Every cloud has a silver lining, and for comic book fans, it's Comic-Con@Home. San Diego Comic-Con - the industry's largest annual trade event - was cancelled in April for the first time in its 50 year history amid coronavirus concerns. And while that was a huge blow to exhibitors, vendors, and attendees alike, not all hope is lost, as the organizers rallied to bring the event online instead. And the best part? It's free!
Comic-Con@Home will kick off Wednesday, July 22 and run through July 26, and hopes to replicate for fans a virtual alternative to the pop culture mecca. More than 350 online panels will be available over the course of the five days, with topics running the gamut from comics, to film, to TV, to video games and beyond. Many of the panels will remain online even after the event is over, but some will expire once a certain amount of time has passed, so it's important for devotees to plan their schedules accordingly. Luckily, the organizers have made that easy.
A full schedule of all there is to take in can be found on SDCC's website, and the site even handily allows fans to check in to the various events and build their own schedules, making sure they don't miss a a thing. Each event includes an in-depth description of what to expect, and the panels will be available to view both through SDCC's site, as well as its YouTube channel. But much like the real SDCC, Comic-Con@Home is a lot more than just the panels.
Up until July 23, cosplay enthusiasts can submit photos of their get ups via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, tagging them with #ComicConAtHomeCosplay and the most creative cosplayers will be featured on Comic-Con's site and social media accounts with winners being chosen from the following categories:
- Best Mashup
- Best Socially Distanced Group
- Best Use of Household Items
- Best Original Character
- Most In-Character / Best Likeness (Canon Character)
- Most Humorous
- Best Classic Comic Character (before 1985)
- Best Modern Comic Character (after 1985)
Similarly, Comic-Con@Home is challenging its followers to get creative with a sidewalk art challenge, encouraging artists to highlight their best chalk creations and share them on social media with the hashtag #ComicConAtHomeChalkArt. Same as the cosplay challenge, submissions will be reviewed through July 23 and the best works will be featured on Comic-Con's various sites. There will even be an online Exhibit Hall, where fans can check out exclusive art and products. And if all that somehow wasn't enough, as a fun extra bonus, SDCC is even offering a way to print your own "badges" for the event in an effort to make the experience that much more authentic.
Obviously this isn't the ideal way to experience Comic-Con, but the organizers certainly seem to be trying to make the best out of a bad situation. And SDCC was far from the only major convention that was forced to cancel this year's events. New York Comic-Con is still tentatively scheduled for October 8-11. But only time will tell if that materializes. Some are even questioning the possibility that SDCC will properly return next year either, considering additional waves of the virus are anticipated in the future.
So while the cancellation comes as a huge disappointment to countless fans - both those who planned to attend and those standing by for breaking news and scoops to drop online - SDCC seems to be trying to do its best to make up for it, while making the entire process simple for devotees. On the bright side, Comic-Con@Home attendees won't be required to jump through hoops to acquire expensive and oftentimes elusive badges for entry. So there's that.