>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR KPBS EVENING EDITION HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY BILL HOWE FAMILY OF COMPANIES, PROVIDING SAN DIEGO WITH PLUMBING, HEATING, AND AIR RESTORATION.

FLOOD AND REMODELING SERVICES FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

CALL 1-800-BILL HOWELL, OR VISIT BILL HOWE.COM.

AND BY THE CONRAD PRIVATES FOUNDATION.

DARLENE MARCO SHYLY.

AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>>> THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE FILLING THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN ON DAY TWO OF SAN DIEGO COMIC CON INTERNATIONAL, AND WE'RE RIGHT HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT ALL.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS SUPER EVENING EDITION.

I MAYA TRABULSI, LIVE FROM THE NEW CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, AND TONIGHT, WE HAVE TEAM COVERAGE FOR YOU.

JACOB AERE HAS BEEN CHECKING OUT ALL OF THE FREE ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN, THAT YOU CAN DO WITHOUT A COMIC-CON BADGE, AND ALEXANDER NGUYEN IS GIVING US A LOOK INSIDE THE SOLD-OUT CONVENTION, SO ALEX, WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN OUT THERE TODAY?

>> Reporter: WELL, MY EYE, THINGS WERE A LITTLE BIT MORE EXCITING THAN USUAL TODAY.

WE HAVE SOME BURNT FOOD THAT SET OFF SOME FIRE ALARMS, AND THE CONVENTION FLOOR WAS BRIEFLY EVACUATED, BUT THINGS QUICKLY GOT BACK TO NORMAL.

AS YOU CAN SEE AROUND ME, THERE ARE ROWS AND ROWS OF COMICS, AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO FOCUS ON TODAY, BEYOND THE SPECTACLE OF HOLLYWOOD AND MOVIE STARS.

THE HEART OF COMIC-CON IS STILL THE COMICS.

ROWS AND ROWS OF COMICS, SOME RARE, SOME HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER.

ONE OF THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF ELECTRO, IT'S HERE.

OR THE LATEST ISSUE OF YOUR FAVORITE SUPERHEROES, IT'S HERE TOO.

BUT THERE'S SOME THINGS YOU CAN'T FIND ANYWHERE.

>> JUSTIN HEINZ IS ON THE HUNT FOR A SPECIFIC SPIDER-MAN ISSUE.

>> >> Reporter: CAREFULLY INSPECTING HIS FINE FOR ANY IMPERFECTIONS.

HE SAYS THAT'S THE FUN OF COMING HERE.

>> IT'S A MORE BETTER EXPERIENCE TOO, YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF JUST CLICKING, OH, I GOT THE BEST PRICE.

EVEN IF I GET, LIKE, THE SAME PRICE ON eBAY IS HERE, I'M MORE HAPPIER.

>> Reporter: COLLECTING IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY FANS KEEP COMING BACK TO COMIC-CON, SAYS CHASE LYERLY.

ONE OF THE LARGEST COMIC BOOK AND TOY STORES IN SAN DIEGO.

>> PEOPLE HAVE THEIR CHARACTERS, YOU KNOW?

THEY HAVE THAT SUPERHERO THAT THEY LOVE, AND THEY MIGHT GO FOR THE OLD ORIGINAL ISSUE AND GET THAT ONE.

>> Reporter: AND ASKED PUBLISHERS HAVE SPANNED OF THOSE CHARACTERS AND STORY LINES, SOME TITLES BECOME COLLECTIBLES AS WELL.

>> AND THAT'S WHAT KEEPS PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: BUT IT'S NOT TRUST OLD CHARACTERS AND TITLES.

FANS ARE ALSO LOOKING FOR NEWER WORKS.

>> THIS, THIS HAS BEEN THE BEST SELLER FOR THREE CONVENTIONS IN A ROW.

>> Reporter: THE LAST RONAN IS ABOUT THE LAST SURVIVING NINJA TURTLE SEEKING JUSTICE IN A BATTLE RAVAGED NEW YORK CITY.

>> $15, PLEASE.

>> Reporter: KENNY JACOBS IS THE OWNER OF NUCLEAR COMICS IN NORTHPARK.

>> IT HAS SOLD GREAT, BECAUSE IT'S THE BEST NINJA TURTLE THING FOR EVERY GROWN-UP NINJA TURTLE FAN, SO THAT, YOU KNOW, THE NOSTALGIA IS HIGH.

>> Reporter: WORKS BY NEW ARTISTS AND WRITERS ARE ALSO SELLING WELL, LIKE THIS TITLE FROM FANTA GRAPHICS.

>> IT'S REALLY GREAT TO SEE PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF WHAT WE PUBLISH AND LAUREN IS THE SPOKESPERSON FOR GRAPHICS.

IT HAS BEEN PUBLISHED IN GRAPHIC NOVELS FOR FOUR DECADES.

>> IT'S REALLY GOOD TO SEE PEOPLE KIND OF PICK UP A BOOK AND FLIPPED THROUGH IT AND BE SO TAKEN WITH THE ART THAT THEY JUST HAVE TO HAVE IT.

IT'S GREAT TO SEE KIND OF PEOPLE DISCOVERING THEIR NEW FAVORITE.

>> Reporter: BACK HERE LIVE AT THE CONVENTION FLOOR, AS YOU CAN SEE, A LARGE PART OF IT IS STILL DEDICATED TO THE COMICS.

NOW, THIS IS WHAT MAKES COMIC- CON COMIC-CON .

LIVE ON THE CONVENTION FLOOR, I'M ALEXANDER NGUYEN, KPBS NEWS.

BACK TO YOU.

>> THANKS SO MUCH, ALEX, FOR THAT, AND FOR THE THOUSANDS OF FANS WHO MAKE IT INSIDE COMIC- CON, THERE ARE JUST AS MANY, IF NOT MORE, OUTSIDE.

AND KPBS REPORTER JACOB AERE COMES TO US LIVE FROM THE GASLAMP WITH ALL OF THE FUN AND FESTIVITIES FROM AROUND THE AREA.

JACOB?

>> Reporter: HI, MY EYE.

IT HAS BEEN A BUSY DAY, AND THERE ARE PEOPLE EVERYWHERE.

WE'RE TALKING COSPLAY OUTFITS, WE'RE TALKING BUILDING WRAPS, AND, OF COURSE, YOU HAVE ALL OF THE FREE OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES, AND ON TOP OF THAT, THERE'S JUST TONS OF DIRTY FUN.

WE DOVE INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT EARLIER ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO OUTSIDE THE CONVENTION CENTER.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> ♪♪ >> Reporter: IT WAS A GRAND ENTRANCE THIS MORNING FOR COMIC- CON FANS OUTSIDE OF THE CONVENTION CENTER.

WHAT MAKES IT EVEN MORE SPECIAL?

IT'S ALSO THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER EVENT THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY.

THE 2024 PARIS OLYMPICS.

PERFORMANCE ARTIST CRITICAL MASS WAS NEARBY, AND DRESSED AS THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS.

>> HE'S A JOKER-BATMAN HYBRID.

HE'S A SUPER VILLAIN.

>> Reporter: THE NEW YORKER WOULDN'T SHARE HIS REAL NAME, BUT HE FLEW INTO TOWN TO BE A PART OF THE ACTION.

HE SAYS FOR HIM, COSPLAYING FILLED A VOID, MAKES OTHER PEOPLE SMILE, AND EXPAND HIS ARTISTRY.

>> THIS IS A CULMINATION OF A PROJECT THAT WAS DONE PIECE BY PIECE IN THE PAST THREE YEARS.

>> Reporter: LOCAL SAN DIEGO AND THE AEROS WAS ALSO ROAMING THE STREETS.

>> I KNOW IT'S A BIT CREEPY, BUT HE DOESN'T BITE, DON'T WORRY.

>> Reporter: AND COSPLAYING AS DEADPOOL, A SUPERHERO CHARACTER THAT HAS A BRAND-NEW MOVIE.

>> I ALWAYS LOVE COMING TO COMIC-CON.

IT'S MY 11th YEAR BEING HERE, AND IT'S ALWAYS WORTH IT.

I MEAN, YES, IT'S KIND OF LIKE, YOU KNOW, TOUGH WITH THE HEAT, BUT, I MEAN, SEEING THE LOCALS, THE TOURISTS, THE DIFFERENT CULTURES, THE PEOPLE, IT ALWAYS -- IT'S ALWAYS HAD A BLAST.

>> Reporter: ALL AROUND 27, THERE ARE TONS OF THINGS TO SEE AND DO.

THAT INCLUDES A PLANET OF THE APES EXHIBIT.

FOR FANS, IT THE >> LEARNING ABOUT ALL THE 60+ YEARS OF THE FRANCHISE, AND THEN THEY KIND OF TAKE THAT ICONIC TURN THROUGH OUR VAULT DOORS INTO JUST KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, AND REALLY IMMERSED THEM INTO THE RECENT FILM.

>> Reporter: WHETHER IT'S MOVIES, FOOD, ART, OR COSPLAY FUND, THE AEROS SAYS YOU DON'T NEED A BATCH TO ENJOY IT.

>> OF ALL THE TIMES THAT I'VE COME, HALF OF THE TIME I'VE GONE TO BED.

AND OTHER TIMES, I DON'T EVEN GO INSIDE AT ALL.

YOU JUST WALK AROUND THE CONVENTION CENTER, AND YOU STILL GET SUCH AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE.

>> Reporter: IT'S DEFINITELY QUITE THE SCENE HERE AS THOUSANDS OF FANS ARE ON THE STREETS AROUND THE CONVENTION CENTER.

ALL SHARING THEIR PASSIONS WITH OTHER LIKE-MINDED CON GOERS.

THIS ALL RUNS THROUGH SUNDAY.

REPORTING LIVE FROM THE GASLAMP, JACOB AERE, KPBS NEWS.

BACK TO YOU, MAYA.

>> WELL, IF YOU ARE AS EXCITED ABOUT COMIC-CON SEASON AND KPBS'S OWN ARTS AND CULTURE REPORTER, BRETT OKAMOTO.

COMING UP, SHE'LL SHARE WHAT SHE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO AT THE CONVENTION.

>>> IT'S BEEN A HOT TIME ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST, AND HERE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, WE'RE BEGINNING TO FIND SOME RELIEF OUT THERE.

EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING FOR THE INTERIOR DESERTS ARE GOING TO BE ENDING THIS EVENING.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SOME RELIEF.

NOW, AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE OVERNIGHT FORECAST, TONIGHT WE ARE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH SOME CHANGES, AND A LITTLE BIT MORE COOLING THAN RECENT NIGHTS.

YOU CAN SEE WE'RE GOING TO GET DOWN TO AROUND 68 IN SAN DIEGO, MARGINALLY COOLER THAN LAST NIGHT.

MOUNT LAGUNA 64, BREAKER SPRINGS STILL AROUND 81.

BUT, WELL, WE'LL HAVE THAT FULL FOR COMING UP.

>>> NOW WE HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE GROVE FIRE BURNING EAST OF PALOMAR MOUNTAIN.

THE FIRE IS NOW 25% CONTAINED, ACCORDING TO CAL FIRE.

IT STARTED IN THE SUNNYSIDE AREA NORTH OF OAK GROVE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

863 ACRES BURNED.

CAL FIRE INVESTIGATORS SAY THE FIRE WAS LIKELY CAUSED BY LIGHTNING.

ALL EVACUATION ORDERS WERE DOWNGRADED TO WARNINGS LAST NIGHT.

A TEMPORARY SHELTER WAS SET UP AT THE WARNER SPRINGS COMMUNITY CENTER.

>>> SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON WHETHER TO REQUIRE ALL GENDER RESTROOMS ON NEW OR SIGNIFICANTLY RENOVATED CITY PROPERTY.

KPBS REPORTER KATIE HYSON SAYS THE PROPOSAL GOES AGAINST A WAVE OF GENDER RESTRICTIVE BATHROOM BILLS IN RECENT YEARS.

>> Reporter: DISTRICT 2 COUNCILMEMBER JENNIFER CAMPBELL PROPOSED THE ORDINANCE THURSDAY AT THE COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING.

REYES IS OUR POLICY ADVISER.

>> WE NEED PUBLIC FACILITIES SHOULD HAVE ACCESS BECAUSE IT'S A BASIC HUMAN NECESSITY THAT ALL OF US EXPERIENCE.

>> Reporter: RAO SAYS IT'S A MATTER OF SAFETY FOR TRANS PEOPLE, AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

LACK OF RESTROOM ACCESS CAN CAUSE URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS AND DEHYDRATION.

THE PROPOSAL GOES AGAINST A NATIONAL TIDE OF BATHROOM BILLS PASSED IN A DOZEN STATES.

PRESIDENT BIDEN BANNED THOSE POLICIES IN APRIL, BUT STATE ATTORNEYS ARE SUING.

THE DEBATE IS TRANS-PHOBIC, BUT ALL GENDER RESTROOMS ARE ALSO MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR CAREGIVERS, OF PEOPLE NEEDING RESTROOM ASSISTANCE, LIKE SMALL CHILDREN, ELDERLY PEOPLE, OR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

AND THEY HELP FIGHT A UNIVERSAL ENEMY, LONG BATHROOM LINES.

THE COMMITTEE VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO DRAFT THE ORDINANCE.

REYES SAYS SOME OF THE FIRST AFFECTED PROPERTIES WOULD BE THE OCEAN BEACH PIER AND THE OCEAN BEACH AND SAN CARLOS LIBRARIES.

KATIE HYSON, KPBS NEWS.

>>> WE ARE SEEING LOCALS REACT TO THE CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT'S DECISION ON HOW GIG WORKERS WERE CLASSIFIED.

THE COURT RULING YESTERDAY ALLOWS PROP 22, WHICH WAS APPROVED BY VOTERS FOUR YEARS AGO, TO STAND.

IT ALLOWS COMPANIES LIKE HUBER, LIFT IT, AND OTHERS, TO TREAT EMPLOYEES AND INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS INSTEAD OF FULL- TIME EMPLOYEES WHEN IT COMES TO WAGES AND BENEFITS.

OUR MEDIA PARTNER KG TV SPOKE TO A LOCAL DOOR DASH DRIVER AND AN ECONOMICS PROFESSOR.

>> I, MY OWN BOSS.

WHEN I'M WORKING, IF I HAVE SOME URGENT STUFF TO DO, I CAN JUST STOP AND DO IT, AND THEN TURNED BACK AND DOOR DASH WILL NOT PUNISH ME FOR THAT.

>> IS A MIXED BAG.

THE BENEFITS ARE THAT THERE MAY BE MORE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES THERE MAY BE OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK MORE, BUT AGAIN, THEY DON'T GET THE PROTECTIONS OF BEING A FULL- TIME EMPLOYEE.

>> THE PRESIDENTS OF THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF LABOR UNIONS RELEASED A STATEMENT WHICH SAYS IN PART, WE ARE DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED THAT THE STATE SUPREME COURT HAS ALLOWED CORPORATIONS TO BUY THEIR WAY OUT OF BASIC LABOR LAWS, DESPITE PROPOSITION 22'S INCONSISTENCIES WITH OUR STATE CONSTITUTION.

THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF LABOR UNIONS WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR ALL WORKERS.

>>> CHULA VISTA'S ART FEST IS COMING BACK FOR A SECOND YEAR.

KPBS'S COREY TSUZUKI SAYS IT'S A SIGN OF THE SOUTH BAY'S STRENGTHENING ARTS SCENE.

>> Reporter: SOUTHBAY HAS ALWAYS HAD A STRONG ARTS COMMUNITY, BUT ONE THING THAT'S BEEN MISSING IS MORE PLACES FOR ARTISTS TO GATHER AND SHARE THEIR WORK.

DANY ZAVALA IS WITH CHULA VISTA'S CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION.

>> PEOPLE HAVE TRIED TO START THEIR OWN LOCAL MAYBE, LIKE, ART GROUP OR GATHERING AREA, FOR ARTISTS TO COME IN AND MEET AND, YOU KNOW, GET TOGETHER, AND JUST, YOU KNOW, SOME GO DOWN, SOME STAY FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY CONSISTENT.

>> Reporter: OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, THOUGH, THAT'S STARTED TO CHANGE.

LAST YEAR, ZAVALA HELPED ORGANIZE CHULA VISTA FIRST ART FEST, WHICH BROUGHT TOGETHER LOCAL PAINTERS, PRINTERS, POT MAKERS, AND OTHER ARTISTS TO EXHIBIT AND SELL THEIR WORK ON THE COURTYARD OUTSIDE CITY HALL.

ALONG WITH FOOD TRUCKS, MUSICIANS, DANCERS, AND MOVIE SCREENINGS.

THIS YEAR, THE CITY IS RUNNING IT BACK.

>> A LOT OF TALENTED ARTISTS HAVE APPLIED, AND I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED TO SHOW THEIR WORK.

I HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN IT YET, SO IT'S LIKE OPENING PRESENTS AT CHRISTMAS.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, BUT YOU'RE FEELING EXCITEMENT.

>> Reporter: ZAVALA SAYS THE CITY IS STILL ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FROM ARTISTS TO TAKE PART.

THE FESTIVAL IS SCHEDULED FOR NEXT MONTH.

IN CHULA VISTA, COREY TSUZUKI, KPBS NEWS.

>> TONIGHT ON THE NEWS HOUR, HOW PARIS IS TRYING TO PROTECT AGAINST SECURITY THREATS DURING THE OLYMPIC GAMES.

THAT'S COMING UP AT 7:00 AFTER EVENING EDITION ON KPBS.

>>> AND YOU'RE TAKING A LIVE LOOK AT THE SAN DIEGO CONVENTION CENTER.

THIS IS OUR VIEW FROM THE NEW CHILDREN'S MUSEUM DOWNTOWN, WHERE WE'RE COVERING DAY TWO OF SAN DIEGO COMIC CON INTERNATIONAL.

COSPLAYING IS A BIG PART OF COMIC-CON, AND FOR ONE LOCAL COUPLE OF SELF-DESCRIBED SUPER NERDS, IT'S HOW THEY FIRST MET.

KPBS VIDEO JOURNALIST CAROLYN CARELLA'S SHOWS US HOW THE MARVEL UNIVERSE AS PART OF THEIR LOVE STORY.

>> LISA LIVED IN PORTLAND, OREGON, AND WE MET HALFWAY IN THE MIDDLE IN SAN JOSE AT A COMIC CONVENTION.

>> Reporter: >> HE WAS DRESSED FULLY IN BATMAN THE FIRST TIME I MET HIM.

DIDN'T EVEN SEE HIS FACE.

>> FULL BATMAN COSTUME.

I WAS LIKE, HI.

>> AND WE HIT IT OFF, BECAUSE WE BOTH ENJOYED THE SAME THINGS, WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT COMIC-CON.

I HADN'T REALLY DONE MUCH COSPLAYING, MAYBE ONCE OR TWICE, JUST SMALL LITTLE DIPPING MY TOE INTO IT, UNTIL WE STARTED DATING.

NOT EVEN A MONTH INTO IT, HE BUYS ME A WONDER WOMAN COSTUME, AND, LIKE, WELL, HERE WE ARE.

>> SO THIS IS WHERE I GET MUSCULAR.

COSPLAY, ON AVERAGE, GOSH, SIX TIMES A MONTH, MAYBE, BETWEEN CONVENTIONS AND CHARITY WORK, COUPLE OF CHARITY CLUBS.

AND, LIKE, SAN DIEGO IS THE BEST PLACE FOR IT.

I CALL IT MY ADDICTION.

LIKE, I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF IT.

IT'S MY ONLY BIGGEST HOBBY.

>> EDITS, IS A TRUE HOBBY, AND IT GIVES ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE CREATIVE AND CRAFTY AND LEARN NEW THINGS.

WE LEARN 3-D PRINTING.

I MADE A, I HAVE A MENTAL LAURION COSTUME THAT I BEDAZZLED.

IT'S HEAD TO TOE RHINESTONES IN A RAINBOW COLOR.

AND I HAND GLUED EVERY SINGLE RHINESTONE.

WELL, MARVEL IS SPECIAL TO US, BECAUSE WE HAVE A HISTORY WITH THEM, AND WE JUST FELT A CONNECTION TO IT, AND THE CHARACTERS.

>> MY FAVORITE CHARACTER OF ANYTHING IS CAPTAIN AMERICA.

HIS LOVE IS PEGGY, AND WE COSPLAY CAP AND PEGGY, AND WHAT I PROPOSE TO LISA, WE WERE DRESSED AS CAP AND PEGGY.

>> WE HAD A MARBLE THEMED WEDDING.

SO MY DRESS WAS ACTUALLY CUSTOM- MADE.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THE MARVEL, LIKE, LOGO.

SO THE TOP WAS WHITE, THE BOTTOM WAS RED.

>> I WAS DRESSED AS CAPTAIN AMERICA.

I WAS IN A RED, WHITE, AND BLUE SUIT.

YOU KNOW, LIFE CAN BE DIFFICULT AT TIMES, AND HARD, AND THERE'S A LOT OF NEGATIVITY IN THE WORLD, AND, BUT IT'S, IT'S REALLY A GREAT FEELING TO JUST BE A SUPERHERO FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS.

>> AND THAT WONDERFUL STORY WAS PRODUCED BY KPBS VIDEO JOURNALIST CAROLYN CARELLA'S.

JOHN AND LISA ARE COHOSTING A COMIC-CON PANEL ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES COSPLAYING AS A COUPLE.

IT'S AT 11:00 A.M. SUNDAY AT THE MARRIOTT MARQUIS SAN DIEGO MARINA.

>>> COMIC-CON IS ALL ABOUT CELEBRATING POP-CULTURE FANDOM, AND THERE REALLY IS NO BIGGER FAN AT KPBS, OR MAYBE EVEN IN SAN DIEGO AT LARGE, THEN ARTS REPORTER BETH ACCOMANDO, AND SHE JOINS US NOW.

BEST?

>> THANK YOU.

YES, THIS IS MY HAPPY PLACE.

>> IT IS.

AND BEFORE WE GET TO THIS.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS BEAUTIFUL REGALIA THAT YOU ARE WEARING.

CAN YOU SHOW US WHAT THIS IS?

>> THIS IS FROM WHAT I CALL MY DRUG DEALER IN THE HALL.

HE ALWAYS BRINGS ME SOMETHING FROM JAPAN TO BUY, AND THIS IS A -1.

IT'S NOT A KIMONO, BUT IT'S, LIKE, A DAY KIMONO OR SOMETHING.

BUT YES.

AND SO I HAD TO WEAR IT, BECAUSE I WENT TO INTERVIEW SOMEBODY FROM THE GODZILLA PANEL, AND I FELT LIKE THIS WAS THE BEST TIME TO ACTUALLY WEAR IT.

SO YES, I DO A LOT OF SHOPPING THERAPY HERE AT COMIC-CON.

>> YOU LOOK GREAT.

AND SO THERE IS REALLY A LOT OF EXCITEMENT AT COMIC-CON THIS YEAR, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE HOLLYWOOD IS BACK IN HALL H. BUT WE KNOW THAT YOU APPRECIATE FILMS THAT ARE MORE ON THE FRINGE, SO CAN YOU TELL US WHAT YOU, BETH ACCOMANDO, ARE MOST EXCITED ABOUT?

>> PEOPLE CAN FIND IT ON YOUTUBE AFTER.

I HAPPEN TO LOVE TRAUMA.

TRAUMA IS CELEBRATING ITS 50th ANNIVERSARY.

IN FACT, I THINK IT'S CELEBRATING IT FOR THE THIRD TIME, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY MIGHT BE TOO CHEAP TO PRINT NEW T-SHIRTS.

BUT THEY HAVE BEEN HERE AT COMIC-CON LONG BEFORE HALL H, LONG BEFORE THE STUDIOS.

THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOR LIKE 40 YEARS EXHIBITING ON THE FLOOR, AND LLOYD KAUFMAN IS A CRAZY PRODUCER WHO MAKES MOVIES.

HE GIVES OPPORTUNITIES TO PEOPLE, PEOPLE LIKE JAMES GUNN AND TREY PARKER HAVE ALL COME THROUGH TROMA.

AND THERE'S JUST A DO-IT- YOURSELF SPIRIT FROM TROMA THAT'S FABULOUS, AND THEY'RE THE CREATORS OF TOXIC VENDORS.

SO TONIGHT, THEY ARE GOING TO BE SHOWING THREE OF THEIR MOVIES, AND THERE'S ALSO GOING TO BE A PANEL.

AND THE PANEL HAS MICHAEL BHARATI, AND HE DOES WHAT HE CALLS A TROMA ALUMNI, BECAUSE YOU DON'T JUST DO ONE THING AT TROMA.

YOU DO WHATEVER IS NEEDED ON AN INDEPENDENT FILM.

AND HERE'S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE PANEL AND THE TROMA SPIRIT.

>> WELL, PEOPLE CAN EXPECT A CELEBRATION OF THE YEARS OF TROMA, WHICH MEANS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AND FILMMAKING, AND MAKING IN THE ART AND DIY ART AND CONTRACT ART.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS JUST MAKING ART THAT'S TRUE TO YOURSELF AND THE CREATOR AND I THINK THAT TROMA HAS ALWAYS EXEMPLIFIED THAT SPIRIT OF GOING OUT AND JUST TAKING IT HAPPEN.

IF YOU HAVE A DREAM AND YOU HAVE A VISION, GO OUT AND DO IT.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, AND HOW THAT SPIRIT IS PERSISTENT FOR FIVE DECADES.

>> THERE REALLY IS SO MUCH GOING ON, BUT TONIGHT ESPECIALLY, THE EISNER AWARDS ARE BEING PRESENTED, AND THEY'RE KNOWN AS, FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW, THE OSCARS OF COMICS, RIGHT?

SO TELL US ABOUT WHAT THESE AWARDS REFLECT IN OUR INDUSTRY.

>> SURE.

YOU KNOW, COMIC-CON IS DEDICATED TO CELEBRATING POP- CULTURE, AND COMICS HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN WELL-RESPECTED.

SO COMIC-CON DECIDED THEY NEEDED TO HAVE AWARDS.

AND THESE AWARDS REFLECT THE BROAD DIVERSITY OF WHAT COMICS CAN DO.

AND THAT IS ALSO REFLECTED IN THE FACT THAT THE NUMBER OF NOMINATIONS AND CATEGORIES HAS CHANGED, SO THEY REFLECT THE CHANGING NATURE OF COMICS THEMSELVES.

AND IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR, LIKE, YOUNG WRITERS TO GET HIGHLIGHTED, RECOGNIZING OLDER WRITERS.

THE AMOUNT OF AWARDS IS INCREDIBLE IN TERMS OF JUST HUDDLING THE DAVAO CITY.

AND I REALLY SUGGEST THAT IF YOU'RE EITHER NEW TO COMICS OR ARE SEEKING NEW STUFF TO READ, THIS IS THE BEST READING LIST YOU ARE GOING TO FIND FOR THE SUMMER.

AND YOU CAN WAIT TILL THE WINNERS TONIGHT, OR YOU CAN JUST GO THROUGH ALL THE NOMINEES.

AND IT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

I DO SUGGEST YOU GET THERE EARLY.

THE AWARDS START AT 8:00.

BUT IF THE PUBLIC WANTS TO COME IN, I WOULD LINE UP MAYBE A COUPLE HOURS EARLY IF YOU WANT TO GET IN.

>> I DON'T THINK PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO STAND IN LINE.

BUT NOW, BEST, YOU'RE ALSO WANT TO PANEL YOURSELF.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> GIANT ROBOT IS CELEBRATING ITS 30th ANNIVERSARY.

AND THEY HAVE BEEN ON THE COMIC- CON FLOOR FOR QUITE A NUMBER OF DECADES.

I GOT TO WRITE FOR THEM EARLY ON IN THEIR CAREERS, BECAUSE GIANT ROBOT YOUTH TO BE PRODUCED IN THE GARAGE OF THESE GUYS, MARTIN AND ERIC.

AND BACK THEN, I GOT TO DO SOME INTERVIEWS WITH PEOPLE LIKE -- JOHN WOO, JET LI, WHO WERE IN HONG KONG CINEMA, AND WEREN'T GETTING COVERED HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND SO THIS PANEL WILL CELEBRATE THE MAGAZINE, THEIR CELEBRATION OF ASIAN POP- CULTURE, AND A NEW BOOK THEY HAVE THAT BRINGS TOGETHER A LOT OF THEIR BEST INTERVIEWS OVER ALL THE ARTS, MOVIES, FOOD, MUSIC, EVERYTHING.

AND THEY'RE GREAT GUYS, AND THEY DO HAVE A BOOTH ON THE FLOOR, SO IF YOU'RE HERE AT COMIC-CON, YOU CAN GO CHECK THEM OUT.

>> WE KNOW THAT THIS IS YOUR SUPER BOWL, BETH, OR SHOULD I SAY, RATHER, YOUR ROLODEX.

WE REALLY HOPE THAT YOU ENJOY IT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> AND YOU CAN FIND ALL OF OUR COMIC-CON COVERAGE AT KPBS.ORG.

JUST CLICK THE BANNER ON OUR HOMEPAGE.

>>> LAST YEAR, COMIC-CON WAS STRIPPED DOWN DUE TO THE HOLLYWOOD ACTOR'S STRIKE.

TODAY, VIDEO GAME PERFORMERS ARE THROWING THAT PART OF THE INDUSTRY INTO ANOTHER WORK STOPPAGE.

SAG AFTRA SAYS WHILE GAINS HAVE BEEN MADE ON WAGES AND JOB SAFETY, THE TWO SIDES ARE SPLIT OVER CONCERNS WITH GENERATIVE AI.

IT COMES AFTER MONTHS OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH MAJOR VIDEO GAME COMPANIES.

>> THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT LOOPHOLE IN THE LANGUAGE THAT WE GOT BACK.

LOOPHOLES THAT WOULD AFFECT OR LEAVE OPEN EXPLOITATION UNTIL WE SEE IT IN LANGUAGE THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, RELIABLY TELL OUR MEMBERSHIP IS SAFE FOR THEM TO CONTINUE WORKING UNDER, THEN WE NEED TO, TO EXERT THIS DEGREE OF PRESSURE ON OUR BARGAINING GROUP TO INDICATE OUR SERIOUSNESS ABOUT THE SITUATION.

>> A SPOKESPERSON FOR VIDEO GAME PRODUCERS SAYS THE OFFER IT PRESENTED TO SAG AFTRA FEATURES AI PROTECTIONS.

IT INCLUDES REQUIRING CONSENT AND FAIR COMPENSATION TO ALL PERFORMERS WORKING UNDER THE INTERACTIVE MEDIA AGREEMENT.

>>> IT HAS BEEN THREE MONTHS SINCE A MASSIVE FIRE BURNED THE OCEANSIDE PIER.

THE FIRE STARTED OUTSIDE THE VACANT RUBY'S DINER AT THE END OF THE PIER.

LUCKILY, FIREFIGHTERS WERE ABLE TO SAVE ABOUT 90% OF THE LANDMARK.

MOST OF THE PEER REOPENED IN MAY, BUT THE EDGE OF IT IS STILL CLOSED.

>>> IT'S DEFINITELY CRAZY THAT IT'S STILL UP.

LIKE, THEY HAVEN'T KIND OF MAYBE TAKING IT DOWN OR SOMETHING, YOU KNOW?

IT'S A, IT'S A SAD SIGHT LOOKING THAT WAY.

>> SURE IT HAS AN IMPACT ON THE COMPANIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES LOCALLY, BUT IT DIDN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE, IS COMING TODAY.

>> INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE THE FIRE WAS AN ACCIDENT.

THE CITY OF OCEANSIDE SAYS IS PLANNING TO BEGIN DEMOLITION OF THE DAMAGED SECTION NEXT MONTH.

THE CITY'S WORKING ON GETTING PERMITS FROM DIFFERENT AGENCIES.

>>> WELL THANKS FOR JOINING US HERE AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE NEXT FEW DAYS WE ARE LOOKING AT SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR WEATHER.

NOW, WITH THAT SAID, FIRE DANGER IS A CONCERN.

SO IMPROVEMENT IN TERMS OF COMFORT.

THE COOLING TREND WILL CONTINUE TO BRING US A LITTLE OF RELIEF FROM THE RECENT HEAT, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE OF YOU IN THE INTERIOR.

BUT WITH WIND IN OUR FORECAST ON SATURDAY, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SOME FIRE DANGER.

WE'VE HAD A FEW LIGHTNING SPARKED WILDFIRES THIS WEEK, AND SOME OTHER FIRES AS WELL.

SOME FIRE DANGER IS THE CONCERN, ESPECIALLY JUST A LITTLE BIT INLAND.

LOW CLOUDS DOWN TO 68 DEGREES, AND IT IS SATURDAY.

WE'RE BACK UP TO AROUND 109 IN BRICKER SPRINGS.

AT LEAST IT'S COOLER THAN IT WAS.

MAYBE IT'S JUST A LESS HOT.

75 MOUNT LAGUNA.

RAMONA 90 FOR WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE IN THE MID-TO-UPPER 70s RIGHT ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COASTLINE AND INTO THE CITY.

A LITTLE BIT LESS HOT.

WE'RE GOING TO CALL IT MILDER FOR MUCH OF CALIFORNIA.

STILL CERTAINLY WARM, IF NOT HOT IN THE INTERIOR DESERTS.

BUT WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE DRIER, SO WE ONLY EXPECT TO SEE ANY OF THOSE ISOLATED'S RETURN TO THE MOUNTAINS.

COASTAL FORECAST HERE, WE'RE LOOKING AT A LITTLE BIT MORE COOLING INTO SUNDAY.

UPPER 70s THERE FOR HIGHS.

WE'RE GOING TO BE PENNED IN THE UPPER 70s.

THERE WILL BE MORE SIGNIFICANT COOLING INTO WEDNESDAY, SO THE HEAT KIND OF REVIVES JUST A LITTLE BIT FOR SOME TO THE INTERIOR, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BOUNCE BACK DOWN TO 74 FOR WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

INTO THE INLAND AREAS HERE, YOU CAN SEE A LITTLE BIT STILL WARM ON SATURDAY, BUT SOME MORE RELIEF BECOMES MORE ESTABLISHED SUNDAY AND MONDAY.

MID-80s FOR US, AND THAT 86 FOR OUR WEDNESDAY FORECAST.

INTO THE MOUNTAINS WE GO, AND HERE IT'S GOING TO BE BREEZY, AND THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE THE GREATEST CONCERN ASSOCIATED WITH FIRE DANGER ON SATURDAY.

WILL BE A LITTLE COOLER ON SUNDAY.

THE WINDS WILL BEGIN TO WEAKEN, AND THAT WILL LEAD TO A REDUCTION IN FIRE DANGER.

NICE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK NEXT WEEK.

AND THE DESERTS, WE WRAP AROUND 110, 115 AT TIMES.

NOW WE'RE BACK DOWN BELOW 110 AT LEAST, SO AGAIN, A NICE BIT OF RELIEF BY SUNDAY.

PLENTY OF SUNSHINE.

IT'S STILL HOT OUT THERE IN THE DESERT.

AND ONE WORD FOR EARLY AUGUST HERE, AUGUST BEGINS THURSDAY, AND THIS COMING WEEK, WE WILL SEE EVENTUALLY THE RETURN IS ON MOISTURE THAT MAY TRIGGER A FEW THUNDERSTORMS INTO THE INTERIOR AND OVER THE MOUNTAINS HERE EARLY NEXT MONDAY.

ACCUWEATHER METEOROLOGIST GEOFF CORNISH FOR KPBS NEWS.

>>> WE ARE LIVE AT THE NEW CHILDREN'S MUSEUM IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO, WHERE WE'RE WRAPPING UP OUR COVERAGE OF COMIC-CON DAY TWO.

SO LET'S CHECK IN ONE LAST TIME WITH KPBS REPORTER ALEXANDER WINN.

ALEX, WHAT CAN YOU SHOW US INSIDE THE CONVENTION?

>> HEY, MAYA.

YOU KNOW WHAT, COMIC BOOKS WOULD NOT BE COMIC BOOKS WITHOUT THE COMIC BOOK ARTISTS .

AND I'M HERE WITH DUSTIN WHEN, THE ARTIST FOR ROBIN AND BATMAN TO THE SENDER, AND OF COURSE THE LATEST RUN OF LITTLE MONSTERS.

HEY, DUSTIN.

I SEE THAT YOU DO A LITTLE SKETCH RIGHT HERE.

HAVE COMIC-CON'S BEEN FOR YOU?

>> IT'S BEEN FANTASTIC.

I'VE BEEN HERE, I'VE BEEN GOING HERE FOR EVER.

>> NOW, HOW IMPORTANT -- YOU KNOW, COMIC-CON HAS GONE VERY HOLLYWOOD, BUT THE HEART OF IT IS STILL COMIC AND COMIC BOOK ARTISTS, SUCH AS YOU.

SO HAVE YOU SEEN THAT CHANGE WITH MORE PEOPLE RECOGNIZING COMIC BOOK TALENT AND ARTISTS?

>> YEAH, I THINK SO.

I THINK COMICS HAVE BECOME SUCH A BIG IN MOVIES AND, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY PROPERTIES COMING OUT OF COMIC BOOKS THESE DAYS THAT YEAH, I THINK THEY'RE STARTING TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF, YOU KNOW, THE MEDIUM.

>> AND WITH ALL THE HOLLYWOOD MOVIES, ARE THERE GOING TO BE MORE FANS OF COMIC BOOKS?

BECAUSE CERTAIN PEOPLE ARE NOT, YOU KNOW, HAVEN'T BEEN INTRODUCED TO COMIC BOOKS UNTIL, OF COURSE, CERTAIN MOVIES COME OUT, LIKE THE LATEST ONE, WHICH IS DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF EXCITEMENT FOR THAT.

>> I THINK SO.

I MEAN, I HOPE SO.

I CAN'T REALLY PREDICT IT, BUT I HOPE WHEN PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, GET OUT OF THE THEATER AND LOG OFF OF, YOU KNOW, HBO MAX OR SOMETHING, INSTEAD OF LOOKING FOR MORE, THEY, THEY CAN ALSO WALK INTO A COMIC STORE AND, LIKE, HEY, YOU KNOW, THIS COULD BE THE NEXT PROPERTY THAT COULD BE THE NEXT MOVIE OR TV SHOW.

SO HOPEFULLY PEOPLE DO FIND THEIR WAY INTO A COMIC SHOP, YOU KNOW?

IT'S AFFORDED TO US.

>> WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I'VE BEEN SPEAKING TO DUSTIN WHEN, ONE OF THE ARTIST HERE AT ARTISTS ALLEY COMIC-CON, SO FOR NOW, LIVE AT THE CONVENTION CENTER, AND ALEXANDER WINN, 34.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR THAT, ALEX.

AND YOU CAN FIND -- SITE, KPBS.ORG.

SO THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR THIS SUPER EVENING ADDITION.

I'M MAYA TRABULSI.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR KPBS EVENING ADDITION HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY BILL HOWE FAMILY OF COMPANIES.

PROVIDING SAN DIEGO WITH PLUMBING, HEATING, AND AIR RESTORATION, FLOOD AND REMODELING SERVICES FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

CALLED 1-800-BILL HOWELL, OR VISIT BILL HOWE.COM.

AND BY THE CONRAD KRAVITZ FOUNDATION.

DARLENE MARCO SHYLY.

AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.