Tag: imagination

Artists, livestreams, creativity at Ignition Pavilion!

Ignition Press, the Los Angeles based publisher of comic books and graphic novels, has returned to San Diego Comic-Con with their Ignition Pavilion! You can find the two-story pavilion on MLK Promenade among many other activations.

As the Ignition Press website explains: The creator-driven company exclusively publishes original series including Murder Podcast, Voyeur, Roots of Madness, Deluge, NO Place, Arcadia, and Bloodland. Current film and television adaptations of Ignition Press series include The Beauty (FX/Hulu) and Extraction (Netflix).

Comic-Con goers don’t want to miss this. In addition to buying a wide range of comics and graphic novels, fans have the opportunity to speak at length with writers and artists, all of whom are very friendly and eager to discuss their work. (You might purchase something, too!)

I noticed that downstairs you can watch the “Revenge Of” podcast. Not familiar to me.

Upstairs, there is a coffee bar (you get one free), and eBay Live which you can watch in action.

The very best part of being upstairs, however, were the awesome creators behind tables with their books.

Here are Jim McCann and Joe Eisma. They’ve created individually and in collaboration with each other. Jim McCann has written for Marvel, including the series Hawkeye & Mockingbird. You can see their cool stuff at their table inside the coffee bar.

This is Ande Parks. He has created Bad Thoughts, a dark psychological thriller. As an artist he is best known for his work on Green Arrow. The art on his table immediately reminded me of work by Mike Grell. He liked my Neal Adams Superman t-shirt!

Lots of great creators to meet!

Dave Wielgosz is another cool creator I met. He wrote 2021’s Man-Bat and contributed stories to comic book anthologies including Batman: The Brave & The Bold and Superman: Man of Tomorrow. His first creator-owned project is Showdown..

Walking over to check out the eBay Live lounge area…

Pretty cool, huh?

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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!

Meeting the unexpected at San Diego Comic-Con!

Perhaps the best part of San Diego Comic-Con?

Suddenly meeting the unexpected!

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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!

One Piece cosplay photos at Comic-Con 2026!

A cool photoshoot was held today of One Piece character cosplay. The participants gathered in front of the Marriott Marquis in San Diego, on this first day of Comic-Con 2026.

It was funny how a few cosplayers from different fandoms were present as everyone gathered. Then the dedicated One Piece characters were wrangled into place and posed as one in their big group photo.

Who do you recognize?

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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!

Comic-Con cosplay photos on Thursday morning!

Enjoy this collection of cosplay photos taken Thursday morning outside Comic-Con 2026.

The first two photos were actually taken yesterday, Wednesday, so I lied. Sorry.

Up above is Red Guardian.

Next is Wolverine and Deadpool creating havoc on the streets of San Diego.

Up next is Discotek. (I saw this cosplay yesterday, too.)

Daredevil.

Barf, from Spaceballs.

Cobra Kai family!

Bepo from One Piece.

KinitoPET.

I didn’t know the Green Lanterns had a baseball team!

Riddler.

Captain Kirk.

Not cosplay, but cool. Anzellan droidsmith.

Green Lantern Kyle Rayner… I think? (I stand corrected. It’s Peacemaker as a Green Lantern!)

Castle Crashers.

Stormtrooper.

Roz from Monsters, Inc.

Chefs from Hell’s Kitchen!

El Chapulín Colorado.

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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!

Extraordinary art, artists at Chuck Jones Gallery during SDCC!

During Comic-Con 2026 in San Diego, the public has a very special opportunity to experience extraordinary art and artists!

The Chuck Jones Gallery in Seaport Village has daily free activities you don’t want to miss.

Today, Wednesday, I got to speak with Craig Kausen, grandson of legendary animator and director Chuck Jones. (That’s Craig in the above photograph.) I was also privileged to see original works by Chuck Jones from the family archives, including pieces that have been exhibited in museums around the world.

Craig Kausen was so generous with his time, speaking enthusiastically about the life and work of Chuck Jones, showing me works of original art from different eras, different projects.

Some of these original works will remain on display through the course of Comic-Con.

Craig spoke about the creative process, how Chuck Jones paid special attention to detail, even in his most simple drawings. Every line and curve convey subtle but exact feeling, just as carefully chosen words convey a specific meaning when writing.

I loved it when he explained how his Chuck Jones Center for Creativity has inspired countless kids to be more creative and appreciate art. His business card reads “Exercise Your Genius!”

I’m not exaggerating when I say he was truly amazing.

Here’s a sign in front of the Chuck Jones Gallery with the San Diego Comic-Con 2026 Line Up. Expand the image to read it…

I was also super lucky to meet and speak with artist Stephen Reis. That’s him in the next photo:

What a cool guy! What a dynamic personality! He an artist on The Simpsons who does mostly storyboards. Some of his original art is on display in the gallery and available for purchase. With his art he has generously helped raise funds for the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity.

Did you know it takes about 8 months for a single The Simpsons episode to become fully developed and completed? That’s one of many things I learned.

I also enjoyed looking at shoes he has hand painted based on Looney Tunes characters, such as Marvin the Martian. If you come by on Saturday when he’s presenting “From Sketch to Screen” at the Chuck Jones Gallery, he’ll no doubt show you, too!

Now tell me: would you like to meet some important artists and see fantastic art? You know where to go!

Stopping by the gallery today made my day. Thank 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!

Willy Wonka and Oompa-Loompas at Comic-Con!

Starbucks at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront will be home to Willy Wonka and his Oompa-Loompa pals during Comic-Con 2026!

Local artist Shirish Villaseñor (@shirishtheartist) is now painting the windows of Starbucks with movie characters adapted from my favorite book when I was a boy: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!

Willy Wonka, as he slowly materializes, is holding the Golden Ticket! Perhaps you, too, can sample an Everlasting Gobstopper!

I hope no naughty children are nearby!

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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!

Addams Family artist exhibit at Comic-Con Museum!

Attending Comic-Con 2026 in San Diego? Got some extra time? You might want to head up to Balboa Park, where the Comic-Con Museum now features a number of cool exhibits, including a big one all about Doctor Who.

The Comic-Con Museum’s newest exhibit showcases the art of Charles Addams, who is best known for his popular creation The Addams Family. It’s titled Chas Addams: Family and Friends.

You’ll see a huge selection of his artwork. His wry, dark, humorous images might bring back memories of the Addams Family television show or the movie.

A variety of other subjects in his art might give you a chuckle, 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!

Fantasy characters roam San Diego County Fair!

Take a look at these very colorful fantasy characters! They were spotted roaming about the San Diego County Fair, thrilling children and adults alike!

The San Diego County Fair’s theme in 2026 is Once Upon a Fair.

The Del Mar Fairgrounds in summer is where San Diegans go for boundless fun. This year the magical place has been infused with fantastic characters from human imagination and the pages of beloved books!

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Fantasy grows at San Diego County Fair!

Once Upon a Fair is this year’s theme for the San Diego County Fair. Fairy tales, beloved picture books, popular fiction and timeless classics are celebrated in fantastic exhibits throughout the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

The ever-popular Garden Show, not surprisingly, has become a place where gardening clubs from around the San Diego region have “hybridized” beautiful flowers and plants with . . . fantasy!

Walk around the Garden Show and you’re likely to discover scenes from wonderfully imaginative works like Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, Snow White, The Three Little Pigs, The Tortoise and the Hare, The Little Mermaid, and more.

I always delight in the huge model train layout built by the San Diego Garden Railway Society. Their display this year contains fantasy elements from many well known tales.

Check out the following photographs! What stories can you identify?

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To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

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Classic books celebrated at San Diego County Fair!

Once Upon a Fair is this year’s theme at the San Diego County Fair. What exactly does that mean? The fair in 2026 is celebrating reading books–and popular fiction and the classics take center stage!

The fair’s theme exhibit is filled with the wonders that readers find in books. The Wizard of Oz, Winnie the Pooh, Charlotte’s Web, Treasure Island, Harry Potter, Jules Verne, fairy tales we all know, Peter Rabbit, Superman, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Alice in Wonderland, Sherlock Holmes . . . visitors encounter all the great characters and timeless stories generations have come to love!

There is reading aloud story time for the very young ones. There are opportunities for visitors to contribute their own writing. Everywhere you turn you’ll find tributes to famous authors and illustrators. Renowned authors with a San Diego connection are recognized. Visiting libraries is encouraged. The shelves of your local library are like open vaults where endless treasures await.

It was exciting to observe children running from display to display, breathlessly recognizing the books they had come to know. One large, playful section of the theme exhibit is dedicated to La Jolla’s own Dr. Seuss.

It was awesome!

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To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)