Over 125,000 dedicated comic book, video game, movie, and TV show enthusiasts flocked to the Jacob Javits Center in New York City for one of the greatest conventions of the year– New York Comic Con (NYCC).
Lasting from October 11 to October 13, NYCC is considered a sacred event by many. I attended on Sunday, October 13, and I had an awesome time, despite the fact that it was the last day of its run.
Many celebrities were there that day, ranging from David Duchovny to Sylvester Stallone. I was lucky enough to meet Charlie Adlard, the illustrator of The Walking Dead comic book and Sergeant Slaughter, a famous professional wrestler. I also got to try out a lot of new video game demos, like Oculus Rift, a new virtual reality video gaming system. South Park: The Stick of Truth and Watch Dogs were two of my favorite demos.
More than anything else, I enjoyed simply walking around the convention hall. I saw a ton of cool exhibits, but The Walking Dead and Marvel booths were the best ones, in my opinion. Many of these booths handed out lots of free gear and comic books; some even gave out free cannolis!
New York Comic Con is the largest pop culture event on the east coast, not to mention one of the largest in the United States. If you’re a fan of comic books and did not get a chance to attend NYCC this year, make sure you go when it comes back to New York in 2014, as it will be an experience you will never forget.
Other upcoming pop culture conventions in New York (according to animecons.com) include:
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Albany Comic Con: November 10, 2013 at Holiday Inn, Wolf Rd, Albany, NY. A large comic convention that will include panels and tons of guests. Registration is open.
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Cosplay Snow Festival: December 7, 2013 at Rochester Institute of Technology, Henrietta, NY. A costume convention celebrating comics, manga, and video games. Will include panels and improve performances. Registration is open.
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Genericon: February 14–16, 2014 at Rensselear Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY. Student-operated comic book, video game, and manga convention with a focus in science fiction. Will include panels and guest speakers. Registration opens soon.
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BEAR-Con 2014: February 28–March 3, 2014 at SUNY Potsdam, Potsdam, NY. A small college-run pop culture family convention. Free admission, but prior registration is necessary.
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Tora-Con: March 8–9, 2014 at Rochester Institute of Technology, Henrietta, NY. An anime convention. Registration is open.