This year’s San Diego COMIC-CON International (SDCC) will not require you to spend money on airfare, hotels, parking, or even badges. Due to the first-ever cancellation of the convention, as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, this year’s con will take place entirely online. The cancellation of SDCC devastated fans and also hurt the con’s host city financially. SDCC attracts over 160 thousand people each year for the 5-day event. As a result of the cancellation, San Diego suffered a loss of over 150 million dollars in gross revenue. Organizers of SDCC offered badge refunds to those that wanted them, and badge holders could also choose to transfer their badge to next year. Following the recent trend of moving cons online, SDCC will hold its first virtual convention, Comic-Con@Home, starting this Wednesday for Premiere Night. Unlike some other cons that moved online, San Diego Comic-Con at home (SDCC@Home) is free.
SDCC@Home will conduct over 350 panels during the 5-day convention. The panels are not the only exciting part of the convention, and organizers accommodated fans by moving other activities online as well. There will be a virtual vendor room. Fans can browse items from dozens of vendors and make purchases. In keeping with previous years, dozens of new collector’s items including exclusive Pops will be available. Items expected to be popular include The Avengers Endgame Thor Bro Attack Figure, a Boba Fett Mini Bust, Star Trek Tea Cup and Saucer Prop Replica, Hot Toys Spider-Man 2099 Black Suit Figure, DC Comics Ikemen The Joker SDCC Exclusive Statue, and countless other items from “The Mandalorian,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” “Back to the Future,” “Friends” and others. SDCC still developed their limited release annual con T-shirt and Convention Book for purchase. Their 2020 collection, along with past convention items, are on sale now at their official merchandise shop.
Cosplay has been a huge part of San Diego Comic-Con. SDCC@Home will open a virtual stage where attendees can watch submitted cosplay pictures and videos as their virtual version of the popular “Masquerade.”SDCC@Home will still honor writers this year. A key part of the convention has been to award writers that have contributed to the history of comics. Six writers will be awarded the 2020 Bill Finger Award for Excellence in Comic Book Writing. Their biographies are posted and can be read on the SDCC@ Home website.
All of the panels for 2020 SDCC@Home are pre-recorded and will be released on YouTube during the times listed in the 5-day schedule. While SDCC is not using their official schedule application this year, it is recommending Sched.com. You can create your own schedule for panels and events you want to attend at Comic-Con@Home2020. Once the daily schedule is posted, you can read through descriptions and decide which panels you would like to view. The direct link to the panels will be included in the description. All of the panels will be available on the Comic-Con YouTube Channel as well. While most panels will remain posted after the con, some may have time limits. With so many panel options there will be something for everyone. In the past panels have provided teasers and trailers for upcoming projects and seasons. With so much of 2020 filming behind due to Covid-19, there likely will not be as many trailers ready for the panel presentations. Panels expected to be popular this year include “Fear the Walking Dead,” “The Walking Dead,” “Walking Dead: World Beyond,” “Bob’s Burgers,” “Bill and Ted Face the Music,” “Marvel’s Helstrom,” and “The Star Trek Universe.” Links to each day’s events are below.
While San Diego Comic-Con will not be the same this year, the virtual event still provides fans access to many of the core components of the popular convention. While not ideal, it is commendable that organizers worked to bring an experience to fans despite the challenges brought on by COVID-19. Next year’s SDCC is scheduled for July 22-25th at the San Diego Convention Center. Hopefully, the world will be in a better place by then and we can all get back to enjoying conventions in person.
Written by Michelle Haab
