Under The Tents 2024: Hallmark, Dark Horse Comics Luke Arnold and Doc Wyatt, BeKyoot, Patrick Ballesteros, Jock, Nan Hockin, Chris Maze

We are just 70 days away from San Diego Comic-Con 2024, and if that strikes as much both excitement and fear in your heart as it does for us, just know that you are not alone. As we speed closer and closer to the con, we’re starting to get more exciting announcements, including the return of Hallmark and Dark Horse Comics, as well as updates on how you can meet some of your favorite comics creators, where to buy cute merch from your favorite exhibitors, and more.

Let’s take a look at the news you might have missed:

We’re big fans of Hallmark turning San Diego Comic-Con into a literal Christmas in July — and they’ll be bringing their own special kind of holiday magic to the con again this year, as they have confirmed SDCC is indeed on their list of 2024 conventions.

Fans of Essentials creators Luke Arnold and Doc Wyatt have a very unique opportunity this year. As part of their Kickstarter with The Lab Press, you can purchase the opportunity to have dinner with both creators during the con. You’ll also receive The Lab Press Partner gold plated pin and ID number, six oversized books with six slipcases (Audacious Edition, Bill Sienkiewicz Premiere Edition, Glenn Fabry Premiere Edition, Jason Howard Premiere Edition, Glenn Fabry Original Art Edition, & Bill Sienkiewicz Virgin Edition), as well as six signed bookplates, a set of five exclusive prints, Snuggles Plush Puppet, one enamel pin set, sticker pack, postcard set, and more. Each slot for the dinner is valid for you and a plus one, and you can back it now for $2,222.

It’s starting to feel like Summer! Will we see you at San Diego Comic Con? Want to grab Dinner? Sign up for THE LAB PRESS TWO Package today, and you can have dinner with @longlukearnold and @otherland71 at @Comic_con!https://t.co/QC6OQYenEl pic.twitter.com/t9o5QruclR
— thelabpress (@thelabpress) May 10, 2024

Artist Chris Maze is returning to San Diego Comic-Con, and he’ll have plenty of fun debuts and exclusives for the con. Keep an eye on our site in late June/early July for the full reveal, as Maze typically does a countdown to the con.

I will have new mini prints and stickers. Since it’s my 5-year anniversary of CM: D+I, I will have other fun things also. More on that later!
— Chris Maze: Design + Illustration (@MAZEhimself) May 6, 2024

Have you started your San Diego Comic-Con spreadsheet yet? You can add in a stop to Adalisa Zarate’s table #CC-10 in Artist Alley to it now.

Guess who is going to Comic-Con! Me! That's who! See you all at CC-10 on the Artist Alley! #Sdcc #SDCC2024
— Adalisa Zarate, Fairy Con-mom – Commissions Open! (@luxshine) May 8, 2024

Artist Patrick Ballesteros has been busy working on this year’s exclusives for the con, but we’re not allowed to see the full thing just yet. Stay tuned after this commercial break…

Always got to keep it clean!#sdcc #sneakpeek pic.twitter.com/pgd5RVD5Aj
— Patrick Ballesteros SDCC DD-08 (@PatrickBallest) May 10, 2024

Gather your party and venture to the Forgotten Realm — or at least to Booth #2015 to pick up these Baldur’s Gate standees from Sara Kipin.

Let’s go camping!⛺️
Little BG3 standees for SDCC 🌲 pic.twitter.com/ynTXJdu4To
— 🌜Sara Kipin🌛 @ SDCC Booth #2015 (@sarakipin) May 11, 2024

One person you won’t find at San Diego Comic-Con this year is Inki Drop, who have over ten years of conventions, has canceled their SDCC 2024 appearance among others. We’ll miss you, Shelly!

After over a decade of conventions, it feels strange to have none in 2024.

My hiatus was planned. I even cancelled my cherished SDCC booth.

US east coast events are easier on me so I´m focusing on those now.

All this to say: I applied to SuperMAGfest for 2025! VAMOS!! pic.twitter.com/VHuO6tCNt3
— shelly (@inki_drop) May 11, 2024

Be sure to stop by #K-03 in Small Press to say hi to artist Sean Forney (along with Stephanie Forney, Jamie Snell, and Jen Clower), and to check out his new Scarlett Huntress banner for the con.

Scarlet Huntress banner preview. Check it out in person at Comic-Con International in small press at K-03 with Stephanie Forney, Jamie Snell and Jen Clower Art by @seanforneyart.bsky.social Scarlet Huntress ©️and ®️Stephanie and Sean Forney #indiecomics #SDCC

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— Sean Forney (@seanforneyart.bsky.social) May 7, 2024 at 11:09 AM

You’ll be ewokin’ around the Christmas tree this year with artist Nan Hockin’s adorable ornaments (and pins). Each is a one-of-a-kind, handmade piece made with love by Hockin.

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A post shared by Art By Nan (@nanhockin)

Hockin also showed off some Korean food-inspired enamel pins she’ll be bringing to the con. We’re so thankful we gochu-jang to have Hockin and her work at the con.

Yeah! My enamel pins just got in and so did my backings! Find me and these are San Diego comic con! #sdcc #sdcc2024 #koreanfood #koreanartist pic.twitter.com/1PsIe7MW2T
— ArtByNan (@nanhockin) May 14, 2024

In a (slightly different) galaxy far, far away, artist Steven E Gordon has created some cheesecake prints in honor of May the 4th earlier this month. You’ll be able to pick up the new print at SDCC.

Yeah, I know I’m a day late with this but this is one of the new #prints I’ll have available at #SDCC this year. #maythefourth be with you…. #coolworld #holliwould #holliwood @ralph_bakshi #princessleia #hansolo #rule63 #starwars #hutslayer #goodgirl #cheesecake

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— Steven E Gordon (@stevenegordon.bsky.social) May 5, 2024 at 3:18 PM

Now that’s what we call power(puff). Taco Boy Designs showed off a new piece for Powerpuff Girls‘ Buttercup, part of his “Hollow Eyes” series, which will be at San Diego this year.

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Artist Victoria Llama, creator of Panty Cat, has a very busy schedule this summer, but luckily she’s making time for a stop in San Diego at Small Press #N-02.

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BB-CRE.8 is also heading back to San Diego this year, and has been working hard on daily exclusives for this year’s con. Color us intrigued by that Gaslamp sign…

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Artist Peter Kuper showed off a monstrously beautiful sketch to announce that he’ll be returning to San Diego Comic-Con this summer, at #II-17 in Artists Alley.

An old Convention sketch I did at San Diego ComicCon. I'll be back again this year in my usual spot in artists alley. #SDCC2024 pic.twitter.com/ivy6RSYLh0
— Peter Kuper (@PKuperArt) May 14, 2024

Makers of all things cute, BeKyoot, are being cute again. They’ve shown off a few new pin designs hopefully headed to Booth #3149, so go let them know which is your favorite.

I worked on some pin designs (hopefully) for SDCC this year! It's hard to pick a favorite, but I'm really loving the pin version of flour floofs. 🙂 #dailypaint 3149 pic.twitter.com/c1zCbeEK4I
— BeKyoot (@bekyoot) May 15, 2024

Speaking of pins, Mary Bellamy (aka “Zorilita”), has a few new ones this year to celebrate both S.T.E.M. and S.T.E.A.M.

Here are a few of my #SDCC exclusive enamel pins stoking the eternal debate between STEM and STEAM. Which side will you choose? @SD_Comic_Con pic.twitter.com/Wm0NLnvUNw
— Zorilita – Mary Bellamy (@Zorilita) May 15, 2024

Writer and artist Jock has also confirmed that his 2024 convention schedule includes a stop in sunny San Diego this July.

I’m doing FanExpo Denver https://t.co/BAzcgDRQ3A and then SDCC, both in July! https://t.co/GA9P769uZ3
— jock (@Jock4twenty) May 14, 2024

Also confirmed for SDCC? Dark Horse Comics are back, and we love to see it.

ICYMI: The Dark Horse convention and event appearance schedule for 2024 is here! 🎉

Find out where we'll be this year, and stay tuned for more updates: https://t.co/tpZ4OIZ6Bj pic.twitter.com/x2RNqp2lMS
— Dark Horse Comics (@DarkHorseComics) May 13, 2024