SDCC 2024 Day 3: Comic Con Reaches Critical Mass

Saturday at San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) is about as crazy as it gets. With the biggest panels and the highest attendance, juggling a packed exhibit hall floor with the demands of the Saturday schedule is no easy feat. Nevertheless, I was ready to dive headfirst into the chaos.

Interview with Jason Aaron

My day began at the Hilton Bayfront, where I had the privilege of interviewing the legendary Jason Aaron alongside Lance from Comic Book Keepers. We spent a good 30 minutes discussing his work on the latest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles re-launch. Despite having multiple Eisner award-winning books and helming some of the most recognizable heroes and teams in comics, Aaron candidly spoke about his ongoing battle with imposter syndrome. His humility and passion for storytelling were inspiring. You can find our interview on the Comic Book Keepers podcast here.

Morning on the Show Floor

After the insightful conversation with Aaron, it was time to hit the show floor. My first stop was to get a signature from Nick Dragotta on my East of West hardcover. Dragotta’s work on the series has been nothing short of spectacular, and meeting him in person was a real treat.

Critical Role Fireside Chat and Q&A

The next major event was the Critical Role fireside chat and Q&A session. Fresh off the conclusion of the Downfall special event, led by Brennan Lee Mulligan, the cast was eager to showcase early looks at the upcoming Mighty Nein animated series. The sneak peek featured Jester escaping from one of her usual pranks and running into Fjord, sparking a wave of excitement among the crowd. Before the Mighty Nein series lands, however, we have season 3 of Vox Machina’s story to look forward to later this year.

The Q&A was packed with fascinating insights from Matt, Laura, Ashley, and the rest of the cast (except for Sam Riegel). One memorable moment was Ashley’s confession of wanting to be a Rogue bodyguard for Marisha, which drew excited squeals from the audience. Matt also talked about the ongoing beta-tests for Daggerheart and the possibility of a future season using that system. Additionally, it was revealed that there are playlists for each of the Bells Hells that haven’t been released yet, making fans even more eager for new content.

The Q&A session was filled with fascinating insights from Matt, Laura, Ashley, and the rest of the cast (except for Sam Riegel). They discussed what class and background they would choose if magically teleported to Exandria, with Ashley's confession of wanting to be a Rogue bodyguard for Marisha drawing excited squeals from the audience. Matt also talked about the ongoing beta-tests for Daggerheart and hinted at the possibility of a future season using that system. Fans were thrilled to learn that playlists for each of the Bells Hells, which have been teased for so long, might soon be released.

Meeting Hitoshi Ariga

After the Critical Role panel, it was time for my most anticipated event of the weekend. Hitoshi Ariga, of Megaman Mastermix fame, was providing signatures. I had spent a small fortune at the Udon Entertainment booth to qualify for a ticket to the signature event, and it was worth every penny. Meeting Mr. Ariga and getting his signature on my copy of Megaman Mastermix #1 was an unforgettable experience, and I’ve been riding that high for the better part of the last few days.

Hall H and the Return of Marvel

While my wife and I wandered the show floor after the signing, Hall H was gearing up for its most exciting panel in years: the return of Marvel and the fate of the MCU. The positive buzz surrounding Deadpool & Wolverine was palpable, but the drama behind Jonathan Majors’ Kang left many uncertain about the future of the Avengers films and the MCU as a whole.

To ease the fandom's concerns, Kevin Feige confirmed a swirling rumor: the Russo brothers were indeed returning to direct the upcoming Avengers films. Then, there was a surprise that nobody saw coming. Feige revealed that Avengers: Kang Dynasty would now be called Avengers: Doomsday, and that Doctor Doom would be the new chief antagonist. But who would be playing this legendary foe? Would it be Cillian Murphy, as many had speculated? No. Instead, the masked figure that revealed themselves at the front of Hall H was none other than the Founding Father of the MCU: Robert Downey Jr.

The crowd went wild, but the days since have seen passionate discourse about whether bringing back Iron Man was the right choice. While the multiverse opens the door for variants of Tony Stark, some have labeled the move "lazy." Time will tell if the casting decision pays off, but for now, there’s renewed buzz around the MCU, including excitement for the upcoming Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Dinner with IDW and Friends

I closed out the evening with some quality food and even better company. Gregg Katzmann from IDW hosted a dinner with other press folks, including Chris Hacker from the Oblivion Bar Podcast, Brad and Lisa from Comic Book Couples Counseling, and a handful of other creators. We discussed our favorite comics, the last movies we saw before the pandemic, and the implications of RDJ’s return for the future of the MCU. It was a fantastic end to a jam-packed day.

Wrapping Up Saturday

And with that, Saturday came to a close, and the conclusion of Comic Con rapidly approached. It was a day filled with unforgettable moments, insightful conversations, and exciting revelations. Stay tuned for my recap of Day 4!