TRIP REPORT – I walked into the Javits Center this year thinking I had a pretty good handle on what was coming, and New York Comic Con still found a way to surprise me. The crowd felt a bit thicker, the booths had more polish, and everything from the show-floor displays to the cosplay seemed turned up a few clicks. I have covered NYCC for years, but it never really settles into autopilot. Every row has that same charge, with people hunting for the next reveal, rare collectible, or limited-edition Funko Pop.
This year my appropriately jaded crew showed up ready for the usual spectacle, and that is mostly what we got, just with a few curveballs. The big-company shine is harder to miss now, especially with DC returning after being away for quite a while. Still, if you look past the bright lights and enormous inflatable characters, there are still inventive indie artists and makers doing genuinely cool work. It is the Comic Con spark that hooked me years ago, only now it comes with a glossier finish.
NYCC Videos
Four very long days wandering through the carpet-covered mayhem of NYCC 2025 gave me plenty to work with this year. I came across fresh vendors to talk to, artists worth sharing, and several cosplayers I still could not name if my quiet phone depended on it.
Intro
This year, we started NYCC 2025 in the newly named Content Creator area.
Rubik’s WOWCube
I talked with Napoleon about the WowCube, an interactive gaming gadget built around a Rubik’s Cube-style idea that combines puzzles, electronics, and display faces. At its core, it is an app-powered, screens-on-every-side device that sits somewhere between puzzle, gadget, and desk toy. It costs $299 and is being positioned as a platform that creators can build around. More details are available at: www.wowcube.com.
Machine 56
Yoga, the artist behind Machine 56, walked me through his take on fashion and technology. His work mixes cyberpunk and manga inspiration with crisp futuristic type and carefully chosen colors. He explained that the pieces go beyond apparel, using practical design decisions like materials, construction, and styling for fans drawn to future-forward fashion. You can find him at www.machine56.com.
Chasing Artwork
I spoke with Justin Currie, the artist behind Chasing Artwork, about his recognizable vector-driven style and the path that turned it into full-time work. He explained how fan art opened the door to Marvel projects, including concept art for Ant-Man and the Wasp and Marvel Snap. Justin also covered his interest in isometric design, his expanding lineup of books, and the way conventions like NYCC help him stay connected to fans while keeping the creative engine running. His art is at: www.chasingartwork.com.
The Artist and the Carpenter
James, the carpenter, and Cheech, the artist, make up The Artist and the Carpenter, and they told me how their woodcraft-meets-art collaboration got started. Their one-of-a-kind “Catbinets” and “Kitbinets” use magnetic accessories that can be swapped around, including rat ears, cat ears, and devil tails. Cheech’s digital drawings are turned into handmade pieces in James’s Georgia workshop, combining exact design work with real shop skills. Their Dungeon Crawl dice tower project has helped plant more than 10,000 trees. Their work is available at: artcarp.net.
Interesting Vendors
Marmals
I stopped at Marmals, a booth that jumped out right away thanks to its stripped-down look and rows of oddball customizable figures.
Every Marmal works like a blank canvas, and the figures are also magnetic and poseable. They are made to be decorated, rearranged, or completely rethought however you like.
It is a simple concept with smart execution, and it was a nice reminder that the con floor still has plenty of creativity hiding between the giant booths. Check them out at: www.marmals.com.
Wild Bill’s Craft Beverage Co.
I made a point of visiting the Wild Bill’s Craft Beverage Co. booth, which has become one of those Comic Con regulars you start expecting to see.
The booth is not subtle, with stacks of shiny metal mugs, old-west styling, and that impossible-to-miss root beer smell drifting through the area.
People were queued up for refills while comparing how long they had owned their mugs. Wild Bill’s has somehow turned soda into a con ritual, mixing nostalgia, caffeine, and collector habits into one bubbly stop.
Whether you are at your first con or your tenth, walking past that booth without giving in to a refill takes more willpower than I usually pack. Get your fill at: drinkwildbills.com.
Firechilde Glass Studio
Firechilde Glass Studio pulled my attention from clear across the floor. Their table was loaded with hypnotic glass orbs and sculptural pieces.
The strangest thing about the orbs is the way they appear to hold endless vortexes inside the glass.
You can see their impressive glasswork at: www.fcgstudio.org.
Panels
My team and I waited a little more than an hour, hoping to get into comedian Wayne Brady’s IMPROV NERDVANA, one of the weekend events everyone seemed to be talking about. The line had a fun buzz to it, with plenty of nervous laughs once the capacity warnings started coming through. By the time we reached the door, staff said the room was full. Maybe next year, Wayne!
NYCC Cosplay Pics
No New York Comic Con report feels right without cosplay, of course. NYCC 2025 delivered everything from screen-perfect builds to chaotic mashups, and each costume seemed to have its own backstory. Some of those backstories remain unknown to me, which is on brand for a lonely guy asking strangers what they are dressed as.
NYCC Showfloor Pics
After four days at NYCC with a camera in my hand, I came home with hundreds of photos of whatever managed to catch my eye. Instead of trying to turn it into a perfect sequence, I am putting them here without a strict order, as a straightforward look at the madness.
Until next year, NYCC!
That closes out New York Comic Con 2025, after four packed days of interviews, questionable food decisions, and nonstop wandering through the noise. I talked with artists, checked out vendors, soaked in the atmosphere, and somehow still had nobody asking to be my plus-one. I joked that only my mom would watch the footage, but NYCC really does keep finding something new for everyone. If you can get to New York, or to any Comic Con nearby, your own little slice of pop culture will be there waiting. See you at NYCC 2026!
