This article contains spoilers for King of the Hill season 14. During a time when TV revivals and legacy sequels have become increasingly common, it’s that much harder to stand out and make an impact. King of the Hill has always been an unpredictable outlier that genuinely stays true to itself and its character-driven comedy. […]
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Another San Diego Comic-Con is in the books. Going into what amounts to Nerd Culture Mecca last week, some margins of social media and the ceaseless online commentariat pondered whether this would be a quieter year without a Marvel or a DC Studios film slate. However, one glance at the euphoric reception Peacemaker alone received Saturday evening (as well as, ahem, on the cover of our own July issue of Den of Geek magazine), suggests there was nothing quiet at all about 135,000 fans, cosplayers, and general pop culture enthusiasts descending onto Southern California.
During the course of the convention, Den of Geek hosted a murderer’s row of talent from the worlds of film, television, comics, and more at our SDCC studio, as well as got out on the field to check out panels, activations, and events. Below is a round up of all the sights seen and memories made.
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Den of Geek Studio
Alien: Earth
Alien is not only one of the most important science fiction franchises in history, it’s also one of the most cinematic. Beginning with Ridley Scott’s iconic 1979 film, each and every story about H.R. Giger’s terrifying xenomorph has proven to be a perfect fit for the feature-length film format. Alien movies are tense games of cat-and-mouse that end with the cat killing every mouse save for Sigourney Weaver. How, possibly, could that approach translate to episodic television? According to the folks behind FX’s Alien: Earth, it’s all pretty easy as long as you find the right personnel to pilot your Weyland-Yutani vessel.
“The experience of this speaks to the experience of Noah [Hawley],” Scott Free Productions producer David. W. Zucker says of the Alien: Earth showrunner. “He’s really in rarefied air when it comes to creators. The topic of this title has come up a lot of times over the years, but through Noah, we’re able to deliver something that’s really beyond our wildest imagination.”
As the creator of the Fargo TV series and the equally heady take on X-Men mythos with Legion for FX, Hawley indeed has a penchant for unique adaptation. He explains his approach to these projects as a sentimental exercise: “I start with feelings. ‘What did I feel about the original movie?’ I don’t go back and rewatch it. I just try to remember what stuck with me about the first two films. And then my goal is to recreate those feelings in you by telling you a totally different story.”
Joining Hawley and Zucker in the Den of Geek studio were the cast of Alien: Earth—Timothy Olyphant (Kirsh), Babou Ceesay (Morrow), Alex Lawther (Hermit), Samuel Blenkin (Boy Kavalier), and Sydney Chandler (Wendy)—the last of whom plays a first for the franchise: a child’s mind in the body of an android, aka a “hybrid.”
“Kids are great acting teachers,” Chandler says. “Noah really allowed me to find comfort and take the freedom to explore and fail and try again and succeed. It was play. For pre-production we did musical chairs and then learned how to kill people on set.” – Alec Bojalad
Anne Rice’s Talamasca: The Secret Order
Building on Anne Rice’s Immortal Universe is Talamasca: The Secret Order, a show that’s billed as a supernatural spy thriller. The Talamasca is a centuries‑old secret society tasked with tracking and containing witches, vampires, werewolves, and other paranormal beings in present‑day society. Fortunately for us, the cast and showrunners who came to our studio were very forthcoming about what we could expect when the show premieres in October.
“It’s nice to have Anne’s work as a backstop and to know that she created this organization and talks about it a decent amount,” says co-showrunner John Lee Hancock. “But we don’t have to follow the strict plot construction of anything regarding a Talamasca book. All the actors here play characters that are original characters.”
Nicholas Denton’s character enters the secret world of the Talamasca and brings the viewers with him. “I play Guy Anatole who’s a figure who gives the audience a perspective on what’s going on,” he says. “He’s a skeptic. He’s gone through a lot in his life, and at this point when we meet him, he’s kind of gotten it all together only to have it taken away from him by the Talamasca.”– Michael Ahr
Batman Azteca
The Batman character has seen no shortage of reprisals, homages, and renditions since his creation in the 1930s. Come September, the newest version will be Batman Azteca: Choque de Imperios (Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires). The animated Mexican-American film takes the iconic characters of the Batman universe and, with the film being set during the Aztec Empire, gives them a historical and cultural spin.
“For a lot of us growing up learning about the Aztec culture and also being Batman fans, having the opportunity to combine the two was a unique and excellent opportunity,” the film’s director Juan Meza-León says. Combining the two worlds required lots of research within the realms of Aztec history and the Batman universe, and also came with a fair amount of responsibility for the voice of Batman, Horacio García Rojas.
“I love representation, but I don’t want to be a token in a big production,” he says. “I want to represent my own culture in my own context, and that’s Aztec Batman.” – Sophia Rooksberry
Butterfly
In a spy thriller, a protagonist’s greatest fear is the discovery of his weaknesses. In the case of David Jung, the hardened former U.S. intelligence operative portrayed by Daniel Dae Kim in the upcoming series Butterfly, that weakness is his family. Kim, along with costars Reina Hardesty and Piper Perabo, stopped by the Den of Geek studio to dive into the complicated family dynamics of their show, and the ways in which it sets Butterfly apart from the extensive catalog of onscreen spy stories.
“In the beginning of our show, you meet Rebecca in the middle of a mission, something she is very used to doing … I am pursuing a target and then I find out that it is my dad who I thought died 9 years before, and so then my whole world turns upside down,” Hardesty said.
The resulting storyline follows a father and daughter as they rediscover their relationship while running from the dangerous organization that created them both, orchestrated by Juno (Perabo). The show balances themes of family and drama with the classic staples of a spy thriller, from car chases to shootouts to hand-to-hand combat scenes that Jason Bourne would marvel at.
“I grew up watching people like James Bond and Jason Bourne, but on the other hand, I never saw anyone that looked like me do this in America,” Kim said. “It was a little bit of taking what I could from the characters I know and loved and trying to make it my own and trying to create a new archetype.”
Adapted from the graphic novel of the same name, Butterfly maintains originality as an adaptation, an installment of a beloved genre and a platform for AAPI representation. Visit Prime Video on Aug. 13 to dive into the subversive and emotional world. – SR
David Dastmalchian
David Dastmalchian had been coming to comic-cons, San Diego or otherwise, as a fan for far longer than he’s been a guest up on the stage. In fact, when he enters our studio space he can be faintly nostalgic about the times he would see other folks dressed up as Thomas Schiff, a minor but memorable character he played in his first film, Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. He also can be proudly affectionate of those that are slightly more recent cuts, like cosplayers spotted as Polka-Dot Man from The Sucide Squad or Jack Delroy in the new cult classic Late Night with the Devil.
Yet when we talked with the actor and comic book author last week, Dastmalchian might’ve been proudest of how genre and the things he loves can be used as a way to talk about the personal elements of life. Take for instance Through, Dastmalchian’s new graphic novel as a writer, and which is illustrated by Cat Staggs. “Sometimes you just sit at the campfire with a cool idea, and you’re like, ‘Ooh, I’m going to creep people out. Ooh, I got a journey I want to take people on.’ … I just thought it was a cool story, it didn’t hit me until halfway through scripting how personal it was.”
That journey involves a woman falling through the ice above Lake Michigan on a cold Chicago day, seemingly on purpose, only to discover she was saved by an elderly and dying stranger, who might have been following her all her life. It will reveal one side of Dastmalchian’s personality when it releases in 2026, but there are many others, informing projects that run the gamut from Murderbot to the highly anticipated Street Fighter where Dastmalchian will next be seen playing the villainous M. Bison.
“I am deep in the process right now,” Dastmalchian says of the physical training it takes to become the greatest villain in fighting game history. “I can’t say much other than how it’s so amazing, and I love getting to start building and preparing.”
Keep an eye on Den of Geek for more of our conversation with Dastmalchian, from Through to Street Fighter, and everything in between. – David Crow
Defiant
We had the privilege of speaking with the passionate and creative team behind the graphic novel Defiant:The Story of Robert Smalls. The novel, based on a true story, explores the journey of a man who broke free from slavery, stole a Confederate ship, and sailed to freedom during the Civil War. He later became the first Black naval captain in American history along with many historically significant accolades down the line. It is, in other words, fertile ground for a visual work of art dreamed up by storyteller Rob Edwards, as well as the subject of an upcoming new film from the production company Legion M.
“A story like this needs to be told in a dynamic way,” Edwards says after stopping by the studio. Throughout this conversation, it was clear that something was very different from most big-time epic history stories being told through an IP like this. This has a dedication to community and truth.
As Legion M founder Chris Cooper explains, “We’re the largest fan-owned company for developing and producing films right now with crowdfunding being the very thing to help bring this story to light.” Fan input also extends to creative decisions such as casting and directing. Adds Cooper, “Legion M is a studio for fans, by fans. So I’d love to hear what the people think… All of us have had conversations with your favorite actors, your favorite actresses, [and] your favorite directors [about involvement].”
This project holds value not only for its importance in American history but also as a piece of culture that could’ve been left to time but instead has been revitalized and given a platform to be told and celebrated as it deserves.
Marvin Jones III, producer of the live-action adaptation, says, “It’s always been important to tell stories or be a part of stories that have an impact, especially for Black people in our community from a fictitious standpoint, from a superhero standpoint. Robert Smalls is a real-life superhero, especially for us as a people and our culture.” – Caleb Miller
Digman!: Andy Samberg Reveals Favorite Lonely Island Sketches
The timing of Digman! creators Andy Samberg and Neil Campbell’s visit to the Den of Geek studio at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 could not have been more auspicious. Not only had season 2 of the pair’s animated archaeology comedy premiered the night before on Comedy Central, it was preceded by the debut of a very particular episode of South Park. You know which one… So was the duo looking forward to the panel they were set to share with South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone that night?
“I’m looking forward to it now! Ask me again after,” Samberg said with a nervous laugh. “When we got told that we would have them as our lead-in, there’s nothing better.”
“That’s truly my favorite comedy,” Campbell added. “I’ve watched every episode, every special. Those guys, in a way they’re underappreciated for their influence on the world of comedy. It was awesome to get to come on afterwards.”
Samberg and Campbell were able to set aside their South Park nerves to discuss the surprisingly deep lore of Digman!, in which Samberg puts his Nicolas Cage impression to good use, playing a dubiously heroic archaeologist trying to save the world from the Unclechrist and Auntiechrist. Samberg also provided a rundown of some of his favorite “SNL Digital Shorts” that he and Lonely Island collaborators Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone created during their time on NBC’s comedy flagship.
“I have a bunch of them that I’m very fond of,” Samberg said. “I really like ‘Jack Sparrow.’ I feel like that one kind of encapsulates everything that we do. I really like the one we did called ‘Great Day’ where I’m on Commerce Street and just gacked out of my mind. There’s one I did from last season with Jake Semanski and Jonah Hill called ‘Tennis Balls.’ That’s one that makes me laugh so hard. It was Jonah’s idea ‘cause there was actually a science video online of a guy who’s like, ‘This is what happens when you get hit in the nuts with a tennis ball.’ We took it and ran very far with it.” – AB
Gen V
The world of superheroes in training at Godolkin University is at the core of Gen V, but the cast members that visited our studio concede that the scope continues to widen the more synergy it has with The Boys, the series it spins off from. Jaz Sinclair, who plays Marie Moreau in the series, says they’re picking up right where things ended in the main show.
“The whole tone of our season is based on where The Boys leaves off,” she says. “Homelander has taken over, and we get to see how that directly affects the whole world and also the university itself… we have our new dean and the posters you see and things.”
Hamish Linklater, who plays Dean Cypher, is very cryptic about how his new character will be tied into the decidedly more contentious atmosphere. “I think the name says it all… he’s a cypher,” the actor says mysteriously. When asked about his superpower, Linklater preferred to leave it a mystery for Gen V fans to discover for themselves. Luckily they’ll only have to wait until the Sept. 17 premiere date to find out. – MA
Jason Universe
What exactly is a Jason universe you might ask? Well, at least in one filmmaker’s opinion, it is a whole interconnected, multimedia brand of everything we’ve ever loved about Friday the 13th and its bedeviled camp grounds. “It’s games, it’s movies, it’s figures, it’s collectibles, it’s all that stuff we’ve been craving for years now,” says Mike P. Nelson, who in addition to being a lifelong fan of Jason Voorhees is also the man tasked with bringing the hockey-masked killer back to live-action for the first time in decades via Jason Universe’s new short film, “Sweet Revenge.”
The short’s trailer gained an extraordinarily positive reaction at SDCC and fulfilled a dream for Nelson, who grew up perusing video store horror sections as a child in the same way an art critic might appreciate the walls of the MoMA. He also got to be the first filmmaker to work with a newly redesigned Jason courtesy of genre legend Greg Nicotero. “It’s just about capturing that vibe of what Jason sort of was. To me, Final Chapter was scripture. That was the movie that informed the ‘80s horror film. It was the look, the feel. It was sweaty, it was dirty, and for me creating a new Jason, I wanted to revisit that.”
While Nelson is coy as to whether “Sweet Revenge” could lead to a feature, or for that matter if it will literally crossover with other elements of the so-called Jason Universe like Peacock and A24’s Crystal Lake series, Nelson adds, “If down the road, those things collide, all the cooler.” – DC
Heroes & Villains
Releasing two highly anticipated merchandise drops at SDCC for Star Wars and Fantastic Four, Heroes & Villains stands out among other fan-merchandise brands that work with IPs for its wearable, streetwear-inspired look that is very specific to style and feel. We got the chance to sit down with Doug Johnson, the creative director of Bioworld Merchandising, which houses Heroes & Villains, to talk about the two collections and what specific characters and callbacks influenced their creations.
Specificity and planting easter eggs for devoted fans are key. Take its recent collection, inspired entirely by Star Wars’ Rebel Pathfinders, who were formed within the Rebel Alliance during the Clone Wars, hand-picked and tasked with crucial operations by the Alliance High Command. Johnson was inspired by the Rebels’ color pallette, pulling from earth tones like teal, mustard, taupe, and olive. The collection’s contrast is of course the Galactic Empire, which Heroes & Villains opts for a more techie, clean look with black and red in its designs, drawing from the Inferno Squadron from the 2017 video game, Star Wars Battlefront II.
“What we like to do is look back at what’s the story that brought us to that point and tell the comic side of that, or the true lore behind why this particular release is happening and have those touch points with our fans,” Johnson says.
To celebrate Marvel’s first family, and the recent release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Heroes & Villains also debuted jackets, shirts, bags, and hats inspired by the origins of the story and characters behind the new film. The collection blends futuristic and clean designs that feel true to the IP while also not abandoning Heroes & Villains’ quintessential streetwear and vintage look, appealing to both fans and franchise owners. While Star Wars has a little bit more to work with in terms of lore and characters, both collections are focused on creating wearable fashion for devoted fans.
“We try to stay current with content and find unique ways to develop products that speak to that truth, versus just marketing a slap of assets that you get from a style guide,” Johnson says. – Darcie Zudell
Interview with the Vampire
Back in 2024, Interview with the Vampire showrunner Rolin Jones stepped into Den of Geek Studio at San Diego Comic-Con with all the pep and vigor of a creative who had just completed a pitch-perfect two-season TV adaptation of Anne Rice’s classic first Vampire Chronicles novel. In 2025, having just begun production on the third season of the show, now styled The Vampire Lestat, Jones was equally as excited but a little more measured about crafting Lestat de Lioncourt’s big moment.
“I was cocky and confident that this was gonna be easy and awesome. And it’s been uh…the hardest season of TV I’ve ever done. Without a doubt,” Jones says. “It’s gotten very personal. A lot of personal writing has begun to dump into the show. There’s a lot of people that are on this very risky, weird, little journey with me. They are entering it with a lot of confidence and a lot of enthusiasm. We’re doing something kind of wild.”
Any adaptation of Rice’s second novel The Vampire Lestat is bound to be pretty wild. The narrative switches over from the taciturn Louis de Pointe du Lac (played by Jacob Anderson in the series) to the decadent Lestat (Sam Reid) as he enters his rock star era. Thankfully, the show’s composer is up to the task of producing some bangers.
“I started my [rock & roll] education long, long ago,” Daniel Hart says. “This is where I have been heading since I was a little kid – since my brother brought home Led Zeppelin IV. I feel right at home. It is a thrill and a great challenge to do something this ambitious. Inspirations run the gamut from Howlin’ Wolf to Chappel Roan and everything in-between.” – AB
Lilo & Stitch
It’s been over 23 years of riding the Hawaiian rollercoaster with some of Disney’s most beloved characters from the 2002 original animated film, Lilo & Stitch, and after a prolific opening weekend for the cast of the new live-action movie, stars Tia Carrere (Mrs. Kekoa, and the original voice of Nani), Maia Kealoha (Lilo) and Sydney Agudong (Nani) are celebrating the new film breaking several box-office records at SDCC.
In the studio, we learned that this was the first SDCC that Kealoha ever attended, who was only six-years-old when the 2025 movie was filmed. Her breakout role as the misunderstood young girl being raised by her sister was her first time onscreen acting. And she’s been very pleased with the reaction to the live-action film.
“It’s been amazing,” Kealoha says. “And I’m so excited that our movie is [worth] a billion dollars.”
The film was also significant for the young actress Agudong, who revealed that she was a huge Lilo & Stitch fan growing up. Her past experiences in theater helped prepare her for long days on set and returning to do it all again the next morning. Agudong also reveals when she was cast as Nani, her first instinct was to talk with the OG, Carrere, about stepping into a role she’s previously played.
“I was so happy that Sydney invited me in,” Carrere says. “I just had to say, ‘Girl, you are a warrior. You are fierce, and you have everything within you.’ We grow into our power as women, and sometimes we need to be reminded of that by other women.”
The film has been out since late May and has been subjected to public discourse by devoted fans who are emotionally attached to the original source material. One significant change from the original script was the ending of the 2025 film, which (spoiler alert) involved Nani leaving for college to study marine biology, leaving Lilo under the custody of their neighbors Tūtū and David. Sure, people had mixed opinions about the switch up, but what about the women who depicted the character?
“I loved it,” Carrere says. “It’s a reality that—coming from Hawaii—you have to leave the island to achieve and bring back that knowledge.”
Agudong adds, “I think we’re both on the same page.” She further echoes how the change made the story feel more real and spoke to the experiences of other mixed families in Hawaii. Plus in the new movie, Nani has a portal that she can use to see Lilo at any time, so as Carrere points out, it’s a non-issue.
“We’re also exposing the fact that hanai family is just as important as blood-related family,” Agudong says. “Everybody can belong. You can choose your family in that way.” – DZ
The Long Walk
Very rarely does San Diego Comic-Con feel the need to censor anything that comes by the hallowed grounds of Hall H. In fact, there is no other instance where the cavernous room’s big screens went black right before something as heinous as the summary execution of a teenager was carried out off-screen (although folks reportedly could still hear it). Yet that is what happened during a tense presentation of Francis Lawrence’s adaptation of The Long Walk, an adaptation of the first novel Stephen King ever completed as a writer.
“Comic-Con deemed the event too intense to show in its full entirety,” actor Garrett Wareing says when stopping by our studio after the panel. “So they censored some of the footage, and it was quite exciting to watch the fan reactions and to hear their reactions to what we’re seeing now.” There were gasps, groans, and perhaps an uneasy sense of creeping dread.
Screenwriter J.T. Mollner, however, notes that is both the power and appeal of something as potent as King’s dystopian paterfamilias to stories like The Hunger Games and Battle Royale.
“You know when I was a kid, and I was 12 or 13 and I couldn’t get in a movie because [it] was too rough for people my age, it made me want to see it immediately,” Mollner smiles. “So the beauty of this movie, in my opinion, is the way Francis handled the brutality, the intensity, the terror, it’s all shown honestly. It would be obscene to not show it honestly, but it never feels gratuitous. And I think that’s a fine line and a great balance, and Francis went all the way.” – DC
Nacelleverse/Toys that Made Us
It wouldn’t be San Diego Comic-Con without a visit with collector extraordinaire Brian Volk-Weiss, the man behind the Nacelle Company and the hit Netflix documentary series The Toys That Made Us, which Volk-Weiss assured us would be delivering its fourth season in 2026 with a fifth and final run in 2027.
Among the many items we talked about were the Nacelleverse lineup of Star Trek toys, which Volk-Weiss acknowledges feature some very niche Starfleet characters like Captain Jellico from The Next Generation or Tuvix from Voyager.
“I just knew if we started with Kirk and Spock and Picard and Data, the community would be like, ‘Eh, okay’,” Volk-Weiss says. Instead he wanted to “send a message to the community that we are Trekkies too and we’re doing the ones you all wanted.”
With Nacelleverse toys making the transition to comics, Volk-Weiss was excited about Wild West C.O.W. Boys of Moo Mesa making the transition for its first issue from Oni Press. “For the first time ever, we’re gonna have two comic books running simultaneously. So C.O.W. Boys of Moo Mesa and Biker Mice from Mars are running concurrently.” – MA
Peacemaker Season 2
The opening credits to every episode of Peacemaker season 1 asked a simple question: “Do you really wanna, do you really wanna taste it?” Starring John Cena as the titular maker of peace, this DC Universe era-straddling HBO Max series liked to have a good time, as evidenced by its jaunty hair metal dance number to “Do You Wanna Taste It?” by Wigwam.
Now season 2 has some more questions to answer. As showrunner and DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn told Den of Geek magazine, Peacemaker’s second season will provide a certain amount of clarity for the new DC Universe’s timeline. No previous Cena-starring effort like The Suicide Squad or Peacemaker season 1 can be considered canon until season 2 blesses it. Thankfully, this batch of Peacemaker episodes gets a lot of those clarifications out of the way early so it can get right back to dancing. When stars Cena (Peacemaker), Jennifer Holland (Emilia Harcourt), Frank Grillo (Rick Flag Sr.), Sol Rodríguez (Sasha Bordeaux), Steve Agee (John Economos), and Freddie Stroma (Adrian “Vigilante” Chase) visited the studio, they revealed just how seriously Gunn takes that musical sequence.
“You don’t see James Gunn getting angry often but… he wasn’t happy halfway through the day,” Grillo says.
“It was actually two days [of shooting],” Holland clarifies.
Once the episodes actually begin, Chris Smith a.k.a. Peacemaker will have a lot more than dancing to be concerned with. After all, does this kinder, gentler DC universe still have room for someone as violent as Peacemaker?
“In Peacemaker’s mind he’s doing what he’s doing for the greater good. So it’s a shock to his system when people don’t accept him,” Cena says. Surely, the Justice Gang can find use for a marksman. – AB
Resident Alien
After nearly five years, the producers of Resident Alien have confirmed that the recently released season 4 will be the sci-fi comedy show’s last installment. As a part of their victory lap, members of the cast visited the Den of Geek studio to reflect on the recent season and the series as a whole.
“Our show, despite not being renewed, is a complete story,” says actor Corey Reynolds. “So whether or not you are someone who is familiar with our show now, or if you want to jump on board after we aren’t renewed, you will get a beginning, a middle, and an end. We don’t just leave you hanging.”
In addition to discussing the longevity of a show with such reliable qualities, the cast reflected on specific moments in season 4 that wrap up each character’s storyline nicely, even if not in the way it was planned.
“In season 4, she [Asta] is just learning how to love herself now,” says actor Sara Tomko about her character’s final arc. “She’s such a nurturer and she has been people pleasing and peacekeeping, trying to save the world like no big deal. Now all the people she loves are looking at her and they’re saying, ‘What about you now?’ and that’s real love, that’s real friendship.” – SR
Revival
As a show about a town where people suddenly return from the dead and try to return to their normal lives, Revival could be seen as somewhat derivative, but its first season is proving that the ensemble cast and compelling mystery make it a one-of-a-kind series. Showrunners Aaron B. Koontz and Luke Boyce joined the cast in our studio, and they spoke about how they approached the show’s brilliant storytelling.
“I’m a big believer in setup and payoff,” says Koontz. “We just wanted to make a show that we liked, and I like things that aren’t spoonfed. I like things that make me lean forward and ask questions and try to figure it out.”
Melanie Scrofano is in Revival’s lead role as small town cop Dana Cypress, and her character’s struggles feel completely realistic, including an episode where a bullet leaves her incapacitated at a time when she needs to be mobile.
“That was a real challenge to be bedridden and have this dialogue that’s really high stakes and have to do it in a bed,” she admits. “But it was a really fun challenge.” We’re anxious to see where things go in the Revival season 1 finale in August! – MA
Roddenberry and Does It Fly?
Since launching in 2024, co-hosts Tamara Krinsky and Hakeem Oluseyi have been dissecting some of the most beloved fandoms with scientific eyes on their podcast Does it Fly? Krinsky and Oluseyi, along with Kelsey Goldberg, who also serves as an executive producer of Does it Fly?, and Trevor Roth, the chief operating officer of Roddenberry Entertainment, visited our studio at SDCC to discuss the evolution of the podcast in just a little over a year, and how Krinsky’s love of pop culture and Oluseyi’s science education background join forces in unexpected ways to create Does it Fly?
Goldberg shared that she was excited when the show expanded its range of genres and topics beyond purely sci-fi—recently, the podcast examined the logic of Superman’s sun-powered abilities and evolution in How to Train Your Dragon.
“It was an absolute joy the moment we discovered we can go outside of strict sci-fi, and I can start to look at fantasy or horror,” Goldberg says. “I got a little evil, but I think the audience benefits from it.”
Krinsky and Oluseyi’s friendship and appreciation toward what they’re discussing shines through every episode of Does it Fly? For Oluseyi, finding a co-host like Krinsky was a dream come true as he never really thought he’d find someone to share his passions with in this capacity.
“I’m from Mississippi, and nobody was into what I was into,” Oluseyi says. “They would always say things like, ‘Man, ain’t nobody into that shit you’re into.’ Well, guess what? I found somebody who’s into that shit I’m into!”
Roth expressed his appreciation of the fandom, and voiced that the podcast’s mission was not only to analyze characters and stories but to examine them without tearing them down or dismissing devoted fans.
“Sometimes we say, ‘We’re putting something on trial,’ but we’re putting something on trial in the nicest way possible,” Roth says. “We’re not here to cut anything down. We know that the things we’re talking about are beloved by someone, including us, much of the time, and because of that, we want to revel in whatever joy that it brings.” – DZ
Ron Moore
Ronald D. Moore is on a real tear these days with two of his most successful shows, Outlander and For All Mankind, both receiving highly anticipated spinoffs (Blood of My Blood and Star City respectively), so we were anxious to speak with him in-studio about his secret to making both a successful hit series and a companion show to explore.
“It’s always in the back of my mind: what could this be?” Moore says. “Because you’re always playing around with what’s the potential for the story. How big is the story? How many seasons is it? Can you expand the universe into something else? But it’s really a back of the head kind of thing.”
We also asked Moore about his progress on the God of War adaptation, and whether it might follow Kratos and Atreus. “As someone who’s new to this world, I was really impressed with the depth of what you’re talking about,” he tells us. “It’s such a rich environment… it’s been really fun to dive into this world.” -MA
Shin Godzilla
Shin Godzilla was something of a game-changer for the Big G when it hit theaters nearly 10 years ago in Japan. After decades of sequels, team-ups, and crossovers, the monster that once looked like a walking metaphor for nuclear armageddon had become cute and cuddly. In fact, looking back at the impact Shin had on the culture, co-director Shinji Higuchi tells us in our SDCC studio that they were adamant to go out of their way and avoid making a “Godzilla is going to fight against something” movie.
Instead they crafted a bitter parable for bureaucratic inaction and paralysis in the face of existential crisis, something Japanese audiences were eminently familiar with following the Fukushima nuclear meltdown disaster of 2011. And yet, even so, Higuchi admits that he and his co-director Hideaki Anno were surprised when they learned that they’d inadvertently invented the cuddliest looking Godzilla ever: you know the one with the big, googily eyes.
“It’s evolution, it’s not growth,” Higuchi says of Godzilla’s ever-mutating appearance. “There’s a difference. So I wanted to really follow an almost Darwinism [form] of evolution.” Thus to represent the midway point between the sea creature at the beginning of the movie and the more iconic reptilian visage that ends it, he and Anno settled on an image they thought would be chilling, not charming.
“Director Anno doesn’t like fish and doesn’t like meat,” Higuchi reveals. “So director Anno hates when you go to a fish market and you see the eyes, the way they look at you. So that was what we decided. ‘Let’s give him those eyes!’ But Anno is kind of confused, because he thought he made the scariest creature imaginable, but all the kids love it and everyone says it’s super cute. So there is this gap.” Merchandising windfalls have started from less. – DC
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
After countless spinoffs, movies, comics, and other projects, Star Trek is finally boldly going where many rootless Gen Xers go: back to school. No, Gene Roddenberry’s sunny vision of a collaborative sci-fi future isn’t going to grad school to get its masters; it’s going all the way back to Starfleet Academy in the fittingly titled Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.
Den of Geek was joined by a supersized roster of Starfleet cadets and producers to discuss the project, including Holly Hunter (Nahla Ake), Robert Picardo (the Doctor), Noga Landau (executive producer), Alex Kurtzman (executive producer, co-showrunner), Sandro Rosta (Caleb Mir), Bella Shepard (Genesis Lythe) , Kerrice Brooks (Sam), George Hawkins (Darem Reymi), and Karim Diane (Jay-Den Kraag).
“It was very intentional to set it in the 32nd century,” Landau says. “Because it’s a time of rebuilding and it’s a time when the pressures of the rebuilding really falls on the shoulders of the younger generation. There’s a lot with these kids going on that other generations haven’t had to face.”
Kurtzman elaborates on why the time was finally right for a series featuring young Starfleet cadets after so many previous rumors and false starts.
“It feels like this generation in particular is facing so many deep challenges. Everybody is trying to figure out ‘how do we get back to hope?’ I think that’s where Roddenberry comes in. I always feel like Star Trek is a compass that points us toward our better angels and the people we want to be.”
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is set to premiere to Paramount+ in 2026. – AB
Star Trek Strange New Worlds
When Paramount’s freshly-installed Star Trek czar Alex Kurtzman invited Akiva Goldsman to work on the first modern Trek spinoff Star Trek: Discovery, Goldsman ran a simple Google search to get what the series was all about. It immediately led him astray.
“I discovered that it was a show about Pike and Number One… at least according to the internet. Then I got there and discovered it had zero to do with any of that,” Goldsman says.
That initial internet research, however, planted the seed for the spinoff that would become Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, arguably the most creatively successful Trek endeavor of its era. Now with the show in its third season (and with two more final seasons on the way) Goldsman, producer Henry Alonso Myers, and castmembers Rebecca Romijn (Number One), Christina Chong (La’An Noonien-Singh), Ethan Peck (Spock), Paul Wesley (James T. Kirk), and Jess Bush (Christine Chapel) stopped by the studio to talk about season 3 and the show’s ultimate legacy.
“What we’ve done so far exceeds anything I’d ever imagined,” Goldsman says. “I hoped we’d get the original Star Trek values back because God knows we need them in times like this. I had no idea that we would be gifted with this extraordinary cast. They are more than collaborators, they are authors. If we’re lucky and if we stick the landing we’ll have added a significant piece to the canon of Star Trek.”
Before the end comes, however, season 3 finds Strange New Worlds being its goofy, ambitious self, including a fourth episode that pays homage to The Original Series and Star Trek parodies in more ways than one.
“That was the most fun episode I think I have filmed,” Chong says. “When I got to see all these guys as their different characters, it was just incredible. La’An has been really uptight. Season 3 I had an opportunity to lighten her up. She’s exploring her passions, full stop.” – AB
Todd McFarlane
Todd McFarlane’s King Spawn is about to hit issue 50 later this year. It’s a benchmark and milestone for the creator of Hell’s monarch, a character he created in 1992. That’s also the same year McFarlane co-founded Image Comics, where he remains president. Still, that’s a modest run when compared to mainline Spawn’s 350 and counting issues. Yet the way McFarlane tells it in our studio, it is the character’s longevity which is the secret to his success.
“At some point over time, and I don’t care which business it is, you’ll have high and low points,” McFarlane says. “But what’s going to matter is that the brand, that word that you’re putting out there, just never goes away. It’s always there. Attrition of the same thing over and over. Has Spawn had highs and lows? Of course it has. What it has [though] is it’s been there nonstop for over 30 years. That’s the secret sauce.”
McFarlane also confides that his biggest issue with many creators today, even at Image Comics, is that they wrap up a story they personally created after five or six issues.
“You get big sales in the first five and then they start to flatten and paper down,” the comic maestro notes. “And the thought is ‘I can stop and go start another book and get good sales for these next five of those.’ The answer economically is yes, in the short term, but I’m telling you, long-term I keep saying get to issue 50. Every book that Image Comics has done that has gotten 50 or more issues has gotten outside the bubble. And the bubble by definition is comic books and us in the geek [community]. The choir. The choir’s always coming, but how do you get it now out to T-shirts, hats, toys, video games, movies, TV shows? Outside so your neighbor may have heard of the work?”
Here’s to 50 more issues, King. – DC
Tony Hale
Tony Hale is quite simply one of the most successful comedic actors of this TV generation. After embodying motherboy Buster Bluth on Fox and Netflix’s beloved Arrested Development for five seasons, Hale would go on to win Emmy gold as President Meyer’s bagman Gary Walsh on HBO’s acidic satire, Veep. Now Hale is producing and starring in Sketch, a film he excitedly calls a combination of Inside Out and Jurassic Park.
“It took eight years to get made,” Hale says. “My buddy Seth Worley had the idea and wrote the script. We just went back and forth for a few years. I play a single dad who is worried because his daughter keeps drawing these crazy pictures that end up coming to life. It’s a really fun family adventure with a beautiful theme of processing feelings.”
In addition to teasing the madcap adventure to come in Sketch, Hale was kind enough to go deep on his career, discussing his time on Arrested Development, Veep, Community, Toy Story 4, Inside Out 2, and even his brief Marvel and Star Wars voice acting forays. One theme that emerged is that you might just remember Hale’s best roles better than he does.
“One of my favorite things is when people come up and are like, ‘I love this joke,’ and I’m like, ‘Please tell me it because I’ve completely forgotten.’ The only one I remember, because it’s my favorite, is Tobias joining Blue Man Group because he thinks it’s a support group for depressed men. That was the level of comedy you were working with.”
Next time you see Tony Hale out and about, please remind him of some more great Arrested Development gags. – AB
The Toxic Avenger
Writer-director Macon Blair and the stars of The Toxic Avenger remake, including Peter Dinklage, stopped by to chat about their new superhero movie—err, make that “super-human” movie. Yep, as producer Lloyd Kaufman, who co-wrote and co-directed the original Toxic Avenger, tells us, he has advised both Blair and Ahoy Comics to knock off using the term “superhero” while running with ol’ Toxie.
“[It’s] a super-human movie,” Kaufman insists. “You get a lawyer’s letter because Warners and Marvel co-own the word ‘superhero.’ When Toxic Avenger was a Marvel comic book, he was a superhero, but as soon as Warners dumped the Toxic Avenger remake, then suddenly we got a lawyer’s letter to no longer use ‘superhero.’ So it’s a super-human hero… That’s how you do things in the movie business.”
We should note that Marvel and DC have since lost their attempt to trademark the word ‘superhero’ in court, but the fact that Toxie has to stay DIY about even his job description—and even as the star of a glitzy (if still gory) new Legendary Pictures remake—is pretty on brand for a superhero who got dunked in toxic sludge. Watch the above video to see the rest of our discussion, including why Dinklage is not under the extensive Toxie makeup post-transformation. – DC
Twisted Metal Season 2
The first season of Twisted Metal on Peacock offered just about everything fans of the long-running vehicular combat video game series could have hoped for. In addition to Anthony Mackie’s anonymous hero John Doe, the season introduced many characters, vehicles, locations, and even the iconic fiery harlequin Sweet Tooth from the mythos. The only thing missing, however, was the all-important demolition derby itself. That is now set to arrive in Twisted Metal season 2 thanks to the introduction of another important game character: the mysterious Calypso, played by Anthony Carrigan (Barry, Superman).
“He’s just kind of your basic, run-of-the-mill MC of a vehicular death match. Go with the old standards,” Carrigan says.
Joining Carrigan to tease the season to come were Mackie (John Doe), Joe Seanoa (Sweet Tooth), Stephanie Beatriz (Quiet), and showrunner Michael Jonathan Smith.
“First of all, New San Francisco is a wonderful place,” Mackie says of John Doe’s initial season 2 digs. “If you get a chance, go check it out. I discovered carpaccio in New San Francisco. It’s quite nice. We discover John there having a wonderful time and trying to move forward without his right hand…”
“His right hand,” Beatriz interrupts with a masturbatory hand motion. A brief moment of sincerity immediately followed up by a dick joke? Hard to imagine a more fitting representation of Twisted Metal than that. – AB
Upper Deck and Rush of Ikorr
We got the chance to speak with Travis Rhea, head of Upper Deck about Rush of Ikorr, and what Upper Deck has coming now and for the near future.
The new trading card game dropped earlier this year, with Rush of Ikorr relying on strategy as you compete in epic mythological battles with up to 3v3 PvP. As Rhea explains, “Last year we released NeoPets TCG; this year, Rush of Ikorr. Rush of Ikorr is really a game changer. It’s a homegrown IP for us and has some pretty cool differences that you don’t see in the TCG world.” We touched on its unique qualities, including how the game encourages 2v2 and 3v3 play. But the style of play isn’t the only thing that separates it.
Says Rhea, “We tapped into stuff people were already excited about and somewhat familiar with.” This references the various cultures and sets of mythology the creative team researched for the creation of this game’s lore, which helps it to have a unique style in the TCG space. What is so great is that this is a return to form for Upper Deck, with Rhea stating, “We’ve been here before; we have a legacy on this side of the business. We did Yu-Gi-Oh!, World of Warcraft, Call of Duty…we’ve been in that world. It’s just we took a break from it for a while… back to TCG’s is really in our DNA.” – CM
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon
The folks behind The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon stepped into the studio triumphant, having just announced at the preceding panel that their Walking Dead spinoff would receive a supersized fourth and final season. Producers Scott Gimple, Greg Nicotero, and David Zabel; and producers and stars Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride were happy to tease the ending to come.
“The French part of this show was always envisioned as a two-season story,” Zabel says. “And then starting this season we have three and four. By the end of that, Carol and Daryl’s European adventure would have a really good conclusion and open up whatever comes next.”
Following two full seasons of fighting the dead in France, Daryl (Reedus) and Carol (McBridge) head west (in a very roundabout way that includes a trip through the “Chunnel”) to take in some post-apocalyptic sightseeing on their long journey home.
“There’s a real passion in Spain,” Reedus says. “It’s like a Western. There’s a real Spanish fire to the cast and crew. You feel the passion in the show. We tried really hard not to make an American show and plop it down in Europe. We tried not to fake the funk. We didn’t want everyone in France to have a beret on and a poodle and eat brie. In Spain we were authentic as well.” – AB
Yaeji
One of the many draws of SDCC 2025 was the highly anticipated Crunchyroll Anime FanFest, two free days of live music, ranging from Japanese alternative bands to anime-inspired hip-hop groups. On the second day, Brooklyn-based DJ Yaeji performed a set on the Crunchyroll stage before stopping by the studio.
“It was definitely different,” Yaeji said about her FanFest set. “I prepared for it specially on the side. I wanted to play only anime edits and get deep if I can, so it wasn’t like a usual set I would play at all.”
Yaeji’s usual sets are platforms for her bilingual lyricism and dual lofi/electronic sounds. According to the DJ, the purpose behind writing lyrics in both Korean and English has changed for her over the years.
“In the beginning, I just sang in Korean because I wanted my friends to not know what I was singing about, and then I discovered that Korean sounds really texturally interesting, so it was more of an instrument,” the musician says. “Now, I find it to be helpful expressing in both languages … and also communicating via sounds and the sonics.”
Although Yaeji doesn’t point to one specific artist as her primary influence, she has resonated with icons of hip-hop and pop throughout her life. However, she has most notably found inspiration within mediums she shares in common with many SDCC attendees.
“Sometimes I would find random indie music through a blog probably, but I was always on the internet,” Yaeji tells us. “I think the more influential ones are actually probably from video games or anime openings and endings that I listened to throughout my teens.” – SR
Panels
Coyote vs. Acme Panel
Bright and early in Hall H, Looney Tunes fans at very long last got to watch never-before-seen clips from the long-awaited Coyote vs. Acme, the movie that Warner Bros. Discovery—I mean, Acme!—didn’t want you to see. The panel was hosted by comedian Paul Scheer and featured director Dave Green, cast members Will Forte, Eric Bauza, Martha Kelly, and surprise appearances by Wile E. Coyote himself, plus P. J. Byrne in-character as Acme’s legal rep. We saw three clips, including six minutes of footage and the film’s first official trailer. Byrne handed out fake cease and desist papers and had the panel removed by unpaid Acme interns.
These bits referenced WBD’s decision to shelve the completed film in 2023 as part of a $30 million tax write-off, which sparked immense fan outrage. Ketchup Entertainment later picked up the film for $50 million. The panel also revealed that Coyote vs. Acme is set for global release on Aug. 28, 2026. The film’s plot is based on a 1990 The New Yorker article by Ian Frazier, and imagines Wile E. Coyote finally suing Acme after years of injuries from their defective products.
“While [Wile E. Coyote] is the star of the movie, he is not the hero of this movie. Because I think what Paul [Scheer] and I, and everyone you’re going to meet on this panel today would say, is that the real hero of this movie is all you guys sitting in those seats,” Will Forte says at the panel. “Like Wile E. Coyote, you guys were underdogs who fought against a major corporation, and because you never gave up, this movie is now going to come out in a global wide release.” – DZ
George Lucas and the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art Panel
In the discussion of geek culture’s biggest influences, few names loom as large as George Lucas. This year, the creator of the Star Wars and Indiana Jones universes, founder of Lucasfilm, and veritable godfather of science fiction made his first appearance at SDCC for a panel titled “Sneak Peek of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art Panel.”
Over the course of 50 years, Lucas has collected over 40,000 pieces of narrative art. Many of those artworks will soon be on display at the museum in Los Angeles, founded by Lucas and his wife, Mellody Hobson.
“It’s more about a connection, an emotional connection with the work, not how much it cost or what celebrity did it,” Lucas said about the artwork he collects. “It’s more a personal thing, and I don’t think it’s anything that anybody else can tell you… if you have an emotional connection, then it’s art.”
Sitting next to Lucas were director and museum board member Guillermo del Toro, artist and designer Doug Chiang, and musician and panel moderator Queen Latifah. Each member of the panel has their own connection to Lucas’ work, as well as their own passion behind narrative art.
“Many of the pieces we have celebrate freedom or anarchy,” del Toro said. “… Comics have a lot of social conscience, before or around the same time as movies and so forth. You have graffiti, you have many of the popular mimeographed forms of art that do that, they are not dominated… What is important for me or what is magical, [the museum] is not a man and his collection, it is a lineage of images… We are in a critical moment in which one of the things they like to disappear is the past, and this is memorializing a popular, vociferous, expressive, eloquent moment in our visual past that belongs to all of us.”
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is scheduled to open in 2026 and will feature original works from the Star Wars universe, along with original Peanuts sketches, an original Flash Gordon comic strip, the first Iron Man cover and much more. – SR
Gundam Wing
The flowing locks of unkempt ‘90s nostalgia were on full display when the anime heartthrobs of Heero Yuy, Duo Maxwell, Quatre Winner, and the rest of the Gundam Wing pilots took a long overdue encore at the convention center on Thursday night. Before thousands of cheering fans, actors Mark Hildreth, Scott McNeil, and Brad Swaile–who voiced Heero, Duo, and Quatre in the beloved 2000 English dub of Gundam Wing—took a bow and recited some of the fans’ favorite lines while reminiscing about how best to vocalize imminent annihilation at the hands of a Gundam.
The biggest piece of news out of the panel was definitely a modern tribute video to Gundam Wing’s 30th anniversary with dazzling hand-drawn imagery that set the mind aflutter with possibilities. Gundam executive producer Naohiro Ogata was on hand to also tease folks to “keep watching” if they liked the above video (which might just be fan-baiting the dream of a Wing sequel). However, for attendees in the room, the highlight might be one fan asking for Hildreth to tear up a hand-delivered invitation to his birthday party with the same coldness that Heero infamously displayed to Relena Peacecraft in the first episode of Wing… Hildreth even made sure to throw the torn scraps so that the paper could catch the air-conditioning, like a feather in the wind. – DC
Peacemaker Panel
Touching down at the Peacemaker panel in Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con, we were graced with the presence of the crew behind Peacemaker, including actors John Cena, Jennifer Holland, Freddie Stroma, Steve Agee, Sol Rodriguez, Frank Grillo, Tim Meadows, and writer-director James Gunn.
Not only did they answer questions and speak on their characters’ motivations coming into the next season, but we also got a few clips of the new season 2 coming to HBO Max on Aug. 21, including a comedic “bird blindness” bit with Steve Agee’s John Economos and Tim Meadows’ new ARGUS agent character, “Langston Fleury,” as well as a hard-hitting action scene featuring Jennifer Holland’s Emilia Harcourt giving out haymakers and head kicks in a biker bar.
James explained to the audience that coming into season 2, Peacemaker feels shunned from the superhero community, his love interest, and the things he wants from life in general. With Gunn speaking to where we find peacemaker: “He’s dealing with the demons he sort of uncovered from the first season and trying to deal with them and the world is not accepting him the way he is.” But once his father’s inter-dimensional storage door, aka the Quantum Unfolding Chamber, comes into play, Chris has a chance to see if the grass is greener on the other side in this parallel world. – CM
Percy Jackson and the Olympians Panel
The mythological world of Percy Jackson & the Olympians has seen many iterations, from the original book series by Rick Riordan to the film adaptations in the 2010s to a spinoff series to, most recently, a TV rendition. The first season aired in 2023 and after a year and a half of patient waiting, members of the cast and production team offered fans a sneak peak at Season Two in the first Hall H panel of SDCC 2025.
“We like to say it (Season Two) is supersized,” executive producer and writer Dan Shotz said. “Season Two is epic, it is so huge what we were able to build … We are out at sea, we are on a 175-foot ironclad ship, we are on cruise ships, we are in chariot races, we are fighting incredible monsters … It is so massive and we cannot wait for you guys to see what we do.”
Season Two will dig deeper into Riordan’s written world, this time following the story of the series’ second installment: The Sea of Monsters. Cast members like Walker Scobell (Percy), Leah Jeffries (Annabeth) and Dior Goodjohn (Clarisse) all spoke to the experience of returning to a film set that has become a home to them and how Season Two allowed them to open up to their characters in a way viewers will not want to miss. The panel ended with a video message from Riordan, in which he announced the official release date of Season Two – Dec. 10 on Disney+ – and the casting of two vital characters set to appear in Season Three: Levi Chrisopulos as Nico di Angelo and Olive Abercrombie as his sister, Bianca. – SR
Predator: Badlands Panel
Disney and 20th Century Studios have a lot of confidence in Predator: Badlands, and for good reason. It was, after all, only three years ago when they brought Dan Trachtenberg’s previous live-action movie in the Predator universe, the Hulu exclusive Prey, to SDCC. There the historical period piece set during the 18th century and in Comanche Nation tore the roof off of a nearby theater. So seeing Trachtenberg back, now in Hall H alongside stars Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi and moderator Kevin Smith, amounted to something of a victory lap. Except this win had a whole other movie to wow attendees.
While Trachtenberg didn’t bring his full Predator follow-up to San Diego in 2025 (it’s still being made), he and Disney confidently unveiled the first 15 minutes of Badlands, including portions of action sequences and special effects that are unfinished. They were right to be bullish, the sequence, which amounts to an extended prologue set on the Predators’ homeworld, reveals just how much of Schuster-Koloamatangi’s protagonist, a Predator named Dek, truly is the main character of the future-set movie (a first in the Predator franchise). His story is given vaguely Shakespearean heft as he must battle against the expectations of his clan and a murderous father.
Our full impression of the first 15 minutes can be found here, but rest assured that there is much yet to be revealed, including the full extent of Elle Fanning’s role as a pair of Weyland-Yutani synthetics that Dek discovers on a hostile alien world where there is an apex predator so ferocious that even the alien race which hunts Arnold Schwarzenegger for sport fears it. What that creature looks like has yet to be glimpsed–or just how much fun Fanning will have playing dual roles (Smith teased she portrays two very different kinds of robots)—but suffice to say the future looks bright for pop culture’s most beloved ugly MFer. – DC
Tron: Ares
Disney also brought Tron: Ares to SDCC this year with perhaps the most spectacular light show Hall H has ever witnessed. Heralded by several red-hued programs and neon-crimson beams piercing the darkness, an all-star cast, including Jeff Bridges (and for better or worse Jared Leto) took the stage to discuss the legacy of Tron, the future of technology, and just how awesome it is to walk on a Disney soundstage made to rebirth “the Grid.”
Still, the most tantalizing tease offered fans was an extended glimpse and listen at the original score written by Nine Inch Nails for the movie. Following in the footsteps of Daft Punk’s iconic score from Tron: Legacy (2010), all of NIN has reassembled to write and perform on a soundtrack that includes literal vocal tracks and new NIN songs. In fact, a killer music video was even fired up for Hall H attendees. Trust us, it’s amazing, as some naughty social media posts have proven with leaks like the one above. – DC
Events
Avatar Party
Earth, fire, water, air… the four nations were more than represented at the Nickelodeon x Den of Geek Avatar the Last Airbender 20th anniversary party in San Diego, celebrating the massively popular animated series and its ever-expanding world, with some of the cast and crew that made it special. including voice actors Jack De Sena, Jennie Kwan, Olivia Hack, Dante Basco, Zach Tyler Eisen, Michaela Jill Murphy, and Dee Bradley Baker, as well as co-creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko.
The party was a lively time with signature mixed drinks from each of the four nations and plenty of food to boot, including a beautifully crafted sushi bar made out of ice in the water tribe section, and a large charcuterie platter within the mini earth kingdom, while servers handed out a vast amount of food and treats like vegetarian spring rolls, cabbage dumplings, hand-cut potato chips, bao buns, and countless other Avatar-themed snacks. We were also happily entertained with the exciting sounds of DJ Dante, aka Dante Basco, pleasing the crowd with a set list signature to his swagger while at the DJ booth, Basco actually brought up his fellow Avatar castmates one by one, on stage by name and character name, to exclaim, “We just want to say thank you guys so much for 20 years, just being in support of the show and changing all of our lives… ours and yours.”
And he wasn’t the only one with words for the audience; co-creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko came up on stage to lend some words, with DiMartino stating, “We have Den of Geek to thank for that, for throwing, to my knowledge, the first actual really awesome, really fun party… Thank you, Den of Geek.” Konietzko added, “Here we are, we’ll keep going as long as we can go.” –CM
DC Comics x eBay Live
Den of Geek was honored to host the culmination event of our Summer of Superman charity auctions live at San Diego Comic-Con. Partnering with eBay and DC Comics, we brought you all-new and original Superman artwork from seasoned comics veterans like Rafael Albuquerque, Cully Hamner, Scott Koblish, Joe Prado, Ian Churchill, John Timms, Eddy Barrows, Daniel Sampere, Clayton Henry, Tony S. Daniel, Dan Jurgens, Kenneth Rocafort, and Ivan Reis.
The event was hosted by Sam Stone and Rosie Knight, with guest appearances from comic creatives Jurgens, Hamner, Phillip Kennedy Johnson, and Tom King, as well as Peacemaker actor Steve Agee joining in on the fun. Fans and fellow geeks came out in droves to support the cause, helping raise over $7,000 for the BINC Foundation. BINC’s mission is to support the emergent financial, medical, and mental health service needs of comic and book shop owners and workers across the country, who have guided fellow comic enthusiasts along the way.-CM
Op Games
The Op Games Party came alive with shared laughter, the cheerful clink of glasses and a nostalgic soundtrack featuring ‘90s icons like Madonna and New Radicals, which captured the electric, feel-good vibes of the night. Tables buzzed with excitement as fans and first-timers alike dove into classic titles like Telestrations and Blank Slate. Founded in 1994, The Op Games, formally known as USAopoly, is celebrating over 30 years of bringing families and friends together over fun, easy-to-learn party games. The Op has built a legacy of laughter and connection with original fan favorites and licensed games from renowned brands like Disney, Marvel, Sanrio, and Nickelodeon. Partygoers who wanted to game rotated from table to table, speed-dating-style, sampling four of the company’s best-selling and most fast-paced games. Tasty hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine and specialty drinks at the open bar were restocked throughout the night as the over 400 guests that attended passed through the Andaz Hotel on the first night of San Diego Comic-Con.
At one table, each player would alternate between sketching and guessing to see how wildly their original phrase transforms by the end of the round while playing Telestrations. Others raced against the timer to shout out answers that fit a category without repeating letters during multiple intense rounds of Tapple. Attempting to read the room but not be too obvious, others tried to match one word with another player to complete a phrase in many hilarious rounds of Blank Slate. One of the most popular and competitive games of the night had to be Flip 7, which earned the 2025 Golden Geek Award for Party Game of the Year. People roared during this fast-paced, push-your-luck card game where players race to play numbered cards in sequence, which involves flipping and swapping cards to outwit opponents and be the first to clear their hand. Guests arrived in full cosplay, their best 90s fashion, in groups and solo, but no matter how they showed up, everyone found something to enjoy.
“My mission, and The Ops mission, is to bring people together, where we can all play these games and actually experience them in a real world situation that you can replicate at home and show to your friends,” Adam Minton, associate director of marketing at The Op Games, says. “We want nothing more than joy, laughter, lifetime memories, and doing events like these with cool people in a cool atmosphere.” – DZ
Mission Brewing Party
No SDCC is complete without stopping downtown at Mission Brewing, and with the Comic-Con crowd still buzzing from the recent release of Superman (2025), what better way to celebrate than with a super happy hour?
In collaboration with Mission Brewing, Upper Deck and Den of Geek, the brewery hosted two live podcast tapings. The podcast Power-Up discussed Upper Deck’s Rush of Ikorr card games, and Roddenberry Entertainment’s Does it Fly and iHeartRadio’s X-Ray Vision teamed up to chat about the Man of Steel himself.
The first 50 guests received a pack of Upper Deck Fleer Brilliants Superman trading cards, and the first 150 snagged a free Mission x Den of Geek custom pint. The vibes were good as people unwinded with tailor-made canned Den of Geek lagers, deliciously refreshing pale ales made just for the event. – DZ
The post Everything We Saw At San Diego Comic-Con 2025 appeared first on Den of Geek.
