and X-Men movies. In addition, two historic, one-of-a-kind objects in the museum gallery will delight those who love the original Star Trek television series!
Visitors to the museum will see a whole roomful of props and artwork, all of which could belong to you at the end of this week! (The auction of the Star Trek props, including William Shatner’s phaser and communicator, will be held separately later this year.)
To learn more, check out the Comic-Con Museum’s website by clicking here! It explains: Highlights of the auction include an array of iconic costumes, production material, and beyond from various productions of the Harry Potter film franchise; Marvel’s greatest superheroes and their most high-octane pieces will hit the auction block featuring original storyboard illustrations by storyboard artist Gabriel Hardman from the X-Men blockbuster X2; and from DC Comics’ Batman Begins, items wielded by Christian Bale, such as a stunt grapple gun prop and batarang prop. Plus, Other Surprises Crash the Party!
I took a few photos of the exhibit for you to enjoy. Head up to Balboa Park and see everything for yourself before the online auction in the museum’s auditorium on Sunday!
The Comic-Con Museum in San Diego’s beautiful Balboa Park.An original Hogwarts invitation envelope from the production of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.An original knight’s head prop from the production of the chess game scene in the film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.Marker ink on card drawing on Batman by artist Bob Kane, the character’s co-creator. The Superman drawing is signed by co-creator Joe Shuster.An original grapple gun prop used by Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman in the Christopher Nolan film Batman Begins.Original production storyboard from X2: X-Men United, by artist Gabriel Hardman.
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!
This morning the Voodoo Ranger pirate ship arrived for Comic-Con 2024. It crept silently across the bay and pulled up to the dock behind the San Diego Convention Center. Unsuspecting citizens on shore were no doubt startled by the sudden arrival of the fierce marauders!
No, the crew wasn’t really that fierce. Because they were friendly members of the Maritime Museum of San Diego, and their supposed “pirate” ship was actually the seaworthy Spanish galleon replica San Salvador, one of the amazing ships in the collection of the world famous museum. San Salvador used its motor this morning, but it does sail.
Would you like to see photographs of the galleon San Salvador being built years ago in San Diego? Yes? Then click here!
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!
Preparations are well underway for all the activities outside the San Diego Convention Center during Comic-Con 2024!
I walked through San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, along MLK Promenade and around the convention center a couple times today, curious to see what all is going on. I took a bunch of photos! (You might notice I haven’t sharpened or edited them.)
First, The Penguin banners were going up along the trolley tracks across from the convention center…
There’s going to be an Unknown Comics Pop-Up Store in the Gaslamp.
Workers were getting The Lodge ready for Paramount+.
Batman: Caped Crusader posters pasted to a downtown San Diego wall.
The two Star Trek/Dr. Who offsite locations now have outside graphics.
Workers were adding superhero graphics to the Marvel Contest of Champions Ferris wheel.
The Marriott Marquis now has Dragon Ball graphics above the front entrance.
Workers were preparing the Dragon Ball offsite on the Marriott Marquis Marina Terrace.
Here I’m walking down the bayside boardwalk toward the Hilton.
Abbott Elementary’s A.V.A. FEST has added their big slide. Happy people will plunge into a ball pit.
Work is finally underway at Adult Swim’s offsite: the Pirate Parrrty!
Workers are putting up the big FX wrap on the Hilton promoting What We Do in the Shadows.
Peeking into the FX offsite. Looks like a topiary garden.
More photos of the FX activation at Comic-Con.
Peacock’s offsite in Gaslamp Square, recreating the ancient Roman stadium Circus Maximus, now has a handsome exterior.
Baja Rick’s at Gaslamp Square now has graphics promoting the Olympic Games on NBC.
IGN is getting their balcony at the Hard Rock Hotel ready. Watch for celebrities here!
Workers are finishing up the AMC building wraps on the Hilton Gaslamp.
Getting the Peanuts offsite ready on Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade.
Not sure what this will be for.
The entrance is being created for Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, just beyond Peanuts.
San Diego is nearly ready for Comic-Con in 2024! Preview Night is in two days!
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!
Hand and shoe prints in concrete of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
If you’re heading to San Diego Comic-Con this week, heads up! Did you know you can see the actual hand and shoe prints of major movie stars and celebrities in a Gaslamp Quarter restaurant?
The prints of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Downey Jr., William Shatner, the actors who played R2-D2 and C-3PO, and even Michael Jackson can be viewed on the floor when you step into Mr. Tempo Gaslamp San Diego at 701 Fifth Avenue!
The building formerly was home to the Theatre Box movie theater. They had these hand prints brought in from Los Angeles, and they remain here to this day. Sadly, Mr. Tempo has dropped the Hollywood theme and many of the prints are now covered by tables. But it’s well worth stepping inside for a quick look!
By the way, the Shatner prints, if you can find them, were created here in San Diego, a couple years ago during Comic-Con!
Hand and shoe prints of The Hunger Games actors.Hand and feet prints of Shirley Temple.Hand and shoe prints of Humphrey Bogart.Hand and shoe prints of Robert Downey Jr.
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!
Cool San Diego Sights! 