One of the largest creative conventions in the country just occurred in the tristate area. New York Comic-Con encourages us nerds to geek out together. The Big Apple-based convention, launched in 2006, may not be every person’s cup of tea, as long lines and massive merch prices proved a bit tricky, but the overall experience was great. For the fandom-loving nerds and anime aficionados like me, it was everything and more.
The convention is a mix of cosplay contests, corporate-sponsored activations (the new Dexter series had a walk-through horror maze, a Spongebob display had an enterable pineapple to celebrate the show’s 25th anniversary, etc.), and droves of gamers, sellers, collectors, artists, and celebrity guests.
The event also carries an air of chill acceptance that can be felt throughout the gigantic Javits Center. You feel safe and know the super nerds around you aren’t in danger of being bullied or put down. Going all out is encouraged; makeup, props, and so much more help people bring their faves to life. A lot of gender-bent and drag-inspired outfits impressed me. People crafted some insanely intricate pieces and were truly transformed.
NYCC always takes place a few months after the always popular San Diego Comic-Con. SDCC tends to draw in bigger crowds and larger stars; however, New York is putting up a great fight, like hometown hero Spider-Man would. Elizabeth Olsen of Marvel royalty attended in full force, the Scarlet Witch herself stunning in photos with fans. Fans could purchase an autograph or buy a picture with some of the attending big names, including John Boyega, Paul Bettany, Ella Purnell, Denise Richards, and so many more.
The merch! My wallet was begging me to cool it, but I just wouldn’t listen. Every Funko Pop you could imagine, and sellers would guide you through hordes of comic books to find one to match your interests. And everyone was so giving of their time, happy to share their passions. There was a culture of nonjudgment where being clueless never felt to my detriment. Having an open mind is all you need to enjoy the hustle and bustle of New York Comic-Con.
There was a wonderful selection of panels and specific chats that allowed attendees to connect. The Pride Lounge was a great source of fun, offering discussions on queer comics and media by LGBTQ industry professionals. The DC Queer Trivia event was a blast. JP Karliak, who played Morph in the super-gay X-Men ’97, spoke on queer voice acting. “Reclaiming Queer History Through Comics” had powerful conversations with Josh Trujillo, John Harris Dunning, and Greg Lockard. It’s inspiring to hear how they used their experience as LGBTQ folks to inform the stories we love. Dominique Jackson of Pose stardom was also present for autographs.
A lesson learned in hindsight: When going to Comic-Con, make reservations to secure your spot at popular panels. I went to see Alex Hirsch of Gravity Falls but was swiftly turned away by the reserved spots. Thankfully, I made it into the panel on one of our favorite shows, Phineas and Ferb, which is coming back with a brand-new season.
Comic-Con brings fans and stars together, and that mission was on full display at the Phineas and Ferb panel. Show creators Dan ‘Swampy’ Marsh and Dan Povenmire took the stage along with the talented voice cast. Alyson Stoner (Isabella), Ashley Tisdale (Candace), and Vincent Martella (Phineas) were all in attendance to support the beloved show’s revival. Tisdale, a New Jersey-born star who has taken acting classes across the Garden State, complimented Phineas and Ferb as “the best project she’d ever worked on.” High School Musical caught shaking! They all kindly answered questions, spoke on the upcoming season hitting Disney in 2025, and revealed art for this new era of the series. It was pretty iconic to hear the voices of Dr. Doofenshmirtz and Perry the Platypus in person. A memory I’ll never forget!
I’m not wrong when I say more than a million Funko Pops filled the Javits Center this past weekend. Where were the pins, Pokemon plushies, and other trademark Comic-Con garb? Shrouded between rows of collectors pushing everything a fan could want, most especially Funkos. The line for the Funko Pop official booth was over an hour long. I was able to secure four rare Steven Universe Funko Pops, a mighty haul if I do say so myself. Surprisingly, only one stand in the entire venue sold the Gen Z gem Sonny Angels.
Walking among the rows of pleasant nerds and diverse vendors was a stark reminder that strange things still rule. I saw so many kiosks of folks selling funky D&D dice and LED potion desk lamps and every fictional weapon out there. Keyblades from Kingdom Hearts were flying off the shelves, lightsabers were swinging every which way, and people were having fun. I’d argue more Pride apparel and merch could have hit the gigantic showroom floor (trust me, I searched it all) but you don’t need a rainbow-clad Agatha All Along poster to represent your gay worth. Though at the Marvel booth, Agatha’s witchy outfit was on display, as well as Billy Maximoff’s (played by rising queer icon Joe Locke). Glad to see Marvel embracing their gayest show yet for the fans.
Comic-Con is for anyone who wants to see a merging of fandoms, nerd culture, creative activities, and world-renowned guests. Any attendee I was waiting next to in line was worth having a conversation with because everyone was just extremely proud of being who they were. And I think a lot of us in the queer community know how joyous that feeling can be.
