SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON 2016
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR F
or all the grumbling about how San Diego Comic-Con has lost its way over the last few years, by becoming a more mainstream and ever more elaborate general pop culture destination, it’s still the highlight of the entertainment calendar. And how could it not be? The internet now allows fans to get news as it breaks out of San Diego almost instantaneously, which means that comic book companies, TV networks, movie studios, toy manufacturers, and everyone else who descends on the San Diego Convention Center has to work harder than ever to make sure that it’s a special experience for the legion of super fans who make the trek to sunny southern California. And this year, just like last year and the year before that, is expected to be bigger than ever. The superhero movie arms race is in full effect, and Marvel Studios and Warner Bros. are going to try and outdo each other with surprises. There are more sci-fi, horror, and genre shows making their presence felt this year than we even thought imaginable five years ago. You can take in an IMAX screening of our cover story, Star Trek Beyond, with a live orchestra performing Michael Giacchino’s score. You can camp out on the line for the big events in Hall H, where you might get a surprise late night visit from sympathetic celebrities who want to pay tribute to their most dedicated fans. Or you can just do what the show was created for in the first place, prowl the show floor to hunt for cool swag, fill in gaps in your collection, and get to know some of your favorite comic book creators. Whether you’ve been coming to SDCC for years or this is your first time attending, there’s always something to celebrate when this many fans get together. And make no mistake, you should celebrate. Put 160,000 people with similar interests together and the result is sometimes magical. You don’t have to be a purist or an old school fan, you just have to revel in the genuine love and weirdness in an atmosphere that’s like the longest, wildest Halloween party you’ve ever been to. So don’t worry about the fact that SDCC isn’t a niche destination only for the most hardcore fans anymore. Think of it as a badge of honor that for a few days in July, the entire entertainment industry sets its watch by what you love. As for Den of Geek? Well, we figured five days with no sleep in the middle of SDCC wasn’t enough. No, we started the party early in order to compile this magazine, our second ever print edition, which you can only find right here at the big show. Well, there’s a digital version that you can find on the website, so you can send that to your friends. But maybe you can score some autographs in this one — something you can’t do with the digital version! If you see any of the Den of Geek team hanging around at the Convention Center or the parties, come up and say hi. And if you spot something we should know about, whether it’s some cool news or brilliant cosplays, throw a tweet @denofgeekus or tag us on Instagram: @denofgeek.
PRINT EDITION EDITOR
Chris Longo CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Kaitlyn Richert ASSISTANT PRINT EDITORS
David Crow John Saavedra Nick Harley DESIGNERS
Olivia Reaney Rachel Keaveny ILLUSTRATORS
Emily Miller Sophie Erb COPY EDITOR
Sarah Litt
DEN OF GEEK.COM CEO
Jennifer Bartner Indeck PUBLISHER
Matthew Sullivan-Pond EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Mike Cecchini DEPUTY EDITOR
Chris Longo
SAN DIEGO COMIC CON 2016
CONTENTS
FILM EDITOR
David Crow John Saavedra
FEATURES
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Tony Sokol Don Kaye Kayti Burt
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FOUNDER & UK EDITOR
MOVIES
HOW THE APOCALYPSE IS MADE Enter the writers' room of Fox’s hit comedy, The Last Man on Earth.
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SET REPORT: JUSTICE LEAGUE Are blockbusters being rewarded for conformity?
COVER STORY: STAR TREK BEYOND Out of the darkness and now beyond, the Star Trek franchise looks to steer the ship in the right direction.
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A MASTERCLASS IN ACTING Check out this amazing display of acting — it will only take a second.
Simon Brew Adam McDonnell
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You can become an eSports pro, if you’ve got cash to spare.
GAMES EDITOR
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Mike Cecchini
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LEAGUE OF LEGENDS
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THE RUSSIAN COMIC REVOLUTION Russia’s comic and convention industry is booming after a decades-long slumber.
DoGTech LLC
601 Heritage Drive, Suite 484 Jupiter, FL 33458 561.656.2377
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COMIC-CON MUSIC PLAYLIST Set the mood with our official SDCC music suggestions.
HOLLYWOOD'S ALIEN OBSESSION NASA and Hollywood have been intertwined for years, trying to turn science fiction into fact.
DEN OF GEEK ■ WWW.DENOFGEEK.COM
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