The 2025 edition of San Diego Comic-Con felt more restrained than previous years, with major players like Marvel Studios skipping Hall H entirely, opting instead to drop The Fantastic Four: First Steps online — a short standalone piece notable mainly for its end-credits tease. Meanwhile, James Gunn made a brief appearance to promote Peacemaker Season 2, offering no further insight into his broader DC Universe reboot. But the absence of Marvel and a full DC slate gave space for other studios, publishers, and franchises to step into the spotlight.

Here’s a rundown of some of the standout moments from the event:

Peacemaker Season 2 Leans Into the Multiverse

Peacemaker returned with a new trailer that appears to respond directly to the chaos of recent DC continuity shifts. While Gunn has often deflected questions about how the series fits into the revamped DCU and the upcoming Superman reboot, the footage suggests Peacemaker may now be traversing the multiverse — or mocking it entirely.

Absolute Wonder Woman Wins Big at the Eisner Awards

Absolute Wonder Woman claimed the title of Best New Series at the 2025 Eisner Awards. The prestigious ceremony, held during Comic-Con, also recognized ComicsBeat.com as Best Comics-Related Periodical. A full list of winners is available on their site.

Avatar: Seven Havens Revealed

Nickelodeon unveiled concept art for Avatar: Seven Havens, a brand-new animated series set after the events of The Legend of Korra. The new setting hints at a fractured world in turmoil, with visuals that match the darker tone. Fans of the Avatar universe have much to anticipate.

Gundam Wing Celebrates 30 Years with Style

To mark the 30th anniversary of Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, Bandai presented a slick new short animated by Toru Iwasawa (Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End). Alongside it came announcements of a manga series, a theatrical re-release of Endless Waltz, and waves of merchandise.

Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires Makes a Bold Impression

The upcoming animated film Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires stars Horacio García Rojas as a Mesoamerican Dark Knight facing off against conquistador-themed villains like a Two-Face variant. While the animation style breaks from classic DC aesthetics, the project holds strong thematic and visual potential.

Marvel Comics Launches Ultimate Endgame

Marvel Comics announced Ultimate Endgame, a five-issue mini-series by Deniz Camp and Jonas Scharf, signaling the final chapter of the Ultimate Universe saga. The series features the return of The Maker, fresh from a two-year imprisonment.

Camp described it as “the craziest and most impactful crossover” of his career, promising dramatic resolutions and large-scale changes, made possible by the creative freedom of the Ultimate line. Meanwhile, Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto are set to conclude Ultimate Spider-Man with issue #24 in December.

Critical Role Expands with The Mighty Nein

The next animated series from Critical Role, titled The Mighty Nein, continues to build out its storytelling universe.

Predator: Killer of Killers Adds Schwarzenegger Cameo

The animated anthology Predator: Killer of Killers now features a newly-added ending — one that explicitly brings back Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Dutch from the original film. The update is currently available on Hulu.

New Glimpses of Star Wars Projects

While Lucasfilm shifts focus back to theatrical releases like The Mandalorian and Grogu and Ryan Gosling’s Starfighter, two TV projects still made a splash:

• Maul: Shadow Lord, an animated series starring Darth Maul
• Ahsoka Season 2, which remains in production

South Park Creators Stir the Crowd

Trey Parker and Matt Stone held a fiery panel following the controversial South Park premiere. Mike Judge and Andy Samberg also joined for the event, and Comedy Central has since uploaded the full session online.

Gen V Season 2 Teases Crossovers with The Boys

Amazon’s Gen V dropped a trailer for its second season, promising deeper crossovers with The Boys and more development of Homelander’s America. A teaser for The Boys’ fifth and final season was also shown.

The Henson Company Makes Star Trek… with Muppets

While Starfleet Academy took center stage at the Star Trek panel, the real surprise came with the reveal that The Henson Company is turning the Strange New Worlds cast into Muppets for an upcoming episode.

The Dragon Prince Team Plans Crowdfunded Sequel

With The Dragon Prince concluded on Netflix, creators at Wonderstorm announced The Dragon King, an adult-oriented sequel continuing the story. The series follows Zym, the last Archdragon, navigating political turmoil in Xadia. A Kickstarter campaign is launching soon to fund the show independently.

The Long Walk Gets a New Trailer

Mark Hamill stars in The Long Walk, an adaptation of Stephen King’s dystopian novel. Directed by Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games), the film also serves as a springboard for future King adaptations, including The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, now in development.

Rick and Morty Spinoff: President Curtis

Keith David returns in President Curtis, a new series co-created by Dan Harmon and James Siciliano. The show centers on a presidential team dealing with interdimensional diplomacy, supernatural threats, and bizarre phenomena, featuring voice work from Stephanie Beatriz and Jim Rash.

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 3 Heads West

Season 3 of Daryl Dixon continues AMC’s zombie saga, now reimagined with a Western flair that draws stylistic influence from Robert Rodriguez’s Desperado.

TMNT vs. Godzilla — Yes, Really

Coming in November, a new comic book series by Tim Seeley and Fero Pe will pit the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles against Godzilla, following a catastrophic mistake by Shredder that unleashes kaiju-level destruction.

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 in the Works

A sequel to the hit horror film is now in production, with hopes of surpassing the original’s modest reception.

Talamasca: The Secret Order Expands the Anne Rice Universe

AMC revealed Talamasca, a third series set in the Anne Rice Immortal Universe. Styled as a supernatural thriller with tones reminiscent of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the show expands on the world of Interview with the Vampire and Mayfair Witches.

Captain America Battles the Xenomorph

In a new crossover comic, Captain America and the Howling Commandos face off against a Xenomorph unleashed during WWII. Written by Frank Tieri and illustrated by Stefano Raffaele, the series adds another wild entry to Marvel’s growing list of crossover experiments.

If SDCC 2025 lacked the thunderous Hall H spectacles of years past, it more than made up for it in range and weirdness — and sometimes, that’s exactly what fans come to Comic-Con for.

At San Diego Comic-Con 2025, Lucasfilm’s publishing creative director Michael Siglain hosted an exciting panel featuring top-tier talent including Tessa Gratton, Soo Lee, George Mann, Iain McCaig, Cavan Scott, Charles Soule, and Harvey Tolibao. Here are ten of the most exciting announcements and reveals from the event.

1. The High Republic’s Phase III Finale Is Almost Here

The epic conclusion to The High Republic Phase III is just around the corner. Titled Star Wars: The High Republic – The Finale, the story by Cavan Scott with art by Marika Cresta returns to the planet Dalna for a climactic showdown. Fans can dive into the final chapter on July 30, 2025.

Plus, fans got a chilling look at the terrifying Nameless in full form, thanks to concept art by Grant Griffin and Iain McCaig. These creatures will be further explored in The Art of Star Wars: The High Republic Volume II by Kristin Baver, releasing August 19, 2025.

2. More High Republic Adventures for Young Jedi

Younglings Kai Brightstar, Lys Solay, and Nubs are heading off on new missions across the galaxy in Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures – The Training Sessions, written by Dave Scheidt and Daniel José Older. With a special appearance by the beloved Burryaga, this new tale lands on shelves December 9, 2025.

3. A Deeper Look into The Acolyte

Fans of the Disney+ series The Acolyte can look forward to The Art of Star Wars: The Acolyte by Kristin Baver. The book offers an in-depth visual exploration of the show’s production, including designs, storyboards, environments, and more. Scheduled for release on January 13, 2026.

4. A Dark Turn: Tales from the Nightlands

Horror meets Star Wars in Star Wars: Tales from the Nightlands, a new series from Cavan Scott and Dark Horse Comics. Featuring the haunting Nightlander — a sinister entity created by Iain McCaig — the first issue is set to launch on September 5, 2025. Prepare for galactic nightmares!

5. New Hyperspace Stories Are Incoming

The Hyperspace Stories line continues to expand:

• Grievous by Michael Moreci follows the ruthless General Grievous as he hunts a Jedi Knight and clone battalion through the jungles of Katou. An 88-page graphic novel, releasing in early 2026.
• Tides of Terror by George Mann sees Jedi Master Kit Fisto confronting monstrous sea creatures on a mysterious ocean planet. Issue #1 debuts July 30, 2025.

6. Celebrating ILM’s 50-Year Legacy

Lucasfilm revealed sneak peeks from Industrial Light & Magic: 50 Years of Innovation by Ian Failes — a visual retrospective honoring ILM’s five decades of revolutionary special effects work. Look for this collector’s item in early 2026.

7. More Grogu on the Way!

In anticipation of The Mandalorian and Grogu film (arriving May 2026), DK Books is releasing Star Wars: The Mandalorian Visual Guide, authored by Pablo Hidalgo, covering seasons 1–3 in rich detail.

Also coming is a charming rhyming board book Star Wars: You’re My Little Grogu by Grace Baranowski with art by Kaley McCabe, arriving in April 2026.

8. The Bad Batch Returns

Clone Force 99 is back in Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories – The Bad Batch: Rogue Agents, a new comic miniseries by Michael Moreci. Issue #1, featuring a main cover and two variants, drops in December 2025.

9. More Comic Reveals for Star Wars Fans

The panel also unveiled new cover art and early looks for several ongoing titles, including Doctor Aphra, Legacy of Vader, Jedi Knights, and the main Star Wars series. A special preview of Star Wars: Boba Fett – Black, White & Red was also shown.

10. Star Wars Outlaws Prequel Novel Announced

Get ready for Low Red Moon, a prequel novel to the upcoming Star Wars Outlaws game. Join ND-5 and Jaylen Vrax as they delve into the galaxy’s criminal underworld. The book hits stores on February 3, 2026, and is available for preorder now.

Comic-Con has always been a vibrant celebration of comic book culture, honoring creators, publishers, and devoted fans. But it’s also a magnet for Hollywood, where celebrity appearances add an extra layer of excitement. This year’s Thursday lineup didn’t disappoint, delivering some major star power throughout San Diego — from panels to surprise city sightings.

Here’s a recap of the biggest celebrity moments from Thursday:

Hall H Kicks Off with ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’

The festivities began with a highly anticipated Hall H panel featuring Walker Scobell and the cast of Disney+’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians. The crowd welcomed them enthusiastically as the stars shared insights into the upcoming season.

‘The Toxic Avenger’ Cast Takes the Stage

Actors Elijah Wood, Taylour Paige, and Jacob Tremblay gathered in Hall H at 5:30 p.m. to promote their new film, The Toxic Avenger, hitting theaters August 29. Ahead of the panel, the trio posed for portraits, setting the tone for an exciting discussion about the cult-classic reboot.

Anthony Mackie Returns with ‘Twisted Metal’

Marvel favorite Anthony Mackie posed before his panel in Ballroom 20, promoting Peacock’s Twisted Metal. Known for his role in Captain America: Brave New World, Mackie’s appearance brought Marvel fans and new viewers alike into the fold.

Stephanie Beatriz Joins the Action

Beloved for her roles in Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Disney’s Encanto, Stephanie Beatriz also joined the Twisted Metal promotional lineup, adding charm and charisma to the portrait sessions.

Peter Dinklage on Deck for ‘The Toxic Avenger’

Peter Dinklage, best known as Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones, made an appearance to support The Toxic Avenger, joining co-stars Wood and Tremblay to talk about the film’s direction and energy.

Raymond Cruz Promotes ‘Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires’

Veteran actor Raymond Cruz, recognized from Breaking Bad and The Closer, greeted fans, signed autographs, and spotlighted the new animated feature Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires.

Comedy Duo: Gabriel Iglesias & Jo Koy

Comic-Con saw a rare treat: a comedy panel featuring Gabriel ‘Fluffy’ Iglesias and Jo Koy. The comedians teamed up for laughs and conversation in a lighthearted and refreshing appearance.

Alec Baldwin Meets Snoopy

As part of the Peanuts 75th anniversary celebration, Alec Baldwin made an appearance alongside the iconic Snoopy. The anniversary included a range of Comic-Con activities honoring the beloved franchise.

David Dastmalchian Debuts ‘Dexter: Resurrection’

Appearing in The Suicide Squad, Oppenheimer, and Dune: Part One, David Dastmalchian was on hand to promote Dexter: Resurrection. He’s also scheduled for multiple appearances during the weekend, including his own panel and the prestigious Eisner Awards.

Dan Aykroyd Celebrates ‘The Blues Brothers’

Dan Aykroyd headlined a panel commemorating the 45th anniversary of The Blues Brothers and discussed the upcoming graphic novel adaptation. He was joined by his daughter and Luke Pisano, son of Judy Belushi.

Hallmark’s Star-Studded Panel

Hallmark Media hosted a panel titled Hallmark Hallstars, featuring actor Chyler Leigh of Grey’s Anatomy and Supergirl fame, adding a family-friendly sparkle to the convention floor.

Josh Hutcherson Talks ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’

Known for The Hunger Games and The Beekeeper, Josh Hutcherson joined a panel to discuss the upcoming horror sequel Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, thrilling fans of the popular franchise.

Directing Legends: Paul Feig and Rob Reiner

Directors Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, A Simple Favor) and Rob Reiner (Stand by Me, When Harry Met Sally) participated in a special panel on the art and craft of directing. Their candid insights and behind-the-scenes stories captivated the audience.

This star-studded Thursday at Comic-Con brought unforgettable moments, exciting reveals, and a whole lot of fandom joy — proving once again that Comic-Con is much more than comics alone.