For those hoping to experience San Diego Comic-Con as a volunteer, we have some bad news for you: All spots are taken.
Following last month’s Priority Volunteer Registration (for those who had volunteered in previous years or who were pre-approved), the regular Volunteer Registration (for first timers who signed up on the Interest List) has now filled up.
Unlike with Priority Volunteer Registration, where attendees are virtually guaranteed a spot, the Interest List slots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. 2018’s Volunteer Registration opened up back on November 16, giving those who were eligible and interested hopefully plenty of time to register. The slots used to fill up in literally minutes (for example, 17 minutes back in 2015), but for the last two years, the process has been much slower to reach its quota.
Comic-Con International will not be accepting any more volunteers for 2018.
CCI depends on the thousands of volunteers each year to assist with running the event. It has become a popular way for folks to get a free badge for the convention while providing a service to CCI and their fellow attendees, as well as some nice swag that’s only available to volunteers. Sadly, those of you who weren’t able to get into the program will have to wait until next year — or try for Open Registration on December 9.
Were you able to get into the volunteer program for 2018? Or will you have to wait until next year? Let us know in the comments.
You may have noticed that there’s been a lot more San Diego Comic-Con news in the fall/winter than ever before (including Open Registration coming up on December 9) – and that means that we’re publishing our earliest edition of the new season of Under the Tents than ever before. CCI has been busy sending out vendor booth confirmations as of late – so here’s a look at just some of the familiar faces you’ll be seeing on the exhibit floor in 2018.
Here’s a look at what you might have missed:
Our good friends at toddland announced they will be back at Booth #4429 (their favorite spot) for SDCC 2018, which is near the FOX Fanfare booth’s annual home. Judging from their tweets, we can expect a lot more Bob’s Burgers and Family Guy goodness from them this coming year.
Another good friend of ours, Patrick Ballesteros, got a little introspective on Instagram when he announced he will again be exhibiting at SDCC in 2018. He promises new 25 Cent Wonders, new sketchbooks, and new stories – and we can’t wait to see them.
If you’re a fan of amazing artwork and secret phrases, you’ll be just as happy as we are to see Ninjabot back at his usual spot in Small Press #L-08.
There is no happier moment than when you get the confirmation letter!
July 18-22 SDCC here I come! I’ll be at Small Press L-08(same spot as the last 3 years)! Woot! :D! pic.twitter.com/DA44TW1rca
And of course, it wouldn’t be Comic-Con without some crocheted critters. The Geeky Hooker will be back at SDCC 2018, making her famous critter drops. She’s currently making progress on her first round of critters, and also put out a call to see what her fans would like to see from her. Give her some feedback, and maybe you’ll find your own critter at SDCC!
Paint test! Doesn’t really show up on the yarn, but I wanted something subtle to begin with and crappy phone camera could be a factor. First round of critters for SDCC 2018 are officially in progress! pic.twitter.com/keNozwMkAM
Alright, let’s open this can of worms. What critters would you want to see at SDCC 2018? Got a preliminary list of ideas, but I’m always looking for suggestions!
Illustrator Sean Forney announced via his Facebook Page that, while he has been waitlisted for a table in Artists Alley at SDCC 2018, he is still going to be there in some form. Whether he has his own table or will share space with someone, he will still take commissions, hold signings, etc. We will keep an eye out as SDCC 2018 gets closer to see how the fates have favored Sean Forney.
Elhoffer Designs, who make some of the best geek-inspired fashion this side of the galaxy, was forced to resort to pop-up booths for SDCC 2017. According to Twitter, they’ll have their own space at SDCC 2018, which they (and we) are very happy about.
I was just told I'll have a booth at SDCC this year. Ya'll, things are HAPPENING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/dU7c9i9nO1
The Kevin Workman Foundation is currently accepting submissions for their Artist Sponsorship Program. One lucky artist will receive two complimentary four-day badges and an opportunity to showcase and sell their art at the Kevin Workman Foundation booth at SDCC 2018. Entries must be submitted by January 15, 2018. The artist will be chosen on February 15, 2018. You can find more information and submit your entry here.
The Geekiary, Friends of Comic Con, and The Collective Blog have begun crowdfunding for what they hope to become an annual SDCC party, Fandom Fete. Check out their Facebook Event for details on how you can contribute.
Artist Jason Adams was pleasantly surprised to learn CCI already gave him a table placement for SDCC 2018.
Holy moley, I already have table placement for SDCC 2018. Those guys don't mess around.
After trying for three years, artist Genevieve Santos is excited to bring her art to SDCC 2018. Visit her Instagram and let her know what you’d like to see from her this coming year.
Comic book/tattoo artist Sam Rusk announced via Twitter he will have a table at SDCC 2018.
We’ll find Lea Hernandez Seidman sharing Booth #BB-9 with Diana Greenhalgh in Artists Alley with Karen Krajenbrink next door at Booth #BB-11.
I just got confirmation that I'll be in @Comic_Con Artist's Alley in 2018! Mark your maps, warriors: Booth BB-9. Sharing the table is @DianaGreenhalgh (hi!), down frm me is @kayjkay, Karen Krajenbrink!
Artist Henry Liao announced he and Tom Nguyen will be neighbors in Artists Alley next year at Booths #FF-17 and #FF-18. In doing so, he also gave a sneak peek into who else will be around them.
Christopher Reda announced via Instagram he will be exhibiting at his first SDCC in 2018, where he will premiere his latest comic book series, Planetary Expansion. Stop by Table #M-11 in the Small Press area to give him a warm SDCC welcome and check out all the other series he’ll have as well.
Sometimes the process works, and it looks like it did for artist Jenni Gregory. Look for her and her work at Small Press Table #M-05 at SDCC 2018.
Jonathan La Mantia was excited to announce via Instagram that he’ll be back in Artists Alley for his fourth year at SDCC 2018. Find him and his work at Table #BB-20. He also posted a Facebook shout-out to his fellow SDCC 2018 artists, where artists Daniel Cooney and Salvador Velázquez Zaldívar commented they would also be at SDCC 2018 at Small Press Table #K-12 and Artists Alley Table #CC-10, respectively.
Russell Nohelty of Wannabe Press, who was gracious enough to allow Prize Mule Gerald to “borrow” his table for a prize drop this past year, not only announced via Facebook he will be back at SDCC 2018, but he will also share space with fellow artist Angela Fullard.
Artist Scott Zambelli took to Facebook to announce he will be back for his ninth SDCC in 2018 at his usual spot in Artists Alley, Table #BB-04.
Comic book artists/writer Dan Cooney took to Twitter to let everyone know he, too, will be at SDCC 2018, among several other appearances.
Just received confirmation email for a table from @ComicConHQ for #SDCC2018 add this to shows slated to exhibit for 2018: WonderCon, C2E2, and London. Fingers crossed for @bdangouleme in January!
World Famous Comics announced via Facebook that their Artist Collective will be back at SDCC 2018 at Booth #5560. This year, look for artists Brian Miller, Spencer Brinkerhoff III, and Justin Chung among the artists to attend next year.
Ed Luce confirmed via Facebook that Wuvable Oaf will return to SDCC 2018 in the Small Press area.
Artist Dave Garcia announced via Facebook he will be back in Artists Alley for SDCC 2018 at Table #GG-19.
Josh Warner posted an Instagram video to let everyone know he will be back in Small Press Table #L-09 for SDCC 2018.
Philly artist Mario Candelaria posted his tentative 2018 convention schedule on Twitter, and it includes SDCC.
My tentative 2018 con schedule because I have new stuff to promote
– C2E2
– SDCC
– Baltimore
– NYCC
I am open to other East Coast cons if any promoters out there want to have me or if pals want to split for a day.
Tony Kim announced via Twitter that his Hero Within clothing line will return to exhibit at SDCC 2018.
We’re excited to announce that we will be a returning exhibitor at San Diego Comic-Con 2018! We can’t wait to see you there!#SDCCpic.twitter.com/zzZX61IyJE
Comic-Con International keeps checking items off of their holiday vacation “honey-do list”. Not only do we have CCI’s official announcement for Open Registration on Saturday, December 9, we have our fourth wave of guests announced for WonderCon Anaheim 2018.
The third wave of special guests for next year’s con, which will be held on March 23-25 have been revealed. From the Toucan Blog, attendees to WonderCon 2018 can look forward to seeing:
Mark Evanier • Writer, producer, comics historian, Kirby King of Comics, Garfield
Dan Jurgens • Writer, artist, Superman, Action Comics, Batman Beyond
David Petersen • Writer, artist, creator Mouse Guard graphic novel series
Laini Taylor • Author, Daughter of Smoke & Bone Trilogy
Badges for WonderCon Anaheim 2018 are currently available. Purchase them online before February 20, 2018 to have them shipped right to you.
Additional special guests will be announced next week.
As we skate towards the holidays, WonderCon Wednesday returns with 4 more great special guests for the 2018 show, March 23–25 at the Anaheim Convention Center!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year — and we don’t mean Christmas.
San Diego Comic-Con Open Registration for 2018 is set for Saturday, December 9 at 9AM PT – which means that for better or worse, you’ll know soon whether you’re attending the pop culture juggernaut next year.
We don’t want to scare you, but the odds of purchasing a badge in Open Registration are a lot harder than in Returning Registration, simply because the pool of people wanting to score a badge is exponentially larger. But thousands and thousands of attendees manage every single year, and we’d like each and every one of you to go into the sale as prepared as you can be, to walk away with the golden ticket.
So: Are you ready?
Just in case you’re not, we’ve put together a guide and tips on making sure you are ready for the December 9 sale.
You can also join us, whether you’re buying a badge or just wanting to hang out, at the SDConCast’s Open Registration Live Coverage podcast. We’ll be kicking things off at 8:30AM PT, 30 minutes after the waiting room officially opens and 30 minutes before the sale kicks off, and we’ll be updating on any issues we see users having, badge inventory, and more. Plus, it’s a great way to celebrate getting a badge. Or to watch Kerry’s pugs run amok in the background.
What You Need
Above all else, you need to actually be eligible for Open Registration for 2018 (rocket science, right?). This is actually much easier than Returning Registration (October’s sale, for those eligible attendees who attended in 2017). Instead, all you need to be eligible for Open Registration is a Member ID (you must have already created one — any new Member IDs created after 9:30AM PT on November 27 will not be eligible for Open Registration this year), and to not have already purchased all four days with Preview Night during Returning Registration (alternatively, if you are a Professional or Press who has already registered their badge, you’re also out). Easy, right?
If you’ve still got questions about whether or not you’re eligible, you can login to your Member ID to see if you have the green checkmark. For the visual learners:
Once you’ve verified that you’re eligible, you’ll need to gather a few things:
Credit card information
How many badges you are buying (you can buy for up to 3 individuals, including yourself)
The last name and Member ID of anyone you are buying a badge for (each person must be eligible for Open Registration on their own)
Your Registration Code (available no later than 48 hours before the sale; will be e-mailed to you and in your Member ID)
The link to the EXPO Logic Registration Waiting Room (available no later than 48 hours before the sale; will be e-mailed to you and in your Member ID)
Your Registration Code is the specific 15-digit-code that you’ll use to access the EXPO Logic Registration waiting room. You will need that code, as well as the link to the Waiting Room. It will be e-mailed to you, as well as uploaded into your Member ID (along with the EXPO Logic waiting room link) no later than 48 hours before the sale.
Price & Payment
Be familiar with the cost of a badge. Single day badges will run $63 for a Thursday-Saturday badge, with $42 for a Sunday badge or $45 for a Wednesday Preview Night badge (only available if you’ve purchased all four days). A combined four-day badge with Preview Night will run you $276. Additionally, new this year, there is a $5 handling fee per person you are purchasing for.
Here’s the breakdown of prices:
When paying, credit cards and payment can’t be split. Meaning that if you are purchasing badges for multiple people, it all has to go on a single credit card. This is the only downside to using large groups to purchase, as you may not be comfortable “spotting” someone upwards of $276. Again, we recommend only forming groups with people that you feel comfortable being in a financial situation with. If you’re not comfortable, don’t share payment information.
Trusting those in your badge buying group is even more important this year than ever before, as CCI will be physically mailing badges to each individual attendee (except for international attendees, who will still need to pick up on-site). If you buy someone else’s badge and they don’t pay you, CCI will not get involved and cancel their badge — so use common sense when dealing with strangers on the internet and money.
Badges will be mailed to the domestic address in your Member ID. If you’re an international attendee, you can either enter the US domestic address of a friend, or choose to pick up your badge on-site. You have until May 14 to log into your Member ID and ensure that the address is correct — but Member IDs are currently locked to changes until after the badge sale, so make sure you log in at a later date to change anything that needs to be changed.
The Process
At least 48 hours prior to the sale, CCI will input both your individual EXPO Logic Waiting Room Registration Code and the link to the waiting room. On December 9 — the date of the sale — attendees will be able to enter as early as 8AM, but the sale won’t officially start until just after 9AM PT. Between 8AM-9AM, you’ll be greeted with this screen, and prompted to enter your individual Registration Code:
Beginning just after 9AM, EXPO Logic will randomly assign everyone in the waiting room a place in line to purchase badges. This is a completely random process – and those who arrived at 8AM on the dot have as much chance of getting a “good” spot in line as those who entered at 8:59AM. There is no advantage to arriving early. However, there is a disadvantage to arriving late, as those who try to enter after 9AM will not be allowed in, and the room will be closed to new entrants. For this reason, it might be good to arrive a little early, to test that everything is working properly prior to 9AM.
Once the sale kicks off, in the past, CCI and EXPO have kept people informed with various messages. Here’s a look at a previous message:
If you are accidentally removed from the waiting room or lose connectivity, simply return to the EXPO Logic landing page and enter your registration code again. You will be put back with the same group you were previously. This only applies to registration codes that were authorized prior to 9:00 AM.
When it is your turn to purchase a badge, you will see all of the available badge types. Those badge types are held for you for 15 minutes, while you complete the purchasing process. Again, you may purchase badges for up to three individuals, including yourself, but you can only pay with one card. Each person you are purchasing for must be eligible for Open Registration on their own, and you must have their Member ID and last name.
The buyer should then be e-mailed a payment confirmation and receipt, and each individual attendee will receive an e-mail with their barcode at a later date.
We also highly recommend you watch this step-by-step video:
The Technical Side
Although CCI has fine-tuned this process over the years, technology often can and will have issues – Preregistration for 2016, for instance, was met with more issues than it has in several years (but Returning Registration for 2018 was a breeze). The only steps you can take to try to avoid these issues are to make sure you’re following the technical advice provided by Comic-Con International.
Here is a quick overview:
Have JavaScript cookies enabled. Included on the EXPO Logic Registration landing page is typically a“Precheck”, where attendees can make sure their browser is compatible with the Waiting Room. Once you have the link, test it!
No mobile devices or iPads. Get to a desktop. Seriously. Although some users report being able to make it work, if this isn’t a risk you have to take, don’t.
Only try to log into the waiting room once, and do not share your Registration Code. If you have other people trying to log in for you, logging in again will kick off the other sessions. If the waiting room logs you out prior to the sale starting, which happened to some users last year, you should be able to re-enter without it affecting you.
No multiple browser tabs. If you are a family with multiple eligible attendees using the same computer, use a different browser for each unique Registration Code.
Don’t refresh. The waiting room will automatically refresh every 120 seconds. The blue spinning circle is your friend, even if you think it is your enemy.
Don’t use the back button. This could remove you from the waiting room completely.
Tips
Although the randomized waiting room theoretically “evened the playing field” for all attendees at having the same chance at scoring a badge, there is still at least one tactic that might give you an advantage: Buddying up. Work with friends, as well as the Comic-Con community at large. Twitter and Friends of CCI are both great tools for finding fellow attendees – so utilize them.
Theoretically, the larger the circle of people you are working with to try to score badges, the better chance you have at getting one. After all, if you’re working with nine people, there is a better chance at three of those people will be placed in a “good” spot in line and be able to purchase badges for all nine team members, than there is a chance that on their own, all nine individuals will be given a “good” spot in line. The larger the group, the better the odds.
Only work with people that you trust and feel comfortable sharing money with, and who you trust to pay you back for their badge.
Also be aware of all the new(ish) changes. If you’re an international attendee, you won’t receive your badge in the mail — you’ll pick up onsite, unless you enter a US shipping address. Children under 12 who receive a free badge will register on-site still. Verify your mailing address in your Member ID is correct no later than May 14, 2018.
It’s also important to be prepared prior to the sale. We’d like to think you’re all up to speed already — you are now.
Will you be trying to buy a badge on December 9? Let us know in the comments.
You’ll be decking the halls with Comic-Con badges this holiday season, as Comic-Con International has just confirmed that the fourth (and please, CCI, let it be the final one) badge sale for the year will be taking place on Saturday, December 9.
Yes, for those looking to score San Diego Comic-Con 2018 badges, December 9 will be your (mostly) final chance to score entry into the convention (just remember that there’s always various contests afterwards).
The process is virtually the same as last year, in that beginning at 8AM PT on December 9, eligible attendees will be able to access a waiting room using their Registration Code. That code will be both e-mailed to attendees and also found in your Member ID under the “Registration Info tab”. If you haven’t already made a Member ID, unfortunately, you’re out of luck until 2019, as CCI has currently closed the system off to new members.
Once you’ve verified your code on the morning of the sale, you’ll be able to stay in the waiting room until 9AM PT, when you’ll be randomly placed into a line to await your turn to check out. For those who had previously purchased a Four-Day badge without Preview Night, you’ll be able to add Preview Night on as a stand-alone option for $45 (and if you purchased any other combination of single day badges, so long as you didn’t purchase Preview Night, you can also pick up extra days). Confused about your eligibility? Simply login to your Member ID and look for the green checkmark on top that says you’re OK.
Here’s a look at the prices for badges this year:
Once you’re into the system, you’ll be able to purchase up to three badges for eligible Member IDs, including one for yourself.
The San Diego Comic-Con Unofficial Blog will be hosting a live Google+ Hangout during the sale beginning at 8:30AM PT on December 9, as well as sharing any glitches or issues that crop up during the sale on Twitter. We’ll also have our Visual Guide up shortly.
As most San Diego Comic-Con attendees know, the words “Nerd HQ” and “charity” already went hand-in-hand — but now there will be an even bigger connection.
In a Facebook post today, actor Zachary Levi and The Nerd Machine business partner David Coleman announced that Nerd HQ will be “evolving into a non-profit foundation in the new year”.
For the uninitiated, Nerd HQ has offered attendees some variation of dance parties, a cool place to hang-out, and Conversations for a Cause for the last six years. Panels, photo booth photos with celebrities, and other offerings have sold admission prices — the proceeds of which were donated to Operation Smile. In the announcement, Levi and Coleman promised that, “Everyone in the nerd family knows how committed we are to helping those in need, and we will strive for HQ to continue to be a positive influence in the world for years to come”.
So how does this affect a San Diego Comic-Con 2018 appearance? It’s too early to tell at the moment. For now, the only news is that the Nerd HQ online store has been taken offline, and that they will no longer be offering any products for sale, but will “re-evaluate the merchandise business when the Nerd HQ Foundation debuts in 2018”.
In just three short years, Conan O’Brien has become of the best things at San Diego Comic-Con — hosting shows with some of the week’s biggest shows, and letting attendees join in on the fun for free (though getting a ticket can be tricky). But unlike the previous two years, in 2017, O’Brien didn’t end the final Conan taping with an announcement that he’d return in 2018.
But fans don’t need to worry: In a recent announcement that Google Play will be the exclusive mobile gaming partner for Conan, it was also revealed that “Google Play will also road trip with Conan for the show’s fourth annual appearance at San Diego Comic-Con”.
Typically, episodes tape on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday — though 2017 saw two Thursday tapings instead of a Saturday taping. We’ll have to wait to see if the show will be returning to the Spreckles Theatre (which seems very likely), whether or not Funko will be involved with the free Funko Pop! versions of Conan (which also seems likely), and exact guest/taping details. All of that information won’t be announced until much, much closer to July.
Are you excited about the return of Conan to San Diego Comic-Con in 2018? Let us know in the comments.
For those hoping to experience San Diego Comic-Con as a volunteer, we have some bad news for you: All spots are taken.
Dylan NDR Edwards (@DylanNDREdwards) 
