Last weekend was pretty typical for me… decompressing from a week of painstaking labor, adulting, etc. For most, that sounds fairly typical… unless you were in the San Diego area this past weekend.
The 2026 iteration of San Diego Comic-Con wrapped up a little over 48 hours ago, nerds and geeks congregated at the West Coast “Nerd Mecca,” and while I haven’t been since 2008, I lived this weekend vicariously through all the civilians, content creators, writers, cosplayers, etc., and their walls of videos and photos that made it look amazing. Although in a way, the con has been described as being a bit too big for its surroundings, having grown out of the actual San Diego Convention Center around the last time I was there and begun feeding on adjacent hotels, outside areas like the Gaslamp Quarter, and even nearby Petco Park (where the SD Padres play) in order to support the (sometimes literally) unwashed masses who attend.
To all these points, let me throw at you some of the big takeaways I’m geeking out over personally from the event in a (hopefully) end-of-every-month article:
The Marvel Cinematic Universe Panel
Seems like each year is kind of a blind box of panels when it comes to Marvel Studios and SDCC. Sometimes they’re there with something big, sometimes not, and sometimes we get some Apple-style event at the El Capitan Theatre instead.
Last time Marvel was in attendance (2024), they had a mind-shattering announcement: not only were they retitling Avengers: The Kang Dynasty (for Jonathan Majors-related reasons) to Avengers: Doomsday, it was also revealed that Doctor Doom himself would be played by the man who helped launch the MCU with his portrayal of Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr.
This year was no different… the man who runs the show, Kevin Feige, entered Hall H and brought along a cadre of cast members from Doomsday, as well as Peggy Carter herself, Hayley Atwell, who I’d have expected to be along for the ride after seeing Captain America with a baby in the original trailer. In addition, a Gray Deadpool cosplayer (who was in no way Ryan Reynolds) got up and asked some questions about being in the movie… still remains to be seen. What was seen, however, were the two really big announcements…
A brand new Ghost Rider movie was announced for 2028, directed by Stranger Things‘ Shawn Levy and written by Jonathan Tropper (writer of next year’s Star Wars: Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling — spoiler, this part goes somewhere, I promise), which is interesting considering who they picked for the role of Johnny Blaze aka Ghost Rider… it was definitely a Ken. Now, Simu Liu is already in the MCU as Shang-Chi, but as a fellow Barbie Ken, he DID make a pretty funny joke about it on socials:
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He’s not wrong, though… Ken (as in Ryan Gosling) will take on evildoers as Ghost Rider in two years’ time, as well as…
The heir to the throne of Wakanda… Black Panther III was also announced for December 2028, with Ryan Coogler returning to direct and Alien: Romulus‘ David Jonsson (who was amazing as the synthetic Andy in the film) playing an aged-up Prince T’Challa II, presumably taking the mantle(s) from his aunt Shuri (Letitia Wright) and the Jabari Tribe Warlord turned King of Wakanda, M’Baku (Winston Duke), both returning as well.
Also, for the first time since they started putting them out, I’ll be missing a Spider-Man film in theaters… adulting.
Moving on to something I have a better chance at seeing in theaters next year…
Spaceballs: The New One
The announcement was made at this year’s CinemaCon… Spaceballs: The New One… coming April 23, 2027, a sequel literally 40 years in the making. I remember vividly seeing it in theaters, surrounded by various promos in the theater lobby, and subsequent times on video and eventually every medium out there. Fellow ’80s child and voice of Olaf from Frozen, Josh Gad, wrote and produced (with the now-100-years-old-and-counting Mel Brooks back for the ride), and Josh Greenbaum (Will & Harper) directs.
The panel itself, hosted by SDCC pillar Kevin Smith, had its own mini-Avengers (including an actual Avenger/Thunderbolt in Lewis Pullman) list of actors and actresses — from the newbies, Lewis Pullman, Josh Gad, and Keke Palmer, to the original cast members Daphne Zuniga, Bill Pullman, and the return of legendary comedian Rick Moranis (who was the highlight of the panel, obviously).
The plot has been kept mostly secret, but as you can expect, it definitely wraps around the more recent Disney-owned Star Wars films, with the younger Pullman playing “Prince Starburst,” Lonestar and Vespa’s son; Palmer as “Destiny,” presumably the “Rey” (Daisy Ridley’s character from the SW Disney Trilogy) of the film; and Gad as “a different Mog,” referencing the late John Candy’s “Barf.” Brooks also returns as Yogurt and presumably President Skroob.
Even though a lot of the classic Mel Brooks films should NOT be added to (looking at you, History of the World: Part II, and hoping Taika Waititi’s Very Young Frankenstein show doesn’t fall into the same trap), I feel Spaceballs: The New One might be that exception, in that it not only looks to parody all of the recent Star Wars films (and who knows what else… Mandalorian?) but, as with the first movie, pokes fun at itself at LUDICROUS meta levels. At the panel (and on Instagram), they already have a parody of Disney’s roadmap images of their slate for the coming years. They even made it a point to include the animated series from the late 2000s on G4… which is rarely remembered and/or discussed.
Transformers: The Movie 40th Anniversary — The “Apology Tour”
When you’re only a few years old, the concept of alien robots who can shapeshift into cars, planes, dinosaurs, and all kinds of different objects tends to stick with you for some time. Even more so when the main good guy character ends up being a wise and noble leader like Optimus Prime, willing to sacrifice himself to protect his kind. To that point, imagine going to see the film version of Transformers in 1986 for the very first time… IYKYK.
The then-tone-deaf heads of Hasbro, in their infinite wisdom, decided to snuff out Prime, mortally wound Megatron (only to rebuild him into Galvatron), and kill off just about every character from the first two seasons of the series. Why? To sell brand new toys — hooray for 1980s capitalism! In its wake, fans petitioned Hasbro to bring Prime back. It all culminated in not one but two resurrections of the iconic character — and even changed the ending of GI Joe: The Movie, which was originally set to see main character Duke die in battle as well.
Flash forward 40 years… what do you think a lot of TF fans do for a living? Are they painters? Computer analysts? Or did maybe some of them end up in the marketing department of a certain toy company, still remembering the sting from 1986 — watching Optimus Prime’s body go charcoal black and limp? Maybe… just maybe… they’re now in a position where they can “apologize” on behalf of the company to the fans. Well, they did. And in a big way.
Earlier this year, Hasbro announced the Transformers: The Movie 40th Anniversary — Apology Tour. A mea culpa of sorts to the fans who had to witness, and then carry, the memory of their favorite robotic hero dying in battle on the big screen.
Leading up to SDCC, there have been a lot of announcements for said “tour”: more figures being cranked out in the Transformers Studio Series 86 line (more on that next), a revamped version of the original soundtrack, and of course the movie being re-re-re-released. I’ve actually seen it once or twice in recent years — I took my wife to the 35th Anniversary showing, where they upscaled the movie to 4K before sending it to 4K Blu-ray (the big reason I ended up getting an Xbox Series X). With my busy schedule, I’d typically pass on seeing it one more time in theaters… but I think they might have just made me an offer I can’t refuse…
The trailer above previews the next theatrical run of the film… INCLUDING a post-credits scene (borrowing from the MCU much? jkjk) said to land shortly after the film’s end and Unicron’s demise. It’s a single teaser of Prime’s remains somehow floating in space (not sure how that works if you saw the Dark Awakening episode — yes, I am a TF nerd), followed by a twitching finger on his hand. SO FREAKING HYPED. The movie’s back in theaters September 17th, wherever Fathom Events runs in your neighborhood.
Skybound’s Energon Universe Slate
Speaking of hyped… it’s been 3+ years since Skybound announced they were going to be the new home for the Hasbro properties, including Transformers and G.I. Joe. Since then, the Energon Universe has thrived under Robert Kirkman’s (Walking Dead, Invincible) watchful eye, where he went even further in expanding the Universe in question with his own take in Void Rivals, which in itself has been an amazing run.
As of Skybound’s SDCC panel this past weekend, we know that Universe is getting even more expanded. Announcements included the recent addition of the M.A.S.K. line being revealed:
🚨 SPOILER TERRITORY — YOU’VE BEEN WARNED 🚨
Not caught up on the Energon Universe books? This is your exit. Scroll to the ✅ to rejoin.
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Skybound posted the above shortly after the panel. By now, most people know what’s currently going on in the stories:
Thundercracker joined the “Autobots,” but then Elita-1 assumed the role of Prime, leaving Optimus (just Optimus, like Oprah) and a few stragglers — including the newest Autobot, Shredhead, more on him later — to defend Earth from Megatron’s forces.
G.I. Joe is currently leading into a Civil War that pits Duke’s team and Flint’s team at each other’s throats on the whim of General Hawk (who, SURPRISE! is really Zartan), while Autobot Hound rides along on Duke’s squad in the search for more Energon.
On the Void Rivals end, our titular heroes escaped the clutches of the Quintessons — who have successfully won their war and captured THE SACRED RING!!!! (the one that can’t be unlocked, lest a giant monster get loose and destroy the universe… y’know, the usual). Solila and Darak have hooked up with the Cobra(LALALALALALA) team of Pythona and her organic minions. But what’s this? Another new player on the field? ROM Spaceknight — first introduced in a super-rare blind-bag one-shot — joins the fight to protect the Sacred Ring starting in Void Rivals #33, standing against whatever plans the Quints have up their tendrils.
And let’s not forget our newest addition to the Earth-based EU… Mobile Armored Strike Kommand (M.A.S.K.!), which started its run this past June, with teasers dating back to last year’s EU Free Comic Book Day Special. The book is just getting its feet wet, but it’s in good company.
IDW, who held the rights to all the Hasbro properties before Skybound, tried their hand at a shared universe akin to what the MCU did with the Avengers. Sadly, going back to read it, I feel like it missed the mark in a few places. For one, I didn’t start with IDW’s Transformers #1, so aside from the standard lore, I had no idea about the references — like Thundercracker also joining the Autobots in that iteration, but somehow becoming a Hollywood screenwriter who owns a dog. The story got rather convoluted as characters from different IPs showed up (ROM, Micronauts, etc.), and it eventually spun off a 10-issue M.A.S.K. run (plus a later crossover that didn’t amount to much) with a pretty loose story and — even worse — minimal characters from the actual show.
I rather like how instead of rushing into a full-blown Avengers (or Revolution)-type BIG EVENT BONANZA, Kirkman and Co. are instead going for crossovers in various issues – I.e.: Hound teaming up with GI Joe, Hot Rod and Springer showing up to help the crew in Void Rivals, etc. I actually spoke with Kirkman back at NYCC 2024 and he suggested just that. Can’t wait for more Energon Universe, seriously just take my banking info.
✅ SPOILERS OVER — WELCOME BACK 🖤
Deep breath. You’re safe now. Let’s talk toys.
Hasbro’s Wallet-Destroying Figure Lineup
Speaking of the Studio Series 86 line I mentioned earlier — Hasbro came to SDCC with a whole spread of figures, and a few of them reached directly into my wallet and started rummaging around. Let’s do some damage.
First up, the one I did NOT see coming: a Monster Jam collaboration. Yes, the monster trucks. Grave Digger leads the charge, transforming from the iconic truck into a Transformer, joined by fellow Jam favorites Megalodon and El Toro Loco. And because Hasbro knows exactly what they’re doing to us, there’s a companion collection roping in Optimus Prime, Megatron, and more done up in Monster Jam flavor. Our friends over at BWTF have the full breakdown:
Now, remember Shredhead? Told you we’d get back to him. The newest Autobot from the comics is getting the Voyager Class treatment in the Energon Universe Studio Series line — and the fact that they’re opening the Studio Series up to comic-original characters like him (alongside an Optimus Prime packing Megatron’s severed arm, because of course) tells me this well is nowhere near dry. More EU figures incoming. My savings account is already bracing for impact.
But here’s the one that really got the gears turning: Studio Series Red Alert — and they’ve got him listed as G1. Now, Studio Series has always been movie-based, so a G1 designation raises an eyebrow. Is this Hasbro quietly testing the waters for a full-blown Studio Series 84? A whole line dedicated to the original 1984 cartoon aesthetic? Because if that’s where this is heading… my wallet is doomed. Absolutely, thoroughly doomed. Sound the alarm — appropriate, given it’s Red Alert.
Here’s everything Transformers announced via Hasbro Pulse:
Oh, and one more thing (to borrow a phrase from Mr. Feige)… Zelda figures?! Yeah. Hasbro also announced they’re producing toys based on Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda. From transforming monster trucks to Hyrule in the span of one panel. I have no notes. We’ll dig into that one when we’ve got more toy coverage rolling.
There’s so much more I could continue writing about this year, despite having not stepped off the East Coast. Then again, I wonder what New York Comic-Con has in store this year? Either way, I can continue geeking out on topics like these — and all the stuff I wanted to fit in but couldn’t — and we’d be here until San Diego Comic-Con 2027.
At any rate, if you’re geeking out too… you might be one of us. Adult Swim Central grew into the Art Comedy Pop-Culture Network because a bunch of us couldn’t shut up about the stuff we love — the cartoons, the movies, the comics, the toys currently judging us from the shelf. If any of this got YOUR gears turning — the Marvel of it all, the Transformers trauma, the deep-cut comic lore nobody else is covering — then you already speak the language. We’re always looking for fellow geeks to share what they’re into. Come find us. Let’s geek out together.
