Hall H

All throughout San Diego Comic-Con 2019, there was a feeling of anticipation hanging heavily in the air. Some studios chose to sit out the massive pop culture and genre celebration this year, either preferring to keep their cards close to their chest or feeling better served by other avenues of promotion.

While erstwhile global smash hit Game of Thrones was somewhat busy, in the tradition of Albert Brooks, defending its life at a Comic-Con 2019 post-mortem panel, another HBO show that in many ways was passed the zeitgeist torch by its network sibling was busy holding forth on Saturday, July 20, with what was probably the most intellectually substantive and thought-provoking Hall H panel in years. Westworld fans were treated to a first look — two looks, actually, since the trailer was replayed near the end of the gathering — at the show’s third season, set to premiere in 2020 at a date yet to be determined.

And on Day Three, more heroes came forth: Warner Bros. blew the roof off Hall H with a loaded presentation that included Blade Runner 2049, Aquaman, Ready Player One and Justice League.

Wednesday was preview day and the last calm before the storm in San Diego with the first visitors allowed on the convention floor for an early pick of swag, mementos, and fantasy knick-knacks. Now the tsunami that is Comic-Con has finally hit in earnest as a wave of cosplayers swarmed the Convention Center, turning downtown into the usual bustling hub for alien life forms.