Author: Ariel Landrum
San Diego Comic-Con 2024 was ablaze with excitement, quite literally, thanks to the 21-foot-tall, flame-bearing Devilcat statue from Exploding Kittens at the Petco Park Interactive Zone. As soon as we laid eyes on this feline behemoth, we were struck with shock, followed by an overwhelming sense of giddiness. The laser nipples on the statue were hilariously absurd, and discovering that three people were inside the cat handing out gifts from within just added to the overall silliness. We visited on Thursday morning, July 25th, 2024, so there weren’t any games around the Devilcat. Upon lining up and walking towards the giant, each attendee was handed the comic Holly Bible by Godcat.
Fortunately for us, luck was on our side. I managed to snag a Godcat plushie while my partner and fellow Geek Therapy writer, James Arrington, got a Devilcat plush. We were also handed a brand new Exploding Kittens: Good vs Evil game along with the plushies. Our fellow writers, Xavier Scudder and Sasha Castellanos, got Godcats and the card game. The giveaway was a random draw, so seeing what we ended up with was exciting. As avid fans of the original Exploding Kittens game, Throw Throw Burrito, and Bears vs Babies, all made by the same company, we were thrilled to add this new game to our collection.
The flames and fake smoke effects swirling around the Devilcat’s head and paws were mesmerizing and added to the immersive atmosphere. The statue’s sheer size was impressive enough, but the devil pitchfork tail and horn-like ears completed the devilish theme. Positioned at the entrance-middle of the park, the towering, furry Devilcat was hard to miss. People couldn’t resist petting it as they passed. One volunteer even popped his head out of the cat’s butt, reminiscent of that iconic scene from Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls—only this time, the inside was air-conditioned (and stayed that way), making it a much more comfortable experience for the team inside. As his head breached the kitty booty, he quipped, “I was eaten by this cat a couple of days ago!” We all erupted in laughter!
This activation was set up to promote the new Exploding Kittens Netflix series, which premiered July 12, 2024. The premise of God and the Devil being sent to Earth in the bodies of chunky house cats is just the kind of irreverent humor I love. We expect many laughs and heartwarming moments with Tom Ellis voicing Godcat and Sasheer Zamata as Devilcat. Produced by comedy juggernauts Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, the show promises to explore themes of family, good versus evil, and plenty of laser pointer chases—what’s not to love?
I love the show Lucifer, where Ellis plays the titular character, Lucifer, who helps a detective solve cases on Earth. In Lucifer, his character had significant unresolved issues with his father, God, which led to many comedic and poignant moments in the series. It’s amusing that Ellis, who once portrayed the literal Devil, is now voicing Godcat. Seeing him take on this role adds a layer of humor and irony that fans of his previous work will appreciate.
In addition to the interactive zone, fans could attend a special session hosted by Matthew Inman, the Co-Creator of Exploding Kittens, creator of the hit comic The Oatmeal, and showrunner for Netflix’s Exploding Kittens. On Saturday, July 27th, at 2:30 pm in Room 5AB, Inman delivered an illustrated presentation on making comics, Kickstarting card games, and merging these elements into the series. This session provided unique insights into the creative process behind the beloved games and the new show.
This activation stood out among the many we’ve attended at Comic-Con, as the humor and surprise elements of the Exploding Kittens setup were unparalleled. The idea of people inside a giant feline Beelzebub, hands baring gifts poking out from underneath as if the cat was birthing them, was equally bizarre and delightful. Honestly, as a cat lover, this experience was right up my alley. We were paw-sitively thrilled by the entire experience!
Beyond the Devilcat, the Petco Park Interactive Zone had several other engaging activations. We dived into a mobile gem-puzzle game, Game of Thrones: Legends, as part of the Samsung activation, which allowed us to experience the game on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6. After playing, we took a survey about our phone preferences. This allowed us to win a Funko pop from a claw machine. The setup featured a giant blue zombie hand, possibly inspired by the Night King, which made for some great photo ops.
Despite the heat—a common con at these outdoor events—the entire area was bustling with high energy. Shade was scarce, but the giant cat’s shadow provided some relief. We found solace in the air-conditioned Attack on the Metallic Menace augmented reality game activation, which included a photo-op with the monster itself. Attendees could also be kept cool on the Sharpie bus, which is part of their “The World Is Your Canva” tour. Visitors could unleash their creativity with new Sharpie Creative Markers on various surfaces, showcasing their versatility of these markers, as well as taking free samples home.
Another highlight was meeting Blue from the film IF at the Allied/Paramount+ booth, where fans could snap photos with this giant purple imaginary friend. The Elden Ring photo-op was a crowd favorite, with attendees posing with Miquella’s Cocoon. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Dark Sky Films teamed up with UP IN SMOKE BBQ for a pop-up homage to the film’s iconic “WE SLAUGHTER BARBECUE” roadside store. And who could resist the charm of the Hello Kitty Cafe Truck, selling limited edition pins, purses, shirts, and cookie treats, adding more kitty cuteness to the zone.
Check out all the photos from this event and others we attended at SDCC 2024!
Comic-Con never fails to deliver unforgettable experiences, and this year’s Exploding Kittens activation at the Petco Park Interactive Zone was no exception. Whether you’re a fan of the card game, the new series, or just in it for the goofy fun, the Devilcat statue was the cat’s meow of Comic-Con, and we had a purr-fectly good time!
For more fun and geeky content, stay tuned to Geek Therapy and catch up on all things Comic-Con!