I know I’m a little slow posting this year’s SDCC recap, but there was a lot for me to take in. This year’s Comic-Con was beyond my expectations. Plans were made, changed, and cancelled, but it was, by far, my favorite San Diego Comic-Con.
The Offsites
I think I visited more offsites this year than I have in the past. I usually keep myself in or around the convention center, but this year, the offsites really drew me in. That’s not to say offsites in the past weren’t amazing (The Taco Bell pop-up will always be my favorite). This year’s sparked an interest in me I usually don’t have.
This year, three offsites in particular stood out as my favorite: The Amazon Prime Experience, FXHIBITION, and The Orville Experience.
The Amazon Prime Experience
If you’re wondering what Amazon Prime could possibly be spending all that money we pay them every month on, SDCC 2019 definitely took a huge cut of their budget. Prime came to San Diego Comic-Con with wraps and art that could be found all over the Gaslamp and panels highlighting their latest original shows, but it was their offsite where fans could immerse themselves in the worlds of The Boys, Carnival Row, and The Expanse.
Carnival Row
A statement on our times 
Keeping order in the Burgue 
A Puck 
I can fly! 
Carnival Row is set in a Victorian-style industrial town called The Burgue, where creatures such as Pucks and Fairies (among others) have come as refugees. Driven out of their homes by The Pact, they struggle to find their way in a world that doesn’t want them. Starring Orlando Bloom (Philo), Cara Delevigne (Vignette), Tamzin Merchant (Imogen Spurnrose), and Jared Harris (Chancellor Breakspear), this Amazon Prime Original is certainly binge-worthy.
Cara Delevigne 
Orlando Bloom 
Tamzin Merchant
The Boys
I don’t remember parking my car there 
Getting the run-down from Butcher 
I found the secret comic book shop
Produced by Seth Rogen (Preacher) and Eric Kripke (Supernatural, Timeless), The Boys takes place in a present-day world where superheroes (“Supes”) care more about their approval ratings than public safety. Imagine if Watchmen were a comedy. The Boys is a group of misfits who have been screwed over one way or another by a selfish Supe and have determined to get back at them. Starring Karl Urban (Billy Butcher), Laz Alonso (Mother’s Milk), Elisabeth Shue (Madelyn Stillwell), Chace Crawford (The Deep), and more, I binged this Amazon Prime Original as soon as it went live. You’ll never look at the Spice Girls the same way again.
Seth Rogen 
Eric Kripke 
Karl Urban 
Laz Alonso 
Elisabeth Shue 
Chace Crawford
The Expanse
Our briefing 
Psst… 
DeAnna Cali killing it as an RCE agent
Maybe I’m biased, but my good friend, DeAnna Cali, totally rocked this experience. She absolutely killed it as one of the RCE agents. Although The Expanse technically didn’t start off as an Amazon Prime Original, its cancellation by SYFY gave Amazon Prime the chance to add it to their growing collection of programs. Here’s a taste of what we got to see:
The Orville Experience
The production team behind Hulu’s (formerly Fox’s) The Orville is the best in Hollywood. I don’t say that because of any awards (they do have some); it’s what they were able to put together in two weeks’ time on a shoestring budget.
The Orville Experience, located at 390 11th Avenue, treated fans of the series to displays of props and costumes used in the series, production art, screen-ready displays, photo ops, and my favorite, Bortus’s Mustache. Fans walked away with hats, enamel pins, and a hardcover book giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at the show.
The offsite was a giant thank-you to their fans, and fans definitely appreciated.
Screen-worn Uniforms 
Main Cast 
They’re like a family 
Ed and Kelly 
Krill Invasion! 
Klyden! 
Bortus’s Mustache! 
Muppet Kelly watching over us 
Date night with Isaac 
Posin’ 
FXHIBITION
FX’s SDCC offsite has always been one of the best at Comic-Con. While it’s often nothing huge or elaborate, it is very immersive. This year, fans were treated to looks inside AHS 1984 (which I totally can’t wait for), What We Do in the Shadows, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Mayans MC. Cast members from their shows were also making appearances either before or after their respective panels, which I found out after bumping into the What We Do in the Shadows cast. Kayvan Novak (Nandor the Relentless) and Harvey Guillén (Guillermo) even stuck around for some photo ops and were insanely nice and gracious. So much so that they waited for me to come back from the men’s room to take a pic with me (with a little stalling from Carolyn).
The cast 
One more… 
Nandor! 
Guillermo! 
They waited until I came back from the bathroom. 
YASS!!!
The Panels
I didn’t make it to as many panels as I normally do this year, thanks in part to the many opportunities that presented themselves. The panels I did make it to (in addition to the panels mentioned above) were all very entertaining, to say the least. As usual, there were panels I didn’t expect to love but did, surprise guests, and a little swearing. Ultimately, I got to see some actors I’ve fanboyed over for a long time, some decades. Panels like Cobra Kai and It Came from the 90’s gave me the opportunity to see Jason Mewes (Jay and Silent Bob), Ralph Macchio (The Karate Kid), Orlando Jones (Evolution, Office Space), and Milana Vayntrub (This is Us, “the AT&T Girl”) in action. And, of course, Veronica Mars…
Wax on… 
Wax off… 
Who DOESN’T like Dick? 
And I’d like to create a gallery specifically to highlight the many expressions of Orlando Jones:
I see you… 
Throwin’ out some sass 
The Exhibit Hall
Like the panels, I didn’t visit the Exhibit Hall nearly as much as I have in the past. One of the reasons for this is that my favorite artist, Justin Harder (CLAUS Studios) was unable to get a booth this year. Also, while there were so many awesome exclusives this year (i.e.: Truck Torrence’s Dumpster Fire), I wasn’t willing to kill myself over trying to get them.
That being said, there was some amazing tech on display, as well as a LEGO He-Man, a life-sized Terminator 101, and one of my favorite cannabis brands was even represented. But the Wynonna Earp cast signing blew me away. I am always impressed by the way this show has embraced its own fandom. They consistently go above and beyond to show their fans appreciation. From the creators, writers, and producers to the cast, everyone stopped and chatted with Earpers.
The crowd 
Death Star PC 
Cream of the Crop 
Cream of the Crop 
Wynonna Earp creator Beau Smith 
Sheriff Nedley 
Wynonna Earp cast & crew 
Writer/Producer Emily Andras and Melanie Scrofano (Wynonna Earp) 
Selfie time! 
Kat Barrell (Nicole Haught) and Chantel Riley (Kate) 
PRIDE bag signed by the Wynonna Earp cast & crew
This years Comic-Con was an absolute blast. I can’t wait for next year’s con. Of course, I had the most fun writing and reporting for the SDCC Unofficial Blog. I am honored and humbled to be part of such an awesome group of people. I can’t wait to see what next year has in store.