A fun Wizard of Oz cosplay photo meet-up was held today in San Diego for Comic-Con 2024. A small group in steampunk Wizard of Oz costumes joined a few other cosplayers near the Marriott Marquis fountain.
The gathering might have been small, but the cosplay was fantastic, as you can see from my photographs taken shortly after noon!
We’re off to see the Wizard…
Wizard of Oz cosplay at Comic-Con 2024 includes Tin Man, Glinda, Dorothy, Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, and the Wicked Witch of the West!The great Wizard of Oz himself has brought along a small Glinda and Wicked Witch! And there’s another Wicked Witch! Yikes!What fun!
…
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!
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!
…
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!
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?)
…
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!
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.
…
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.
…
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!
I’m not sure whether we should be comforted. Because Deadpool and Wolverine are now looking down on our ever lovin’ city!
Why are these Marvel superheroes in San Diego, and up on the exterior of the Hilton Gaslamp? They’re here for Comic-Con 2024! Yes, their movie will be premiering on the Friday of San Diego Comic-Con. The hype and anticipation has reached an unprecedented level of crazy!
The incomplete building wrap, which I photographed this afternoon, appears to involve Marvel Contest of Champions and promote Google Play.
Lots of cool building wraps are appearing all around the Gaslamp and San Diego Convention Center. If you’ve been following Cool San Diego Sights, you’ve see a few already! I know that more are on the way, so stay tuned!
I’ll take more photos of this cool wrap in a day or two when it’s completed, and I’ll post them below as an update!
UPDATE!
The next day…
…
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!
The Bride of Frankenstein and Frankenstein’s monster.
A terrifying group of classic movie monsters has appeared outside the San Diego Convention Center for Comic-Con 2024!
Check out today’s photos!
These characters from classic horror films are all considered Universal Monsters–they appeared in Universal Pictures movies from the 1930s to 1950s (if you include Abbott and Costello comedies).
I remember as a kid watching these dark, atmospheric movies for the suspense, chills and occasional thrills. I’m afraid the old Universal classics appear pretty tame by today’s ultra-realistic, slashing, bloody standards.
The Universal Monsters have been painted for fans of Comic-Con, and you can see the artwork on the windows of Sweet Things Frozen Yogurt, located at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. The artist responsible is Shirish Villaseñor. (By the way, she’s one of the local artists renovating many of the historic murals in world-famous Chicano Park!)
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.The Invisible Man and the Werewolf.Dracula.The Creature From the Black Lagoon.
UPDATE!
Shirish has been adding color to her images as we approach the start of Comic-Con…
…
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!
Comic-Con 2024 is less than three weeks away. Around San Diego there are more and more signs that the epic international event is fast approaching!
It seems that dozens of San Diego trolleys are now wrapped for Comic-Con–you can spot them all over the city. The fifth, latest Comic-Con related design I photographed this morning. It’s from Jack in the Box, and features Deadpool & Wolverine and new Mini Chimi Bang Bangs!
A couple days ago I saw Scarlett Johansson in a graphic on the big new video screen in Gaslamp Square. The video board will probably be busy during Comic-Con promoting upcoming movies and other popular entertainment. As I’ve walked around, I haven’t seen any offsite construction . . . yet. But I did see a guy with a cool shirt!
The Fantastic Four street lamp banners have expanded beyond the Gaslamp Quarter and can now be seen throughout downtown San Diego. Marvel appears to be going all out promoting the highly anticipated movie!
As usual, clever shops along Fifth Avenue in the Gaslamp have displays in their windows that might appeal to pop culture fans.
…
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!
Those planning to go to San Diego Comic-Con in 2024 should consider a side trip to the Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park, which isn’t very far from the San Diego Convention Center. Museum visitors will enjoy a variety of great exhibits, and those who love cosplay will be stunned when they enter the gallery that features Masquerade, The Art of Cosplay.
Check out a few photographs!
Masquerade, The Art of Cosplay presents costumes worn by participants in Comic-Con’s always much-anticipated Masquerade. Fans of superheroes and other characters from the popular culture have devoted countless hours creating elaborate costumes that are absolutely amazing.
You’ll also see costume prototypes that have been used in movies and other visual media. These are from the collection of Allan Lavigne, who has worked on Marvel films including those featuring Captain America and Iron Man.
Jean Grey/Phoenix as a What If? By artist Belle Benson.Captain America costume. Allan Lavigne creates screen-accurate motion picture costume reproductions for museums.Villains League Poison Ivy. A cross of DC Comics bombshells, the movie A League of Their Own, and a deadly Batman supervillain! By artist Jennifer Brown.Noelle from Genshin Impact with Extra Kick. By artist VivSai.Space Marine and Sister of Battle from Warhammer 40,000. By artist Joe Ramirez.
…
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!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
Reed Richards and Johnny Storm on a Comic-Con street lamp banner in San Diego.
Banners promoting Marvel’s popular superhero team Fantastic Four and their upcoming movie (due to open in 2025), have appeared in San Diego for Comic-Con 2024!
The news that Marvel will have a panel in Hall H this year probably means they’ll be promoting Deadpool & Wolverine, which opens during Comic-Con, plus the highly anticipated The Fantastic Four.
I personally look forward to the movie. The Fantastic Four is one of my favorite teams. Cosmic enemies and super science and a warm family dynamic usually result in stirring, highly imaginative stories.
Hopefully the Reed Richards in the upcoming film is a wee bit smarter than the one who got himself turned into spaghetti by the Scarlet Witch!
Sue Storm and Ben Grimm.
…
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! 