SDCC 2022 scene report: What worked and what didn’t

For comics fans around the world, and more recently film and television fans, San Diego Comic-Con marks the ultimate pop culture pilgrimage, a celebration punctuated by the trade show that happens to be the industry’s greatest gift. . shop. As the studio unveils his gigantic Hollywood slate, the comic creator fills Artist’s Alley, his panel of avid readers, thinkers, and artists programs fills every ballroom at the San Diego Convention Center. For the first time since 2019, 2022 will see the return of the full competition after a small ‘special edition’ last November. The City of San Diegoworks fine”, the COVID-19 and monkeypox outbreak — which was designated international public health emergency Still a real threat during the weekend the competition was held. So what will San Diego Comic-Con 2022 look like? And was it worth the wait? It depends on who you ask and what took them to pop culture’s most famous gatherings.

If you’ve been to SDCC in the last decade, you’ll know that just walking through the city is amazing. This year, it’s made it noticeably easier because it’s so easy to navigate normally dense areas like his 5th Avenue and his J Street in the Gaslamp Quarter, and even outside the convention center itself. became. Pre-COVID, SDCC receives over 130,000 people each year, Be expected I did the same thing this time around, but felt considerably less busy than in previous years.

This doesn’t mean SDCC wasn’t overwhelmed in the face of COVID-19 and three years of social distancing. Cosplayer Brenden Keller — who created a very impressive Crow costume that included a giant scythe that weighed just 4 pounds — praised the convention’s “COVID awareness,” with around 40,000 people attending. I would have liked it to be like last year’s special edition. It took place almost entirely in the convention center with people.

“I actually liked it! I was lucky it wasn’t too crowded this time,” he said, noting that SDCC attendees were clearly depressed.Keller explained that it’s definitely better Anime Expo in LA, which he attended in early July. “It was a little crowded. It’s not good, it’s tiring, it’s not fun.” He also offered some great tips for those considering attending the convention. “Bring enough food and water! Water is so important!”

With high humidity and temperatures of 80 degrees Fahrenheit (or higher) throughout the five-day show, staying hydrated was key this year. Historically, Wednesday preview nights have always been slow, but by SDCC standards, the city almost felt like a ghost town. By Thursday, the streets were busier, but still an easy walk. I was. Saturday is traditionally the busiest day of the show, but we were still able to walk the floor without bumping into people or getting caught in the traffic. Several people felt noticeably quieter, and some felt attendance was at least 20% lower than normal.

Official attendance numbers have not been released, but SDCC Chief Communications and Strategy Officer David Glanzer said: forbes In the days leading up to the convention, “we had people who bought tickets in 2019 and we’ve had a few refunds and exchanges, but expect crowds. We’re getting pretty close to full capacity.”

Mysterious Galaxy bookstore owner and comic artist Rebecca Ann offered an interesting idea as to why the exhibit hall is walkable. “Many of the big vendors in the exhibit hall weren’t there this year, which allows for these wider aisles and we happen to have safer protocols.” Rebecca also held earlier this year. Comic-Con International found much more focus on COVID safety than its own WonderCon. At the show, she said, “some exhibitors didn’t wear masks even though they were told to, and others casually walked the floor without masks.” As an immunocompromised person, her improved COVID protocols were key to Rebecca’s ability to enjoy SDCC, as she worked the show her floor each day. For them, the change the convention made with the extra space was, “It was the biggest downside. [they’ve] It’s been a while.

Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

Face coverings, proof of vaccinations, or a recent negative test were requirements for attending this year’s show, and Comic-Con International confirmed everyone’s status at approved locations. Once approved, attendees received an orange wristband that they must wear to enter the convention center. He had six places to get wristbands, and while some had little to no wait, there were more people waiting at the “center” just outside the convention. – Plus wait in the hot midday heat.

Indie comic creator Johnny Parker II thinks the SDCC’s COVID protocol was a step ahead of some other recent practices. After going to Emerald City Comic Con, we had some of the same policies, but I liked how SDCC did it. [vaccination verification] station. When I looked up the other cons the COVID station was really far from the convention center for exhibitors.But here they were really smart about it.For exhibitors the COVID station and badge station are in the same area It was in So you get your stuff and get to work for the day. And having multiple stations and deploying the Clear app was a smarter way to approach it. ”

Parker, who has exhibited in the small press section of conventions for years and has done so, has also noticed a low attendance at the show. “This was the first year in a long time where I could just sit and literally watch the crowd.” It was easy, I mean, we knew it was obviously down, but at the same time the vibe was still good, sales as creators were still going strong, people were still coming to buy. Many agreed that this wasn’t the best year, but it definitely wasn’t the worst.It was a great return to form.”

Photo: Daniel Knighton/Getty Images

Originally from Calimesa, California, Theresa has been attending SDCC for years, but this year’s show did not live up to her expectations. As she waited in line for the Kevin Smith panel in Hall H in a wheelchair, she explained that things just don’t feel the same. She “used to go to the panel, buy Funko, and just attend.” Spontaneity is lost. “It’s really sad that not everyone gets to go through those things. I was really disappointed to find out.” was. For Teresa, it feels like another thing that makes attending a con difficult.

From the outside, the rows in Hall H looked much more reasonable this year. The new rules appear to have affected the number of people willing to wait, with many high-profile panels still seemingly letting people in within minutes of their start time. It’s a big change from before and we hope more people will be able to experience one of the most famous parts of SDCC.

Photo: Daniel Knighton/Getty Images

In contrast to Theresa’s experience, Hall H was a big part of the convention for writer/artist and first-time SDCC attendee RJ Perry. “Hall H was fun. It’s not just big media launches like Marvel, Disney, Paramount. I got in line, but I didn’t get a Hall H wristband.” That meant we had to wait in line for a long time, which sometimes meant a line so far away that we couldn’t even see it. Ultimately, RJ, like many of his SDCC visitors, found joy in the less visible moments of the convention. “The attendees, the fans, and the professionals were all great, especially the smaller independent publishers.”

That very specific Comic-Con experience also inspired journalist Jules Chin Green. “As I was walking to get my COVID confirmation, I saw Rob Liefeld walking in the opposite direction. It was like, ‘Oh my God! “It definitely lived up to my expectations, being able to meet so many creators I admire, and to meet Scott Snyder, Jim Lee, and Bruce Campbell.” When Green first attended as a fan and as a journalist, they found the press pass gave them direction and helped how overwhelming it can be. I’m glad I went as a journalist because it focused on my experience, I had to go through the Comic-Con experience, but most of the time, with the COVID epidemic, Being there and having a separate space closed off from the public made me feel better.”

SDCC wouldn’t exist without the many volunteers, security guards and hotel employees who make it possible. In fact, employees at the Bayfront Hilton, where many high-profile studio press events are held, went on strike on wednesday Their request was quickly fulfilled by Thursday. For Danny, an Ontario, California security guard stationed outside a waterfront hotel, the show was fun, but not without its challenges. “It’s super cool. There are a lot of people… I try to get them to use the crosswalk, but they don’t listen and just cross.” The highlight of the convention was working by the elevator , was meeting Danny DeVito (who was on set for the promotion) little demon). But if he does come back, Danny wants it to be an attendee.