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Under the Tents 2026: “Shotgun Tom” Kelly, Jim Lee, Patrick Ballesteros, Val Hochberg, Martin Hsu

Well done! You’ve made it through another week to Friday. As a reward, we have a beefy Under the Tents for you with announcements from legends like Jim Lee and “Shotgun Tom” Kelly, along with Val Hochberg, BeKyoot, BB-CRE.8, and a lot more.

Before we begin, however, the word of the day is “soon.” Every time you see the word “soon” in this post, I want you to yell real loud, kids! Are you ready?

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

  • Please take a moment out of your busy con this year to stop by Booth #723 to welcome husband and wife artists Jaime Coker Creations to San Diego Comic-Con. They’re bringing some fun mash-ups and cover variants with them to their first SDCC, so make sure to give them a warm welcome as you purchase some of their unique art. Speaking of unique, they’re taking pre-con commission requests and will be doing walk-up sketches during the convention.

  • Ryan Brady from Jersey’s own Camden’s Comics is bringing “new and improved” copies of THE BOLT: Vol. 1 with him to SDCC 2026. If something is new, how can it be improved? And if something’s improved, how can it be new? These are questions you’ll have to ponder when you visit Brady’s table.

  • I am totes obsessed with BeKyoot’s mini-totes she’ll have with her at SDCC this year, and I’m sure you will be, too. Totes MaGoats (you just read that in James Earl Jones’ voice).

  • Always look on the bright side of life. At least, that’s what comic illustrator Adam Freeman is trying to do with the realization that all eight panels he and his team submitted for SDCC this year got approved.

  •  Bang! Legendary San Diego radio voice “Shotgun Tom”Kelly is heading down to the Convention Center to appear on a panel during Comic-Con this year. Which one? Good question. According to Kelly, more details are coming… soon.

  • Sit down Guitar Hero; Stage Tour is rocking its way through SDCC 2026 with a hands-on demo courtesy of IGN Live. Groupies not included. While there are no additional details yet, a safe bet sure feels like IGN’s annual rooftop bash.

  • Legendary artist Jim Lee shared some items he’s currently working on just for Comic-Con 2026. More details coming when? You guessed it… soon.

 

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  • You might have heard us mention this next artist once or twice. Local San Diegan Patrick Something-or-other… er, Ballesteros, shared a little Heated Rivalry tease he’ll have with him, along with the rest of his adorable artwork at SDCC next month. And there’s “a lot more to this” that he’ll be sharing soon. [Editor’s Note: I feel very called out by this, Patrick :P]

  • Knight of Comics is swinging into SDCC 2026 with plenty of variants for their latest issue of Absolute Batman, including trade, virgin, foil, and print, along with a mystery Whatnot exclusive. Presale began today, Friday, June 12, at 9am PT, so hurry up and order yours before they’re gone forever.

 

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  • If you’ve been lying awake at night wondering if Collider’s Steven Weintraub will be hosting his Directors on Directing panel at San Diego Comic-Con this year, get ready to sleep like a baby. In other words, yes, it’s happening.

  • Look, I’m going to be honest and confess that I’m probably one of the 13 people in the world who hasn’t seen Project: Hail Mary yet. Until I emerge from my rock I’m living under, please enjoy this work-in-progress tease from our good friend, Martin Hsu, that you’ll find at Booth #4530 during SDCC this year.

  • When it comes to Star Trek episodes, there are some timeless classics and others that, well, still leave us scratching our heads. Discuss the really, really good episodes (“The City on the Edge of Forever,” “The Measure of a Man,” etc.), the really, really questionable (“Spock’s Brain,” “The Naked Now,” “Skin of Evil,” etc.) and everything in between when Trek Marry Kill podcast broadcasts their live episode from SDCC 2026. Panel details also coming… soon.

🖖BREAKING NEWS🖖We will be doing a live episode of Trek Marry Kill at San Diego Comic-Con! Panel details to come…If you have a suggestion for an episode, that's still tentative, so recommend one below! (Yes, we're considering doing "Sub Rosa" again)

— Trek Marry Kill Podcast (@trekmarrykpod.bsky.social) 2026-06-11T17:18:58.379Z

 

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  • Not since Jack Handy’s Deep Thoughts in the 1990’s have we ever gotten our nickel’s worth of free advice from a better source. Dress up like the world’s best life coach, Skeletor, and meet some of your fellow cosplayers during SDCC 2026 at Mattel’s Booth #3029 on Saturday, July 25 from 10:45am-11:30am PT for the photo op of the century.

 

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  • World traveler and Emmy-nominated reporter Melissa Chan is still pinching herself over being on not just one, but two panels at San Diego Comic-Con this year. You’d think worldwide notoriety would be the highlight of someone’s life, but it just doesn’t fill that void like going to Comic-Con does, I guess.

  • When we say there are tons of fun things to do outside the Convention Center that don’t require a badge, this is what we’re talking about. Join Comfy Events! as they host their third J-Pop RPDeer with Deerling. They’ll be outside the Marriott Marquis on Sunday, July 26 from 1pm-2:30pm PT with some feel-good tunes and dancing. No SDCC badge required.

  • Award-winning author Sarah Gailey is working on her San Diego Comic-Con 2026 schedule, which currently includes paneling, signing, and raising hell. We can’t wait to see what else she adds to her con itinerary.

  • If you think it’s too early for SDCC 2026-related flyers to pop up in downtown San Diego, think again. Visit our friends at Now or Never Comics to find this suspicious-looking Wanted poster from Tiny Onion just outside their door.

  • Another podcast returning to San Diego Comic-Con this year is fan-favorite pop-culture podcast On the Mic. Further details will be announced… When, kids? That’s right! Soon.

 

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  • Another artist you may have seen us mention here and there is Val Hochberg, who is bringing her adorable sticker sheets with her to Booth #1528 at SDCC 2026.

  • Did you really think we were going to give you a perfectly good Under the Tents without crochet? I’m hurt. Just to show there are no bad feelings, enjoy this crocheted space teddy bear, I mean Ewok, from Painted World Fiber Arts you’ll find around the Gaslamp Quarter during SDCC 2026.

  • Attendees will also have a chance to celebrate the legacy of legendary horror and comics artist Bernie Wrightson with a screening and discussion on Thursday of SDCC for Untold Legends of Comic Books Presents: Bernie Wrightson. The documentary explores the life and career of the co-creator of Swamp Thing and one of the most influential artists in comic book history. Filmmaker Drew Mollo will be on hand alongside Wrightson’s son, John Wrightson, and producer Michael Uslan to discuss the project and Wrightson’s enduring impact on comics, horror, and popular culture.

  • We’ve got more panel news where that came from! You can also join some exciting names in comics at the “DNA of Fear: How New England Shapes Horror” panel, where Jeremy Haun (The Beauty, Murder Podcast, Artist/Writer) Doug Wagner (Writer, Batman, Marvel Zombies, Plastic), Matt Hawkins (Top Cow President/COO, Writer; Postal) Cullen Bunn (Writer; The Empty Man, Harrow County, The Unsound) will discuss how New England influences comics, movies and television. It will all be moderated by Adrian Reyes (El Rey Comics).
  • You also won’t want to miss “Hispanic Creators and Artists Discuss the Comic Book Industry”, with exact panels still TBA. But what we do know is that Jorge R Guiterrez (Writer/Director The Book of Life, La Luna Lopez, Speedy Gonzalez), J Gonzo (Cover Artist Marvel, IDW, Image, and La Mano del Destino), Melissa Flores (writer/producer Power Rangers Prime, Spider-Gwen Smash, The Dead Lucky), Joel Gomez (Artist La Muerte, La Luna Lopez), and Martin Zavala (Cover artist, Something is Killing the Children, Invincible, TMNT) will discuss their careers and the comic book industry from a Hispanic perspective. Moderated by Adrian Reyes (El Rey Comics).
  • I said brr! It’s cold in here! There must be some Antactic Press exclusives in the atmosphere! Artist Tom Hutchinson took to Facebook to announce his return to the con, and teased he’ll have plenty of con exclusives, along with the debut of a first time BDI artist.

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 some of these Contests can.

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!

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