UlasanAnime.com – Embarking on a journey back into the vibrant world of science fiction and comic conventions, the author recounts their experience at the New York Comic-Con (NYCC) in 2007. Initially invited by old friends, the author found their attendance limited to Friday due to prior commitments, which also meant a reunion with a friend they hadn’t connected with in a long time.
Friday is typically considered the less crowded day at such conventions, especially when compared to anime conventions. This is largely attributed to the demographic, where a significant portion of attendees are employed and may not be able to attend during weekdays. Even those who could attend after work would likely face substantial queues, a scenario the author managed to bypass due to their earlier arrival.
The convention was held at the Javits Center, a venue described as significantly larger than the Baltimore Convention Center, where Otakon is hosted. However, it appeared that only about half of the Javits Center’s space was utilized for the event. The lines on Friday were manageable, primarily because the day offered limited activities for the general public outside of industry-only panels.
While there were numerous panels scheduled, most were exclusively for industry professionals, much to the author’s disappointment. The author briefly attended a panel hosted by The Anime Network (TAN), but found it to be largely filled with superficial chatter from attendees rather than substantive content. A brief appearance was also made at a Stan Lee talk, where the author found him to be a charismatic figure who humorously acknowledged his own fame.
The majority of the author’s time was spent exploring the exhibit hall, which presented a more professional atmosphere compared to larger anime conventions. This was due to the presence of numerous “pro” vendors with polished displays, including major comic book studios and publishers, alongside anime distributors like ADV and Viz. The author humorously mentioned snagging some free pens from a booth, possibly belonging to Broccoli. AAA showcased some model kits, though not particularly elaborate. One vendor offered interesting kits, including Fate and other figures, but disappointingly did not have a copy of the popular board game, Puerto Rico, which was a current favorite among the author’s board-gaming friends.
An amusing anecdote involved a Korean manhwa booth that distributed random samplers and, unbeknownst to the author initially, made a reference to gay sex. Other humorous incidents occurred, but were largely tied to the author’s friend, whom they chose not to detail due to privacy concerns.
The Wizard of the Coast booth proved to be an engaging experience. Attendees were encouraged to participate in game demos or observe them for a chance to win prizes. The author successfully won an Eberron settings book. The Star Wars miniature game also looked appealing, highlighting the effectiveness of “lure with loot” strategies. Prizes also included board games and collector’s edition Player’s Handbook, making the author feel the admission fee was well worth it.
Unfortunately, the author did not capture many photographs, relying on a basic phone camera. They suggest searching on Google for actual pictures from the event. On Friday, there were a number of cosplayers, ranging from professionals to casual attendees. The author noted a particular fondness for a cosplayer dressed as an imperial navy officer and recognized a female cosplayer dressed as V. The overall quality of cosplay appeared to be higher, possibly due to the increased presence of professionals and the dedication of those who invested time and effort into their costumes, such as a young attendee dressed as Optimus Prime with a boombox.
The author expressed several regrets about their limited attendance:
- Not being able to return on Saturday to attend the Suzumiya Haruhi panel.
- A lack of interest in gaming, which prevented them from fully appreciating the significance of the game-related booths.
- Missing out on the industry panels.
- Not having the opportunity to see Colbert.
- Catching a severe cold the following day, which delayed the posting of this blog entry.
AAA’s booth.
ALTER 😀 (Also at AAA’s booth)
Forgot who this was.
Also at AAA
ADV and Bandai, if I recall correctly?
The author concluded that while some pictures did not turn out well, the overall experience was marked by a lack of standout moments that could be easily captured. While acknowledging the presence of many interesting subjects for photography, the limitations of their phone camera made it less enjoyable to document the event.
You might also be interested in : The Coming Kingdom
