COMICS PORTAL: New York, New York!

This week, what is now called the biggest comics convention in the United States takes place—New York Comic Con (NYCC)!

EVEN BIGGER THAN SDCC?

So, just what is New York Comic Con? According to their own website, it’s “four jam-packed days of pop culture, film and TV studios, studio and brand activations, comics, celebs, authors, voice actors, panels, and geeky goodness right here in NYC. And most importantly, (it’s) a home for heroes, villains, and nerds to be accepted and embraced.”

It takes place early in October each year at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. This year, it’s happening between Thursday, October 9, and Sunday, October 12. As per usual, there will be a big Artist Alley, plenty of exhibitors, and a full schedule of panels featuring some of the biggest names in comics and the entertainment industry.

According to the all-wise and always-correct Internet, NYCC is now the biggest comics convention in the United States. In 2022, there was an attendance of 200,000 (give or take a few) attendees there, which is now larger than the granddaddy of them all, San Diego Comic-Con.

I find it interesting that this year, there happens to still be tickets available to attend this year’s NYCC on Thursday as of this writing. If there are any left when you read this, you should go to this link if you want to attend! However, if you want to go to any other day, you have to find someone who already has a ticket they are willing to get to you!

A LITTLE BACKGROUND

I’ve been to NYCC several times, but even I didn’t know when this con started. According to the all-wise Internet, it began in 2006. It’s also a for-profit event produced and managed by ReedPop, and it is not affiliated with SDCC or the Big Apple Convention (later know as the Big Apple Comic-Con).

Of course, ReedPop is involved with several other comic events, including C2E2 (otherwise known as the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo) and PAX Dev/PAX East/PAC Prime.

I was interested to learn that the very first NYCC actually attracted a LOT more people than they anticipated, and the main exhibition hall could only hold 10,000. (This kind of reminds me of that first Star Trek convention that jammed the building the first time they held one.)

Their second try, which was held in 2007, was held in double the floor space than the previous year. The third con, held in April of 2008, with 50 percent more floor space. That year, Stan Lee was awarded the inaugural New York Comics Legend Award.

I could go over each year since then, but suffice it to say that NYCC continues to grow and keeps changing with the times!

THIS YEAR’S GUESTS

This year, the guest list continues to grow, with the list including the following:

Annie Potts, Arden Cho, Ashley Johnson, Brendan Fraser, Bryce Dallas Howard, Charlie Cox, Chloe Bennet, Christopher Daniel Barnes, Clark Gregg, Dante Basco, David Errigo Jr., Deborah Ann Woll, Elliot Page, Ernie Hudson, Famke Janssen, George R. R. Martin, George Takei, Hamish Linklater, Ioan Gruffudd, Jack DeSena, James McAvoy, Jodi Benson, Jon Bernthal, Joe Pantoliano, Karen Gillan, Karl Urban, Krysten Ritter, Laura Bailey, Laurence Fishburne, Liam O’Brien, Mae Whitman, Marisha Ray, Martin Sheen, Matthew Mercer, May Hong, Meng’er Zhang, Michael Chiklis, Michaela Jill Murphy, Mike Colter, Ming-Na Wen, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Nicholas Hoult, R.L. Stine, Sam Riegel, Steve Burns, Sigourney Weaver, Simon Pegg, Simu Liu, Taliesin Jaffe, Tatiana Maslany, Tim Blake Nelson, Tom Skerritt, Travis Willingham, Troy Baker, Veronica Cartwright, Vincent D’Onofrio, Vincent Martella, Wayne Brady, and Zach Tyler Eisen, just to name a few.

What intrigues me the most is that DC will be there again this year! They have been in the outer area of the convention center in years past, and they will have a multi-level booth (#4365) and a lineup of exciting panels and events. DC will celebrate 100 years of publishing by focusing on the first decade of their history, from 1935 to 1945. Attendees can expect a free 1940s-style Daily Planet newspaper featuring art and ads from that era along with first looks of upcoming titles and a detailed panel schedule. Their panels will include: DC Vertigo: We’re Back!, Gotham City, Jim Lee & Friends, and DC K.O.: What’s Next.

I’m sure Marvel and other publishers will be there as well!

WATCH OUT FOR AFTER-CON PARTIES

One of the biggest parts of NYCC is the slate of amazing “after-con” parties that happen once the even closes down for the day. Keep your eyes open for flyers and such that will advertise the places to hobnob with your favorite creators and socialize!

Honestly, this is one of the biggest draws for cons like NYCC. Creators talk with other creators to team up for future projects and also talk with publishers as they work to fill up their schedules for the months ahead.

When I’ve been there helping people sell their wares, meeting and interacting with creators in booths near ours has made some amazing things happen! If you are new to all this, be sure to talk with the nearby booth inhabitants to see what wonderful things just might happen because you were placed near comics creators you hadn’t met yet!

Of course, you should check in here at MajorSpoilers.com to see what news has happened at NYCC. Head Honcho Stephen Schleicher and his team always do a great job keeping us up to date with all the comics news!

If you get to go, please have a great time! I’ll get there again in the next couple of years, but until then, just enjoy yourself and keep the con industry going!

What do you think? Are you going to NYCC this year? What about the con attracts you, makes you want to go? If you had to choose between NYCC or SDCC, which one would you go to? Whatever your opinions, be sure to share them on the Major Spoilers Discord Server.

The header image for this article is by Jennie Ivins and is used under the Creative Commons license.

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