It’s been a weird and wild Gen Con it sounds like as the area was hit with a Tornado warning and bad downpours during the convention this Saturday. The rain was so bad the convention center spring a leak on the roof causing water to pour down onto the convention floor in multiple locations. But, the wet weather, and unexpected inside showers, weren’t enough to stop the “best four days in gaming.”
But, the flooding goes beyond the convention floor. Reports are coming in that hotels are also impacted with some seeing flooding as well as damage to some of the outside structures for the block party. With the convention stuck in Indianapolis through 2030, hopefully this doesn’t become a regular issue.
Stay safe and dry everyone!
If you haven't heard: Gen Con 2026 was complete with a TORNADO WARNING! Luckily, our room doubled as a shelter-in-place location. We passed out water and chips, and all had ourselves a little storm party. See you guys next year (hopefully not)?
The world’s largest LGBTQ+ comics and pop culture convention is taking Broadway by storm! Flame Con 2026 arrives at the New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square on Saturday, August 15 through Sunday, August 16, 2026. This year’s convention brings together fan-favorite creators, legendary cosplayers, and unforgettable nightlife to celebrate the best in queer geek culture.
Throughout the weekend, attendees can look forward to exclusive signing sessions, engaging spotlight panels, and interactive meet-and-greets with an extraordinary lineup of comic creators, artists, and cosplayers.
Featured Comics Creators and Cosplayers
Phil Jimenez: Award-Winning Icon of Comics and Queer Representation
Phil Jimenez is an Eisner, Inkpot, Diamond, and Wizard award-winning writer and artist who has worked for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, and a host of other comic book companies for 35 years. A former student and later instructor at NYC’s School of Visual Arts, Jimenez is best known for his work on Tempest, The Invisibles, JLA/Titans, New-X-Men, Wonder Woman, Infinite Crisis, Amazing Spider-Man, Otherworld, and WonderWoman: Historia. Jimenez has also worked in film, television, animation, traditional print media, and packaging design; created large-scale artworks for public spaces, schools, and museums in New York and Chicago; lectured at universities, museums, and the Library of Congress on identity and diversity in entertainment; and mentored young designers at the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum. An Out 100 alum, Jimenez is considered the first out gay artist in mainstream superhero comics and remains one of the industry’s most prominent queer creators.
Drawfee Brings Creative Chaos and Comedy to Flame Con 2026
Drawfee is a popular online comedy and art collective known for turning imaginative prompts, pop culture concepts, and creative challenges into hilarious works of art. Through their widely followed videos, podcasts, livestreams, and other projects, Drawfee’s talented artists combine improvisational comedy with their distinctive artistic styles to create something entirely their own.
At Flame Con 2026, fans will have the opportunity to experience Drawfee live with Julia Lepetit (she/her), Jacob Andrews (he/him), Nathan Yaffe (he/him), and David Clarke (he/they). Known for their irreverent humor, collaborative creativity, and celebration of the wonderfully unexpected, Drawfee’s work has built a devoted community of fans who share their love of art, comedy, animation, games, and pop culture.
Drawfee will bring that signature blend of creativity and comedy to Flame Con 2026 with a special live experience that promises plenty of laughs, unexpected artistic challenges, and the kind of joyful creative chaos that has made the group a beloved presence in the online creative community.
Jadzia Axelrod: A Rising Voice in Queer Comics and Speculative Storytelling
Jadzia Axelrod is an award-winning writer whose work explores identity, queerness, family, and belonging through imaginative and emotionally resonant stories. Axelrod is the author of Galaxy: The Prettiest Star, Galaxy: As the World Falls Down, Hawkgirl: Once Upon a Galaxy, and Justice League: Dream Girls for DC, as well as The DC Book of Pride for DK. Her work has also appeared in the anthologies Sharp Wit & the Company of Women and When We Were Young, along with comics published by Tor, Quirk Books, and Epic! Books.
Through her work in comics and prose, Axelrod has established herself as a distinctive voice in contemporary queer storytelling, bringing LGBTQ+ characters and experiences to stories spanning superhero comics, science fiction, fantasy, and young adult fiction. Her work reflects the power of genre storytelling to explore identity and self-discovery while creating space for readers to see themselves in worlds of possibility.
A Philadelphia resident, Axelrod is also deeply connected to the city’s vibrant creative community. She lives with her wife and child, and brings the same warmth, imagination, and sense of wonder that characterize her work to her life beyond the page.
Sikecoz
Sikecoz is an award-winning SFX artist who has been cosplaying for more than 10 years and cosplay guesting for almost five years. As a trans man, his main aspiration is to showcase his unique style while also being a supportive member of the community.
Lucien
Lucien is a professional cosplayer and the creator of DieBreado Cosplay. A freelance influencer for more than ten years, Lucien has experienced the shift between IRL cosplay and online cosplay, and this experience has gifted them with unique skills. They love sharing what they have learned throughout their career, and hope to become a point of reference for others.
Fireball: The Official 21+ After-Party
Geeks OUT has announced the return of Fireball, the official 21+ after-party of Flame Con! This year, Fireball will take the stage at a new venue: Red Eye NY in Hell’s Kitchen, a short 10-minute drive or walk from New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square. Hosted by RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 16 contestant Megami, Fireball showcases high-energy, geek-themed drag, burlesque, boylesque, and dancing. This year’s lineup includes Maljo Blu, Vape Kid Jr., Jess And, Godiva Romance, Gaymeboy Pocket, and Agent Wednesday.
As announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2026 during the Conan Panel on Saturday 25th July, global publishers Titan Comics and Heroic Signatures announced a BRAND-NEW comic book series, based on the literary predecessor to Conan the Barbarian; Kull!
This new comic series brings on board a stellar creative team featuring multiple Eisner award winning artist Mark Buckingham, as well as the Eisner award winning Dave Stewart, and writer John Arcudi.
Kull #1 is due hit comic shops in early 2027, stay tuned for more updates!
Invincible – Superhero Roleplaying, the official tabletop RPG based on the comic book by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker, and Ryan Ottley, and the acclaimed animated series, is available now through the Free League online store, in hobby stores worldwide, and digitally through DriveThruRPG. Orders placed through the Free League online store include immediate PDF access.
Players can create their own heroes, choose from nearly 70 powers, and build campaigns around the danger, relationships, and difficult choices that define the world of Invincible. Groups can play within the established universe or create their own superhero setting.
The launch lineup includes:
Core Rulebook: Create heroes at any power level, choose from nearly 70 powers, and access campaign tools, solo play, and more than 60 characters from the Invincible universe.
Starter Set: Start playing with six pregenerated heroes—including Invincible, Atom Eve, Rex Splode, and Monster Girl—plus maps, tokens, cards, custom dice, and the introductory adventure Metro Mayhem.
GM Screen: A deluxe Gamemaster screen featuring franchise artwork, useful tables, and key rules.
Dice Set: Ten engraved six-sided dice created for the game.
Power Cards: A reference deck containing the powers featured in the Core Rulebook.
Gen Con attendees can also visit Free League at booth #2449 to pick up a printed copy of Superhero Season, a new two-hour adventure in which a massive bounty is placed on the heroes’ heads.
Developed by the creators of D&D Beyond, Free League Unbound is an official digital platform built for Free League’s tabletop roleplaying games. It gives players access to official game content and searchable rules across desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.
Early Access is available now at freeleagueunbound.com. The initial release includes a digital reader and game compendia for four game lines:
The One Ring
ALIEN: The Roleplaying Game Evolved Edition
Coriolis: The Great Dark
Invincible – Superhero Roleplaying
During Early Access, players can test new features and share feedback that will help shape the platform. Character creation and progression tools are planned for later this year, with more Free League games joining the platform in the months ahead.
Free League’s upcoming BackerKit campaign launching in September for The One Ring, the officially licensed and award-winning tabletop roleplaying game based on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, features two new expansions and revised Core Rules:
The White Tower and the Hall of Gold: A major campaign expansion exploring Gondor and Rohan, the last great realms of Men in the west of Middle-earth.
Creatures Strange and Foul: A bestiary filled with enemies from the shadows of the Third Age, including Black Númenórean spies, Haradrim champions, and ancient evils from forgotten ages.
Revised Core Rules: An updated presentation of the game with new cover art by and updated rules. The revised book remains fully compatible with previously released supplements.
More details about the campaign can be found on the pre-launch page, and prospective backers can reserve their pledge now for just $1 to claim an exclusive dice bag for The One Ring.
The two expansions will also be adapted for The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying, the 5E version of The One Ring. They will be released under the titles Realms of the South and Of Orcs and Evil Things.
The campaign also features limited Collector’s Editions with faux-leather covers and silver or gold foil printing. These editions are exclusive to the campaign and will not be reprinted.
Manga Mavericks Book announced three new manga licenses at Otakon 2026.
The announcements featured the action-adventure one-shot stories, Oni King and Royd by ZENZO, which are scheduled for release in digital formats in December 2026, and the slice of life exploration manga Town Walking with Ghost Dog by Ippan Nakamura, which is scheduled for release in print and digital formats in May 2027.
ONI KING
by ZENZO
Digital SRP: $0.99 ∙ 16 pages ∙For Readers 13+ ∙ Available December 2026
Like many things, revenge is a choice. A choice where the results may not be worth the price…
In what should have been a straightforward tale, Oniou is a demon child whose mother is kidnapped by the nefarious monster Kurokazemaru. He’s powerless to stop the fiend, but happens upon the cursed club Gako which will grant him power to defeat his foe at…the cost of his life force. Pouring everything into revenge sounds good in the moment, but when the dust settles, will he find that revenge truly is a dish best served cold or not served at all?
ROYD
by ZENZO
Digital SRP: $0.99 ∙ 36 pages ∙For Readers 13+ ∙ Available December 2026
Who determines a heart’s worth?
Royd is a boy with abundant magical potential. So much so, that a goddess takes him under her tutelage and is impressed with his growth…except she deems his heart full of kindness to be an obstacle. Under pressure to pay back the one who raised him, Royd “gives” his heart to a sentient, nameless golem. Upon receiving Royd’s heart the Golem witnesses the beauty of the world, while Royd becomes a powerful mage—at the cost of his humanity. Will the Golem, now entranced with the world, have the “heart” to return what was once Royd’s, or is the magician’s humanity too far gone to be saved?
TOWN WALKING WITH GHOST DOG
by Ippan Nakamura
Print SRP: $14.99 / Digital SRP: $6.99 ∙ 176 pages ∙ISBN: 9781968054731 ∙ For Readers 8+ ∙ Available May 2027
Travel along with Ghost Dog!
See Japan through trails, trains, back alleys, and of course, on foot. Pulling triple duty as a guidebook, memoir, and manga, Town Walking with Ghost Dog takes on the streets of Japan with picture-book-esque artwork framed by the personal experiences of the manga creator Ippan Nakamura. From a hot bath in Sangenjaya to the recesses of Okutama, you’ll feel immersed in a side of Japanese history and locales like never before, in this travelogue of Japan as seen through the eyes of a lone traveler and their ghostly canine companion.
Cryptozoic Entertainment has revealed Conan the Barbarian Deck-Building Game, an all-new standalone game in the Cerberus Engine series. Enter the world of Conan in a quest for glory as you recruit powerful allies, gather legendary equipment, master deadly maneuvers, and journey across iconic locations while battling fearsome enemies and oversized Nemeses. If you’ll be at Gen Con, visit Cryptozoic Booth #801 for your first chance to demo the game and experience the adventure before its release. Can’t make it to Gen Con? Sign up to be notified about the official launch event later this year so you’ll be among the first to see everything we’ve been preparing.
The adventure is just beginning. More reveals are coming soon!
Wizards of the Coast tackled one of Dungeons & Dragons’ greatest barriers to entry head-on by announcing and launching a new Looking For Group feature on D&D Beyond. Players now have three simple ways to find a D&D group: find local in-person events through an event finder, form tables with the online community via the D&D Discord server or find professional Dungeon Masters through a new partnership between D&D Beyond and StartPlaying. The StartPlaying partnership helps players immediately find a D&D game that’s right for them with a highly trained Dungeon Master waiting to take them on an adventure for the first time. For those first-time adventurers new to playing D&D or D&D Beyond online, Wizards of the Coast announced a special promotion where for a limited time, you can find and join a game on StartPlaying for $0.99. More information is available on the D&D Beyond website.
In addition to helping players find a group, the D&D Beyond team also unveiled a brand-new mobile app experience built on top of a new game platform that will be geared towards in-person play. This mobile experience is completely redesigned from the ground up to make it easier and more intuitive to play D&D your way. Look forward to this release in early 2027.
NEW PARTNERSHIP:
The Dungeons & Dragons team announced a new partnership program, working with studios across the tabletop game industry to bring official, annual TTRPG support for D&D’s most iconic campaign settings. Initial partnerships include Ghostfire Gaming with a new Ravenloft release (2027) and Visionary Productions with Eberron (2028) and Kobold Press with the Forgotten Realms (2028). In the years ahead, the program will expand to include additional settings, ensuring D&D’s most popular settings are all supported for their biggest fans.
During Wizards of the Coast‘s presentation during Gen Con 2026, writer, producer, and actor Joe Manganiello took the stage to announce his new role as Chief Creative Officer of D&D Icons, a new content program that brings legendary D&D creatives, including Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman, and Luke Gygax, back to the table to work hands-on with fan-favorite settings.
One of the Icons projects announced on stage returns to one of the most influential fantasy settings of all time: Dragonlance, bringing back its original creators to direct a Dragonlance TTRPG product for the first time in over 20 years. Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman are working hand-in-hand on a new Dragonlance TTRPG book, compiling 40 years of knowledge and lore into the most ambitious Dragonlance volume ever.
Also under the Icons banner, Luke Gygax took the Gen Con stage to announce a new project built from never-before-seen, unfinished content left behind by his father and original D&D creator Gary Gygax. Luke will complete an adventure through his father’s eyes, tying back to Gary Gygax’s own vision, available as early as 2027.
RA Salvatore, whose books appeared more than 20 times on the New York Times bestseller list, announced that he will be working under the Icons program to bring back the most legendary Drow in the Forgotten Realms, Drizzt Do Urden.
Manganiello is launching a TTRPG world rooted in the dark fantasy art style and aesthetic he developed for his heavy metal / fantasy streetwear line, DEATH SAVES, as an official D&D collaboration under his ICONS banner.
GREYHAWK: CROWN OF THE WITCH QUEEN
Greyhawk continued as a theme at Gen Con with the reveal of Greyhawk: Crown of the Witch Queen. In this brand-new adventure, players return to the setting where it all began to decide Greyhawk’s fate amid the return and ascent of Drelnza, the vampire daughter of Iggwilv the Witch Queen—perhaps better known as Tasha—as she seeks to claim her birthright.
WARLOCK: DUNGEONS & DRAGONS – TASHA REVEALED
Fans of Tasha got a double reveal at Gen Con: her role in the upcoming Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons video game was confirmed, with award-winning actor Maggie Robertson stepping into the role through voice and performance capture, opposite Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica, Lucifer), who leads the game as Kaatri. Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons is an original third-person, single-player action-adventure game set in a dark fantasy open world inspired by Dungeons & Dragons. Developed by Invoke Studios, the game casts players as Kaatri, a veteran warrior who makes a pact to wield otherworldly magic against dark powers. Fans were also treated to a surprise announcement that the first look at gameplay is coming on August 25th as part of Opening Night Live at gamescom.
