I don’t want to start beef with Mother Nature or anything… but where I’m at it’s hot enough to fry an egg on a sidewalk. (I know this because I have an uncle who did it in the 1970s, and yes, he ate the egg when it was done.)
Folks always say it doesn’t get *that* hot or *that* humid in San Diego, and while that may be true, you can sometimes find folks on the sidewalk cooking up proteins. I’ve never personally tried any of the “street meats” but I know people who have and lived to tell the tale.
All this to say that San Diego Comic-Con is a DIFFERENT kind of hot… it’s 🔥. The kind of 🔥 made from exclusive comics and toys that cause fans around the world to decry “Unfair!” and shake their fists at the computer. A sort of 🔥 that makes people line up days in advance to be “in the room where it happens.” A breed of 🔥 that makes you ok with standing outside for several hours to get a free enamel pin for a TV show you haven’t even watched yet. It’s all 🔥 and we love it, and would have it no other way.
Now, let’s check out some 🔥 news you might have missed:
- First of all, Mondo’s doing us dirty with these teases.
- Only the absolute chillest of people wear kimonos, that’s a fact. Artistic Flavorz has revealed their first San Diego Comic-Con exclusive kimonos, featuring the distinctive turquoise twin pony-tails of Vocaloid Hatsune Miku. Snag this at booth #1116.
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- Up until now, Bull Airs had just been teasing us about SDCC. Now they have confirmed that they will be there, and bringing exclusives, limited editions, and surprises to Booth #3917, with their friends at Atomic Toybox.
- Is it weird that I can almost smell this exclusive from glass maker Neacol Miller? Either that lavender is very authentic looking or I’m having a small stroke. This little lavender collector is named Casia and she will be available at Booth #E-05 during San Diego Comic-Con, with other delicate glass creations.
- The Serenity and Firefly fans come out in full force at San Diego Comic-Con and the philanthropic fan group The California Browncoats always make sure they have the freshest goods for them. This year, they will have some brand new magnets with art from Geoffrey Mandel. Check out booth A7/A8 on the Mezzanine to snag these.
Geoffrey Mandel donated some art for our set of Serenity themed fridge magnets! Debuting at #sdcc! pic.twitter.com/zDimNoExRV
— California Browncoats: SDCC A7/A8 (@CABrowncoats) June 29, 2026
- This will not be the first time that Super 7 and Peanuts will have teamed up for a Pop-Up shop during San Diego Comic-Con, and it certainly will not be the first time I do the “Peanuts” dance in public because I’m so excited about it. Bring on the official announcement, please!
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- Linkin Park fans, this one’s for you. The Collector Cave will have two exclusive covers for FAME: Linkin Park by graffiti artist FÃœR. There will be 120 spot foil covers and only 60 full foil versions. Look, for SDCC you try so hard, you get so far, so in the end you better make it matter, ok?
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- Young adult and children’s book author Emma Reen will be at San Diego Comic-Con with a brand new book, Snappy and the Candy Passport, plus two new special editions.
- Creator and writer Matt Cole (The Glopple, Pooh Bear Adventures) will be at the Keenspot booth at San Diego Comic-Con, all weekend long. His family friendly books are inspired in part by the teaching of Mister Rogers.
If you’re keeping track of and will be on the hunt for any of the “finders keepers” drops that creators will be doing during the convention, please add Pixiegift Fashions to your list, and give them a follow. (Also, watch for an upcoming post from Kara on our team with alllll the info!)
I’ll be dropping geek fashion accessories this year from Wednesday through Sunday! https://t.co/FQggvn0f1R
— Pixiegift Fashions 💖 Only here for SDCC (@pixiegiftfshns) June 29, 2026
- So, once there was a man named Shawn Kirkham and he worked with Image comics. There was another man named Robert Kirkman, and he also worked with Image Comics. Now, Shawn Kirkham has his own business, but sometimes that business involves selling comics books written by Robert Kirkman. Are you following me here? Kirkman writes a comic called Terminal, with Joe Casey, and Kirkham is going to have variant covers for that new Kirkman book at San Diego Comic-Con, featuring spot foil and a nifty homage theme. Kirkham (also known to many as “Big Clutch”) will be slinging the Kirkman books (and many more) at Booth #1101.
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- Let’s give three emoji cheers for artist Kat Tsai, exhibiting at San Diego Comic-Con for the very first time! 📣📣📣 ! Kat will be in Artist Alley at booth #II-8 and has already prepared a feast of items for attendees, including some jumbo-sized signed prints, measuring in at 24″x36″ and limited to 10 each.
- Comic artist Adam Gorham will be at the Scott’s Collectables booth during San Diego Comic-Con, Booth #2314. Keep your eyes peeled for his full schedule “coming soon.”
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- Sounds like Benjamin Raab’s weekend just got a little more “professional.” He will be on 3 different panels and a signing, all details still TBA. HOWEVER! What is NOT “TBA” is that Raab’s latest work, a comic based on The Last Starfighter, will be arriving in all good comic book stores this Wednesday, July 1, published by Mad Cave.
In the 30 years I’ve been an eligible Industry Professional at #SDCC, this is the first one that I actually have multiple professional reasons to be there. 3 panels and a signing. Watch this space for details…
— Benjamin Raab (@benjaminraab.bsky.social) 2026-06-29T15:36:59.110Z
- Woah, these stickers from Jeff Pina look soooo good! He won’t have many of them so make Small Press booth #Q-06 a priority if these tickle your fancy.
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- Artist Bryce Kho has created a stunning Pokemon print that he will be bringing with him to San Diego Comic-Con. Featuring rainbow foil and so many glorious shiny areas and lots of little details. Future versions of this print will NOT have all the shiny elements, so if you “gotta catch em all” then Booth #1935 is where to go. Bonus! All purchases over $100 will receive a free tote bag.
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- The variant covers for Mark Fenton’s Merciless comic book are finished and ready for the convention. There will be several variants to choose from, including gold foil, spot varnish, and even forged metal. You can find these exclusives at Booth #1907.
- The Trinity Comics booth, #5553, will be a hotbed of activity this year, according to their teases on Instagram. Expect variant covers from the likes of Peach Momoko, E.M. Gist, Muju Monster, Jeehyung Lee, Lee Bermejo… Pretty much anyone who is anyone in the cover game right now, Trinity will have something for them.
- Here’s a sentiment I think we can all gather ’round and support… But first we have to let artist Karen Hallion know which one we think reads better. It will exist as a sticker, which she will bring to SDCC with her.
- And finally today, Fans of indie and DIY/underground/homemade/cool toys will want to make sure to see the Indie Toy Makers Unite panel on Saturday, July 25 at 12pm in the Marriott Marquis Room 12/13. Folks from Plastic Meatball, ToyNK, Grindhouse Toys, the Loyal Subjects, and more will be in attendance.
Anything we missed? Let us know by dropping us a line, or tweet us at @SD_Comic_Con.
Still need a badge for San Diego Comic-Con? Sorry. We can’t help. But maybe try the Contest Hub?
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!
