IDW Publishing is presenting a significant collection of free items and exclusive merchandise at San Diego Comic-Con 2025, held at booth #2729. The publisher's offerings include a variety of free promotional materials, such as posters, ashcan editions, and special issues, alongside exclusive covers and early-access comics available for purchase. These items are distributed directly at the convention, with no indication of a broader mail-in sample programme or eligibility requirements beyond attendance at the event. The schedule includes over twenty signing sessions with creators across titles like Godzilla, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Star Trek, some of which require wristbands for access.
Free Promotional Items Available at the IDW Booth
IDW Publishing is distributing a range of free promotional materials at its San Diego Comic-Con 2025 booth. These items are available to attendees while supplies last. The freebies are not part of a mail-in programme or an online sample request system; they are physical items collected in person at the convention.
The available free items include: - A Godzilla poster - An IDW Dark poster - A Sonic poster - A Valiant Universe ashcan - An IDW Dark ashcan - A Star Trek ashcan - A combined IDW Dark & Godzilla Free Comic Book Day issue
These promotional materials are listed as free giveaways, with no purchase necessary to obtain them. The ashcan editions are typically short, preview-style publications, while the posters are promotional art for various IDW titles and imprints.
Exclusive Merchandise and Early-Access Comics
In addition to free giveaways, IDW is selling exclusive merchandise and offering early-access comics at its booth. These items are convention-specific and not part of any regular retail distribution.
Exclusive Covers and Merchandise
For sale at the booth are exclusive cover editions of several comics and a special pin: - Godzilla #1 SDCC exclusive cover by Attack Peter - Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #1 SDCC exclusive cover by Jared Cullum - Monster High: Pride 2025 SDCC exclusive cover by Tsuukiyomo - Star Trek: Red Shirts #1 SDCC exclusive cover by Jack Lawrence & Charlie Kirchoff - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto #1 SDCC exclusive foil cover by Jorge Jiménez - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Return to New York trade paperback SDCC exclusive dust jacket by Danny Earls - Godzilla 70th SDCC exclusive gold foil cover by Art Adams - Godzilla #1 SDCC exclusive pins
These covers and merchandise are specific to the San Diego Comic-Con 2025 event and are not available through standard retail channels.
Early-Access Comics
IDW is also providing early access to certain comics, which are typically previews of forthcoming series. These are listed as: - Starship Godzilla #1 black and white version - Street Sharks #1 ashcan edition - Godzilla: Escape the Deadzone #1 black and white version
The early-access items are offered as special previews, allowing attendees to see content before its general release.
Signing Schedule and Creator Appearances
IDW Publishing has scheduled more than twenty signing sessions throughout the four-day convention. These sessions are held at booth #2729 and feature creators from various IDW titles. Some signings require wristbands for access, which are typically distributed at the booth on a first-come, first-served basis. The schedule is as follows:
Wednesday, 23 July
- 6:30–8:30 pm: Godzilla with Tim Seeley, Oliver Ono, Ethan Parker, Griffin Sheridan
Thursday, 24 July
- 9:45–10:45 am: Street Sharks ashcan with Stephanie Williams
- 11:00 am–12:00 pm: Wristband required: Godzilla 70th Anniversary foil signing with Art Adams
- 12:30–1:30 pm: Monster High: Pride with Megan Brown
- 2:00–3:00 pm: Godzilla: Here There Be Dragons with Frank Tieri
- 3:30–4:30 pm: Wristband required: Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees with Patrick Horvath
- 5:00–6:00 pm: Star Trek with Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing, Christopher Cantwell
Friday, 25 July
- 10:00–11:00 am: Wristband required: Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees & The Exorcism at 1600 Penn with Patrick Horvath, Hannah Rose May
- 11:30 am–1:30 pm: Wristband required: TMNT: The Last Ronin with Kevin Eastman, Ben Bishop, Tom Waltz
- 2:00–3:00 pm: Godzilla with Attack Peter, Hayden Sherman, Oliver Ono, Ethan Parker, Griffin Sheridan, Hanna Cha
- 3:30–4:30 pm: TMNT – details to come the week of SDCC
- 5:00–7:00 pm: Wristband required: TMNT: The Last Ronin with Kevin Eastman, Ben Bishop, Tom Waltz
Saturday, 26 July
- 10:00–11:00 am: Wristband required: It Rhymes with Takei with George Takei
- 11:30 am–12:30 pm: More Weight & Spoops with Ben Wickey, AJ LoCascio
- 1:00–2:00 pm: Street Sharks ashcan with Stephanie Williams
- 2:30–3:30 pm: Surfside Girls, You Wish & The Sin Bin with Kim Dwinell, Jeff Victor, Robbie Thompson
- 4:00–5:00 pm: IDW Dark with Patrick Horvath, Hannah Rose May, Casey Gilly, Rodney Barnes
- 5:30–6:30 pm: TMNT x Naruto with Caleb Goellner
Sunday, 27 July
- 10:00–11:00 am: Wristband required: Sonic the Hedgehog with Adam Bryce Thomas, Gigi Dutreix, Ethan Stanley, Daniel Barnes Jr.
- 11:30 am–12:30 pm: My Little Pony with Casey Gilly, Stephanie Williams, Tony Fleecs, Brianna Garcia, Amy Mebberson
- 1:00–2:00 pm: Star Trek with Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Robbie Thompson, Travis Mercer, Susan Bridges, Tilly Bridges
- 3:30–4:30 pm: Wristband required: It Rhymes with Takei with George Takei
Panel Discussions
IDW Publishing is hosting at least one panel discussion during the convention. The panel focuses on the publisher's expanding Godzilla universe.
Thursday, 24 July
- 12:00–1:00 pm: Godzilla: Enter the Kai-Sei Era (Room 29AB)
- Description: IDW’s massive new Godzilla universe has arrived.
No other panels are listed in the provided source material.
Conclusion
IDW Publishing's presence at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 offers a substantial range of free promotional items, exclusive merchandise, and early-access comics for attendees. The freebies, which include posters, ashcan editions, and special issues, are available exclusively at the convention booth with no purchase required. A comprehensive signing schedule features over twenty sessions with creators from popular titles such as Godzilla, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Star Trek, with some sessions requiring wristbands. The publisher is also presenting a panel on its new Godzilla universe. These offerings are specific to the in-person event and are not part of any mail-in or online sample programme. Attendees should note that all items are available only while supplies last at booth #2729.