TRIP REPORT – I made it back to New York Comic Con in 2018, which is basically my happy place with better lighting and longer lines. NYCC puts nearly all of my favorite things under one roof: comic books, fantasy art, superheroes, pop culture, science fiction shows, and plenty more trouble for my wallet.
New York Comic Con has been filling the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City since 2006, bringing every flavor of fan together for four days of pop culture overload. Attendance has topped 150,000 for several years, but in 2018 about 250,000 tickets were sold, putting NYCC clearly ahead of the mother of all comic conventions, San Diego Comic-Con. A big reason for that bump was the decision to spread Comic-Con events into venues throughout the city.
I am going to run through some of the best moments from NYCC 2018, then wrap up with my floor video updates, interviews, and a gallery of standout cosplayers.
Toys, action figures, and collectibles are a massive part of NYCC, and plenty of companies use the show to preview what is coming next. This year brought a lot of alternate takes on familiar characters, including a Shogun-era Bane from the Batman universe. Still, the old reliable fan favorites such as Superman and Marvel’s Deadpool kept proving why they never really leave the spotlight.
Collectibles tied to big fantasy and science fiction movies remain a major draw, assuming your budget can survive the price tags and your home has enough display space to avoid looking like a very expensive storage unit.
These Chronicle Collectibles statuettes of David Bowie and Jeff Goldblum seemed to be competing for the title of most seductive reclining movie pose. Honestly, it was a tight race.
Some of these statuettes show off an incredible amount of detail, and pieces like this Iron Man Hulkbuster include working lights that make them feel even more lifelike.
A few vendors even offer gear that lets you suit up as your favorite video game character. This Mega Man helmet lines up perfectly with the one worn by the action figure.
One of the best parts of Comic Con is seeing fictional characters you love step into the real world. Booths often feature life-size, or even larger-than-life, versions of figures from movies, comics, and toy lines.
Yes, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters should technically be building-height, but spotting this fellow hanging around the Playmobil booth still made me smile.
Funko’s Pop bobblehead line always pulls in a crowd, and this year visitors were greeted by a giant Gladiator Hulk figure from Thor: Ragnorak.
Netflix brought in this enormous She-Ra statue to build excitement for the She-Ra and the Princesses of Power original series.
Even She-Ra had competition from this full-scale replica of the power armor from Fallout 4. The extremely realistic rifle was especially impressive.
I finally had my moment to tell a life-sized Han Solo exactly how I felt about him while he was frozen in carbonite. Naturally, he already knew.
DC usually claims this part of NYCC to display costumes from upcoming movies. For 2018, the armor and outfits from Aquaman were on view.
It would not feel like NYCC without a proper dose of Dragon Ball Z on the floor.
If all those figures and toys inspire you to jump into the fun during Comic Con, plenty of vendors sell costumes that run from goofy to practically movie-replica quality.
Or you can keep things simpler and pick up a T-shirt from one of the many clothing sellers, both officially sanctioned and, shall we say, spiritually enthusiastic.
If you have watched any of my NYCC video updates, which appear near the end of this article, you already know the show has plenty of gadgets and clever devices making debuts or getting demos. I was fortunate enough to try a few of them myself.
Red’s Hydrogen One holographic phone has been in the news for a few years, and with the November 2 release date getting closer, Red has started making public demos easier to find.
The Hydrogen One stands out in several ways, but its biggest trick is showing 3D-like images and video without requiring 3D glasses. It is one of those features that cannot really be explained or shown properly until you see it in person.
The Red representative was not exactly eager to let me photograph the phone during the demo, but as you can tell, I moved faster than expected. The holographic screen really is impressive, recreating the depth of 3D video in a way that feels pretty mind-blowing.
The phone itself feels incredibly sturdy, and it is honestly quite heavy, with serious textured grips built in. Since Red is known for high-end cameras, it makes sense that the Hydrogen One has the heft and feel of an expensive digital camera. Contacts on the back are there for future modules that will let the Hydrogen One capture unparalleled photos and video.
The Red Hydrogen One will be available on November 2 for $1295 through AT&T and Verizon. The add-on modules are expected in 2019.
The random mix of things for sale at NYCC never stops surprising me. Vendors are ready to help you celebrate a movie, comic, or favorite 80s cartoon in ways you did not know were available. I had no idea my life was missing Star Wars inspired sneakers and an Alec Guinness pint glass until I found this booth.
Where else was I going to run into expensive, fancy Transformers and Dungeons & Dragons themed jewelry?
Citizen watches came prepared with a very pricey, very classy line of custom Marvel branded watches.
Rick and Morty fans are everywhere, so Comic Con naturally offers almost any item you can imagine covered with Rick and Morty characters. This Pickle Rick board game was one of the stranger examples I found.
Need to carry your Star Wars obsession into the kitchen or out on a picnic? These Imperial cheeseboards and picnic coolers have you covered. The Dark Side has rarely seemed so snack-friendly.
Big names like Disney, Marvel, and DC take up plenty of space at NYCC, but smaller vendors with more unusual goods still have room to shine. For example, you can buy a handmade custom dragon puppet from Khaleesi herself.
If your cosplay costume needs one last perfect accessory, you can sort through all kinds of franchise-specific mock weaponry.
One especially inventive vendor filled a booth with pop culture, music, and political figures reimagined as saints on posters and candles.
Anime toys and art sell extremely well at NYCC, and you could easily spend an entire day digging through booths devoted to the genre.
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Several video game producers use NYCC to debut their newest games, and if you are willing to stand in line, you can play some of the biggest titles before release.
If a celebrity or artist has even a loose connection to science fiction, horror, or fantasy entertainment, there is a good chance you can meet that person at NYCC. An entire section is set aside for autographs and photos with popular stars, provided your budget is feeling brave.
Some stars charge hundreds of dollars for a photo, and that comes after waiting with a crowd of other fans for the privilege. Fame is glamorous, but apparently the checkout line still applies.
Lines are a major part of NYCC in general, and because there are panels for nearly every show and comic, attending one usually means waiting through a serious queue. The more popular the star or property, the longer the wait tends to be, but true fans find a way to endure.
I usually set aside half a day for Artist Alley. This is the part of NYCC where comic artists and illustrators sell work, accept commissions, and meet fans. Many of the biggest names in comics are here, and sometimes the queues rival those for the major panels.
Commissions let you have an artist create a one-of-a-kind piece just for you. My favorite this year was Cloverkin, who specializes in custom art of your pet wearing fantasy armor. She will even help figure out what type of role-playing character best matches your pet’s personality, which means Addy may have a richer backstory than I do.
I spent a lot of time at NYCC this year making fun videos, seeing very cool products, and meeting some great people, yet it never feels like enough. I always leave convinced there was something I missed, but I can live with that because I know I will be back for 2019.
Video Snippets
Here is video coverage from my three days at NYCC 2018, including interviews with cool vendors, excellent cosplayer finds, and visits to some favorite New York Comic Con mainstays.
Cosplay Gallery
Here are some of the more interesting cosplayers I came across at NYCC 2018, a final look at the creativity that makes the whole convention worth the sore feet.
