{"id":95094,"date":"2025-07-26T21:44:14","date_gmt":"2025-07-26T21:44:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/95094\/"},"modified":"2025-07-26T21:44:14","modified_gmt":"2025-07-26T21:44:14","slug":"the-best-things-we-saw-saturday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/95094\/","title":{"rendered":"The best things we saw Saturday"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Saturday is typically one of the biggest days at Comic-Con, and this year cosplayers stole the show.<\/p>\n<p>Trekkies were out in full force for a \u201cStar Trek Universe\u201d panel featuring \u201cStar Trek: Strange New Worlds\u201d and \u201cStar Trek: Starfleet Academy\u201d cast and creators.<\/p>\n<p>Union-Tribune reporters were out looking for highlights. Here\u2019s what they saw.<\/p>\n<p>Flash mob<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"A flash dance inspired by &quot;Star Trek: Strange New World&quot; was seen Saturday in the Gaslamp Quarter at the corner of Fifth Avenue and K Street. (Olivia Petty \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)\" width=\"5712\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SUT-L-FLASH-01.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"9412337\" \/>A flash dance inspired by \u201cStar Trek: Strange New World\u201d was seen Saturday in the Gaslamp Quarter at the corner of Fifth Avenue and K Street. (Olivia Petty \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n<p>A large flash mob of dancers drew a crowd on the corner of Fifth Avenue and K Street, clad in \u201cStar Trek: Strange New World\u201d 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.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Olivia Petty<\/p>\n<p>Galactus<\/p>\n<ul class=\"mng-gallery-initialized mng-gallery-slider\">\n<li data-index=\"1\" class=\"mng-ge mng-gallery-active\" id=\"mng-ge-0\" aria-hidden=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><img alt=\"A Galactus cosplay created by Thomas DePetrillo (in the glowing...\" class=\"size-article_inline\"  \/>\n<p>A Galactus cosplay created by Thomas DePetrillo (in the glowing red hat). Raul Gonzalez is inside the suit walking through the exhibit hall. (Carlos Rico \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)\n<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-index=\"2\" class=\"mng-ge\" id=\"mng-ge-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A Galactus cosplay created by Thomas DePetrillo (in the glowing...\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SUT-L-GALACTUS-01.jpg\" \/>\n<p>A Galactus cosplay created by Thomas DePetrillo (in the glowing red hat). Raul Gonzalez is inside the suit walking through the exhibit hall. (Carlos Rico \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)\n<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-index=\"3\" class=\"mng-ge\" id=\"mng-ge-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A Galactus cosplay created by Thomas DePetrillo (in the glowing...\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SUT-L-GALACTUS-02.jpg\" \/>\n<p>A Galactus cosplay created by Thomas DePetrillo (in the glowing red hat). Raul Gonzalez is inside the suit walking through the exhibit hall. (Carlos Rico \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)\n<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Show Caption<\/p>\n<p>1 of 3<\/p>\n<p>A Galactus cosplay created by Thomas DePetrillo (in the glowing red hat). Raul Gonzalez is inside the suit walking through the exhibit hall. (Carlos Rico \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)\n<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#\" class=\"icon-enlarge mng-gallery-fullscreen-expand\" aria-label=\"Expand fullscreen slideshow\">Expand<\/a><\/p>\n<p>One of the hardest cosplays to miss was Thomas DePetrillo\u2019s 10-foot-tall\u00a0Galactus\u00a0cosplay 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\u00a0Galactus\u00a0like 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.\u00a0Galactus\u2019 official entourage included a special handler and a couple of Comic-Con security guards, managing the flow of traffic in the giant\u2019s wake. DePetrillo\u2019s company is @extreme_costumes on Instagram. He constructs these mega-costumes for conventions all over the country.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Olivia Petty<\/p>\n<p>Vacationing cosplayers<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"Rich Meyer and his son show their Nintendo's &quot;Legend of Zelda&quot; cosplay. (Carlos Rico \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)\" width=\"4032\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SUT-L-LEAF-01.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"9412338\" \/>Rich Meyer and his son show their Nintendo\u2019s \u201cLegend of Zelda\u201d cosplay. (Carlos Rico \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n<p>Nintendo\u2019s \u201cLegend of Zelda\u201d 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, \u201che\u2019s on vacation.\u201d\u00a0 Meyer added it took him and his son about six days to put their costumes together using 3D printing.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Carlos Rico<\/p>\n<p>Shao Kahn<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"Carlos Estrada cosplays as Shao Kahn. (David J. Bohnet \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)\" width=\"4032\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SUT-L-SHAO-KAHN-01.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"9412339\" \/>Carlos Estrada cosplays as Shao Kahn. (David J. Bohnet \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n<p>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 \u201cMortal Kombat\u201d 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 \u201cMortal Kombat II,\u201d which is set to release in October. \u201cHe\u2019s the Thanos of Mortal Combat, he\u2019s the most iconic villain,\u201d Estrada said. The avid cosplayer can be found on Instagram @uncannycarlos.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 David J. Bohnet<\/p>\n<p>LEGOs for days<\/p>\n<ul class=\"mng-gallery-initialized mng-gallery-slider\">\n<li data-index=\"1\" class=\"mng-ge mng-gallery-active\" id=\"mng-ge-0\" aria-hidden=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><img alt=\"Booth No. 2829 inside the exhibit hall is celebrating all...\" class=\"size-article_inline\"  \/>\n<p>Booth No. 2829 inside the exhibit hall is celebrating all things LEGO. (Carlos Rico \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)\n<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-index=\"2\" class=\"mng-ge\" id=\"mng-ge-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Booth No. 2829 inside the exhibit hall is celebrating all...\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SUT-L-LEGO-06.jpg\" \/>\n<p>Booth No. 2829 inside the exhibit hall is celebrating all things LEGO. (Carlos Rico \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)\n<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-index=\"3\" class=\"mng-ge\" id=\"mng-ge-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Booth No. 2829 inside the exhibit hall is celebrating all...\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SUT-L-LEGO-05.jpg\" \/>\n<p>Booth No. 2829 inside the exhibit hall is celebrating all things LEGO. (Carlos Rico \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)\n<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-index=\"4\" class=\"mng-ge\" id=\"mng-ge-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Booth No. 2829 inside the exhibit hall is celebrating all...\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SUT-L-LEGO-07.jpg\" \/>\n<p>Booth No. 2829 inside the exhibit hall is celebrating all things LEGO. (Carlos Rico \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)\n<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-index=\"5\" class=\"mng-ge\" id=\"mng-ge-4\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Booth No. 2829 inside the exhibit hall is celebrating all...\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SUT-L-LEGO-03.jpg\" \/>\n<p>Booth No. 2829 inside the exhibit hall is celebrating all things LEGO. (Carlos Rico \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)\n<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-index=\"6\" class=\"mng-ge\" id=\"mng-ge-5\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Booth No. 2829 inside the exhibit hall is celebrating all...\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SUT-L-LEGO-02.jpg\" \/>\n<p>Booth No. 2829 inside the exhibit hall is celebrating all things LEGO. (Carlos Rico \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)\n<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-index=\"7\" class=\"mng-ge\" id=\"mng-ge-6\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Booth No. 2829 inside the exhibit hall is celebrating all...\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SUT-L-LEGO-01.jpg\" \/>\n<p>Booth No. 2829 inside the exhibit hall is celebrating all things LEGO. (Carlos Rico \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)\n<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Show Caption<\/p>\n<p>1 of 7<\/p>\n<p>Booth No. 2829 inside the exhibit hall is celebrating all things LEGO. (Carlos Rico \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)\n<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#\" class=\"icon-enlarge mng-gallery-fullscreen-expand\" aria-label=\"Expand fullscreen slideshow\">Expand<\/a><\/p>\n<p>LEGO builders and fans of pop culture properties such as \u201cStar Wars,\u201d Nintendo and \u201cTransformers\u201d are submerging at the LEGO booth this year. It\u2019s one of the largest attractions on the Comic-Con exhibitor floor with photo opportunities with droid K-2SO from Star Wars film \u201cRogue One\u201d and the series \u201cAndor\u201d and a characters from the video game \u201cFortnite.\u201d There is also several new LEGO sets and products on display that are for sale, including a working Nintendo Gameboy, Soundwave from the \u201cTransformers\u201d 1980s cartoon and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Plus, attendees can build their own LEGO people for exclusive pins and buttons. Booth No. 2829<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Carlos Rico<\/p>\n<p>\u2018PAC-MAN\u2019 Cafe<\/p>\n<ul class=\"mng-gallery-initialized mng-gallery-slider\">\n<li data-index=\"1\" class=\"mng-ge mng-gallery-active\" id=\"mng-ge-0\" aria-hidden=\"false\" tabindex=\"0\"><img alt=\"\u201cPac-Man\u201d Cafe can be found a 232 Seventh Ave. in...\" class=\"size-article_inline\"  \/>\n<p>\u201cPac-Man\u201d Cafe can be found a 232 Seventh Ave. in San Diego. (Olivia Petty \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)\n<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-index=\"2\" class=\"mng-ge\" id=\"mng-ge-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\u201cPac-Man\u201d Cafe can be found a 232 Seventh Ave. in...\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SUT-L-PACMAN-04.jpg\" \/>\n<p>\u201cPac-Man\u201d Cafe can be found a 232 Seventh Ave. in San Diego. (Olivia Petty \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)\n<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-index=\"3\" class=\"mng-ge\" id=\"mng-ge-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\u201cPac-Man\u201d Cafe can be found a 232 Seventh Ave. in...\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SUT-L-PACMAN-02.jpg\" \/>\n<p>\u201cPac-Man\u201d Cafe can be found a 232 Seventh Ave. in San Diego. (Olivia Petty \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)\n<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-index=\"4\" class=\"mng-ge\" id=\"mng-ge-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\u201cPac-Man\u201d Cafe can be found a 232 Seventh Ave. in...\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SUT-L-PACMAN-01.jpg\" \/>\n<p>\u201cPac-Man\u201d Cafe can be found a 232 Seventh Ave. in San Diego. (Olivia Petty \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)\n<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-index=\"5\" class=\"mng-ge\" id=\"mng-ge-4\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\u201cPac-Man\u201d Cafe can be found a 232 Seventh Ave. in...\" class=\"lazyload size-article_inline\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SUT-L-PACMAN-05.jpg\" \/>\n<p>\u201cPac-Man\u201d Cafe can be found a 232 Seventh Ave. in San Diego. (Olivia Petty \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)\n<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Show Caption<\/p>\n<p>1 of 5<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPac-Man\u201d Cafe can be found a 232 Seventh Ave. in San Diego. (Olivia Petty \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)\n<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#\" class=\"icon-enlarge mng-gallery-fullscreen-expand\" aria-label=\"Expand fullscreen slideshow\">Expand<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The \u201cPAC-MAN\u201d 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: \u201cI feel like I\u2019m a little kid again.\u201d Visitors can play the original \u201cPAC-MAN\u201d 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.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Olivia Petty<\/p>\n<p>A cosplayer with a weapon known as \u2018Fishbones\u2019<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"Janelle Riccio cosplays as Jinx from &quot;Arcane: League of Legends.&quot; (David J. Bohnet \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)\" width=\"4032\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SUT-L-ARCANE-01.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"9412340\" \/>Janelle Riccio cosplays as Jinx from \u201cArcane: League of Legends.\u201d (David J. Bohnet \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n<p>Cosplayer Janelle Riccio attends her seventh Comic-Con but first as Jinx from \u201cArcane: League of Legends.\u201d The cosplayer built the entire costume from scratch including the three foot long rocket launcher. Two seasons of\u00a0 \u201cArcane: League of Legends\u201d are available to stream on Netflix.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 David J. Bohnet<\/p>\n<p>A portrait session for cosplayers<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"Nikon, Inc. is hosting a portrait activation inside Comic-Con. (Carlos Rico \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)\" width=\"4032\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SUT-L-NIKON-01.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"9412341\" \/>Nikon, Inc. is hosting a portrait activation inside Comic-Con. (Carlos Rico \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n<p>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 <\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Carlos Rico<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Mighty Morphin Power Rangers\u2019<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"&quot;Mighty Morphin Power Rangers&quot; cosplayers. (Carlos Rico \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)\" width=\"4032\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SUT-L-POWER-01.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"9412342\" \/>\u201cMighty Morphin Power Rangers\u201d cosplayers. (Carlos Rico \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s morphin\u2019 time!\u201d 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 \u201cMighty Morphin Power Rangers\u201d because it\u2019s part of their childhood and \u201cwanted to bring back an old classic.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Carlos Rico<\/p>\n<p>Originally Published: July 26, 2025 at 2:19 AM PDT<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Saturday is typically one of the biggest days at Comic-Con, and this year cosplayers stole the show. Trekkies&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":95095,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5134],"tags":[5229,1582,276,15661,3549,7264,1072,7289,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-95094","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-san-diego","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-ca","10":"tag-california","11":"tag-comic-con","12":"tag-san-diego","13":"tag-sandiego","14":"tag-things-to-do","15":"tag-top-stories-sdut","16":"tag-united-states","17":"tag-united-states-of-america","18":"tag-unitedstates","19":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","20":"tag-us","21":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/114921725711059887","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95094","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=95094"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95094\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/95095"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=95094"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=95094"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=95094"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}