No, it’s not Christmas. It’s not even wintertime. It is the time when thousands of proud nerds like me gather in a celebration of all the media we love, the memories and lessons, the fantastical and the wonderous, the characters we mourned and the characters we praise . . . yes, it is the most wonderful time of the year. It’s time for New York Comic Con!
If you have never experienced a comic convention, I recommend not starting with the bedlam that is NYCC. It is total sensory overload, a massive collection of costumed characters, sights, sounds, a grandiose confluence of all things geeky. There is absolutely nothing like it. The crowds alone – usually over 30,000 people on the busiest days – can make it a daunting and exhausting experience. I’ve been attending NYCC for years, and even I get overwhelmed at times. There is so much to do, to see, to be a part of, that even four days can be insufficient for some.
It feels like it has been so long since I have been at NYCC; the extra week between cons makes it feel like years between shows. I have my plans in place, I have started gathering my supplies and necessities. Things are coming together fast for a fun weekend.
I’ll be meeting at least three celebrities, all with Star Wars in their resumes. I’ll be attending at least a few panels on fiction writing. In between I will be scouring the exhibitor room for new books, comics, artwork, and anything else that looks fun. I’ll be getting a book or two autographed as well.
And of course, I will be spending some time with the guys from Wayward Raven Media as they drum up support for the 2nd volume of “We Suck at Comics.” As both a contributor and a fan, I am excited to see the finished product and will do what I can to help support it. (Obligatory reminder to support the Kickstarter now – get over there and follow it already!)
I’ll get to sign a few copies of Volume 1 as well. I’m still not used to that. It still feels strange to sign my name on something other than a check or a birthday card. But if someone wants me to sign, I am always happy to do it.
Look for me this weekend. I’ll have my Darth Vader hockey jersey on, as well as my We Suck at Comics shirt and a hat for Cloaked Press (the publisher of Fall into Fantasy, along with a lot of other great anthologies). Wayward Raven Media is at booth #1845, so you have a good chance of seeing me there, celebrating this most wonderful time of the year!