In photos: Comic-Con International returns to the San Diego Convention Center

Monday, July 18
Wednesday, July 20
Thursday, July 21
Friday, July 22
Saturday, July 23
Sunday, July 24

It has been three years since San Diego Comic-Con returned in full swing due to the pandemic. Cosplayers, gamers and other pop-culture aficionados are once again free to congregate in the legendary exhibit halls at the San Diego Convention Center. An excited exodus of con-goers from all genres are expected to show up and geek out over their favorite artists, films, games and media heroes after much delay.

Although tickets and passes for admission are sold out (majority of which are carried over from the 2020 Comic-Con), it doesn’t mean everyone yearning to attend should be put out. Visit Comic-Con as KPBS’ eyes and ears, pass through the Argonath to Hall H and say “hello” once more to the ultimate con kingdom. As the late Stan Lee would say, excelsior!

Editor's note: This story will be updated throughout Comic-Con International.

Signs reading "San Diego Comic-Con International" hang from the ceiling of the San Diego Convention Center. July 21, 2022.

Comic-Con 2023

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Launch

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Monday, July 18

A sign outside the San Diego Convention Center says "Welcome to Comic-Con International." July 18, 2022.

People build sand sculptures as part of Audible's offsite Comic-Con activation, "The Audible Beach." San Diego, Calif. July 18, 2022.

A mural depicting the character Beavis from the cartoon "Beavis and Butt-Head" is painted in honor of Comic-Con International. San Diego, Calif. July 18, 2022.

Wednesday, July 20

Attendees of San Diego Comic-Con International in front of the San Diego Convention Center. July 20, 2022.

Fans cosplay at San Diego Comic-Con 2022. San Diego, Calif. July 20, 2022.

Thursday, July 21

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William Shatner imprinting his hands in cement at the William Shatner handprint ceremony at the lobby of Theatre Box San Diego. July 21, 2022.

William Shatner's handprint and signature in cement at the lobby of Theatre Box San Diego. July 21, 2022.

Original Captain Kirk, William Shatner, with "Strange New Worlds" Capt. Kirk, Paul Wesley, at the William Shatner handprint ceremony at the lobby of Theatre Box San Diego. July 21, 2022.

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/couchplaykonnor/" target="_blank" link-data="{"cms.site.owner":{"_ref":"00000179-8a1f-d704-a9f9-fa5f6dab0000","_type":"ae3387cc-b875-31b7-b82d-63fd8d758c20"},"cms.directory.paths":[],"cms.content.publishDate":1658438324227,"cms.content.publishUser":{"_ref":"0000017b-7516-d611-af7f-f77fec080000","_type":"6aa69ae1-35be-30dc-87e9-410da9e1cdcc"},"cms.content.updateDate":1658438324227,"cms.content.updateUser":{"_ref":"0000017b-7516-d611-af7f-f77fec080000","_type":"6aa69ae1-35be-30dc-87e9-410da9e1cdcc"},"link":{"attributes":[],"linkText":"Konnor Heredia","target":"NEW","url":"https://www.instagram.com/couchplaykonnor/","theme.kpbs-theme-falcon.:core:link:Link.hbs._template":null,"cms.directory.paths":[],"_id":"00000182-22a0-d2dc-afa6-66ba7f4e0001","_type":"ff658216-e70f-39d0-b660-bdfe57a5599a"},"theme.kpbs-theme-falcon.:core:link:Link.hbs._template":null,"_id":"00000182-22a0-d2dc-afa6-66ba7f230000","_type":"809caec9-30e2-3666-8b71-b32ddbffc288"}">Konnor Heredia</a> from San Francisco, Calif. cosplaying as a character from "Moon Knight." July 21, 2022. Heredia has been coming to Comic-Con for three years. — Konnor Heredia from San Francisco, Calif. cosplaying as a character from "Moon Knight." July 21, 2022. Heredia has been coming to Comic-Con for three years.

Dylan Carter from Springfield, Illinois cosplaying as Aquaman at the San Diego Convention Center. July 21, 2022. — Dylan Carter from Springfield, Illinois cosplaying as a character from "The Boys" at the San Diego Convention Center. July 21, 2022.

Raine Huszar, 2, dressed up as baby Princess Peach and Steve Huszar as "wedding Bowser" from Santa Cruz. San Diego Convention Center. July 21, 2022.

Boyd Johnson from San Diego cosplayed as the clown from "IT." San Diego Convention Center. July 21, 2022. Johnson has been coming to Comic-Con for 10 years.

Jeremiah Delarato, 8, from Phoenix, Ariz. attended Comic-Con International with his father. He said this is his first time attending the convention. San Diego Convention Center. July 21, 2022.

Hundreds of mask-wearing attendees throng the floor at Comic-Con 2022 — Hundreds of mask-wearing attendees throng the Comic-Con 2022 floor on July 21, 2022.

300 costume at Comic-Con 2022 worn by William Samson — San Diegan William Samson incorporated the mandatory mask into this costume inspired by the film "300" on July 21, 2022.

Person photographs Lego Darth Vader at Comic-Con 2022 — Even a Sith lord needs a break: A Comic-Con 2022 attendee takes a photo of a Lego Darth Vader in full beach garb on July 21, 2022.

Mario Alcaraz from Los Angeles cosplayed as "punk Spiderman." San Diego Convention Center. July 21, 2022.

Comic-Con International attendees play "Street Fighter" at the San Diego Convention Center. July 21, 2022. — Comic-Con International attendees play Street Fighter at the San Diego Convention Center. July 21, 2022.

Comic-Con International at the San Diego Convention Center. July 21, 2022.

Attendees at Comic-International. San Diego Convention Center. July 21, 2022. — Attendees at Comic-Con International. San Diego Convention Center. July 21, 2022.

A Gundam character at Comic-Con International at the San Diego Convention Center. July 21, 2022. — A statue of a character from the Gundam franchise at Comic-Con International. San Diego Convention Center. July 21, 2022.

A Comic-Con International attendee browses through comics. San Diego Convention Center. July 21, 2022.

Comic-Con International attendees at the San Diego Convention Center. July 21, 2022. — Comic-Con International attendees and a statue of Bowser from the Mario franchise at the San Diego Convention Center. July 21, 2022.

Cosplayers at Comic-Con International at the San Diego Convention Center. July 21, 2022.

Steve Ah Nin from San Francisco as Boba’s Bountea Hunter … a different take on Boba Fett from the Star Wars franchise. San Diego Convention Center. July 21, 2022.

Friday, July 22

Boba Fett and a Jedi at Comic-Con 2022 — San Diegans Jerry Green, left, and Eric Campbell pose as Boba Fett and a Jedi on July 22, 2022.

Two Spider-Men point at each other with some Star Wars guys in the background — Eight-year Comic-Con attendee Nica Sonk, left, and three-year attendee Derek Nobel, both of Carlsbad, reenact a classic Spider-Man scene as an X-Wing pilot wanders by in the background on July 22, 2022.

woman dressed as wonder woman — The Latinx Wonder Woman — aka Rosie Goldsmith, of Orange, and a Comic-Con attendee since 2008 — raises her Chancla of Truth on July 22, 2022.

Dude Vader, Mandalorian and Grogu at Comic-Con 2022 — Corona resident and four-year Comic-Con attendee Eric Blasko, dressed as the Mandalorian, poses with Chris Canole, aka Samurai C3PO, aka Dude Vader, on July 22, 2022.

Leonardo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at Comic-Con 2022 — Riverside resident Mike Mittleider, who has been attending Comic-Con for 12 years, is dressed as Leonardo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on July 22, 2022.

He-Man and She-Ra at Comic-Con 2022 — Miguel Perez Rul and Aida Sanchez, both of Tijuana and attending Comic-Con for their eighth year, incorporate the mandated masks into their costumes as He-Man and She-Ra on July 22, 2022.

Saturday, July 23

Artist <a href="https://www.instagram.com/donghokim_art/?hl=en" target="_blank" link-data="{"cms.site.owner":{"_ref":"00000179-8a1f-d704-a9f9-fa5f6dab0000","_type":"ae3387cc-b875-31b7-b82d-63fd8d758c20"},"cms.directory.paths":[],"cms.content.publishDate":1658643554455,"cms.content.publishUser":{"_ref":"00000179-8a39-de15-adfb-af79b7fe0000","_type":"6aa69ae1-35be-30dc-87e9-410da9e1cdcc"},"cms.content.updateDate":1658643554455,"cms.content.updateUser":{"_ref":"00000179-8a39-de15-adfb-af79b7fe0000","_type":"6aa69ae1-35be-30dc-87e9-410da9e1cdcc"},"link":{"attributes":[],"linkText":"Dongho Kim","target":"NEW","url":"https://www.instagram.com/donghokim_art/?hl=en","theme.kpbs-theme-falcon.:core:link:Link.hbs._template":null,"cms.directory.paths":[],"_id":"00000182-2edc-d2dc-afa6-6ede0c870001","_type":"ff658216-e70f-39d0-b660-bdfe57a5599a"},"theme.kpbs-theme-falcon.:core:link:Link.hbs._template":null,"_id":"00000182-2edc-d2dc-afa6-6ede0c820000","_type":"809caec9-30e2-3666-8b71-b32ddbffc288"}">Dongho Kim</a> (right) works on a drawing at a booth in the Comic-Con Exhibit Hall, July 23, 2022. — Artist Dongho Kim (right) works on a drawing at a booth in the Comic-Con Exhibit Hall, July 23, 2022.

Rob McElhenney and Megan Ganz on the big screen at Comic-Con — Among the celebrities at Comic-Con, co-creators and executive producers Rob McElhenney and Megan Ganz debuted a first-look teaser for season three of "Mythic Quest" on July 23.

Fantastic Four, Amazing Fantasy and Tales of Suspense comic books — Comic-Con started with comics and fantastic, amazing and sensational characters, including issues in which the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man and Iron Man made their debuts, displayed July 23.

Person dressed as Everything Everywhere All at Once chef at Comic-Con 2022 — This cosplayer dressed as the chef puppeteered by a raccoon from "Everything Everywhere All at Once" was a crowd-pleaser inside the San Diego Convention Center on July 23rd, 2022.

Artists on a Comic-Con 2022 panel — This Quick Draw panel at Comic-Con 2022 featured the artists Scott Shaw ("Sonic the Hedgehog," "The Simpsons"), Lalo Alcaraz ("La Cucaracha") and Mike Kazaleh ("Ren & Stimpy," "Teenage Mutant Ninja Ninja Turtles") on July 23.

throngs of people at Comic-Con 2022 — A mass of people fill the San Diego Convention Center on July 23, one of the busiest days of Comic-Con 2022.

Prideful Mandalorian at Comic-Con 2022 — A prideful take on a Mandalorian inside the Convention Center on July 23, 2022.

Sunday, July 24

Fans take selfies with Netflix's Squid Game characters inside Comic-Con's Exhibit Hall, July 24, 2022.

Comic-Con attendees inside the Exhibit Hall get free pins from Toynk, July 24, 2022.

NASA Director of Communications Derek Wang speaks about the agency's interactive comic book "First Woman: NASA's Promise for Humanity," July 24, 2022.

Gamers Darrest and Mark go head-to-head on Super Smash Bros. inside Comic-Con's Exhibit Hall, July 24, 2022.

It's father (Randy Erickson) against son (Leif) at the Eternal Kings board game table, July 24, 2022.

Fan Layla Heard strategizes her next move while playing a Pokemon card game, July 24, 2022.

Layla Heard waits while her opponent makes a move during a Pokemon card game, July 24, 2022.

Amber, Carter and Kenzie Lappin create RPG figurines at Comic-Con, July 24, 2022.

Some attendees take a quick nap in a hallway before their next activity, July 24, 2022.

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.

Members of the Kingdom of Terre Neuve spar outside the Convention Center's mezzanine, July 24, 2022.

Fans wait in line to play the classic Street Fighter game at Comic-Con's Exhibit Hall, July 24, 2022.

Corrected: July 22, 2022 at 11:05 AM PDT

We have to turn in our geek cred for misidentifying cosplayer Dylan Carter's character. KPBS arts reporter Beth Accomando promptly yelled at us. Mea culpa.