For many in the U.S., Independence Day was a day off work and a time for barbecues, hot dogs, fireworks, and baseball games. But for us true SDCC sickos, we know July 4 tends to serve as an unofficial last “quiet day” of the year.
Post-July 4 tends to be the launching point for the final push of information and announcements. This week, we’ve got the Exclusives Portal opening, we can expect the full panel schedule reveal, hopefully the full list of exhibitors, and probably more offsite announcements than you can possibly try to keep up with.
In the meantime, let’s take a look at the news you may have missed during this holiday weekend (and if you didn’t miss any of these, please consider joining our team):
- A double dose of Jonathan Uribe variant covers from Collector Cave: first, a Super Kong for their Fame: Shigeru Mayamoto exclusive about the career of the Nintendo legend. Second, a Charizard Spawn for their Fame: Satoshi Tajiri exclusive about the creator of Pokémon. Both covers will be available at Comicage Booth #1343 starting on the Friday (July 25) of SDCC. Preorder variants on CollectorCave.shop are also forthcoming.
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- Snoopy artist Mary Shyne will have multiple panels, signings, and drawing sessions on Friday and Saturday in support of their new work, You and Me on Repeat.
Then I’ve got a BUNCH going on for @sandiegocomic-con.bsky.social! It’s my first year going as a representative of my own work — literally a life dream achieved! :’) In addition to panels, and signings at the @01firstsecond.bsky.social booth, I’ll be drawing at the Cartoon Art Museum booth!
— Mary Shyne (@maryshyneonline.bsky.social) July 3, 2025 at 10:48 AM
- Another reminder that the Con still has evening programming even after the exhibit hall closes each day. Case in point, per Patti Negri, “Witches After Dark: A Conversation from East to West” will take place on Thursday, July 24 from 7:30pm-8:30pm in Room 29CD and features Judy Ann Nock, Jason Myers, Rev. Starr Ravenhawk, and Negri herself.
- Pick up a copy of the new Empyrean: Earth Illuminated sci-fi graphic novel series at Big Man Comics Booth #1705 and meet the creative team, including Gabe Eltaeb, Akheon, Archive Van Bruen, and Blond.
- Artist Alex Deligiannis rang in Independence Day with this Stars & Stripes take on Casey Jones. It’ll be one of many originals that will be available at Booth #1537.
Casey Jones remix! It’s Independence Day, so I had to do a version with the Stars & Stripes mask. Always loved this look for him. This and other originals are up for grabs at @SD_Comic_Con in 3 weeks, booth 1537. Hope to see you there. Happy 4th of July! #SDCC2025 #TMNT pic.twitter.com/f8ao3F7Foc
— Alex Deligiannis (@AlexDeligiannis) July 4, 2025
- Toy Dojo shared more images of its upcoming Transformers MDLX Lost Light Rodimus Prime limited exclusive that will be available at the ThreeZero booth.
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- Artist Smunchy is taking a bite out of Comic-Con with these comic-sized art books, “Street Series”, featuring plenty of Street Sharks.
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- Artist Nooligan will be giving away free smoke cards with purhcase at Booth #5567 on Thursday, July 24, while supplies last. There will be a limited number of the signed and numbered cards.
- Are you all about that Hobbit Life? Artist Sara Kipin is celebrating a peaceful existence in the Shirewith this adorable sticker set, which she’ll have at her booth.
Hobbit Life stickers for SDCC and Lightbox Expo! 🌱🌷☁️
#tolkien #hobbit #hobbitcore #lotr— 🌜Sara Kipin🌛 (@sarakipin.bsky.social) July 4, 2025 at 6:47 PM
- If artist Patrick Ballesteros’ exclusives and debuts weren’t enough for you, he’s also been busy creating plenty of mini originals for the con.
Good morning, it’s go time!#sdcc pic.twitter.com/oeWYtb8uv0
— Patrick Ballesteros SDCC Artist Alley DD-08 (@PatrickBallest) July 5, 2025
- Na-na-na-na-na BATMAN! Atomic Art and Music are taking things old school with retro Batman magnets and keychains, available at Booth #C-02 in Small Press.
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- Artist Chad Hardin showed off a convention exclusive Planet Death #1 he’s taking to Comic-Con, to Booth #4503. It’s limited to 500 copies, so get yours before it’s gone.
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- Something deadly is heading to Comic-Con. Aaron Margolin, Senior Global Brand Manager at Jazwares, teased that they’ll have Five Nights at Freddy‘s stuff on display at San Diego Comic-Con, and to stay tuned. We’re ready to play.
Some folks at the con asked if we had any FNAF stuff on display. Not at AX, but we definitely have some exciting things in store for SDCC 😉
— Aaron Margolin (@Aaron_Margolin) July 5, 2025
- JYK All Day has been showing off several exclusives and debuts, but he’s also prepping to roll out with some new stickers.
Operation sticker prep. #SDCC pic.twitter.com/q4H3tg69kA
— JYK All Day (@JYK_AllDay) July 6, 2025
- You’ll find Mecha BREAK, the multiplayer mech shooter set in a futuristic sci-fi realm, at San Diego Comic-Con Booth #140, where they’ll have Ace Pilot Recruitment trials, exclusive merch, artists live-drawing, and more.
Mecha BREAK will be at San Diego Comic-Con 2025!
RT & tag one of your friends → Enter to win 1 of 3
8BitDo × Mecha BREAK "Panther" Limited Edition Keyboards!
⏰ July 5, 10:00 – July 11, 23:59 (PDT)📍 San Diego Convention Center Booth 140
• Ace Pilot Recruitment trials!
•… pic.twitter.com/CfD6AvPMNw— Mecha BREAK (@MechaBREAK) July 5, 2025
- Michael Kingston, a writer at Headlocked and Masked Republic, revealed that Masked Republic will be bringing the Canadian retired professional wrestler Vampiro to the con.
- We love the fantastical cardboard world of Rhode Montijo — and we love Halloween. So his “The ‘I Love Me Some Halloween’ Club” stickers are the perfect combination of both. Catch him over at Booth #1329 to pick up yours.
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- Jed Thomas is unleashing his Godzilla compilation art book with Prime Collectibles during San Diego Comic-Con this summer. The SDCC exclusive art book will be available as a trade (LE 30), foil (LE 15), magma (LE 10), and metal (LE 5) at Booth #4814.
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- Shiny! The California Browncoats showed off a new Challenge Coin designed by Zac Penso headed to Booth #A-7.
New challenge coin for #SDCC, designed for us by @ZacPensol! The Cap'n tells it like it is. Thank you to @NathanFillion for picking our supported charity for this event! #Sandiegocomicon2025 #donetheimpossible pic.twitter.com/8kr6yD8RzK
— California Browncoats: SDCC booth A/7 (@CABrowncoats) July 5, 2025
- Evil lurks everywhere. You can find some at James Silvani’s Booth #II-06, where he’ll have this original Darkwing Duck artwork.
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- Everybody Loves Raymond Gay‘s work with Image, Top Cow, IDW, and more, and everyone will also love that he’ll be set up at Booth #1907. He’ll also have a Friday morning signing at The Spawn booth (#TBA) and is teasing some big names that’ll join him.
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- Over in the Small Press section, you can catch Trevor Fernandes-Lenkiewicz signing copies of Rise, Area 51: The Helix Project, and more.
Whoooo will I see at San Diego Comic Con? #SDCC pic.twitter.com/f0Wd9Fkx2M
— Trevor Fernandes-Lenkiewicz ⏩ SDCC Small Press (@PWatchPress) July 5, 2025
- More Ethan Castillo post-it sketch goodness — this one of Hulk — that’ll be available at Artists’ Alley Table #AA-01 (side note: what a primo table assignment!)
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- Artist sketchbooks are always a great bang for your buck, and Chrissie Zullo Uminga will be bringing a 56-page one of her work since the start of last year to Artists’ Alley #BB-17.
Coming soon: New sketchbook! Collects 2024-2025, jam packed with 56 pages of doodles. Debuting later this month at SDCC, BB-17 in Artist Alley . Complete your collection and pick one up 👀 !!! #sketchbook #sdccexclusive pic.twitter.com/gUWoLciWDU
— chrissie zullo uminga (@Chrissie_Zullo) July 5, 2025
- Here’s some hunny for you fine readers: Voice actor Jim Cummings, best known for his work as Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, will be signing autographs at booth #501. This courtesy of Robert Manning, who does research for Cummings’ podcast.
@SD_Comic_Con just wanted to let you guys know that legendary Disney icon Jim Cummings will be at booth 501 Signing autographs. pic.twitter.com/FWZZaP2WOk
— robert manning (@batpool97) July 4, 2025
- In addition to the commission preorders and walkups he’s taking (see our commission list for pricing and more info!), Kevin Meinert will have several products for sale over at Bardstone Publishing (Small Press Table #M-04):
- A $40 four-book bundle (all signed!) that includes trades of Crimson Shadows and Poe Macabre Master and issues #1 of Last Light and Wretched Realms. The books will also be available separately. If you ask really nicely, Meinert will draw a quick sketch in a book of your choosing.
- Hardcover edition of Crimson Shadows ($50) that includes a signed bookplate (by inker Meinert, writer Scott Zambelli, and letter Bret Pinson) and a Meinert hand-drawn sketch.
- Meinert-remarqued versions of Last Light #1 ($15)
- A $40 four-book bundle (all signed!) that includes trades of Crimson Shadows and Poe Macabre Master and issues #1 of Last Light and Wretched Realms. The books will also be available separately. If you ask really nicely, Meinert will draw a quick sketch in a book of your choosing.
- Customizable toy makers Drawn2Play will be handing out free, colorful STEMstims fidgets on all days of SDCC.
- Shawn Kirkham, head of Big Clutch, showed off a Pete Carroll variant cover of Post Malone’s Big Rig #1 that will be coming to SDCC.
- Storied SDCC mainstay Bill Sienkiewicz will be there as usual this year with his unique and stunning style. He’s bringing at least three framed originals, a sketchbook, and commissions to come.
- Unbox Industries (booth #2643) has revealed its first exclusive, and it’s Kaiju-tastic: Mechagodzilla from 1974’s Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla.
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- Here’s a tantalizing teaser from writer Deniz Camp (The Ultimates, Absolute Martian Manhunter, Assorted Crisis Events) to look out for some announcements this week.
At least one really big thing I've been working on being announced this SDCC, btw. Possibly two.
— Deniz Camp (@DenizCamp) July 6, 2025
- Get ready to go bersark for BRZRKR #1 San Diego Comic-Con exclusive variant cover by Ejikure. It’s limited to 500 pieces each for the virgin and 250 for the virgin foil, and available at Booth #2302.
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- Big Time Collectibles is going big at San Diego Comic-Con, with 20+ exclusives at Booth #2302.
Adorable Mayhem showed off a new handcrafted silver snake ring, which will be available at Booth #4537.
- Artist Tyler Walpole will be bringing some blankets to the con, he revealed on Bluesky. Get them there and Gen Con first.
What if…blankets?
— Tyler Walpole – C2E2 Q-14 (@tylerwalpole.bsky.social) July 5, 2025 at 6:09 PM
- And finally for today, artist Don Aguillo revealed he’s got a packed schedule at the con this year, including signings at Image for Spawn, DC Comics variant Pride covers at his booth #HH-21, and an exclusive variant cover for Kid Heroes Productions’ Lumpia with a Vengeance Deep Fried Universe. Plus, he’s doing something for The Strangers 2 at the con. Color us intrigued.
Anything we missed? Let us know by dropping us a line, or tweet us at @SD_Comic_Con.
If you missed our previous Under the Tents posts, you can find them HERE.
Looking for a commission? We’ve got a post for that!
