Convention - SDCC 2025 : Inside the Marvel Comics Booth – A Fantastic Four Celebration Like Never Before

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

Walking into the Marvel Comics booth at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 was like entering a vivid, panel-to-panel journey through over 85 years of superhero history. Spanning Booth 2329 and Booth 2519, Marvel’s presence this year was nothing short of cinematic in scope, yet grounded in the raw magic of the comic book page. The central theme revolved around a celebration of Marvel’s First Family, the Fantastic Four, honoring their cultural and creative impact across comics, games, movies, and beyond. Fans were greeted by an immersive Yancy Street installation, reimagined with the kind of gritty charm and Easter-egg detail that only Marvel’s design team could deliver. Every brick, billboard, and subtle nod to the Baxter Building seemed to whisper stories to those who had followed Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm for decades. The decision to make the booth an anchor for Fantastic Four fandom felt even more poignant given the release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps in theaters that very weekend, turning the convention floor into a real-time celebration of one of Marvel’s oldest and most beloved legacies.

The atmosphere around the Marvel booths was one of constant motion, as if the space itself had absorbed the high-energy pulse of the convention. New visitors were drawn in by free giveaways, exclusive merch, and photo-ready set pieces, while returning fans gravitated toward the Marvel Unlimited station. Here, the comics side of Marvel took center stage: new members were offered discounted subscriptions and a limited-edition sign-up gift, while longtime subscribers could purchase an exclusive H.E.R.B.I.E. pin—an understated collectible that quickly became one of the convention’s most sought-after treasures. There was a sense that Marvel wasn’t just selling products but offering fans a tangible connection to the stories that had shaped them. Every corner of the booth offered something unexpected—one moment you might find yourself in a cosplay meetup, the next catching a glimpse of a teaser image for an upcoming storyline, fueling speculation in the way only Marvel can.

The panel schedule for Marvel Comics at SDCC 2025 was equally stacked, bringing together some of the most recognized creative voices in the industry. Thursday, July 24, kicked off with MARVEL COMICS: X-Men in Room 6A, where C.B. Cebulski and Tom Brevoort revealed fresh details about the Age of Revelation saga. Joined by David Marquez and Ryan North, they spoke about redefining mutant storytelling for a modern audience, weaving together nods to the franchise’s past while charting bold new directions. That same day in Room 6BCF, fans got a first-hand look at Marvel Cosmic Invasion, a retro-inspired beat ’em up game adaptation that blended deep cuts from Marvel’s cosmic archives with a gameplay style that felt like a love letter to the arcade era. Throughout the weekend, attendees could dive into panels covering Marvel Rivals: Hero Creation, Marvel SNAP: The Art, and an Ultimate Universe update that left die-hard fans buzzing. By Sunday, the Comics to Screen session offered an intimate look at how Marvel’s publishing side continues to inspire television and film projects, reinforcing the booth’s unspoken thesis: comics are the foundation on which the Marvel empire is built.

Cosplay gatherings brought another dimension to the booth experience, turning the convention floor into a living, moving collage of Marvel history. On Thursday, July 24, the Fantastic Four cosplay meetup brought together a sea of blue spandex, rocky orange foam, and inventive interpretations of the team’s iconic looks. Friday, July 25, shifted the focus to the Marvel 616 universe, inviting attendees aged 18 and over to showcase characters across the multiverse. These meetups were more than just photo opportunities—they were communal moments where fans stepped into their heroes’ boots, channeling decades of storylines and making them their own. The energy during these gatherings often spilled back into the booth itself, where fans compared notes on costumes, traded theories about upcoming story arcs, and lined up for exclusive merchandise drops.

One of the more intriguing undercurrents of Marvel’s SDCC 2025 presence was the notable absence of Marvel Studios from the Hall H programming—a deliberate choice that spoke volumes. With no splashy film panel dominating the headlines, the spotlight shifted fully onto Marvel Comics, reminding attendees where it all began. Still, the cinematic world was not forgotten: subtle hints toward Avengers: Doomsday were sprinkled throughout the booth in the form of cryptic teaser art and cleverly placed props. This balance between the publishing and cinematic arms of Marvel created a fascinating dynamic—one that seemed to say, “The comics are not just alive; they are thriving, and they are still the beating heart of everything Marvel does.”

In the end, the Marvel Comics booth at SDCC 2025 was more than a showcase—it was a living archive, a community hub, and a forward-looking creative space all rolled into one. It celebrated the stories that made Marvel a household name, gave fans the tools to continue exploring those narratives through digital and physical media, and reminded the world that the superhero genre is as much about human connection as it is about epic battles. For all the spectacle San Diego Comic-Con delivers each year, it’s rare to find a space that feels this layered, this personal, and this grounded in its own history. Marvel’s choice to put its comics front and center in 2025 wasn’t just a programming decision—it was a statement of purpose, and one that resonated deeply with the fans who walked away carrying not just merch bags, but a renewed love for the medium that started it all.

You can discover our photos in our Flickr page here and here

video : Boris Colletier / Mulderville
Photos : Haitem Gasmi et Boris Colletier / Mulderville