🏛️ Hall H: The Heavy Hitters
Hall H was the gravitational center of Friday, pulling in massive crowds and delivering some of the most anticipated reveals of the weekend.
- Prime Video: Blade Runner 2099 & The Rings of Power (Season 3) — Fans were treated to exclusive footage and behind‑the‑scenes insights from cast and EPs, diving into dystopian Los Angeles and Middle‑earth’s escalating conflicts.
- The Walking Dead: Dead City Season 3 Panel — Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Lauren Cohan, and the creative team unveiled a sneak peek at the upcoming season, including a surprising alternate‑reality twist teased earlier in the day.
- The Vampire Lestat — Cast and producers discussed the explosive season finale and showcased highlights from The Vampire Lestat: One Night Only Live, featuring original music performed by Sam Reid.
- Lanterns (DC Studios) — Kyle Chandler, Aaron Pierre, and the creative team premiered never‑before‑seen footage from the upcoming series, offering a deep look at the tone and worldbuilding ahead of its August debut.
- NBC100: Grimm 15th Anniversary Reunion — Cast and creators reunited to celebrate the beloved series with stories, retrospectives, and anniversary surprises.
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🎬 Film & TV: Major Franchise Updates
Friday brought confirmations, first looks, and future‑season news across multiple fandoms.
- Marvel’s Hall H Return — While the biggest Marvel announcements were slated for Saturday, Friday still delivered major updates:
- X‑Men ’97 Season 4 Confirmed — Marvel TV head Brad Winderbaum announced Season 3 is complete and Season 4 is officially in development.
- The Rings of Power Season 3 — Showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay shared exclusive insights into how Season 3 fits into their five‑season narrative plan.
- Dead City Season 3 Alternate Reality Tease — Lauren Cohan and Emily Kinney appeared in a surprise announcement video hinting at a “what‑if” storyline where Beth survives.
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🎮 Gaming: Marvel Rivals Takes Center Stage
Gaming fans had a standout Friday thanks to Marvel Rivals, which continued its four‑day immersive experience at the Marriott Marquis.
- Friday Panel: Behind‑the‑Scenes & New Reveals — NetEase and Marvel Games spotlighted development insights, new announcements, and exclusive content for attendees.
- Daily Giveaways & Hands‑On Gameplay — Fans enjoyed gameplay stations, signing sessions, and limited‑edition posters and badges.
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📚 Comics & Publishing: Eisners, Spotlights, and Deep Cuts
Friday was a goldmine for comic lovers, with programming spanning history, craft, and celebration.
⭐ The Eisner Awards Hall of Fame
- The 2026 inductees were honored in a special ceremony featuring judges Karen Green, Alonso Nuñez, and Jim Thompson.
Additional Friday Comics Panels
- Lucasfilm Publishing: Stories from a Galaxy Far, Far Away — New storytelling insights from the Star Wars publishing universe.
- Leap into Action‑Filled Graphic Novels — Creators shared techniques for crafting kinetic, visually driven narratives.
- Spotlight on Briana Loewinsohn — A creator‑focused session exploring her artistic process.
- The Black Panel — This year’s edition centered on Black women in comics, featuring Eisner‑nominated Stephanie Williams and producer Candy Nicole.
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🖼️ Image Comics: Exclusives, Merch & Signings
Image Comics delivered one of the most robust booth experiences of the day.
- SDCC Exclusives — Titles included Hammerfist #1, Crowbound #1, Chainkata #1, Youngblood #100, Odin #1, Do A Powerbomb B&W #1, and more.
- Merch — Branded pint glasses, hats, enamel pins, notebooks, mugs, shirts, and tote bags.
- Creator Signings — Todd McFarlane, Skottie Young, Geoff Johns, Daniel Warren Johnson, and others held sessions throughout the day.
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🎤 Podcasts: The New Celebrity Class
A major cultural shift continued Friday as podcast hosts emerged as convention stars.
- Spotify and Warner Bros. podcasters held packed panels, reflecting the rising demand for deep‑dive pop culture commentary.
- Live podcast shows drew large crowds, signaling their growing influence alongside traditional celebrity panels.
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🌆 Off‑Site Activations & Gaslamp Adventures
Friday outside the convention center was just as lively as inside.
- Peanuts Pop‑Up Shop — Free tote bags with purchase and a chance to win Super Duper collectibles.
- Petco Park Secret Speakeasy: The Diamond Room — Free entry, live DJ, and themed experiences including a retro Star Wars cantina night.
- Comic-Con Donut Pop‑Up — Character‑themed donuts at Pendry San Diego and Donut Bar’s Little Italy location.
- Celebrity Sightings —
- Jim Cummings appeared ahead of his 5:45 p.m. spotlight panel.
- Thursday’s momentum carried over with fans still buzzing from Johnny Depp’s Ebenezer Scrooge appearance, John Cena signings, and Jamie Campbell Bower sightings.
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🎨 Animation & Nostalgia
Friday also featured beloved animated franchises and deep fandom history.
- Regular Show: The Lost Tapes — Creators and voice actors shared behind‑the‑scenes stories and updates on the revived series.
- President Curtis Premiere Panel — From the Rick and Morty universe, the cast debuted Adult Swim’s new animated comedy.
- Marvel Comics to Screen: X‑Men ’97 — Season 2 insights, anecdotes, and a special giveaway comic.
- Star Wars Memories — Craig Miller presented a historical look at Star Wars’ earliest SDCC roots.
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🎟️ The Big Picture: Friday at SDCC 2026
Friday was a quintessential Comic-Con day—overflowing with blockbuster reveals, niche gems, immersive experiences, and fandom‑driven energy. Whether you were chasing Hall H exclusives, exploring Gaslamp speakeasies, collecting Image Comics ashcans, or diving into podcast culture, Friday offered something for every type of geek traveler.
800 million dollar budget! Marvel better hope they profit on this.
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