Every summer, thousands of fans from a spectrum of different genres descend upon the San Diego Convention Center to take part in the largest and most celebrated pop culture gatherings, The San Diego Comic Con. This is an event that has been running strong since 1970 and has inspired many other similar events throughout the world. Not only does it allow a platform for production companies to showcase their next exciting new feature, but it provides a community space to meet others of the same fandoms and express themselves freely.
While Comic Con has been known for some wild shenanigans involving a variety of characters throughout the fandom worlds, 2024 has been a quiet year. But we managed to pull together a few highlights that we thought were interesting enough to spill the tea.
Nostalgic Reunions
As an elder millennial, the nostalgia hits strongly with movies from earlier decades, especially the 80s and 90s. One classic that millennials grew up with was the iconic 1991 remake of The Addams Family, with a sequel following it in 1993. So, as fan service for all of us nostalgic kids-at-heart, one of the highlighting moments from the LA Comic Con in October is the family reunion of the 1990s cast, which included Christopher Lloyd, Anjelica Huston, Christina Ricci, Jimmy Workman, and Carel Struycken – sadly, Raul Julia, who played Gomez, was absented, since he passed away in 1994. This was a defining moment in pop culture for this year since it was the first time since the film that the cast reunited. In delight for the fans, the actors reminisced about memories from filming and participated in group photos and autographs.
The Addams Family panel was not the only reunion Christopher Lloyd joined. Fans were also treated to a reuniting cast from Back to the Future, which included discussions with Christopher Lloyd, Michael J. Fox, Lea Thompson, and Tom Wilson. Although this is not the first time the cast has reunited throughout the years, it was still a thrilling event to see the actors from one of our favorite trilogies share the stage one more time.
Deadpool Vs. Wolverine
Even though this blockbuster was released back in July, I must warn you that this may contain some spoilers for Deadpool Vs. Wolverine. As one of the most popular Marvel films to drop this year, it’s no surprise that the cast created quite a splash at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con. Even though audiences thought we saw the last of our favorite grumpy, cigar-smoking, scruffy superhero, Wolverine was resurrected one more time to pair up with Deadpool. The promotional party included a viewing of the new movie hosted by Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in Hall H, one of the largest venues hosting San Diego Comic Con. The big surprise after the viewing was parading the long list of cameos featured in the movie. This included Chris Evans, famously known as Captain America, but who was introduced by Ryan Reynolds as the Human Torch, Evans’ less popular superhero portrayal.
Harrison Ford Teams Up with Marvel
The actor known for characterizing some of the most iconic roles, such as Han Solo and Indiana Jones, is now on the casting list for the next extravagant Marvel film. Harrison Ford revealed in Hall H at San Diego Comic Con that he will take on the role of Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World, releasing in February 2025. Also known for embracing his grumpy old-man demeanor in interviews, his appearance on the panel was no different, as he appeared to show a lack of enthusiasm for the Marvel universe. However, this attitude can be misinterpreted, as Ford has said previously, in regards to his moodiness, that “I’m still excited about the prospect of telling a story. I like playing an old guy. If I wasn’t having a good time, I would stop doing it.”
The Return of Robert Downey Jr.
However, what takes the award for being the most electrifying moment from this year’s Comic Con is the monumental reveal of who will be playing the infamous villain, Doctor Doom. In what can be the most mind-boggling plot twist in Marvel cinematic history, Robert Downey Jr. is taking on the role of Doctor Doom. This comes in extreme contrast to his previous Marvel role of the heroic Iron Man, who had defeated Thanos and saved the universe, resulting in his death. Questions run rampant on how the same actor can play two different roles in the same fandom. We will have to wait and see when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters sometime in 2026.
Looking back on these moments from the past year in the Comic Con fandoms re-ignites excitement to see what 2025 presents the fans. Here at Bookstr, we will keep an eye out for you and inform you about all the thrilling happenings in the fandom universe!
If you want to learn more about the diverse history of Marvel superheroes, check out our article 10 Hispanic & Latinx Superheroes In Marvel and DC Comics!
To uncover some new graphic novel recommendations, click here to explore our Illustrious Comics, Manga, and Graphic Novels bookshelf!
