Are you ready for it? You know it’s coming. I might as well just say it – San Diego Comic-Con International 2026 is next month! We are one month closer to that con we all love, and that means more con news, too. We’ve got some juicy tidbits from giants like Mondo, Disney (OK, Tim Disney, but he’s related), Dan Veesenmeyer, and a lot more.
With that said, may we offer you some SDCC 2026 news in these trying times?
Let’s take a look at what you might have missed:
- What’s in a name? When it comes to the name “Disney,” a lot. According to SYFY Wire, Walt Disney’s grandnephew, Tim Disney, is living up to the family legacy with his graphic novel, The A.R.C. Short for “Amazonian Recombinant Cytoneuropathy,” it’s a nasty little bug that gets triggered every time an infected person lies. Look for the graphic novel at SDCC this year, where it’s set to make its debut.
- Traditiooooooooon! Once again, SDCC artist Chris Maze is teasing this year’s exclusives with some emojis and would love to see some of your guesses as to what they might be. Personally, I can’t wait to see what “💩” is.
It’s basically #SDCC season which means I’ll be revealing new work very soon. Keeping with tradition, here's this year's emoji tease. Each emoji represents one new piece. Can you guess what they are? Excited to see some guesses. pic.twitter.com/QHj5HLaDQa
— Chris Maze Creative (@MAZEhimself) May 30, 2026
- When the folks over at Mondo are described as “giddy” by the DCAU Toy Review when teasing their SDCC 2026 merch, you know it’s going to be good. While they couldn’t give specifics, it looks like there will be a lot of Batman: The Animated Series reveals coming… soon.
Speaking of Cons, with SDCC right around the corner. Hector teased that there would be a LOT of reveals related to the Batman The Animated Series line there. No clues as to the characters, but the team was visibly giddy. pic.twitter.com/DVxPQEyY3l
— The DCAU Toy Review (@DCAUToys) May 30, 2026
- Four! Four panels! Ah! Ah! Ah! Sci-fi/Fantasy writer Paul Cornell announced he’s going to have a very busy SDCC 2026 when he’s on four panels this year.
I'm on four panels at #sdcc thus far. So much good stuff to promote!
— Paul Cornell (@paulcornell.bsky.social) 2026-05-30T16:19:12.165Z
- What would you be if you were attached to something by an inclined plane wrapped helically around an axis? If you’re an original colored pencil lion drawn by Kiki from KikiDoodle & Purrmaids on a plane, you’ll be available at Comic-Con this year.
Colored pencil lion, drawn on a plane. Original will be at SDCC!#artpost
— KikiDoodle & Purrmaids (@kikidoodle.bsky.social) 2026-05-30T21:16:51.481Z
- One of the biggest reasons San Diego artist Patrick Ballesteros needs line management for his modest table in SDCC’s Artists’ Alley is because of his adorable minis, and this year will be no exception.
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- If you’re still mourning the sad passing of Smiling Friends into animation history, you’re not alone. Commiserate with like-minded mourners at the Smiling Friends Celebration of Life event on Sunday, July 26 at 4:00pm PT.
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- In case you were wondering, Neopets announced that yes, they will be back at San Diego Comic-Con this year at Booth #437. Look for more announcements coming… (you guessed it) soon.
Neopets is heading back to San Diego Comic-Con from July 23-26! 📅 Visit Booth #437 for an unforgettable start to your summer.
We'll be sharing more details in the upcoming weeks so keep your eyes peeled!#neopetssdcc2026 #sdcc2026 pic.twitter.com/HVczKFTUYW
— Neopets (@Neopets) June 1, 2026
- If you’re like me, you’ve lay awake at night wondering, “When will there be a Zorilita Guardian Plush that’s twice as big and twice as cuddly?” Well, now we can get our cuddle on with Avarice, the biggest, cuddliest Zorilita Guardian Plush yet. Look for him at Small Press Table #N-04 on the Exhibit Hall floor this year.
A new Zorilita Guardian Plush, Avarice, who is twice the size and twice as cuddly, will make his debut at San Diego Comic Con Small Press N04 Zorilita Mary Bellamy. @SD_Comic_Con pic.twitter.com/evbq17SFpN
— Zorilita Mary Bellamy (@Zorilita) June 1, 2026
- The Commish’s job is never done, so when the insanely talented artist Emma Kubert said she was thinking of opening SDCC 2026 commissions, we started thinking of adding her to our Commissions post. If you’d like to see her added, shoot her a comment on her Instagram Reel to let her know she needs to think about it some more.
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- Growing up in the Lehigh Valley, PA, there weren’t a lot of sci-fi or comic conventions around. We had to travel to Philadelphia or New Jersey to catch a Star Trek convention. Now, however, kids these days can catch brilliant authors like Brandon T. Snider at Lehigh Valley Comic Con in Allentown, which would’ve been great to have back in 1993. Oh, right, and he’ll be at San Diego Comic-Con this year, too.
- Peaceful. Serene. Sleeping Beauty had it all until someone had to come along and wake her up. Artist/illustrator Daniela Kumre captured Princess Aurora at the height of her beauty sleep and will have her available as a desk mat at her Artists’ Alley Table#BB-23 during SDCC this year.
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- If you’re a fan of Donald, Daisy, Uncle Scrooge, or any of Disney’s plethora of quacky waterfowl, Disney artist James Silvani will have the last of his Duck Family prints at Artists’ Alley Table #II-08 during SDCC.
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- Author Trung Le Nguyen was surprised to learn that he is, in fact, attending SDCC 2026 (and wisely chose to bring his blood pressure meds with him).
Oh okay it turns out I’ll be at SDCC after all
- Another SDCC champ training to get back into the ring in 2026 is artist Jodie Troutman, who hasn’t been to the convention since 2009.
It looks extremely likely that I'll be wandering the floors of San Diego Comic Con for the first time since 2009.Am I adequately prepared to reenter that arena after 17 years? PROBABLY NOT, BUT I GUESS WE'LL FIND OUT.
— Jodie Troutman (@longtalljodie.com) 2026-06-01T18:04:56.312Z
- If you’re a fan of Batman: The Killing Joke and have $17,409.75 to spend, fine art publishers Argent Comics is bringing their limited-edition release of the graphic novel to SDCC 2026 in a presentation so bespoke, it would adorn Ron Burgundy’s shelves. According to the Bleeding Cool article, there is also a panel planned to explore their craft.
- It’s not the Pizza Dude, it’s PIZZA MAN. The short film will be screened at the SDCC 2026 Independent Film Festival, followed by a Q&A.
- Now that FanExpo in Denver is finished, artist Frank Cho can focus on the cons that really matter, like San Diego Comic-Con. Right now, he’s working on an Absolute Martian Manhunter cover variant for SDCC, but in the meantime, please enjoy this Zatanna convention commission he drew.
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- How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice! That’s how X-Men ’97 and LEGO artist Dan Veesenmeyer looks at getting to San Diego Comic-Con as well; his practice sketch covers like the one he’s bringing with him to SDCC this year are pretty darned near perfect.
X-Men’s Magik. Sketch cover practice.
Took some liberties redesigning her outfit a bit.Will be available for sale at my table during San Diego Comic-Con in July. #xmen pic.twitter.com/GJSBXFsXXD
— Dan Veesenmeyer (@dveese) June 1, 2026
Anything we missed? Let us know by dropping us a line, or tweet us at @SD_Comic_Con.
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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!
