TRIP REPORT – October is here, folks. That means pumpkin spice has escaped containment, Halloween planning is underway, and I once again made my way to New York Comic Con at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.
NYCC ranks among the largest pop culture conventions anywhere, and it is still my favorite place to wander until my feet file a complaint. For anyone who loves pop culture, the sights, sounds, and yes, even those very specific convention smells turn the whole thing into sensory overload in the best way. The 2019 show absolutely delivered, and this year I met with a few new gadget-related vendors, revisited some familiar NYCC staples, and shot video in several of my favorite areas.
I have been going to NYCC for more than ten years now, and one thing I still love is watching attendees blend into normal New York City life for a few days each year. As you get closer to the Javits Center, whether you are walking, riding a bus, or taking the subway, the commuters around you begin to look just a little off in the best possible way. First there are a few extra comic-themed shirts. Then somebody boards the train in a strange hat or with unusual makeup. By the time you are only a couple of stops from NYCC, the Joker strolls on while calmly listening to music, and a few feet away Batman is getting help with his Batsuit from a 50’s-themed Batgirl. Seeing those small, perfect scenes every year is one of the best parts of having NYCC roll into town.
Day one of NYCC is always the one that gets me most excited. The room feels charged, and everyone is hurrying around trying to be first in line for the vendors, artists, and immersive displays.
Then there are the cosplayers, because of course there are cosplayers everywhere. I have covered them quite a bit in previous years, so I pointed my attention elsewhere this time, but they remain a huge piece of what makes NYCC so much fun.
Video games are always woven deeply into NYCC culture, and plenty of publishers use the show to reveal new titles or tease upcoming sequels. This year felt a little quieter, with fewer major publishers pushing big releases. That said, there were still some displays and demos impressive enough to stop a lonely gadget guy in mid-shuffle.
The movie prop exhibits are among the best displays at NYCC.
Most of the time these exhibits show real props or costumes from movies and popular TV series, though once in a while they spotlight possible future looks for favorite heroes.
Avengers pieces always draw a crowd when props are involved, but the Picard exhibition was my top pick this year.
The display included old and new props from across the many Star Trek properties.
It also showed the badge Picard receives when he briefly returns to Starfleet in the new series, along with the dog collar worn by his loyal dog, Number One.
Netflix’s El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie gave another returning franchise its own prop exhibit.
A bucket full of cash, the title vehicle, and bullet-splattered walls came together into a scene that looked pulled straight out of Breaking Bad.
Naturally, cool toys had a strong showing at New York Comic Con too.
This planet-sized Transformers Unicron figure was seriously impressive. It belongs to Hasbro’s HasLab crowd-funding program and needs 8,000 total backers before moving into full production.
Playmobil showed off several upcoming playsets scheduled for release in 2020. Seeing the Scooby-Doo Gang along with their rogues’ gallery was a real treat.
Still, the Back to the Future playset topped everything for me, especially since it included Doc Brown’s dog Einstein.
A separate lineup of larger figures, possibly meant to ride the same wave as Funko Pops, offered more detailed versions of Doc Brown and Marty McFly.
At NYCC, Lego naturally takes over, and vendors were selling just about every kind of minifig you could hope to find.
This year, the Gundam booth at NYCC included a space where fans could build the Gundams they had just bought.
Figurines based on beloved comics and graphic novels remain highly desirable, and some prices climb well into the thousands.
The detail on certain figurines is incredible, especially in the way they present and translate characters from printed comics.
One reason NYCC works so well for a gadget addict like me is the number of vendors selling pop-culture-inspired products that range from purely fun to genuinely inventive. I interviewed a few of those vendors during this year’s coverage.
Ukoala Bags
Yan Ma, also known as Mayan, has been creating her Ukoala bags for roughly seven years. The original idea came during an overnight flight, when she felt uneasy about leaving her purse loose while she slept. She tied the purse to her thigh with a shoelace, and just like that, Ukoala bags began their origin story.
Mayan drew more inspiration for the bags’ distinctive shape after seeing koalas in Australia and noticing how securely their heavy bodies clung to trees high above the ground. Using her design background, she figured out how to flatten a koala’s anatomical form into the base of the bag, then applied some simple math to adjust the angles so the weight of its contents would distribute better while worn.
The stylish bags work well for motorcycle riders, concealed carriers, concert-goers, and anyone who needs fast, secure access without a bag bouncing all over their body.
Visit Ukoala Bags at their website More information is available by email at info@ukoalabag.com.
Han Cholo
Han Cholo, also known as designer Brandon Schoolhouse, creates the coolest sci-fi, rock n’ roll, and fantasy-inspired jewelry I have ever seen. His booth has been a required stop during my NYCC trips for years, and choosing one favorite piece is always a problem, which is a nice change from my usual lonely guy problems. If I absolutely had to pick, the Voltron Legendary Defender Ring would probably be the winner.
Han Cholo’s work digs deep into sci-fi, fantasy, and horror lore, which is a big reason I enjoy it so much. You can tell the artist loves the properties he honors as much as I do, and I always get a kick out of spotting the references in his newest pieces.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Han Cholo had a talent for designing jewelry for himself and his friends. The Han Cholo persona began in the 90s while he was DJing and working for the Beastie Boys’ Grand Royal record label. After his years with the Beastie Boys, he became a wardrobe stylist and used his drawing and design skills to make one-of-a-kind jewelry for rock star clients.
Han Cholo fans include rock stars, A-List actors and actresses, rappers, and internet personalities. He has licenses with, and has created custom work for, companies including Disney, Hasbro, Nintendo, Hot Wheels, Doritos, and Puma, to name a few. You can see more of Han Cholo’s pieces and buy them at his website www.hancholo.com.
The end of NYCC always hits me a little hard, but I know it will be back before too long.
Video Snippets
My three days at NYCC 2019 are captured in the video coverage, with vendor interviews and a look around some favorite New York Comic Con mainstays.
