Under the Tents 2025: Dan Veesenmeyer, Tricia Buchanan-Benson, Nan Hockin, Her Universe

It’s been a busy week here at the UBlog. It’s almost crunch time for artists and vendors to put their finishing touches on their work before sending it to print or fabrication. This edition of Under the Tents is full of SDCC 2025 works-in-progress, teases, hints, and things left unsaid to make you salivate like Pavlov’s dog hearing the dinner bell. Let’s get to it, then, shall we?

Here’s a look at what you might have missed:

“To me, my X-Men!” If you haven’t already, be sure to grab one of X-Men 97 artist Dan Veesenmeyer’s commission spots for the con — because it’s possible this may be his last year vending (because he just had too much dang fun attending the con at WonderCon).

Me skipping SDCC? Noooo.
I’ll be there with table for sure.

Currently contemplating no longer maintaining a table at SDCC AFTER this year.

My experience during WonderCon got me thinking about giving up the need to maintain a table during any con. https://t.co/rGPyK8noiK

— Dan Veesenmeyer (@dveese) May 11, 2025

Another brilliant artist with open commissions you’ll find in Artists’ Alley at Comic-Con this year is the super-talented comic artist Todd Nauck, where he’ll be at Table #II-01.

My upcoming comic con appearances:Comic Con Revolution, Ontario, CaliforniaMay 17-18Artists’ Alley, table D-3•HeroesCon, Charlotte, NCJune 20-22•San Diego Comic ConJuly 23-27Artists’ Alley table ii-01•Visit toddnauck.com for info on commission options, prices, & request procedure!

— Todd Nauck (@toddnauck.bsky.social) 2025-05-11T16:41:42.657Z

Artist Nan Hockin revealed these adorable gothic mermaid stickers she’ll have with her at her SDCC 2025 Small Press table. If you guessed she also has her SDCC 2025 commissions open, you’d be correct (and should order one).

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A post shared by Art By Nan (@nanhockin)

Marvel artist Ari Granov shared some finishing touches he’s putting on his gorgeous SDCC 2025 exclusive he’s making for Trinity Comics’ booth.

Comic artist and film producer Sal Abbinanti was recently a guest on the Word Balloon Comics Podcast, where he revealed that he’s been shopping the Kingdom Come documentary to various film festivals. While it didn’t sound solidified, Sal mentioned that the documentary — which tells the origin story of the popular KINGDOM COME graphic novel by Alex Ross and Mark Waid — will “probably” be screening at San Diego Comic-Con this summer.

Author Alex Grand revealed to his Twitter followers that he’ll be at SDCC this year, and he’s bringing copies of his latest work, Understanding Superhero Comic Books, with him. Maybe now, I can finally explain to my mom why I’m still bitter about her throwing out all my old comic books 20 years ago.

I’ll be at San Diego Comic Con!

— Alex Grand (@Comichistorians) May 13, 2025

While you’re strolling through Small Press at San Diego Comic-Con this year, you’ll want to stop at the Midnight Press table to find this con variant Murder Hobo cover in either glow-in-the-dark metal or foil form and have it signed by artists Ryan Browne and Joseph Schmalke.

Our next SDCC reveal. Murder Hobo #runthejewels cover by the mighty @zombiepetz_rgb.This will be both a glow in the dark metal limited to 10 copies and 20 foils. Available in small press at the Midnight Factory booth. Ryan and Joe will be on hand daily for signings and remarks

— Ryan Gary Browne (@rgbrowneart.bsky.social) 2025-05-13T15:45:49.591Z

While you’re there, Midnight Factory will also have a compilation featuring Murder Hobo, Prophets of Doom, Seven Years in Darkness: Year Three, and We Don’t Kill Spiders: Season of the Witch available to purchase for your German grandmother to read to your kids at night.

Let Aaron Reynolds, creator of the Effin’ Birds series, know you’ll see him at the Nerd Street Booth #2049 during SDCC 2025.

What’s a Mata? Emily Mata! Why are we so excited? She announced that she’s not only tabling at San Diego Comic-Con this year, she’s also proudly representing Cartoonists Across America as their vice president.

While we already knew that Moose Toys would be heading to San Diego Comic-Con with the debut of an entire new line of toys, it sounds like we’ve got our answer on just what that might be. Action Figure Insider announced that Moose Toys’ new FANDROP will be heading to San Diego Comic-Con, where fans can pick up the entire line, as well as two San Diego Comic-Con exclusives: a black-and-white “storyboard” rendition of Darth Vader vs. Luke Skywalker, as well as an “artist-sketch’ format of Spider-Man vs. Venom. Each set will feature rare “artifacts” hidden behind the blind packaging, and each will be available for $19.99. Here’s a look at the regular, non-SDCC versions:

Which came first, the Ghost Chicken or the Ghost Egg? You can debate this paradox with Brooklyn, NY, artist Mary Ann, creator of The Ghost Egg, when she floats into San Diego for Comic-Con this year.

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A post shared by Mary Ann (@theghostegg)

Clearly better at art than math (40% Human + 40% Canine + 30% Attitude = 110% DREADMUTT), comic creator and artist Rob Potchak is bringing the action figure born from his latest work, DREADMUTT Issue #1, as well as signing copies at the Keenspot Booth during San Diego Comic-Con this year.

How many SDCC exclusives can one artist create? Chris Maze is going for his personal best, 20 new pieces for 20 years as a San Diego Comic-Con Exhibitor. We’re not sure what “go time” is, but we’ll be here for it.

And that wraps up number 19 for #SDCC. Beat last year’s personal record. Now I’m going for 20 to celebrate my 20th year as an exhibitor. After that, it’s go time. Stay tuned!

— Chris Maze: Design + Illustration (@MAZEhimself) May 15, 2025

If you’re one of those “artsy-fartsy” types, I’d first be impressed you’re using a phrase like “artsy-fartsy,” but then I’d suggest you visit FartsyLee at Table #DD-23 in Artists’ Alley at SDCC this year to check out her sunny west-coast vibe.

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If you’re a cat person like me, you’re going to have to fight me for a spot at artist/illustrator Nellie Lê’s Artists’ Alley Table #AA-23, where she’ll have these adorable kittie portraits up for “adoption” at her table.

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A post shared by Nellie Lê (@heynelliele)

Our good friends at Yesterdays suggest they may have something a little special planned for Tuesday, July 22, so it may behoove you (as my Chief used to tell me) to be in San Diego a little early for Comic-Con this year.

Just a heads up, you’re going to want to be in town on Tuesday the week of #SDCC 👀

— Yesterdays (@yesterdaysco) May 16, 2025

Snootchie bootchies, ARCHIE fans! It’s the crossover we didn’t know we needed: ARCHIE MEETS JAY AND SILENT BOB, and ARCHIE creator Dan Parent will have SDCC exclusive foil cover variants available for this epic team-up at the con.

Sneak peek! More ARCHIE MEETS JAY AND SILENT BOB fun for you, courtesy of Mellow Fellow Trading ! Both of these exclusives by me will be available in July, including the San Diego Comic Con exclusive, which will printed as a foil only in a very limited print run! @ArchieComics pic.twitter.com/GEQU8LMwd3

— DAN PARENT ! (@parentdaniel) May 17, 2025

Star Wars/Disney/Simpsons/Futurama artist Tricia Buchanan-Benson revealed new sticker designs she’s making for SDCC 2025 (one of which looks really familiar, like I’ve seen it on a t-shirt somewhere…).

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Bic, the artist behind the SHeroes Guild, teased one-third of a tryptic she’ll have on display at the San Diego Comic-Con Art Show this year.

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A post shared by Bic (@sheroesguild)

Ashley Eckstein’s Her Universe Fashion Show at San Diego Comic-Con is the world championship for many cosplayers and designers, marking the culmination of years of hard work. Judging by the excited posts on social media, confirmations have gone out, and these designers have started their Rocky-style training montages to prepare.