Comic-Con San Diego 2024 returns to the Convention Center with an expected 130,000 spectators. For those who did not secure a badge, there are still plenty of ways to get into the pop culture spirit!

Skip downtown crowds in Mission Valley

“Wolverine & Deadpool” premiere

Mission Valley, an open-air shopping center located in San Diego, California invites the community to a fun-filled movie premiere party to celebrate the release of “Deadpool & Wolverine” film showing at the Mission Valley AMC Theatres beginning Thursday, July 25th, during Comic-Con. The event, to be held just outside the AMC Theatres, will include photo opportunities with balloon arches and Deadpool for photos, live music from DJ Sass, and a Spin to Win prize wheel with prizes from AMC, such as movie tickets, memorabilia, and more. Comics-N-Stuff will have a table with comics available during the event. Attendees are encouraged to dress up for a Cosplay Contest to win an AMC gift card. The event is free and open to the public; no pre-registration is required. To learn more, visit the center’s website at https://bit.ly/3z74nne or Eventbrite at https://bit.ly/4eoXnSR.

Minion charm 

Spill the Beans continues its partnership with Haus of Serotonin with a permanent jewelry pop-up available from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 28. This will take place at Spill the Beans’s Mission Valley location. In honor of Comic-Con, guests can enjoy special access to a Minion “Evil Eye” charm!

Themed sips

Lionfish $18 cocktails

Centrally located at Pendry San Diego in the center of the Comic-Con orbit, the celebrity-friendly culinary destination, Lionfish Modern Coastal Cuisine, will feature a drink menu of specialty Comic Con-coctions, each priced at $18. They include the Regeneration Refresher, a twist on the Dirty Shirley made with Grey Goose Vodka, grenadine and Sprite (fun fact: groundbreaking BBC vision mixer Shirley Coward created the first regeneration effect in “Doctor Who”); the Cowabunga Cooler, a green TMNT-inspired cocktail featuring Sipsmith Gin, Midori, cucumber, honeydew, lemon and simple syrup; the Joker’s Jive, a villainous espresso martini crafted with Belvedere Vodka, espresso, St. George Espresso Liqueur, Baileys Irish Cream and simple syrup; and the Elven Elixir, an energizing mixture of St-Germain Elderflower liqueur, rosé wine and Fever-Tree pink grapefruit soda. The award-winning Lionfish features fresh-catch cooking and seasonal ingredients, all prepared with innovative twists by Executive Chef and James Beard Smart Catch leader JoJo Ruiz. Located at 435 Fifth Ave., Lionfish is mere blocks away from the Convention Center and offers an exquisite dining experience perfect after a long day of Comic-Con adventures. More information can be found at LionfishSD.com. 

Prohibition invites Gotham villains

Sequestered discreetly behind a clandestine entrance in the midst of Gaslamp’s “Gotham” Quarter, the secret hideaway Prohibition is where you’ll find the Penguin-inspired Gentleman of Crime, a nefarious yet sophisticated cocktail blend of whiskey, lemon and ube, priced at $18. The Penguin’s league of extraordinary libations also offers a collection of special edition cocktails all priced at $18, including the handcrafted Hanzo Sword, forged with Umiki Japanese Whisky, Yellow Chartreuse, Cointreau and lemon; the Sisyphus, a mythical mixture of Castle and Key Gin, Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto, lime, lemongrass and cucumber; the portentous All My Heroes are Dead, made with Old Forester Bourbon, Lo-Fi Hibiscus Amaro, lemon, hibiscus and R&C Citrus Bitters; and more. Comic-Con attendees and henchmen wanna-be’s can find the lowkey cocktail lair’s secret entrance behind the Fifth Ave. door inconspicuously marked as “Law Office – Eddie O’Hare, ESQ.” More information can be found at ProhibitionSD.com.  

El Chingon’s Joker cocktail

For those seeking a more rambunctious vibe for a night of roguish Comic-Con revelry, El Chingon is a “bad ass” Mexican cantina filled with vibrant decor and dynamic main character energy. Located smack dab in the center of the Comic-Con-verse at 560 Fifth Ave., El Chingon will offer a Joker-inspired cocktail priced at $13, Madness Like Gravity, featuring tequila, lime, melon liqueur, agave and Tajín that’s sure to put a smile on any face…no joke.  

Bane of the Bat at Havana 1920

 Located at 548 Fifth Ave., Gaslamp Quarter’s Cuban escape, Havana 1920, will pay homage to Batman’s sinister super-foe, Bane, with a cocktail as dark and treacherous as the archvillain’s tortuous origin story in a Caribbean prison. The restaurant’s Bane-inspired Comic-Con cocktail, I Broke The Bat, looks as sinister as a moonless Havana night and is built with coconut rum, lime, Demerara and activated charcoal, priced at $15.  

Hudson & Nash’s themed menu

Join us just blocks from the San Diego Convention Center and savor these extraordinary cocktails, specially crafted to enhance your Comic-Con experience. Cheers to a super time!

• Blazing Torch: Ignite your taste buds with our Blazing Torch, featuring house-infused bacon vodka paired with the rich flavors of H&N Mary Mix. This fiery concoction is topped off with a crispy bacon strip, creating the ultimate savory sensation that’s perfect for kicking off your Comic-Con adventure.

• Fantastic Mule: Embark on a flavor journey with the Fantastic Mule. Tito’s vodka meets the zesty tang of ginger-lime hard kombucha, complemented by fresh organic blueberries and a splash of orange juice. This refreshing cocktail is a delightful twist on the classic mule, sure to transport you to a fantastical world of taste.

• Espress-ocalypse: Fuel your Comic-Con frenzy with the Espress-ocalypse. A blend of fresh-pulled espresso and Licor, this cocktail is a bold and invigorating choice for those needing an extra kick to power through the day’s excitement.

• Multiverse Michelada: Explore the multiverse of flavors with our Multiverse Michelada. This unique drink features our signature michelada mix and a Tajin rim, with your choice of Modelo or Stone Buenaveza to create a spicy, tangy experience that’s out of this world.

• Superberry Mimosa: Elevate your brunch game with the Superberry Mimosa. Prosecco bubbles up with organic strawberries and luscious strawberry nectar, crafting a sweet and sparkling delight that’s perfect for celebrating the fantastic world of Comic-Con.

Also at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, there will be grab-and-go food options as well as a photo booth in the lobby.

Events at UCSD Park & Market

A Day with Matt Forbeck, sponsored by MAVERiC Studio

In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons, which essentially birthed tabletop role-playing, Park & Market is teaming up with UC San Diego MAVERiC Studio to host an ‘Actual Play’ event featuring game master and legend Matt Forbeck and his co-writer in crime, Marty Forbeck. Matt and Marty will join Magitek Magineers from UC San Diego’s MAVERiC Studios alongside an intergenerational cast of industry legends to play Matt’s game ‘Shotguns & Sorcery’, bringing the setting, characters, and adventures to life, live on stage.  July 25, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., FREE

UC San Diego Park & Market Presents: XR Games Masterclass Day 1 – The Climate Games

The XR Games Masterclass series invites aspiring game designers and digital storytellers to join them for a two-day bootcamp in creating virtual reality games with a purpose. The Qualcomm Institute at UC San Diego, in partnership with Resilience Studios, Epic Games, Lenovo, and Meta, has put together two unique opportunities to learn the building blocks for developing VR and XR games for the Meta Quest 3 and Snapdragon Spaces Lenovo headsets. During this initial session, attendees will learn how to build a sword-battling multiplayer VR game using the Unreal Engine 5 and will install their game onto a Quest3. Students from UC San Diego’’s course, Serious Games for Climate Change, will also be showcasing the games they have made using Unreal Engine 5 to inspire attendees. July 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., FREE

The Greatest Anime Pioneer in Japan You Never Heard Of: Osamu Tezuka Story

Join Rachel Costello, from UC San Diego’s Innovating for National Security Academic Program, as she uncovers the unheralded life and legacy of Japanese manga artist and animator Osamu Tezuka. Despite being heralded as “The God of Manga,” few Westerners know about the prolific output, pioneering techniques, and innovative genre redefinitions of Tezuka. This two-hour lecture will detail Tezuka’s impact on anime and uncover why he is largely unknown outside of Japan. July 26, 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

UC San Diego Park & Market Presents: XR Games Masterclass Day 2 – Cyber-cities

The XR Games Masterclass series invites aspiring game designers and digital storytellers to join them for a two-day bootcamp in creating virtual reality games with a purpose. The Qualcomm Institute at UC San Diego, in partnership with Resilience Studios, Epic Games, Lenovo, and Meta, has put together two unique opportunities to learn the building blocks for developing VR and XR games for the Meta Quest 3 and Snapdragon Spaces Lenovo headsets.  Day two of this two-day series tasks attendees with diving head-first into immersive world creation as they build a futuristic cyber-punk city from the ground up in a pre-built extended reality multiplayer game. Attendees will learn how to access a myriad of free photo-realistic assets and content creation tools for use in Unreal Engine 5, all while using these new skills to build a city from scratch. July 27, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., FREE

Jis y Trino’s Big Cartoon Jam

Experience the creative vision artistry, and humor of iconic Mexican cartoonists, Jis y Trino, as they bring their cartoons to life at the Guggenheim Theater. This dynamic and humorous event includes a presentation from Fleisher Cartoons, experts in the restoration of vintage cartoons, as well as La Chora Interminable, a talk show-style segment hosted by Jis y Trino featuring guest cartoonists. Attendees will have a chance to win an original drawing done by Jis y Trino during the event. July 27, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., $15

Family Day Fiesta

Bring the family for a day of interactive fun at UC San Diego Park & Market, featuring mini-sessions led by Scott Paulson from the UC San Diego Library and a special puppet parade. Visitors will enjoy “Short Tales from the Mothership,” sci-fi short stories inspired by the otherworldly architecture of UC San Diego’s Geisel Library, underscored with synthesizers and theremins. Experience the hands-on, family-friendly activities that have been part of UC San Diego Library’s long history of outreach, presented in a special road version for Park & Market! July 28, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., FREE

Free Interactive Zone at Petco Park

There are over a dozen activations experiences inside the Petco Park Free Interactive Zone which is open to the public.

AR game at Interactive Zone at Petco Park

Inside the Interactive Zone at Petco Park which is open to the public without a badge, the world’s largest fan platform and The Real Cost will unveil a custom augmented reality mobile game – “Attack of the Metallic Menace” – with an immersive gaming experience.  Inspired by classic Kaiju movies like Godzilla, the 10-foot metal monster – who made its debut last summer to thousands of convention attendees – is back to drive awareness around the dangers of teen vaping.

Attendees will be the first to experience the browser-based AR mobile game – created by Fandom – as they face off against the Metallic Menace who will send toxic metal shards their way, representing the toxic metals teens can inhale when vaping. Players will try to dodge these toxic metals and fight the Metallic Menace at the event, while also competing against other attendees including fan-favorite gaming influencers. Those at home can also engage with the “Metallic Menace” AR mobile game and custom influencer content during and after the weekend event. 

Hello Kitty Cafe on Wheels

The Hello Kitty Cafe Truck is continuing its 2024 tour across the U.S. with its all-pink cafe
on wheels carrying exclusive treats and collectibles celebrating all things Hello Kitty. As part of the 50th Anniversary celebration of Hello Kitty, fans can look forward to brand
new edible goodies and limited-edition merch.  

Going once, going twice…

Movie props at Comic-Con Museum

In addition to debuting the new Becoming Betty Boop exhibit, San Diego Comic-Con Museum has a two-week exhibit of movie props on display through the weekend. In collaboration with Julien’s Auctions and Turner Classic Movies, this limited-time exhibit, Spotlight Series: Harry Potter & Other Heroes, is open now and ends with a one-day only live and virtual auction on Sunday, July 28 hosted by Julien’s Auctions at Comic-Con Museum’s theater.

Stream eBay art auctions live

Enthusiasts at the convention or those further afield can engage with and shop exclusives from renowned comic artists including creator of Usagi Ujimbo, Stan Sakai, famed Pokémon artist and designer of the original Charizard, Mitsuhiro Arita, Marvel comic artist Art Adams, Transformers artist Ryan Barry, and Todd McFarlane of Spawn and Todd McFarlane Toys on eBay. 

Fans can tune in from Thursday through Sunday (7/25 – 7/28) between 12 –7 p.m. via the dedicated eBay Live channel to bring the energy of the convention directly to them! 

Miscellaneous

Art showcase at Oxford Social Club

As the sun sets over the Convention Center, Gaslamp Quarter’s premier nightlife destination, Oxford Social Club, will shine a spotlight on the iconic artwork of Comic-Con. On Friday, July 26 from 7 to 10 p.m., the swanky boutique club will host a Comic-Con art showcase featuring legendary artist Ryan Benjamin and many other top comic book artists. 

Volunteer with Feeding San Diego for a free comic book

Community members are invited to a special volunteer shift at Feeding San Diego to volunteer alongside Hunger Halter and Demeter, Feeding San Diego’s hunger action heroes created by local students as part of an art contest held in collaboration with the Comic-Con Museum. The volunteer shift is in celebration of the release of a new comic book, “Hunger Action Heroes Unite!,” that features the adventures of Hunger Halter and Demeter. The book is intended to create awareness of the importance of hunger relief and food rescue and to inspire kids to act. It is also meant to help reduce the stigma associated with attending food distributions—because even heroes need help sometimes. All attendees will receive a copy of the comic book.   

Free Cox wifi Downtown

Cox Communications is opening its Cox WiFi hotspots in downtown San Diego free to the public during the 2024 Comic-Con International: San Diego. The Cox WiFi hotspots will be open July 23-29. 

Access to the free Cox hotspots is part of a year-long partnership between Cox Communications and the City of San Diego’s SD Access 4 All program to keep the community connected. From July 23-29, look for the “FreeCoxWiFi” wireless network (SSID) on a WiFi-enabled device when at a Cox hotspot. For more information on Cox hotspot locations, visit www.cox.com/hotspots. 

MTS boosts transit frequency

As 130,000 visitors go to Comic-Con, the trolley and bus is a popular way to get to the San Diego Convention Center. MTS is increasing the frequency of certain lines to accommodate the demand. For details, visit sdmts.com. 

For a list of other offsite activations and events, visit https://sdccblog.com/offsites/.