{"id":407936,"date":"2026-07-22T13:26:12","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T13:26:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/407936\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T13:26:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T13:26:12","slug":"this-chula-vista-artist-likes-to-share-his-best-comic-con-scoops","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/407936\/","title":{"rendered":"This Chula Vista artist likes to share his best Comic-Con scoops"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Two<\/a>Erik Arreaga, left, with Erik Larsen, co-founder of Image Comics. (Photo courtesy of Erik Arreaga)<\/p>\n

Erik Arreaga has been going to Comic-Con for\u00a0most of his life,\u00a0starting in 1991 as a fan. He later became a vendor and exhibitor and now is\u00a0a professional artist.<\/p>\n

But in recent years,\u00a0the\u00a047-year-old\u00a0Chula Vista resident has\u00a0become well known as\u00a0one of the top\u00a0chroniclers\u00a0of the pop culture gathering,\u00a0offering tips on social media to all sorts of information about the sprawling event.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And as the convention gets ready to kick off Wednesday, Arreaga, who on his artist Instagram account<\/a> describes himself as a \u201cSan Diego Comic-Con Enthusiast,\u201d is feeling the vibe. He thinks this year\u2019s convention\u00a0is going to create a lot of excitement.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis year it\u2019s going to be back because Marvel and DC have shown they\u2019re really coming\u00a0back in full force and giving\u00a0people what they want,\u201d Arreaga said. \u201cI\u2019m excited for the attendees.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of San Diego\u2019s signature events, Comic-Con\u00a0is expected to draw over 135,000 fans, in addition to a global media corps, celebrities, vendors and San Diegans looking to check out the many\u00a0attractions outside the San Diego Convention Center.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it will be another great show,\u201d said David Glanzer,\u00a0chief communications and strategy officer\u00a0of the group that organizes the event. \u201cWhile we have an awesome exhibit floor, incredible programming and amazing guests, the magic that makes it all work are the attendees. <\/p>\n

\u201cA community the size of a small city gathers each year and, well, it\u2019s a great thing to\u00a0experience and a great thing of which to be a part.\u201d<\/p>\n

In\u00a0recent\u00a0years, Comic-Con has been hamstrung by COVID, a Hollywood writers\u2019 strike and a pullout of the event by major studios.<\/p>\n

But this year, with Marvel scheduled to occupy the convention center\u2019s main Hall H room,\u00a0and with\u00a0other movies, television shows and pop culture companies\u00a0participating, the convention\u00a0is poised to\u00a0produce\u00a0headline-grabbing\u00a0moments.<\/p>\n

And Arreaga will be there through it all, guiding those not able to make it, and the tens of thousands who are there in person.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s been attending the event since\u00a01991\u00a0and\u00a0he would get\u00a0questions about it\u00a0from\u00a0friends and others. So, in 2014, he decided to start answering those questions and provide information through a Facebook group<\/a>\u00a0that has nearly 42,000 members. <\/p>\n

\u201cI try to use it\u00a0for\u00a0how to manage around\u00a0San\u00a0Diego and how to enjoy the city,\u201d he said, of the group. \u201c\u2026I want you to enjoy the city and I don\u2019t want you to feel overwhelmed. I want you to feel comfortable in San Diego.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the Con, Arreaga prefers to greet people at his artist table, where this year he is promoting his Latina\u00a0anti-hero\u00a0title, \u201cLa\u00a0Chingona.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although he may not leave his table much, Arreaga still feels the energy of Comic-Con.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really exciting,\u201d he said. \u201cI love it. I call San Diego Comic Con\u00a0my New\u00a0Year\u2019s\u00a0Eve.\u00a0Once it\u2019s done, my new year resets. It\u2019s just a great party for everything I\u2019ve done this year.\u201d<\/p>\n