Was the return of SDCC (2022) worth the wait?
Comic Reviews for week ending 7/24/2022
Good morning, my friend,
By the time you read this, Sand Diego Comic-Con 2022 will be a fleeting memory. This year marks the famed convention’s first in-person event since the Pandemic took over the world and forced all conventions into virtual limbo. The most important lesson, however, isn’t in SDCC’s return but in what we learned about the convention in its absence.
The virtual SDCCs of the last few years took away much of the mystique about what goes on in the convention for the vast majority of the week. Most discussion panels and interviews were pre-recorded and posted online for all the world to see. If you’ve never been to SDCC, those virtual recordings (check them out here) were a chance to see what goes on in person, and it’s an eye opener. More accurately, those videos are a sleepytime eye closer as any of the hype and excitement surrounding the “idea” of comics is not the focus of those roundtable discussions.
If you’re a comic book fan since you were a wee lad or lass, the things that drew you to comics in the first place are not in the panel discussions which take up the vast majority of scheduled events. If you want the hype/buzz/excitement, it all comes down to the Hall-H announcements (celebrity appearances, movie and streaming announcements), cosplay activities, artist alley, and vendors. In short, the in-person activities are the big draw that gives off that old comic magic.
What’s interesting about the in-person events is that there’s no obvious link between the hype generated and an uptick in comic sales. That could be a key reason why DC Comics chose to skip the event this year when you consider a Big 2 publisher would need to spend a large amount of money to set up a display, fly in creators, and more. It’s a big expense that creates a lot of news and exposure but doesn’t correlate to better sales.
Was the return of SDCC 2022 worth the wait? The answer, truly, is “it depends.”
If you want the excitement of attending a big event where you can see celebrities and cosplayers in person, and you have a lot of money, time, and logistical help to spare, SDCC is a welcome return.
If you’re a collector or speculator who has to have that artist's signature, that hard-to-find back issue, or your first crack at toy collectible exclusives, the value of getting something rare “might” outweigh the time, cost, and planning.
If, however, you’re hoping to be part of a larger comic experience on a modest budget, SDCC is going to be a tough sell, and most of what’s going to float your boat will come out on the typical new sites, social media, and YouTube at the same time.
The point here isn’t to say SDCC is or isn’t worth your time and money. It’s worth your time and money depending on what you’re looking for. Choose wisely!
Have you been to SDCC? Do you attend other comics conventions? If so, what’s your favorite part, and what makes the experience worth it? Comment down below, and let’s get the discussion going.
Now, let’s talk about the comics that ARE worth your time from this past week.
NOTTINGHAM #9 – Review
MONSTROUS: BOOK OF THE DEAD #2 – Review
PANDA VS. YUKI #9 – Review
ARMORCLADS #5 – Review
NOOK #2 – Review
LITTLE RED RONIN #1 – Review
ROBYN HOOD: THE CHILDREN OF DR. MOREAU – Review
BELLE: RETURN OF SCYLLA – Review
LIFE ZERO #6 – Review
SAMURAI SONJA #2 – Review
NYX #8 – Review
JENNIFER BLOOD (VOL. 2) #10 – Review
Eleutheromania – Indie Review
SUN ON THE CEILING #1 – Indie Review
Show's End: The Second Coming #1 (Mad Cave Studios)
Over The Ropes: Broken Kayfabe #2 (Mad Cave Studios)
Mechanix #1 (Source Point Press)
Ultramax #3 (Source Point Press)
The Oblivion Trials #2 (Source Point Press)
Good Boy (Vol. 2) #3 (Source Point Press)
Beasto Blanco: Spacewave Conquest (One-Shot) (Source Point Press)
Bloodborne: Lady of the Lanterns #1 (Titan Comics)
Book of Shadows #1 (Valiant Entertainment)
Victoria Black #1 (Second Sight Publishing)
Ninja Kaidan #1 (Blackbox Comics)
John Carter of Mars #4 (Dynamite Comics)
Red Sonja (Vol. 6) #11 (Dynamite Comics)
Vampirella: Year One #1 (Dynamite Comics)
That’s the shortlist for now. We’ll add more titles and adjust as time and resources allow.
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