Convention - SDCC 2025 : Inside the Dark Horse Booth – Where Imagination, Fandom, and Legendary Creators Collide

By Mulder, San Diego, Convention Center, 02 to 26 july 2025

Every year, San Diego Comic-Con transforms the San Diego Convention Center into the beating heart of global pop culture, and in 2025, one of its brightest, busiest, and most atmospheric corners is once again booth #2615 — home to Dark Horse Comics. Known for its bold publishing slate, fearless storytelling, and willingness to champion both cult icons and new creative visions, Dark Horse’s SDCC presence is not just a retail space or a signing area — it’s an immersive, living showcase of everything the brand has stood for since its inception. This year’s booth doesn’t just celebrate comics; it becomes an epicenter where fans, creators, and industry insiders merge, each moment humming with the unique electricity that only a convention of this scale can generate. Walking up to booth #2615, attendees are greeted by towering banners of characters from beloved series like Black Hammer, ElfQuest, and Resident Alien, flanked by striking visual teasers for new projects. The design is a deliberate invitation — a gateway into the kind of rich, varied storytelling that keeps fans loyal year after year.

Once inside, the booth reveals its carefully orchestrated chaos: the steady hum of fans lining up for free swag, the palpable anticipation of upcoming signings, and the occasional eruption of applause as a surprise guest steps into view. This year’s schedule is a testament to the breadth of the Dark Horse universe, with everything from the ethereal fantasy worlds of Wendy Pini and Richard Pini’s ElfQuest to the gritty, haunting narratives of Jeff Lemire in 10,000 Ink Stains and Black Hammer. Fans of horror and true crime are drawn to the haunting work of Eric Powell and Harold Schechter on Dr. Werthless and Did You Hear What Eddie Gein Done?, while sci-fi enthusiasts are lured by the James Cameron’s Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – So’lek’s Journey signing with Ray Fawkes and Michael Heisler. The generosity of Dark Horse signings is a tradition — autographs are always free, with posters, prints, and cards provided while supplies last — and yet the most valuable thing many attendees take away is the memory of a personal exchange with the creators themselves.

Beyond the booth’s walls, the Dark Horse presence spills into SDCC’s panel rooms, where the publisher curates discussions that range from intimate creative deep-dives to pop culture events with mass appeal. On Thursday, True Crime, True Terror with Dark Horse Comics brings together voices like David Dastmalchian, Leah Kilpatrick, and Soo Lee to explore what makes dark storytelling resonate so deeply. The Minor Threats roundtable with Patton Oswalt and Jordan Blum becomes an instant highlight, as the co-creators discuss the C-list villains and henchpeople that inhabit their world, blending humor, wit, and sharp industry insight. Fans of Resident Alien pack into Ballroom 20 on Friday to hear Alan Tudyk, Sara Tomko, Corey Reynolds, Alice Wetterlund, and showrunner Chris Sheridan share behind-the-scenes anecdotes from the beloved sci-fi comedy’s fourth season, blurring the lines between comic panels and television production. Each panel reflects Dark Horse’s role as a bridge between mediums, with the booth acting as the physical anchor for those conversations back on the exhibit floor.

Saturday becomes a parade of icons and cult favorites. Eisner Award-winning Scott Snyder and artist Tula Lotay draw a crowd for Barnstormers, while David Dastmalchian returns to sign Count Crowley and the Headless Horseman Annuals. In the afternoon, anticipation hits a fever pitch as The Last of Us co-creator Neil Druckmann takes the signing table, a moment so in-demand that wristbands are gone within minutes of the hall opening. Late in the day, a rare appearance by Frank Miller for Sin City turns the booth into a living piece of comics history, the line snaking deep into the surrounding aisles, each fan eager for even a brief moment with one of the most influential creators in modern comics.

What makes the Dark Horse booth so distinct is not only the scale of its talent roster but the atmosphere it cultivates. This is a place where a cosplayer dressed as Usagi Yojimbo might find themselves in conversation with Stan Sakai himself, or where a casual passerby could walk away clutching an exclusive print signed by Nathan Fillion after a Witness Point event. The booth’s partnerships — from Middle Earth Enterprises displays that whisk you into Tolkien’s world, to hands-on experiences from Zing Toys and Absurd Ventures — ensure there’s always something unexpected just around the corner. For newcomers, the sheer sensory overload can be exhilarating; for seasoned Comic-Con veterans, it’s a ritual pilgrimage, an essential stop that offers both nostalgia and novelty.

As SDCC 2025 unfolds, it becomes clear that the Dark Horse booth is more than a marketing space — it is a microcosm of the convention’s spirit itself. It’s a meeting ground where the next great comic can be discovered, where a personal exchange with a creator can spark inspiration, and where fans from across the world stand shoulder to shoulder, united in their love of stories that dare to be different. For those navigating the sprawling, overwhelming wonderland of San Diego Comic-Con, booth #2615 stands as a beacon: a reminder that, at its best, comics are not just about ink on paper, but about connection, imagination, and the moments that make fandom unforgettable.

You can discover our photos in our Flickr page

Photos and video : Boris Colletier / Mulderville