It was that season once more when over 125,000 enthusiasts embarked on a global pilgrimage to convene in San Diego, California for the ultimate celebration of pop culture: the renowned San Diego Comic Con. From July 19 to July 23, 2023, the world's gaze was firmly fixed on the events unfolding at the San Diego Convention Center and beyond. This extraordinary gathering paid homage to a wide spectrum of entertainment, spanning from comics and movies to animation, television, video games, and everything in between. All of this was set against a backdrop of apprehension, as some worried that this year might lack its usual exuberance.
You see, just about a month before the convention, the Writers Guild of America initiated a strike. This labor dispute involving screenwriters presented a significant challenge for setting up panels to promote various film and television projects, as many were hesitant to participate in light of the strike. And as if that weren't enough, just two weeks before the convention's start, the Screen Actors Guild also went on strike. This double blow was bound to disrupt numerous plans, particularly since the prominent Hollywood presence that had dominated Comic Con for the past couple of decades had drastically diminished.
Programs underwent extensive modifications and some were even outright canceled. Both Marvel Studios and Warner Bros. decided to withdraw their participation, leaving The Walking Dead presentation without its actors or writers. Productions like My Adventures with Superman and Twisted Metal were reduced to mere screenings. With these substantial changes, there were legitimate concerns about whether Comic Con could maintain its status as the pop culture powerhouse it had been for so many years. However, surprisingly, it managed to not only endure but thrive. The fan turnout remained impressive, and some programs even had the opportunity to shine without the overshadowing presence of Hollywood.
