Fandoms Unite: New York Comic Con 2014

By accentsiha on October 20, 2014

By Kyra Campos-Marquetti
FEATURES EDITOR

The one place where devoted pop culture fans and followers all come together to rejoice is New York’s Comic Con.

Billboard at New York’s Comic Con

If you haven’t heard of it, Comic Con is one of the biggest and most exciting pop culture conventions. It includes the latest and greatest in comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, toys, movies and television. Entertainment stars and gaming and comic creators from all around the nation also come to host panels and autograph sessions.

Comic Con gives fans a chance to interact with their favorite actors and creators. During the panels, the actors also allow fans to see sneak peek episodes or scenes from their favorite shows or movies. Comic Con has conventions in New York and San Diego, and they both bring fans and entertainers together.

This year, New York Comic Con (NYCC) was from October 9th to the 12th (Thursday to Sunday). My cousin and I had the opportunity to attend the Con this year and least to say, it was pretty amazing.

This year, a total of 151,000 people attended NYCC, which is the largest number of people it has ever had.

One main thing that Comic Con and other animation-themed conventions are known for is cosplay. Cosplay, which is short for costume play, is the practice of dressing up as a character from a book, video game, television show, or movie. Cosplay usually refers to Japanese anime and manga, but is certainly not limited to it.

Sally (from the Nightmare Before Christmas)

The cosplays we witnessed were amazing. Although my cousin and I dressed up, our costumes were nothing compared to other cosplayers. The first one we came across was Sally from the Nightmare Before Christmas. She told us that her costume took months to create, but that she made it and did all her makeup herself.

Another prominent one that really stuck out was Gamora from Gaurdians of the Galaxy. This cosplayer not only painted her skin green, but she also painted the small white markings that Gamora has on her face. It was very detailed and absolutely stunning.

Meeting fellow cosplayers and seeing their creations is always great, but that’s not the only thing that is to be seen at Comic Con. The main event that occurs throughout the day are the panels. This is where entertainment guests host a board for fans. During these panels, fans have the opportunity to see behind-the-scenes or sneak-peek glances of their favorite shows, learn more about the actors and how they go about their work, and get to ask some of their favorite stars questions.

Gamora (and Rocket) from Guardians of the Galaxy

After the panels, the actors may hold an autographing session where attendees will get to meet them face to face, talk to them for a minute or so, and get their autographs. Although the lines are extremely long and it takes an extended amount of time to finally get up to them, it is really worth it.

Another great concept of NYCC is the amount of souvenirs you can buy. You have to come with a pocket full of cash if you want to have a good time because there are so many items for sale that you will be itching to buy.

In The Block, you will find comic books, popular technology, plushies, clothing, and more- all from your favorite shows or games. In the Artist Alley, you get to meet amateur or semi-professional artists and buy some of their stunning artwork. This year, I bought a massive Adventure Time poster from The Block and a Breaking Bad drawing from the Artist Alley.

“Assassin’s Creed” Lego sculpture in The Block

Whether it be anime or Marvel, there is something for every fan at Comic Con. It is a safe haven for all enthusiasts and admirers; a place where all fandoms come together in one fascinating location.

Before I leave you, here are some more photos of the fantastic cosplays I was lucky enough to witness!