So it’s early Saturday evening at Nerdi Gras, also known as San Diego Comic Con 2026, and Hall H is absolutely packed to the gills, and then some. Some people camped out overnight for multiple days, others waited in stifling lines for hours on end for those dubious wristbands, and some even just tried their luck on the day of, just to get into this one panel. It was guaranteed to be one hell of a show.
While waiting through the inevitable delays, we were treated to H.E.R.B.I.E. rolling across the stage, chirruping like WALLE and amusing everyone. Swag in the form of a green cape with confusing velcro lapels and a plastic full-face DOOM mask were handed out to all and sundry, every single last person in Hall H got one. Then finally, Marvel Studios Chief himself Kevin Feige came out and launched right into all the Marvel things!
Acknowledging that we wouldn’t have this entire Marvel universe without the comics they came from, Feige announced writer and producer Stephen Wacker as the new Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief. Then of course came the inevitable “Avengers Endgame” re-release, dubbed “Endgame Encore”, which will have an exclusive sneak peek at “Doomsday” in there too. And while all this is fine, we guess, this honestly isn’t why we’re here folks. Give us new stuff!
Almost in response to the now beginning to fidget audience, in a stunning apparently long-discussed reveal, Ryan Gosling was brought out on stage to announce the making of a new “Ghost Rider” film with himself as the title character. Teaming up again with director Shawn Levy, the latest hellfire-flaming-head film is promised to us in 2028!
Out onto the stage stalks the well-known and absolutely adored figure of Jon Bernthal, the man who made Frank Castle aka The Punisher into an icon of screens small and large again, to tout his latest Marvel film. This little thing, maybe you heard of it, called “Spider-Man: Brand New Day”. And of course, Bernthal came prepared with a trailer for us to cheer at!
And then, oh fans and friends and odds and ends, the thing we’ve all been drooling over for 2 years since RDJ did a stunning reveal of Dr. Victor von Doom at Hall H, finally they begin bringing our favorite actors from our favorite characters out on stage. This year the Marvel panel seemed to make extra effort to make the audience feel involved, even for a few brief moments, as half the cast actually appeared on special stages at the back half of Hall H, and beloveds like Simu Liu, Anthony Mackie, Letitia Wright, Paul Rudd and more, gave high-fives to astounded fans as they were escorted through the audience to get to the main stage. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo took the stage as well, joined by Kelsey Grammer, James Marsden, Danny Ramirez, Hayley Atwell, Chris Evans and lots of others!
As the sprawling cast spread out on the front stage and the applause and cheers were deafening, a very recognizable voice called out from the audience, insisting he had not one but two questions for the panel. And suddenly we all realize why we recognize that voice, as Deadpool in his iconic suit but in a, wait for it, Jean Grey color, starts ranting in Ryan Reynolds’ own voice into the mic he brought with him. DP practically pleaded for even a cameo in the new “Doomsday” and was of course denied, but if they did it for the panel, there are plenty of betting odds that they will do it for the film anyway.
It was later revealed that Reynolds wore the Jeanpool suit and walked the lanes of SD Comic-Con 2026, taking plenty of selfies with fans, all without security or concern, just as Mark Hamill and others have done in previous years.
The trailer for “Avengers: Doomsday” had already dropped days ago, but seeing it in Hall H, surrounded by a legion of Doom-clad fans and quite a few stars from the Marvel films, is something else entirely. Green lights flashed and strobed, RDJ spoke into the mic in Victor’s doom-laden drawl, inviting us to join him on the winning side, and you should’ve heard the crowd go nuts when Pedro Pascal, who was up on stage with the rest of them, has his character Reed Richards demanded of Doom, “Victor, did you do this?!”
Nothing is going to top that for this panel, but there was one last set of surprises in store for amazed fans. Ryan Coogler, director of the “Black Panther” movies himself, took the stage and proceeded to announce that the search for T’Challa II was over. “Black Panther III” emblazoned the screen and out onto the stage came “The Long Walk” star David Jonsson, to heartfelt cheers from the audience. Playing the son of the title character after the tragic loss of Chadwick Boseman will be giant shoes to fill, but Coogler and the Wakanda crew will make it happen with tons of heart, as all the Black Panther films are.
And that’s all, folks! The Doom army that staggered home from the convention center, green capes flying from their souvenir bags and Doom masks jauntily hanging on the backs of their heads, were exhausted but fulfilled with all manner of things Marvel!
Written by Alicia Glass