Approximately 135,000 fans gathered for the 50th anniversary of San Diego Comic-Con International, which took place July 18–21 at the San Diego Convention Center. A number of children’s authors and illustrators joined the festivities, which included panels, signings, cosplay, and other chances to connect with readers. We’ve gathered a selection of highlights from the events.
Authors (from l.): Mark Siegel (The Red Maze), Maura Milan (Eclipse the Skies and Ignite the Stars), Tochi Onyebuchi (War Girls; Riot Baby), and Ashley Poston (Soul of Stars; The Princess and the Fangirl), after their “Stellar Stories and Awesome Adventures” conversation with Mysterious Galaxy’s Maryelizabeth Yturralde.
Avatar cosplayers celebrate the release of the latest book in the series, Avatar, The Last Airbender: The Rise of Kyoshi by F.C. Yee (Abrams).
Author-illustrator Dylan Meconis signs copies of her historical graphic novel Queen of the Sea (Candlewick), loosely inspired by the exile of Queen Elizabeth I by her sister, Queen Mary.
Carey Pietsch, co-adaptor and illustrator of The Adventure Zone: Murder on the Rockport Limited! (First Second), with cardboard standees of the three main characters from the book.
Cecil Castellucci (l.), author of The Plain Janes, with Little, Brown’s Stefanie Hoffman.
(From l.): Jennifer L. Holm (Sunny Rolls the Dice, Graphix), Claudia Aguirre (Morning in America, Oni), Raina Telgemeier (Guts, Graphix) and Peggy Burns (publisher of Drawn & Quarterly) at the “Feminist Comics That Rock” panel, which celebrated the diversity of strong female characters, authors, and publishers in contemporary kids’ comics.
A mother and daughter channel The Wisdom of Wonder Woman by Signe Bergstrom (Chronicle). The publisher gave away limited edition totes with Wonder Woman on one side and Batgirl on the other, promoting the forthcoming DC: Women of Action by Shea Fontana.
Leigh Bardugo signing a copy of King of Scars (Imprint) at the Fierce Reads booth.
Brenna Yovanoff, author of Stranger Things: Runaway Max (Random House), at the Stranger Things booth.
Rebecca Roanhorse signing her middle grade fantasy Race to the Sun (Disney/Riordan Presents).
Ashley Eckstein (l.), actor and author of It’s Your Universe, and her alter ego, Ahsoka Tano of Star Wars.
A bookseller at San Diego Public Library’s The Library Shop shows off his Where’s Waldo? costume. This year, the San Diego Public Library cards are Waldo-themed.
The Tor Spotlight Panel highlighted some of the publisher’s biggest titles, from Robert Jordan to V.E. Schwab. Every attendee received a free book. Panelists (from l.): Caroline Perny, publicity manager; Emily Hughes, marketing; Theresa Delucci, associate director of marketing; and Laura Etzkorn, publicist.
Thomas Lennon revealed the cover of Ronan Boyle and the Swamp of Certain Death (Abrams), the follow-up to his bestselling novel Ronan Boyle and the Bridge of Riddles, during his solo panel.
Jonathan Maberry signing copies of his V-Wars comics (St. Martin’s).
Mother and daughter Leia Organa cosplayers read Jeffrey Brown’s Rey and Pals (Chronicle), the newest installment in his Eisner Award-winning Star Wars series.
Authors Brandon Mull (the Dragonwatch series, Shadow Mountain) and Whitney Gardner (Fake Blood, S&S) took part in “The Fun-damentals of Story” panel.
Shannon Wright, illustrator of the forthcoming graphic novel Twins by Varian Johnson, with Katy Farina, illustrator of Baby-sitters Little Sister #1: Karen’s Witch, at the Scholastic/Graphix Press Preview party.
