Show Floor Scrapbook

SHOW FLOOR SCRAPBOOK

A collection of some of the places we stopped

While Madeline focused mostly on video of things that interested her kids, Luis tried to save his injured arm and avoid the crowds by sticking to the DC Booth. We ended up with this set of pictures, business cards, coupons, and memories.

The main area offers a Yu-Gi-Oh! tournament, fun T-shirts, previews for upcoming comic series, and the chance to meet cosplayers such as Jessica Nigri.

Luis Vega

Luis Vega

Luis Vega

The main reason to attend NYCC is to meet talent and get signatures. The next reason is to hunt collectibles. There are booths full of Pop! figures that have already been in stores but also booths like Hallmark that preview future Itty Bittys of Walking Dead and Aliens. Rare items Luis spotted on the floor included a $500 Lego Hogwarts Castle and a $900 bloody Ned Stark. On Sunday, Boom helped pick 8/$20 minifigs to add to the collection of previous con purchases.

Madeline Strum Photography

MARVEL BOOTH

With a stage and big screens, Marvel has a footprint on the floor to match its relevance in pop culture. Again, Luis was trying to spare his arm so he avoided the crowds in the Marvel area, but still caught fans getting their beards trimmed to look more like Tony Stark and the moment Ghost rider, Quake, and the rest of the Agents of Shield showed up for a photo opp. “Craziness ensued,” Luis says.

Brandon Montclaire, Amy Reeder, and Natasha Bustos created this sketch for Luis at the Marvel Booth

Neal Adams' booth

Luis Vega

Valerian booth

Luis Vega

Animal

Luis Vega

THE BLOCK

Depending which way you head first, The Block could be your first stop on the convention floor. The focus is a bit more on engaging new consumers, but Street Fighter X and Animal from the Road Warriors were set up as well. It’s the best place to find quirky gifts at NYCC. —MV

Fork art in The Block

Madeline Vega

THE DC BOOTH

If you’ve never been to a comic convention, you will absolutely be astonished at how quickly these artists can make you a sketch while carrying on a full conversation with you. Just meeting the people who make the things that have captured your attention and inspire you to be more creative is worth more than the price of admission. Lines to get a wristband to come back and stand in line again wind several rows deep. Any inconvenience is forgotten as soon as you hand over a book to the creator to ask for a signature and confirm that they feel the same way you do about what’s in that book. The creators are human but also larger than life.

Scott Snyder

Luis Vega

Cyborg by Will Conrad and John Semper Jr. at the DC Booth

Final Fantasy available to play

Luis Vega

The Experiential Zone seemed to be more about interactions and less about purchases. Attendees could try video games, pose with Kubo characters, and talk to brand embassadors. Scarlet Spider, Super Sox Shop, and the Danny Trego statue also caught Luis’ eye.

Beast Clans

Luis Vega

MY KUBROS

One of the best experiences at NYCC this year was down in the new Experiential Zone. As I walked past the Megablocks Kubros booth, I saw a woman posing with what looked like a custom figure. When I asked what it was, she replied, “It’s me.” I then took a closer look, and that’s indeed what it was. TheKubros designers were flown in from Canada for NYCC to build custom figures of anyone who came by their booth and waited. (I was in line for about an hour.)

The best part was the figure was completely free. Not only that, but they also gave you a choice of a Hellboy or Destiny figure to build while you waited for the designers to build your custom figure. The build itself took about 30 minutes, at which point you then walked away with not only a custom figure of yourself but also one of their new offerings. I am now a Kubros fan. —LV

Luis as a Kubros

Madeline Strum Photography

Kevin Maguire surprised Luis with his appearance at NYCC. “It’s a pretty rare sight,” Luis says. “I grew up reading his Justice League. He draws the best emotional faces in the business.” Art Baltazar sketched for Luis at his Artist Alley booth.

Luis Vega

ARTIST ALLEY

There wouldn’t be comics without artists. Booths of finished work and prices for new commissions fill most of the space, but cosplayers such as Ireland Reid also sell prints. Kal stopped at tables with everything from cute animals and video game characters he loves to darker and more twisted displays. For his video interviews, Kal talked to Brenden Fletcher, Goran Sudzuka, and Scoot McMahon. Check it out at https://youtu.be/ WUnUVjuLEsQ.

Ireland Reid

Luis Vega

See more!

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