by Transmute Jun New York City Comic Con (NYCC) is a major pop culture convention for many reasons: its numerous studio panels, its huge literary/book author presence, and an Artists’ Alley and comic publisher presence that arguably puts even San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) to shame. Yet there are certain aspects that have always held it back from becoming truly great.

by Transmute Jun While San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) has long been known for its offsite activations, New York Comic Con (NYCC) has typically been lackluster in that regard. However, in 2026, NYCC boasted 6 major offsites across television, movies and video gaming. Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game hosted an offsite on Friday of the convention, where fans could demo the game and enjoy themed food and drinks.

by Transmute Jun New York Comic Con (NYCC), with its October dates, is always the place for horror properties. In 2026, the star of the show was Peacock’s Crystal Lake, a Friday the 13th prequel series. Crystal Lake follows the story of Pam Voorhees, mother of Jason Voorhees, the famous hockey-masked killer of the Friday the 13th film series. Pam is naturally devastated when her son drowns in the titular lake while attending the camp located there.

By Jason Delgado  One of my favorite film festivals, the Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF), returns October 15-22nd, 2026, for its 27th year. NBFF will screen more than 100 films from around the world and host special events around the city, including Style Week OC, Awards Chatter Live podcasts (with filmmaker extraordinaire Aaron Sorkin and talented actress Emmy Rossum), and Fashion Keynote (with actress Jamie Chung).

Join us for a very special evening with the legendary, Frank Miller. Rare books, autographed art, live sketches, and much more. All proceeds go to charity.

From penny drops to Graded Grails. Marvel Comics takes over the Mike'd NYCC eBay Live show on Thursday, 10/8/2026, at 6 PM EST!

DRWHO42 Mike Flanagan, the man behind hits like The Haunting of Hill House, has created another must-see series. His latest project, Carrie, debuts this week on Prime Video, one month shy of the 50…

By Jason Delgado The full lineup for Los Angeles’s largest pop culture event is here! Fifteen years of LA Comic Con (LACC) marks a special occasion when the Con returns on October 30th untill November 1st, so what better way to celebrate than with icons Nicholas Cage, Hayden Christensen and Christopher Lloyd, the casts of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, K-Pop Demon Hunters.

DRWHO42 Mike Flanagan, the man behind hits like The Haunting of Hill House, has created another must-see series. His latest project, Carrie, debuts this week on Prime Video, one month shy of the 50th anniversary of the original film adaptation directed by Brian De Palma and starring Sissy Spacek. The series sets itself apart from its predecessors by widening the aperture beyond Carrie's telekinetic powers to focus on the motivations behind bullying, deception, and revenge, and the emotional toll it takes on those involved.     

by Transmute Jun Fans of Friday the 13th know that the film series originated at Camp Crystal Lake, where many of the counselors met their untimely ends while partying at night. Peacock is about to release a new Crystal Lake prequel series, detailing what led up to the events of the first film. The series will also be hosting an…

By DRWHO42 and Scott October has arrived in a big way with a buffet of exciting season, and series premieres to choose from. A such, this week’s edition will also be super-sized to cover two weeks since the team will be attending New York Comic Con next weekend.  First up on Sunday is the return of Justin Hartley’s Tracker and Marshals on CBS.

by Transmute Jun Horror fans are excited to experience the new Peacock series, Crystal Lake, at the upcoming New York Comic Con (NYCC), to be held October 8-11. Attendees can experience an exclusive first-look screening on Thursday, October 8 at 6:30 pm, at the Empire Stage. And now, Peacock has announced that fans can experience Crystal Lake all weekend on the Exhibit Floor (

By Scott and DRWHO42 Primetime kicks off the week with major live broadcasts, starting at 7:30 PM with CBS, MTV, and Paramount+ airing the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards. Fox launches its full Sunday Animation Domination slate starting at 8:00 PM with the Season 38 premiere of The Simpsons, followed by the Season 5 premiere of Animal Control at 8:30 PM, the Season 3 premiere of…

by Transmute Jun It's time! Badges for WonderCon 2027 (to be held March 26-28) are now on sale. Even better, WonderCon is offering a discounted Early Bird price for badges purchased before February 11, 2027. Adult badges for the 3 day event are $135 (plus a $15 service fee), with discounts for juniors, seniors and military. To purchase badges, login to your Member ID account. Are you planning to attend WonderCon 2027? Join the conversation on the FoCC forums!

by Transmute Jun CBS' quirky comedy Ghosts, an American  adaptation of the British series of the same name, is coming to New York Comic Con (NYCC)! Ghosts will host a panel on the Main Stage on Friday, October 9, at 1:45 pm. Attendees will be able to see cast members and the executive producers of Ghosts, as they discuss the upcoming Season 6.

By Jason Delgado  When the original Resident Evil video game launched on PlayStation 1 in 1996, it effectively created the genre of survival horror games for the masses. Playing that game at night, in the dark, was genuinely a creepy/thrilling experience that my younger siblings and I still cherish to this day. The atmosphere and storytelling was top-notch, beyond being simply another zombie yarn.

By DRWHO42 and Scott The stage is set for an exciting week in television with Jon Hamm and Peter Krause leading the way. Sunday kicks off with a new drama titled American Hostage, starring Jon Hamm as a radio reporter who is unexpectedly drawn into a life-or-death hostage crisis. Rounding out the cast are Giovanni Ribisi and Mireille Enos. Gillian Anderson returns in a new series, …

by Transmute Jun Warning, this episode contains spoilers for The Walking Dead: Dead City, Season 3. Of the three post-Walking Dead spinoffs, most fans would say that Dead City is the least interesting. The Ones Who Live had the allure of finally finishing Rick's story, and seeing him reunited with his family. Daryl Dixon, while recycling general plotlines from the original series, makes excellent use of its European locales, bringing in local culture and locations to create something new and compelling.

by Transmute Jun New York Comic Con (NYCC) has always been the place for horror, given its mid-October timeframe. This year, Peacock's Crystal Lake takes up the mantle, coming to NYCC to host a panel and show footage to fans. Horror aficionados may recognize Crystal Lake as the setting for the first few Friday the 13th films. Jason Voorhees drowned at Camp Crystal Lake, leaving his mother, Pam Voorhees, in a distraught mental state.

By Scott and DRWHO42 Sunday starts early with the return of the NFL’s full Week 1 schedule hitting the day. In evening broadcast TV, 60 Minutes launches Season 59 on CBS following afternoon football, while Sunday Night Football features a marquee matchup at on NBC and Peacock. The men’s US Open Final also airs on Sunday on ABC. Monday Night Football commands primetime sports coverage across ESPN and ABC.

By Scott Heads up, Spider-Man fans! Disney and Jazwares, are teaming up Avengers-style to host a Guinness World Records official attempt for the largest gathering of fans dressed as Spider-Man during New York Comic Con (NYCC) 2026. On Thursday, October 8th, at the Javits Center, attendees will try to break the current record of 685 participants and make NYCC the largest real-world gathering of costumed Spider-Man fans.

By DRWHO42 and Scott The upcoming week's television lineup will offer audiences new mysteries to solve, NFL football returns, a heroic streaming debut for Supergirl, and remembrance of 9/11. PBS leads the way with the murder mysteries, starting the week with the season premiere of The Marlow Murder Club, and the series premiere of Marble Hall Murders. Charles Dickens fans will want to turn to MGM+ for a new adaptation of A Tale of Two Cities, starring Kit Harington.

By Miclpea Science fiction and fantasy fans packed the Anaheim Convention Center from August 27 to 31, 2026, for LAcon V, the 84th World Science Fiction Convention. The World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) is an annual international gathering of science fiction fans, writers, artists, musicians and creators. It was first held in New York City in 1939; Worldcon visits a different city around the globe each year.

By Scott In a galaxy far, far away—or, more accurately, in Los Angeles, California — The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art will officially open its doors to the public on Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026. It will be dedicated to showcasing the universal tradition of storytelling via imagery. Founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson, the Museum traces visual storytelling across cultures and centuries, such as from prehistoric cave paintings to illustration, comics, cinema, and murals that celebrate how stories connect people, shape belief, and help individuals see themselves in others.

By Miclpea LAcon V presented the 2026 Hugo Awards Ceremony on Sunday, August 30 at 8 PM in the Arena at Anaheim Convention.  The Hugo Awards are awarded annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, who founded the science fiction magazine Amazing Stories. They are given at the World Science Fiction Convention and chosen by the voting members of the convention.

By Scott and DRWHO42 This week offers a diverse lineup of network specials, returning comedy hits, high-stakes streaming finales, and animated premieres. On Disney+, LEGO Star Wars: The Mandalorian debuts Wednesday with a lighthearted brick-building spin on the outer-rim bounty hunter. Hulu returns Thursday with Season 2 of Chad Powers, starring Glen Powell back on the field in disguise. Guy Ritchie’s crime comedy, …

By DRWHO42 and Scott The summer of 2026 is entering its final weeks, and next week on television will offer a great escape. Looking back at the past week, Reacher is delivering another wonderful season filled with action and intrigue.  The week starts with two travel-themed mystery series which offer audiences something different from the typical procedural: Blue Murder Hotel on Acorn, and The Good Ship Murder on BritBox. 

by Transmute Jun Regular attendees of New York Comic Con (NYCC) know that ReedPop has a reservation system for big panels (those at the Main and Empire Stages), as well as for some exclusives (typically Funko) and autographs (primarily authors). New for the 2026 show (to be held October 8-11), the exclusives and autograph reservations will be changed from a first-come-first-served system to a randomized system.         

By Scott The D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, returned to Anaheim this year, offering fans a balanced mix of progress updates and long-term strategy for Disney’s entertainment and theme park divisions. Disney is raising the bar with exciting updates and new experiences, which will keep you coming back. For instance, Disney unveiled official details for Villains Land for Walt Disney World, which will feature a…

Just in time for the conclusion of the animated X-men '97 TV series, Miked Up will be spitting mad slabs and dollar starts of your favorite mutants.

by Transmute Jun New York Comic Con (NYCC) is known for its exciting studio panels, particularly those for horror-based properties. The first draft of the 2026 show's programming schedule has been released (show to be held October 8-11), letting attendees know what to expect. Some of the highlights include: FINAL FANTASY VII REVELATION - Meet the English Voice Cast - Thursday, October 8th, 11:00 AM, Main Stage…

By Scott Even though San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) 2026 took place last month, to many, it still feels like it happened just yesterday. One of the highlights of the con for me was the 12th Annual Her Universe Fashion Show which continues to be the premier opening-night event at SDCC. By centering the entire runway on DC Comics heroes and villains, introducing a new audience-centric layout, and highlighting human creativity, the show elevated geek couture into a theatrical performance art form.

By Miclpea Worldcon returns to Los Angeles this month as LAcon V. The event will take over the Anaheim Convention Center from August 27-31 for the 84th World Science Fiction Convention. Worldcon is run by fans and volunteers under the World Science Fiction Society. By buying a membership to the convention, the attendee becomes a voting member of the society for that year, with a say in everything from programming to where future Worldcons happen.

By Scott and DRWHO42 This week’s release lineup boasts a diverse range of content, including highly anticipated franchise premieres, beloved comedies returning for new seasons, and significant season finales across major streaming platforms and traditional broadcast networks. DC and HBO Max are leading the major debut spot on Sunday with the series premiere of Lanterns. The show stars Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre as an earthbound detective who solves mysteries.

by Transmute Jun Emerald City Comic Con (ECCC) fans, get ready! Tickets for the 2027 convention (to be held March 4-7) will be going on sale at noon Pacific time on Thursday, August 27. A presale will be held a day earlier (noon Pacific on Wednesday, August 26) for PopVerse Superfans and last year’s VIP badgeholders.

By Scott This review contains spoilers.   After the monumental success of Spider-Man: No Way Home back in 2021, which saw Tom Holland’s Spider-Man teaming up with Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield as their respective Spider-Men, Marvel Studios and Sony found themselves with a big narrative challenge: how do you effectively create another good movie without compromising the quality of the next Spidey chapter?

By DRWHO42 and Scott The week ahead will offer an adrenaline-fueled shot not be the season finale of House of the Dragon and the season premieres of X-Men ‘97 and Reacher. Sunday is teeing up a must-watch season finale of The House of the Dragon. We anticipate alliances will be broken as the families navigate control of Westeros. The resurrection of Dragonfyre adds a new dilemma for the queen, and her claim to the throne along with dealing with those who test her ability to rule.

By Jason Delgado  LA Comic Con (LACC) shows once again why it is the biggest pop culture convention in Los Angeles by bringing back by popular demand their anime hub, Akiba Station! Akiba Station brings anime fandom to life, featuring larger-scale themed environments, interactive activations, exclusive merchandise, and a stellar lineup of anime brands, creators, and special guests. “From the beginning, our vision for Akiba Station has been to create a space that feels authentic to the anime community and gives fans a dedicated place to celebrate the culture they love,” said Chris DeMoulin, CEO/GM of Los Angeles Comic Con parent Comikaze Entertainment, Inc.

By Scott At this year’s San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC), Hasbro hosted its annual Press Breakfast event at the Ultimate Skybox in Diamond View Tower, located in Downtown San Diego. This exclusive event provided attendees with a hands-on preview of upcoming figures, roleplay collectibles, and collaborative toy lines covering several major franchises. Once inside, it was time to have some fun looking at spectacular toys.

by Transmute Jun For those who attend pop culture conventions every year, memories of each event can blend into the other, creating an overall feel for the con in general, rather than for specific years. Such is often the case for many Gen Con attendees: the biggest gaming convention in the US typically manifests as a pleasant haze of games and entertainment that carries over from year to year.

By Scott At this year’s San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC), Paramount+ The Lodge offered an offsite experience where attendees could explore a theme walkthrough of some of Paramount’s popular shows. Situated at the Happy Does Bar (340 Fifth Ave in the Gaslamp Quarter), as in previous years, the walkthrough lasted approximately 50 minutes. General admissions line was for reservation holders, but there was also a standby access line that would get very long throughout a hot day.

By Miclpea This summer, San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) attendees had a new reason to venture beyond the convention center floor. Supercell brought its hit mobile game Clash of Clans to life with an immersive, real-world experience called Clash for the Stache. Clash for the Stache runs from July 15 through September 7, 2026, at Seaport Headquarters, located at 789 W. Harbor Drive in San Diego.

By Scott The 9th annual Fandom Party made a triumphant return to San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) on Thursday, July 23, 2026. The evening event took place at the rooftop oasis of the FLOAT at the Hard Rock Hotel, nestled in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego, California. The Fandom Party, an invitation-only event, has been one of the most eagerly anticipated after-hours gatherings at San Diego Comic-Con since the first party.

By Scott The week ahead of promises a packed schedule of television and streaming content, featuring several notable premieres, returns, and finales. The excitement begins on Sunday, August 2, with the third season premiere of Taylor Sheridan’s espionage thriller, Lioness, on Paramount+. Later that evening, PBS airs broadcast finales for Patience Season 2 and the series finale of Grantchester…

By Miclpea San Diego Comic-Con 2026 brought no shortage of immersive fan experiences to San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC). One of the most fun belonged to an unlikely hero: Stuart Bloom ( Kevin Sussman), the perpetually hard-luck comic shop owner from The Big Bang Theory. To promote Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, HBO Max transformed Sparks Gallery at 530 Sixth Avenue into a life-sized version of Stuart's shop, "The Comic Center of Pasadena," and sent con-goers spiraling through a multiverse gone haywire.

By Jason Delgado  The Kabam team was kind enough to invite me to the Marvel Gaming Lounge (at the Marriott Marquis & Marina) for some Marvel Contest of Champions gaming action during San Diego Comic Con (SDCC)! I had never played the game before, but I’m a huge Marvel fan, so I was eager to see how this game stacked up to the hype.

By Miclpea HBO Max has established itself over the past few years for its top-notch and memorable activations during San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) with the Iceberg Lounge for Penguin and Peacefest for Peacemaker. This year it delivered once again with one of the best activations at SDCC 2026 HBO Max’s Lanterns.  HBO Max transformed Venue 808 at 808 J Street into the Lanterns Training Headquarters, a free offsite activation built to promote its upcoming DC series Lanterns, premiering August 16.

By Scott During the 2026 San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC), Prime Video ensured that SDCC would be the one event to rule them all this year by bringing Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power to the forefront. At Hall H, with an impressive crowd of over 6,500 fans, the 90-minute presentation at SDCC 2026 provided an in-depth analysis of Season 3’s narrative trajectory.

By Miclpea The Librarians:The Next Chapter cast and creator appeared for a panel at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) to discuss the highly anticipated upcoming second season. The series is the latest in the franchise of the acclaimed original television movies and series,The Librarians.  The Librarians: The Next Chapter centers on Vikram Chamberlain (Callum McGowan), a time-traveling “Librarian” from the past who becomes stranded in the present.