The big Hollywood studios didn't make their annual appearances at last year’s Comic-Con International because of dual writers and actors' strikes.
"People who haven't been to the show really thought that the impact would be monumental," Comic-Con spokesperson David Glanzer said. "And I think what that tells me there's a lot of people that don't realize there are so many different elements to Comic-Con."
Glanzer was right — there was still plenty to see.
Studios and celebrities are due to return in 2024 — but so is the fandom we all know and love.
Follow along for KPBS' coverage of the big pop culture event!
Studios and celebrities are due to return to Comic-Con 2024 — and so is the fandom we all know and love. Read stories, watch videos and check out events from the world's largest pop culture convention.
Editor's note: This story will be updated throughout Comic-Con International.
Wednesday, July 24
![People walk outside of the San Diego Convention Center on July 24, 2024 in San Diego, Calif.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/26c047a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1754x1080+83+0/resize/880x542!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fe5%2F7a%2Fabbc76e54b1fba4bde571f74a7fc%2Fcomic-con-2024-july-2024.jpg)
![People walk outside of the San Diego Convention Center on July 24, 2024 in San Diego, Calif.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/ef2ccd5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/880x495!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F96%2F77%2F49323226401d8dbf3a3f9a8aaced%2Fcomic-con-2024-july-2024-3.jpg)
![Fans stand outside of the San Diego Convention Center on July 24, 2024 in San Diego, Calif.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/314b892/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/880x495!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F04%2Fef%2F2c1f0ade4d348c307ff2446bb24a%2Fcomic-con-2024-july-2024-2.jpg)
![San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria speaks to members of the media about Comic-Con preview night on July 24, 2024. San Diego, Calif.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/c6dc4c9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/880x660!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fd2%2F72%2F691a592a41ee98d60c33dc7b0cdb%2Ftodd-gloria-comic-con-2024.jpg)
![Yance Williams of Houston, Texas, poses for a photo with a R2D2-shaped luggage bag on July 24, 2024 at the Old Town Transit Center in San Diego, Calif. Williams has been to Comic-Con 12 times.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/c3c9070/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/880x495!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F4a%2Fa9%2Fa03956984feabc971cdc695af786%2Fyance-williams-july-2024-comic-con.jpg)
![A sign details special trolley service for Comic-Con International on July 24, 2024 at the Old Town Transit Center, San Diego, Calif.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/d3c36c3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/880x495!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2F81%2F646ad5174f819f391b275841189c%2Ftransit-comic-con-2024.jpg)
Thursday, July 25
![Comic-Con attendees Tim McMullen, Christe McMullen, Ken Hoffman and Darren Muir pose for a photo dressed as characters from Scooby-Doo on July 25, 2024. San Diego, Calif.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/ce53e65/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/880x660!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F28%2Fbf%2Fb71d34fd4a0b96e8b0dad616b987%2Falex-nguyen-3.jpg)
![Sylvia Hoffman poses for a photo cosplaying as a klingon from "Star Trek" on July 25, 2024. San Diego Convention Center.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/6a2b55e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3024x4032+0+0/resize/880x1173!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbe%2F75%2F4ba67a03495ca202d7c10f39cddc%2Falex-nguyen-2.jpg)
![Dallas Bellamy of Rancho Peñasquitos poses for a photo cosplaying as Zoro from the anime "One Piece." July 25, 2025, San Diego Convention Center.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/8a38c17/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/880x660!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F5f%2F1c%2Fc97208fe4c1b9b0695acc5ed967a%2Falex-nguyen-4.jpg)
![Comic-Con attendees Quinton Sareminouri (left) cosplays as Star Wars character Cal Kestis, while Erica Goode (right) is dressed up as Merrin, another Star Wars character. July 25, 2024. San Diego Convention Center.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/1cdf080/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/880x660!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F95%2F8e%2F4658c1534f98a2e528829e5d81ae%2Falex-nguyen-5.jpg)
Leslie Gonzalez
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Leslie Gonzalez
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![A tiki-themed booth displays art and clothing on July 25, 2024 at the San Diego Convention Center.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/c50186d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/880x660!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Ff3%2F1d%2F2c13a49940a4940fe0086ab24b0e%2Fkp-comic-con-1.jpg)
![Comic-Con attendees speak with one of the artists in Artists Alley on July 25, 2024 at the San Diego Convention Center.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/13cab79/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/880x660!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fe3%2Fca%2Ffdf149fa46a1ae4ba516060a9c02%2Fkp-comic-con-2.jpg)
![A person looks through Dungeons & Dragons dice while a small child sleeps in a stroller. July 25, 2024 at the San Diego Convention Center.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/a922141/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3024x4032+0+0/resize/880x1173!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2Fdb%2F4829ecbe4cbfac967da21afe7ec8%2Fkp-comic-con-3.jpg)
Friday, July 26
![People wait outside of the The Lodge on July 26, 2024 in the Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego, Calif.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/fefee44/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/880x660!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F61%2F8f%2F886711b74a829b7f3e8b1c3e5df1%2Fimg-2981.jpg)
KPBS Staff
![People walk outside of the San Diego Convention Center during Comic-Con International. July 26, 2024.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/d4823e3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/880x660!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F04%2F19%2F676f1faf47b1ac16ee92f6199128%2Fjacob-aere.jpg)
![People walk outside of the San Diego Convention Center during Comic-Con International. July 26, 2024.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/845ca8b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/880x660!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fc9%2F7a%2Fb75c479d482e84329fe7ec961e75%2Fjacob-aere-3.jpg)
![An activation for the drama series "Those About to Die" is seen on July 26, 2024 in the downtown area of San Diego, Calif.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/134270c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/880x660!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F81%2F1e%2F6b62a60c45599646f8485b62ad6d%2Fjacob-aere-4.jpg)
![Comic-Con attendees in cosplay pose for a photo on July 26, 2024 at the San Diego Convention Center. From left to right: Calissa Katashima is Shinobu Kocho from "Demon Slayer," Phoenix Ortiz is Portgas D. Ace from "One Piece", Carter and Jimmy Ortiz are both Luffi from "One Piece," and Kai Truong is Spider-Man.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/4647a56/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3024x4032+0+0/resize/880x1173!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F34%2F682f3e3a44b9b9328e0b165c13fc%2Falex-nguyen-1.jpg)
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![From the left: Dungeon master Scott Gellerman plays Dungeons and Dragons with players Madeleine, JP and Joe Jungers on July 26, 2024 at Comic-Con.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/5476bdb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2483+0+270/resize/880x542!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F83%2Fe4%2Fb093560a478a898793b98c53a452%2Fimg-0920.jpg)
Leslie Gonzalez
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![A teenager reads the San Diego Comic-Con guide while another child sleeps at a booth on July 26, 2024 at the San Diego Convention Center.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/f44e1ce/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/880x660!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F62%2F2f%2Fb78c14b5403a94d5d8719b2dd2d2%2Fkp-comic-con.jpg)
![Merchandise at the Coven Tree Book and Gifts booth is pictured on July 26, 2024 at the San Diego Convention Center.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/5d4303a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/880x660!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F93%2F2a%2Fd8f51bcd4171a3649f87ed5e166f%2Fkp-comic-con-3.jpg)
![Comic-Con attendees look at figurines on display on July 26, 2024 at the San Diego Convention Center.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/f470c23/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/880x660!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F06%2F13%2F12ecb5104c039969dabbca82420c%2Fkp-comic-con-2.jpg)
![Atendee Jennifer West plays pinball at the Marriott Marquis in the Pacific Ballroom on July 26, 2024.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/db6ab61/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1536x2048+0+0/resize/880x1173!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F21%2F18%2Feff2e96d4f67be06bc84572c1e9f%2Fimg-0951.jpg)
Leslie Gonzalez
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![Comic-Con attendees play pinball at the pinball arcade popup at the Marriott Marquis on July 26, 2024.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/d48cb5b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2483+0+479/resize/880x542!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fa1%2Ffe%2F29cac3664357af906c70d38de6c6%2Fpinball-2.jpg)
Leslie Gonzalez
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KPBS
![Storm troopers stand guard in front of Chewbacca and Los Wukis on July 26, 2024 at Comic-Con.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/cab3c29/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2483+0+64/resize/880x542!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F01%2F70%2F407836a34c95978c1de40ae8a086%2Flos-wukis.jpg)
Leslie Gonzalez
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KPBS
![Scott Shaw speaks to a fan at his booth on July 26, 2024 at Comic-Con. Shaw is a comic book artist and one of the founders of Comic Con International.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/2f666ea/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3024x4032+0+0/resize/880x1173!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F4e%2F3e%2F0a62f65f4de0834df29eef4b62e8%2Fscott-shaw.jpg)
Leslie Gonzalez
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KPBS
![Comic-Con attendees pose dressed as human versions of "My Little Pony" on July 26, 2024.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/1e6c211/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2483+0+270/resize/880x542!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F04%2Fb7%2Fe572ea4a4919b3717de7460b796d%2Fmy-little-pony.jpg)
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Saturday, July 27
![KPBS arts and culture reporter Beth Accomando participates in a panel for Giant Robot magazine's 30th anniversary at San Diego Comic-Con, July 27, 2024. Giant Robot is a pop culture phenomenon that redefined what it means to be Asian American.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/03323c3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2048x1261+0+21/resize/880x542!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F7e%2F2d%2F3272c1f2452598b882a1df148a46%2Fdsc02713.jpg)
![Stacks of comics for sale at San Diego Comic-Con July 27, 2024. A big part of the convention is buying comics from small independent sellers like this one.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/111da25/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2048x1261+0+52/resize/880x542!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F58%2F72%2F35a7ae454b83a8bee70cc89da863%2Fdsc02715.jpg)
![Rows of DVDs for sale at San Diego Comic-Con, July 27, 2024.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/c0aaaee/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2048x1261+0+52/resize/880x542!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F50%2F72%2F0b992de94cc7affdc05dd8d76011%2Fdsc02721.jpg)
![A collection of plushy figurines hang on a wall at San Diego Comic-Con, July 27, 2024. You can literally find anything pop-culture-related Comic-Con.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/6267a54/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1365x2048+0+0/resize/880x1320!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F02%2F17%2F2fd52729415abc7418857e275621%2Fdsc02724.jpg)
![Dice for table-top roleplaying games, like Dungeons & Dragons or Magic the Gathering, displayed at San Diego Comic-Con, July 27, 2024.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/a961509/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2048x1261+0+52/resize/880x542!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fc3%2F59%2Fec77b1a94edd8f16964e39a0714e%2Fdsc02731.jpg)
![Dice for table-top roleplaying games, like Dungeons & Dragons or Magic the Gathering, displayed at San Diego Comic-Con, July 27, 2024.](https://cdn.kpbs.org/dims4/default/12a5bbb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2048x1261+0+52/resize/880x542!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fkpbs-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F2d%2F59%2Fd79d2e3c44b8be4ee9ee662f2e43%2Fdsc02743.jpg)