NYCC 2014: A How-to Guide

One of the official posters for New York Comic Con

(The best one, actually, because: Batman.)

This October marked the ninth-ever New York Comic Con, the comic book and pop culture convention held annually in Manhattan. The con made history this year when it topped 150,000 attendees, officially surpassing the attendance of the much older San Diego Comic Con by some 20,000. It made NYCC the biggest comic book convention in the country -- at least for the moment.

This year also marked my sixth time to NYCC, and, as always, I had an absolute blast. With half a dozen New York conventions under my belt, it occurred to me I might be uniquely qualified to offer some advice to you: how to have the best New York Comic Con (or any comic con) experience possible.

After all, NYCC 2015 is only eleven and a half short months away!  So read on for some insider tricks and tips, and start planning your trip today ...

-- DO: Get the insider scoop on upcoming comics

Spider-Gwen

If you're attending New York Comic Con, chances are good that you have at least a passing familiarity with comic books. But the truth of the matter is, whether you're a comics collector, a former fan, or you've never picked up a comic book in your life -- a convention is the perfect place to find out more about this unique storytelling form.

It's also the place to be to hear the newest announcements about upcoming books, events, and new media adaptations of your favorite comics and characters. And it's a particularly exciting time to be a comic book fan, as the industry begins to branch out and try new approaches to bring in fresh (and previously untapped) audiences. Whether it was the announcement of a new Spider-Man book starring Gwen Stacy (played by actress Emma Stone in the Amazing Spider-Man films), an upcoming crossover book entitled (yes, really) Archie Meets Predator, or the special release of an exclusive version of the new Sleepy Hollow comic book (based on the hit FOX series), NYCC is the place to unlock your inner comics nerd.

-- DON'T: Forget that comics influence all sorts of new mediums

The comic-turned-television series, "Powers"

New technologies are changing the way we watch television. DVRs and On-Demand services let us watch the TV shows we want to watch when we want to watch them. And with the creation of such series as Orange is the New Black, House of Cards, and Transparent, Netflix and Amazon.com have created hit shows that bypass both networks and cable television, making them available instead through the internet. (Most interesting of all: Netflix and Amazon.com release the entirety of their seasons at once, allowing viewers to "binge watch" a new show, rather than having to wait from week to week for each new episode.)

Now a new company is getting in on the on-demand action: Sony. Later this year will see the release of Powers, a show based on a long-running comic book by the same name. What makes the show so unique?  Only PlayStation owners will be able to watch it, streaming the sci-fi show through their gaming devices.

The cast and creators of Powers were on hand at NYCC to discuss their upcoming show -- and the unique way in which it will be available to viewers. It's a new move for PlayStation, and, if successful, may help to continue ushering in a new era of how we watch television.

-- DO: Keep your eyes peeled for celebrities

King George

One of the funny quirks about NYCC (and many other major comic cons): you don't hear about the guests until well after the tickets have all sold out. And sometimes, you don't hear about the guests until you're sitting down for the Tomorrowland panel and George Clooney makes a surprise Comic Con appearance.

But the stars aren't always a surprise. The Birdman panel and its guests were announced well in advance -- exciting news for fans of Michael Keaton and Edward Norton. Other celebrities of the long weekend included Amy Sedaris, Kevin Smith, Patrick Stewart, Mike Tyson, Karl Urban, Orlando Jones, Ron Perlman, Adam West, director Brad Bird, authors Jeff Kinney and Kim Harrison, and cast members from such shows as Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead.

-- DO: Look for what you love

CBS's "Elementary" panel

NYCC is a comic book convention -- but the truth of the matter is, you don't really need to be a comics fan to enjoy the con. There are panels and programs on TV shows, upcoming films, authors and their novels, and other pop culture phenomena.

Which is just another way of saying that the con has something for everyone. Case in point: our regular readers will remember that I am a major Sherlock Holmes fan. So I was sure not to miss CBS's Elementary panel, which featured show stars Jonny Lee Miller (Sherlock Holmes) and Lucy Liu (Joan Watson), as well as Ophelia Lovibond (playing new series regular Kitty Winter) and show director John Polson. The panelists promised exciting things ahead for the show, and the first, unaired episode of the new season was specially screened for the audience.

For me, getting a personal wave from Jonny Lee Miller was the highlight of the con. Such tiny moments abound at such conventions -- so make sure to seek out panels and programs about the stories you love best. They're out there!

-- DON'T: Stick to the convention floor

The Captains: William Shatner and Patrick Stewart

NYCC hasn't just expanded their numbers -- they've also expanded their venue. In addition to the convention itself, there was a new event offered this year: New York Super Week.

Spread out in locations across Manhattan, New York Super Week offered a plethora of extra programs throughout the con's weekend, as well as in the days leading up to NYCC. Events included a "StarTalk" with physicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, a live NRP show with guest Neil Gaiman, and (my personal favorite) an evening with the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation, moderated by the original Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner. While you certainly don't have to leave the con to have fun, Super Week is an opportunity to see some of your favorite stars outside of the convention halls -- and with guaranteed seating.



-- DON'T: Restrict yourself to the con

The (Jackie Kennedy Onassis) Reservoir in Central Park

It's no secret to those who know me: New York is my favorite of cities. If you're in town for the con, you might think about taking a day off from convention-going to explore the city itself. (I'd recommend skipping Sunday, one of the most crowded con days and one which is geared specifically towards the smaller set; many of the programs and panels are for kids).

Early October generally makes for beautiful weather in New York City, so you might take a stroll through Times Square for lunch or even make a trip out to Central Park. If you want to get out of Manhattan, there's the Bronx Zoo or the Brooklyn Flea Market. And that is, of course, just for starters. There's no end of things to do in NYC; just pick up a travel guide or try a Google search (or, of course, ask your friendly neighborhood librarian), and see what the city has to offer.

DO: be sure to take awesome pictures.

Pictures of people dressed up as Calvin and Hobbes are always awesome.

-- Post by Ms. B