Comic‑Con@Home, July 23, 2021 – July 25, 2021 — SDCC 2021 was another year where the Con looked a little different. Like 2020, the usual in‑person summer event at the Convention Center was postponed because of the pandemic. This year’s edition was a bit smaller and shorter, running for three days online, with programming available for free so fans everywhere could take part.
Even though I missed physically being at the Con, Comic‑Con@Home gave us plenty to tune into. There were trailers and sneak peeks for a variety of movies and shows, like Day of the Dead and Fear the Walking Dead, along with first looks at animated projects including Star Trek: Prodigy and Star Trek: Lower Decks season two. Panels also dove into comics with discussions about upcoming Superman and Wonder Woman storylines and creator talks about independent comics and how the industry has evolved.
While Comic‑Con@Home lacked the massive Hall H crowds and crowded exhibit floor, it still brought the community together online for shared premieres and conversations. I appreciated the flexibility of watching panels on my own schedule and still feeling connected to fellow fans from around the world.
Later in the year (announced March 2021), SDCC will host a smaller in‑person event in November called Comic‑Con Special Edition for people able to attend with vaccination or recent negative test requirements. This will give fans a chance to get together and celebrate in person again, even if it feels different from the typical summer Con. SDCC 2021 kept the fan spirit alive. It may not have been the packed weekend on the floor that many of us dreamed about, but it reminded everyone that the heart of Comic‑Con is the community and the shared love of stories and art, whether online or in person.
Featured photo from SDCC 2010
