NYCC 2013

October. It's a month that means changing leaves, fall festivals, Halloween ... and New York Comic Con.

Since its inception in 2006, New York Comic Con has become the premiere event of the East Coast for all things Geek Culture. Featuring comic book artists and writers -- as well as actors, authors, directors, and animators -- NYCC allows fans of comics, science fiction, fantasy, and other genres to connect with the creators behind their favorite stories. (Not to mention featuring sneak peeks and new announcements about upcoming comic, film, and TV projects!) The event is held at the Jacob Javits Center, and the tickets sold out faster than ever this year; for the last two years, attendance has topped 100,000 people.

Guests this year included William Shatner, Patrick Stewart, Seth Green, Sylvester Stallone, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, Sigourney Weaver, actors from "Game of Thrones" and "The Walking Dead," comics legend Stan Lee, authors R.L. Stine and Lemony Snicket, and "Doctor Who" star John Barrowman. Opportunities to see the stars live and in person abounded (as they always do), with panels, autograph sessions, and photo ops spread throughout the weekend. (I waited in line to meet Barrowman, although the longest line for an autograph -- don't ask me why -- was one of the original Power Rangers. Go figure.)

I've been a faithful New York con-goer for years now (see last year's wrap-up here), and this October was no exception. This was an exceptionally crazy, crowded, fun year at NYCC, and I'm already excited for October 2014!  For those of you who weren't able to make it to the fun this year, here's my report from the front lines:

The con floor. Did I mention "crowded?"

Thursday evening featured panels specifically geared to kick off the con with some proper entertainment. The Comedy Mutant crew (featuring Janeane Garofalo, Brian Posehn, and other comedians) put on a two-hour comedy set on the Javits Center's main stage. Thursday also offered a sneak peek of the Exhibit Hall, giving Thursday con-goers a chance to browse and shop at the tables and booths in an atmosphere that was merely "moderately crowded" (since, by the weekend, the numbers would swell to "severely, impossibly crowded").

I spent Thursday evening at the Empire Stage, where special sneak peeks of upcoming fall television premieres were being screened. First on the list was the pilot episode of Almost Human. Set in the near future, the premise sees a snarky (and rather embittered) LAPD detective paired with an android partner. Half crime procedural, half sci-fi series, the pilot made for a fun, unique ride, and I'm already excited for the show to premiere this fall (Monday, November 4, 8 pm on FOX).

If you missed the panel, there were Almost Human posters plastered across the subway -- which were quite cool to see for a sci-fi fan

Speaking of television: astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson was on hand to discuss his involvement with a new 13-episode series: "Cosmos: A Spacetime Odysessy," debuting Spring 2014 on FOX. It's something of a "sequel" to the iconic science series "Cosmos: A Personal Voyage," which was narrated by astronomer and author Carl Sagan and aired over thirty years ago on PBS. 

Tyson was there alongside executive producer/writer Ann Druyan (who oversaw the original "Cosmos") and executive producer/director Brannon Braga (who has worked on both the "Star Trek" franchise as well as "24"). The new series will explore the history of humanity's quest to discover the origins and mysteries of, well, the cosmos. 

Dr. Tyson will be hosting the new series, which he -- like his fellow panelists -- hopes will inspire people to be curious and persistent in their search for the truth. He sees curiosity as a natural trait: "A scientist is a kid who never grows up." Druyan spoke quite elegantly about her belief in the importance of the new series inspiring emotion as well as intellectual interest in their viewers: "To be human is to fully think and fully feel -- not one at the expense of the other."

Braga may have put it best while explaining his own hopes for the new "Cosmos." "It's the story of our place in the universe -- and how we came to find it."

From Tyson, on the casual weirdness of a comic con: "My fear is that aliens will come and land at Comic Con, and no one will notice!"

Cast and crew members from "The Walking Dead" were on hand again this year to show sneak peeks of the upcoming fourth season, which premiered on Sunday at 9 p.m. on AMC. (You can read more about the Walking Dead panel here.) Actors Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny were also in attendance to talk about "The X-Files," which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. (Get the highlights of that panel here.)

This year marks Superman's 75th "anniversary" as a comic book character

My personal highlight of the con was William Shatner's panel, which took place on Sunday afternoon. The Star Trek and Boston Legal actor took to the stage by himself, talking a bit about his new album before fielding questions from the audience.

As a Trekkie, I'm predisposed to like William Shatner, who played Captain Kirk in the original Star Trek series nearly fifty years ago. ("It's hard to believe it's been almost fifty years since the show first aired," gushed one fan, prompting Shatner to reply, "You think it's hard for you to believe it ...") But Shatner was genuinely delightful, entertaining with stories from throughout his career: coming down with food poisoning the morning of his Broadway debut, or getting to sing a duet with Paul McCartney. There were a few stories about his Star Trek cast mates, including Leonard Nimoy, who played Spock. ("Leonard was particularly susceptible to practical jokes ...")

He also had some words of wisdom for budding actors -- or, indeed, anyone with artistic dreams: "You just do what you think is good, and hope it's what [the audience] thinks is good." He wrapped up the afternoon with thoughts on the appeal of science fiction and the excitement of scientific discovery, which seem to come out of the same place: curiosity. "It's hardwired into humans -- curiosity. It's the attempt to explain to ourselves the mystery that's out there."

It was a nice note on which to end the weekend's festivities. Here's to next year!

Iron Man is also a good note to end on.

-- Post by Ms. B

NYCC 2012

Founded in 2006, the New York Comic Con is the big comic book (and sci-fi/fantasy) East Coast event of the year. Featuring comic book writers, artists, and editors -- as well as animators, actors, directors, and authors from all walks of pop culture -- this convention goes well beyond comic books to celebrate all things Geek. (And trust me when I say that I mean that as a compliment.)

Although San Diego Comic-Con is both far larger and far older (SDCC was founded back in the 70s), NYCC has spent its seven-year history becoming one of the most popular conventions in the country. Its guest list has grown increasingly impressive -- this year's notables included Christopher Lloyd, Julianne Moore and Chloë Grace Moretz, Kevin Smith, television Batman duo Adam West and Burt Ward, director Guillermo Del Toro, authors Anne Rice and Sir Terry Pratchett, and several cast members from the hit television series The Walking Dead.

NYCC 2012

It's also a pop culture paradise for those convention-goers who are comic book aficionados, with comic authors and artists from DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, Image, IDW Publishing, and dozens of other comic publishers and independent freelancers. Fans are given the opportunity to go to panels, and even meet in person, their favorite comic book creators -- asking questions, getting autographs, and perhaps even acquiring an original art commission.

And don't forget the fantastic convention-goers' costumes. Many fans come dressed as their favorite superheroes, movie and TV characters, Halloween horror types, and more.

My personal favorite: 

Kyle and Kyle's Mom from TV's South Park

This year's con was my fourth time attending NYCC. As always, it was an exciting, exhausting, exhilarating weekend, a whirlwind of comic-book awesome that already has me looking forward to Comic Con 2013. I attended panels, met artists and actors, toured the exhibit floor, and spent way too much money on souvenirs. While my personal highlights were many (attending Grant Morrison's panel, seeing exclusive footage from the animated The Dark Knight Returns: Part Two, meeting mystery author Lyndsay Faye, and chatting with artist James Silvani), there was almost too much Awesome to choose from.

Highlights of this year's con included:


-- The biggest event of the con may have been Saturday's Walking Dead panel. (Read the inside scoop here.) Fans began lining up at 9 p.m. on Friday night for the chance to snag one of a hundred tickets being given away for a meet-and-greet with the popular show's cast members. And if you didn't manage to get a ticket for the meet-and-greet, then there was Saturday afternoon's panel -- featuring much of the cast, along with producer Gale Anne Hurd and show creator Robert Kirkman.


-- Grant Morrison. For you non-comic fans, Morrison is one of a superstar quartet of 80s-90s comic book creators (along with Neil Gaiman, Frank Miller, and Alan Moore). This was Morrison's first trip to NYCC, and he was there to tell fans all about his current and upcoming projects, including the four-issue miniseries Happy! and his future plans for Batman, Inc. Morrison is known for being quirky, imaginative, and wholly original -- which wasn't hard to notice as he fielded questions from the audience:

AUDIENCE MEMBER: "Any advice on what to do if you accidentally conjure up a demon?"

MORRISON: "Well, I mean, you just have to deal with it."  

No one can really explain Grant Morrison; you just have to read him for yourself and get the general idea. 

-- A first look at the trailer for Carrie, a remake of the 1976 Stephen King-penned classic, which will be released to theaters next year. Stars Julieanne Moore and Chloë Grace Moretz were also on hand, answering questions about the film and sharing their thoughts about the remake and their characters.


-- Celebrating the upcoming 50th anniversary of long-running British sci-fi television series Doctor Who was the fifth Doctor himself, Peter Davison. (Eleven different actors have taken their turn at portraying the title role.) On hand for a delightful panel about his experiences on the set of Who, All Creatures, and his current series Law & Order: UK, I was particularly lucky enough to also meet him later at Autograph Alley. (He's as congenial and forthright as one would hope the Doctor to be.)

An array of "Doctors" at NYCC

-- For you Avengers fans, the Marvel Television Presents panel released what was possibly the biggest comic-related news to come out of the Con: despite his apparent death in the Avengers film, Agent Coulson (played in the Marvel movies by actor Clark Gregg) will be back to star in Marvel's S.H.I.E.L.D., a new television series currently in the works. (Read more about this surprise announcement here.)

-- And, of course, there was the velociraptor:

Because at Comic Con, there's always a chance that you might get to see a velociraptor.

If you decide to visit NYCC next year, be sure to stop me and say Hi. I'll be the one in the Batgirl t-shirt.

... of course, the wonderful thing about NYCC is that that doesn't really narrow it down.

-- Post by Ms. B