The numbers are in, and based on the view counts of its first streaming video-only version, Comic-Con @Home was somewhat of a flop. Though the event, usually held at the San Diego convention center, is usually the biggest pop culture and entertainment gathering of the year, it failed to impact social media and YouTube in the same way this past weekend.

Like all other big events and festivals, coronavirus forced Comic-Con to get creative rather than cancel altogether. But part of what made SDCC special was the fan interaction – the costume dress up, the panels and questions and answer sessions, and the thematic promotional booths building excitement for the next big blockbusters and TV season.

As Variety reported this week, social media analytics showed that tweets about the event were down 95 percent, as were Twitter mentions of films and TV shows who participated in the at-home event. Panels centered around  The Walking Dead, Star Trek Discovery, The New Mutants, and the new Bill & Ted movie garnered buzz before the event began but ultimately didn’t attract as many fans as organizers had hoped. Vendors showcasing exclusive merch, online contests and costume galleries, simply lacked the interaction of the in-real-life gathering.
In terms of the sneak peaks that ComicCon tends to be known for, there were some highlights: Star Trek’s Lower Decks animated series unveiled a scene from its first episode, while HBO offered a look at its new Lovecraft Country. Hulu provided a teaser for its original series Helstrom, and AMC debuted the new season trailer fo NOS4A2. All look pretty good, even if fans didn’t flock to the con on the couch format to see them first. Check out clips from the anticipated entertainment below.

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