Comic-Con International officially kicks off Wednesday with its “preview night,” featuring anime, films, games and a special library event in Downtown San Diego
At 3:30 p.m., the San Diego Public Library will host Peter Carlson of Green Dot Public Schools and Susan Kirtley of Portland State University for “Teaching and Learning with Comics,” an interactive workshop where educators explore how to teach about, with, and through comics. This event will be held at the Shiley Special Events Suite in the San Diego Central Library, 330 Park Blvd.
Downtown bars, hotels and restaurants will get in on the action.
Hilton San Diego Gaslamp will host the limited-time Level Up Lounge, a retro-inspired gaming tavern taking over Wild Hare Bar Garden with “a vibrant world of pixel-art décor, themed cocktails, nostalgic gaming-inspired details, interactive photo moments, and live entertainment,” a statement from the hotel reads.
Margaritaville Hotel San Diego’s LandShark Bar & Grill will transform into the LandShark Lunar Landing Bar — an “immersive tropical spaceport where ocean breeze meet intergalactic adventure.” The bar will feature glowing cocktails, celestial décor, atmospheric lighting, interactive photo moments and live entertainment. Both hotel activations will be open through Sunday.
Also running through the end of Comic-Con is the San Diego Blood Bank’s annual Robert A. Heinlein Blood Drive, the bank’s longest-running blood drive. Inspired by the upcoming “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” movie release, donors will receive a “Spider-Man” T-shirt while supplies last.
SDBB’s goal is to collect 3,500 pints over the five-day period. To be eligible, you must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in general good health. Photo ID with Date of Birth is required, but not a Comic-Con badge.
Continuing events include “The Science of Story,” by UC San Diego, which will host filmmaker Brad Bird and film score composer Michael Giacchino (who have collaborated on five films: “The Incredibles,” “Ratatouille,” “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol,” “Tomorrowland,” and “Incredibles 2”) in the Epstein Family Amphitheater at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $35.
“Whether you’re a writer, filmmaker, gamer, or just a fan of gripping storytelling, ‘The Science of Story’ delivers events that give you the chance to deeply engage with the very idea of story, helping you discover the connective tissue of narrative experiences,” said Colleen Kollar Smith, executive artistic director of campus performances and events at ArtPower. “There’s no better way to get into the Comic-Con mood than by attending one or all of the events we have planned. Even if you’re not attending Comic-Con, you’ll find something to love at ‘The Science of Story.”‘
A Comic-Con badge is not required to attend any “Science of Story” events. Tickets for each event, where required, can be purchased at artpower.ucsd.edu/scienceofstory-2026/.
