Exhibits at the Comic-Con Museum rotate on a regular basis, but subjects like pop culture, technology, community events, art, and education are on display year-round.
Pop Culture Exhibits
Pop culture is the centerpiece of this incredible museum. Since Comic-Con has been held annually since 1970, the organization has plenty of exciting pop culture history to pull from.
The organization initially focused on comics as well as other forms of science fiction and fantasy, so these are ongoing themes throughout the museum, even as exhibits rotate in and out. Exhibits also span other popular forms of entertainment, including movies, TV shows, books, video games, and more.
Exhibits include a focus on the classics alongside popular new IPs. For younger visitors, this is a great way to explore some of the world’s most iconic characters and stories from eras past while still enjoying the latest comic and action heroes of today. For older visitors, it’s a great way to look back on the many years these characters have existed in the public consciousness and shaped the world around them.
POPnology
Pop culture meets real-world technology in one of the museum's newest exhibits, POPnology!
The exhibit is designed to explore what science fiction may be a reality in the near future. Robots, drones and brand new technologies are featured in a series of interactive displays. Highlights include ‘How We Play’ with toys and games, ‘How We Live and Work’ focusing on daily life and interactive robots and ‘How We Move’, featuring the world’s first 3D printed car, a Back to the Future DMC DeLorean!
POPNology is scheduled from October 4, 2023 – August 21, 2024.
Museum Character Hall of Fame
The Museum Character Hall of Fame is the highest of honors for notable pop culture characters that have been recognized by the museum for their impact on the world. The 2019 inductee, Batman, was the first of many characters to receive this commendation, followed by PAC-MAN in 2020, Wonder Woman in 2021, and Spider-Man in 2022.
Be sure to also check out Spider-Man: Beyond Amazing – The Exhibition, which curates the most important moments from the web slinger’s history, plus intriguing stories from the creators that have helped expand the Spider-Man mythos, into one incredible exhibit.
Similarly, PAC-MAN has his own exhibit in the form of PAC-MAN Arcade, which celebrates one of the earliest and best-known characters in gaming. Learn about the character’s history and how people all across the world have been brought together by games, TV shows, and more.
Technology Exhibits
There are many different kinds of technology working behind the scenes to bring our favorite movies and TV shows to life. At the Comic-Con Museum, you’ll find exhibits that celebrate these amazing forms of technology and take an inside look at how they work.
From movies to TV to games and more, tech goes hand in hand with many of comics’ most famous characters. Learn how these heroes went from page to screen and how technology helped their meteoric rise to popularity.
Artwork
The Comic-Con Museum is an important part of the San Diego community! One of the ways they stay connected to the community is by featuring local artists. Artistic legends from around the world that designed and created comics, fantasy, entertainment and more are also prominently featured at the Comic-Con Museum.
These exhibits rotate regularly to showcase as many artists as possible, so visitors will be able to come back multiple times and have different experiences with each trip to the museum.
Colleen Doran Illustrates Neil Gaiman
In addition to celebrating local artists, the Comic-Con Museum also currently includes works from renowned artist Colleen Doran. The exhibit named ‘Colleen Doran Illustrates Neil Gaiman’ features original illustrations of the award-winning artist including The Sandman, Troll Bridge and Good Omens to name a few!
The jewel of the display is 20 hand-painted pages from Doran’s original Chivalry (Dark Horse Books). Colleen has drawn for Wonder Woman and the Amazing Spider-Man as well as her one of a kind stories. The cartoonist and illustrator has an incredibly storied career you can learn so much more about with your visit to the museum.
2022 Eisner Awards judge Kim A. Munson is the curator. After a successful run at the Society of Illustrators in New York, the exhibit arrived at the Comic-Con museum October 4, 2023 and will be on display until April 30, 2024.
The Evolution of Color in Comics
Take a fascinating journey with Inkpot Award recipient Steve Oliff and his company Olyoptics from the beginnings of comic book big dot colors to the digital generated colors of the comics of today.
Featured works include pieces from Batman, Spawn, Maxx and the award-winning work on the Japanese manga Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo.
Celebrate the Legend: Stan Lee
Stan Lee has appeared at numerous Comic-Con conventions to the delight of fans over his storied 78-year career. ‘Excelsior! The Life and Legacy of Stan Lee’ celebrates his work through rare art, paintings, comic books and much more.
Auction houses and private collectors such as DC Comics and Heritage Auctions have contributed new pieces that will be unveiled to the public for the very first time!
Opened July 18, 2023, the exhibit is scheduled to be on display until March 1, 2024.
Cowboy BeBop 25th Anniversary Art Exhibition
If you’re a fan of Anime, then the exhibit featuring Cowboy Bebop is for you!
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the iconic anime series, the Comic-Con Museum gathered a collection of art aimed at capturing the essence of the series. Art on display is said to pay homage to the appreciation for Cowboy Bebop through a wide range of artist interpretations.
The exhibit opened to acclaim July 18, 2023 and will be on display until March 1, 2024.
My Hero Academia Installation
The Comic-Con Museum celebrates art of all kinds from digital graphics and classic illustrations to artifacts and sculptures.
The ‘Historical Battle in Kamino’ from My Hero Academia Season 3 Episode 48 was perfectly captured in the statue on display of the fight between All Might and All For One. Fans can relive the exciting moment in the series when they visit this incredible piece of art.
The statue is on display from July 18, 2023 until January 30, 2024.
Education
Another important component of this museum is educational opportunities.
The museum hosts a number of interactive and hands-on educational programs to teach about comics, entertainment, art, and more.
Some of the topics covered in museum exhibits include virtual reality, robotics, performing arts and visual art. The museum also promotes literacy by using comics and graphic novels as a teaching tool.
While many of these programs will be geared towards children, there are also programs designed for adults. These include programs to help up-and-coming artists connect with more experienced professionals in the entertainment industry.
Learning takes place all over the museum as well as in two dedicated spaces known as ‘makerspaces’.
The Cox Innovation Lab
The Cox Innovation lab is all about creating through technology!
Complete with a 3D printer, digital displays, and state of the art computers for animation, graphic design and even gaming, the lab provides the canvas for students of any age to tinker, learn and create. The goal of the space is for each individual to learn and have an experience driven through technology.
The Conrad Prebys Foundation Art Studio
The second makerspace is dedicated to the creativity hidden inside all of us!
The Conrad Prebys Foundation Art Studio explores a wide range of mediums through art classes, cosplay, designing games and one of our personal favorites, creative writing! The lab is a space for you to learn, be artistic and dig deep into your creative potential.
Live Screenings
Live entertainment and events are a regular part of the experience at the Comic-Con Museum!
One popular type of event you’ll find here are live screenings. These include showings of television, movies, music, and other forms of entertainment. Check out popular titles, or come see rare titles you might not be able to find publicly available elsewhere!
Comic-Con events are also known for their live panels and Q&A sessions with notable people in the entertainment industry. Similar programs occur at a smaller scale throughout the year at the museum as well.
Make sure to check the museum’s calendar to see what’s happening and what celebrity might be present during your trip.
Social Events
The Comic-Con organization is well known for hosting huge social events every year. This social aspect is also an important part of the new museum.
Each event creates community and brings people together, a hallmark of Comic Con. Whether you live in San Diego or are just enjoying a vacation, this is an excellent way to meet people with similar interests.
These events include live music, games, classes, and much more. Food and drinks are often offered as well.
Online Events
The museum posts digital live streams of museum programming as well as offering exclusive online-only events. These events celebrate some of the world’s most beloved pop culture characters, and there are plenty more to come in the near future!