The Funko booth at SDCC: Special Edition 2021. Photo: Sarabeth Pollock
It’s beginning to look a lot like SDCC: Special Edition as throngs of pop culture fans flocked to the San Diego Convention Center the day after Thanksgiving. San Diego Comic-Con is a summer event, but after the pandemic forced Comic-Con International to cancel SDCC 2020 and 2021 the November event is a way to give fans the gift of togetherness.
The vibe at SDCC: Special Edition is very different from the summertime convention. There are Grinches galore, and Christmas trees and lights and stockings.
And shopping.
After doing a tour of the Exhibit Hall floor, there was no question that this is a convention for shoppers. Vendors are using the Black Friday holiday weekend to entice people to their booths, and for anyone looking to buy for pop culture fans, this is the place to be.
The convention floor is about half the size it usually is. Hall H has been repurposed to the queue for badge pickup, which was very helpful because the line for vaccine checks (either a vaccine card or proof of a negative test) wound seven times along the lawn and out to Hall F before switching back to Hall H. Yeah. That was something.
Outside there are off-site experiences for HBO’s Peacemaker and NBC’s La Brea. (This could be really good or really bad for La Brea, as shows showcased at the Tin Fish location during SDCC tend not to fare well…)
Despite the lack of big studios or awe-inspiring booths, SDCC: Special Edition is still a welcome site for people looking for something to do with like-minded fans who have missed the annual convention.
One whiff of Convention Center air and you’re immediately transported back to the “old days” and for collectors and holiday shoppers, being able to stop and browse without security trying to keep you moving is an actual treat.
The nostalgia is the greatest thing about SDCC: Special Edition. If you remember what Comic-Con was like before the big studios arrived in the late 2000s, back when you could purchase a badge on-site, then you’ll feel that same vibe now. And I have to tell you, it’s kind of refreshing. It might not be the same SDCC, but it’s SDCC nonetheless and I’m here for it.
