We’re only a few days away from the biggest comic book/fandom convention on the East Coast, New York Comic Con. This con has not been without its pre-show drama, with the dissolution of con owner ReedPop’s editorial and writing team over at Popverse and renewed concerns about the sheer cost of tabling. But this isn’t stopping the likely 200,000+ folks who are about to descend upon the Javits Center next week in search of exclusives, previews and interactions with their favorite artists, writers and celebrities.
Here are a few things going on in and around NYCC I’m excited for, even if I won’t be at all of them.
Midtown Comics’ Midnight Signing Event
Before NYCC even starts, Midtown Comics is hosting a signing event with Ben Percy, Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Jonathan Hickman on Wednesday to promote the new Marvel Midnight line. As of writing, Marvel has announced no booth signings whatsoever, and Percy is the only one of the trio tabling in Artist Alley. This is the perfect opportunity to snag copies of the new titles and meet the writers. The signing starts at 5 p.m., but there’ll likely be a line, so plan accordingly. Can’t make it? The trio will also be featured at the “Midnight Hour” panel (suspiciously not at midnight!) at 5 p.m. Fri in Room 405.
Kickstarter’s ‘Live Draw’ Panel
One of the coolest things about walking around Artist Alley is seeing artists actively working on (and often getting overwhelmed by) a variety of beautiful commissions, but if you’d like a closer look, Kickstarter’s relatively new director of comics and collectibles, Sean Edgar, is hosting a Live Draw at 2:45 p.m. Thursday in Room 406.3 featuring a great roster of artists including superstar Peach Momoko. Sounds like a great opportunity to see creativity happening in real time!
Beetle Moses at P&T Knitwear
One of the more exciting comics creator events in New York next week is also off campus, as P&T Knitwear bookstore on the Lower East Side is hosting Harris Fishman, creator of the viral bizarre cartoon strip Beetle Moses, on at 6:30 p.m. Thursday to celebrate the release of his new book, “Beetle Moses: A Comics Menagerie.” This is a ticketed event. Score yours here.
Spidey Cosplay Guinness World Record Attempt
If you’re a cosplayer, specifically a Spider-Man cosplayer, you can be part of an official attempt to break the Guinness record for “largest gathering of people dressed as Marvel’s Spider-Man.” The current record is a measly 685, so if you’re already suiting up to websling, this seems like the perfect opportunity to meet several hundred likeminded costumed future friends. It’s unclear if you have to dress only as OG Peter Parker Spidey or whether variations will be accepted, but Jazwares will be on site to hand out extra costumes if you don’t have one. 6:30p.m. Thursday, Main Stage at NYCC.
Pepe’s Spidey #1,000 Variant
Speaking of Spider-Man, of the many, many variants you can try to acquire at the con next week, Pepe Larraz’s exclusive “Tour Variant” (Hey, is that Mayor Mamdani on the top right? That’s definitely Pepe himself center right) of Amazing Spider-Man #1,000 is a real beaut, but it’s also limited to just 600 copies. There are a few other versions of this in larger quantities, but if you’re trying to bring this one home, make sure you head to the Scott’s Collectibles booth, HB209 in Artist’s Alley, for more info and to see if you can get it signed by Larraz and ASM writer Joe Kelly.
The ‘Comic District’ Returns
The northeast corner of the showfloor (OK, like on a map-map it’s technically just north, but I mean on the map of the showfloor) last year was set aside for a massive DC booth and a host of fellow comics publishers, a strong reminder that NYCC should be, above all else, a comic book convention. This year the layout returns with DC boasting a multi-floor booth alongside Dark Horse, Mad Cave, IDW, Vault and AWA. Even with Marvel keeping its central location and Tiny Onion downstairs in Artist’s Alley, it’s nice to see comics pubs turning out to promote their books and talent.
Marvel Comics: Bullpen Bulletins! and House of Ideas Panels
Marvel is in the midst of an enormous coast-moving shakeup, but one of those pieces is already in place: new Editor-in-Chief Stephen Wacker. Wacker will host two panels to give Marvel fans an idea of the “thrilling future of the Marvel Universe” and promising “wall to wall announcements.” We’ll see if Wacker has the goods when he’s on stage at 3:30 p.m. Friday and 5 p.m. Saturday, both in Room 405.
DC Comics: Absolute and Jim Lee & Friends Panels
The undisputed leader in comics publishing right now will take a victory lap at 11 a.m. Friday in Room 405, as writers and artists from DC Comics’ Absolute line take the stage for the Absolute Panel. Then, at 2 p.m. Saturday in Room 405, DC Publisher Jim Lee and a slate of TBA guests will share their “special announcements.” I expect all of these Marvel & DC panels to be mobbed, so make sure to line up early to get a seat.
The Muppets Take Manhattan
Several of the Muppets’ performers will be on hand for meet-and-greets, but if that price tag is out of range, you can still join Muppeteers Eric Jacobson (Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear and Animal), Dave Goelz (Gonzo, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Waldorf), Bill Barretta (Pepe the King Prawn, Rowlf the Dog and the Swedish Chef) and Muppet designer Bonnie Erickson (designer of Miss Piggy, Statler and Waldorf) for a screening of the beloved 2011 Jason Segel-helmed The Muppets and Q&A at 7:30 p.m. Friday on the NYCC Main Stage. This is a ticketed event, so make sure to snag yours before they run out. Seen the movie one too many times? You can also attend “Inside Jim Henson’s Creature Workshop” on Friday in Room 408!
Get a Katie Cook Original
It’s been a long-standing tradition in Artist’s Alley that the talented Katie Cook not only brings hundreds of individual original mini prints but will work tirelessly all weekend to make original 3”x4” watercolor drawings of just about any character you can think of. Because of the lines this can generate, Katie is located at the very convenient A-01 spot at the front of the hall, usually among kid-friendly content and colleagues. Getting something from Katie is well worth the wait, especially if you’re bringing kids.
Mike Mignola at Phillip Labaune Gallery
In 2024, Phillip Labaune Gallery held an exhibit of Mike Mignola art, and it is holding another one now through Oct. 24. Within walking distance of the Javits, this is a great opportunity to see a wide variety of originals from one of our great artists. This exhibition promises to be less comics focused, so expect less Hellboy and way more suited skeletons and creepy monsters. Perfect to get those spooky season vibes. More info is available here.
Artist Alley
NYCC is always a great opportunity to talk to your favorite creators and thank them for a story they helped make that you enjoyed, and buy some merch from them to support them directly. Here’s a small sampling of creators to look forward to seeing in the downstairs of the Javits: Al Ewing, Alex Segura, Alyssa Wong, Art Adams, Ben Percy, Dan Panosian, David Messina, Erica Henderson, Fabrizio DeTommaso, James Tynion IV, Klaus Janson, Luke McGarry, Netho Diaz, Peach Momoko, Pepe Larraz, Peter Nguyen, Phillip Sevy, Rod Reis, Ryan Stegman, Sean Phillips, Simone DiMeo, Stan Sakai, Stephanie Phillips, Tony Daniel, Tyler Boss and so many more!
Seeing You!
What I love more than anything about going to NYCC is seeing friends and comics folks who I know and love, but I also love bumping into folks who love the Battle of the Atom podcast and ComicsXF. If you do see me on either Thursday or Friday (I can’t do four days anymore. It’s just too much!), please say hello. I might just have a Vanisher’s Posse sticker for you!
Adam Reck is the cartoonist behind Bish & Jubez as well as the co-host of Battle Of The Atom. Follow him @adamreck.bsky.social.
