SDCC 2016: The Nintendo Update

By Spencer Camarda

Aside from the plethora of Ash Ketchums, Starbucks Coffee stands, and never-ending lines that zig and zag every way known to man, the number of gaming developers is, inexplicably, ever-expanding within Comic Con’s corridors. While spending a majority of my time inside of the Nintendo Lounge located adjacent to the Convention Center inside of the Marriot, I found a number of spectacles that left me begging for more. Everything from new 3DS releases, to Wii U, and to the first reveal of Nintendo’s NES: Classic Edition. Let’s dive in!

SDCC 2016: Batman: Arkham VR Hands-On

As late-July rapidly approaches, most people associate this time as a last minute hoorah before school returns and the laziness of summer soon turns to the dull drag of "normal" life. As a young adult still dealing with the dilemma of school and maintaining a full-time job, Summer is a season one definitely looks forward to months in advance, much like Halloween or Christmas. Being a non-traditional and somewhat unspoken holiday, Summer also brings with it another cherished celebration for dorky people worldwide - COMIC CON! The stench of mint-condition comics, freshly painted cosplay materials, overpriced hot dogs, and occasional whiff of B.O. fill the air. Everyone is giddy with hopes of spotting celebrities, hearing the latest news on their favorite television or movie series, and waiting in line after line, after line, making friends along the way. Standing in those lines lies one man whose soul purpose is to provide the masses with as much info on the latest video games coming out this year. His name - Spencer Camarda. His mission - play the hottest and highly sought after treasures you’re all dying to hear about. Have no fear - I have exactly what you’re looking for! So, let’s dive in!

SDCC 2016: Preview Night with Fantastic Beasts, Walking Dead, X-Men & More

by Saniyat K Choudhury

Well it’s that time of the year again! San Diego Comic-Con’s preview night kicked off this past Wednesday with the bustle and energy that we’ve come to expect. It was preview night so the crowd wasn’t overwhelming. I got in line to pick up my badge and received the standard literature with an awesome tote bag. This being my first year at the show, commonplace things like the giant Warner Bros tote bag and such were all new to me. There were different themes to all the bags but the coolest part was the flap that goes over the top of the bag. If you don’t secure the flap with the Velcro, it looks like a cape! With bags featuring the Flash or Supergirl TV logos (just to name a couple), you could express your geek loves for all of Comic-con to see. My bag contained the poster image from ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.’ It wasn’t exactly cape-worthy, but I still think Eddie Redmayne looks pretty heroic flapping in the wind on my back.

SDCC 2016: Warner Bros Destroys Comic-Con with Wonder Woman, Justice League, LEGO Batman, Fantastic Beasts & More

HOLY DAMN!! Warner Bros got the message after the massive debbie downer that was Batman V Superman underwhelmed long time comic book fans across the globe and GREW A SENSE OF HUMOR!! THERE ARE FRAKKIN JOKES IN THE JUSTICE LEAGUE TRAILER!!! IT'S PRETTY DAMN CHARMING!!!! I can't be happier, if you couldn't tell. While Marvel is a great love of mine, my entire childhood belonged to Batman, Superman and the Justice League. When film makers ignore that past...those character notes...and just make what they feel like making, it makes all the comic fans like me very depressed. We drink heavily, pick fights with Anime kids (damn u Homestuck) and yell at PokemonGo players to get off our lawn...well..any lawn. The newest footage shown at San Diego Comic-Con is guaranteed to turn those curmudgeony frowns upside down.

SDCC 2016: Invader Zim's Jhonen Vasquez on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Children of the future, I would like to introduce you to our pal, Dark Lord and Master, Jhonen Vasquez. Jhonen created a comic book called Johnny the Homicidal Maniac which taught us all how to get in touch with our true feelings of blind, unadulterated hatred for mankind and to channel that positive energy toward craft projects which would one day open a door to a black universe where the old ones sleep. It's good to have goals. Jhonen also made a comic called Squee which personified all of our rightful fears in the tiny, quivering body of a small boy tormented nightly by all the evil this reality has to offer. It's a classic. Later, Jhonen would move onto a little indie cartoon series called Invader Zim which was about a green alien boy that just wanted to be loved. Blind, unwavering, relentless love that comes with no questioning or resistance. It's the most American thing he's done to date....UNTIL NOW!! Watch Jhonen Vasquez out-crazy Teen Titans Go in a special San Diego Comic Con exclusive cartoon short...

SDCC 2016: DC Collectibles New Bombshells, Animated Series, Wonder Woman & More

Nicole Marrokal is storming the gates of San Diego Comic-Con right now, but earlier, she very politely stormed the entryway of the DC Collectibles Collector Preview where she got to oogle many a Bombshells Action Figure, Statue and Bust, survived getting stabbed by a Wonder Woman statue and gasped at the snazzitude that always comes with Team DC. Seriously...look at these dudes...

SDCC 2016: LEGO Giveaways, Exclusives and NEW Items!

LEGO Systems, Inc. announced LEGO BrickHeadz, a new product line for fans to collect, build and showcase LEGO versions of iconic characters and super heroes in conjunction with San Diego Comic-Con International (SDCC), the world’s largest comic and entertainment convention. The company will participate at SDCC for the 16th year and will delight show attendees with extraordinary life-sized LEGO models, exclusive sneak peeks of 2017 LEGO building sets, one-of-a-kind minifigure giveaways, and hands-on building fun with thousands of LEGO bricks at booth #2829 in Hall D at the San Diego Convention Center, July 21-24. The company also detailed the special activities, product giveaways and exclusive retail offerings which will be available for all San Diego Comic-Con International attendees.

SDCC 2016: MEZCO Preview Night Teases & Exclusives *UPDATED!*

Who's going to be first on center stage, showing off all their new plastics? MEZCO!! With their unstoppable One:12 action figure line flanked by the every growing undead legions of Living Dead Dolls and other licenses like Beetlejuice, Trick R Treat, Marvel, DC Comics, Thundercats and more....I'd go out on a limb and say Mezco is having a pretty awesome year. Let's take a look at some sneak previews Mezco let loose for preview night at San Diego Comic-Con 2016, and then recap all the killer exclusives they've got for sale on the show floor...

SDCC 2016: The FOX Home Video Lineup with Deadpool, Archer, Aliens & More

San Diego Comic-Con 2016 is UPON US!! In a short span of days, after a flurry of activity, we'll be waking up in a sweaty bed, wondering where our pants are with no recollection of what happened. That's the magic of SDCC. FOX Home Video joins in on the madness with Deadpool merch signed by Mr. Pool himself, A Dazzler (!!!) Album Cover giveaway, Archer and Family Guy Fan Boxes, photo opportunities and moooore! Let's jump in and check things out...

Captain Power Rebooting!

Deadline has the exclusive on the return of CAPTAIN POWER!! Don't remember Captain Power amid the He-Mans, Thundercats, Transformers, Silverhawks, Inhumanoids, Madballs, GIJoes, Ghostbusters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Smurfs? We'll bring you up to speed.

Captain Power and the Soldiers of the future was a Canadian-American scifi TV show lasting 22 episodes which boasts the earliest instances of live action and CGI characters interacting. For most of us toy junkies, we remember how the toys by Mattel interacted with the TV show...which made us all insane with the wanting. Here's a quick synopsis...

SDCC 2016 Exclusives: Mattel's 2nd Round with Suicide Squad, Thundercats, Hot Wheels & More

In one month, we'll be neck deep in the biggest gathering of geeks the world has to offer at San Diego Comic-Con 2016! In the lead up to the show, many a company will be taunting you with exclusive items threatening to tear your bank account asunder. Mattel is one such company who was not satisfied with one helping of exclusives. OH NO! Today we take a look at a second round of exclusive collectibles from the worlds of DC and Marvel Comics, Thundercats, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Masters of the Universe Minecraft, Star Trek and HALO! Grasp your wallet tightly and dive in...

SDCC 2016 Exclusives: Entertainment Earth's Crisis on Infinite Sheldons

The great San Diego Comic-Con exclusives machine is rolling along now. It's not at full steam yet, but soon...SOOON...we will be buried under all those insane collectibles, comics and items of pop culture interest. Today Entertainment Earth sends word on THREE of their fantastical exclusive offerings from an alternate universe where nerds get the hot chicks and all worship DC Comics...a universe called...the Big Bang Theory!

Fans of THE BIG BANG THEORY, get ready for some theoretical physics fun with three brand-new, unique 3 3/4-inch scale action figures of Sheldon Cooper - all 2016 Entertainment Earth Convention Exclusives from Bif Bang Pow!

SDCC 2016 Exclusives: Mattel's 1st Round with Monster High, Ghostbusters, Wonder Woman & More

Mattel usually rolls out their exclusives in a very methodical way, profiling each piece, first showing tiny pictures that don't give one a real sense of the glory of a Mattel San Diego Comic-Con Exclusive, complete with all the bells and whistles. Today...they said screw it...and released half their lot. EYE CANDY!! We are working on more images of each item so check back for updates, but until we've had our fill, here's a good look at some must have items...

SDCC 2016 Exclusives: Diamond Comics with Marvel, Batman, Ghostbusters & More!

INTO THE EXCLUSIVES ANNOUNCEMENTS WE GO! Diamond Comics jumps into the fire with a heap of exclusives you'll most likely find at the Diamond Select booth and various retailers across the San Diego Comic-Con floor. Items include merch from Marvel Comics, Doctor Who, Star Wars, Batman and Ghostbusters! Dive in and commence to drooling...

Diamond Comic Distributors is offering over 25 extremely limited PREVIEWS exclusives for this year’s Comic-Con International: San Diego (July 20-24). The list includes several variants of Marvel’s current hit, Civil War II, an exclusive Outcast cover from Image just in time for the show’s premiere on Cinemax, a slew of Diamond Select Toys items, and more!! Comic-Con attendees will be able to preview the items at the Diamond PREVIEWS booth #2401 and purchase from participating retailers on the show floor.

“Diamond will be showcasing the con exclusive items at the PREVIEWS booth, and then we’ll guide fans to retailers who have the exclusives available for purchase on the show floor,” said Diamond’s Director of Marketing, Dan Manser. “These items are extremely limited and a big reason why fans look forward to coming to Comic-Con International: San Diego each year.”

SDCC2016 Exclusives: NECA: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Video Game Action Figures Boxed Set

Most avid toy collectors are aware of NECA's astounding work in transforming your favorite pop culture icons into action figures painted up as 8bit masterpieces, mirroring their appearances in mega popular video games from our childhood. Now they return to a license no one ever dreamed they'd be able to revisit; TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES!! The NECA TMNT action figure line remains the truest interpretation of the original Mirage comics into toy form and fans have moaned across the internets about how that collection is, sadly, incomplete. Now, a San Diego Comic-Con miracle will add more highly requested characters to that lineup...