TRIP REPORT – Last weekend I made my way to New York Comic Con (NYCC) at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. Since 2006, the show has given comic, sci-fi, fantasy, gaming, anime, and literary fans plenty to get excited about, plus enough themed gadgets and tech to make my wallet look lonelier than I do at dinner for one.
Last year, NYCC drew more than 185,000 attendees, which pushed it past the San Diego Comic Con and made it the biggest comic book and pop culture gathering in the country.
The good news is that the convention runs for four days, so everyone who wants to check it out has a reasonable shot at getting inside.
Toys and collectibles are a major piece of NYCC, and Funko Pop! Vinyl figures are absolutely not in short supply.
Plenty of vendors sell them, including Toy-R-Us, and fans line up for several NYCC exclusive figures.
Of course, Comic Con would be a very strange warehouse of stuff without the fans, and the most devoted ones arrive in costume, cosplaying as the characters they love. As the saying goes, “The family that cosplays together…”
For all those cosplayers, plenty of booths focus on accessories, costumes, and emergency repairs.
You can walk into Comic Con wearing regular clothes, make a few quick vendor stops, and come out dressed as just about any character you can imagine.
Need Star Wars themed footwear to finish the outfit? Naturally, there’s a vendor for that.
Steampunk and Victorian-inspired costumes are popular too, and plenty of sellers cater directly to that corner of the cosplay world.
Any technology with even a loose comic connection tends to show up at NYCC. Wacom comes back every year to display its latest tablets and touch displays.
The Force is strong at Comic Con, and tie-ins to that galaxy far, far away seem to be everywhere.
Toymaker Sphero was there showing off new remote control droids tied to the upcoming release of Star Wars: Episode VIII.The Last Jedi.
Sphero also had life-sized droid replicas on display, because apparently my apartment was not already feeling small enough.
You can carry your Star Wars obsession right to the dinner table with a Tie Fighter Portable Gas Grill. Come to the dark side, or maybe just the charred side.
No self-respecting Star Wars fan is really finished without a handcrafted, heirloom quality lightsaber from Vader’s Vault. These lightsabers include a full removable dual-diffused blade that can actually be used for battle.
Prop replicas are always popular, and the recreations displayed at Comic Con are pretty amazing. The only thing more jaw-dropping than the craftsmanship is the price tag attached to it.
Every year, a healthy number of vendors show off interesting new products, like the modular, customizable bags from Equilibrium Urban Survival Gear. The bags can be configured in all kinds of ways, and you can even add your own custom art to the outer panel.
If you can handle the lines and the cash involved, Comic Con is a great place to get a photo or autograph with a favorite TV or movie star. Just do not try sneaking a picture without consent, unless your hobby is being corrected in public.
LEGO is all over Comic Con. You can find figures and kits ranging from basic sets to one-of-a-kind pieces priced in the hundreds.
Scale-models of every type of Star Trek ship and shuttlecraft, along with ship placards from vendors like Eaglemoss Collections, are always a big hit at NYCC.
Models in general sell very well, and if Gundam or Evangelion figures are your thing, there is plenty here to whet your appetite.
Art is a huge part of Comic Con. Reimagined movie posters, genre mashups, and recreations of famous scenes all sell well, and some of the original work on display is astounding.
Young, budding artists can visit Artist Alley to see their favorite illustrators and creators, all gathered in one Comic Con section where talented professionals set up shop. Most are available for one-of-a-kind commissions, and many are happy to offer advice to future artists or critique their sketches.
Every brand wants some kind of presence and exposure at NYCC, and Chevrolet is no exception. There are always several hero-themed vehicles on display, including this Batman decked out Chevy Tahoe.
New York Comic Con is always a great time, and I guarantee that no matter what you are into, you will find something worth geeking out over. When next year’s Comic Con rolls around, NYCC’s website is the place for ticket and information details.here.
