♪ ♪ >>> HELLO.

I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

THIS WEEK WE ARE FOCUSING ON ONE OF SAN DIEGO'S BIGGEST EVENTS OF THE YEAR , AND THAT IS COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL.

WE ALSO WANT TO THANK THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM FOR PROVIDING THIS BEAUTIFUL SPACE NEAR THE CONVENTION CENTER.

EXPLAINS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE EISNER AWARDS AND THE PROCESS OF CHOOSING THIS YEAR'S BEST.

THE FIRST OF ITS KIND SHOWCASE OF NATIVE AMERICAN COMICS.

WE WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THE EVENT HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND.

AND THE IMPORTANCE OF COMIC-CON FOR SAN DIEGO.

A LOOK AT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THIS HUGE WEEK FOR TOURISM.

THE KPBS NEWSROOM HAS BEEN BUSY ALL WEEK BRINGING YOU STORIES FROM COMIC-CON, AND THAT INCLUDES ALEXANDER NGUYEN WHO WAS ON THE CONVENTION FLOOR ON DAY ONE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> Reporter: THE DAY STARTED OFF PROMISING.

THE FIRST PERSON WE BUMPED INTO WAS SUPERBOY CLERK CAN'T, OR AS HE IS KNOWN ON THIS EARTH, SAM CARTER.

>> THAT IS OVER THERE.

>> Reporter: IT IS HIS FIRST COMIC-CON, AND SO FAR HE HAS BEEN BLOWN AWAY BY THE EXPERIENCE.

>> I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO COME HERE.

IT'S INTERESTING.

THERE'S A LOT MORE BOOTHS AND STUFF THAN WHAT THEY SHOW ON THE INTERNET.

>> Reporter: HE WAS ONLY ABLE TO GET A ONE-DAY PASS.

>> WE HAD A GAME PLAN.

I HAVE ALREADY GONE TO THE CURRENT-YEAR-OLD RUTH, THE TAMAGOTCHI BOOTH, THE CAPCOM BOOTH.

>> IMPLANT IS TRYING TO HIT AS MANY EXCUSES AS YOU CAN GET TO BRIDGET McCLURE JOSE SANCHEZ, AS A WRESTLING FAN THE DAY STARTED ON A SOMBER NOTE WITH THE PASSING OF HULK HOGAN.

>> HE WAS IMPORTANT TO THE IMPACT OF PRO WRESTLING.

SO IT IS HARD TO HEAR A LEGEND LIKE THAT PASSING AWAY.

>> Reporter: AS OUR SEARCH FOR SUPERMAN CONTINUES, WE BUMPED INTO CLARK KENT.

>> SOMETIMES I DON'T COME IN WITH A GAME PLAN, BUT TODAY I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A LOOK AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY SUPERMAN RELATED MURCH BECAUSE THE MOVIE JUST CAME OUT.

>> Reporter: THE SEARCH FOR SUPERMAN CONTINUES.

AND FINALLY SUCCESS.

>> I AM ACTUALLY ERADICATE HER SUPERMAN.

JUST BECAUSE IT IS MY FIRST YEAR.

I'M TRYING TO KEEP AN OPEN PLAN.

SEEING WHATEVER POPS UP ALONG THE WAY.

>> THE FIRST YEAR YOU COME IN NOT KNOWING WHAT TO EXPECT.

NOW WE HAVE WATER.

>> Reporter: FINALLY, SUCCESS.

WE FOUND SUPERMAN.

>> SUPERMAN'S BOOTH WAS HERE.

THAT WAS THE ONLY THING WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO STOP BY AND SEE.

>> THAT WAS ALEXANDER AND WHEN REPORTING.

SEEING ITS BIGGEST CROWDS OF THE YEAR AND A LOT OF THEM ARE GETTING THERE BY TROLLEY.

MATTHEW BOWLER SHARES SOME TIPS FOR RIDERS .

>> Reporter: PARKING IN DOWNTOWN IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE.

BUT THIS IS COMIC-CON.

>> SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON.

EVERYTHING IS PERFECT.

>> Reporter: CHRISTOPHER, OR DUE TO VADER, SAYS HE IS THE OLDEST COSPLAYER AT COMIC-CON AND HE IS TAKING THE TROLLEY FROM HIS ALMA MATER, UC SAN DIEGO.

FOR HIM, IT IS PART OF THE FUN.

>> IF YOU TAKE THE TROLLEY FROM ANYWHERE OUTSIDE OF SAN DIEGO, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE COSPLAYERS.

IT IS A LOT OF FUN BECAUSE YOUR IMAGINATION IS STARTING TO BUILD EVEN BEFORE YOU GET DOWNTOWN.

>> Reporter: ORGANIZERS SAY IN RECENT YEARS ATTENDANCE HAS TOPPED 130,000.

SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCILMAN STEPHEN IS CHAIR OF THE METROPOLITAN TRANSIT SYSTEM BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

HE SAYS TRANSIT RIDERSHIP SPIKES .

>> LAST YEAR, MTS SAW MORE THAN 265,000 ADDITIONAL PASSENGER TRIPS DURING COMIC-CON WEEKEND.

>> Reporter: THE BEST WAY TO GET DOWNTOWN.

>> ONE OF THE BEAUTIES OF TAKING THE TROLLEY IS YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PARKING.

BUT WHAT YOU SHOULD REMEMBER IS, BE SURE TO PARK IN A REGULAR PARK AND RIDE LOT.

DON'T JUST PARK RANDOMLY AT THE MALL SOMEWHERE.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS PARKING IS FREE AT THE PARK AND RIDE LOTS LIKE THE OLD TOWN TRANSIT CENTER.

>> HOP ON THE TROLLEY.

GET DOWN HERE.

IT IS A CAREFREE WAY TO ENJOY COMIC-CON.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS HE'S TAKING THE TROLLEY TO COMIC-CON BECAUSE IT IS PART OF THE EXPERIENCE.

>> ONE OF THE FUN PARTS OF TAKING THE TROLLEY TO COMIC-CON IS YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE DRESSED UP IN COSTUME ON THE TROLLEY WITH YOU.

>> Reporter: LATER SAYS HE IS GETTING THE 9:00 A.M. BLUE LINE FROM UC SAN DIEGO ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.

HE IS HAPPY TO POSE FOR PICTURES AND SPREAD COMIC-CON JOY.

SO LONG AS HE DOESN'T MISS HIS TRANSFER TO THE GREENLINE.

MATTHEW BOWLER, KPBS NEWS.

>>> MORE COMIC-CON JOY.

A HIGHLIGHT OF COMIC-CON ARE THE EISNER AWARDS.

FOR ALMOST FOUR DECADES THE EVENT HAS SERVED AS THE OSCARS OF THE COMICS INDUSTRY.

KPBS NEWS ARTS REPORTER EXPLAINS WHAT THE REWARDS ARE AND LOOKS AT SOME OF THIS YEAR'S NOMINEES.

>> Reporter: WILL EISNER IS ONE OF THE GIANTS OF THE COMIC-CON WORLD, SO IT IS FITTING THAT THE OSCARS OF HIS BELOVED AND MISERY ARE NAMED AFTER HIM.

JACKIE ESTRADA HAS OVERSEEN THE EISNER AWARDS SINCE COMIC-CON TOOK THEM OVER IN 1990.

>> THEY ARE GIVEN IN 32 DIFFERENT CATEGORIES WITH FIVE OR SIX NOMINEES IN EVERY CATEGORY.

A DIFFERENT SET OF JUDGES EVERY YEAR.

AND THEY SEE WHAT TRENDS ARE GOING ON IN THE INDUSTRIES.

>> I WISH THAT I COULD HAVE AN INVISIBILITY CLOAK AND SNEAK INTO THE EISNER ROOM EVERY YEAR WHERE ALL THE BOOKS ARE JUST PILED EVERYWHERE TO GET AN IDEA OF EVERYTHING THAT WAS NOMINATED.

>> PAMELA JACKSON DID NOT NEED A CLOAK.

SHE WAS A JUDGE IN 2021.

>> YOU GET A SECRET PHONE CALL FROM JACKIE ESTRADA TELLING YOU, WOULD YOU BE A JUDGE?

AND YOU CANNOT SAY ANYTHING FOR MONTHS.

AND I DON'T THINK MOST PEOPLE REALIZE HOW MANY BOOKS ARE THERE.

IT'S JUST A LOT.

IT IS ABOUT AN EIGHT-MONTH PROCESS OF DECIDING WHAT'S GOING TO FILTER TO THE TOP AND THEN A SIX-PERCENT SHOWDOWN WITH YOUR OTHER JUDGES OF RANKING THE MATERIALS.

I SAY IT IS AGONIZING IN ALL THE BEST WAYS.

>> Reporter: JACKSON IS ALSO THE COMICS ARTS LIBRARIAN AT SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY WHERE THE COMICS COLLECTION HAS GROWN FROM ABOUT 1800 TO MORE THAN 120,000.

>> SO I USE THE EISNER AWARDS NOMINATION LIST TO HELP WITH MY COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT.

AND THEN LOOK THROUGH THE EISNER LIST AND BUY AS MUCH OF IT AS I CAN ON A LIMITED BUDGET, OF COURSE.

>> WILL RELY BRANDS RELY ON RULE -- AWARDS LIKE THE EISNERS BOTH FOR INSURANCE OF THE QUALITY OF THE MATERIALS THERE PURCHASING BUT ALSO BECAUSE THEY RAISE INTEREST.

COMING TO THE LIBRARY AND ASKING ABOUT THESE TITLES.

THEY ARE GOING TO BE LIKE, DO YOU HAVE THIS?

DO YOU HAVE THIS GIMMICK >> THE EISNERS ARE A FANTASTIC CLIFF NOTES VERSION OF WHAT IS NEW AND NOTEWORTHY EVERY SINGLE YEAR IN THE FIELD OF COMICS.

SO IT IS GREAT TO KNOW THAT HERE IS THIS PREVENTED LIST IN EACH CATEGORY THAT HELPS YOU KNOW YOU DID NOT MISS SOMETHING.

>> Reporter: OVER AT KAMIKAZE COMICS AND POP-CULTURE STORE CO- OWNERS LUCKY BRONSON AND DD HIGHLIGHT EISNER NOMINEES EACH YEAR ON THE DEDICATED SHELF.

DD SHARED HIS FAVORITES.

>> THE GUARD DOG STORY FROM PATRICK McDONALD, WHO HAS DONE COMICS A LONG TIME.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO BRING KLEENEX WHILE YOU READ THIS.

IF YOU LOVE DOGS, THIS IS GREAT.

THIS WAS NOMINATED FOR, AND IT TEACHES KIDS ABOUT MICROBES.

AND THEY ARE FUN.

>> Reporter: THESE PICS HIGHLIGHT HOW SUPERHEROES NO LONGER DOMINATE THE AWARDS.

>> YOU ALSO HAVE TITLES LIKE THE WAR ON GAZA, OR THE PUERTO RICAN WAR, WHICH IS MAGNIFICENT.

HE DID ALL HIS ART WITH WOODBLOCK CUT AND PRINTS.

AND I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH, WHICH CONCEIVES OF THE FACT -- THE POSSIBILITY, WHAT IF EVERY CONSPIRACY THEORY WAS POSSIBLY TRUE?

BUT IT DEPENDED ON HOW MANY PEOPLE BELIEVED IN IT.

>> Reporter: ELIZABETH POLLARD APPRECIATES HOW THE EISNERS REFLECT THE DIVERSITY AND COMPLEXITY OF THE MEDIUM.

>> THE LIST OF CATEGORIES OPENS THE EYES OF THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW TO JUST HOW COMPLEX THE FIELD OF COMICS IS.

COMICS, THE PRODUCTION OF THEM, THE SCHOLARSHIP ABOUT THEM, IS NO JOKE.

IT IS AN INCREDIBLY SERIOUS, MOVING, IMPORTANT FIELD.

AND THE EISNERS SHINES A LIGHT ON THAT.

>> Reporter: THE EISNERS ALSO CONTINUE TO RESPOND TO CHANGES IN THE INDUSTRY, ADDING CATEGORIES TO REFLECT NEW GENRES.

AND THAT MAKES ESTRADA HAPPY.

>> I'M GRATIFIED WHEN I SEE HOW EMOTIONAL PEOPLE GET WHEN THEY GO ON THAT STAGE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE BECAUSE FOR SO MANY YEARS PEOPLE AND COMICS GOT ZERO ACKNOWLEDGMENT FOR WHAT THEY DID.

>> Reporter: AND EVEN THOSE WHO DON'T WIN BENEFIT.

>> HEART OF THE FUN, I THINK, IS WHEN THE FINAL BALLOT IS RELEASED AND EVERYONE STARTS ARGUING IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THERE AND HOW WE GOT IT WRONG AND ALL OF THAT.

IT HELPS RAISE EVEN MORE AWARENESS OF THE TITLES OUT THERE THAT PEOPLE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT.

>> Reporter: SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO READ THIS SUMMER, THE EISNER NOMINATIONS ARE A GREAT PLACE TO START.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> COMIC-CON IS RIGHT BEHIND ME, BUT IT STRETCHES TO VENUES BEYOND THE CONVENTION CENTER.

SOME PANELISTS WILL BE HELD AT THE SAN DIEGO CENTRAL LIBRARY FOCUSING ON TOPICS FOR EDUCATORS AND LIBRARIANS.

KPBS EDUCATION REPORTER SPOKE TO SOME OF THIS YEAR'S PANELISTS.

>> Reporter: PETER CARLSON BROUGHT COMICS TO HIS CLASSROOM LIBRARY NEARLY 20 YEARS AGO.

PRETTY SOON HE SAYS STUDENTS WERE BRINGING THEIR SIBLINGS AND FRIENDS OVER TO THE SHELVES .

>> IT IS NOT JUST, WELL, THEY LIKE COMICS.

BUT THIS IS A COMMUNITY AND CULTURE OF LITERACY THAT THEY ARE ORGANICALLY BUILDING.

WHAT WE HAVE ENABLED WAS RESOURCE AND SPACE TO BOTH DIVE INTO IT BUT THEN COMMUNICATE ABOUT IT.

AND THOSE NATURAL ANALYTICAL SKILLS WE ARE STARTING TO DEVELOP IN SOME VERY HESITANT READERS.

>> Reporter: ON WEDNESDAY HE AND PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR LED A PANEL FOR OTHER TEACHERS LOOKING TO TEACH ABOUT, WITH, AND THROUGH COMICS.

>> I THINK OFTEN PEOPLE WILL ASSUME IT IS SO MUCH EASIER TO TEACH A COMIC WHEN IN FACT THEY ARE VERY COMPLICATED TEXTS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT, WHAT IS THE IMAGE DOING, WHAT IS THE TEXT DOING, WHAT ARE THEY DOING TOGETHER AND APART, AND WHAT IS HAPPENING BETWEEN THE PANELS?

>> Reporter: WHILE SUPERHERO COMICS FIRST DREW HER TO THE MEDIUM AS A KID, TODAY THEY ARE SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

>> THERE ARE NONFICTION COMICS ABOUT RECOVERING FROM CANCER.

NONFICTION COMICS ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE.

THERE ARE ALSO FANTASTIC ROMANCES AND ACTION STORIES AND SCIENCE FICTION.

ALL AGE LEVELS.

EVERY TOPIC.

THERE REALLY IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

>> Reporter: ALONG WITH READING COMICS, CREATING COMICS CAN HELP STUDENTS TELL STORIES IN NEW WAYS.

COMIC ARTIST AND PROFESSOR NICK SAYS HIS ART ALLOWS HIM TO THINK IN WAYS HE COULDN'T WITHOUT IT.

>> I SEE THAT FROM EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY STUDENTS NOT BECAUSE THEY CAME BECAUSE THEY ARE GREAT ILLUSTRATORS OR WHATEVER.

IT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE ABLE TO ACCESS SOMETHING ABOUT HOW THEY THINK, WHICH DOESN'T ALWAYS FIT INTO LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS TEACHERS LOOKING FOR COMICS TO BRING INTO THEIR CLASSROOMS CAN VISIT COMIC BOOK SHOPS, LOOK AROUND, AND ASK WHAT KIDS ARE LIKING, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER PIECE OF MEDIA.

CARLSON SAYS TEACHERS SHOULD THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT TO LEARN AND FIELD.

>> ANYTHING CAN BE GRADE LEVEL RIGOR DEPENDING ON THE QUESTION SETS YOU HAVE PREPARED AND TASKS YOU ARE PUTTING IN FRONT OF STUDENTS.

>> Reporter: TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE CAN ATTEND PANELS AT THE SAN DIEGO CENTRAL LIBRARY THROUGHOUT COMIC-CON WEEKEND.

KATIE ANASTAS, KPBS NEWS.

>> WE HOPE YOU'RE ENJOYING KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK AS WE FOCUS ON COMIC-CON 2025 .

YOU CAN FIND EVEN MORE CONTENT ON OUR PODCAST.

ONE PLACE TO START IS KPBS MID- DAY EDITION.

ON THURSDAY, POSTED THE SHOW FROM THE CONVENTION.

THE LATEST ROUNDTABLE IS ALSO PACKED WITH SEGMENTS FOCUSING ON COMIC-CON.

YOU CAN STREAM OUR PODCAST AT KPBS.ORG OR WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR PODCASTS.

>>> WHILE COMIC-CON IS HAPPENING AT THE CONVENTION CENTER, THERE IS ANOTHER COMIC AND ARTS CONVENTION HAPPENING JUST A FEW BLOCKS AWAY.

IT IS CALLED INDIGI-CON, AND IT CELEBRATES NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE.

IT IS THE FIRST EVENT OF ITS KIND IN CALIFORNIA.

>> Reporter: REACHING BACK TO ANCESTRAL STORIES THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD, PEOPLE LIKE HISTORIAN AND SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR ETHAN ARE SHARING NATIVE CULTURE AND TRADITIONS THROUGH COMICS.

>> IS TRULY AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE HERE.

IT IS LITERALLY LIKE JUMPING INTO A COMIC.

>> Reporter: AT THE LA JOLLA HISTORICAL SOCIETY, HIS DISPLAYING HIS RECENT DOUBLE- SIDED, HOOK, BEYOND GAMING, AND OUR PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE ACROSS THE GALLERY WALLS.

HE SAYS THE COMICS CHALLENGE STEREOTYPES AND FALSE NARRATIVES ABOUT NATIVE HISTORY IN CALIFORNIA.

>> THE MISSION PERIOD HAS NOT BEEN TAUGHT CORRECTLY.

WE HAVE A PAGE ON THAT.

>> Reporter: THE STORIES ARE MIXED WITH HISTORY LESSONS DRAWN FROM HIS OWN EXPERIENCE.

HE GREW UP ON THE RESERVATION NEAR LAKESIDE.

>> A LOT OF THE REASON WHY THE COMIC LOOKS THE WAY IT IS IS I WENT TO GATHERING CEREMONY AND VIDEOTAPE AND FILMED IT AND TOOK PICTURES.

ALL OVER.

MY KIDS WERE THERE.

>> Reporter: NOW HE WILL SHARE THAT WORK WITH AN EVEN GREATER AUDIENCE.

AS A PANELIST AT COMIC-CON IN THE FIRST EVER INDIGI-CON IN CALIFORNIA.

HE SEES IT AS A LAUNCHING PAD FROM INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.

>> WE HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN THE SPACE IN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND MEDIA.

ON FILM, ESPECIALLY.

>> IN THIS STORY I CREATED AN ON COLONIZED INDIGENOUS WORLD.

>> Reporter: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE INDIGENOUS TEACHERS INSTITUTE AT UC SAN DIEGO.

ALSO A COMIC BOOK AUTHOR AND PANELIST AT BOTH EVENTS.

>> WE HAVE PRESENTED AT THE LAST FOUR YEARS OF THE SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON.

SO EACH TIME HE AND I WOULD PRESENT, WE WOULD WORK WITH DIFFERENT NATIVE ARTISTS AND WRITERS FROM TRIBES MOSTLY IN CALIFORNIA.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS THAT HELPED BUILD MOMENTUM FOR INDIGI-CON.

LOWERY IS CODIRECTING THE EVENT.

>> WE INVITED EIGHT, BOOK ARTISTS AND WRITERS FROM TRIBES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

>> Reporter: HE HOPES THIS EVENT INSPIRES NATIVE YOUTH AND EDUCATES CALIFORNIANS ON TRIBAL HISTORY AND CULTURAL PRACTICES.

IT IS TAKING PLACE ONLY A FEW BLOCKS AWAY FROM COMIC-CON.

>> WE KIND OF WANTED IT TO BE AT THE SAME TIME AS THE NAME COMIC-CON JUST BECAUSE THERE'S LOTS OF GOOD ENERGY.

IT'S EXCITING.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE WALKING AROUND IN COSPLAY.

THEY ARE GOING TO SEE US AND HOPEFULLY JUST COME ON IN.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS IF YOU KNOW YOUR HISTORY, LAUNCHING THESE COMICS IN THE INDIGI-CON EVENT IS NOTHING SHORT OF A MIRACLE.

>> IT IS JUST A GREAT TIME TO BE ALIVE .

I THINK OF MY DAD AND ALL THE STRUGGLES THE ELDERS WENT THROUGH, AND I JUST -- I KNOW THEY WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE LIVED TO WITNESS THIS MOMENT.

>> Reporter: LOWERY HOPES THE ARTISTS FROM THE EVENT WILL BECOME A CLOSE KNIT FAMILY AND THIS WILL BE THE FIRST INDIGI- CON OF MANY YEARS TO COME.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE A STRONG FAMILY, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING.

THEN YOU CAN BE THE SUPERHERO IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

AND YOU CAN DO AMAZING THINGS.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE STRENGTH OF YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR PEOPLE WITHIN YOU.

>> Reporter: INDIGI-CON TAKES PLACE FRIDAY, JULY 25th, AND SUNDAY, JULY 27th , AT UC SAN DIEGO PARKING MARKET IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> COMIC-CON LAST THROUGH SUNDAY.

THAT IS WHEN ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED EVENTS IS HAPPENING.

STAR WARS CREATOR GEORGE LUCAS WILL MAKE HIS FIRST APPEARANCE IN HALL H. BETH HAS TIPS FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO ATTEND.

>> Reporter: COLLEGE IS A BIG DEAL AT COMIC-CON.

FROM MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTS TO CELEBRITIES HITTING THE STAGE, AND FANS SPENDING DAYS IN LINE.

AS A VETERAN ATTENDEE, CARRIE DIXON HAS SPENT TIME IN THOSE LINES.

SHE IS NO EDITOR IN CHIEF OF THE SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON UNOFFICIAL BLOG BUT EVEN SHE ISN'T SURE HOW INTENSE THE HALL H LINES WILL BE FOR GEORGE LUCAS' FIRST-EVER PANEL SUNDAY MORNING.

>> THAT PANEL IN PARTICULAR IS WHY IF YOU ARE ATTENDING COMIC- CON IT IS SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU ARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOU ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING.

OKAY.

HOW IS THE LINE LOOKING FOR SUNDAY?

>> Reporter: HALL H SEATS 6400, BUT WITH MORE THAN 135,000 ATTENDEES, YOU WILL HAVE TO PLAN AHEAD.

THAT COULD MEAN LINING UP A DAY OR EVEN TWO IN ADVANCE TO GET A WRISTBAND.

COMIC-CON'S WEBSITE HAS THE FULL RULES, BUT THE SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON UNOFFICIAL BLOCK OFFERS EXPLAINERS, AND DIXON HAS A FEW GENERAL TIPS.

>> MY FIRST IS I WOULD NOT TRY TO DO HALL H ALONE.

WORKING IN GROUPS IS DEFINITELY THE SINGLE BIGGEST ADVANTAGE.

IF YOU ARE LIKE, I DON'T KNOW ANYONE, THERE ARE SO MANY PLACES YOU CAN GO ONLINE TO TRY TO FIND OTHER PEOPLE FORMING LINES.

THERE'S FACEBOOK GROUPS.

THERE IS REDDIT.

NUMBER TWO, DON'T BE AFRAID TO JUST GET THAT WRISTBAND AND GO BACK TO YOUR HOTEL.

UNLESS BEING UP FRONT IS SUPER IMPORTANT TO YOU, ALL YOU CARE ABOUT IS, I WANT TO BE IN THAT ROOM.

YOU HAVE PAID PROBABLY AN ARM AND A LEG FOR THAT HOTEL.

USE IT.

SO LONG AS YOU HAVE THAT WRISTBAND AND YOU RETURN BY 7:30 IN THE MORNING, YOU ARE GOOD.

YOU WILL MAKE IT INTO THAT ROOM.

AND THEN THE THIRD THING, JUST BE WILLING TO ADAPT.

EVEN THOUGH EVERYTHING I HAVE JUST SAID IS TYPICALLY TRUE, EVERY YEAR THEY CHANGE THE PROCEDURES A LITTLE BIT.

SO YOU CAN GO IN WITH THE PLAN THAT YOU JUST HAVE TO BE WILLING TO ADAPT AND KEEP YOUR PHONE ON, BECAUSE WHO KNOWS?

JUST BE WILLING TO ADAPT.

>> Reporter: AND MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU.

KPBS NEWS.

>>> BETH IS ALSO A BIG PART OF OUR ONLINE COVERAGE.

YOU CAN GET HER PANEL SUGGESTIONS AT KPBS.ORG .

WE HAVE A SPECIAL SECTION DEDICATED TO ALL THINGS COMIC- CON.

YOU WILL FIND THE LATEST FROM OUR REPORTERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CONVENTION, DAILY SCHEDULES, AND ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.

BE SURE TO FOLLOW KPBS ON INSTAGRAM FOR PICTURES AND VIDEO THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND .

♪ >> WE ARE HERE AT THE PAC-MAN CAFE.

IT IS AN EXPERIENCE THAT BLENDS FOOD, GAMING, AND NOSTALGIA.

>> I LOVE IT.

I AM BLOWN AWAY BY THE DESIGN.

BRINGING BACK MEMORIES OF WHEN I WAS A KID OF PLAYING THE VIDEO GAME IN THE ARCADE.

AND IT IS BRINGING BACK SO MUCH AN ASSOCIATE.

>> WE HAVE A HOLD PAC-MAN THEMED INSPIRED MENU.

WE HAVE FREEDOM TO PLAY GAMES AND LIMITED EDITION PRODUCTS AVAILABLE FOR SALE.

WE ARE CELEBRATING PAC-MAN'S 45th ANNIVERSARY.

AND THE CAFE POP-UP IS A GREAT WAY FOR US TO CELEBRATE PAC- MAN'S IMPACT AND LEGACY.

>> IT MAKES ME FEEL OLD BECAUSE I'M 53, AND I KNOW SEEING DESIGN COMING UP.

BEING CREATIVE JUST MADE ME FEEL EXCITED.

GOD, I AM THAT OLD ALREADY.

♪ ♪ >> EVERYTHING FROM TOYS TO COLLECTIBLES.

WE HAVE THE POWER PELLETS KETTLE CORN.

SOME PICKLEBALL RACKETS AS WELL.

KEY CHAIN.

LOTS OF FUN ACCESSORIES.

♪ ♪ >> WE HAD A COLLABORATION WITH GIRLS SKATEBOARDS.

SKATE DECKS AS WELL AS APPAREL PIECES FROM THAT COLLECTION.

LIMITED EDITION.

SOME ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL PRODUCTS.

A MIX OF SWEET AND SAVORY ITEMS ON THE MENU.

THE PACKED QUESADILLAS.

YOU CAN SEE THE SHAPE OF PAC-MAN .

WE ALSO HAVE NACHOS.

WE ALSO HAVE A PARTNERSHIP FOR THE RAHMAN DISH.

ON THE SWEET SIDE WE HAVE THE RICE CRISPY TREATS.

WE ALSO HAVE SOME CAKE POPS AS WELL.

INSPIRATION FROM OUR COOKBOOK RECIPE.

WE HAVE SOME SLUSHY'S.

CHERRY SLUSHY.

AS WELL AS A GHOST.

WE HAVE THE PAC-MAN 25 INSPIRED BY PAC-MAN'S ICONIC.

A NONTOBACCO MAN WITH A CHERRY ON TOP.

THE TOPPINGS WE HAVE MUCH HE HAS THE POWER PELLET.

ARCADE AREA.

THE WE HAVE SOME PLASTIC ARCADE CABINETS.

>> I WAS REALLY YOUNG.

COMING OUT OF JUNIOR HIGH, GOING HOME, STOPPING AT 7- ELEVEN.

PAC-MAN MACHINE WAS AT 711.

STARTED PLAYING THERE.

EVERY DAY AFTER SCHOOL GOING AND TRYING TO PLAY IT.

>> WE ALSO HAVE SOME OF OUR RECENT TITLES.

WE HAVE OUR NEW GAME LAUNCHING ON JULY 18.

FANS GET A SNEAK PEEK AND GET TO PLAY IT FOR THE FIRST TIME BEFORE IT IS RELEASED.

DEFINITELY A MULTIGENERATIONAL EXPERIENCE.

GREW UP PLAYING PAC-MAN AT THE ARCADES CAN BRING THEIR FAMILIES HERE AND HAVE THAT SAME EXPERIENCE THEY GREW UP WITH.

SO EXCITING TO SEE THE YOUNGER KIDS GETTING INTO PAC-MAN.

THINGS THAT YOU THINK ARE FLASH IN THE PAN NEVER COMING BACK, AND HERE THEY ARE.

ENJOYING IT.

>> I'M JUST AMAZED IT IS STILL GOING ON THIS LONG.

THAT THE HYPE AND PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO AGAIN AND AGAIN.

ALL KIDS ARE ENJOYING IT.

MY LOVE FOR IT STILL HASN'T DIED.

>> HERE IS PAC-MAN HIMSELF.

HEY, PAC-MAN.

PAC-MAN WILL BE MAKING SPECIAL APPEARANCES THROUGHOUT COMIC- CON.

MEET AND GREET WITH FANS, PHOTO OPS.

WE HOPE THE FANS WILL COME OUT TO CELEBRATE PAC-MAN'S 45th ANNIVERSARY, ENJOY THE FOOD HERE, PLAY SOME GAMES.

IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF FUN.

♪ >> SO MUCH FUN.

THAT STORY WAS PRODUCED BY KPBS RADIO JOURNALIST CARLOS CASTILLO.

IF YOU WANT TO CHECK OUT THE PAC-MAN CAFE, IT IS ON SEVENTH AVENUE RIGHT NEXT TO PETCO PARK.

IT IS OPEN FROM 11:00 A.M. TO 8:00 P.M. DAILY THROUGH AUGUST 3rd.

>>> COMIC-CON IS A BIG MONEYMAKER FOR A LOT OF BUSINESS HERE IN SAN DIEGO.

IT ALSO GENERATES TAX REVENUE THAT PAYS FOR LOCAL SERVICES.

EARLIER THIS WEEK JOHN CARROLL SPENT TIME IN THE GASLAMP AS THE ANTICIPATION GREW FOR A BUSY AND LUCRATIVE FEW DAYS.

>> Reporter: COMIC-CON IS ALMOST READY TO TOUCH DOWN IN SAN DIEGO FOR THE 55th YEAR.

IN THE GASLAMP, THE BUILDINGS ARE GETTING WRAPPED, THINGS ARE GETTING SCRUBBED DOWN, EVEN THE GASLAMP'S NEIGHBORHOOD ARCH IS GETTING IN ON THE EXCITEMENT WITH THIS CARTOON CHARACTER HOLDING ON FOR DEAR LIFE.

>> WE LOVE COMIC-CON WEEK.

IT IS AN ABSOLUTE HOLIDAY AT THE CONVENTION CENTER.

>> Reporter: SHE RUNS COMMUNICATIONS AT THE CONVENTION CENTER.

SHE SAYS THAT COMIC-CON IS FAR AND AWAY THE BIGGEST EVENT AT THE CENTER EVERY YEAR AND OF COURSE THAT MEANS BIG BUCKS.

>> WE HAVE SEEN ECONOMIC IMPACT HERE OF MORE THAN $160 MILLION, INCLUDING THE DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPENDING FROM VISITORS.

THE HOTELS, THE RESTAURANTS, THE BARS.

BUYING THINGS AT LOCAL BOUTIQUES.

ALL OF THAT IS WHAT GOES INTO THAT ECONOMIC IMPACT.

>> THANK YOU.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> Reporter: JUST A BLOCK AWAY FROM THE CONVENTION CENTER AT HOUSTON HOT CHICKEN -- >> WE HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR.

>> Reporter: GENERAL MANAGER JESSE WISE AND HIS CREW ARE GETTING READY FOR THEIR FIRST COMIC-CON.

>> WHEN WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT RUSH, EVERYBODY IS CALM AND COOL UNDER PRESSURE.

JUST MAKING SURE THEY TRUST THEIR ABILITIES AND TRUST THEIR INSTINCT, AND THEY ARE ABLE TO GET EVERYTHING OUT FAST.

>> Reporter: JUST A COUPLE OF DOORS DOWN FROM THE RESTAURANT IS THIS EYES ON FIFTH.

UNLIKE JESSE WISE, OWNER PHIL HARRIS HAS BEEN THROUGH THE MADNESS FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS.

UNLIKE THE RESTAURANTS AND BARS, FOR HIM, WHETHER IT IS A BIG WEEKEND SALES WISE OR NOT, IT IS HARD TO PREDICT.

>> BECAUSE WE LOSE ALL OF OUR LOCALS -- THE LOCALS AS MOST PEOPLE WILL NOT COME DOWN HERE UNLESS THEY ARE COMING TO COMIC- CON.

SO WE DO LOSE THAT LOCAL TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT A WEEK THERE.

THEY LOSE THAT.

BUT IF PEOPLE WANT SOMETHING IN HERE THAT I HAVE, SURE.

>> Reporter: EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT A FAN OF COMIC-CON, SEEING THE SPECTACLE TAKE SHAPE IS IMPRESSIVE.

LOOKING FOR WHAT IS NEW THIS YEAR.

>> JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT COMIC-CON -- AND BELIEVE ME, I DON'T, YOU LEARN SOMETHING NEW.

NOW THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING.

SINCE 2016, THE CONVENTION CENTER IN ITS KITCHENS -- IT HAS KITCHENS -- HAS BEEN MAKING CUSTOM COMIC-CON CHOCOLATE BARS.

THIS YEAR WE HAVE SAGA OF THIS MORRIS, HOME RUN BAR, POPSTAR, FLYING SAUCER.

THEY MAKE 7500 IN TOTAL.

THEY GO ON SALE WHEN THE DOORS OPEN EVERY MORNING.

AND I'M TOLD BY THE CONVENTION CENTER FOLKS THAT THEY WILL SELL OUT AGAIN THIS YEAR.

>> Reporter: SPEAKING OF SELLING OUT, NO SURPRISE THAT THE HOTELS IN THE GASLAMP ARE NOW AT 98% CAPACITY FOR THIS WEEKEND THE WEEKENDS.

IN THE GASLAMP, JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS.

>>> THANKS AGAIN TO THE NEW CHILDREN'S MUSEUM FOR SHARING THEIR SPACE.

ONCE AGAIN THIS YEAR AT COMIC- CON.

I AM MAYA TRABULSI.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

♪ ♪