TRIP REPORT – The year 2020 hit just about everyone on Earth hard. We watched some huge disasters unfold, a few worldwide and others much closer to home. There were also countless smaller personal losses, like graduations, weddings, birthday parties, and other milestones that simply vanished. For me, losing the in-person 2020 New York Comic Con was sensible, but it still stung. As readers probably know by now, I have been going to comic conventions since I was a kid, and I had never missed a New York Comic Con since it began. Cons are my happy place, so skipping my favorite one made an already lousy year feel even worse.
But 2021 brought a fresh start, and New York Comic Con returned. From the moment an in-person NYCC was announced, I stayed cautiously hopeful, then genuinely excited when ReedPop actually made it happen. This was absolutely a Comic Con unlike any I had attended before. Big exhibitors such as Marvel, DC, SYFY, and Funko stayed away, and plenty of COVID protocols were added to keep NYCC from turning into a super spreader event.
Everyone entering NYCC had to show proof of full vaccination and received a wristband that was not meant to come off. If you cut it off, you had to verify your vaccination status again at one of the tents outside the Jacob Javits Center before getting another. Facemasks were required, although not the superhero type that already shows up everywhere at NYCC.
Even with the COVID rules and some major names missing, devoted Comic Con fans still arrived in serious numbers. The wristband tents opened a few days before the show, which helped move the crowds along without too much chaos.
The entrances felt as packed as any other Con I have attended, but the show floor was a very different experience.
Exhibitors had about twice the usual amount of space between them, which was easier to manage because the big space-eaters like Marvel and DC were clearly not there.
There was even enough open space on the main show floor to create a separate eating area.
Naturally, NYCC still found room for giant anime character statues, because some traditions refuse to social distance.
The extra room also allowed for a hands-on gaming area where fans could try the newest games on PCs, PS5 consoles, and the Xbox Series X.
Beyond the absences I already mentioned, the main show floor also had fewer experiential booths than usual. The two standouts were a Star Trek Prodigy exhibit and an experience tied to the Chucky television series.
Outside the Javits Center, however, there was a Doom Patrol carnival tent, a Sandman Audible experience, and a Funmation DJ Booth.
This year, NYCC also showed off the new Javits Center Expansion, which added 1.2 million square feet of convention space.
All that added space worked perfectly for socially distant tabletop gaming sessions, along with the more popular panels and speakers.
Away from the main show floor, down on the lower levels of the Javits Center, several NYCC regulars were back in their familiar spots.
The Cosplay Repair Station is always busy, and it is one of the best places to see how some of NYCC’s incredible costumes are built, adjusted, and somehow kept from falling apart.
Of course, the Star Wars costuming organization 501st Legion held court on the lower levels, giving fans a chance to take photos with some outstanding Star Wars cosplayers.
I spent a few hours wandering through Artist Alley, where I got to see amazing work from some of comics’ hottest new names as well as a few true legends.
On the first day, I always have to fight the urge to buy every print and poster in sight, because a few hours later I will inevitably find something even cooler and my tiny apartment only has so many walls.
Fortunately, I can usually browse the artists’ work on their websites later and make slightly wiser choices, or at least pretend that is what I am doing.
Back on the main show floor, there were plenty of pop culture T-shirts, hoodies, and even boxer shorts.
This is usually where I refresh my wardrobe and take advantage of exclusive merchandise plus those tempting comic-con-only discounts.
If my wallet is feeling generous, I also add something to my already extensive pin collection.
What I love about Comic Con is the complete randomness of it, because this is the kind of magical place where one aisle can offer a Yoda-styled Buddha.
Another aisle can be filled with fantasy-themed Lego minifigs.
Around the corner, you might run into dragons holding crystal balls.
There was also a collection of handmade magic wands.
You could choose from just about every dice style and material imaginable.
If your wallet has more courage than mine, you can pick up a lineup of wildly priced superhero busts.
You can also bring home a life-size Groot head for your living room or foyer, because apparently some homes need more judgmental tree energy.
Honestly, though, the detail on some of these statues almost makes the prices seem reasonable.
That is especially true when you come across an incredibly intricate samurai Batman.
It also applies when Wonder Woman is shown battling a pantheon of gods.
I will never fully understand many anime character lineups, but if you search long enough at NYCC, you can find just about every one of them.
There is also a Gundam out there for every taste, preference, and level of shelf space optimism.
The life-sized displays were pretty spectacular too. This samurai Darth Vader came with a red lightsaber katana.
You could even bid on actual movie props signed by the actors who wore them, including pieces from The Avengers or Boba Fett.
The usual NYCC attractions are fun and can easily fill a few days, but I like to spend at least one full day checking out the oddball vendors you only find at a Comic Con. This year, I mostly focused on vendors offering unique or exclusive items for NYCC’s return.
Vader’s Vault
Where else but a Comic Con can you choose between several custom lightsaber makers?
Vader’s Vault is always one of my first NYCC stops, mostly because a booth topped with pulsing lightsabers is not exactly hard to locate.
At NYCC this year, Vader’s Vault showed off some fantastic custom-themed lightsabers, including the high-end acid-etched Promethean, a matte green HALO branded saber, and a battle-worn Lord of the Rings styled lightsaber. That kind of originality has a serious price tag, with the acid-etched Promethean listed at $2500.
The craftsmanship in these lightsabers is impressive, and so is the willingness to step outside the Star Wars universe and blend in other sci-fi and fantasy properties.websiteCheck out Vader’s Vault’s site, along with our video interview later in the article.
Equilibrium USG
I am a sucker for bags. I own a ton of backpacks, duffels, and messenger bags, yet I am always hunting for a reason to buy another one. Every year, the bags from Equilibrium Urban Survival Gear seem to include some clever new feature I have not seen before, so I cannot resist stopping by. I own a few of their smaller Claymore bags, and my only complaint is that they are so durable I probably never need to buy another.
Along with some brand-new bag designs, Equilibrium displayed exclusive Comic Con inserts for their backpacks.
The inserts slide inside a clear vinyl panel that attaches to the back of their primary backpack, letting you customize the bag to your own taste. The panel is covered in Velcro, so you can also decorate the pack with all kinds of Velcro morale patches.
Check out the websiteCheck out Equilibrium USG’s site, along with our video interview later in the article.
1UP Keyboards
One of the best parts of building a PC is tailoring every element until the machine feels completely yours. 1UP Keyboards lets you push that customization much further.
These keyboards can be styled down to individual keycaps, internal circuit boards, and programming.
For NYCC’s return, 1UP Keyboards offered exclusive color combinations that were only available for purchase on-site at the Con.
Check out the websiteCheck out 1UP Keyboards’ site, along with our video interview later in the article.
Tickle Me Toys
Cosplayers work hard to portray favorite characters accurately, but walking around NYC with a real katana or laser blaster tends to create problems. Luckily, exhibitors like Tickle Me Toys offer troves of videogame, anime, and comic book weapons recreated with impressive faithfulness.
Most of the weapons and shields are made from cast hard foam, so they are light enough to carry all day and unlikely to do much damage.
I found an amazing reproduction of my favorite Destiny 2 weapon, the Sunshot Exotic Hand Cannon. The paint jobs on these props are incredibly convincing and can mimic all sorts of metals and finishes.
Check out our video showcase of Tickle Me Toys later in the article.
Plantcycled
During my hunt for unique exhibitors this year, we hit the jackpot with the folks at Plantcycled. They specialize in custom Pokeball terrariums.
Basically, these are imaginative versions of the environments inside Pokeballs where Pokemon spend their downtime.
All of the Pokeball terrariums are self-sustaining and require no extra care. If you cannot find one with your favorite Pokemon inside, they are happy to create a custom version to match your taste.
Check out the websiteCheck out Plantcycled’s site, along with our video interview later in the article.
Geek Orthodox
Geek Orthodox does not just have a clever, genuinely witty name. They also make remarkably inventive art pieces. By combining the old-style medium of stained glass with imagery from sci-fi, fantasy, and pop culture, this husband-and-wife team has created art I had never seen before.
Geek Orthodox offers stained glass panels featuring almost any character or franchise you can imagine, and they will create custom pieces for especially obscure properties. Another great part of their process is that after they make a new stained glass piece, they scan it and sell a more affordable window cling version.
Check out the websiteCheck out Geek Orthodox’s site, along with our video interview later in the article.
Super Sox Shop
Do not be fooled by the name, because Super Sox Shop sells much more than socks. Their Ultimate Pillow Fight plush weapons and shields could turn any sleepover into a wildly fun battle royale.
Handmade from soft foam and felt, these weapons, shields, and characters are so enjoyable that they made me wish they existed when I was a kid. They might have saved my brother from the chipped tooth I gave him during a particularly rough pillow fight involving a stuffed Snoopy doll with a nasty metal zipper.
Beyond the whimsical oversized designs, the bright color schemes bring out the kid in anyone who picks one up.
Check out the websiteCheck out Super Sox Shop’s site, along with our video interview later in the article.
Moss Fete
Another unusual vendor I found working with felt was Moss Fete. At first, I was struck by how many different types of felt hats filled their booth.
The variety of styles was impressive, but once I learned they also specialize in witch’s hats, I was sold.
This is another talented seamstress who gets excited about customizing witch hats or fake dragon scale shawls to a customer’s exact specifications.
Check out the websiteCheck out Moss Fete’s site, along with our video interview later in the article.
Panels
One thing I almost never manage to do at Comic Con is attend panels. They fill up fast, and I rarely have the patience to stand in line when there are so many other cool things to see, but this year was different. I do not know whether attendance was lower or the Javits Center Expansion simply added enough room, but I walked into a few panels at the last minute right before they started. That is unheard of, especially for popular panels like the ones I saw.
I am a big Adam Savage fan and follow him on YouTube, so attending his panel was a real treat. Adam gave a terrific slide presentation about the projects he worked on during lockdown, and it was both impressive and touching.
He also offered a heartfelt tribute to Grant Imahara and answered tons of audience questions. I am so glad I was there for it.
Another panel I felt lucky to catch was George Takei’s. As a longtime Star Trek fan of both TOS and TNG, I was blown away listening to George discuss everything from his time in a Japanese-American Internment camp during World War II to his final meeting with his dear friend and co-star Leonard Nimoy.
It was also wonderful to watch George interact with fans and see how genuinely touched he was by their affectionate words.
The final panel I attended was for The Expanse. It featured only two of the main actors, which really showed how different this year’s Comic Con was. Normally, with a cast as large as The Expanse’s, at least six actors from the show would be on that stage. Even so, the panel was fun and enjoyable.
Cosplay
No New York Comic Con coverage would feel complete without plenty of cosplay photos. I have to admit, though, that I went out of my way looking for people who found creative ways to build facemasks into their costumes, and I found fewer than I hoped. There were plenty of facemasks under costume masks, but only one really inventive example stood out.
Traci did a great job recreating Jiang Li’s costume from Shang Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings, and she made her creative facemask a visible part of the look.
I did think it was cool when characters matched mask colors to their costumes, like Han and Leia here.
Most elaborate costumes, however, made it simple for attendees to hide their facemasks.
This scary Batman Who Laughs was really hamming it up while a somewhat disgruntled-looking Dark Knight stayed in the background.
Mortal Kombat characters like Scorpion and Sub-Zero already wear masks, so they were easy choices. Some cosplayers simply removed their facemasks for quick photos, neatly sidestepping the whole issue.
Helmets were also a popular way to follow the COVID protocols while still supporting the Empire.
Outside the Javits Center, facemasks could come off, so many cosplayers gathered there to take pictures and enjoy the unseasonably great weather.
There were plenty of different interpretations of newer characters.
There were also some excellent literal takes on popular characters like Lobo.
People definitely used the fresh backgrounds provided by the glass-encased Javits Center Expansion for photoshoots.
Dr. Doom never avoids the spotlight.
An almost life-sized Chucky creeped out plenty of people, including me.
Cosplay superhero team-ups are always fun to see, even when Captain America messes up the shot.
Not to be outdone by the comic book and movie crowd, deep-cut videogame cosplayers were well represented at NYCC too.
After striking out on innovative facemasks, I did find a stylish Ruby Rhod wearing a matching leopard-skin mask with his lovely Leeloo companion.
I always enjoy the surreal side of Comic Con, like casually hanging out with a mild-mannered Peacemaker.
I also love catching amazing characters doing ordinary things, such as taking a soda break.
Sometimes they are checking email between photoshoots.
Sometimes the whole gang of assassins gets together to decide which panels to attend later in the day.
Even superheroes need breaks from endlessly walking the aisles.
Sometimes you just have to watch Wonder Woman and the Baroness gossip for a bit to fully appreciate Comic Con’s weirdness.
Really, though, New York Comic Con is about spending time with people who share your interests and having fun while eating some great food truck mac and cheese. Saying goodbye to NYCC is always sad for me, but I think I appreciated it more this year than ever before, and I cannot wait until NYCC 2022.
Video Snippets
The video snippets from the convention and the expanded vendor interviews offer an even bigger taste of NYCC.
