San Diego Comic-Con 2024 was about as close to the Comic-Con of old as it could possibly be. Last year, the writers’ and actors’ strikes put a bit of a damper on some of the event’s prestige, but that was back and more in 2024. Huge drone shows, major movie premieres, massive celebrities, and big-time news were all back on the menu—and that was just from Marvel Studios.
Below, read about the properties, people, experiences, and more that really popped out of Comic-Con 2024—and a few that missed the mark.
Winners
Kevin Feige
It’s always a good weekend to be Kevin Feige but this weekend was especially good. His first R-rated film, Deadpool & Wolverine, became the sixth biggest opener ever, he got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and he pulled off the coup of the century getting not just the Russo Brothers, but Robert Downey Jr. himself, to come back to the MCU. Not bad for three days.
DC Universe
Going into Comic-Con, there was some disappointment that James Gunn wasn’t bringing Superman and his other upcoming DC projects to the convention. Only, that wasn’t exactly right. Instead of one big, central event, Gunn quietly revealed the studio’s new logo, its first trailer moving forward (for Creature Commandos), and then got some really strong buzz for the Batman spinoff show, The Penguin, thanks to a trailer and in-person activations. The convention ended with a real sense of DC having patience and purpose.
Fallout
The Prime Video show is between seasons now, so there wasn’t a panel or anything, but you couldn’t move through the streets or convention center without seeing someone cosplaying as a Vault dweller. They were everywhere. There were even some people in full Power Armor. The show clearly had an impact and fans loved it.
Interview With the Vampire
Interview may have only just wrapped up its second season, but that didn’t stop AMC from offering a killer new tease for the major leap the show is taking for season three. Framed around a less-than-glamorous interview with Lestat, now a glam rock music star, it gave fans Sam Reid in fine, haunting form, and was a great way to show how the vibe is changing in the upcoming season.
Fans in Person
After a few strange years for SDCC, between the covid-19 pandemic and last year’s Hollywood strikes, 2024 felt like the first time in awhile the con was truly back. And thankfully, it was: the experience on the show floor this year was great for attendees in-person, not just in terms of plenty of exclusive sneak peeks and footage from the major panels that was specifically for people at the show, but great in-panel moments as well, from Marvel’s Hall H Deadpool choir to Alien: Romulus’ “live” facehugger attack.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
After season one ended with a bit of a “that was it?” thud, Amazon’s Lord of the Rings prequel had a lot to prove coming into its splashy Hall H panel. It talked a big talk of building on the lessons learned from season one, and now it had to show it: and show it Prime Video did, with what was arguably one of the best trailers of all SDCC, and a great, fun panel that got fans in the mood for season two next month.
Lionsgate
Lionsgate came to Comic-Con this year to promote two big upcoming movies: Borderlands and The Crow. But neither film had a panel or any major presence on the floor. Instead, actors promoting both were scattered all around the convention center area, interacting with fans and handing out swag—and, because everyone has to enter or exit the event, it made both films arguably more visible than if they’d a presence in the convention itself. Much of that was also outside a larger, Borderlands activation which had a line every single day. It proved there are ways to do Comic-Con without actually doing Comic-Con.
Deadpool
Marvel made its traditional Comic-Con splash, but one character dominated so much of the weekend that he deserves his own spot in the winner’s circle. Deadpool & Wolverine had a star-studded Hall H screening the night before the movie’s record-setting opening, and fan excitement for the Merc With a Mouth’s latest adventure was very clearly telegraphed by the sheer amount of cosplay. Deadpools, Deadpools, Deadpools, everywhere you looked!
Animated TV shows
The excitement for small-screen animation spread across different networks and streamers, with Prime Video shows (Invincible, The Legend of Vox Machina, Hazbin Hotel, and Sausage Party: Footopia) announcing renewals and updates at a panel shared by their creators; long-running series like Futurama (Hulu) and Bob’s Burgers (Fox) hosting packed panels that showed their energy is still sky-high; and Hulu’s Solar Opposites announcing a renewal and a new Halloween special. Even with no Rick and Morty panel, there was still a palpable Rick and Morty presence, thanks to the upcoming anime spin-off and Adult Swim’s “Pirate Parrrty” carnival located just outside the convention center.
What We Do in the Shadows
Though it was bittersweet, since FX’s beloved vampire comedy is heading into its sixth and final season, the What We Do in the Shadows Hall H panel was pure delight. With multiple cosplayers in the house (heavy on the Nadjas), fans got to see the season six premiere, as well as a panel featuring a hilarious, apparently spontaneous bit in which cast member Kayvan Novak joined the discussion via Zoom in character as Nandor—fangs included.
Losers
Dr. Doom
Inside Hall H, the reveal of Robert Downey Jr.’s return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doctor Doom was one of the most exhilarating moments in Marvel Comic-Con history. And there are been a lot. But once that shock and excitement wore off, you could tell everyone was confused. How was Downey back? Which character is he playing? Is Marvel really doing Doctor Doom like this? Why not just recast Kang? The move created more questions and worry than genuine anticipation. But, hopefully, that flips in the coming years.
Silo
After our initial excitement over Silo having a panel at Comic-Con, that it ended with news of its release date (November 15) and not a trailer for everyone to enjoy was a real bummer. The season is done filming. Why the wait? It felt like a drop of the ball.
Strange New Worlds
Strange New Worlds has traditionally been a big hit at SDCC, bringing lots of fun announcements and surprises. Given that season three only just started filming, fans weren’t sure just what the show could bring this year, but no one could’ve expected such a weird extended clip. An odd scene that saw Spock become the immediate butt of jokes and harassment after Pike, Uhura, La’an, and Chapel needed to be genetically transformed into Vulcans themselves for a mission, it played Vulcan’s culturally racist view of bi-racial beings as bizarrely genetic trait, leading to an awkward, overplayed gag. Out of context it was not a great first showing for the new season.
The Doctor Who/Star Trek Crossover Panel
There was a lot of buzz going into the Star Trek and Doctor Who “Intergalactic Friendship Panel,” because why would there be an official crossover panel if there wasn’t going to be some news attached? Turns out, there wasn’t. The panel was great in getting to see showrunners Alex Kurtzman and Russell T Davies geek out together, but building up so much expectation in advance (the panel had an accompanying activation with Trek and Who props) to shrug shoulders and offer a mobile game event in return was bizarre.
Sony’s Spider-Man Universe
San Diego Comic-Con is a celebration of comic books and the pop culture that they inspire. And while there were a few whispers of Madame Web on the wind (Isabela Merced couldn’t escape at least one fan question about it at the Alien: Romulus panel), there was absolutely zero presence for Kraven the Hunter or Venom: The Last Dance, both of which are releasing before the end of 2024.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
