Printer-friendly version
By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson
Photo, left: Comic Con attendees dressed up as ghosts ready to go to the Haunted Mansion.
July 27, 2023 (San Diego) -- San Diego Comic-Con returned to its roots – comics – after strikes by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federal of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and Writers Guild of America (WGA) brought celebrity-stacked panels and appearances to a halt. Still costumes, Gaslamp Quarter happenings, the Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park, and a multitude of other activities helped keep badge holders and non-badge holders happy.
While it is considered a multi-genre entertainment event, celebrities in a different genre - cartoonists and illustrators—ruled, creating artwork for children and adults on the spot while highlighting that they, the artists, were the sources for the adventure films and cartoons that became films and tv shows. Up-and-coming artists and lesser-known cartoonists also drew in crowds.
Tucked into all the events were a few celebrity sightings attached to books or comics, such as Jamie Lee Curtis and her book Mother Nature, or former San Diego Charger Sherman Augustus who co-authored with Tim Cogshell and other talent - the Daughters of Django comic book. They manned a booth for Genseven Comics.
Augustus, who played for both the Chargers, and Minnesota Vikings, parlayed his sports career into a Hollywood career and now has expanded into comics. But this was not his first “rodeo” at the event. “This is my fourth Comic Con,” he said. He noted that he’s come down from Los Angeles before, but attached to other projects like Dark Horse Films.
Photo: Former San Diego Charger Sherman Augustus (l) and one of several collaborators, Allen Ling (r), debuted their comic book at SDCC.
Augustus co-authored the collaborative comic, Daughters of Django, which he created and plotted. It’s set in 1918, during the influenza pandemic.
Allen Ling, the executive producer. described the teen-rated work as a “Wild West meets, Charlie’s Angels meets Steampunk comic” 
adapted from an original screenplay from a graphic novel by Chris Johnson, with Allen Ling as executive producer.
Kumeyaay Tribal leaders announced during a Comic-Con panel a plan to launch a comic book project based on the history of the Kumeyaay tribe. The comic books are to serve as a resource for Kumeyaay children and adults to teach them, and others, about their culture.
Photo, left: Kumeyaay tribal member,courtesy of Chris Stone, Times of San Diego
“Our story is not being taught,” said Stanley Rodriguez, an instructor of Kumeyaay language and board member of the Kumeyaay Community College, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. “It’s important for our people to learn because if it’s not, it’s a romanticized lie.”
The goal is to complete the comic book by 2024.
Max Brooks, comedy filmmaker Mel Brooks and actress Anne Bancroft’s son, was on hand for a book signing such as his book the Harlem Hellfighters. (photo, left)
The late Stan Lee, one of the original comic book creators, such as Spider Man, Iron Man, and more, was honored with a show at the Comic Con Museum in Balboa Park.
San Diego Comic Con attendees from years gone by will remember meeting and speaking to Stan Lee in previous appearances at many of his multiple in person showings.
Corey Feldman, who has a long resume in TV and film ,signed The Lost Boys posters and more products, posed for selfies with attendees all part of Funko Pops 7BAP Signature Series’ Pop. (photo, right)
Costumes and cosplay added, as usual, much to the event. From attendees who just wanted to dress up like it was Halloween or wear home-made costumes, to elaborate cosplay themed groups – the floor and hallways of the San Diego Convention Center provided visual fun throughout the four-day event.
Cosplay, with Barbie outfits to superheroes, was immensely popular this year with non-actors and some actors; SAG-AFTRA got the clearance for some actors to appear in costume, according to national executive director of the actor’s union Duncan Crabtree-Ireland as reported by the Los Angeles Times. Some wore ribbons attached to their badges noting support for SAG-AFTRA and WGA.
Hall H had events such as showings of cross-over episodes between the animated, Star Trek: Lower Decks, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds to name one. Hall H also saw interviews and previews with the likes of celebrated cartoon creator Robert Kirkman.
Comic-Con has been around for 53 years, but the attendance was not always close to 135,000. It began with comic book enthusiasts, such as El Cajon City Council member Gary Kendrick and others, pulling together at various stages and growing the event into what it is now--even surviving a pandemic.
Kendrick’s comic book collection in his youth turned into a business of selling comics, which paid for his college education and several houses.This year, Kendrick attended Comic-Con with his son, Daniel, now a senior vice president
Recent comments