San Diego Comic-Con International 2023, San Diego Convention Center.
Because of the Hollywood writers' and actors' strike, comics were the de facto centerpiece attraction at San Diego Comic-Con International 2023. I was fortunate enough to attend for one day on Thursday, July 20, 2023, and I tried to make the most of my brief attendance. Many of the below photos were taken on the convention floor, though I also attended an indie graphic novel panel, "Out of Their Heads: Graphic Novelists Bring Their Stories to Life," held at Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina next door to the exhibit hall, as well as a P. Craig Russell autograph signing in the huge Sails Pavilion at the San Diego Convention Center itself. I wish I could have stayed longer, but I had to catch the last flight out for home - but not before a tacos and Margarita dinner at ¡SALUD! Tacos. It was great to see Jaime Hernandez, Lauren & Bree, Conrad Groth and Max Clotfelter of Fantagraphics Books, Daniel Zhou, Raul Higuera, Josh PM and Simon Jane of Silver Sprocket, John Morrow, Giacomo Modica and Jon B. Cooke of TwoMorrows Publishing, Rand Hoppe of the Jack Kirby Museum, Bruce Simon, Briana Loewinsohn, Andrew Farago, Jeff Smith, Rina Ayuyang, Thien Pham, Jeffrey Brown, Josh Pettinger, Simon Hanselmann, P. Craig Russell, Garth Stein, Matthew Southworth, Chris Wisnia and Gary Groth. And to my homeboy and fellow indie deep cuts comic collector, Jacobo Ramirez, whom I unfortunately didn't take a photo of: next time.
-Chris Anthony Diaz
Attendees make their way to the entrance of the convention center exhibit hall on Thursday, July 20th.
PUBLISHERS IN ACTION
The Silver Sprocket table with Daniel Zhou and Raul Higuera.Josh PM and Simon Jane of Silver Sprocket.Rina Ayuyang signing her new book with Drawn & Quarterly, The Man in the McIntosh Suit, at the Silver Sprocket table.The Fantagraphics table inside the exhibit hall.Jaime Hernandez's signing at the Fantagraphics table.Jaime Hernandez, Eisner Award Hall of Famer, author and artist of Locas in Love and Rockets.The Fantagraphics signing schedule and free giveaways.Briana Loewinsohn signing at the Fantagraphics table.Simon Hanselmann and Josh Pettinger signing at the Fantagraphics table.Conrad Groth and Max Clotfelter of Fantagraphics.Fantagraphics staffers Bree Mangold (left) and Lauren Peugh (right).Garth Stein signing at the Fantagraphics table.Matthew Southworth signing at the Fantagraphics table.Chris Wisnia signing at the Fantagraphics table.Wisnia is joined by Gary Groth.TwoMorrows Publishing with John Morrow, Giacomo Modica and Jon B. Cooke.Bruce Simon displays his sketch of the retail mascot for Comics & Comix while at the Jack Kirby Museum table.
"OUT OF THEIR HEADS"
The "Out of Their Heads: Graphic Novelists Bring Their Stories to Life" panel participants. L-R: Andrew Farago (moderator), Jeff Smith, Rina Ayuyang, Thien Pham, Jeffrey Brown, Josh Pettinger and Simon Hanselmann.Andrew Farago and Jeff Smith.Thien Pham, Jeffrey Brown, Josh Pettinger and Simon Hanselmann
BOOTHS, AUTOGRAPHS AND MORE
Randolph Hoppe of the Jack Kirby Museum.The Bill Sienkiewicz booth on the convention floor.The Batman promotional movie poster original art, painted by Bill Sienkiewicz.Bill Sienkiewicz original art for Moon Knight.The Image Comics booth.The IDW Publishing booth.Promotional image for IDW's Godzilla: Here There Be Dragons by artist Inaki Miranda.The Dark Horse Comics Minor Threats booth.The Penguin Random House booth.The booth for DSTLRY, a new publisher fronted by some of the major players from comiXology.The Sails Pavilions area of the convention center.P. Craig Russell signing at the Sails Pavilion.Russell signed my copy of the Marvel Graphic Novel Killraven: Warrior of the Worlds (1983), for which he did the art.Some of the large banner ads facing the entrance of the convention hall.More banner promotions in front of the convention hall entrance.And still more banner promotions in front of the convention hall entrance.Your humble photographer’s dinner at ¡SALUD! Tacos at the end of the day, before flying home later that evening!
