San Diego Comic Con has so much to see and do inside the walls of the massive San Diego Convention Center, but it’s all just the tip of the iceberg. SDCC offsite events have gained a reputation of being some of the most memorable events of the weekend, so here is a list of those we are looking forward to most!
Her Universe Fashion Show 2018 (Photo: Annie Thornton)
Her Universe Fashion Show
The Her Universe Fashion Show is undoubtedly one of the best SDCC events and this year’s is shaping up to be the biggest and best yet in honor of it’s 5th anniversary. 24 aspiring designers will showcase their “geek couture” representing various fandoms on the runway. Three winners will be chosen (in previous years two were chosen but for the first time, a third winner will be chosen as the SINGER Sewing Company winner for excellent sewing and construction) and will be given the opportunity to create and design a fashion collection with Loungefly and Her Universe for Hot Topic. Seeing these amateur designers share their stories while showing off their talent and fandom makes for an inspiring, enjoyable evening. If you’d like to attend, head to the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel Thursday, July 16th. Doors open to the public at 5:15pm, but I would suggest arriving at least an hour early because this event always fills to capacity!
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan . Photo: Amazon Studios
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan Fan Experience
Amazon Prime Video is bringing an impressive lineup of both fan favorites like The Tick and highly anticipated upcoming projects like Good Omens to SDCC this year, but they are going all out for one show in particular: Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan. According to the press release, this is what fans can expect:
“At the Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan fan experience, Comic-Con attendees will step into the world of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan and be thrust into a dangerous field assignment that turns them into unexpected heroes. Visitors will complete the Jack Ryan Training Field by infiltrating, fighting and evading the enemy to gain full field clearance. They will then use that training to help Jack Ryan himself in Dark Ops, a groundbreaking escape room that recreates the pilot episode of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan. Attendees can also explore the Middle Eastern bazaar which has assignments to be completed at every turn, watch a live leaderboard and pick up some iconic Jack Ryan swag.
The Jack Ryan Training Field is a hyper-reality virtual reality spy experience where participants can prove they have what it takes to be a hero. Heroes in training will go through a series of thrilling true-to-life experiences including rappelling from a helicopter, traversing between dangerous high rise buildings, and zip-lining to ground level. Created with MediaMonks, the Jack Ryan Training Field stands over 30 feet tall and uses the latest Optitrack 4D and Oculus Rift technology to make visitors physically feel as if they were thrust into the action.
Dark Ops is a first of its kind escape room, created by AKQA and Unit 9, which lets participants live the first episode of Jack Ryan. Participants will be tasked with offering remote assistance to Jack Ryan in Dark Ops, where teams of rookie analysts will have to dig deep to uncover a plot of double-crossing, top secret information and an extremist plot set to be put in motion at any minute.”
The activation will be located at the corner of 1st Street and the Martin Luther King Promenade from July 19-22. It will be open daily from 9 am to 7 pm Thursday through Saturday, and 9 am to 5 pm on Sunday.
Taco Bell Demolition Man. Photo: Taco Bell
Taco Bell Demolition Man Installation
While there are less details about this activation than others, we are still ridiculously excited about it. Taco Bell is creating a Demolition Man inspired Taco Bell pop up in honor of the 25th anniversary of Demolition Man and Taco Bell bringing it’s nacho fries back. If you are unfamiliar with the film, it’s a sci-fi cult classic that stars Sylvester Stallone as a cop that is brought out of suspended animation in 2032 to hunt down a criminal played by Wesley Snipes. In the film, it’s mentioned that Taco Bell was the sole survivor of the “franchise wars” leaving every restaurant thereafter a Taco Bell in some form. The installation will offer a futuristic dining experience with free food and exclusive Demolition Man merchandise July 19-22 from 6pm-12am each night at
658 Fifth Ave (a few blocks up from the convention center).
Mr. Mercedes. Photo: ATT
Mr. Mercedes Immersive Experience
Fans of the Stephen King Trilogy will be treated to a special immersive experience celebrating season 2 of the AT&T Audience Network hit series Mr. Mercedes. According to their press release, the installation will include:
“Augmented Reality Adventure Game – Download the app to embark on an AR-driven investigation helping Detective Bill Hodges crack the case and claim a reward if you succeed.
Virtual Reality Escape Room Game – Be fully immersed in a virtual escape room inside Brady’s lair. Escape before time runs out or you’re trapped forever!
Recreating the Physical World of “Mr. Mercedes” – The show’s set designers are recreating Finders Keepers, Mercy General Hospital and Brady’s lair using actual props.
Bringing Brady to Life Through Projection Mapping – 3-D light projection will creepily bring Brady to life in his hospital bed. Is he in a coma or did you just see him move?
Lenticular Photo Experience – This photo op will transform the participant’s face into Brady’s along with a socially shareable GIF.
Private Screening Room – Media, VIP and lucky fans will get the chance to watch a sneak peek of season 2.
The series picks up a year after Brady Hartsfield’s thwarted attempt to perpetrate a second mass murder in the community of Bridgton, Ohio. Since the incident, Hartsfield has been hospitalized in a vegetative state. Retired Detective Bill Hodges has done his best to move on from his Brady obsession, teaming up with Holly Gibney to open Finders Keepers, a private investigative agency. But when unexplainable occurrences begin to affect hospital staff members attending to Brady, Hodges is haunted by the feeling that Brady is somehow responsible.”
The Mr. Mercedes experience will be located at 643 G St, San Diego, CA 92101 and will run from Thursday July 19 to Saturday July 21 from 10am-6pm each. To save time, attendees can pre-register at http://att.com/MrMercedesSDCC for a chance to win a fastpass!
Castle Rock (Credit: Bad Robot Productions)
Castle Rock Installation
Just in case the Mr. Mercedes offsite wasn’t enough, Stephen King fans are in for a HUGE treat thanks to Hulu. The long awaited series Castle Rock is coming to SDCC with not only a panel and early screening of the pilot episode, but with an offsite installation. According to Deadline, Hulu has released next to no details about the installation other than that is will be located near the Hard Rock hotel and the goal is to make the experience “one of the biggest and baddest, in the best way”. Seeing the worlds that Stephen King has created in his novels over the years come to life in this J.J. Abrams produced series is going to be glorious as it is, but to have the opportunity to enter the town of Castle Rock right across from the convention center is going to an incredible (and most likely terrifying) experience.
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