The leaves are changing colors. The days are getting shorter. The air is getting cooler during these shorter days. You know it’s that time of year again – time for another New York Comic-Con.
For those of you who may not know, the New York Comic Convention is an annual 3-day event where some of the biggest names in comics (and as of 2009 anime and manga) meet to discuss upcoming plans, host panel discussions, and promote their companies’ merchandise. Emphasis on the last one.
Easily one of the biggest sci-fi conventions on the East Coast, NYCC (held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on W. 34th street) draws in at least several hundred thousand people each year. As I’m sure you can imagine, this means lines. Lots and lots and LOTS of lines. And these aren’t even exclusively for the speakers or panels, oh no. 15 to 20-minute lines abounded for things like buying from the various vendors, getting a cup of soda, and using the restrooms. For the bladders of most sci-fi fans, this is where the men get separated from the boys, and the only way to tell the winners from the losers is if your bladder was ruined outside or inside a restroom stall.
Lines. Lines everywhere.
However, if you can look past the lines, and the occasional overpriced piece of merchandise (a.k.a. “swag”) and/or obsessive fanboys/girls, it really is quite enjoyable. There were several areas in the center where they had demos of new video games, most related to comics, where people could play some of the most anticipated games of 2011 and early 2012. They also had a section devoted to new movies and TV shows, such as The Avengers and the Animal Planet’s totally-not-a-waste-of-time-and-money Sasquatch-finding program. Throughout the course of the con, these areas would be giving out free swag to people who may have waited several hours in line to see various props, clips, and photos of the movie/show at random.
Like Mecca, but with more pointy ears and wigs.
The panel discussions covered a wide range of topics. Some of the ones that I went to included: a preview of Season 3 of Delocated! (which is a very funny and interesting show that I highly recommend) with comedian Patton Oswalt as the surprise moderator,
the airing of a new show called China, IL, what to expect from Spider-man in the future, and a question and answer session with a certain main actor from a certain science fiction trilogy.
I also met and got an autograph from Andrew W.K., the singer and well-known starter of parties. So that was kinda awesome.
Another thing that Comic-Con is known for is their sale of merchandise. Here, you can find rare back-issues for comic series going as far back as the 1950s, in addition to plenty of knickknacks and memorobilia. There were t-shirts as far as the eye could see, emblazoned with more various comic, anime, and video game characters and references than you could shake a wooden sword at …which could also be bought there. Yes, you read that right, my good reader. There were also plenty of replica weapons both wooden and metallic, such as swords, knives, and war-hammers (such as the one wielded by one of my friends below).
I think you know what time it is.
The third and perhaps most obvious element of Comic-Con, and perhaps any science fiction/anime/video game convention, was the people who dressed up as various characters. Known as cosplay, these folk are guaranteed to have people pay attention to them whether they want to or not (although almost 99% usually do). The quality of the cosplayers can vary from wearing a bunch of tinfoil and cardboard boxes to having near-perfect replica clothing, equipment, and most importantly headgear/hairstyles.
One phenomenon that has become more popular at cons is the idea of “cross-play.” Cross-play is when a female will dress up as a male character vice versa. And before you ask, yes the other way around can be incredibly horrifying (I can guarantee that whoever invents and sells eye bleach for this will beome the next great billionaire). Here is one such example of Deadpool, a Marvel Comics character known for his insanity and wackiness. In this case it was a Deadpool who dressed up as a woman (Don’t ask), so in effect it was a cross-play within a cross-play. Unfortunately I cannot afford a foghorn, so you will have to substitute your own Inception noises.
Sadly, this wasn’t the oddest thing worn at the con.
It is also an interesting sight, possibly more so than at the con itself, seeing these cosplayers actually going to and from the Javits Center. There’s just something about this juxtaposition that really shows how this event is in New York City but appears to be the result of shoddy fourth wall design. As you can imagine, this makes for some very interesting and amusing pictures. Such as this picture of some of my other friends on the D train as they went to the con on Saturday.
Oddly enough, it would still be appropriate to play the theme song from the Adam West show
And this one of a (non-genderbent) Deadpool at a hot dog vendor.
All in all I would have to say that I enjoyed Coimc-Con a lot. It was fun seeing all the various booths and panels, in addition to meeting up with my friends, including making some new ones, and picking up some swag that I would be probably be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. While I may not have been able to get much rest that weekend and my wallet took a beating, I definitely felt it was worth it. If you ever have some time (and money) to spend in mid-October you should definitely think about heading down to Comic-Con.
Random Doesnt Even Begin To Describe It 