SDCC 2025: Rediscovering the Joy of Being a Fan

San Diego Comic-Con has been my creative pilgrimage since 2011, but it was in 2016, when I became a professional attendee, that I truly found my stride. My dream was always to join Artist Alley—a bucket-list moment I checked off five years ago. It was both terrifying and thrilling to sit behind that table, showcasing my style of Star Wars heroes and Marvel icons. So, when I landed on the waitlist for SDCC 2025, I felt a pang of disappointment. But I packed my Artist alley gear, headed to sunny San Diego, and decided to embrace the con, table or no table.

After checking in with Artist Alley staff on Wednesday and not hearing back the following day, I let go of the pressure and dove in as a fan. The result? Pure magic. The Hall H panels for Predator Badlands and Tron: Ares were electric—Tron’s sleek visuals sparked ideas for a new cyberpunk-inspired art. The offsite Peacemaker Peacefest was a riot, with cosplayers rocking John Cena’s helmet and a vibe that screamed geek joy. I snagged some epic goodies. Running around with my buddy Producer Chris, hunting for treasures, and savoring San Diego’s food offerings reminded me why I fell in love with SDCC.

This year, I realized I’d been carrying a weight on my shoulders—expectations to always be “on” as a professional. Letting that go felt like a deep exhale. I sketched thumbnails in the crowd, playing with perspective grids (thanks, Proko!) to capture the con’s energy in my style. Seeing The Thing, fresh off my Fantastic Four viewing got me on a drawing spree. SDCC 2025 wasn’t just about networking (though I did a little bit of business, a man’s gotta work, lol). It was about rediscovering the thrill of geeking out.

I’ve grown since my early SDCC days. Where I once held onto bitterness when things didn’t go my way, I now see setbacks as chances to pivot. Not getting a table this year let me connect with the con—and myself—in a new way. I’m already planning for SDCC 2026, hoping to return to Artist Alley with fresh sketches of Optimus Prime or a certain super dog.

This blog is my new space to share my art journey, from art techniques to con adventures. Expect more posts on my process and prepping for cons like WonderCon. Follow me on Instagram (@AlexIniguezArt) for daily sketches, and sign up for my newsletter for exclusive art updates. Were you at SDCC 2025? What was your favorite moment? Drop a comment—I’d love to geek out with you!