It felt like San Diego Comic-Con 2025 was back to its usual self this year, although each day seemed to have maximum foot traffic (as if there were no one upstairs or attending seminars/programming. Sometimes that’s great (more people = more potential customers and future fans) but sometimes it’s just an endless sea of meat constantly flowing and circulating through the aisles and rows.
This year I debuted Cool Jerk OMG Color! Vol. 1 & 2 which included the long out-of-print Cool Jerk OMG Color! Vol. 1. Everyone who bought a copy also got a free poster of the T-Waster game (two or three folks remembered when it was originally published in The San Diego Union-Tribune back in the early 2000s). And weird trivia: This year marked the first Comic-Con that I can remember where I had NO SHIRTS to sell, as my complete inventory sold out last year. Even my first year in 2003 I had a limited run of first edition Cool Jerk shirts. I’ll have to do something about that for 2026.
Doing hard math, this was my 23rd year in a row exhibiting in Small Press (although 2020 and 2021 were virtual because of COVID-19). It feels like a full-time job where I have 51 weeks off, since my “work station” and “co-workers” have been the same for about a decade now. It’s all muscle memory, from knowing when the shows open and close each day to how quick I can run to the bathroom to wash my hands and face. And like I said above, it seemed extra-packed with attendees this year.
And now— on with the show!
Not an aerial view of the convention center, but LEGO’s annual exhibit hall display!
First cosplayer I spotted was Krennic from “Rogue One.”
Spotted this guy on his way to Copley Symphony Hall.
Neighbors. I mean in real life. Lisa is a veteran but this was Kenny’s first show. He survived the experience.
First Dick Dastardly pic I can recall. Also first Muttley. Penelope Pitstop was nowhere to be seen.
Some fun guys from “The Last of Us.”.
OG version of Doctor Octopus.
This summer marked the MCU debut of the Fantastic Four, which I saw with Darlene on preview night. There was a lot of FF representation at Comic-Con this year, including Marvel’s display of the actual uniforms.
Cosplaying couple Reed and Sue Richards aka Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman.
I suppose that’s Galacta (Galactus’ “daughter”) and Johnny Storm aka Human Torch.
I saw a Thing or two but here’s a rarity: She-Hulk in her FF uniform (she famously filled in for Thing during a leave of absence).
And this is as good a place as any to include their arch-enemy and rival, Dr. Doom.
Here’s Remmick from this year’s horror hit, “Sinners.”
Luna Snow, a somewhat obscure Asian Marvel character who needs more mainstream representation.
Tyrone Johnson and Tandy Bowen, aka Cloak and Dagger (I always try to address cosplayers by their civilian identities— keeps them on their toes).
Likewise, here’s Wilson Fisk, who would’ve probably smote me with his cane if I called him “New York’s Kingpin of Crime.”
No one can deny that “KPop Demon Hunters” was a phenomenon this summer. Enterprising cosplayers had a tight deadline to work up Mira and Rumi (and a demonic Saja Boy in the middle). Did not see Zoey, who could’ve been writing lyrics or eating cup noodles elsewhere.
Meet Saja Boy Abby who ditched the rest of his demonic boy band to pose for the camera.
It was so weird— Darlene’s eyes turned into abs, then into corn, then into popcorn OF COURSE. Abby gave Darlene an ab-tograph.
