Fans dive into San Diego Comic-Con despite drop in celebrity panels
Richard Cao, 38, from San Diego, said he has been preparing for a long time, getting into shape so he can go as bare-chested Inosuke Hashibira, a character from the anime series 'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba'.
'I lost about 30 pounds over six months, that's just the physical, I guess, investment I made,' Cao said.
This year's festivities at the San Diego Convention Center will not have the usual Hall H major A-list celebrity panels, which typically discuss popular movie franchises from the likes of Marvel and DC Studios.
But highlights will include 'Star Wars' creator George Lucas making his San Diego Comic-Con debut and Disney's 'Tron: Ares' and 'Predator: Badlands' panels.
There will also be a panel for the upcoming film 'Project Hail Mary' starring Ryan Gosling, and the world premiere of the 'King of the Hill' revival and a panel with show co-creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels.
It is also the first year to include a two-day music festival called Crunchyroll Anime FanFest, hosted by Crunchyroll, an American subscription-based anime streaming service owned by Sony Group Corporation.
US clears way for $8 billion Paramount-Skydance merger
The festival will feature anime music from popular titles, including 'The One Piece 25th Anniversary Symphony Voyage,' based on the popular anime series. Crunchyroll has over 13 million subscribers globally.
Although hotel and overall travel prices continue to rise for those out of town, fans say they weren't deterred.
'It's totally worth it,' said Sophia Blanco, 39, from New York City who paid 'a couple of thousands' for her entire trip.
'You go on vacation, you do anything, you're spending money. So, just spend money on what you enjoy, no matter what you do,' she added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
13 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Tom Holland's Spider-Man goes retro in ‘Brand New Day'
Tom Holland's Spider-Man is returning with a fresh yet familiar look in the upcoming film Spider-Man: Brand New Day. In a video posted to Instagram on August 2, Holland unveiled the new Spider-suit, which features distinct nods to early comic book designs from the 1960s and 70s. With the high-tech Stark suits now out of reach following the events of No Way Home, Peter Parker is truly going back to basics. The new suit sports bright blue panels, black webbing, and red accents, a style reminiscent of Steve Ditko's original 1962 design, later refined by John Romita Sr. and Sal Buscema. Gone are the nano-tech gadgets and flashy Iron Spider enhancements; instead, this version looks hand-stitched and grounded, perfectly suited to a Peter Parker now living alone, broke, and working freelance for a New York tabloid. The aesthetic shift supports the film's direction, which appears to embrace a more stripped-down, character-driven narrative. The title Brand New Day itself is a callback to a controversial comic arc from 2008 that rebooted Peter's story, erasing past relationships and restoring his anonymity. This echoes the ending of No Way Home, where a magical reset made everyone, including MJ and Ned, forget Peter's existence. Fans have already begun drawing comparisons between the new suit and Romita Sr.'s legendary artwork in The Amazing Spider-Man #106 (1975) and Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #1 (1976). The design features large white eyes rimmed in black and ditches the webbing under the arms, staying faithful to the era when Spider-Man's look was fully cemented in pop culture history. Marvel and Sony have yet to reveal major plot details for Brand New Day, but the costume alone suggests a tonal shift toward the grounded storytelling that first made the character a relatable icon. With a more vulnerable Peter Parker at the centre and a suit that reflects his humble circumstances, the upcoming film could mark a refreshing return to the hero's roots.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Mark Ruffalo returns as Hulk in Spider-Man 4 alongside Tom Holland and Punisher
Mark Ruffalo is officially returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Bruce Banner, aka The Hulk, in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the highly anticipated fourth installment in the Tom Holland-led Spider-Man franchise. Set for release on July 31, 2026, the film is being directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, with longtime Spider-Man writers Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers penning the script. Production is scheduled to begin this month in England. Ruffalo joins an already star-studded cast. Jon Bernthal will reprise his fan-favorite role as the Punisher, marking the character's first big-screen appearance since Punisher: War Zone in 2008. Michael Mando is also returning as Scorpion, a villain he first portrayed in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017). Holland's previous Spider-Man films have featured mentorship-like partnerships with major MCU characters like Iron Man, Nick Fury, and Doctor Strange. In true Marvel fashion, Brand New Day is expected to showcase plenty of internal conflict, with Spider-Man, Hulk, and Punisher likely clashing before uniting against a common enemy. Plot details remain under wraps, but the team-up style evokes the spirit of Marvel Team-Up comics, which paired Spider-Man with different heroes in each issue. Ruffalo's return continues his long-standing role as Hulk, having appeared in films like Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Endgame, and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. With multiple MCU veterans in the mix, Brand New Day promises a massive crossover event for Marvel fans.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
New Spider-Man tease just dropped
A cryptic nine-second teaser has turned Spider-Man Day into full-blown chaos. Posted to X by the official Spider-Man Movie account, the clip showcases a zoomed-in shot of Tom Holland's latest Spider-Man suit, sparking immediate online frenzy over what's being dubbed his most comic-accurate costume yet. Set against the caption 'Something brand new is coming', the video reveals raised black webbing and vibrant red-and-blue tones, design cues that appear to nod to the classic Spider-Man look, specifically from the Raimi era. The subtle tweaks weren't missed. Fans quickly pounced on the details, flooding X with theories and thirst-posts. 'That looks like Toby's suit!' one user wrote. The teaser confirms the title Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which hits theatres on July 31, 2026. The film will be directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and sees Tom Holland reprise his role alongside returning cast members Zendaya and Jacob Batalon. New additions include Jon Bernthal as the Punisher and Sadie Sink, whose mystery role has fans speculating wildly, some believe she's Jean Grey. But even more unhinged were reactions from fans who demanded Spider-Man drop the N-word 'out of frustration,' while others declared the teaser 'better than therapy.' The trending hashtag #RAISEDWEBBING quickly overtook X, joined by meme-fuelled pleas like 'DONT TEASE ME I CAN'T HOLD IT ANY LONGERR.' As excitement boils over a year ahead of release, Sony and Marvel have fans exactly where they want them: breathless, desperate, and totally webbed up in the hype.
