Comic-Con 2016: 5 Things We Want to See

The 2016 San Diego Comic-Con kicks off this week, offering fans a multitude of fun events and star-studded appearances – not to mention the potential for some headline-stealing announcements and surprises.

This year’s SDCC will bring some welcomed variety between big comic book events, movie and TV announcements and even some great gaming news – but we’ve tried to narrow all that geeky goodness down to these top five things we want to see.

Great TV Geekery Reveals

There was a time, at Comic-Con, when television was a distant second to the big blockbuster movie panels, but in more recent years TV has blown up in a big way, offering fans huge panels, big casting and/or story reveals, and the occasional awkward Q&A session. 

During SDCC16 we want to see great footage, reveals and panels from geek-fave shows like Orphan Black and The CW’s DC Universe (Arrow, Flash, Legends of Tomorrow and now Supergirl!). Meanwhile, TV reboots like 24: Legacy, Prison Break and MacGyver have a chance to prove they should even exist.

Not one to lose on any front, Marvel will reveal Luke Cage, the anticipated next chapter in in its Netflix universe, while Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. could make a huge impression if rumors of a big Ghost Rider reveal for season 4 are true.

’90s Nostalgia Mania

There’s no better evidence of the rise of ’90s nostalgia than the Pokémon GO phenomenon currently sweeping the nation/getting people injured, and the game will have a HUGE presence at SDCC16, occupying none other than the famed Hall H! 

Lionsgate and cast members of the Power Rangers reboot movie have only been teasing fans with the possibility of a Comic-Con appearance – but we’re keeping an eye out for a possible reveal. DuckTales looks toward a full reveal in its return this year as well. Finally, the rebooted Samurai Jack may be a product of the early 00s, but it’s still making a welcome return to the ‘Con this year. 

Blockbuster TV Panels

It’s about time that we started using the term “blockbuster TV shows” when referring to Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead, because these shows are the event series that now dominate not only geek culture, but pop-culture as a whole.

This year, both shows will have huge panels for highly anticipated new seasons in the massive Hall H panel room – with Negan himself (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) coming to face Walking Dead fans (No, he probably won’t reveal which cast member dies in the season 6 premiere! So don’t waste the whole Q&A asking!)!

Game of Thrones will bring its showrunners and select cast members to discuss the upcoming season 7, which will arrive both later, and shorter, than usual. On the plus side: the potential for big reveals is there, since not even the most hardcore GoT bookworms know what is going to happen from here on out!

The (Changing) Marvel Universe

On the comic book side, the big event that is “Civil War II” has sent the Marvel Universe into bold new directions – and SDCC16 is the venue where we expect to learn some of the larger outcomes and ramifications of that game-changing storyline. 

As for the MCU? We’re looking to Phase 3 and beyond! Doctor Strange is already set to be a headliner alongside Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2, and even if there isn’t much else to see in terms of footage (a little Black Panther maybe? An Infinity War teaser?) there are also casting (Captain Marvel) or new movie announcements (???) that could be just as exciting!

DC Rebirth & DCEU Evolution

After the somewhat controversial changes of “The New 52” comic book reboot, DC Comics & DC Films creative chief Geoff Johns has brought hope and heroism back with the recent “Rebirth” reboot of the comics. During SDCC16 we hope to learn more about what “Rebirth” means for DC Comics, and where some of our favorite new storylines (and characters) are headed. 

As for the DC Extended Universe? Well, Suicide Squad will bring its big-name cast to the stage for what is sure to be a fun panel, and Wonder Woman could definitely impress. However, after the divisiveness of Batman v Superman, Warner Bros. and Zack Snyder would be smart to bring out a Justice League tease that captures fan attention and media headlines, the way their early press visit did.