SDCC 2023 Part 1 With Lee Bermejo, Loungefly & Mondo Interviews & More

·1 hr 10 min·5 clips

James Witham reports from a shockingly crowded Comic-Con 2023 floor where merchandise lines capped in just five minutes.

The episode opens with host James Witham recording from his San Diego hotel during Comic-Con 2023. He describes the convention floor as more packed than the previous year, with merchandise lines capping within minutes on preview night. Witham notes the Hall H line was shorter than usual, attributing it to fewer major panels. The first interview is with comic artist Lee Bermejo, discussing his Boom Studios series 'A Vicious Circle'. Bermejo explains the creative process behind the book's unique premise, where the art style changes with each time period to reflect the characters' disorientation. He details the collaborative dynamic with writer Mattson Tomlin and the challenges of drawing dinosaurs versus horses. Witham then shifts to discussing his experiences with off-site activations, including a Paramount+ lodge, an AMC Immortal Universe experience for 'Interview with the Vampire', a Super 7 Cobra pop-up shop, a Hulu activation, and a 'Roseanne'-themed carnival. The second interview segment features LoungeFly's Liz DeSilva and Derek Baca, who discuss their Comic-Con exclusives, sell-out items like a Stitch plush, and the brand's expansion into size-inclusive apparel and larger bag silhouettes. The third interview is with Mondo's Hector R.C. and Peter Santamaria, covering their exclusive posters, 1/6 scale figures like Man-Bat, and vinyl records. They share their wishlist for future licenses like ThunderCats and Ninja Turtles. Witham also includes a brief chat with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles artist Mateus Santolouco at the Loyal Subjects booth. The episode concludes with nerd news from the convention, including DC's 'Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong' comic announcement, Nickelodeon securing global rights to the 1987 TMNT animated series, and Crunchyroll's new anime announcements.

As heard by us

A crowded Comic-Con dispatch built around floor energy, interactive stops, and nostalgic fan fun.

SDCC 2023 Part 1 leans into Comic-Con as a crowded, lived-in scene. James Witham opens on the San Diego mood and the packed show floor at preview night, then moves through Solar Opposites, the Simpsons couch, Bob's Burgers, and a Great North stop, which keeps the pace tied to…

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Why you'd press play

A Comic-Con field report with interviews, packed-floor energy, and a few fandom detours.

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