No matter what your fandom is—whether you love comic movies, books, or cosplay—you’re likely to find a friend with similar interests when you go to SDCC.
The convention has been around since 1970, getting its start as San Diego’s Golden State Comic-Minicon. Over the years it has grown to become the worldwide phenomenon SDCC that we know and love today, where movies, television shows, and franchises are announced and celebrated. As a fan girl, it was always my goal to attend SDCC. And I’ve been lucky enough to do so, having attended the con in 2019, 2022, 2023, and this past year in 2024.
While I have only attended SDCC a handful of times, there are veterans who have done so much longer, and they love to talk about “the good ol’ days” at SDCC if you’ll listen.
During the past few cons post COVID-19, SDCC programming has been affected. In 2022, at the first con that was fully back in person, attendees were required to adhere to health regulations, and many artists opted to not attend for their safety.
Last year the con found itself without any television or movie representation due to the writers and SAG/AFTRA strikes. This year was set to be the one where SDCC came back to normal—the upturn, the return of the mack, if you will. So naturally I sought to answer my burning question.
Was 2024 the SDCC comeback year?
I pounded the con pavement in my best cosplay looking to speak to anyone and everyone who would talk to me. What I found was a sea of people excited to share in their fandoms and to escape into a fantasy of sorts and be their most authentic selves.
SDCC certainly has its major buzzworthy moments, like the announcement in Hall H of the return of Robert Downey Jr. to the MCU as Doom. But there are other more meaningful moments that also occur at SDCC.
Last year, when none of the celebrities appeared, the stars of the con were the fans. The fans have always been the main event. While it’s fun to attend panels and spot celebrities, what makes a comic con special are the people.
Like the cosplayer who spent nine hours creating a dress out of manga pages. Or the first-time cosplayer who finally found the courage to dress up as their favorite character.
New to me this year was the passing out of friendship bracelets across the con. I was given three (insert eye-watering emoji).
Now that the con is over, what stands out aren’t the celebrities—it’s the people who are passionately creating.
I can’t say whether or not SDCC is “back to normal.” I don’t know what normal is, or that any con or event could ever live up to the nostalgia we create in our minds.
But for this fan girl, and for the following people I spoke to, this SDCC was what it was supposed to be: fun.
James Holman and Lenka Holman have been attending SDCC for 14 years in a row. The couple met William Ramil three years ago at SDCC. The three promised they would cosplay together and landed on Ellie, Carl, and Rusell from Up.
“Sometimes dressing up gives you advantages in terms of talking to people and meeting people,” James said.
Nova has been attending SDCC for over a decade.
“It’s kind of getting back into its groove now that the strikes are over. It’s kind of back to the way it was pre-pandemic.”
Nikkiah Wong first started cosplaying last year. She wanted to dress up as Ariel from The Little Mermaid, but she was intimidated to do so. After seeing other cosplayers, Wong was inspired to dress herself and Milo (a cardiac alert service dog) as Ariel and Max this year.
“I’m really socially introverted, so when I get the chance to be someone else it helps me to be outgoing and have a social life that I normally would not seek out.”
Chelsea Canes has been attending SDCC since 2013. Canes has always been a big reader. To celebrate her love of reading, and especially manga, she created this dress made entirely of pages from the Demon Slayer manga series. It took Canes nine hours to make the dress and shoes and two hours to make the fan.
“My sister and I love all the nerdy geeky things I’ve been a fan of. It’s really exciting to have the opportunity to celebrate the books we love and meet the creators who bring us joy.”
Top Image: Isabel Dieppa and Michael W. Anderson, Dazzler versus Rogue
Photos by Isabell Dieppa
