• Macchiro and Obaru, the authors of BIBLIOMANÍA, are meeting their European fans for the first time ever
• Intergenerational stories, such as “Captain Tsubasa,” “The Lord of the Rings,” and “Starship Troopers,” take audiences on a journey through time
• John Rhys-Davies signs the painting of Gimli by Rubén Belloso during a chance encounter in the Exhibitor Hall Garden

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Málaga, October 4, 2026.— San Diego Comic-Con® Málaga 2026 brought its second edition to a close this Sunday. The final day once again filled FYCMA with fans from early in the morning, creating some of those moments that are the very essence of a Comic-Con. Not even the rain, which threatened for a few hours, could dampen the enthusiasm of an audience devoted to this European entertainment event, based in Málaga, with the support of the Andalusia 2021–2027 ERDF Program and the Regional Government of Andalusia.

In Hall M, the panel featuring Elijah Wood and Sean Astin—the unforgettable Frodo and Sam from *The Lord of the Rings*— and the reunion of Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards, Dina Meyer, Michael Ironside, and Jake Busey—the stars of *Starship Troopers*—have stoked nostalgia and shown how certain stories connect with audiences forever. “You are part of this experience. You keep it alive with your autographs, your photos, and by watching the movies,” said Sean Astin.

MÁLAGA, AN ADDED STOP ON FRODO AND SAM’S JOURNEY

In a conversation filled with humor, memories, and emotion, the actors even joked about the 54 times Frodo falls throughout the trilogy. “He doesn’t really fall—he bounces,” replied Astin, who won over the audience by speaking broken Spanish for much of the event. There was also time to reflect on the intensity of a project that shaped their lives. “We grew up with the saga. I was 19 when we started filming,” recalled Elijah Wood. Years of living and working together on set forged a bond among the cast that has stood the test of time.

A question from the audience took the discussion even further: for many people, *The Lord of the Rings* has become a safe haven, a story to return to in difficult times. “That comes back to us, too. It’s a precious exchange,” Elijah Wood remarked, while Astin, speaking in Spanish, replied, “That’s the meaning of art,” drawing a huge ovation.

And as Frodo and Sam taught us, on every journey you end up making friends. This was the case for Gimli, played by John Rhys-Davies, who stopped by the exhibition by Seville-based painter Rubén Belloso—dedicated to *The Lord of the Rings*—first thing in the morning. There, he was able to admire the artwork, chat with the artist, and have one of the canvases featuring Gimli—his unforgettable character—signed with an autograph. Later, Belloso attended the “Meet the Artist” event as just another fan, bringing one of his paintings featuring Sam and Frodo together so the actors could sign it, and he left happy after meeting them and getting their autographs.

FROM MIDDLE-EARTH TO THE GALAXY

Part of the crew of Starship Troopers— Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards, Dina Meyer, Michael Ironside, and Jake Busey, regulars at the world’s most prominent conventions—have taken the stage in Hall M. In front of thousands of fans, they reminisced about their casting processes, the chemistry that developed among them, and the unexpected significance that this film—now a cult classic—has taken on over the years. “We never thought that nearly 30 years later we’d still be talking about this movie and sharing this moment with you,” Dina Meyer acknowledged .

Casper Van Dien also served as moderator. The actor walked among the audience with a microphone so that the fans themselves could ask their questions. “You are the ones who keep us connected to science fiction and geek culture,” he said.

FROM “CAPTAIN TSUBASA” TO THE FIRST VISIT TO EUROPE BY THE AUTHORS OF “BIBLIOMANÍA”

Yōichi Takahashi, creator of *Captain Tsubasa*—the series that left a lasting impression on an entire generation in Spain under the title *Campeones: Oliver y Benji*—has shared with the public the creative process and passion that ultimately turned the soccer in his work into an international and intergenerational phenomenon.

In addition, Macchiro and Obaru, the creators of the manga *Bibliomanía*, have chosen San Diego Comic-Con Málaga for their first visit to Europe. The artist and illustrator and the writer of this dark fantasy and psychological suspense story held a special meet-and-greet with hundreds of readers, who were thrilled by the opportunity. They expressed their gratitude for the support they’ve received from Spain and other countries, also highlighting the role that social media has played in the international dissemination of their work. “We wanted it to reach everyone, and being here today to share this event with you is something that moves us deeply,” Macchiro said.

Live drawing also took center stage with Stefano Caselli and David Messina, who pitted their talents against each other in a Drawing Challenge featuring Ant-Man and Galactus. The audience was able to follow the entire creative process, and at the end, two lucky fans took home the illustrations created during the event.

PEOPLE WHO MADE A MARK

Kristian Nairn, known worldwide for playing Hodor on *Game of Thrones*, recalled how an opportunity that came practically out of nowhere ended up changing his life. The actor and DJ noted, “Some people think it’s hard to play him, and others think it’s easy—but the reality is that it’s both.”

For his part, Dan Fogler, known worldwide for playing Jacob Kowalski in the *Fantastic Beasts* series, has spoken about the future of the franchise and the possibility of reprising his role as Kowalski in future installments. He has admitted that he would like to explore other roles and that among his aspirations is “playing a villain.”

LOS40 closed out the day with a set that got the crowd dancing. And so, the fans wrote the final chapter of the second edition. On this October Sunday, under the same sky—between sunshine and rain—SDCC Málaga proved itself to be a gathering place and celebration of Popular Arts.