New York Comic Con is the only other U.S.-based show that rivals San Diego's infamous onslaught of pop culture. But October is a long wait for East Coasters craving a fresh fix of frenzied fandom, and for many, Comic Con is no longer an option. Nabbing a badge is a feat of Herculean proportions, and then comes the wrath of Hotel-O-Ween - the ever-diminishing opportunity to book an abode vaguely close to the convention center.
New York Comic Con's organizers/overlords, ReedPop, recognize the dilemma, and they've addressed it in the form of an early-summer stopgap: Special Edition: NYC.
Following last year's inaugural - and to be blunt, disappointing - effort, Special Edition made its much-anticipated return June 6-7. Advance promotion boasted of a new location, impressive guest list, and a medley of talent-lavished creators lining Artist Alley. There were no media guests to speak of, and a dearth of actual celebrities and Z-list autograph hawkers. Video games didn't devour the con floor. Movie/TV studios weren't invited, either. This was a comic book show, a nondiluted celebration of the medium.
But was it any good?
In a word, yes. Expectations were exceeded. Fun was had. Dare I say, it all came as a pleasant surprise to this grizzled con veteran. Despite some logistical issues/residual growing pains seeping over from 2014, Special Edition: NYC left the majority of attendees - exhibitors and fans alike - feeling very good about the future of comic book-centric conventions and the medium as a whole.
Saturday morning saw a huge line snaking out from the new venue's entrance. Unable to acquire placement at NYCC's home, the Javits Center, it was Pier 94's turn to bubble with fan-fueled activity. Advance notice and heightened promotion of the show had captivated widespread attention, unlike last year's hastily arranged, frantically planned event. In a smart move by the show organizers, tickets for October's flagship con were on sale inside SE:NYC. Considering how quickly online stocks to the fall show were snapped up, this offered A+ incentive to battle Saturday morning's drizzly weather and lengthy queues to claim the precious passes sold onsite.
After some confusion about where to collect a preregistered con pass (event staff, though pleasant, seemed rather overwhelmed by the surge of con-goers), entry was achieved. Retailers filled a dedicated section of the floor, while exhibitors including Valiant Comics and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund stood front and center. To my delight, Artist Alley claimed the largest percentage of Pier 94, near enough filling the remaining space.
There was no shortage of panels at Special Eidtion: NYC, detailing all manner of comics-related goodness. Brian Michael Bendis spoke at length about his industry experience, plus announced a new ongoing Iron Man series with artist David Marquez. Image Comics discussed its war chest of noteworthy books - panelists Scott Snyder, Jim Zub, Bryan Glass, Simon Roy, and Jason Latour happily engaged with their enthusiastic audience.
Marguerite Bennett, Charles Soule, Greg Pak and Jim Zub (man of many panels/fountain of creative knowledge) offered advice and suggestions about pitching creator-owned books, while Valiant celebrated the company's 25th anniversary with the announcement of new projects such as Book of Death and accompanying one-shots. Fred Van Lente, Amy Chu, and Warren Simmons were among the panel's speakers, offering teasers and tidbits of new titles. However, Valiant ensured its upcoming venture into the world of moviemaking remains shrouded in secrecy.
The show's attendance was big, bustling and brimming with excitement. Though the lengthy entry line suggested potential for prison riot-like bedlam inside Pier 94, the halls comfortably accommodated the scores of fans. Their enthusiasm and energy was contagious among creators, with many reporting better-than-expected sales. Most (if not all) attending pros were keen to chat with passers-by, while cosplayers were out in force - an assortment of weird and wonderful characters wandered the halls, gleefully stopping for photo requests and costume-crafting advice. From mainstream superheroes to characters plucked from the most obscure manga and anime, the garments on display provided a much-needed lift to the venue's otherwise drab backdrop.
Alas, Pier 94 is a hulking eyesore. Despite sufficient space to accommodate a sizable gathering, the deluge of air ducts, piping and industrial oddities offered a stark contrast to Special Edition's vibrant sea of color. Much like the Javits Center, the venue is not easily accessible via public transport; streams of frustrated cabbies and commuters trudged along 12th Avenue as pedestrians exited the con, seeking a glimpse of civilization (or perhaps a hearty lunch costing less than $15). That's an unfortunate yet expected hindrance given the West Side of Manhattan's infrastructure.
A more commendable example of SE: NYC's planning and logistics was the zero tolerance toward harassment of any kind, and various signs were prominently displayed, encouraging immediate reporting of any and all inappropriate behavior. Increased efforts to combat convention harassment are being made, but the problem is still very real. SE: NYC's dedication to eliminating it was welcome and encouraging.
Overall, Special Edition: NYC was a fun-filled, fan-pleasing, comics-centric weekend. Despite a venue that looks more like a supervillain's lair than a hospitable convention space, New York City appears to have a new ongoing show to keep con-goers happy until October.
Next up: San Diego Comic-Con.
Whimper ....
