IDW’s new headquarters in the Liberty Station development at the Naval Training Center (NTC) in Point Loma, California (see “IDW Publishing Moves”) is the anchor to a burgeoning range of comics activity in the neighborhood.  IDW’s headquarters is 40,000 square feet, with 30,000 square feet of office space and the San Diego Comics Art Gallery, a 10,000 square foot exhibition, library, store, and live studio space that opened last month. 

The first exhibition is 30-40 pieces from the work of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles co-creator Kevin Eastman.  This is a great accompaniment to a permanent exhibit, a recreation of Eastman’s studio. 

Liberty Station is also the home of Stone Brewing, which was holding Hop-Con 3.0:  The w00tstout Festival, on the Wednesday of San Diego Comic-Con week.  Hosts included Eastman, geek icon Wil Wheaton, actress Aisha Tyler (Archer) and others.  Special brews included a pizza-inspired beer tied to Eastman.  IDW sponsored a fundraiser for Hero Initiative at the event.

And Point Loma is getting a comic store, the first in town.  Robert Scott plans to open a new location (the second) of his well-known Comickaze Comics Books and More retail store, secure in the knowledge that IDW has roughly 50 employees (and comic consumers) that can help be the base of his business.  

Click on gallery below for pics.