San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) has been a destination for many comic book & pop culture fans for over five decades. For me personally, I always wanted to go to this pop culture Mecca ever since I was a kid but could never win the lottery to attend the event. I finally gained entry in 2013 and have enjoyed having the privilege of attending Comic Con almost every year since then. Lately, I’ve been attending Comic Con as a member of the press. And I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the 2025 SDCC. So this time I want to take you along with me as I experience the convention this year.

So let’s go! 

Wednesday, July 23

[5:00am EST] I pop out of my bed and feel my way around the dark room. My wife, Sarah, is sound asleep so I try to move quietly. I stop in Zola’s room and give her a small peck on the cheek. She opens her eyes and tells me to bring her some M&Ms, the peanut kind, when I get home. She also asks that I bring her home a “stuffy” doll. I tell her that I will if she’s a good girl. I get her to go back to sleep and I shut her bedroom door.

I head downstairs to do a final check on my luggage but much to my surprise, Zola has been right behind me the entire time. I call an Uber and spend the final six minutes or so with Zola. I give her another hug and kiss, and tell her to go back to bed. I watch her creep up the stairs as I shut the front door behind me. 

[6:40am] I arrive at the airport breezing through TSA (PreCheck) security. I pop inside the PHL Chase Sapphire Lounge to get a quick bite to eat. With the long flight to San Diego I want to make sure I have some food in my belly. I eat light and don’t drink anything else but water. I chop it up with a worker, Terrance, who always shows love whenever I return to the lounge. It’s nice to be seen. I make sure to write him a 5-star review as I head out to the main terminal. 

[7:35am] I walk from the D/E terminal to the end of A (A24) as my flight was beginning to board group 5. It’s easily a fifteen minute walk. I glide through the priority lane and make it to my empty row. I drop my bag in my seat and hit the bathroom real quick before taking my seat and settling in for the long flight. I decide to wear a mask on the plane, because why not? I will be surrounded by thousands of people soon enough but for right now I want to give my immune system a little rest while I sit in the middle of a completely sold out plane.

[10:40 PST] I grab my luggage from the baggage carousel at SAN and walk outside where I’m greeted by the Southern California breeze. I step up to a waiting taxi while most people congregate around the Uber area looking down at their phones and wondering if their ride is getting any closer. I’ve found that taxis are more readily available at the airports and often times cheaper than any Uber price. Even if the savings are nominal compared to an Uber, I find that not having an excessive wait for my ride is well worth any price that I may pay for a taxi. We head to the Carte hotel post haste. 

[12:11pm] I’m relieved that my hotel room is ready when I arrive and I don’t have to wait until 4pm. It’s kind of ridiculous that hotel’s check-in times are so late, but I’m fortunate that I can freshen up in my room in the morning after the long flight. I haven’t eaten anything substantial in several hours so I have an Uber drop me off at a local spot, Tacos El Gordo, which has really great online reviews. The place is packed to the absolute brim when I step inside which is a great sign. I see a long line in front of the kitchen area while two intimidating buff security guards keep watch over the place. I have no idea what to expect, but I know I’m in for a memorable experience. It’s easy for others to sense that I haven’t been here before but the staff were all cordial with me. My eyes stay fixed on the menu as I try to make sense out of all of the different options. It’s a bit overwhelming at first. A guy who’s in line in front of me tells me that these tacos are legit. He seems like a local so I take his word for it. I spy what he orders, Adobada: spiced pork on a corn tortilla with toppings, and I order one for myself. I end up ordering two more Carne Asada tacos before I bounce up out of there. 

[2:24pm] Over the years, one of my favorite traditions has been visiting the Comic Con museum before the start of comic con. The museum is located in the heart of Balboa park and is open year round. Visiting the museum when I do always gives me a final chance to have a peaceful moment to myself before the craziness of comic con ensues. The museum is never completely packed and I am able to walk around and look at all of the rotating exhibits at my leisure. At the time of this visit the museum has a Doctor Who exhibit as well as Sangre, Sudor Y Mito: The Art and Tradition of Mexican Lucha Libre which I find very fascinating. 

[4:30pm] I stop at Sweet Things Yogurt and get a Dole Freeze drink that looked very delicious on the menu. I sit on a padded patio bench outside their building. The preview night is a good time to do things that you haven’t done before, since the crowds are a lot smaller than the rest of the con days. I’ve always wanted to come here in the past but have never found the time or patience to wait in long lines to enjoy it. There are a few other people hanging around the storefront and we all enjoy our sugary drinks. It was quite refreshing. I’m sure I’ll be back in the future. 

[5:12pm] I received an invite to an Adult Swim offsite and have a great time previewing the event before it opens up to the public on Thursday. There is a bouncy house with a bunch of inflatable butts inside. I’m hesitant at first but the folks working the event coax me inside. I have a blast jumping on the (hairy) colored asses. I get my picture taken and the worker shouts out,“Ass first into some ass is fucking crazy.” And he is right about that!

[6:12pm] I wait in line for the Magic: The Gathering Spider-Man event at The San Diego Hard Rock Hotel. I get in after waiting in line for twenty minutes. Everyone goes through a very thorough bag search at the door and my body get’s wanded as if I’m going to meet the Pope. The event is really cool. When I walk inside I notice that the room has transformed into a mini New York City with set pieces featuring The Amazing Spider-man and friends. The guests are given two drink tickets at the door and I notice a sprawling food buffet along one of the walls. Oh, I’m going to be eating good tonight!  

[7:13pm] Seemingly out of nowhere, the “D” in Run DMC (Darryl McDaniels) appears and performs the hits in front of a DJ for at least 30 minutes. His surprise appearance definitely energizes the crowd. After his set he graciously takes photos with everyone in attendance. During the concert I see my Comic Con buddy, Francis and his colleague Jaesa, and end up hanging out with them for the rest of the evening. We have a fun time talking about Magic: The Gathering, even though I have no idea what they’re saying. 

[9:30pm] Standing outside The Hard Rock Hotel I say my final goodbyes to Francis and Jaesa. My body’s still on eastern standard time so I’m quickly fading. But I tell Francis that we’ll try and link up again, but deep down I know this is probably unlikely as there’s a lot going on at SDCC and it feels like there’s never enough time. That’s just how it is at Comic Con. I start walking up fifth avenue and I’m relieved to find a waiting cab amid the hundreds of people moving in all directions on the street. I plop down in the backseat that reeks of stale cat urine but I don’t care, I’m exhausted. 

[11:30pm] I shower and then go to bed.  

15,572 total steps

7.12 mi 

5 flights climbed

Thursday, July 24 

[5:30am] I initially wake up around this time. My body’s clock is still on east coast time. I’m not going to lie, my body feels a little sore and I still feel tired. I lay in bed for another hour just scrolling on my phone before I hop in the shower.

[7:48am] I walk out my hotel’s lobby door to go find some breakfast. Fortunately I see a Starbucks a couple blocks away and I head towards it. I luck out as the Starbucks Barista makes an extra double smoked bacon sandwich and gives it to me, for free. I easily devour both of these sandwiches in one sitting. I’m sure it seems a little gluttonous but I need my fuel. I expect that I won’t eat again for several hours. 

[8:53am] While on my walk to the convention center through Seaport Village a random guy asks to take a picture of my shirt which I oblige. He tells me that he dated three different girls from Minnesota. “I love it out there, man,” he says as he walks away smiling to himself as he reminisces about the good days. A couple more strangers [presumably Minnesota expats]  stop me throughout the day to comment about my shirt which I find cool. Your Comic Con attire can be a great tool in sparking up conversations with people. I welcome these opportunities to meet someone new even if the interaction only lasts a few minutes. 

[8:54am] My friend, Phil, texts me the news that the wrestling legend, Terry Bollea aka Hulk Hogan, has died. I respond back that I’m headed to the WWE Panel and I look forward to hearing what kind of tribute they give for the Hulkster. The WWE and Mattel Panel is one of the more popular panels at Comic Con and I am sure with the recent news of Hulk Hogan’s death, it’ll be more difficult to get inside. It’s been a long time since I was a Hulk Hogan fan, but I respect what he did for the business. My first memories of WWE (WWF at that time) are from when I was a four years old in Satellite Beach, FL, watching Hulk Hogan on my television screen and mimicking his mannerisms. Hulk Hogan put the company on the map and the merchandising for toys with his likeness seemed to be everywhere in the ‘90s. I remember always wanting his Wrestling Buddies Plush Pillow Toy. 

[9:22am] I shuffle in a huge line outside the convention center but finally make it inside about eight minutes prior to the official opening of the exhibit floor doors. The security teams let people in and move us through corrals to help manage the traffic inside the convention center. The con goers are excited to be inside for the first official day of comic con but that excitement quickly dissipates as we walk in mindless loops on the top floor of the convention center for over thirty minutes! At one point someone next to me asks where we are being led to. No one offers up an answer and we continue shuffling on through the hallways like the sheep we are.

[10:15am] My original plan was to stop at the exhibit floor first thing in the morning but I realize I won’t have enough time to make it back upstairs for the WWE Panel. It’s very easy to underestimate how much time you’ll need getting to one end of the convention center from another side of the building, and the same goes for offsites and activations. There are thousands of people at SDCC and it’s very easy to get caught up in pedestrian traffic, especially while on the convention floor where the congestion can go in all sorts of directions. I know something as simple as going to a specific vendor could require a lot of time and effort so I put a raincheck on visiting the Image Comics booth for a buddy back home… I somehow break free from the crowd and beeline it to the WWE panel early. I find a seat and settle in for the rest of the Tamagotchi panel that’s underway.  

[11:30am] It’s a packed house for the Mattel WWE Elite Squad Panel. Sam Roberts moderated the panel with WWE Superstars Women’s US Champion Giulia, Jacob Fatu, Main Event Jey Uso, and surprise guest CM Punk who appeared for the second year in a row. I thought Roberts did a good job sharing WWE’s condolences to the news of Hulk Hogan’s passing at the start of the panel even amid some audible boos from the crowd. This panel is a big deal to the stars such as Jacob Fatu who said said he used to work late nights at Walmart stocking shelves and he used to go over to the toy aisle where he would see the WWE action figures of his star cousin Roman Reigns. I’m sure it was in those moments that he dreamed of his own success. Fast forward to today and now Fatu’s got his own Mattel WWE action figure. The moment has to feel full circle for Fatu. He had to put on his shades to stop himself from crying. Fatu is real humble and I appreciate that. He was glad his kids could be there to witness this moment. I was glad I could be there too. I’m a Jacob Fatu fan for life now and will root for his success! 

[12:53pm] I walked over to the Paramount Lodge offsite and was able to get in a few minutes early with my press pass. These offsite lounges have been very popular for con goers (even people without badges can get in) because they offer free handheld foods and a limited amount of 21+ drinks (usually 2 per person). I sit down in the CBS sports section of the lodge and enjoy an ice cold adult beverage while I plot out my next move. 

[2:09pm] As I head back inside the convention center I spot Angelique Jackson, Senior Entertainment Writer for Variety, in the crowd. She’s also a contributor to the show Married At First Sight where she and a panel of other contributors make predictions on the outcomes of the couples’ fates. We chat for a few minutes and we talk about the show. If you haven’t seen MAFS, you’re probably better off for it, but it’s a guilty pleasure in our household as I enjoy hate watching the show. Jackson is a good sport, but she usually has predictions that are way off the mark but I guess there’s no way to screen for crazy in the selection process. 

[2:18pm] – I notice there’s no wait for Hall H so I walk through the outdoor security tent and get myself queued in line. While I’m going through security I meet, Blake*, who lives near Philly. He calls me out because I am wearing a Phillies baseball cap. We chop it up for a few minutes where I learn he runs security for SDCC. His company was sent out here a week early in preparation for the event. I’m fascinated to learn how much planning and preparation goes into running security for SDCC. For the most part the security team does a great job making sure the event runs as smooth as possible.

I get inside Hall H and find an empty seat for Collider’s Directors on Directing. I’ve enjoyed sitting in on this panel in the past and this year Rob Reiner and Paul Feig are on the stage. I watch most of this panel before leaving a few minutes early.  

[3:55pm] I wander around the exhibit floor for the first time of the convention. I stop by the Imagine Comics booth and pick up Doll Parts for the homie, Mario. 

[4:54pm] I make it back to my hotel room. I’m dog tired and don’t have the energy to talk to anyone or do anything else. I Uber Eats myself a California burrito from Cotijas and watch the San Diego Padres vs. St Louis Cardinals game on the television. I witness Manny Machado hit a 2-run home run in the top of the 3rd inning. The good guys end up losing to the Cardinals in the end. 

[8:16pm] I head out to see the new Fantastic Four movie. Along the way, my Uber driver, Mandy*, tells me that she used to work for at signature FBO and used to see all the stars coming and going. She boasts that she used to see stars such as Kevin hart, Megan fox and her ex, MGK… Shakira is tiny, and The Rock is huge and so charming. She takes both hands off the steering wheel to show me that his legs are “THIS BIG.” I am slightly terrified that we are going to crash on the 8 freeway … As I arrive at the mall I see the D23 attendees leaving the theater with nice tote bags in tow. I also notice people waiting outside in a line along the wall of the theater. Perhaps they are waiting to see FF in IMAX. I’m going to see the movie on a regular screen tonight and hope that no one spoils the movie for me as I’m walking inside the building. Fortunately, no one does… 

[11:40pm] The movie was entertaining. I’m looking forward to watching Doomsday soon. I’m already back in my room and get myself ready for bed.

18,101 total steps

8.14 mi

0 flights climbed

Friday, July 25th

[6:54am] I wake up, and hop out of bed. My body still has that same tired feeling as I had yesterday morning. It’s like my batteries are charged, but haven’t replenished completely. Both mornings I’ve woken up ahead of my 7:30am alarm clock. My body still must be on east coast time. 

[8:31am] I’m on google maps looking for restaurants near my hotel. I notice that Donut Bar is only a block away from my hotel. I head over and see a handful of people enjoying their donuts at the tables outside the restaurant. When I step inside the building I’m greeted by a case of donuts of all different styles and flavors. I find one that looks appealing to me and immediately eat it inside the building. Once I finish taking my last bite I instantly feel sick to my stomach. It is sugar overload for someone who doesn’t eat sugar in the morning. I am sure I will pay the price for this. But for now, I need to find some protein, STAT.

[8:44am] I pull up to Harbor Breakfast which is a nice little restaurant in the Little Italy section of town. It’s a solid spot and I order a breakfast platter with scrambled eggs, some potatoes, and sausage. The combination of protein, carbs, and fat seem to do the trick to settle my belly. 

[10:00am] I’m dropped off at an Old Spice Offsite outside the Bayfront Hilton Hotel and I randomly see my friend Francis. We chat for a few minutes and before I leave he hooks me up with two of his comic books, Massacre Twins. Soon after I’m headed towards the convention center to see a few panels which include: 

[PANEL 10:30am – 12:00pm] Comic Arts Conference Session #5: Space is the Place: Comics and Spatial Narratives in Black Speculative Popular Culture: This is a cool panel where we explored the intersections of comics, spatial narratives, Afrofuturism, hip-hop, and Black agency and how these frameworks challenge dominant power structures.  

[PANEL 12:00 – 1:00pm] Kyle Higgins: Radiant Black, The Massive-Verse, and More: 

Kyle grew up in Lockport, IL and is blowing up in the comic book scene. I became aware of his work through listening to Laurence Holmes on 670 The Score who has collaborated with Higgins on the Radiant Black series. I introduce myself to Kyle at the end of his panel and we chat for a few minutes. He’s a cool dude. I even take an awkward looking photo with him.

[PANEL 1:30pm] Collider’s Inside Hollywood with Bob Odenkirk:  

I make my way to Ballroom 20, which is the second largest room at the convention center and can hold approximately 4,800 people. The room is pretty full and I find a seat towards the back of the room. It’s a pretty interesting panel and Bob Odenkirk shares personal stories including a peek behind the scenes at SNL which I find very fascinating. It’s crazy to me that Odenkirk grew up where I grew up, in Naperville, Illinois. I wasn’t expecting to hear him shout out Naperville and Southern Illinois (boo, go ISU Redbirds) during the panel. I am starting to get a little hungry so I eat a few of my trail mix packs while I continue watching the panel. Odenkirk shared an exclusive clip of a fight scene from his recent movie, Nobody 2. 

[3:00pm] I’m back on the exhibit floor now, just wandering through the space and taking in all of the sights and sounds. When I was a kid I used to shop at Graham Cracker Comics (GCC). GCC is one of the largest comic book chains in the country within locations throughout Chicagoland, Wisconsin, and California. GCC has had a booth at SDCC for as long as I can remember. I stop by their booth and chat with AJ who used to work at the store near my childhood home. He’s a friendly dude and I think he genuinely enjoyed talking to me and taking a break from comic con activities. As we’re chatting I see a guy come up to the booth trying to find The Amazing Spider-man (Vol. 2) #36 – 9/11 issue. I was literally where he was a year ago trying to track this comic book down. Fortunately I found two copies and bought them right away. This guy said that  his ex wife got it for him as a gift and he even had it graded at 9.6 but someone came in and stole it. They took all of his comic books and memorabilia and now he’s trying to rebuild his collection. He was so thankful to find this issue at Graham Cracker Comics. In fact, he ended up buying two copies. 

[3:20pm] Celebrating the 35th Anniversary of the First TMNT Movie:

I get here ten minutes before the start of this panel and find myself standing in a long line with other millennials. I anticipated that there would be demand for this one, but I underestimated how much lead time I would need in order to get myself in the room. 

[3:40pm] I’m still waiting in line. There are seven people between me and the door. It’s not looking good for me to enter this panel, but I’ll stick around and see what happens.  

[3:48pm] I’m now in the front of the line but a few minutes ago the head guard tells us that the room is capped and every seat has been accounted for. Many people leave the line, but some stay, including myself. I’ll give it a few more minutes and see what happens. The only thing I have to lose at this point is time. 

[3:50pm] My brothers and sisters, I GET IN! 

[3:51pm] I settle in to a middle seat in packed row within a small packed room. Every seat is taken. I’m excited to be in the room, after all I loved the TNMT. I even had all the fly turtles gear as a kid: I’m talking the underwear, the turtles digital watch, toys, etc. The TNMT brand continues to live on today, but its inception was from my era. I’m lucky to be in the room, honestly, but I quickly realize this panel is not what I was expecting at all… I thought perhaps we’d get some former cast members from the live action movie but instead we all just sat and listened to Co-creator Kevin Eastman rattle on about trying to make another live action turtles movie. And don’t get me wrong, we all were excited to hear that he’s trying to get a live-action Turtles to production but I thought the panel would be a little more lively than this. It is a little underwhelming  but I’m stuck in the middle of the row and don’t want to leave early. Besides, Eastman already called a few people out for ducking out early and I don’t want the same treatment, so I’ll just wait until the end…

[4:40pm] I find myself outside the convention center, near Hall H. I want to get in to see the TRON: Ares panel but there’s a huge line outside under the tents and it’s not moving much at all. In fact, there’s people waiting to even get through to the Hall H Tent security set-up and I find myself at the end of the line which extends to Park Blvd. I ask the security guard if there’s anyway that I’ll get inside for the Tron panel that begins in less than an hour. She pauses and stammers a bit which confirms to me that it’s highly unlikely. I get out of line and go inside with the intention of going to the exhibit floor instead. 

[4:57pm] However, as luck would have it, I find myself inside Hall H… And I don’t want to reveal on here how I got in, but with a little bit of creativity and a whole lot of charm, it’s possible to enter rooms that otherwise appear closed off. Once I’m inside I settle into a back row and enjoy watching the end of an exclusive 15 minute clip of the new Predator Badlands movie. I sit next to another con goer named Ray who is sitting by himself. This chance interaction will come in handy tomorrow… 

[5:30pm] The Tron panel is solid. An impressive light show opens the panel while live action Tron characters walk the Hall H floor. Eventually all of the stars from the movie come out to greet the Hall H attendees including Jeff Bridges, Jared Leto, and Greta Lee. I may be in the minority here, but I really enjoyed the 2010 Tron Legacy movie even though it didn’t get great marks. That movie is a whole vibe especially with Daft Punk on the soundtrack. I find myself watching the movie anytime it’s on TV. Though, I’m excited for this new Tron movie as are the other thousands of fans inside the room. I even meet an older couple dressed up in the ‘80s Tron costume! 

[6:30pm] The panel ends and I end up leaving the room and walk the exhibit floor for a bit. It feels like I haven’t been on the floor much at all this comic con, but I make it a point to stay on the floor until they close at 7pm. At some point in the afternoon I tweaked my ankle and I have a light sprain but I grit through the pain. 

[7:18pm] My uber drops me off back to my hotel where I order Cotijas again while watching a replay of today’s Padres vs. Cardinals game. The Cards end up beating the Padres 3-0. 

[10:47pm] I shower and decided to go to sleep “early.” 

12,862 steps

5.88 Mi 

0 flights climbed

Saturday, July 26 

[5:42am] I wake up before my alarm clock again.  

[7:21am] I leave my room, which is nine minutes before my alarm was set to go off which makes me feel good. I’m not wasting any time here. My ankle still feels “tweaked” but I am going to walk through the pain today. 

[7:34am] Instead of walking or Ubering to the convention center I decide to catch the free SDCC bus from the Best Western stop which is the last stop on the pink route. 

[7:47am] We get dropped off on the side of Petco Park. I walk across the iconic Harbor Drive Pedestrian Bridge and see people already in the chutes for Hall H. Instead of waiting hours in line I decide to go to the Hilton to use the restroom and also get some grab and go breakfast… 

[8:12am] The Bayfront Hilton offers this neat breakfast buffet for con goers so I decide to pay for a breakfast burrito, a banana, and a water. I just need some fuel to get me jumpstarted. I find an empty room on the second floor and take a seat with other con goers. An unhoused shirtless man who had some white residue over his mouth comes by asking for a dollar and says that he is my biggest fan. I’m confused at first, but then I realize that he’s talking about my throwback Jacksonville Jaguars Maurice Jones-Drew jersey that I’m wearing for the day. I give the man a fist bump and then watch as hotel security promptly escorts him off their premises. 

[9:00am] I head out of the Hilton and make my way down the Park Blvd sidewalk where I find a huge line for Hall H has formed. I’m barely paying attention as I’m walking but I hear a voice call out, “Hey, Philly.” I look back and see that “Ray” (the guy who I sat next to in Hall H on Friday) called out to me. His greeting is an open invitation for me to join him in line. Ray saved me from having to walk the tens of yards to the back of the Hall H line. We chat the entire time as we snake our way under the Hall H tents to the Hall H doors. We have a nice time talking about our previous comic con experiences. He tells me that he usually comes with his friends but everyone bailed this year since Marvel wasn’t in attendance. I ask him for a food recommendation since he’s local to San Diego and he tells me Prince Street Pizza, that you can buy by the slice. I store this information for reference in the future…

[10:00am] I’m inside and seated next to my new friend, Ray, for the Coyote vs. Acme panel. It’s a good crowd and we all enjoy seeing Coyote on the big screen. If you recall, this movie had been shelved by HBO, or MAX, or is it HBO MAX now? It didn’t seem like anyone would ever see this movie on the big screen but apparently the fans were instrumental in convincing the big wigs to give this movie a real worldwide release. We are excited to be the first people in the world to see the exclusive clips from the movie. I’m looking forward to seeing this movie in the theater next year on August 26, 2028. 

[11:40am] I leave Hall H and make my way down to the exhibit floor. I didn’t intend to go back into Hall H but because I had been given a bathroom pass by security it grants whoever holds the pass re-entry into the room. So, I want to keep coming back just in case I change my mind and want to see something in Hall H later in the day. I walk through the security line and immediately walk back out with a new security ticket that is good until 2:00pm. When I enter the exhibit floor I immediately walk over to the Funko desk and check in with them. Since I won the Funko lottery for Saturday I’m instructed to come back around 2:30 for my 4:00 reservation. I then go looking around for some Kuromi stuff for Zola which I only found out was a thing earlier in the day from a text message sent from my wife. Apparently Kuromi is the hottest thing smoking these days and I can’t find anything Kuromi in the convention center. However, I find a guy working a booth who has mystery boxes that could have a kuromi inside. It’s a risky bet, but I’ve got no other options. I pay for two mystery boxes for my daughter in the hopes that she gets one… In fact, he hands me a mystery box, but I decide to put that one back and pick up a different one in the hopes that the Kuromi Gods are with me…

[12:07pm] I walk back into Hall H and find a random single seat at the end of a row. I settle in to watch the Star Trek Universe panel. Fans are treated with a showing of a new episode from the upcoming season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. I’m not a Trekkie but find the episode is enjoyable. 

[1:54pm] I’m back on the exhibit floor and at the Funko booth. My appointment is at 2:00 but I’m able to get out of there around 2:02pm with my full order of Funkos in tow. I purchase more Funkos than I know what to do with, but I’m thinking that maybe I’ll be able to sell some of these when I get back to Philly. I see a coat check table outside the exhibit floor and decide to check my funko bag for $10 instead of going all the way back to my hotel to drop it off. The coat check service ends up saving me time, money, and stress. 

[2:35pm] I find a guy outside the Marriott selling badges for $200. They seem like real badges but I hope no one gets scammed by this guy selling badges while seated in a patio chair wearing some old ball shorts. If SDCC finds anyone in possession of a fake badge they could have their right to attend future comic cons revoked. However, I notice a few people interested in his current offer… 

[2:50pm – 4:10pm] I check back into Hall H for the Peacemaker panel. I’m not a DC guy so I haven’t seen the show but I want a chance to see John Cena in person. He appears on the Hall H stage in the full Peacemaker costume. This guy is a nut. Cena is currently on a year long retirement tour with WWE so I wanted a chance to be in the same room as him to be able to witness his greatness in person. He didn’t disappoint. Cena was cracking PG-rated jokes during the entire panel. It was also cool to see James Gunn on stage who heads up DC Studios. I’m a big fan of his work on Guardians of the Galaxy and think he did a solid job on the new Superman movie. 

[4:15pm] I’m most likely wandering the exhibit floor again or popping into random panels. Even though I have a badge for four days this is my last day at comic con as I have an early flight home tomorrow. So, I want to make sure I spend most of the time on the exhibit floor taking in all the sights. 

[7:25pm] I’m pretty exhausted at this point. I step back onto the free SDCC shuttle and we head back to all of the hotels on the pink route with mine being the last on the route. 

[8:04pm] I make it back to my hotel room and decide to stay in for the night since I have to wake up very early on Sunday morning to catch my flight back to PHL. 

20,221 Steps

9:07 miles 

4 flights

Sunday, July 27

[3:30am] The alarm goes off and I pop out of bed. My bags were already packed the night before so I’m ready to go straight to the airport. 

[4:47am] I purchased the first flight out of SAN so that I can make it back to Philly in the afternoon (2:51pm EST) and have a little bit of time unwinding before I have to go back to work on Monday. My flight is scheduled to leave SAN at 6:20am however as I’m waiting at the gate I notice my flight is now delayed to 8:00am. Well, I’m already at the gate, I’ll just wait a few more hours until it’s time to board…

[5:25am] The AA screen now shows that the plane is delayed again, the new departure time now reads: 9:30am

[5:30am] I don’t see any weather that would impact the arrival or departure of my flight so I am confused as to why the first flight out of SAN is experiencing numerous delays. If it’s a mechanical issue I’m feeling slightly annoyed that I had to show up to the airport so early if the airline knew this flight would ultimately be delayed. I could’ve stayed in bed! Fortunately I was able to leave the gate and kill a few hours at the SAN Chase Sapphire Lounge. 

[10:52am] During the time that I spend at the lounge I see that my flight experiences another delay from the 9:30 time. Now we aren’t scheduled to leave until around Noon. I exit the lounge and head back to the gate to see if I can talk to an AA agent. 

[11:00am] I arrive to Gate 23 with plenty of time before boarding commences. I see the crew waiting and the pilots even go back to the plane. I’m thinking all is good. I see the pilot pop his head out of the door and mentions something to the front desk attendant. In my mind, I’m thinking he’s giving the all clear for us to begin boarding. The attendant immediately pops on the loud speaker and tells the fliers that this plane isn’t going out today. There are audible groans from everyone near the gate. I’m in shock. She goes on to explain that AA will need to fly a mechanic out to inspect and fix the plane and with that said, she believed the flight would ultimately get canceled. 

[11:05 – 11:45am] I decide to cancel my ticket with AA because they rebooked me on a flight that heads to Charlotte with an overnight layover before continuing on to PHL on Monday morning. That’s not going to work for me. I rebook on Southwest Airlines for a red-eye flight heading into BWI. While it’s not ideal, I just really need to get back to the east coast, STAT, and while I can’t find a direct to PHL, going to Baltimore is not the worst thing in the world. It gets me closer to home. 

[1:34pm] I have a cab drop me off at SDCC. The silver lining in this entire ordeal is the fact that I can get a chance to attend Comic Con on Sunday, something I haven’t been able to do in years.  

[2:00pm] I drop in on my buddy Francis’ panel, Not So Strange Bedfellows: The Relationship Between Comics and Pro Wrestling. I fight like hell to keep myself awake, but I’m glad to be there. It’s a cool panel with former pro wrestlers and people who’ve had careers adjacent to the wrestling industry. I chop it up with Francis for a bit after the panel and he even introduces me to moderator Joshua Waldrop (founder/publisher, Ultima Comics) 

[3:10pm – 4:40pm] I spend the remaining time walking around on the exhibit floor. I’m glad to be here and I spend my time wandering the floor. 

[5:42pm] I’m back at SAN Airport, but this time I’m in the dreaded terminal 1. It’s so outdated and there’s never enough space for everyone inside southwest’s san diego terminal. I heard they are going to do a remodel of this area in the near future so that’ll be really great to see once it’s done. 

[8:55pm] My flight takes off from SAN and is headed to BWI. I am relieved to be on this flight today and not “stuck” in San Diego for another night or even stranded in a layover at the Charlotte airport like AA was going to do to me. I’m able to grab an aisle seat and am hoping to catch some shut-eye on the five hour plane ride home. 

14,733 Steps

6.74 Mi 

5 Flights Climbed 

Monday, July 28

[5:00am EST] The plane lands smoothly at BWI. It was a nice flight overall, but I was unable to get any meaningful sleep on the plane, which is unfortunate. I’m so tired and running on fumes at this point. I’m glad to be back on the east coast despite losing the 9 hours that I would’ve had if my original AA flight took me to PHL on time yesterday. It is what it is though… 

[5:40am] I’m riding a BWI Airport shuttle to the Amtrak station. I notice that the back of my legs feel sore/tight. All I can think about is being able to sleep in my own bed tonight. I fight to stay awake. 

[7:11am] My Acela train is slightly delayed but I’m so happy to see it pull into the station. I sit in an empty row and stare out the window. My body needs sleep but I’m afraid if I close my eyes I will fall asleep and go past my stop in Philadelphia. I keep myself awake. 

[9:40am] I’m finally back home. There’s no down time, I go straight to my (remote) office. Later that afternoon my body forces itself to sleep and I nap for several hours, sprawled out on the living room floor. My body finally gets itself back to normal after a couple of days. However, it’s all worth it. I’m glad I got to go to San Diego Comic Con for another year and am hopeful that I can return again next year! Maybe I’ll see you there in person?

3,773 Steps

1.74 Mi 

12 Flights Climbed

San Diego Comic Con Tips: 

1. Unless you’re intent on trying to make it to the exhibit floor first thing in the morning when it opens, there’s no advantage to showing up to enter the convention center when the doors open for the day. You’ll be waiting in long lines just to get in the door. You’d be better served going to some off-sites or just showing up 20-30 minutes later to begin your day. 

2. To beat the rush of people leaving a panel, especially in the larger rooms such as Hall H, head for the exit a few minutes before the panel ends. 

3. Go to the bathroom at the nearby hotels if you want a restroom that isn’t as packed as the convention center is…

4. SDCC offers a coat check where you can store your bags and memorabilia for a $10 fee. It may be worth it to you to use this service so that you don’t have to lug your bags around the convention center all day. 

5. Take advantage of the SDCC shuttle or other forms of public transportation if you are staying at a hotel along the route. Taking a free shuttle over an Uber will save you money (& time) that can be spent on things such as meals. 

6. Wear stuff that shows off your personality or even where you’re from. I frequently wear old school NFL jerseys and different MLB ball caps as a way to show where I’ve been, or where I come from. You can find yourself talking to all sorts of people who may identify with what you’re wearing. 

7. Even if you don’t get a badge for Preview Night (Wednesday), I think it can still be a great idea to come visit the Gaslamp to do things around the convention center, such as offsite events. The crowds are much smaller and more manageable to do things that you won’t be able to easily do during Thursday – Sunday of Comic Con. 

8. When you’re packing your bag(s) for Comic Con chances are you are overestimating how much stuff you actually need to bring with you. However items such as Battery packs, snacks, a reliable water bottle, and hand sanitizer are must haves in my book! 

9. As a part of my daily routine I take men’s vitamins, elderberry, and vitamin C. I haven’t succumbed to the effects of Con Crud yet, which is a very real thing. I’d also recommend wearing a face mask on the exhibit floor as it feels like there are thousands of people squished together in a tight space and germs are flying everywhere. I don’t expect it to catch everything, but as much as possible I want to give my immune system some help and stave off any colds, etc. by wearing a mask.

10.     Have fun! 

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Thank you for reading my 2025 San Diego Comic Con blog post. If you’re interested in listening to or reading more of my past SDCC content, you can find it below! I hope it entertains and helps you learn more about Comic Con. 

1. LISTEN: The Everything Else Podcast: I attended 2024 San Diego Comic Con
2. READ: Marvel Studios brings the House down at SDCC
3. READ: The Ultimate Deadpool & Wolverine Celebration of Life at 2024 San Diego Comic Con
4. READ: The cinéSPEAK Journal: A Reflection on San Diego Comic-Con Amid the Strike 
5. WATCH: Follow me to San Diego Comic Con (2020) 
6. LISTEN: CherryPickin: Going back to Cali (for San Diego Comic Con) 
7. LISTEN: CherryPickin: 2019 San Diego Comic Con 
8. READ: 2017 San Diego Comic Con (in pictures)