SAN DIEGO (AP) 鈥� The Avengers appear set to return to Hall H as Marvel Studios uses Comic-Con International to build hype for the 鈥� and chart a path forward as audience interest in superhero films has waned.
That panel on Saturday is the most-anticipated hour of the nation鈥檚 biggest pop culture convention, which opens in San Diego on Wednesday evening. Early bird shoppers can snag exclusive collectibles like a $25 鈥淜Pop Demon Hunters鈥�-themed Hot Wheels Porsche 911 and $60 鈥淪pider-Man: Brand New Day鈥� customizable Funko figure set.
More than 120,000 people are expected at the four-day expo, which began in 1970 with a gathering of several hundred sci-fi and comics fans and an in-person appearance from Marvel icon Jack Kirby.
What to expect at Comic-Con 2026
Comic-Con has grown to include , autograph booths, obstacle courses, concerts and panels covering everything from video games 鈥� new titles feature Wolverine and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 鈥� to movie poster art and fencing. (Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden and 鈥淕hosts鈥� actor Asher Grodman will discuss 鈥淗ollywood鈥檚 Love Affair With Fencing鈥� on Thursday.)
DC Studios, which like Marvel sat out last year鈥檚 Comic-Con because the publicity campaign timing wasn鈥檛 right, will showcase its HBO 鈥淟anterns鈥� series with a 鈥渢raining headquarters鈥� activation in San Diego鈥檚 Gaslamp Quarter and a Friday panel featuring and Kyle Chandler.
That presentation, like Marvel鈥檚, will be in the convention center鈥檚 6,500-person premier showcase: Hall H. Livestreams aren鈥檛 allowed inside but online reaction from fans in attendance can swiftly lift 鈥� or doom 鈥� a film or TV show鈥檚 prospects.
Another prestige TV highlight: Actors from 鈥淲idow鈥檚 Bay鈥� are expected to pay a visit to the bayside convention center on Saturday as Apple TV celebrates the
Comedy fans won鈥檛 need to comb the desert to find updates on the focus of a Friday panel. The film set for release next year features Rick Moranis, Bill Pullman and reprising their roles from Brooks鈥� 1987 parody.
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