Report on the 2023 San Diego Comic-Con

Feel free to skip this report and go straight to the photo gallery.

Apparently, the reports of the death of Comic-Con were greatly exaggerated—despite the entertainment industry strikes that led to the reduced presence of Hollywood at this year's show, the 2023 San Diego Comic-Con was as crowded as ever, if not more so. 

Many reports noted that, without the distractions of numerous celebrity appearances and programming, people actually spent more time on the floor! It sure felt that way. Personally, I suspected this would be the case since badges sell out in minutes nearly a year in advance. Comic-Con is Comic-Con—there's always plenty to see and experience. As one wag said, people learned that Hollywood needs the San Diego Comic-Con more than Comic-Con needs Hollywood.

A by-product of the crowded floor was solid sales—while not my best year ever, it nevertheless ranked up there, with many fellow exhibitors reporting great sales as well! 

Some other random comments and observations—

• As I do every year, I rolled into town with my now 18-year-old son at around 6:20 a.m. on the Wednesday before the Thursday start of the show, having departed my home in West L.A. at 4:35 a.m. Why so early? Aside from the fact that getting an early start on the road was a family tradition when I was a child, I like being able to pull into the nearly empty San Diego Convention Center parking garage to have my pick of parking spots—so that I can park next to the elevators and directly beneath my booth, make unloading my car easy. I'm usually set up by 8:30 a.m., which allows me to check in early at the hotel...then relax until the start of Preview Night Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. It also gives me a little time to myself to explore the convention hall as people set up. (Starting a couple years ago, we started staying at the Manchester Grand Hyatt two hotels down from the convention center—well within walking distance but a bit away from the crowds and frenzy of the closer hotels.)

• In addition to connecting in person with both new and longtime readers, attending multi-day conventions also offers the opportunity for instant feedback. Some people who pick up the latest issue of Rob Hanes Adventures often return later in the show to tell me how much they enjoyed the story and to discuss aspects of it. I appreciate how closely some readers read the story and catch my easter eggs and references. As well as point out my (more than) occasional typos and plot holes lol.

• It was nice to see the comic book retail section of the floor hopping!

• Being an end booth, I’m often asked for directions by random convention attendees. I’m always happy to help, often pointing out that the aisle numbers are identified by the big banners hanging from the ceiling. But I do wish people would realize that maps and booth locations are readily available in the program and the Comic-Con app.

• Favorite overheard piece of conversation at the convention: "I feel like I'm not nerdy enough to be here!" (I thought to myself, dude, you're plenty nerdy enough.)

• A sign of the times: Being asked multiple times by customers, “Do you take cash?” I remember the days when it was usually the opposite—“Do you take credit cards?” (I didn’t until the advent of card apps and readers for mobile devices!)

• The promotional building wraps in San Diego during Comic-Con—which often extend to the trolleys—are always good, but they were amazing this year, with many buildings in the Gaslamp also sporting building/facade wraps.

• A rep from the digital comics platform, GlobalComix, stopped by to give me two table top banner stands to promote the series on their website! It was a total surprise and quite a well designed banner (see pics below for a shot).

• Comic-Con is always an opportunity to meet and visit with longtime fans and fellow pros—some even kindly come to visit me at my booth! These included cartoonist Tom Batiuk who, of course, recently featured me in the July 18th installment of his comic strip, Crankshaft; cartoonist Scott Shaw!, from whom I bought his new compilation book, Scott Shaw!'s Comix and Stories; Simpsons' and Futurama cartoonist Bill Morrison; the Adventures of Simone and Ajax creator and cartoonist Andrew Pepoy; comics writer and creator Tom Mason; cartoonist and graphic novelist Mark Fearing; Steamroller Man creator and storyboard artist Matthew Schofield; award-winning audiobook narrator, comics geek and college buddy Scott Brick. You can see them and many of the series' fans in the photo gallery.

• I also had a fun celebrity encounter with comedian/actor Eddie Pence. My wife is a huge fan and supporter of comedian/actor Ralph Garman's podcast, the Ralph Report, co-hosted with Pence. (We've also attended several of their live shows.) Both are comics/pop culture geeks as well, and when my wife saw them tweet that they were at Comic-Con, she tweeted them an invitation to  visit. Not too long after, Pence kindly visited with his son! We chatted and had a fun conversation, and Pence graciously agreed to a photo op with my book. I later tweeted the photo, which he kindly retweeted and responded to.

• While I didn't hit a lot of after-hour activities, different friends of ours visited the convention. They're not into comics, but I was amazed by how much they enjoyed the show and took advantage of being there by attending panels, getting autographs, and more. Our children also had friends join them at the show. As an indication of how much they've older they are now, our daughter came down with her college roommate for just Saturday, kindly also giving a ride down to one of my son's friends. Being old hands at this, they enjoyed experiencing Comic-Con afresh through their friends' eyes. (They've attended since they were toddlers, my son for the first time when he was three months old—one of my longtime customers, upon spotting him at my booth, remembered him sitting in a baby carrier at our booth!)

• 7/31/23 UPDATE: Shortly after Comic-Con, three fellow comics folks I know who came by my table and briefly chatted with me reported on social media that they had tested positive for COVID. We tested shortly afterwards, but were not positive and still feel fine a week later. So I guess we dodged that bullet this year! (Last year, my wife tested positive and I did a week after her, so I assume I got it from her.)

• The highlight of the show for me personally was the tween girl and her father who purchased several issues of my series on the first day—the dad came over in advance saying that his daughter was quite taken with my "Death at Comic-Con" cover (#18). He wanted to be sure the series was kid-friendly. I assured him that while some stories feature some shooting and fighting, as well as an occasional measure of geopolitical intrigue that might go over kids' heads, the series otherwise is not dark or violent, and an all-ages title. When they returned later, I “curated” four issues I thought she would enjoy.

On the last day of the convention, the dad returned and told me she absolutely loved the stories and likely would buy more, saying he was delighted she was so taken by them, telling me, “I never know what’s going to excite her!” Sure enough, just before the end of Comic-Con, she returned to my booth and purchased more issues with her own money. (I ended up giving her an additional issue that I thought she’d also find fun.)

In fact, another young customer and her dad came over who wanted to buy more, based on purchasing an issue last year (issue 22, the World War II issue of all things!). He told me that on the way to Comic-Con, she said, “I want to buy more Rob Hanes Adventures!” Can’t argue with that!

Anyway, it was a nice reminder that my work has broad appeal that goes beyond old-timers like me who simply love old adventure strips—those strips, after all, were meant for a general audience too. The diverse audience who’ve purchased my comics over the years are proof of that!

Anyway, thanks to everyone who came by to visit my booth and made 2023 another great memorable show. This was my 25th appearance at the show—and next year marks the 30th anniversary of WCG Comics as well as the likely release year for the milestone 25th issue of Rob Hanes Adventures. More on that soon and in the coming year.

Visit the full gallery.

Above: My cameo in the July 18 installment of the comic strip, Crankshaft!

Cameo Appearance in Crankshaft!

Coinciding with Comic-Con this week, my booth, the latest issue of Rob Hanes Adventures, and I all make a cameo in today’s Crankshaft syndicated comic strip, courtesy of Crankshaft’s creator-writer Tom Batiuk and artist Dan Davis, when some characters make a trip down to the convention in the strip!

Tom, of course, is the cartoonist creator of the long-running comic strip Funky Winkerbean, which he retired at the end of 2022 after 50 years of syndication—it was a strip I grew up with when I lived in New York and which I have started to revisit now that the strip is being collected. Crankshaft spun off from Funky Winkerbean in 1987, with many characters appearing in both strips.

Tom is a real comics fan and not only did I discover he liked my work, in 2016, he commissioned me to do a faux comic-book cover featuring characters he created and drew in his childhood—it appeared in the Feb. 14, 2016 episode of Funky Winkerbean, fulfilling a childhood dream (albeit for one day) to do a newspaper strip! (It was a fun piece to do and Tom graciously said I really nailed it, saying he knew I’d be the right person for what he had in mind.) I’ve met Tom in person on his occasional forays to Comic-Con and, as I reported last year, had a lovely dinner with him and his wife when he was a guest at the show!

Obviously, it was quite a surprise and honor when Tom contacted me earlier this year to tell me about his plan to portray me and my booth in this sequence—in fact, because he wanted to feature the cover to my latest issue in the strip, his request provided the impetus for me to produce the cover when I did, since he needed it in time to deliver the strip to the syndicate (usually a few months in advance). Anyway, yes, I’d been keeping this under wraps since early spring and how cool now to see it in print!

Below is the color version of the strip that posted online...

Comic-Con Flashback II

Comic-Con Flashback I

See You at the 2023 San Diego Comic-Con!

Yes, I'm exhibiting at this year's San Diego Comic-Con, scheduled July 20–23! I'll be at my usual location at Booth K1 in the Small Press Area, with the newest issue of Rob Hanes Adventures, along with all back issues and other goodies.

And if you're not going to be there, no problem—because the issue is available NOW for order!

Click here to go to our web store and purchase.

In the latest issue, real life and fiction collide when Rob is hired to investigate threats against the production of a new streaming series that also happens to be based on his adventures at Justice International. The kidnapping of one of the show’s stars during an overseas junket soon leads to on-set intrigue, crooked agents, battling studio heads, creative bookkeeping, and even a Russian oligarch—in other words, another typical day in Hollywood in a tale that could only be called "Tinseltown Confidential!"

This year marks my 25th in-person exhibitor appearance at the show, which began with the inauguration of the Small Press Area in 1993. In addition, next year marks the 30th anniversary of WCG Comics—for the landmark 25th issue, I've got a rollicking high-concept throwback of an issue planned that brings the series back to its adventure strip roots—you'll have to read it to believe it! I've already started work on the issue, so stay tuned for a sneak peak soon.

I'll be posting from Comic-Con on social media throughout the show, so be sure to check my feeds regularly. You can find me on Twitter (@randywcgcomics), Instagram (@randywcg) and Facebook (facebook.com/rhadventures).

See below and here for additional sample art from the issue and for Comic-Con.

Coming to 2023 San Diego Comic-Con: Rob Hanes Adventures #24

Indie Publisher Randy Reynaldo Marks 25th Appearance at San Diego Comic-Con 

For Immediate Release

The newest issue of the long-running action-adventure series, Rob Hanes Adventures #24, will be available at Randy Reynaldo’s WCG Comics booth at the 2023 San Diego Comic-Con, scheduled July 20–23. The latest issue and all back issues will be at Booth K-1 in the Small Press Area.

In the issue, real life and fiction collide when Rob is hired to investigate threats to shut down the production of a new streaming series that also happens to be based on his adventures at Justice International. The kidnapping of one of the show’s stars during an overseas junket leads to on-set intrigue, crooked agents, battling studio heads, creative bookkeeping, and even a Russian oligarch—in other words, another typical day in Hollywood in a tale that could only be called "Tinseltown Confidential!"

The 2023 San Diego Comic-Con marks Reynaldo’s 25th in-person exhibitor’s appearance at the show, which began with the inauguration of the Small Press Area in 1993. In 2018, he was honored with Comic-Con's Inkpot Award for Achievement in Comic Arts. Next year marks the 30th anniversary of WCG Comics and for the landmark 25th issue, Reynaldo has an exciting and fun high-concept throwback of an issue planned that will bring the series back to its adventure strip roots (stay tuned for sneak peaks soon!)

Rob Hanes Adventures is a breezy action-adventure series about a private eye, troubleshooter and spy-for-hire from Justice International who travels the world on assignment, facing danger, intrigue and romance at every turn. Inspired by the great soldier-of-fortune comic strips of the 1930s and ‘40s, but set in the modern-day, the series has also playfully explored other comics genres, such as drawing room mysteries, war, sports, and romance. Every story is self-contained, so readers can jump in with any issue.

For more information, visit the WCG Comics website at wcgcomics.com. Reynaldo will also be posting on social media live throughout the show, on Twitter (@randywcgcomics), Instagram (@randywcg) and Facebook (facebook.com/rhadventures).

See below and here for additional sample art from the issue and for Comic-Con.

Below: Promo reel for Rob Hanes Adventures #24

Review: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

This review contains a mild spoiler at the end.

If Harrison Ford and Lucasfilm are to be believed, this fifth film in the series is the last—if so, the story ends on a high note. 

Though the main story is set in 1969, it opens in the waning days of World War II in a thrilling set piece that sets up this installment’s adventure. (This sequence features the well publicized CGI/AI de-aging of Ford—and, to my eyes, it was seamless and amazing. I always felt a weakness of Crystal Skull was its dependence on somewhat obvious CGI. Here it feels more visceral and grounded.) Indeed, the opening sequence is almost too much of a good thing—like all the setpieces in the film, it runs a little long. While the film is essentially one extended chase after another, but the ride is organic and fun.

For a partner, Indy connects with his adult goddaughter, Helena, a sassy grifter played by the coltish and cheeky Phoebe Waller-Bridge, whose character is initially is only motivated by self-interest and uses her archeological background and knowledge for personal profit. They’re joined by a capable waif named Teddy who is Helena’s companion (well played by French teen actor Ethann Isidore). 

The film also returns to the well again by making Nazis the movie’s villains, led by a very strong Mads Mikkelsen as Dr. Voller, a NASA scientist who we first meet as a Nazi true believer in the opening sequence. In truth, even moreso than in the other Indiana Jones films, Voller and his Nazi henchman are almost beside the point in the film, especially as their own hubris ultimately is the cause of their own downfall. Their role is really to get Indy to the end of the film where faces a stark choice related to his mortality.

Ultimately, the film sticks its landing, concluding in a touching and heartfelt way. In a climactic moment, Indiana Jones is given the opportunity to end his life and career in a definitive way, on his own terms. It says much about the film (and the fact that this was Ford’s last appearance as the character) that, in the moment, it felt like there was a real possibility the film might indeed end with the character's demise. But the film pulls Indy back from the abyss in a clever twist, allowing for an emotional farewell to the audience for Indy and the series.

All in all, a fun and satisfying ride and ending to one of the great action franchises.

On social media, I posted the photo below, joking they may have gone a little too far in de-aging Indiana Jones—it's actually a photo of my son dressed up for Halloween in 2014. He also wore the costume at Comic-Con in 2015, also seen below. 

A Name Up in Lights

I posted a few weeks back that our son graduated from high school. One of the traditions of the school is to highlight on its light board in front the names of graduates and the colleges they'll be attending. We had submitted his name in response to a survey from the school but it slipped my mind—by a happy coincidence, this weekend when we were going out, we were driving by the school at the very moment our son's name popped up on the board!

So this morning, I went to the school to take a photo for posterity. I expected that I might have to wait anywhere from 20–45 minutes...but in another stroke of luck, his name came up in only about 5 minutes! (To protect my son's privacy somewhat, I've blurred part of the school's name.)