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Under the Tents 2026: Tom Richmond, Unknown Comics, Mary Bellamy, Jennifer Messman

I was going to come up with a long, friendly introduction to this edition of Under the Tents, but I really only need two words:

Chicken bag.

There are a lot more great announcements in this UTT, but that one… that one broke me in the most wonderful way. Read on for more spectacular Comic-Con news.

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

  • Illustrator Jason Edmiston teased a little something he’s bringing to SDCC 2026 “From Hell.” I’m sure it’s not my ex… right?

  • I’ve always said that if I come back in another life, I want to be a cat. Not just any cat, mind you; I want to be my cat, so I can live in permanent comfort. If I can’t be my cat, I think I’d choose to be the one in artist Yoichi Nishikawa’s original painting, Catnap, he’s bringing to Gallery Nucleus’s Booth #2015 during Comic-Con this year.

  • What, me worry? If you’re like me, you grew up on MAD Magazine and the amazing, wacky artwork it held. You can swing by artist Tom Richmond’s Table #H-02 in Aisle 1000 during SDCC this year and pick up your very own piece of that legendary artwork from the artist himself. Take a look at our List of Announced Panels to see which panels he’ll be joining throughout the con as well.

 

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A post shared by Tom Richmond (@art4mad)

  • Wait, you don’t know Unknown Comic Books? The Unknown will become Known during Comic-Con this year when they host artist David Nakayama for live signings during the con at Booth #4507. Then, if you want to know more of the Unknown, swing by Booth #1001 for their $30 Mystery Box (another Unknown!) where you’ll have the chance to walk away with their Witchblade 23 Exclusive Foil.

  • Look, Bub, if that ain’t enough for ya, Unknown Comics is also bringing the legendary voice of Wolverine (not that Jackman guy) Cal Dodd to Booth #1001, where he’ll be posing for photo ops and signing all con long.

  • For being so Unknown, we know a lot about Unknown Comics in this UTT, including this SDCC 2026-exclusive Absolute Green Arrow #1 Gold Foil variant by the legendary Tyler Kirkham.

  • Collectible and toy makers Toynami were very specific about all the big surprises they have coming for San Diego Comic-Con 2026. Actually, they weren’t, so we’ll have to see if they announce more… soon.

  • When I was little, I swear I never saw my grandfather without a can of Schlitz in his hand. Why do I bring that up? To explain my irrational bond with illustrator Dan Schlitzkus and why I feel drawn to the Super Mazinger Z piece he’ll have with him at SDCC this year.

 

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A post shared by Dan Schlitzkus (@dannyschlitz)

  • If you don’t have Goliath’s Den of Geek activation on your SDCC 2026 spreadsheet yet, you might want to add it. According to PopInsider, they’re giving fans the opportunity to demo their new game Fourth Wing: Rise of the Wingleader throughout the con.

  • “Bang! Zoom! Tuh da mooon, Alice!” If you recognize that classic TV line, your knees pop when you stand. It’s probably a lot more contemporary to refer to the folks at Bang Zoom! Studios, who are invading San Diego for Comic-Con this year with more announcements… soon.

 

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A post shared by BANG ZOOM! STUDIOS (@bangzoom)

  • Why, Mr. Scott Campbell! You’re such a tease with these cute little works-in-progress for SDCC this year.

Working on something new for San Diego Comic Con. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🤘🎸 Love you @doublefine.com #brutallegend #jackblack #sdcc #sandiegocomiccon #sdcc2026

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— Scott Campbell (@heyscottcampbell.bsky.social) July 6, 2026 at 10:36 AM

  •  Don Nguyen is one of the coolest, nicest artists I’ve had the pleasure of meeting through my years at Comic-Con, so when I say you want to visit his Artists’ Alley Table #AA-22 to check out his work, including this awesome sketch card of Black Canary and Green Arrow he’ll have with him, I really mean it.

  • 1991’s The Rocketeer was a visual masterpiece that captured the classic art deco style beautifully. If you’d like to know some of how they did it, artist Michael Possert Jr. will be heading up a panel on Friday, July 24 of San Diego Comic-Con 2026 to discuss the elegant props made for the film.

  • If you can’t wait until the end of July for comic creator Christian Ward to release Event Horizon: Dark Descent and The Patron #1, you may not have to. He’s making both new releases available when he comes to San Diego Comic-Con this year.

My July releases

High Strangeness HC – July 14th
Super Creepshow #5 – July 15th
Event Horizon : Dark Descent tpb – July 28th
The Patron #1 – July 29th

Both Event Horizon & The Patron will be available early at SDCC

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— Christian Ward (@cjward.bsky.social) July 6, 2026 at 2:08 PM

  • We know you like lanyards and pins almost as much as we do (you’ve told us many times), so you’ll love the adorable lanyards and mystery bag stellar chonk pin Kiki Doodle is bringing with her to Comic-Con this year.

New things are coming to San Diego Comiccon! 👀 lanyards and a new mystery bag pin!

The stellar chonk pins have unique glow in the dark colors and rarities! I’m so excited to have these!
#artpost #sdcc

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— KikiDoodle & Purrmaids (@kikidoodle.bsky.social) July 6, 2026 at 1:57 PM

  • OK, we know Sauron forged the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom, right, but who designed it? The answer to that, as well as the rest of the stunning jewelry in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings, is Master Jeweler Jasmine Watson. The geniuses at WĒTĀ Workshop are bringing replicas of her timeless work with them to unveil on Wednesday, July 22 during SDCC this year.
  • If jewelry at Comic-Con is your thing, we’ve got you. Badali Jewelers will have some of their nerdiest and finest cosplay jewelry pieces at Booth #715 in the Exhibit Hall.

 

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A post shared by Badali Jewelry (@badalijewelry)

  • If you can’t make it to KRS Comics Booth #734 during Comic-Con this year, but you still really want the “Virgin” Cover for Black Cat #11 by Natali Sanders that’s limited to only 750 copies in existence, East Side Comics may be able to help. They’re holding a three-hour tour… I mean pre-sale, from 2pm-5pm PT this Wednesday, July 8, where a few of the 750 will be available for online purchase.

 

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A post shared by East Side Comics (@eastsidecomics)

  • Allen Spiegel Fine Arts spun their Rolodex to find some of the best names in art to bring with them to San Diego Comic-Con 2026, including Scott Morse, Corey Peterschmidt, Kent Williams, and Jim Mahfood.

 

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A post shared by Allen Spiegel (@allenspiegelfinearts)

  • Another one of my favorite SDCC artists is Disney artist James Silvani, who’s bringing some of his classic headshots with him to Table #II-06 in Artists’ Alley for $50 each this year. Go-go Gadget Credit Card!

  • We don’t know, YooTooz, who is signing 250 of your Five Nights at Freddy’s figures for SDCC 2026? You’ll probably tell us… soon.

  • Cartoonist and Bone creator Jeff Smith will have a very busy San Diego Comic-Con 2026. Look for him on panels throughout the con and signing in the Sails Pavilion on Sunday, July 26.

  • Look for Rev. Gigi Bannister and Gloria Henry, the Women of Phantasm, who will be signing in the Sails Pavilion each day of Comic-Con beginning on Thursday, July 23, from 2pm-5pm PT.

  • Don’t be afraid of artist Dawn Wolf’s adorable bedsheet ghosts sticker sheets she’ll have at Small Press Table #N-07 during SDCC this year.

 

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A post shared by Dawn Wolf (@artofdawn)

  • Remember when we said we know you like lanyards? We have even more adorable, girl-positive lanyards for you from Zorilita artist Mary Bellamy. You go, girlfriend (all the way to Small Press Table #N-04)!

  • Podcaster Joe Gawalis is hosting some tremendous talent for his “Building a Pop Culture Podcast” panel on Saturday, July 25 during San Diego Comic-Con 2026.

 

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A post shared by Joe Gawalis (@joegawalis)

  • One of my favorite aspect of being Gen-X is doing all the stuff we loved to do as kids with grown-up money. If you were one of the many, many kids who stuck Hello Kitty and Friends stickers on, well, everything, stop by Thunder Bay Press’s Booth #1117 during SDCC 2026 to get more.

 

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A post shared by Thunder Bay Press (@thunderbaypress)

  • Speaking of Gen-X toys, The Launchpad Podcast is coming back to SDCC this year with their Fourth Annual “Ghostface’s Killer Trivia” panel in Room 25AB on Friday, July 24 at 9pm PT. You’ll also find them at the San Diego Central Library on Saturday morning at 10:00am PT hosting “Terrible Toys.” Sleep fast, kids!

  • Did you seriously make it this far? I’m very impressed. As a reward, we’re going to let you know that artist Natalie Andrewson is excited to bring her amazing art to Table #F-01 for San Diego Comic-Con this year.

 

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A post shared by Natalie Andrewson (@natandrewson)

  • As almost an oh-by-the-way mention at the bottom of artist Rob Guillory’s latest newsletter, he announced he’ll be making a triumphant return to San Diego Comic-Con this year, where he’ll be hanging out at Ignition Press’s Booth as well as appearing on several panels throughout the con.
  • Artist Jennifer Messman has been developing her brand for the past five years, and she’s taking the opportunity to launch it at San Diego Comic-Con 2026. Look for her at Booth #4921, where she’ll have some adorably whimsical keychains for $20, pins (we love those) for $10, and stickers (we love those, too!) for $10. She’s also bringing some mystery coin purses with a surprise pin inside as well as a prototype of her plushie for pre-order. And the pièce de résistance, her chicken bag that comes in five colors and has a zipper in the bottom for an egg coin purse. I didn’t know I needed this until right now.

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!

Anything we missed? Let us know by dropping us a line, or tweet us at @SD_Comic_Con.

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