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