A formidable Captain America army formed today in San Diego. The call went out to assemble, and superheroes converged on the Marriot Marquis hotel from every direction!
Just as the army of superheroes seemed ready to defeat evil, more heroes arrived, swelling the ranks!
Those who would dabble in villainy beware!
As I walked through the Gaslamp up Fifth Avenue, returning home from Comic-Con, I noticed reinforcements were on the way!
Thank you for visiting Cool San Diego Sights during Comic-Con 2023!
I’ve enjoyed walking about all week, absorbing the amazing atmosphere and people watching. But I’m spent. It’s back to work tomorrow. And so this will be my final Comic-Con blog post this year.
In a couple days I’ll resume my more normal blogging. There will be posts about a fantastic exhibit at the San Diego Museum of Art, hidden public art in Mission Hills, and a historical building in Coronado. And much, much more!
Until then!
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I had fun covering Comic-Con again this year. To see all my blog posts concerning Comic-Con, click here and scroll down!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
As one might imagine, cosplay can be seen everywhere near the San Diego Convention Center during Comic-Con 2023. There are lots of great costumes this year.
Enjoy a bunch of fun photos!
Rey and friends have lightsabers at the ready.Mario must have put bleach in the laundry.Indiana Jones substitutes coffee cup for the Holy Grail.Luna Lovegood and friends smile. Gryffindor must’ve won.I assume this is hatless Spider-Man Noir and not the black symbiote suit.Batman is in San Diego for Comic-Con, so he might as well go surfing. He brought his bat-board.The Wanderer cosplay from Genshin Impact.Storm uses her power to bring the sun out in San Diego.Ariel and King Triton must have emerged from nearby San Diego Bay.There’s no need to fear, Recyclist is here!Inosuke Hashibira from Demon Slayer, or a very distressing lab experiment.A nice Men in Black family strolling down Fifth Avenue.Sailor Jupiter smiles for a cosplay photo in San Diego during Comic-Con.Guests at this Gaslamp hotel have several Power Rangers for added protection.Picard makes it so with Starfleet officer.Super awesome Darth Maul cosplay!Batman tries very hard to terrify me.A wonderful Wonder Woman wonders who the photographer is.Either we’ve got a Spider-Verse situation, or Spidey doesn’t want get heat stroke in the San Diego sunshine. Lord of the Nazgûl has risen in San Diego. Where’s Éowyn and Merry?These two Mandalorians are mere tourists.Obi-Wan Kenobi is fed up with my insolent comments.Dr. Tommy Oliver approaches. Should I worry? Is he evil right now?Poison Ivy and Mr. Freeze regard me. Give me a quick blast of your freeze gun! It’s awfully hot out here!Uh, oh! Now the Riddler! Batman villains nearly have me surrounded.Why does Wario have such a pleasant smile?Now that’s one fearsome pose. Leave it to Wolverine.Iron Patriot should lead a Fourth of July parade.Has Rocketeer teamed up with those nearby police? Villains beware!Robin appears to be eager for action.
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I’m covering Comic-Con again this year. To see all my current and past blog posts concerning Comic-Con, click here and scroll down!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
A magical army of witches and wizards has invaded San Diego.
Those attending Comic-Con 2023 should be advised that a powerful group of witches and wizards has descended upon San Diego. They arrived this morning, most likely from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
I was able to capture these photos before they could flick their wands and Expelliarmus my camera.
Comic-Con attendees heading for the San Diego Convention Center were surprised to encounter several witches, wizards, and Dobby the house-elf.Professor Trelawney must have peered into her crystal ball and seen the Grim.Did Hagrid ditch his motorcycle and ride the San Diego Trolley instead? It’s really not all that different from the Hogwarts Express.Professor Sprout might have a friendly smile, but she’s a witch. Are deadly mandrakes nearby? Those two nearby Dumbledores seem unconcerned.There are two Mad-Eye Moody’s! Which one is the imposter? Is Polyjuice Potion in that flask?
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I’m covering Comic-Con again this year. To see all my current and past blog posts concerning Comic-Con, click here and scroll down!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
The Comic-Con Interactive Zone is worth checking out this year!
The lines this morning weren’t too horribly long to get into what is officially called the Interactive Zone at Petco Park. It’s called that because a variety of activations are set up in one of the ballpark’s nearby parking lots. I waited maybe 15 minutes to get in.
Once inside the Interactive Zone, fans will be met with three huge, completely awesome sculptures based on characters in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. On the other side of the entrance is another super cool sculpture, called Attack of the Metallic Menace, that was created to raise awareness about the harm of vaping.
That guy vying with Captain America for weightlifting prowess was posing inside a GNC activation, where I got a sample of a scrumptious muscle-building milk shake. (Watch out Captain America! I’m feeling stronger already!)
What else did I find? A fun activation that celebrates the 30th Anniversary of the coming-of-age movie Dazed and Confused. There’s pinball game and a pool table where you can play. Of course, there’s a photo opportunity, with the expected reference to rockers KISS!
And, as you might hope and expect, there’s plenty to eat from several food trucks and stands, and shady picnic benches galore. It’s a fine place to rest and get a bite while exploring all the cool stuff outside Comic-Con!
You might spot some cosplay, too!
The Interactive Zone at Petco Park, located near the Harbor Drive pedestrian bridge, will be open right through Sunday.
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I’m covering Comic-Con again this year. To see all my current and past blog posts concerning Comic-Con, click here and scroll down!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Spider-Man, Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Scarlet Witch, Black Panther, Black Widow, Doctor Strange…
Given the immense popularity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films in the past 15 years, who on the planet doesn’t recognize at least a few of those names?
What do these iconic superheroes all have in common? Their famous co-creator, Stan Lee.
An excellent new exhibit opened today at the Comic-Con Museum in San Diego. It’s titled Excelsior! The Life and Legacy of Stan Lee. Those attending Comic-Con 2023 this week have the opportunity to jump onto a shuttle at the San Diego Convention Center and head to Balboa Park to enjoy this exclusive exhibition!
Visitors to the Comic-Con Museum will see how Stan Lee, over the course of his 78-year career, not only influenced the evolution of comic books, but as the creative leader of Marvel Comics, helped build the company into an international multimedia powerhouse. Fans can view rare comic books, original art and paintings that were born from his seemingly inexhaustible imagination.
Many of the used comic books on display, including dozens of superhero origin and Marvel landmark stories, come courtesy of exhibit co-curator Michael Uslan, originator and Executive Producer of the Batman movie franchise! They have been selected from his vast boyhood collection. You can tell how his comic books were well read! Michael was a good friend of Stan Lee, who was described as endlessly energetic. (I learned Michael is the one who suggested to Stan that he write alternative stories concerning DC Comics characters!)
Stan Lee‘s enormous accomplishments merited induction into the comic book industry’s Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1995. He received the NEA’s National Medal of Arts in 2008.
Personally, I loved viewing the exhibit with its many decades of artwork. It revived pleasant memories from my own past–particularly those years long ago when I collected comic books. I amassed hundreds of issues in several long boxes, which to me were vaults filled with treasure.
Fans of anime visiting the museum might also enjoy two other exhibits that opened today just in time for Comic-Con: the Cowboy Bebop 25th Anniversary Art Exhibition and an incredible sculpture inspired by My Hero Academia.
If you haven’t already experienced the Comic-Con Museum’s ongoing exhibit The Animation Academy – from Pencils to Pixels, that is also a definite must-see. From animation’s rather crude beginnings to today’s high-tech computer generated graphics, you’ll experience it all. You even have the opportunity to create your own animated stories!
Learn more about Excelsior! The Life and Legacy of Stan Lee and the many other wonders that await you at the Comic-Con Museum by visiting their website here!
An extensive new exhibit on the bottom floor of the Comic-Con Museum celebrates the life and legacy of legendary Stan Lee.Today’s huge Marvel Universe was co-created by Stan Lee. The name “Marvel Universe” was suggested by a fan in 1966. This year Stan Lee would have celebrated his 100th birthday.Marvel Tales Annual, No. 1, published in September 1964, features the artists and writers who comprised The Marvel Bullpen back then.Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, co-creators of many iconic Marvel characters, pictured together at different times.Captain America, No. 3, 1941. 19-year-old Stan Lee’s first writing in comic books and first use of the pen name “Stan Lee.”The Marvel Age dawned in 1956, with the resurgence of superheroes. In an increasingly stressful modern world, readers enjoyed escapism, much as they do today. As time went on, characters became more complex and believable, displaying ordinary human emotions.One of many iconic comic books on display. The first appearance of the Fantastic Four, November 1961, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.Just Imagine, by Stan Lee with Chris Bachalo. A reimagining of DC character Catwoman in 2002.A new Stan Lee Universe is soon to appear! It’s called Stan Lee’s Workforce. A major announcement is forthcoming!Kill-Switch by artist Greg Hildebrandt. Part of the upcoming Stan Lee’s Workforce!Stan Infinity, by artist Rob Prior. Very cool!Members of the media get a first look at the new Comic-Con Museum exhibit, Excelsior! The Life and Legacy of Stan Lee. It opens to the public today, July 18, 2023
If you’re attending Comic-Con 2023 in San Diego, you don’t dare miss this!
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I’m covering Comic-Con again this year. To see all my current and past blog posts concerning Comic-Con, click here and scroll down!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Comic-Con 2023 is almost here! Fun art has begun to appear in the windows of Sweet Things Frozen Yogurt at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, near the San Diego Convention Center!
Shirish Villaseñor (@shirishtheartist) started sketching Super Mario characters on the Sweet Things Frozen Yogurt shop windows today. She’ll be adding color and detail in the days ahead. I’ll post updates as I capture new photos!
The Super Mario Bros. Movie was a blockbuster earlier this year, so this artwork outside the world’s most amazing pop culture event is timely! Is that Bowser playing the piano? How many characters do you recognize?
Because Comic-Con is ten days away, my blog will now switch into 100% “Comic-Con mode.” I’ll post photos as I discover new Comic-Con stuff while walking around downtown San Diego.
If Comic-Con isn’t your cup of tea, fear not. More typical Cool San Diego Sights blog posts will resume when the big international event concludes!
UPDATE!
A couple days later, I found Shirish at work!
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I’m covering Comic-Con again this year. To see all my current and past blog posts concerning Comic-Con, click here and scroll down!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Promotional banners are popping up near the San Diego Convention Center as Comic-Con 2023 rapidly approaches!
I spotted a huge ONE PIECE banner attached to the Hilton San Diego Bayfront parking garage. ONE PIECE is an American-Japanese streaming television series developed by Matt Owens and Steven Maeda for Netflix. It’s scheduled to premiere on August 31, 2023.
I also spotted many street lamp banners that have been hung across Harbor Drive from the convention center. They include the Comic-Con logo and promote The Creator, an upcoming 2023 science fiction action movie about humankind’s fight against artificial intelligence. Sounds a bit like the Terminator films. The Director, Gareth Edwards, is known for directing Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The Creator is scheduled to be released in the United States on September 29, 2023.
UPDATE!
Dozens of new The Creator banners were seen along Fifth Avenue in the Gaslamp Quarter during a Fourth of July walk!
UPDATE!
Here’s a pic of the ONE PIECE banner more brightly illuminated…
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I’ll be covering Comic-Con again this year. To see all my current and past blog posts concerning Comic-Con, click here and scroll down!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
A second San Diego Trolley wrap that promotes entertainment available on Paramount+ has appeared for Comic-Con 2023!
I photographed one side of a trolley car with the first Paramount design yesterday. You can see those photos here.
The new trolley wrap that I discovered today features many more shows available on Paramount+. Graphics on one side promote iCarly, Yellowjackets, School Spirits, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, and 1923. The other side includes Star Trek: Lower Decks, Bumblebee, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Evil, and Tulsa King.
I added a little contrast to some of these photos.
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I’ll be covering Comic-Con again this year. To see all my current and past blog posts concerning Comic-Con, click here and scroll down!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
The powerful Scarlet Witch has begun to materialize in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter! Is it the heroic Scarlet Witch, member of the Avengers, or the terrifying one who wants to dominate the multiverse?
Well, to find out, one must step inside the Bards and Cards game store on Fifth Avenue. A cool mural is now being created behind the front counter!
I learned there will be three parts to the mural, including imagery that pertains to Dungeons & Dragons.
The artist is Robert Turner (@thewaterthief).
I’ll drop by again on a future walk to photograph the artwork’s progress!
UPDATE!
A couple weeks later I saw a Dungeons & Dragons creature appearing. It’s a beholder…
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Cool San Diego Sights! 