Comic-Con: The Top 10 Reveals From SDCC2016

The San Diego Comic-Con International becomes a world all its own, as hundreds of thousands of geeks and fans from all over the world descend on downtown San Diego for four days of hundreds of panels and countless memories’ worth of celebrating all things geek culture.

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SDCC has grown so big, in fact, that it’s become nearly impossible to keep track of every big piece of breaking news, or new trailer or footage that gets released during the convention. But for those on the outside looking in, you need not feel overwhelmed; we have the top 10 reveals from Comic-Con 2016, so that you don’t have to miss out on the best stuff.

Want more? Check out our in-depth coverage of each day of SDCC:

X-Men vs Inhumans

Marvel Netflix Reveals

Marvel’s Netflix Universe has become a fast favorite amongst the fanbase; starting with a darker vision of superheroism in Daredevil season 1, and continuing with the richly complex and witty Noir world of Jessica Jones. Daredevil season 2 made this corner of the MCU truly official, with crossovers and appearances from major Marvel characters like The Punisher.

As of SDCC 2016, Marvel Netflix is set to get even bigger, and they previewed some pretty impressive-looking footage that has fans everywhere excited to “Netflix and chill” in the coming year.

First there was a first trailer for Luke Cage, the Harlem strong man with impenetrable skin who we last saw falling for (and trying to kill) Jessica Jones. With its hip-hop soundtrack and rugged tone, Cage looks like another unique winner. Meanwhile, The Power Man’s friend looks just as cool, as the newly-revealed Iron Fist trailer put most movie teasers to shame. And if that wasn’t enough, Netflix made it a trifecta with a first (but deliciously ominous) teaser for The Defenders, the event series teaming Daredevil, Jones, Cage and Iron Fist.

…And never fear: amidst all this newness, Daredevil season 3, Jessica Jones season 2 and a Punisher series are all happening, too.

Ghost Rider Coming to TV

One of the biggest rumors surrounding Comic-Con 2016 was the carefully-orchestrated tease from Marvel Television, suggesting that a popular Marvel Comics character could be joining Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. And as it turns out, the rumors are true: Ghost Rider is coming to TV, and he has a badass new car.

AoS will use the more recent version of Ghost Rider from the comics, a Latino street racer named Robbie Reyes, who will be played by actor Gabriel Luna. The debut of a Ghost Rider-themed teaser trailer made fans go wild, as this reboot of Ghost Rider within the Marvel Cinematic Universe will hopefully erase the memory of those regrettable Nic Cage movies.

The Flash Season 3 Trailer

The Flash has helped to extend the DC Comics universe to the small screen, generating strong ratings and much fan love over the course of 2 seasons of fantastical superhero drama TV. The Flash has never been shy about throwing in far-out comic book concepts for viewers to accept, and season 2 ended on a particularly ambitious note.

Now that Barry Allen has done the unthinkable – going back and stopping the tragic event of his mother’s death – the timeline(s) we’ve become familiar with no longer exist. DC Comics fans know where that leaves us: on the doorstep of the big Flash storyline, “Flashpoint.”

With the revelation of The Flash season 3 trailer during the show’s SDCC panel, we got to see the first look of the new Flashpoint continuity – and where it leaves our favorite characters.

New Doctor Strange Trailer

Marvel’s Doctor Strange had a big presence around Comic-Con, with posters and banners decorating the convention, and star Benedict Cumberbatch jumping in the Hall H line to give waiting fans a morale boost.

The Doctor Strange panel may not have been as… colorful as the Guardians of the Galaxy zoo, but the debut of Doctor Strange trailer #2 has certainly made an impression beyond the convention; mainstream viewers are opening up to the possibility that Doctor Strange could be a truly unique Marvel movie experience.

Kurt Russell’s Guardians of the Galaxy Ego

Kurt Russell is a massive Ego. We don’t mean that as a slam against the iconic actor (if I were Kurt Russell, I’d love being me, too) – no, we refer to Kurt’s character in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2, which was revealed to the big crowd in Hall H during Marvel’s panel, Saturday night.

So who is Ego? In Marvel Comics lore he’s a planet that grew consciousness while existing in the Black Galaxy over millions of years. He’s typically a villain bent on some kind of cosmic domination, but has been known to be a ally with Marvel’s cosmic heroes in order to defeat bigger threats.

We can’t wait to see how director James Gunn spins that concept into his unique vision for GotGv2.

Pokémon Go(es to Comic-Con)

Pokémon Go became a worldwide obsession just in time for Comic-Con 2016, and given the Pokémon franchise’s history with SDCC, it’s no surprise that the panel for Go was a big deal at the convention this year.

In addition to droves of fans running around downtown San Diego looking to snag new Pokémon, we also got a list of new info from the game developers, detailing all the exciting updates and additions to come. Pokémon mania shows no signs of slowing down.

Wonder Woman Trailer

It’s crazy to write that, in 2016, we are just now getting the first trailer for a female-led superhero movie – but silver lining is that the movie is Wonder Woman.

The upcoming film by Monster director Patty Jenkins made its official debut during Warner Bros. Comic-Con 2016 panel, and the buzz has been huge, with the Wonder Woman trailer making the sort of headlines that rival Justice League, Marvel or big shows like The Walking Dead.

As for the film itself? It looks pretty awesome. Gal Gadot (and her stunt doubles) makes for a regal and formidable Wonder Woman; Chris Pine looks like a good, funny, supporting male character, and the action sequences look pretty epic. All those casting haters and/or those who doubted a female superhero movie’s potential are eating a lot of crow right about now.

The Walking Dead Season 7 Trailer

If you want proof that TV has become just as big as movies at SDCC, look no further than the big debut of The Walking Dead season 7 trailer. Coming off of a major seasonal cliffhanger, the Walking Dead cast and crew had the challenge of delivering a Comic-Con panel and first look trailer that didn’t spoil anything, but still managed to build excitement. And they did just that.

If you haven’t seen it yet, the Walking Dead season 7 trailer blows open the world of Rick Grimes and his survivor clan in a big way, as they learn they are even a smaller part of this dark new world than they originally thought. We got to catch a glimpse of what life is like for The Saviors, under rule of Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan); but the highlight was seeing comic book fan-favorite Ezekiel and his pet tiger Shiva make their debut. From all indications, Rick and Alexandria are about to be caught in a major war between two opposed nations of the zompocalypse.

Justice League

DC/Warner Bros. had a lot to prove coming into SDCC2016; Man of Steel and Batman v Superman had left fans and mainstream viewers divided and somewhat skeptical of the DC Extended Universe’s future – though a revamped effort at branding both the comic books and films had been a step in the right direction.

We knew that Wonder Woman and Suicide Squad would be focuses of the Warner Bros. SDCC panel, but the studio went bigger than that: they brought the entire Justice League lineup (Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Jason Mamoa, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher)out onstage in a move to rival Marvel’s 2010 debut of its Avengers cast.

And, unlike Marvel, DC/WB brought first footage for Zack Snyder’s Justice League to go along with the warm bodies onstage. And that footage has started the kind of hype that could finally get the DCEU in the happier place it needs to be.

Winner of Comic-Con 2016? Quite possibly.