KPBS at Comic-Con: From the floor to the fans

KPBS is taking you inside Comic-Con, sharing stories from San Diegans alongside the fans, creators and communities who bring the iconic pop culture convention to life.

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Sarah Maldrett (Daisy) and Luke Vore (Luigi) pose for a photo with a giant Bowser at the LEGO booth in Comic-Con's Exhibit Hall, July 24, 2022.

KPBS

Arts & Culture

Tell us why Comic-Con matters to you — share your story

Brenden Tuccinardi

Beyond star-studded panels and immersive brand activations, community connection is at the heart of Comic-Con. So tell us: Why does Comic-Con matter to you?

Courtesy of Jackie Estrada

Arts & Culture

Why longtime fans keep coming back to Comic-Con

Beth Accomando

This story was first published in 2019, marking the 50th Comic-Con in San Diego. We're bringing it back in 2025 to celebrate the fans who helped shape the convention into what it is today.

Ethan Banegas reads from the comic book at an event on June 13, 2025 to celebrate the opening of the exhibit at La Jolla Historical Society.

Courtesy of Pablo Mason

Arts & Culture

Listen: This Kumeyaay historian is flipping the script on California — with a comic book

Julia Dixon Evans

Anthony Wallace

The Kumeyaay have long told stories through rock art, vivid images carved into stone that preserved culture, memory and meaning. Today, that tradition continues in a new comic book created by Kumeyaay educators and historians to challenge the erasure of Indigenous history in California classrooms. Co-written by SDSU professor Ethan Banegas, a member of the Barona Band of Mission Indians, the book brings Kumeyaay life — from ancestral knowledge to colonization and resistance — into a format designed for students and teachers.

" Oftentimes history is written as: We are victims, we are passive. And what I like about this page, in general, is this is us creating and fighting for our own future. So I think that's why this comic is a real game changer for people like me growing up in today's world," Banegas said. "You just know these things are true, but you don't have any way or material to support it. They have this comic now to go to bat for 'em."

Blending community memory, academic research and lived experience, the comic is both a resource and a tool of reclamation. It replaces silence with story, and invisibility with truth.

Latest Stories

Arts & Culture

Cool booth and merch highlights from Comic-Con 2024

KPBS Staff

From plushies to dice to autographed books and rare comics, these were some of our favorite booths and merch finds at last year's Comic-Con.
Arts & Culture

'Star Wars,' 'Bob's Burgers,' 'Demon Slayer' and more: Group cosplay looks from Comic-Con 2024

KPBS Staff

From iconic duos to full squad ensembles, these standout group cosplays from Comic-Con 2024 brought energy, creativity and fan passion. KPBS revisits our favorites ahead of this year's event in July.
Bonus Episode: Cross-Border Comic-Conners

Adrian Villalobos

Alan Lilienthal

Natalie Gonzalez Rodriguez

This past summer, our host Natalie and sound designer Adrian plunged into the heart of the pop culture phenomenon known as Comic-Con, experiencing it through the eyes of its most devoted fans in Tijuana. Their journey highlighted how the event transcends the San Diego border, evolving into a cross-border celebration that has become an annual ritual for many in Tijuana. Happy Holidays & Happy New Year! Social media and contact From KPBS, “Port of Entry” tells cross-border stories that connect us. More stories at www.portofentrypod.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/portofentrypod Support our show at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift. If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email corporatesupport@kpbs.org. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-500-3197 anytime with questions or comments about the show or email us at podcasts@kpbs.org. Credits Hosts: Alan Lilienthal and Natalie González Writer/Producer: Julio C. Ortiz Franco Technical Producer/Sound Designer: Adrian Villalobos Editor: Elma González Lima Brandão and Melissa Sandoval Episodes translated by: Natalie González and Julio C. Ortíz Franco Director of Audio Programming and Operations: Lisa Morrisette This program is made possible, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people
Arts & Culture

4 local art exhibitions that left a lasting impact on us in 2024

KPBS Staff

We look back at the year’s most influential exhibitions in San Diego, exploring culture, identity and health.