Comic-Con 2022 recap: The top surprises, appearances, and reveals

Anticipation was high for Marvel’s presentation Saturday night in Hall H, and the studio delivered with a host of delightful, and sometimes surprising, appearances by MCU stars, from Secret Invasion’s Cobie Smulders to newcomers Michaela Coel, Tenoch Huerta, Dominique Thorne. Then there were stars Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Jonathan Majors, and Kathryn Newton, who engaged in a spirited (okay, chaotic) panel discussion. But the most memorable moment had to be the live music that accompanied the Black Panther rollout, when Singer Baaba Maal, percussionist Massamba Diop and a bevy of dancers and drummers transported the crowd to the heart of Africa. [Jack Smart]

Warner Bros. may have failed to deliver any significant details or surprises () in its presentation of the cinematic DC universe, but Shazam and Black Adam still brought substantial excitement to Hall H. Zachary Levi kicked things up a notch when he entered to tease , and that moment was then topped by Dwayne Johnson, who introduced by appearing in character, floating above the stage, surrounded by fog and bolts of electric energy. The DC panel ended with Johnson stretching his hands commandingly forward, causing special necklaces given to audience members to light up like a thunderstorm. [Jack Smart]

There was already a lot of excitement surrounding Amazon’s mysterious, confusing, and lavish Tolkien adaptation. But when Stephen Colbert came out to moderate the massive, 90-minute panel—complete with clips, stars, and a string accompaniment—it was clear that there’s something special about this show. Amazon’s confidence in proved infectious, and the crew on stage appeared positively giddy at the prospect of sharing the series with the world. Unfortunately, the best part of the night happened during the Q&A, when a fan and, presumably, aspiring talent agent asked the showrunners if they would commit to giving Colbert a role on the show. Is this the only good question ever asked at one of these things? [Matt Schimkowitz]

Certain moments can only happen at Comic-Con, and this year one of those came when William Shatner hoisted a sword and delivered He-Man’s famous line, “By the power of Grayskull … I have the power!” Because, of course, a sci-fi icon of Shatner’s caliber should Kevin Smith’s Netflix animated series Masters Of The Universe: Revolution and, of course, he has an affinity for the superhuman symbol of machismo. [Jack Smart]

Apple came to Comic-Con with a purpose: Get people to experience the magic of Lumon Industries through a interactive experience—or as everyone at this thing insists on calling it, an “activation.” Of course, a simulated walk through of the sets of Severance would be a little less anxiety-inducing and more fun if “Lumon employees” weren’t constantly shoving the guests into confined spaces. Though, I did walk away with some raisins, which the employee told me are “shriveled.” That they were. The Severance panel was a bit more exciting. In addition to some bloopers, which we don’t see enough of anymore, we also got to hear Adam Scott refer to Zach Cherry as “kind of a dick” on the set of the show. [Matt Schimkowitz]

Mere days after returning to their set to start work on season two, the cast and executive producers of joined Comic-Con remotely from the show’s set. It was clear that the crew was still riding high from their seven Emmy nominations, but Quinta Brunson was impressively tight-lipped about what’s to come during the ABC comedy’s sophomore season, and she resisted every opportunity to reveal details. At one point, as Janelle James and other cast members lobbed in fake spoilers, Brunson asked if there might perhaps be a “Marvel emergency” to divert from probing questions. “Janelle is in the MCU!” she joked, before begrudgingly providing one tidbit: the premiere episode of season two will feature a cameo from someone Brunson considers her favorite-ever star. Let the guessing game begin. [Jack Smart]

A decade after the walker apocalypse forever changed the television landscape, the cast and crew of AMC’s reunited for the final Comic-Con panel dedicated to the original series. Melissa McBride was so emotional about the series’ forthcoming conclusion that she could hardly answer questions; Norman Reedus was similarly sentimental, albeit in a more wry fashion. The show was a humble operation before its massive success, he reminded the Hall H audience: “There were no agents, there was no Hollywood around us. We held onto that core … it’s not just our show, it’s ‘our’ show,” he said, indicating the fans. “I just want to make out with everyone.”And just when it seemed this Walking Dead panel would only be a trip down memory lane (your trusty A.V. Club reporter had one foot out the door at that point), Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira arrived to deliver exclusive news that a limited series dedicated to the stories of the still-alive Rick and Michonne is on the way. Even at this late stage, The Walking Dead franchise can still deliver unexpected twists. [Jack Smart]

If you listen closely, you can still hear dozens of fans cheering the announcement that the underrated would return for another season on Apple TV+. Seeing as the show is currently in the middle of a magnificent third season, there were no trailers, just insights. Like when Edi Gathegi, who plays Dev on the series, described working with Joel Kinnaman by saying, “I’ve never worked on a show where the number one dude comes up to you in between takes and says, ‘I love what you’re doing.’” That love and respect comes through on screen. At one point, seemingly unable to believe how good her show is, Krys Marshall, who plays Danielle Poole, blurted out “Damn, our show is good!” Aye, aye, skip. [Matt Schimkowitz]