Comic-Con 2025: The best things we saw Saturday

Saturday is typically one of the biggest days at Comic-Con, and this year cosplayers stole the show.

Trekkies were out in full force for a “Star Trek Universe” panel featuring “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” and “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy” cast and creators.

Union-Tribune reporters were out looking for highlights. Here’s what they saw.

Flash mob

A large flash mob of dancers drew a crowd on the corner of Fifth Avenue and K Street, clad in “Star Trek: Strange New World” costumes. According to one of the dancers, the flash mob was an officially affiliated promotion for the most recent series. They will perform one more show in the Gaslamp and then move to Petco Park at 3:30 p.m.

— Olivia Petty

Galactus

One of the hardest cosplays to miss was Thomas DePetrillo’s 10-foot-tall Galactus cosplay from the Marvel universe. Although he walks like a robot and talks like a robot, there is a man inside the suit on high stilts: Raul Gonzalez, with DePetrillo leading him from the front. The entire cosplay took four months and four people to create. In order to get it to San Diego, it had to be disassembled and stored in special poly carbonate boxes to be flown and then trucked to the convention. DePetrillo is not an official exhibitor, but fans flocked behind Galactus like a celebrity as he mowed through the exhibit hall, stopping at booths every once in a while to pick up a stuffed Domo or a Labubu and regard it with interest. Galactus’ official entourage included a special handler and a couple of Comic-Con security guards, managing the flow of traffic in the giant’s wake. DePetrillo’s company is @extreme_costumes on Instagram. He constructs these mega-costumes for conventions all over the country.

— Olivia Petty

An artist interacts with fans

Artist and animator, Sean “Cheeks” Galloway talks Marvel characters with fans of his “Saturday Morning Variant” art book. Galloway, a fan of the San Diego Padres and Navy veteran who was stationed in San Diego for a time, offered signatures for fans of his new giant coloring book titled “Vintage Cheeks 6.” Galloway has been drawing since he was in fifth grade. He has been attending Comic-Con since 1993 and currently draws stylized art for Marvel. Find him on Instagram @me_seangalloway and in the Artist Alley DD-17.

— David J. Bohnet

Vacationing cosplayers

Nintendo’s “Legend of Zelda” video game fans Rich Meyer and his son (left) are attending their first Comic-Con together from the Bay Area. Meyer is dressed as Link with evil spirit amour and a Hawaiian shirt because he said, “he’s on vacation.”  Meyer added it took him and his son about six days to put their costumes together using 3D printing.

— Carlos Rico

The Safe Room

Coin-Op Gaslamp transformed into an exclusive fan event with “Dungeon Crawler Carl” author Matt Dinniman and narrator of the audiobook, Jeff Hays. Fans of the series were able to meet both and Dinniman signed copies of book after posing for photos.“You gotta listen to the audiobooks you can’t believe they’re only one person doing all the voices,” said Alyssa Myer, a “Dungeon Crawler Carl” fan visiting San Diego from Washington, D.C. There are currently seven “Dungeon Crawler Carl” books by Dinniman. The popular fantasy literary role playing game series combines dark humor and violent adventure of Carl, the titular character and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, as they enter the galactic game show dungeon that was rebuilt in place of earth after it is destroyed. Jaycee Kawaii was one of the first fans into the exclusive event and won a hat after she gave the “Dungeon Crawler Carl” wheel a spin. Food, select drinks, a tattoo station and photo booth were all set up for attendees to enjoy and included free game play at Coin-Op. Fans who signed up in advance were given first access to the event but a stand by line is available until 4:30 p.m. Coin-op Gaslamp, 789 Sixth Ave., San Diego.

— David J. Bohnet

Shao Kahn

At first glance, the giant emperor Shao Kahn looks like it might be animatronic, but a closer look reveals cosplayer Carlos Estrada inside the huge “Mortal Kombat” villain. Shao Kahn can be found at booth No. 229 where New Yorker, Joe Lirag, posed with Estrada. The tyrannical emperor connected with Atari to debut his 9-foot-tall, multi-piece suit. The suits creation took months to complete and was a team effort, Estrada said. He was inspired to create the iconic character after seeing the previews of the upcoming film “Mortal Kombat II,” which is set to release in October. “He’s the Thanos of Mortal Combat, he’s the most iconic villain,” Estrada said. The avid cosplayer can be found on Instagram @uncannycarlos.

— David J. Bohnet

Ghosts!

Three Hitchhiking Ghosts named Phineas, Ezra and Gus from Disney’s Haunted Mansion ride were taking photos with fans in the lobby of the convention hall. The three cosplayers — Andrea J. Seale, Jason Baxter and Kat Baxter — have been regularly mistaken for the Ghosts of Christmas Past or the Ghostly Trio, uncles of Casper the Friendly Ghost. The costumes and props are hand-made and uniquely creative: for example, Gus’s ball and chain opens up as a purse. All three are Comic-Con and HorrorCon regulars, hoping to offer a family-friendly reprieve from the scarier ghosts and ghouls haunting the convention. “When we’re at the con, we’re here for the fans,” said Seale.

— Olivia Petty

LEGOs for days

LEGO builders and fans of pop culture properties such as “Star Wars,” Nintendo and “Transformers” are submerging at the LEGO booth this year. It’s one of the largest attractions on the Comic-Con exhibitor floor with photo opportunities with droid K-2SO from Star Wars film “Rogue One” and the series “Andor” and a characters from the video game “Fortnite.” There is also several new LEGO sets and products on display that are for sale, including a working Nintendo Gameboy, Soundwave from the “Transformers” 1980s cartoon and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Plus, attendees can build their own LEGO people for exclusive pins and buttons. Booth No. 2829

— Carlos Rico

Interactive Zone

San Diegans and con-goers alike can enjoy the interactive zone at Petco Park’s Lexus parking lot A. The free event has a “Magic: The Gathering” photo-op with the games iconic cabbage cart, interactive games to play for the whole family and a “Hello Kitty” Cafe Truck. Attendees can demo games “HUNTERxHUNTER,” “NENxIMPACT” and “Double Dragon” at the Arc System Works section within the activation. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Petco Park, Imperial Avenue and Park Boulevard. Free.

— David J. Bohnet

Alternate Marvel characters

Marvel characters from alternate timelines in the multiverse pose for pictures outside of the San Diego Convention Center. Gamora with Thanos’ armor (Courtney Welsh), variant Taskmaster (Lamarr Daniels) and zombie Captain America (Matt Lawrence), from left to right, are cosplay costumes created by sculpture and painter Walter Welsh (not pictured). Welsh said it took him about six months to put the costumes together. He added he has been attending Comic-Con since 2013 and each year dresses up his friends in different costumes.

— Carlos Rico

‘PAC-MAN’ Cafe

The “PAC-MAN” Cafe offers a retro gaming and cafe experience to fans with or without a badge, if they can brave the line on Seventh Avenue. One guest exclaimed when she walked in: “I feel like I’m a little kid again.” Visitors can play the original “PAC-MAN” arcade machines, purchase exclusive swag and take photos with PAC himself. The cafe itself is equipped with a full kitchen and an extensive (though pricey) menu, including pastries and sweets to-go, drinks, appetizers and desserts. The cafe will be open long after Comic-Con ends, open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. until Aug. 3. 323 Seventh Ave.

— Olivia Petty

A cosplayer with a weapon known as ‘Fishbones’

Cosplayer Janelle Riccio attends her seventh Comic-Con but first as Jinx from “Arcane: League of Legends.” The cosplayer built the entire costume from scratch including the three foot long rocket launcher. Two seasons of  “Arcane: League of Legends” are available to stream on Netflix.

— David J. Bohnet

A portrait session for cosplayers

Lights, camera, action: Nikon, Inc. is hosting an activation inside Comic-Con. Guests to its booth can get professional cosplay portraits of themselves in a custom kiosk with lighting and effects. There is also workshops and meet and greets with Nikon pro creators. Plus, visitors can try products such as the Nikon Z Series cameras and NIKKOR Z lenses. Booth No. 3917

— Carlos Rico

‘Mighty Morphin Power Rangers’

“It’s morphin’ time!” The Green Ranger, Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd (left to right) make an appearance at the San Diego Convention Center lobby. Married couple Brandon Arnold (left) and Kristen Rinehart (middle) and their good friend Corey Perkins (right) are attending their first San Diego Comic-Con together, who are all from Northern California. Rinehart said they are cosplaying as characters from the 1990s cartoon “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” because it’s part of their childhood and “wanted to bring back an old classic.”

— Carlos Rico