San Diego Comic Con is almost upon us – and we are looking forward to seeing our fellow fans there. Here are some of the things Tolkien fans can look forward to this year:
First and foremost, be sure to visit us at Booth #1934. There will be so much going on there! We’ll have our two new shirts designs for 2025 – official licensed apparel, a steal at just $30 each.
AND as if that wasn’t enough – returning to SDCC is the legend himself JED BROPHY, who will be signing all weekend at TORN’s booth #1934. Jed is the only actor to feature in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit trilogy, AND The Rings of Power. Plus he is a fabulous guy – don’t miss your chance to meet him and snag an autograph.
More booths – don’t miss them!
When you’ve had your fill at TORn’s booth, you might stroll across the aisle and visit incredible artist Jerry Vanderstelt at #1931. You’ll want to check out all his art – and in particular, he has created a new original artwork based on the Rankin/Bass animated The Hobbit. There will be FREE prints of this amazing masterpiece – but to claim them, you’ll have to go on a quest to another booth… Middle-earth Enterprises are making their first con appearance ever, inside the Dark Horse booth #2615. We’ll say no more about it, except that you will NOT WANT TO MISS IT! The Vanderstelt prints are not the only treasures to be claimed there…
Our good friends Weta Workshop return to SDCC after a five year absence, with a big new booth #3613. You’ll also find the wonderful Badali Jewelry near door A at booth #715.
Panels to share all the latest news and views!
If you can tear yourself away from such an exciting show floor, we have PANELS for you:
Friday 2.30pm, Room 5AB: The Lord of the Rings: What’s Next?
This is TORn’s own, unofficial panel; which means you’ll get all the latest gossip and grist from the rumour mill! Our ears are to the ground and we have thoughts to share on all the goodies coming up in Tolkiendom. What will we see in The Rings of Power Season 3? When will we be hunting for Gollum…? Join us to speculate!
Sunday 2.15pm, Room 6BCF: Middle-earth: The Adventure Ahead
For this panel, TORn is collaborating with Middle-earth Enterprises to bring you official news from Weta Workshop, The Brandywine Festival, Return to Moria and more – all the latest announcements from Middle-earth Enterprises and their licensees. And there may be some very special guests!
Phew! So much to keep us all busy – and this is supposedly a ‘quiet’ year!! We don’t have an official party or offsite experience happening this year; we are drawing breath before the big year with all that will be happening in 2026! BUT there is so much to see and visit on the show floor, and we hope to see you at our booth #1934, and at our panels. Hanging with our fellow fans – it doesn’t get better than this! See you in San Diego!
Oh and – if you can’t make it to San Diego, or if you just know you’re going to have the post con blues a week from now, then you should plan on going on Comic Con The Cruise! It’s next January – but right now we are giving you the chance to WIN a Cruise for Two! Don’t delay – enter today!
Feast your eyes! Here’s a first look at the new shirt designs we’ll be selling at our booth (#1934) at San Diego Comic Con this year.
First of all, if you have crazy visions of yourself in Bree, you might find yourself down at the Prancing Pony Club (complete with sparkle of course):
Next – we’re very excited to reveal that we’re partnering with Middle-earth Enterprises in bringing fan favorite the Rankin/Bass The Hobbit to SDCC first the first time. These Hobbit shirts are EXCLUSIVE and some of the first official merch ever for the animated TV special! Quantities are extremely limited.
Alas, these shirts will not be for sale online. We WILL have the Prancing Pony Club shirt for sale at DragonCon. Let us know if you’d like to see The Hobbit shirt for sale there as well!
More details of TORn’s participation in San Diego Comic Con coming soon; we hope to see you there, bright and early, to snap up these special shirts before they’re gone!
The hunt is on for the 1 of 1 elusive Frodo PIX! collectible at any Hot Topic store!
Thrilljoy, a new vinyl toy collectible brand, launches a huge new contest today to send a couple fans to Hobbiton in New Zealand. It’s all part of a promotion with Hot Topic stores. Today, Wednesday July 9, Hot Topic Rewards Club members can go to their local store and recieve a FREE Frodo PIX! figure. Yes we said FREE while supplies last.
One lucky fan will zip to open their collectible and discover a 1-of-1 rare ghost edition Frodo, which is the winning figure sending you to NZ!
How to Enter
It’s free, it’s today, and it’s already stressing me out!
Go to HotTopic.com and sign up for the Reward program
Head over to your local Hot Topic store in USA and CANADA
Show off your Rewards member details to the store clerk
Recieve a free FRODO PIX! from Thrilljoy (while supplies last)
Zip open the perforated box
Enjoy your Frodo with Sting, or the rare chase Frodo with Ring
One lucky fan will get the clear Frodo with instructions to redeem the trip to NZ
Thank you to Karissa Marston, head of marketing for Thrilljoy, for all the details! She joined us on TORN Tuesday explaining the whole contest and how Thrilljoy is a wonderful new company from the creator of Funko Pop toys. Watch below!
Over the last few years one of the most in demand exclusives to get at San Diego Comic-Con has been the print sets our friend Jerry Vanderstelt has at his booth and I have no doubt that this year won’t be any different.
This years set is titled Winged Fury, and captures three of Jerry’s prints in a never before released size of 12×16. The three prints that make up this set are the Fell Beast, Smaug, and The Balrog. I personally have all 3 as individual prints and I cannot wait to add this set to my collection. They are exceptionally well done. This limited edition, 350 print run, at a price of $40, will not last past the end of SDCC on July 27th. Fans going to Comic-Con can pre-order theirs right now, if they’d like, and simply take their receipt to booth 1931 to pick it up. The online pre-order will be limited to only 150 copies, with the final 200 being sold exclusively at the show. Get yours now because you do not want to risk not getting it once the show starts.
Get an exclusive extra slipcase via iam8bit for the coziest new single player Hobbit game.
Wētā Workshop and Private Division have announced pre-orders are now available for a new iam8bit edition of Tales of the Shire. The exclusive edition comes with the game soundtrack, an art book and book style slipcase. From the landing page:
Discover, decorate, and share in this idyllic corner of Middle-earth™. Join friendly Hobbits and familiar names awaiting your arrival in Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings™ Game.
iam8bit Exclusive Edition
Begins Shipping July 29, 2025
Includes an exclusive book cover o-sleeve
Includes a beautiful 20”x16” fold-out map for the quaint village of Bywater
Pre-order now and receive a download code for the official game soundtrack
Hugely successful kickstarter from Ferris Wheel Press brings fans one step closer to finishing their own handwritten red book.
With nearly $1 million CAN raised on Kickstarter, the new calligraphy pen and inks inspired by The Lord of the Rings movies are now offering public pre-orders to be shipped out in July. Three options are available themes around Sauron red, Gandalf white, and Ringbearer green. Get your orders in via Ferris Wheel Press backerkit.
These officially licensed calligraphy pens can help achieve the look of the written page as seen in The Hobbit and LOTR movies, famously scribed by Bilbo, Frodo & Samwise.
For those unfamiliar with high quality penmanship, prices can go very high like this Game of Thrones pen retailing for $1,500. Each LOTR pen is currently around USD $175 and includes custom ink for refilling. Ferris Wheel Press, based in Canada, is known for their high quality pen and inks.
The next step after acquiring a pen is, how do we learn to write like Tolkien?
