San Diego Comic-Con 2017 steam-rolled its way through southern California and smack dab across our backs this year, with more EPIC events, panels, announcements and craziness than ever. First, please check out our CON GUY SHOW, below, to see the full discussion.
Here’s our list, in no particular order, of the ABSOLUTE BEST OF THE BEST from this year’s San Diego Comic-Con. Please let us know what you think, add your comments, or tell us what we’ve missed.
MARVEL HALL H — PART 1 — THOR!
According to reports, Thor won the social media war of Comic-Con Saturday, beating out Justice League, beating out Stranger Things, and even beating out Infinity War! Now THAT’S quite a feat. We saw some unfinished exclusive footage that featured Thor and Loki, and a hilarious Jeff Goldblum. The trailer soared past 30 million in the first week, and fans couldn’t get enough of the super cool-aid, acid-trippin’ psychedelic poster.
MARVEL HALL H — PART 2 — BLACK PANTHER!
I gotta be honest — this choked me up. When the lights came up after the spectacular Black Panther footage and trailer, and the cast jumped for joy and hugged each other (it was their first time seeing the footage), I couldn’t help but get swept up in the emotion of that moment. This wasn’t just a great super-hero moment, it was a triumphant moment for black film-making. Sure, we’ve had important films that explored the black experience, but Black Panther is something altogether different–it’s a slam-bang, kick-ass blockbuster that slams down the door and takes no prisoners. I won’t pretend to say I understand someone else’s experience, but for that brief moment, I kinda felt it. And it was AWESOME!
GAME OF BLOGGERS PARTY ON PREVIEW NIGHT
THANKS Tony Kim for throwing an awesome preview night party at the House of Blues for all us bloggers and web folks… It was free and open to the public–and going to the Game of Bloggers party gave us VIP access to Saturday night’s Red Wedding party. You can check out Tony Kim at Crazy4ComicCon.com.
I know it feels like a month ago, but so grateful for #GameofBloggers. Thanks to all that came out to kick off the con together.#SDCC pic.twitter.com/CNGSJ9r4BM
— Tony B Kim (@Crazy4ComicCon) July 24, 2017
SEEING THE ENTIRE FIRST EPISODE OF NETFLIX’S THE DEFENDERS
Netflix made a triumphant entrance to Comic-Con–their first! What took them so long??? Who knows? But no matter the reason, all we know is that it was well worth the wait. Netflix arrived with fanfare and might, and they meant business–especially their MARVEL panel, where all the stars from Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist showed up. You can watch the whole panel below. And to the surprise of the ecstatic crowd, Marvel’s Jeph Loeb gave the best gift possible — the very first episode of THE DEFENDERS, the next big Marvel series to hit Netflix. Aaaah, such a great day.
THE ARCHER vs. THE KINGSMEN ANIMATED SHORT
Okay, we love Archer. And we love the Kingsmen, and we’re really looking forward to the Kingsmen sequel. So what happens when you mix them all together? Entertainment gold, that’s what! Archer ain’t no match for the high-octane combat moves of the Kingsmen–but they’re no match for Archer’s singular skill: extreme drinking. Watch it here!
BARB CRASHES THE STRANGER THINGS PANEL
In a strange–yet wonderful–turn of events, Barb became the breakout popular character from Stranger Things, the Netflix series that became a phenomenon last year. It returns Oct. 27 (can’t wait! can’t wait!). So, it only make sense that Barb herself would crash the panel at Comic-Con. And we couldn’t be happier. #JusticeForBarb
THE BLADE RUNNER 2049 OFFSITE
There were TONS of offsites this year at San Diego Comic-Con, but none of them got the heat and positive buzz that the Blade Runner 2049 offsite got. It was HUGE! And it walked you right into the world of Blade Runner. The movie comes out later this year, but fans got an up-close look into the world of 2049 at Comic-Con. Check out what you missed!
THURSDAY NIGHT DRINK-UP HOSTED BY BOOM! STUDIOS AND 20TH CENTURY FOX
Outside of Marvel and DC, perhaps the most exciting comic book company on the scene is BOOM! Studios, and the Thursday night happy hour they hosted proved how much they love their fans. They actually bought the first 1,000 drinks in the Hilton Bayfront–how’s that for showin’ some love? For those of us wanting to meet and get to know the BOOM! staff, this was the perfect opportunity. And the free drinks? Can’t be beat.
The #BOOMDrinkup starts at 9pm at the Odysea Lounge. Pick up your ticket at the table before the entrance! #SDCC17 pic.twitter.com/kWjV3uczOC
— BOOM! Studios (@boomstudios) July 21, 2017
DAVID TENNANT DOES AN IMPROMPTU SCROOGE McDUCK IN THE DUCKTALES PANEL
David Tennant fans packed the Ducktales panel, filling it to the brim to see their favorite Doctor, and he didn’t let them down. When asked what’s the best part about being Scrooge McDuck in Disney’s revived Ducktales, he answered, “The best part is I get to be Scrooge McDuck!” And then he sent the crowd into a tailspin (ha! get it?) when he went all Scrooge McDuck…. and it was GREAT!
THE BAND KANSAS SURPRISES FANS BY OPENING THE SUPERNATURAL HALL H PANEL WITH ‘CARRY ON MY WAYWARD SON’
As any Supernatural fan knows, the de facto theme song of the series is ‘Carry On My Wayward Son’ by the band Kansas…. c’mon now, everyone sing it! This year, however, at the annual Sunday morning Hall H panel, Supernatural fans were blown away by a surprise performance by the actual band Kansas which accompanied a montage of clips from the first 12 years (12!) of the series. As the series seems to head toward its end, the fan interactions are getting even more epic. Watch here:
I WAS ON MY VERY FIRST COMIC-CON PANEL
Please indulge me this one, please….I’m being a bit selfish with this one. This may not be a big deal to some of you, but for me it’s pretty epic–this year I was on my very first panel at San Diego Comic-Con. It was the panel ‘Having a Full-Time Creative Career On a Part-Time Schedule,’ where we discuss how to move your creative passions into a full-time career. I’ve attended this panel for the past 5 years, and now I’ve finally swapped to the other side of the table! If you were there, thanks! If not, please come to this awesome panel. It’s helped me to turn my Comic-Con passions into a real career.
