UlasanAnime.com – The author begins their New York Comic Con (NYCC) 2012 coverage by admitting to being distracted by the game XCOM, which also contributed to their good fortune in securing tickets for the event.
Day 0 of NYCC was a speed-browsing experience for the author, noting the manageable crowd size. Key highlights from this initial exploration include:
- The Good Smile Company (GSC) booth was particularly impressive, showcasing a “nendo hall of fame” display. The author also praised their orange tote bags, which were a hit. They purchased the Cheerful Rin/Saber combo, finding it the most tempting and appreciating that the purchase supported charity, with reasonable prices. The GSC booth was considered a favorite at the convention.
- The author enjoyed spending time at the Mangagamer booth, encouraging others to visit and not be deterred by the nature of their products, describing the staff as nice.
- Bandai Namco’s retro arcade was found to be a neat attraction, though the author wished they had more time to engage with it.
- A plan was made to investigate Sega’s offerings on Day 2.
- The Queen’s Blade books were admired for their beautiful artwork, akin to the Sakuran volumes. The author refrained from purchasing Genshiken reboot #1, available next to Vertical at the Kodansha table, opting to buy it later from Amazon. However, they noted the unique tactile experience of a hardcover book filled with 2D artwork that can’t be fully replicated online.
- Regarding the artist Bkub, the author did not see him on Day 0 but observed other artists brought by Ryu Moto, some of whom had styles similar to Bkub. A commission was initiated, with plans to seek more commissions the following day, as the author enjoys this aspect of the convention.
- Yuu Asakawa was seen in a fancy dress. The author regretted not bringing her a gift, attributing this oversight to being preoccupied with XCOM throughout the week.
- A significant highlight was learning about Moyoco Anno from Ed at Vertical. Attendees interested in her autograph session, scheduled for Saturday morning, were advised to wake up early. Ed at the Vertical booth could provide details, with the assurance that Moyoco Anno would be accommodating for those who genuinely wanted an autograph and could make it on time.
The author successfully met several people from Twitter on Day 0 and anticipated more such encounters on subsequent days.
Regret was expressed for skipping work-related activities due to commitments to their day job and the game XCOM, with XCOM being repeatedly blamed for these scheduling conflicts.
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Food observations from the day included:
- A planned visit to Go Go Curry at 5:50 PM was abandoned due to the crowd, leading to a choice of Bonchon instead.
- Limited food was consumed at the stadium, but an upstairs bar was explored. The food offered was described as “pretty delish,” basic, and satisfactory for a hybrid K-town lounge, though more authentic dishes were not executed perfectly.
