San Diego Comic-Con launched as a small, comics-focused event in 1970, and grew into a massive gathering that sees fans, movie stars and movie studios descend upon the city. An estimated 135,000 people came to the San Diego Convention Center for the 2019 celebration.

 

 

But for the second year in a row, fans will not be swarming the San Diego Convention Center as part of July’s annual Comic-Con celebration. Comic-Con International announced Monday that the upcoming con will be virtual only as uncertainty around the coronavirus pandemic continues to make large-scale gatherings a dangerous proposition.

 

A free, three-day Comic-Con@Home virtual event will take place July 23-25 as was the case last year. Organizers did note, however, that they were planning a smaller, in-person event in San Diego for November, with information to come at a later date.

 

 

 

2020 was the first time in San Diego Comic-Con’s 50-year history that the in-person component had been canceled. Comic-Con@Home replaced the experience with virtual panels, something that has become the norm in the age of COVID-19. While in states like Florida, where coronavirus restrictions have been successfully lifted, they have several in person conventions planned.