Sunday at San Diego Comic Con Brings the Familiar and the New!

Jeri Jacquin

Here it is, the final day, the day that I long for and at the same time the saddest day that it’s all ending. There is mileage on these feet to be sure and a case of uncomfortable seat-itis but at the same time knowing that all the people I only see once a year will again be gone.

This year was a little more enjoyable for me at a grandparent because I made time to see my dressed up in costume Batman (don’t say Batgirl – she doesn’t like it!) granddaughter seeing all her hero’s and the characters she adores. That would include the mixture of Peppa Pig and the awestruck when seeing her beloved PJ Masks in person. What totally wigged her out was seeing Batman again, and again, and again.

But, Naynay has a job to do so let’s jump in!

In Hall H, there is a feeling of crazy anticipation because it is Sunday at San Diego Comic Con 2018 and that can only mean one thing – Supernatural! There is something very special when the panel consisting of Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki, Misha Collins, and Alexander Calvert along with executive producer Andrew Dabb talking about their 14^th season of the show and reaching the historic 300^th episode.

What makes the Supernatural panel so much fun is the obvious chemistry between Ackles, Padalecki and Collins and the way they have also taken Calvert into their exclusive and humorous group. It is almost like watching brothers just rag on each other in the most biting and loving way possible. Of course this delights the 6,999 people that are in Hall H with cheers and even some egging on.

It’s going to get even darker (is that even possible?) in this season as fans are treated to a very eerie look at Jensen Ackles character Dean and his – well – transformation. There will also be a return of Kim Rhodes character of Jodi Mills and the Wayward Sisters. Is there more to the Rowena and Cas hint given?

Find out when Supernatural returns to the CW on October 11^th.

Riverdale comes to Hall H with a huge panel including Luke Perry, Skeet Ulrich, Camila Mendes, Casey Cott, Cole Sprouse, KJ Apa, Lili Reinhart, Madelaine Petsch Marisol Nichols, Mark Consuelos, Vanesa Morgan, Ashleigh Murray, Madchen Amick and executive producer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and producers Jon Goldwater and Sarah Schehter. Moderated by Mrs. Mark Consuelos (aka Kelly Ripa), fans were teased with what is to come.

Ripa talks about her husband’s character and asks what is in store for his character. “His character is into everything. Right now he is focused in being a thorn in his daughter’s side. She is just as stubborn as he is so I think they are going to butt heads”.

I couldn’t have been more thrilled to see the next panel in Hall H – Mayans M.C. is the much anticipated spin off of the FX beloved series Sons of Anarchy. The panel started off with an ear splitting cheer for the shows creator Kurt Sutter (who I actually saw smile and it threw me off!) along with co-creator Elgin James.

The panel was filled with the new Mayan motorcycle club including JD Pardo as Ezekiel EZ Reyes, Clayton Cardenas, Sarah Bolger, Michael Irby, Carla Baratta, Antonio Jaramillo, Raoul Max Truillo, Danny Pino, Richard Cabral and the beloved Edward James Olmos.

The premise of the series is in the three year aftermath of Jax Teller and the Sons when EZ Reyes is released from prison and becomes a prospect for the Mayan MC. His older brother is already a member and shows his brother the ropes with a charter that is located on the California-Mexico border. Olmos is their father who owns a business and knows that the club is a difficult life.

JD Pardo may have a familiar face to some, but to Twilight fans he forever engrained in their hearts as part of THE TWILIGHT SAGA: Breaking Dawn Part 2. He has also done his time in television with the series S.W.A.T., The Messengers as well as Blood & Oil.

Another familiar cast member is that of Richard Cabral who most recently played the psychotic burglar Duncan in the film BREAKING IN. He has also had his share of television roles including the outstanding characters of Hector Tonz/Isaac Castillo/ Sebastian De La Torre in the absolutely excellent series American Crime.

The one actor on that panel who needs no introduction because the sound of the fans cheering drowns out hearing his name is that of Edward James Olmos. Playing the role of Felipe Reyes in Mayans M.C., this actor is never far from the big screen or small. He has produced, directed and starred in some of the most beloved shows and memorable movies. I am excited to see the life he brings to this character.

Sutter also talks about the loose language and explains that the f-word is part of the world we live in now. “I’m not quite sure where the shift happened, but there is a lot more freedom in terms of language and we will be able to say ‘f**k’ on FX.” He also tells the fans with humor, “I always do a ‘f**k’ inventory at the end of every script and go, ‘oh, that’s way too much.’”

The creator was also asked if there would be any cross over between Sons of Anarchy and Mayans M.C. (you could hear a pin drop in that room waiting for the answer). “I’m really protective of that mythology and the way it ended and letting fans, whether they enjoyed it or not, to have that experience and for that idea of how that club continued. I really want to leave in the minds of the fans. Right now there’s no intersecting stories that will interfere with that, but Sons is a big world and there was a lot of peripheral players so there will be those kind of intersections.” I take that as an answer non-answer which can always be found with the cryptic Sutter.

Thank you FX from the bottom of this fans heart for bringing the anticipation for the new series which is set to premier Tuesday September 4^th at 10 p.m. on FX.

Finally in Hall H, FX is hardly done with us as the break out his series by creator Noah Hawley LEGION bringing its panel of stars including Dan Stevens, Aubrey Plaza who plays Lenny, Navid Negahban as Farouk, writer/producer Nathaniel Halpern and executive producer John Cameron.

The panel started out quickly when Halpern was asked if he could tell the fans anything about Season 3. A quick and decisive ‘no’ was heard and that was that. Stevens, who plays David Haller, admitted to the audience, “I know that Lenny is obviously gonna have a part to play in it. We’re off together in some form. Syd’s a bit mad. But I don’t know very much at this stage.”   

Then added, “If you know the comics at all, you know there’s the potential for this guy you have sympathy for to turn into one of the greatest villains in the universe!” It is Negahban who says, “I have never played a villain in my life. I think every villain looks at himself as a hero.”

It seems what the panel could agree upon is that they are confused and that, to me, is an amazing way to keep the fans guessing about the upcoming third season which returns to FX in 2019. Until then, keep the theories coming because I’m always interested to discover whether or not others see the series as I do and if they don’t, well, that can be fun too!

And with that, my reader friends, comes the end of the panels for me at San Diego Comic Con 2018. It is time for me to put the recorder, camera, pencil, pen, paper and anything else work related into my awesome Edna Mode bag and leave the hallowed room also known as Hall H.

It is time for me to go out and enjoy the rest of the day seeing Comic Con 2019 through the eyes of my granddaughter who can not get enough. I love what I do to be sure but it is also good to get a fresh perspective and see it all through the excited eyes of a kid in a Batman outfit with flashing tennis shoes and a cape that reads, “I’m Batman – not Batgirl!”

So until next year Comic-Con’ers – I hope your journey home was a safe one and that TSA didn’t give you too much trouble with the tons of goodie bags I know you left San Diego with!

Saturday at Comic Con 2018 Has Super Heroes, Characters and Panels Oh My!

Jeri Jacquin

Saturday’s at San Diego Comic Con 2018 is no different than any other Saturday at San Diego Comic Con – meaning there is something for everyone badge or no badge! Saturday’s bring a flood of people who just want to see and experience everything that is fun with weather that cooperated beautifully.

Outside at every turn there were things to see and so from AMC’s The Walking Dead zombie sausage making, Southpark’s gang with their own bit of fun, FX rumbled out their fantastic motorcycle for the new series MAYANS M.C. and the parking lot of Petco Park had a shark of a tale to share. That’s just a minute portion of everything to be found.

Of course I am on the inside looking out for panels and people to find out what and who is visiting our city so lets get to it because it was a long day!

In Hall H the morning began with Warner Bros. and a lot of unexpected surprises for the fans who had been waiting all night. Aisha Tyler handled the job as mistress of panel with Eddie Redmayne and the cast of FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM: The Crimes of Grindelwald. What came next send Hall H into a wave of tizzy.

As Tyler utters the name Grindelwald the hall goes dark which gave us all the opportunity to view the bracelets given upon entry glowing. The next thing we all see is Grindelwald himself (aka Johnny Depp) who announces “My brothers, my sisters, my friends, the great gift of your applause is not for me but for yourselves. Therefore applaud yourselves. It has been said that I hate the non-magic – the Muggles – I do not hate them, I do not. I say the Muggles are not lesser, but other.”

He continues slowly, “Not worthless but not of value, magic blooms only in rare souls. It is granted to those who live and what a world we would make. For all of humanity, all of humanity, we who live for freedom, for truth, the moment has come to rise up and take our rightful place in the world.”  The crowd took it in and ate it up.

Of course WONDER WOMAN 1984 was given its moment in the hall but it was the cast of the upcoming AQUAMAN that sent another wave of fun through the crowd. The panel included writer/director James Wan, Amber Heard, Patrick Wilson, Nicole Kidman, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and, of course, the very hard to miss Jason Momoa.

The trailer fans were shown is of Mera and Aquaman having a go at one another with Momoa telling the crowd that “Mera’s a very strong, strong character” giving a thumbs up to Heard.

Following the long AQUAMAN panel which the crowd absolutely didn’t mind one minute of, The 19^th Annual Animation Show of Shows gave the crowd a few moments to sit back and recover.

RZA: Movies, Music & Martial Arts was the next panel to talk about his movie CUT THROAT CITY. Part of the Wu Tang Clan, RZA (or Robert Fitzgerald Diggs) makes a film about a robbery in New Orleans that stars Terrence Howard, Wesley Snipes, T.I. Harris, Eiza Gonzalez, Rob Morgan, Kat Graham, Demetrius Shipp Jr. and Denzel Whitaker.

EW: Women Who Kick Ass had a full panel this year with moderator Jessica Shaw speaking with DOCTOR WHO’s Jodie Whitaker, Regina King, Chloe Bennet, Camila Mendez and THE DARKEST MIND’s Amandla Stenberg.

For those who haven’t seen DEADPOOL 2 (and if you haven’t don’t tell me or you have to be summarily erased from my Christmas card list!), Hall H was the chance to make that right in your life.

The day in the hall ended with AN EVENING WITH KEVIN SMITH who seemed to be working overtime. He could also be found at the IMDB boat interviewing celebs from the panels all over Comic Con. Fans of Smith’s were doing everything humanly possible to get a seat to see Smith.

Indigo at the Hilton Bayfront spent the day hosting to some of the most popular television shows. Beginning with Steven Universe, the morning continued with NBC’s The Good Place, Kypton, Manifest, Legacies, Cosmos: Possible Worlds, and The Orville. TV Guide brought the TV Guide Magazine’s Fan Favorites which is always fun.

The afternoon ended with Deadly Class, The Magicians and a delight to my senses Twin Peaks and the Revival of the Classic. Nothing made my year more than the successful return of Agent Cooper and last years return of Twin Peaks: The Return. This was a chance to hear from the cast about also returning to the iconic show.

One of the spookiest characters that still haunts my brain in the return series was actor Robert Broski’s portrayal of a man I still can’t figure out but has brought new meaning to the line “Got a light?”

Creator David Lynch wasn’t in attendance but I would expect nothing less of him to find a way to be there in some form. I wasn’t wrong. Sabrina Sutherland, executive producer, read a note that said “I am working with Phillip Jefferies to see if I can get there. Twin Peaks fans are the best fans. I got my days mixed up and I’m going to be there yesterday if not sooner. It’s slippery in here. In the red room, Special Agent Dale Cooper has already won the Emmy.”

Adding her own sentiments, Sutherland gave credit to the fans for making it possible for Twin Peaks to return. I couldn’t agree with her more! That leads to the big question – will we see more of Agent Dale Cooper and the motley crew of the town known as Twin Peaks? The answer is still floating out there in Lynch’s universe because they certainly didn’t give up anything at the panel.

That’s okay, we will all be here when (not if) it’s time to go to our favorite town – and we always have pie to keep us company.

Back in Ballroom 20, the day there was no less hectic. The panels consisted of Black Lightening, The Simpsons, American Dad! and Family Guy (I mean really, how can you have Comic Con without them?), The Gifted, Supergirl and Arrow. The crowd became really excited as DC’s Legends of Tomorrow and The Flash.

The evening in Ballroom 20 ended with YouTube’s Origin Presents The Comic-Con International Masquerade.

Of course these are just tidbits of the adventures waiting to be had at the Convention Center and all places surrounding San Diego Comic Con 2018. There will be more in depth information in the weeks to come but for now – we have one more day of panels and tomorrow is family days!

Stay tuned!