Movies

Marvel’s absence might have clouded Comic-Con. But fans found a silver lining

BBG News

San Diego COMIC-CON has made Hall H well-known and anticipation high over time, as this room is where big names from Hollywood typically reveal special footage, announce new developments, and share insider tales with passionate fans. Many enthusiasts are prepared to wait for hours just to catch a glimpse when the doors finally open.

It’s no wonder that this year’s Comic-Con, wrapping up on Sunday, saw headlines filled with a sense of letdown due to the lack of Marvel and other big movie studios in the schedule for Hall H events – although it isn’t the first time such absences have occurred at Comic-Con for various reasons.

But for many fans in attendance, the news merited little more than a shrug.

Hector Guzman, accompanied by his friend Joaquin Horas on their journey from Los Angeles, admitted that this year’s Hall H lineup seemed somewhat unique due to the absence of Marvel Studios’ presentation.

He also mentioned, “Marvel is still quite prominent.” As for the recent release of ‘Fantastic Four’, there’s been a significant marketing effort surrounding it in 2021.

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On Friday afternoon, Guzman and Horas waited around an hour and a half in the line for Hall H, aiming to attend the “Tron: Ares” panel, but ultimately decided to leave. However, they mentioned that over the past three years of attending this event, Hall H isn’t typically part of their schedule.

According to Horas, if something catches our eye as intriguing, we’re ready to try it out. On the other hand, if it doesn’t pique our interest, there are always plenty of other events and activities happening at the convention that we can participate in instead. Horas and Guzman shared that their main focus tends to be on unique merchandise, custom artwork by artists, and meeting up with friends in cosplay.

Attendees such as Jennifer and Sam Moore from British Columbia, Canada, seized the opportunity created by the absence of regular headliners in Hall H, to attend presentations on Friday that piqued their interest, like those for “Alien: Earth” and “The Long Walk.

Jennifer Moore mentioned that last year marked her initial visit to Hall H, having attended the event for a full decade prior.

I find it quite straightforward these days since there’s neither a Marvel nor DC event, as Sam Moore pointed out. This year, we’ve simply been dropping by for the Hall H panels without any reservations.

To clarify, Hall H wasn’t devoid of excitement: Notable moments included a bagpipe ensemble playing “Scotland the Brave”, a stunning laser light display, the inaugural screening of the first-ever “Alien” franchise television series, and a visit by “Star Wars” director George Lucas to announce the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.

Even though Comic-Con has expanded beyond just the San Diego Convention Center, encompassing immersive events and pop-ups in the Gaslamp Quarter and Embarcadero, Hall H still holds a special place as a revered venue for both panelists and fans.

Noah Hawley, the creator of “Alien: Earth”, expressed that he aims to provide the promised experience that ticket-holders expect when they come here, during the upcoming FX series’ Hall H presentation on Friday. He was taken aback by his initial Comic-Con visit, noticing how emotional it is for attendees. Throughout most of the year, many people need to pretend to be someone else. However, these four special days allow them to truly be who they feel like they are inside.

On Friday morning, the Moores managed to gain entry into Hall H relatively quickly. However, as the day progressed, the line significantly lengthened due to eager fans anticipating upcoming panels. Highlights among these were “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle,” an enticing addition to the anime franchise, and James Gunn, DC Studios co-chief, who was greeted with applause for his successful “Superman” reboot while showcasing the second season of John Cena’s series, “Peacemaker.

Despite attending Comic-Con to promote their own ventures, many couldn’t contain their enthusiasm for the anime sensation “Demon Slayer.” Advertisements for the upcoming film, which has already smashed attendance records in Japan, were not only displayed in Hall H but also on a nearby hotel and even on the trains of the Trolley.

Actor Babou Ceesay from ‘Alien: Earth’ expressed a desire to join his fans, wearing his Tanjiro costume and earrings, alongside his daughter,” is a simpler way to convey the original statement. This version maintains the essential meaning but uses more common, straightforward language.

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The expansion of anime and animation content at Comic-Con, particularly within Hall H, underscores the fact that this event mirrors the continuous changes in nerd culture and fan communities. Originally a meeting place mainly for comic book collectors, Comic-Con has transformed into a more extensive pop culture festival, where movies once held sway. Now, it seems that Comic-Con might be experiencing the easing of the grip that comic book superhero films have had on popular consciousness as a whole. Over time, television has been making its presence felt at Comic-Con, and studios and streamers like Disney and Netflix have started organizing their own events, such as D23 and Tudum, to generate hype in their preferred ways.

Moreover, Robbie Weber, a fan from Los Angeles, emphasized that Comic-Con is about much more than just events in Hall H. In his initial visit 11 years ago, he was one of the many who waited overnight to gain entry to the hall. However, on this occasion, he chose to bypass it, preferring to check out activations and other panels instead.

On Thursday, we had the pleasure of meeting comic book writer Jonathan Hickman, mentioned Weber. The following day, we ran into a friend on the “Primitive War” panel. That was quite exciting. It was my first time witnessing a friend present something like that.

For many, Comic-Con’s main draw remains how fans can freely celebrate their passions.

Actor Alex Lawther from “Alien: Earth” found it enjoyable during his train journey to San Diego, listening to fellow passengers recalling their old memories and exchanging pictures of their costume play (cosplay).

He expressed that his appreciation for certain things becomes so profound, it feels as if he’d be happy to stroll around town dressed up in related costumes.

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2025-07-28 00:01

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