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.
Richard Shotwell
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Invision/AP
A look back at SDCC 2025's highlights and tips for celebrating pop culture all year long.
KPBS Staff
Listen: The rise of romantasy and how it's shaping the world of books and fandom — even at Comic-Con
Romantasy — the fusion of romance and fantasy — is having a major moment. Boosted by #BookTok and shaped by the influence of fan fiction, the book genre is topping bestseller lists and drawing huge crowds at Comic-Con. But for all its success, it's often a target of ridicule. We look at what people get wrong about the misunderstood genre, and why it's connecting with so many readers right now.
From sci-fi aliens to nostalgic deep cuts, these standout Comic-Con cosplayers turned heads with their unique takes on fandom favorites.
Latest Stories
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Straight from the marketing department, according to MK creator, Ed Boon. & I have to say, that is not a great start for creativity, but since it is internet fashion to beat up on MK, I'll leave that alone. & Boon told me, "We've been making MK games since 1992, which is a long time. & At some point around MKIV, we talked about & 'wouldn't it be cool if we made a versus game with one of our competitors?'" & He mentioned Street Fighter and Virtua Fighter, but ... there's a game called Street Fighter, there's a game called Virtua Fighter, and we thought it would be cool." & That would actually be pretty cool. & But I imagine the corporate war that would ensue would be bloodier than anything in the MK universe. & And, according to Boon, that project "never really panned out." &
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Most public libraries have as part of their mission the duty to collect popular materials for their patrons. All it takes is a quick walk through any chain bookstore to see that graphic novels are popular. If they weren't, stores wouldn't devote so much shelf space to them and teens wouldn't be sitting in the aisles reading the newest releases. With the increasing popularity of graphic novels, librarians have had to educate themselves on the format, its history, industry trends, publisher idiosyncrasies, binding quality, and more, to make sure we are collecting the right books. By including graphic novels in library collections, librarians are seeing an increase in traffic from teens and twenty-somethings who may have previously felt libraries were no longer relevant to their lives or their interests.
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Last time he came by the Con he treated audiences with a song. This time there was no singing but he snuck in some footage of the new Wolverine movie that looked pretty cool.
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Immediately, everyone stood up and cameras started flashing. Comics legend Stan Lee
San Diego Spotlight
Charlotte Radulovich
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KPBS
Courtesy of Dafne Alcaraz
Courtesy of Jackie Estrada
Cosplay Corner
Plan Your Con
Into the Whoniverse Panel Series
Saturday, September 20, 2025 from 1 PM to 3 PM
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Comic-Con Museum
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Frequently Asked Questions
San Diego Comic-Con runs Thursday, July 24, through Sunday, July 27, at the San Diego Convention Center.
Preview Night is Wednesday, July 23, from 6 to 9 p.m. and includes early access to the exhibit hall for select attendees.
Preview Night is Wednesday, July 23, from 6 to 9 p.m. and includes early access to the exhibit hall for select attendees.
Yes! To enter the convention center, attendees must have a Comic-Con badge.
Preview Night access is only available to those with a 4-Day with Preview Night badge. Standard 4-Day or single-day badges do not include access to Preview Night.
Need a badge? Visit the official Comic-Con website for availability and pricing.
Preview Night access is only available to those with a 4-Day with Preview Night badge. Standard 4-Day or single-day badges do not include access to Preview Night.
Need a badge? Visit the official Comic-Con website for availability and pricing.
Yes! Comic-Con takes over more than just the convention center, with pop-ups, activations and fan experiences happening throughout the Gaslamp and beyond. While not all offsite events are free, many are open to the pubic. Check out our curated list to see what you can do without a badge.
The official Comic-Con 2025 programming schedule is now live. Browse panels, screenings, signings and more on the Comic-Con website.
We'll be sharing our top panel recommendations and continue updating our KPBS coverage throughout the week.
We'll be sharing our top panel recommendations and continue updating our KPBS coverage throughout the week.
San Diego's public transportation system, operated by MTS, offers easy access to and around the San Diego Convention Center. For more information, check out our transportation tips.
Oh, definitely. Cosplay is encouraged! Review the official convention's Costume Prop Policies to learn more about the code of conduct, guidelines for props and more.
Yes. The San Diego Convention Center is ADA compliant and Comic-Con offers a range of accessibility services. We've put together a Comic-Con accessibility guide to help you navigate everything from wheelchair seating to service animals.
Yes, children are welcome! Kids 12 and under can attend for free with a registered adult. Be sure to review Comic-Con's child badge policy for details on registration and on-site badge pickup.
San Diego offers a network of Cool Zone sites — public places where people can escape the heat on hot summer days. Find a list here.
You're already here! Stay tuned to this page for news, interviews, guides, videos and updates throughout Comic-Con.
For more coverage and fun moments, follow us on Instagram at @kpbs.
For more coverage and fun moments, follow us on Instagram at @kpbs.