TRIP REPORT – October is my favorite stretch of the calendar. Corn mazes, haunted hayrides, fall colors, and the New York Comic Con all show up at once, which feels almost unfair in the best way. I joined about 200,000 other fans at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City for the 2022 Comic Con, and it absolutely delivered. The show floor, oddball vendors, and wonderfully unhinged cosplay gave us plenty to cover at NYCC this year.
After the 2020 cancellation caused by the COVID pandemic, this was NYCC’s second year back, and the event felt fully awake again. Marvel and Funko returned after skipping NYCC 2021, although major publishers such as Image and Dark Horse still stayed away.
Mask rules were officially in place, but over the four days of the con, enforcement felt pretty relaxed. If anyone was nervous about stepping back into the packed lanes of the main show floor, I did not notice it. Fans filled the Javits Center to chase down their favorite pop culture properties. Lines stretched, kids buzzed with excitement, and enough cosplay body paint appeared to make NYCC feel close to the COVID before-times again.
For a better feel of the NYCC floor this year, watch the walk-through video we filmed on the busiest day of the con.
The familiar favorites all returned, from celebrity photo ops and autographs to tabletop gaming, panels, and plenty of excellent art. Wider aisles reduced booth space, but the recent Javits Center expansion balanced that out, so the exhibitor count still felt close to earlier years.
Panel lines stretched far enough to make it obvious that attendance was at least on par with past years.
Artist Alley, where skilled artists sell their work from individual booths, was the busiest I have ever seen it. Even with broader walkways, fans crowded in to grab pieces from creators they follow.
Once the crowds returned, Thursday was basically the only day you could get near the tasty food trucks outside the Javits Center without committing to a serious wait.
Back on the main show floor, seeing the Marvel stage return felt right since it has long served as NYCC’s unofficial center of gravity.
The Marvel stage always has something happening, and fans still love the mini cosplay contests plus hourly giveaways. Marvel Studios also uses that space to spotlight new projects. This year, costumes from Ms. Marvel and Moon Knight were on display.
Right beside the stage sat the official Marvel Store, stocked with licensed clothing and merchandise.
Toei Animation came back in a big way alongside Marvel. Nothing announces its presence quite like a massive inflatable Monkey D. Luffy from the popular manga and animeOne PieceThat made NYCC feel properly huge again.
Nickelodeon returned too, bringing several large experiential marketing setups, including this Monster High display.
Funko’s big experiential feature this year was mostly the long wait for exclusive Pop! Vinyl Figures.
Once inside, though, the Funko store looked pretty great with its haunted house design.
In a bit of perfectly practical booth placement, eBay sat right next to Funko, making it very simple to resell those NYCC exclusives.
Other experiential marketing setups included a haunted forest for Paramount’s Teen Wolf that pulled in plenty of attention.
HBO Max also brought a very slick high-tech experience for DC’s Titans.
Outdoor experiences were more limited, and kid-focused ones were even harder to find. The only example we spotted was a mini car track, also backed by HBO Max and DC.
Beyond the big content companies, reliable t-shirt sellers were back to help me refresh my wardrobe, such as it is.
NYCC leaned harder into shirts this year with an on-site screen printer making custom designs while fans waited.
Custom shirts were not the only personalized work around, since the main show floor and Artist Alley both had plenty of original art.
Pop culture art of all kinds was available, often with solid show discounts.
Only a place like NYCC gives you mashups such as science-fiction-inspired Ukiyo-e Japanese art.
Starships of every kind remain a favorite jumping-off point for many NYCC artists.
Fantasy location travel posters have grown so popular over the years that you can pretty much find one for almost any imaginary destination now.
If your wallet is healthier than mine, NYCC offers plenty of chances to buy original one-of-a-kind pieces from major artists such as Alex Ross.
A comic con would feel incomplete without premium custom dice for sale.
Cheaper dice were around too, as long as you were willing to look a little.
Action figures filled NYCC, including life-sized versions like this Darth Vader.
For figures small enough to sit on a desk, a little searching turned up nearly every major character and variant.
Special edition figures can run higher in price, but at least haggling is part of the game.
Even after some bargaining, that original in-box Voltron model remained safely outside my lonely guy budget.
The Tamagotchi comeback surprised plenty of nostalgic digital pet fans, and it was genuinely exciting to see.
This year, Tabletop Gaming had its own separate area away from the main floor, complete with vendors and experiences.
The highlight of Tabletop Gaming was checking out any of more than a hundred available games and sitting down to play.
There was even a dedicated space where people could learn Dungeons & Dragons in a safe, supportive setting.
If tabletop gaming did not grab you, another section offered free-to-play old-school video games.
Board games also showed up across the main show floor, so there were plenty of chances to play.
The PC gaming area grew a bit this year, giving more players room to join in.
For real-world shooter action, the 501st Legion let brave rebels slap leather against a Stormtrooper for charity.
For fans of actual movie props, NYCC had the venerable time-traveling Delorean that will appear in the new Back to the Future Musical next year.
Prop replicas were also for sale, including this Loki crown, Eye of Agamotto, and Moon Knight blade.
You could also grab a Sorting Hat from the Harry Potter series.
The book publisher aisles felt smaller than in previous years, but author signings and giveaways still gave them some energy.
Of course, no comic con would be complete without actual comics.
Browsing the stacks is where all of this began, and NYCC still gives you a real shot at finding that one issue you have been chasing.
Panels covered everything from breaking into comics to practical cosplaying advice.
NYCC Vendors
One of my favorite NYCC rituals is spending a day checking out new vendors and their sci-fi, comic, fantasy, and pop-culture goods. This year brought a mix of interesting first-timers and seasoned comic con regulars.
Scorched Design
Scorched Design, owned by husband and wife Jennie and Jeremy, made its first NYCC appearance. They described their work as “nerdy home decor,” with laser-engraved slate coasters, doormats, and wall art among their items.
Scorched Design began during the pandemic lockdown and has spent about two years traveling the convention circuit with custom-made, uniquely themed pieces.
Visit the Scorched Design websitehere.
Seventh Ink
Seventh Ink was another first-time NYCC vendor, run by owner Matt Johnson from Tampa, Florida. Matt creates all the art himself, with stylized skulls appearing across t-shirts, patches, and stickers.
My favorite Seventh Ink patch and shirt both carried my new mantra, “Coffee of Death.” The brand’s designs fit the comic con crowd nicely and landed perfectly for Halloween season.
Visit the Seventh Ink websitehere.
Moby Fox
Barcelona-based Moby Fox also set up at NYCC for the first time. The team sold officially licensed Apple Watch bands with collections from Marvel, DC, Star Wars, and NASA, and their leather plus silicone options drew steady interest.
Each Moby Fox band includes several connectors so it can fit every Apple Watch except the first generation.
Visit the Moby Fox websitehere.
Baz LLC
Baz LLC, founded in 2017 and appearing at NYCC for the last three years, sells wood hair pins, puzzles, stamps, and custom pieces. Owners Jeff and Lee Baz handcraft everything from more than 100 wood species sourced around the world.
Baz LLC chopsticks feature cute sayings and are expertly shaped with a Japanese taper.
Visit the Baz LLC websitehere.
Concrete Jungle
Concrete Jungle features artist Steve Cartoccio’s incredible sculptures, with some of the most detailed and carefully designed rap-inspired statues I have seen.
Concrete Jungle portrays legendary rappers such as The Notorious B.I.G., Sean Price, and Ghostface Killah in fantastical poses, and each character even includes interchangeable heads.
Visit the Concrete Jungle websitehere.
Gundam Base
Bandai’s snap-together models from the Gundam universe continue to be a major draw for both anime and manga fans.
For NYCC this year, Gundam Base offered two convention-exclusive models. Once their stock sold out, those units would never be available again.
Visit the Gundam Base websitehere.
Moleskine
Journals are one of my guilty obsessions, so the Moleskine booth always ends up high on my NYCC list.
The booth sold its standard journals along with the Inktober Custom Edition Sketchbook, which promoted artist Jake Parker’s month-long art challenge. Despite my brave and completely doomed attempt at restraint, I left with a new journal and a very nice Moleskine Kaweco Ballpen.
Visit the Moleskine websitehere.
Nite Owl Workshop
Nite Owl Workshop’s adorable fleece and foam characters have appeared at NYCC for the past eight years. The Lexington, Kentucky-based creator started the shop in 2012 and makes plushies for nearly every sci-fi, comic book, and fantasy property you can think of.
Visit the Nite Owl Workshop websitehere.
Denuo Novo
Mark from Denuo Novo, a company specializing in high-end collectibles, gave us an excellent walkthrough of their impressive helmets.
Visit the Denuo Novo websitehere.
Handmade by Robots
The vinyl figures from Handmade by Robots look like handwoven plushies, but they are designed to appear machine-made, as we learned while talking with the team.
Visit the Handmade by Robots websitehere.
Hero Within
If you have ever wanted to serve on a Star Trek universe Starship, Tony Kim at Hero Within is your guy. Tony cannot actually beam you onto a vessel, but his customized Star Trek apparel can at least make you look ready for duty.
Visit the Hero Within websitehere.
Nakatomi, Inc
Tim Doyle, owner and principal artist of Nakatomi Inc., is one of my favorite NYCC artists. Nakatomi’s bright, distinctive pop culture-inspired work always pulls people toward the booth, and we were lucky to catch Timothy between fan rushes for a quick talk.
Visit the Nakatomi websitehere.
Playmobil
Stopping by Playmobil has become a tradition because NYCC is where they reveal exclusive special projects for the following year. This time, Ed from Playmobil showed us the new Klingon Bird of Prey coming in 2023.
Visit the Playmobil websitehere.
NYCC Cosplayers
NYCC had a huge crop of excellent cosplayers this year, including a truly Fantastic Reed Richards and Thing.
These meddling kids and their excellent Scooby Doo cosplay would have ruined our plan anyway.
These Judge Dredds laid down the law.
NYCC never runs short on Princesses.
Waldo looked like he had stopped trying. Maybe we caught him during lunch.
This simple Louise cosplay from Bob’s Burger worked so well that I had to include it.
The Cosplay Zone was a strong place to find creative versions of favorite heroes, especially these DC’s Dark Nights: Metal looks.
Even a barbarian needs the proper backdrop to sell the costume.
The Sorting Hat chose well here.
Oh yeah! These Macho Men spent a while trying to out-Slim Jim one another.
NYCC always has plenty of Batmen, but this new movie version arrived with the new Catwoman and Commissioner Gordon.
It was good to see old gods returning, including this Zeus.Thor: Love and Thunder.
A good Sith cosplayer will always try to force choke the photographer.
Silent Hill villains remain unsettling, especially when they say nothing and simply stare.
This Dr. Strange mystified everyone nearby with his levitation display, then spent hours reviewing millions of possible NYCC outcomes.
Original cartoon He-Man and Skeletor versions really had the power.
This Martian from Mars AttacksThis character only said “Acks” and creeped out NYCCers.
Some costumes are literally painted on, including this custom-made CatWoman.
Pickle Rick seemed deeply worried about his new friend Chainsaw Man.
Woody and Buzz definitely have a friend in each other.
Major Marvel characters and their variants all fit right in at NYCC.
Mr. Freeze stayed cool in the cosplay area.
We spotted this brave knight gearing up for another trip across the show floor.
Only at NYCC do you see Mortal Kombat’s Scorpion preparing to battle a homemade Iron Man.
A well-done Dr. Doom is rare, so seeing these two variants together felt like a bonus.
Five Nights At Freddy’s remains as popular as ever, both for gaming and cosplay.
Newer characters such as Starlight from The Boys are clearly gaining traction.
They say couples who cosplay together supposedly stay that way, and this happy Han and Leia made a strong case.
This Darth versus Obi-Wan battle recreation felt a little less affectionate.
Cosplayers are a funny crowd, and this team carried their melted buddy Iceman around in a Ziploc all day.
Antiheroes like Red Hood are just as ready to pose for photos as the supposed good guys.
Avengers remain a dependable NYCC cosplay staple.
A parade of Mandalorians can bring a surprising amount of order to NYCC chaos.
The great Konshu was much kinder to NYCC fans than he usually is to Moon Knight.
NYCC meetups are super fun and make great photo ops.
Seeing all the inventive Moon Knight variations was a lot of fun.
This Juggernaut managed to be both imposing and friendly.
When Kingpin is around, Moon Knight is not the only intimidating figure dressed in white.
Mando and Baby Yoda were not quite as popular as last year, but fans still gathered around them.
The Aliens crew easily took my unofficial award for best team cosplay.
Spider Gwen and her companion had a great time posing for friends.
This Deadpool mashup with Spiderman Homecoming, Overwatch, and what I think was Hello Kitty made us laugh.
Nobody likes Candy Corn, yet this guy’s version was hard not to enjoy.
The strongest cosplay often looks like this: unique, expertly crafted, and complete with floating thunderclouds.
Funko Cat Woman made the rounds near the booth. Beside her was what looked like a Day of the Dead-inspired Bat Woman.
Funko Pennywise is only a little less terrifying than the movie versions.
I hope this Funko Ursula avoids being eaten by the scary Demogorgon lurking behind her.
Some duos just fit together nicely.
Was this old-school Scarlet Witch, or the Halloween costume version from WandaVision?
There were so many anime characters that I was thoroughly lost on who was who.
It was nice watching Loki make friends out there.
We saw this outstanding Metroid cosplay several times, but this was our only chance to catch her without the helmet.
Moon Knight became a popular choice this year thanks to the success of the Disney+ show.
The Dread Pirate Roberts and Buttercup are always a welcome sight moving through the crowd.
This uncanny Ron Swanson made us look twice every time he passed.
Vash the Stampede, an anime gunslinger, naturally drew respect and photo requests.
This M.I.B crew patrolled the con with what looked like a defeated alien tagging along.
Anime characters are tough for me to track. At least, I hope these are from anime.
Wednesday Adams got a helpful hand from trusty Thing.
Several Doc Octopi showed up this year, and the newer takes were fun.Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.Those variations were cool to see.
Some cosplay team-ups are confusing and cool in equal measure.
Female Loki was a popular costume last year, so seeing a few still roaming around was great.
Some costumes are downright scary because they look so realistic.
Mandalorians are never too busy on patrol to answer important texts.
As a fitting hint of the season ahead, even jolly Saint Nick carved out time from his schedule to appear at NYCC 2022.
