Shoppers and fans are buzzing after a whirlwind San Diego Comic-Con run that mixed book launches, festival screenings, signings and even a roller derby bout , here’s what happened, who showed up, and why it matters for readers, viewers and queer creatives.

Essential Takeaways

  • New release: Just Another Summer is now widely available and already named a most-anticipated queer book by Autostraddle, with signed copies coming soon.
  • Festival traction: Long Away screened at the SDCC Independent Film Fest and is headed to OutSouth, Reeling and the Gilbert Baker festival; some screenings include exclusive intros.
  • Con highlights: Packed signings at IDW, Mad Cave and PRISM, plus a Drawing Courage panel that touched on queer and trans visibility in YA graphic novels.
  • Personal wins: One creator debuted in a live roller derby bout while juggling con duties , vivid, sweaty, and very real.
  • Work in progress: A pilot first draft is finished and a 22-editor push is underway for a new graphic novel project; more meetings and emails to follow.

A release day, a podcast and a con dash

They landed at SDCC with a new book in hand and a podcast interview already posted, and you can feel that jittery excitement in every recap line. According to Autostraddle, Just Another Summer was on the most-anticipated list for August, and the duo also spoke at length on Turn the Page about the book’s themes and process. Expect signed editions soon , they’re waiting on comp copies before listing them in their Ko-fi shop , and the joy of finally seeing the trade paperback in person was a recurring high point.

Panels, signings and that one memorable library moment

Signings at IDW, Mad Cave and PRISM filled schedules and gave the creators face-to-face time with readers, which they clearly treasure. They also took part in the Drawing Courage: YA Graphic Novels that Speak Out panel, a conversation that explored representation, history, and how comics can open doors for queer and trans stories. A post-panel signing at the library included a school librarian buying a copy for their school , a small scene that feels genuinely significant in the fight to get diverse books into young hands.

Film festival life: Long Away’s audience magic

Long Away screened as part of the Comic-Con International Independent Film Fest and the creators described the experience of watching their film with an audience as “magical.” The short is also booked into OutSouth’s Live Your Life block in Durham, Reeling in Chicago and the Gilbert Baker festival, where an online pay-what-you-can block includes exclusive intros made for the festival. Festival runs keep momentum going; each screening equals new viewers, conversations and, often, distribution possibilities.

Roller derby, real life and the cost of living a creative life

While juggling signings and panels they also lived a parallel life of skates and whistles , one of the pair returned mid-con to skate a first travel attempt after a Freshies graduation. They missed some con days for bouts and tried out for travel teams; the mix of sporting grit and creative hustle is refreshing and humanising. It’s a reminder that creators often balance unpaid admin (emails, revisions, pitching) with passion projects, and that personal milestones , like moving up in derby , matter as much as press.

The business behind the hustle: pitching, preorders and publicity

They’ve finished a first pilot draft and are deep into revisions, while an agent has circulated a graphic novel to 22 editors , fingers crossed. Preorders are still open for Star Trek Voyager: Homecoming (out 18 August) and Princesses of the DC Universe (March 2027), and the team stresses how much those early sales matter to a book’s life. Industry-wise, Comic-Con still functions as a deal-making and relationship-building hub, even if actual immediate pickups are rare; the conversations at cons often seed future projects.

Tough news and compassionate choices: Dirtbag Henry’s story

Amid the highs, they shared a deeply human update about their cat, Dirtbag Henry, who’s likely facing cancer. After costly tests and an ultrasound, the family opted against more invasive diagnostics that would distress him, choosing comfort-focused care and a low-dose chemo option. It’s a stark, loving reminder that creators have lives offstage , messy, expensive and full of hard decisions , and readers appreciate that honesty.

Quick practical tips for creators and fans heading to cons

If you’re going to a major con: plan meals, pencil in downtime, and don’t underestimate the email backlog that awaits you afterwards. Bring comp copies if you can, coordinate with librarians and local shops for signings, and film panels whenever organisers provide footage , festival film takes time to appear online. For filmmakers: festival exclusives and short intro/outro content add value and can be paywalled to support access.

It’s a small change that can make every launch, screening and skate through summer feel a little more connected.

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