>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR A SPECIAL COMIC-CON EDITION OF "NEWS THIS WEEK."

>>> I AM MAYA TRABULSI .

>>> WE ARE RECORDING HERE IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO, A SHORT WALK FROM THE CONVENTION CENTER.

HERE IS WHAT WE WILL HAVE FOR YOU TODAY.

THE ARTICLE COSPLAY WITH SOME OF THE PASSIONATE, LOCAL THING TO DO THIS YEAR-ROUND.

COMIC IS OUR UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE AND THERE IS A GROWING CROSS- BORDER ON THIS UNIVERSAL EVENT.

WE DIVE INTO THE SPANISH TAKING SIDE OF COMIC-CON AND INSIDE THE COMIC-CON MUSEUM.

I RECENTLY WENT TO THE BALLPARK TO SEE WHAT IS ON DISPLAY FOR VISITORS.

IT IS ONE OF THE MANY OFFICE SITES FOR ATTACK ATTRACTIONS FOR LOCALS AND COMIC-CON ATTENDEES.

BETWEEN LAST YEAR'S ACTORS AND WRITERS STRIKE AND THE PANDEMIC , IT HAS BEEN A MUCH DIFFERENT CON IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, BUT MANY OF THOSE WE HAVE TALKED TO SAY, THE ENERGY THIS YEAR IS AS STRONG AS IT HAS EVER BEEN.

SO FAR, WE HAVE SEEN BIG CROWDS FOR WESLEY'S PREVIEW LIKE AN OPENING-DAY.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST DRAWS IS IN HALL H, WHERE HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS HOST THEIR STAR-STUDDED PANELS.

THURSDAY INCLUDED THE CAST FROM "TRANSFORMERS" ONE AND THAT WAS FOLLOWED BY THE "DEADPOOL" AND MARINE PANEL.

THAT INCLUDED A SPECIAL SCREENING OF THE MOVIE THAT OPENS THIS WEEKEND.

IT IS EXPECTED TO BE ONE OF THE WEEKEND'S BIGGEST BLOCKBUSTERS.

ONE WAY TO KEEP TRACK OF EVERYTHING AT KPBS IS KPBS.ORG, AND OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.

WE WILL HAVE CONTENT THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND.

ANYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SCHEDULE, RECOMMENDATIONS EVEN IS ALL RIGHT THERE.

PEOPLE WATCHING IS A BIG PART OF THE COMIC-CON EXPERIENCE.

KPBS STUDENT REPORTER KATERINA SPOKE TO THREE SAN DIEGO COSPLAYERS ABOUT THEIR ARTFORM AND THE COMMUNITY THAT IT BUILDS.

>> Reporter: WELCOME TO COMIC- CON.

YOU ARE LIKELY TO RUN INTO PRINCESS LEIA, SPIDER-MAN, OR MARIO.

NOT THE CHARACTERS THEMSELVES, OF COURSE.

THE COSPLAYERS LOVE THEM AND PAINSTAKINGLY MAKE COSTUMES TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THEM.

FOR ME TO COME UP COSPLAYING IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST, IT IS AN OUTLOOK FOR CONNECTIONS OF SELF- EXPRESSION.

MILES MONTGOMERY WAS A SHOT MIDDLE SCHOOL WHEN HE CALLED THE COSPLAYING BUG.

>> I STARTED TO GO TO COMIC-CON WHEN I WAS 11 OR 12 YEARS OLD.

THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE DRESSING UP LIKE COMIC BOOK CHARACTERS, 50 CHARACTERS.

I WAS LIKE, NORMAL PEOPLE CAN JUST DO THIS?

>> Reporter: NOW, 20 YEARS LATER , HE COMES TO COMIC-CON EVERY YEAR.

LATELY, AS A MAD MAX CHARACTER.

>> IT WAS INTERESTING, BECAUSE YOU NEVER THINK ANYBODY IS QUITE AS NERDY AS YOU ARE.

AND YOU MEET OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE LITERALLY DRESSING UP AS CHARACTERS FROM THESE ANIME, FROM THESE VIDEO GAMES.

MEETING FRIENDS THAT I NEVER WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE.

>> THE "WALKING DEAD" UNIVERSE WORLDWIDE.

THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT CHOOSE DRESSING UP COSPLAYING AS KIND OF THEIR ARTFORM, AND THEIR WAY TO SHOW THEIR CREATIVITY, BUT ALSO, THEIR APPRECIATION FOR THE CHARACTER AND THE ACTORS THAT PORTRAY THEM.

WHAT MICHAEL ELLIOTT USES COSPLAYING TO EXPRESS HER LOVE FOR A CHARACTER ON THE HIT SHOW, "WALKING DEAD."

>> I WAS A PART OF A HANDFUL OF FOLKS, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, WHO WERE HARD-CORE CAROL COSPLAYERS TO THE POINT WHERE WE HAD OUR OWN LITTLE FACEBOOK GROUP.

I DID MEET A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I DON'T THINK WOULD BE IN MY LIFE , OR THAT I WOULD EVEN KNOW OF IT IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR COSPLAY COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: IN THE SHOW, CAROL SURVIVES AN ABUSIVE EX-HUSBAND, AND GROWS INTO A CONFIDENT, CAPABLE LEADER.

ON THE SURFACE, CAROL AND MICAH HAVE LITTLE IN COMMON.

CAROL BEING AN OLDER WHITE LADY AND MICAH AS A FILIPINA.

SHE SAYS, SHE WILL ALWAYS ADMIRE HER AND NEVER FORGET FOR THE CHARACTER THAT PLAYS HER.

>> SHE IS ONE OF THOSE ACTORS THAT ARE MORE RESERVED.

THERE ARE SOME CELEBRITIES WHO AT FIRST DID NOT GET THE WHOLE WHY IS EVERYONE DRESSING UP AS WE KIND OF THING, BUT OVER THE YEARS, BECAUSE I HAVE MET HER SO MANY TIMES.

SHE HAS GOTTEN USED TO IT AND HAS WARMED UP TO US, THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SO MANY OF US THAT LOVE AND ADORE HER.

>> Reporter: IT WAS ALSO THROUGH COSPLAY THAT MICAH MET HER CLOSE FRIEND, NINA.

>> SHE COMES TO COMIC-CON EVERY YEAR AND IS USUALLY THE PERSON I ROAM AROUND WITH.

BECAUSE WE HAVE THE MUTUAL LOVE FOR "THE WALKING DEAD," WE TEND TO PRIORITIZE THAT.

>> Reporter: SHE FOUND AN ACCEPTANCE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT SHE HAD NOT EXPERIENCED BEFORE.

>> I WOULD MEET PEOPLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITHOUT MEETING THEM IN PERSON, OR IF I DID, IT WAS A QUICK PICTURE, OR I WOULD SEE THEM AT CONVENTIONS, AND WE WOULD CONNECT, THEY WERE COSPLAYERS OR NERDY LIKE ME.

>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Reporter: JIMMY SAYS, COSPLAY GAVE HIM THE COURAGE TO DO DRAG.

>> I GOT ASKED BY CHET MICHAELS, A FAMOUS CHER PERFORMER HERE AT "DRAG RACE."

HE WANTED ME TO BE A PART OF HIS NEW SHOW.

LIKE ME?

WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?

>> Reporter: DRAG SHOWS AND COSPLAY COMPETITIONS ARE A LOT ALIKE.

BOTH INVOLVE LIP-SYNCHING, BUT FOR JIMMY, IT IS DEEPER THAN THAT.

>> THE COSPLAY COMMUNITY IS MORE EXCEPTING I WOULD SAY ABOUT DIFFERENT BODY TYPES, DIFFERENT AVENUES CITY'S, DIFFERENT SEXUALITIES IN DIFFERENT-- GENERAL.

THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, THAT IS THE POINT, THAT IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT.

I FEEL LIKE THERE IS AN OVERLAP OF THE COMMUNITIES AND I FOUND MY LITTLE PLACE.

>> Reporter: JIMMY IS NOT ABLE TO MAKE A LIVING AS A COSPLAYER AND DRYCLEAN.

WHILE COMIC-CON WILL BE ONE OF THE CONVENTIONS HE ATTENDS FOR WORK, IT IS ALSO A FAMILY REUNION.

CATALINA, KPBS NEWS.

>>> IN CREATING SOME OF THE MORE ELABORATE COSTUMES, THAT TAKES A LOT OF ARTISTRY AND SKILL.

KPBS VIDEO JOURNALIST CARLOS CASTILLE MET ONE LOCAL CREATOR WHO GAVE US BEHIND-THE-SCENES ACCESS.

>> MY WHOLE THING IS BRINGING HOLLYWOOD QUALITY SPECIAL- EFFECTS TO SAN DIEGO.

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INTO MOVIES, SPECIAL-EFFECTS, AND STUFF LIKE THAT SINCE I WAS A KID.

KIND OF HAVING THAT CURIOSITY, WANTING TO LEARN HOW TO DO THINGS, I KIND OF LIKE WAS INTRODUCED TO THE WHOLE COMIC-CON SAME.

I WOULD SAY LIKE FIVE YEARS AGO NOW.

NOT ONLY IS THAT FOR ME LIKE HALLOWEEN ALL YEAR, BUT IT IS RIGHT UP MY ALLEY OF BEING ABLE TO BUILD THINGS FOR PEOPLE.

THE PENGUIN I THINK WAS THE FIRST TIME I DRESSED UP AT COMIC-CON.

AS SOON AS I GOT IT ON, PEOPLE STARTED, HEY, CAN I TAKE A PICTURE OF THIS AWESOME COST?

THIS AND THAT.

THE WALLS KIND OF CAME DOWN.

I WAS LIKE, OKAY, THIS IS COOL.

I AM IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

AFTER THAT, I AUTOMATICALLY ORDERED BEING LIKE, OKAY, WHAT IS THE NEXT CONVENTION?

WHAT COSTUMES AM I GOING TO TAKE?

YOU WANT TO MAKE THE COSTUME OUT OF QUALITY MATERIALS, ALSO YOU WANT TO THINK ABOUT READABILITY, TRYING TO MAKE IT LIGHT.

YOU WILL SEE COSPLAYERS MAKING STUFF OUT OF EVA FOAM, BASICALLY LIKE JIM A FORLORN-- GYM FLOORMATS.

EACH TIME PRESENTS A CHALLENGE.

WHEN YOU'RE WORKING WITH LATE TEXT SOMETIMES, TEMPERATURES REALLY PLAY A PART IN THIS.

THESE MATERIALS AREN'T CHEAP.

FOR EXAMPLE, IS AQUAMAN CUSTOM, WE HAVE GOT RACERS FOR THE ARMS , CUSTOM SHOES.

I MEAN SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD-- COULD BE ANYWHERE BETWEEN $1500 TO $3500.

I REALLY LIKE MAKING THINGS LOOK REALISTIC.

LIKE THIS HAS GOT-- THIS WILL HAVE A LITTLE MORE BLOOD THAT GOES OVER IT THAT GETS ADDED AFTERWARD.

THIS IS A MOLD.

YOU POOR PLAYTEX IN THERE AND YOU POP THESE THINGS OUT, PAINT THEM, AND THERE YOU HAVE IT.

THIS IS ACTUALLY THE SHELL THAT GOES OVER THE CLAY MODE, AND THEN LATEX GETS POURED INSIDE OF THAT.

THIS IS WHAT CAME OUT OF THIS GUY RIGHT HERE.

I'VE MADE PROPS LIKE FROM MANIKINS TO FULL ON GUNS THAT WERE-- THIS IS MADE OUT OF PVC AND WOULD --WOOD.

THERE IS NO 3- D PRINTING AT ALL IN THIS.

NOW, YOU CAN FREELY PRINT THIS WHOLE THING.

THIS POWER HELMET, THIS IS FROM FALLOUT.

THIS IS COMPLETELY 3-D PRINTED.

THIS IS THE ONE THAT MAKES THE MAGIC HAPPEN.

THOSE ARE THE AIRBRUSHES.

THIS IS TIN MATERIAL AND I USE THE EVEREST TO ACCENTUATE ALL THE LINES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

I MADE IT TO WHERE THE MOUTH IS ABLE TO OPEN AND CLOSE.

SO, THE GROUP WAS INTERESTING, BECAUSE IT IS A STILTED COSTUME, BUT IT IS NOT ON STILTS , IT IS ACTUALLY ON STYROFOAM BLOCKS.

IT IS ALMOST LIKE YOU ARE WALKING ON FIVE GALLON BUCKETS.

JUST THROUGH IT ALL TOGETHER, PAINTED IT WITH HOUSE PAINT, WHATEVER I COULD USE.

IT IS REALLY RUDIMENTARY.

I TOOK IT TO COMIC-CON AND IT WAS A BIG HIT.

I TOOK A LOT OF PICTURES, A LOT OF SMILES.

IT IS ALL FUN STUFF.

YOU LEARN NEW THINGS WITH EVERYTHING.

JUST FROM USING THE STUFF WE HAVE HERE, THE PHONE, THE FIBERGLASS, THE LATEX, ALL OF THAT STUFF, I MEAN WE CAN BASICALLY MAKE ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN THINK OF.

>>> AND WE ARE HERE IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO AT THE NEW CHILDREN'S MUSEUM.

COMIC-CON IS HAPPENING RIGHT BEHIND US.

ONE OF THE DRIVERS THAT DRIVES EVERYTHING IS SCIENCE FICTION.

BRENDAN TELLS US ABOUT A LOCAL COMPANY THAT IS BRINGING SOME OF IT TO LIFE.

>> Reporter: SO MANY OF OUR FAVORITE CHARACTERS AND SUPERHEROES HAVE BIONIC LIMBS, FROM MARVEL'S "WINTER SOLDIER," TO "LUKE SKYWALKER" IN "STAR WARS. "

WHAT IF I TOLD YOU THAT BIONIC LIMBS EXIST OUTSIDE OF SCIENCE FICTION AND COMICS?

SAY HELLO TO THE ABILITY AND ANT , IT IS THE CREATION OF SAN DIEGO-BASED COMPANY, BIONIC.

>> I GOT THE ABILITY CAN'T RIGHT OVER HERE AND THE MOST COMMON WAY TO CONTROL IT IS WITH YOUR MUSCLES.

>> THE ABILITY HAND IS MADE OF CARBON FIBER, MAKING IT SUPER DURABLE AND LIGHTWEIGHT.

>> IF I OPEN HIM TWICE, I CAN DO A PITCH, FOR EXAMPLE, AT A ROCK CONCERT, YOU CAN ROCK ON AND USE THE FINGER AS A FINGER WAVE.

>> WITH PRACTICE, USERS CAN SWING A GOLF CLUB, EVEN HOLD A ICE CREAM CONE.

FOUNDER AND CEO'S TARGET THINKING ABOUT PROSTHETICS WHEN HE WAS THREE YEARS OLD.

>> I WAS BORN IN CHICAGO AND WAS VISITING PAKISTAN WHEN I WAS 7.

IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I MET SOMEONE WITH A LIMB DIFFERENCE.

THAT IS WHAT INSPIRED ME TO GO INTO THIS FIELD AND INSPIRED ME TO CREATE A COMPANY THAT DEVELOPS BIONIC LIMBS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE FOR HUMANS AND ROBOTS.

>> AND USERS ARE BRINGING THEIR STORIES TO SAN DIEGO'S COMIC- CON THIS YEAR.

THEY WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN A PANEL DISCUSSION ON WHAT IT IS LIKE LIVING WITH A BIONIC HAND.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW THEY ACTUALLY WORK IN REAL LIFE AND HOW THEY FUNCTION FOR PEOPLE WITH LIVE DIFFERENCES.

WE WANTED TO SHOW PEOPLE, HEY, THIS IS HOW COOL BIONIC LIMBS ARE IN REAL LIFE.

THEY ARE REAL AND THIS IS WHAT USERS CAN DO WITH IT.

THESE ARE CHALLENGES, LIMITATIONS, BUT THESE ARE THE AMAZING THINGS THEY CAN DO.

>> Reporter: THE PANEL IS THURSDAY IN ROOM 24 AC.

WITH THE HELP OF AN ABILITY HAND, I AM COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS UNTIL THEN.

"EVENING EDITION" NEWS.

>>> FANS OF COMIC-CON WHO DID NOT HIT A TICKET MAY WANT TO HEAD TO CHICANO CON THAT INCLUDES A DISCUSSION WITH LATINX CREATIVE'S THAT ARE BREAKING BARRIERS.

SOUTHBAY ENGAGEMENT PRODUCER HAS A REVIEW.

>> NOW, I AM ACTUALLY, IN THE "L.A. TIMES," ANYWAY, I AM THE FIRST COMIC STRIP.

>> Reporter: HE PRODUCED THE RECENTLY RELEASED ANIMATED FILM .

HE IS ALSO KNOWN FOR HIS NATIONALLY SYNDICATED DAILY COMICS GROUP -- COMIC STRIP.

HE SAYS, HE IS DRIVEN BY THE NEED TO SPEAK UP AGAINST RACISM AND INJUSTICE.

>> IT IS ON US TO DEFEND PEOPLE THAT CAN'T DEFEND THEMSELVES.

IMMIGRANTS ARE UNDER ATTACK AGAIN.

IT HAS NOT STOPPED.

A LOT OF MIGHT WORK IS THAT.

TRYING TO STEP UP FOR OTHER PEOPLE THAT CAN'T SPEAK OR DEFEND THEMSELVES, OR WHATEVER.

>> Reporter: THE DIRECTOR OF THE ANIMATED BLOCKBUSTER HIT, " THE BOOK OF LIFE," IS ALSO HEADING TO CHICANO-TRAN15.

HE SAYS HE IS HOPEFUL ABOUT THE FUTURE OF LATIN X CONTENT AND AUDIENCES CAN HELP.

>> WE ARE IN A GOOD TIME, BUT OUR PEOPLE HAVE TO SPEAK WITH THEIR WALLET, AND SUPPORT.

TAKE A CHANCE, JUST LIKE YOU TAKE A CHANCE ON A MOVIE YOU ARE NOT SURE ABOUT, TAKE A CHANCE ON A MOVIE YOU ARE NOT SURE ABOUT ABOUT LATINO CULTURE, LATINO DIRECTORS, AND LATINO ACTORS.

TAKE A CHANCE.

>> Reporter: SOMEONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SEE LATINX CONTENT IS DAVID, THE OWNER OF BREWING.

HE SAID, HE STARTED CHICANO- CONN SEVERAL YEARS AGO AFTER NOTICING HOW HARD IT WAS TO GET A TICKET TO COMIC-CON.

>> I SAID, WHY NOT HOST A VERSION OF YOU IT'S HERE AT BARIO LOGAN, AND BRING A LITTLE OF THAT COSPLAY FANTASY TO BARIO .

>> Reporter: MARIA CASTELLANO'S, KPBS NEWS.

>>> OF COURSE, SAN DIEGO IS HOME TO A LARGE SPANISH- SPEAKING POPULATION.

THAT MEANS, THERE IS A MAN FOR COMIC BOOKS IN THE SPANISH LANGUAGE.

MATTHEW BULLARD TELLS US HOW THE INDUSTRY IS ADAPTING TO CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS.

>> YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE ME.

>> I DO, PETER.

THAT IS THE PROBLEM.

I WILL ALWAYS BELIEVE IN YOU.

>> Reporter: SIMPLE JOY OF READING A COMIC BOOK IS A WINDOW TO SO MUCH MORE.

THE GLOBAL INDUSTRY IS VALUED AT MORE THAN $14 BILLION, WITH A B .

AND IT IS EXPECTED TO GROW.

>> WONDERING IF YOU HAD A SECOND TO OVER A STATEMENT FROM THE McCARTHY MEDICAL CENTER?

>> Reporter: JUST LIKE THE STORIES, IT'S READERS HAVE EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS.

>> NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, MR. PARKER.

[ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] >> Reporter: CENSUS DATA SHOWS, MORE THAN 20% IN OF PEOPLE IN SAN DIEGO SPEAK SPANISH.

CHULA VISTA, THAT NUMBER IS CLOSER TO 50.

YET, IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND COMIC BOOKS IN SPANISH ON THE SIDE OF THE BORDER.

>> WHEN WE FIRST OPENED, WE WOULD GET A LOT OF REQUESTS FOR COMIC BOOKS IN SPANISH AND IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO ORDER ANYTHING.

HISTORICALLY, COMICS HAVE BEEN DOMINATED BY STRAIGHT, WHITE MEN .

THAT IS CHANGING IN TERMS OF CREATORS, THAT IS CHANGING IN TERMS OF THE CHARACTERS, THAT IS CHANGING IN TERMS OF THE AUDIENCE.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS THAT MANY SPANISH READERS ARE TOLD THE SPANISH VERSIONS OF THEIR FAVORITE STORIES DON'T EXIST.

BUT IF YOU CAN CROSS THE BORDER, YOU CAN FIND THEM.

>> THOSE BOOKS MAKE THIS THAT WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF THEM, FROM SOUTH OF THE BORDER.

>> Reporter: NAOMI CORTEZ IS THE MANAGER OF UTOPIA COMICS IN TIJUANA.

SHE SAYS, THEY CAN GET READERS THE COMICS THEY WANT LIKE AVENGERS, BATMAN, SUPERMAN, AND SPIDER-MAN.

[ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] >> Reporter: BACK IN SAN DIEGO, TRIKE SAYS, HE THINKS HE KNOWS WHY IT IS DIFFICULT TO ACCESS SPANISH TITLES IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> I WOULD IMAGINE IT IS LARGELY A BUSINESS DECISION.

IF THOSE BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE WITHIN SPITTING DISTANCE OF US, IT WOULD BE AMAZING IF WE AT LEAST HAVE THE OPTION TO ORDER IT.

>> Reporter: WHENEVER HE CAN, HE ORDERS SPANISH LANGUAGE COMICS.

>> AND THE COPIES WE ORDERED FLEW OUT OF THE SHOP IMMEDIATELY.

WE WENT BACK TO REORDER THEM, THEY WEREN'T AVAILABLE IN THE SYSTEM ANY LONGER.

>> Reporter: COMIC DISTRIBUTORS IS THE ONE-STOP SHOP FOR STOREOWNERS TO ORDER COMICS.

WHILE THEY WEREN'T AVAILABLE FOR AN INTERVIEW, THEY SAID IN AN EMAIL, WE ARE CURRENTLY ABLE TO OFFER MARVEL COMICS IN SPANISH.

THE FIRST BATCH WILL BE AVAILABLE IN AUGUST.

THAT IS A SIGN OF WHERE THE INDUSTRY IS GOING, ACCORDING TO TRIKES.

>> I AM CONFIDENT FEELING THAT COMICS ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

[ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] >> THERE IS AN AWARENESS AT ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT AUDIENCES, THEY COULD ABSOLUTELY BE DOING MORE TO SUPPORT THOSE AUDIENCES, BUT IT IS WILDLY DIFFERENT, SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER THAN 10 OR 20 YEARS AGO.

WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

[ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] >> MATTHEW BOWLER, KPBS NEWS .

>>> THIS IS A HUGE WEEKEND FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT.

RECENTLY, IT GOT A LITTLE EASIER TO PAY YOUR FAIR.

ANDREW BOWEN SHOWS US NEW OPTIONS.

>> Reporter: TRANSIT RIDERS HAVE LONG COMPLAINED ABOUT PAIN PAIRED WITH THE PRONTO APP.

SETTING UP AN ACCOUNT AND LOADING MONEY CAN BE CUMBERSOME AND USING IT REQUIRES SCANNING A QR CODE THAT DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK.

CONNOR PROCTOR IS VICE PRESIDENT OF SD, WHICH ALLOWED YOU TO PAY WITH CREDIT CARDS AND MOBILE WALLETS LIKE APPLE BAY.

HE SAYS, HE HAS SEEN LONG QUEUES OF PASSENGERS WAITING AT TICKET MACHINES OR TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE APP.

>> IT WILL HELP GET ON MASTER, AVOID CONFUSION, ALSO SPEED UP THE BUS FOR EVERYBODY, BECAUSE THERE WILL BE PEOPLE CONFUSED ABOUT PAYMENTS.

THEY CAN TAP, GET RIGHT ON AND SPEED UP THE BOARDING PROCESS BY A LOT.

>> Reporter: PASSENGERS PAYING WITH CREDIT CARDS CAN STILL TRANSFER ROUTES FOR FREE WITHIN TWO HOURS.

EACH PASSENGER HAS TO PAY WITH A UNIQUE PAYMENT METHOD.

NOTE USING ONE CREDIT CARD FOR A WHOLE FAMILY.

PROCTOR SAYS, AS THOUSANDS OF TOURISTS COME TO SAN DIEGO THIS WEEKEND FOR COMIC-CON AND PRIDE , CONVINCING THEM TO TAKE TRANSIT WILL BE A LOT EASIER.

>> THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO GOOGLE, FIGURE OUT HOW TRANSIT WORKS IN SAN DIEGO.

IT WILL BE REALLY FAST, SHOW THEM A GOOD TIME AND HOPEFULLY GET THEM OUT OF A RENTAL CAR GET THEM ON A BUS, ON A DOLLY, GET THEM USING PUBLIC TRANSIT.

>> Reporter: CONTACTLESS CARDS ARE USED ON BUSES AND TRAINS AND THE METROPOLITAN TRANSIT SYSTEM AND NORTH COUNTY TRANSIT DISTRICT.

ANDREW BOWEN, KPBS NEWS .

>>> THERE IS SO MUCH HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND THAT IT IS EASY TO FORGET WE HAVE ACCESS TO A UNIQUE POP-CULTURE EXPERIENCE ALL YEAR LONG BY THE WEIGHT OF COMIC-CON MUSEUM.

I TOOK A TOUR OF THE MUSEUM AT BALBOA PARK, WHICH IS CHALKED FULL OF ONE-OF- A-KIND ITEMS AND THE NEW BETTY BOOP EXHIBIT.

IT HAS GOT A HOLLYWOOD PROP OPTION, AS WELL AS A FAMOUS CAR THAT IS SURE TO TAKE YOU BACK IN TIME TO A FUTURE WHERE WE DON'T NEED ROADS.

>> BETTY BOOP, AN INTERNATIONAL ICON.

WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT TO BRING THIS EXHIBIT TO COMIC- CON?

>> THAT IS THE PRIMARY REASON, SHE IS AN INTERNATIONAL ICON.

NOT ONLY THAT, SHE IS THE FIRST FULLY FORMED FEMALE ANIMATED CHARACTER.

SHE HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 90 YEARS AND IS STILL ONE OF THE TOP, BELOVED ICONS CREATED AS A CARTOON.

IT IS JUST AMAZING.

>> I AM THINKING ESPECIALLY BECAUSE SHE IS A FEMALE CHARACTER FOR HER TO BE AS POPULAR AS SHE WAS FOR AS LONG AS SHE WAS AND AS WIDELY AS SHE WAS.

>> SHE IS SEXY WITHOUT BEING SEXUAL.

SHE IS THE FIRST FEMALE TO FLY A PLANE, PILATE A SHIP, AND TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT.

IT IS ONE OF THE REASONS COMIC- CON EXISTS, BECAUSE THEY WERE TRYING TO PRESERVE THE ART FORM OF COMICS AND COMIC ART.

WE ALWAYS HAVE ORIGINAL ART IN THE MUSEUM.

I LIKE TO POINT THAT OUT BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T OFTEN REALIZE THEY ARE LOOKING AT THINGS FROM THE 30s, THE 20s, EVEN EARLIER.

WHAT IS GOING ON THERE, BETTY?

THIS IS A POP-UP EXHIBIT.

IT IS ONLY FOR 2 WEEKS.

IT IS DISPLAYING THE MEMORABILIA THAT WILL BE THE AUCTION AT JULIAN'S SUNDAY, JULY 28th.

THIS IS JUST A SMALL COLLECTION OF ITEMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE THERE.

WE HAVE SOME VERY, VERY SPECIAL THINGS I THINK YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SEEING.

ONE IS THE WOLVERINE, DEADPOOL SHIRTS WORN BY RYAN REYNOLDS, THAT HE HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE MUSEUM AS AN AUCTION ITEM.

IT IS REALLY PRETTY COOL.

THESE ARE ORIGINAL ARTWORKS.

THERE ARE OVER 70 OF.

THEREBY, THE ARTIST, GABRIEL HARTLEY, WHO DID THE STORYBOARDS FOR X-MEN CAPITAL TO, "X-MEN UNITED."

SO IF YOU ARE A COLLECTOR, THAT WILL HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE'S INTEREST.

THESE ORIGINAL ARTWORKS ARE HARD TO COME BY.

THESE TWO WORKS ARE NOTABLE BECAUSE THEY ARE EXTREMELY RARE .

THEY ARE BOTH THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN GONE AND LOST FOREVER, AND THEY ARE ORIGINAL PROPS FROM "STAR TREK."

>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE BEEN ON DISPLAY.

"HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE" THE FIRST MOVIE, RIGHT?

THE VERY FIRST ONE.

>> THESE ARE THE MAGIC WANDS.

THESE ARE THE GOOD, THESE ARE THE EVIL, THESE ARE THE STUDENTS .

IT IS REALLY FASCINATING TO LOOK AT THEM AND THEY WERE ALL USED IN THE MOVIES.

>> SO, RITA, WHAT DO YOU HAVE YOUR EYE ON?

>> YOU KNOW, I REALLY WOULD LOVE TO ACTUALLY BUY THAT PIECE OF BETTY BOOP ART, BUT I CAN AFFORD IT.

IT IS REALLY COOL.

IT IS AN ORIGINAL, ONE OF A KIND.

THIS WAS CREATED BY FRANK CARUSO, THE CURRENT ARTIST FOR BETTY BOOP.

HE SAID, HE WANTED TO CAPTURE THE JOY AND ENERGY OF BETTY BOOP.

>> Reporter: THIS IS AN INTERACTIVE HEART OF THE EXHIBIT WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY TAKE A STEP-BY-STEP APPROACH TO DRAWING HER.

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW WE ARE LEARNING THE PROCESS IN WHICH HOW THE ANIMATORS DREW BETTY BOOP.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THESE GUIDELINES ARE VERY HELPFUL.

BETTY BOOP IS ESPECIALLY INTERESTING.

LOOK AT HER ANATOMY .

IT IS SORT OF REALISTIC, BUT THEN YOU HAVE HER HEAD.

IT IS ALMOST LIKE IT IS SHAPED LIKE AN OVERSIZED THE BEAN.

>> THIS EXHIBIT IS WHERE YESTERDAY'S FANTASY IS TODAY'S REALITY, AND IT IS REALLY TRUE.

>> THIS IS AN EXHIBIT OF THINKERS.

>> IT IS AN EXHIBIT FOR PEOPLE THAT ENVISION THE FUTURE AND HOW IT HAS TRANSFERRED TO BE THE CURRENT REALITY.

THIS IS THE DeLOREAN.

THIS IS A FULL REPLICA OF THE ONE THAT WAS IN THE MOVIE.

THERE ARE ONLY TWO THAT EXIST, THE ONE THAT WAS IN THE MOVIE, AND THIS REPLICA.

IT IS REALLY AWESOME.

>> I GET TO SIT IN ONE OF TWO DELOREAN'S IN EXISTENCE.

>> THAT IS OUTFITTED LIKE "BACK TO THE FUTURE."

THIS IS A FULL REPLICA OF THE "BACK TO THE FUTURE" DeLOREAN.

YOU CAN SEE THE WAY THAT THE OFFENDERS ARE DONE, THE WAY THE FUEL SYSTEM IS CARRYING THE WIRE , EVERYTHING IS ACTUALLY, EXACTLY LIKE WHAT WAS IN THE MOVIE.

>> IT IS A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE THAN I SUSPECTED IT WOULD BE.

>> WE HAVE NOVEMBER 5th, 1955.

>> THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE, NOVEMBER 5th, 1955.

>> THIS IS INCREDIBLE, WHO BUILT THIS?

>> THE EXHIBIT COMPANY DID.

THEY GOT PERMISSION FROM THE MOVIE TO REPLICATE THE PLANS.

IT IS NOT THE COMIC-CON CONVENTION EXPERIENCE, BUT IT DOES BRING FORTH THE COMIC-CON PHILOSOPHY, AND MISSION, WHICH IS TO CELEBRATE COMICS AND TO CELEBRATE THE POPULAR ARTS.

THAT IS WHAT WE DO.

WE TRY TO BRING THAT JOY THAT YOU GET AT COMIC-CON AS WELL WITH THE EXHIBITS WE HAVE.

YEAR-ROUND.

>>> A REMINDER THAT YOU CAN FIND MORE KPBS CONTENT ON OUR YOUTUBE PAGE.

SUBSCRIBE AND GET NOTIFIED WHEN NEW CONTENT IS POST DID.

IT IS ALSO WHERE WE LIVE STREAM KPBS EVENING EDITION WEEKNIGHTS AT 5:00 .

WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS LOOK AT KPBS NEWS THIS WEEK.

I AM MAYA TRABULSI .

>>> THANKS FOR JOINING US.