# Stern Pinball Comic Con Venom Launch Take 2? **Source:** Knapp Arcade **Type:** article **Published:** 2023-05-04 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.knapparcade.org/stern-pinball-comic-con-venom-launch-take-2 --- ## Analysis Knapp Arcade reports renewed rumors of Stern Pinball planning to reveal a Venom-themed Marvel pinball machine at San Diego Comic Con 2023 (July 20-23), after a failed launch attempt in July 2022 when Stern prioritized James Bond instead. The article also mentions unverified chatter about Stern potentially discontinuing Rush production. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Stern Pinball had planned a Venom launch at San Diego Comic Con in July 2022 with Todd MacFarlane and Ozzy Osbourne autograph sessions scheduled — _Direct reporting of past event; publicly observable fact_ - [HIGH] Stern postponed Venom launch in July 2022 to prioritize James Bond for the franchise's anniversary — _Author states this as the documented reason for the cancellation_ - [MEDIUM] Stern's next cornerstone game is conventionally slotted for September production — _Author references 'conventional wisdom about Stern's schedule' without attribution_ - [LOW] There are rumors Stern Pinball may be discontinuing Rush production — _Author explicitly states 'I have no idea' about validity; presents as unverified chatter_ ### Notable Quotes > "A year ago last July there was tons of smoke that Stern Pinball was going to launch a Marvel Venom-themed pinball machine at San Diego's Comic Con. They had a big booth and autograph sessions set up with Todd MacFarlane and Ozzy Osbourbe scheduled. Then...poof nothing happened." > — **Knapp Arcade (author)**, opening > _Establishes the failed 2022 Venom launch attempt as context for current rumors_ > "Stern moved the launch of Venom back to get James Bond out in time for the franchise's anniversary." > — **Knapp Arcade (author)**, early section > _Explains the business rationale for the 2022 delay_ > "While we're on the subject of Stern Pinball rumors, there's chatter that they may be done manufacturing Rush. Is this true? I have no idea, but it's out there." > — **Knapp Arcade (author)**, closing section > _Author explicitly disclaims knowledge of Rush discontinuation rumors while reporting them_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Stern Pinball | company | Manufacturer planning Venom launch; subject of production schedule rumors | | Venom | game | Marvel-themed pinball machine; rumored for Comic Con 2023 reveal after failed 2022 launch | | San Diego Comic Con | event | Major entertainment event; venue for rumored Venom reveal (July 20-23, 2023) | | James Bond | game | Stern pinball machine that was prioritized over Venom in 2022 for franchise anniversary | | Todd MacFarlane | person | Entertainment figure with scheduled autograph session at planned 2022 Venom launch | | Ozzy Osbourne | person | Entertainment figure with scheduled autograph session at planned 2022 Venom launch | | Rush | game | Stern pinball game subject to unverified rumors about production discontinuation | | Knapp Arcade | organization | Source publication reporting on Stern pinball rumors | ### Topics - **Primary:** Venom pinball launch timing and Comic Con strategy, Stern Pinball production schedule and roadmap - **Secondary:** Marvel licensing and IP partnerships with pinball, Rush pinball production status ### Sentiment **Neutral** (0) — Author maintains speculative tone, explicitly disclaiming certainty on key claims. Tone is reportorial and cautious rather than enthusiastic or critical. ### Signals - **[business_signal]** Unverified chatter about Stern potentially discontinuing Rush pinball production (confidence: low) — Author explicitly states 'I have no idea' about validity while reporting chatter in circulation - **[event_signal]** San Diego Comic Con 2023 positioned as potential venue for major Stern Pinball announcement (confidence: low) — Author expresses hope: 'Fingers crossed that we see a cool new game from Stern by then' - **[announcement]** Potential official reveal of Venom pinball at Comic Con 2023 (July 20-23) with production slot conventionally expected for September (confidence: low) — Rumor reported but explicitly unconfirmed; author notes uncertainty about whether timing would allow July reveal + September production - **[rumor_hype]** Renewed rumors of Stern Venom pinball reveal at San Diego Comic Con 2023, following failed 2022 launch attempt (confidence: low) — Author states 'I'm hearing a lot of rumblings' without specific sourcing; positions this as current rumor mill activity --- ## Transcript A year ago last July there was tons of smoke that Stern Pinball was going to launch a Marvel Venom-themed pinball machine at San Diego's Comic Con. They had a big booth and autograph sessions set up with Todd MacFarlane and Ozzy Osbourbe scheduled. Then...poof nothing happened. Stern moved the launch of Venom back to get James Bond out in time for the franchise's anniversary. Take 2. I'm hearing a lot of rumblings that Stern Pinball will reveal a Venom-themed pinball machine either at or before the 2023 San Diego Comic Con. Given what we've seen on Stern's production schedule, everyone has Stern's next cornerstone game slotted in for September. If the new rumor is true, either Venom will be revealed in July and not go on the line until September or the conventional wisdom about Stern's schedule is wrong. Time will tell. While we're on the subject of Stern Pinball rumors, there's chatter that they may be done manufacturing Rush. Is this true? I have no idea, but it's out there. This year's Comic Con is July 20 - 23. Fingers crossed that we see a cool new game from Stern by then. https://www.comic-con.org/cci _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 67d3eedf-4288-4f66-b64b-345dcaee8d9e*