That’s right: San Diego Comic Con 2018 is almost upon us.
The That’s Normal crew returns to the con this year, and with us comes the usual shenanigans. Last year, we sat in Ballroom 20 for four hours just to watch an early screening of Outlander’s season premiere. We unabashedly fangirled over the Stranger Things panel and lost our shit entirely when Ryan Gosling waved to us. We were there for what we thought was Game of Thrones’ “final”* Comic Con panel.
*It could still be the final one. Who knows? In all honesty, I still have yet to watch the show.
TNSDCC ’17 (Demon eyes courtesy of my iPhone.)
Let us not forget this moment of brilliance, recorded by yours truly:
Last year, I made my wish list for SDCC 2017. Some of those wishes came true (Outlander, Stranger Things, Warner Bros.). Others? Well, let’s just say I’m still not invited to the coveted Entertainment Weekly Comic Con party, and I have yet to sit in Spreckels Theater for a ConanCon taping. Still on my wish list? You bet your Funko dolls’ asses hell yes.
Sure, Outlander and essentially all of Starz are skipping this year’s Con. However, SDCC 2018 is proving to be a year filled with synchronized schedules, power walking to panels, and slo-motion video of our favorite actors. Here’s just a taste of what we (Okay, I, but I’m sure the ladies will agree) want to see at San Diego Comic Con 2018.
A Discovery of Witches
My first exposure to Comic Con happened exactly on July 23, 2009 when I live streamed the Twilight Saga: New Moon panel from the comfort of my couch and my 13″ MacBook. So, it’s only fitting that a vampire love story sparked my Con love and now another vampire love story carries the torch.
A Discovery of Witches makes its Comic Con debut this year, and if you’ve been following That’s Normal, you know that we’re just a tad bit excited about this television adaptation.
Is it New Moon level excitement? I wouldn’t go that far, but it’s good to feel that rush of excitement again. However, if the panel host makes the cast and crew read Fifty Shades quotes or challenges them to a dance off (coughs Outlander coughs), I can’t promise we won’t cringe or Tweet out this emoji: ?.
Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime is back and with them comes some panels that literally made us squeal.
Picture this: San Diego, 2016. I got lost in Rufus Sewell’s eyes, practically fainted when Rupert Evans said my name, and asked Luke Kleintank the hard hitting questions with the utmost journalistic integrity. Just kidding. I asked him a Tinder question, fishing to see if he was into online dating and struck out completely.
After taking a SDCC 2017 hiatus, The Man in the High Castle returns to promote its third season, and with it returns the plot twists, the questions, and the inevitable comparison to our society. However, MITHC isn’t the only dish Amazon is offering at this smorgasbord.
International treasure Neil Gaiman returns to Comic Con as creator/writer/showrunner for the Amazon adaptation of his novel, Good Omen; and the immensely popular podcast Lore gets the celluloid treatment for Prime customers.
But it’s the reincarnation of American’s favorite CIA agent that has us primed (pun totally intended and necessary) for this year’s Con: Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan.
You may be asking yourselves, I didn’t know that the ladies at That’s Normal were so into CIA/espionage fare. Um, we’re really not, but we (especially Beth, who calls permanent dibs) are into John Krasinski fighting terrorists all while looking unbelievably hot.
Aquaman
Last Con, Jason Momoa armed with a trident, charged into Hall H to kickstart the anticipated Justice League panel.
Sure, we had some doubts – the plot was a little muddled, Ben Affleck still looked like he lost a bet and was forced to play Batman – but Jason’s enthusiasm (and forearms) made me giddy with anticipation for this film. Four months and a $12 movie ticket later, my giddiness morphed into chagrin over the dumpster fire that was JL.
One of that film’s saving graces? This guy.
Aquaman will make his return to Hall H this year, and he has a lot riding on his trident. Let’s face it, Warner Bros. and DC Films have some damage control that needs to happen at this year’s Con, especially in light of Infinity War’s massive success contrasted against Justice League’s box office atomic bomb. There’s definitely going to be a push for this spinoff to become the next Wonder Woman (the other saving grace).
Wonder Woman 1984 #WW84 pic.twitter.com/aFei1Taqrt
— Gal Gadot (@GalGadot) June 13, 2018
Since we’re on that subject, it would be beyond wise if this year’s WB panel included a little preview from Wonder Woman’s sequel. Seriously, you could show Gal Gadot eating an apple on the set, saying absolutely nothing and we would forgive the Justice League trespass.
The Goldbergs
Bust out those old mixtapes, pump up your Reebok Pumps, crimp that hair and douse it with Aqua Net: The Goldbergs are invading San Diego Comic Con 2018.
Of all the panels that I’m geeking out for, The Goldbergs take the top prize. If you are a survivor of the 80s and have yet to watch this show, why are you denying yourself pure joy? Were you not hugged enough as a child? That’s the only excuse I can accept because this show is beyond brilliant.
My hopes for this panel? A Big Tasty freestyle and some epic Beverly Goldberg complete with bedazzled sweater cosplay in the audience.
