NYCC HIGHLIGHTS: How ReedPOP took the throne in 2025
- Dax J Martin-Cheeves
- a few seconds ago
- 25 min read
This is now my fifth consecutive year in a row covering one of (if not) the best fandom events in the East Coast. For the past four years I have been delighted, overwhelmed, and overjoyed with my amazement of how ReedPOP operates with every year superseding the prior. Going into my fifth trip to cover this event I often have asked "How are they going to top what they did last year?" Every year I get a clear answer. It is safe to say that 2025 is no different and in fact, they may have strategically set themselves up for overall success of any fan convention this year. How you may wonder? By upping their game of having Marvel present major panel in the East Coast and one that can only be compared to Hall-H in SDCC.
Yes ladies and gentlemen, Marvel represented NYCC in a major way with big announcements and exclusive first look trailers of some very anticipated animated and live action series coming soon. But that is not all, to add insult to injury on other events they also had the presence of Robert Kirkman who presented his biggest panel to day along with Ed Boon who also had a major panel at Empire Stage to present the upcoming Mortal Kombat II movie that was delayed until next summer. Boon and the cast gave us a lot of reasons to wait patiently. There is a lot to talk about this year including my first time ever coverage of the Cosplay Central Crown Championships (YES! This year I covered more cosplay than ever before).
I am going to rundown all that I have been able to cover in this event and tell you why ReedPOP's NYCC claimed the throne with force this year.
Last year's panels was met with the first appearance of DC STUDIOS headed by James Gunn himself as he presented us with an introduction of Creature Commandos as the first installment of the new DCU. We were also introduced to the cast of the HBO MAX animated series along with what will be in store for down the line.
With the impact that was felt by Gunn and DC STUDIOS many (myself included) thought that this would be the answer to ReedPOP's need for a major marquee attraction. One that would rival that of SDCC who often headlines their event with Marvel Studios. However, this year was met with some unexpected developments. One that would be in ReedPOP's favor as Marvel Studios made the strategic decision to cancel their appearance at the West Coast mecca for all things Anime, Comics, Movies, & Games.
With Marvel Studios being a huge attraction at Hall-H it is often a big blow when Comic-Con International looses the opportunity to acquire the company. Having them at SDCC means there will be major announcements and reveals on future projects by Marvel Studios.
If you recall the prior SDCC event where RDJ (Robert Downy Jr.) was revealed to play the role of Doctor Doom in the upcoming Doomsday and Secret Wars films in 2026 and 2027.
That announcement created shockwaves around the world of pop culture and comic book fandom which also provided so much exposure to SDCC. It is expected that Marvel Studios make their grand appearance but this year they are stepping back due to reshoots and taking extra time to make sure the next two installments of the Avengers films (by the Russo Brothers) are solid when released.
The lack of Marvel Studios appearance was felt and consequently, there was barely any real news to announce this year. One had to wonder how ReedPOP would take advantage of this opportunity and that they did. While many thought we would get another DCU panel, ReedPOP pivoted and managed to make a deal with Marvel to do a major panel at Empire Stage. One that would provide blow away announcements at the level of MS HALL-H panels.
For the first time in the five year I’ve been attending and covering this event we finally get a major Marvel panel at Empire Stage and I could not have been more excited, except they really gave me a reason to have been more excited.
In addition to this panel they are had a panel that I’ve hoped they would have put together in the form of the “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., reunion panel starring Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, and Chloe Bennet talking to their fans about their time on the show as well as to debunk any discussions regarding the shows narrative and more.
If you think that is all New York Comic-Con would be hanging on Marvel's coat tails you would be wrong. Along with Marvel comes Ed Boon and the cast of Mortal Kombat 2 also had a big panel to give fans a reason why it will be worth the delay of the film coming in May of 2026. And you can’t have NYCC without celebrating some of the hottest anime shows today. Enter Dan Da Dan and the return of One Piece to Empire Stage. Dozens of awesome panels to be had in the course of the four day extravaganza and I can only cover 7 of them so I had to choose wisely (NOTE: Would have been 9 panels but there were reports of a bad storm coming so we had to leave NYC in order to get to Philly safe and without issue). But with all that said let's begin my thoughts on the panels I had the pleasure of covering. Shall we?
Last year I had the pleasure of talking with Brian Chen of Bandai Namco to talk about their latest line up of collectables that year. In our conversation he brought up his love for a new anime series known as "Dan Da Dan." I admitted that I have yet to check it out but my streaming algorithms on multiple platforms that had the series on them kept recommending me to the show.
After seeing Brian's excitement for the series I decided to finally buckle down to watch a few episodes. After the first episode I totally understood why he was so enthusiastic about the series. It blends the ingredients and chemistry of some classic anime shows like Tenchi Muyo with it's weird intergalactic adventures, love triangles, and "will they, won't they" narrative.
The characters of Okuran and Momo however reminds me of another great live action sitcom I still watch today in the form of "The BIG BAN THEORY." When I see those two together it gives me "Penny & Leonard" vibes. You add the other characters to the mix with their secret crushes for both Ken Okuran and Momo and you have a modern day Ranma 1/2.
I found the series to be very entertaining and engaging with over the top narratives involving aliens and ghost along with great character development. Again, I totally get it.
So it was a no brainer that I would be attending the panel at Empire Stage which that in itself proves the popularity of this show. Empire Stage is the biggest hall in the Javits Center and only the most popular shows and movies get the privilege of going on that stage in front of thousands.
The other reason why I wanted to cover this panel was to celebrate the actor A.J. Beckles. An African American actor who has a starring role in an anime is the rarest thing one can find. You may have a better chance of finding a unicorn at one time before finding a Black actor in a leading role. In the decade long journey of me interviewing and covering anime this is the very first time I have see anyone who looks like me starring in a top rated anime series.
I wanted to see this young talent get the flowers that he deserved for his performance on such an awesome show. It was indeed a pleasure to see him on that stage being celebrated in the biggest way possible. He, nor the other cast members of Abby Trott, and Aleks Le did not disappoint the robust audience in Empire Stage. They talked about everything from the popularity of the show, to their favorite moments of the series and who has the funniest high pitch scream between the three (Aleks and Abby voted that A.J. did as you will see shortly). Abby said that when she is in the booth she tends to crack up whenever she hears A.J. do his lines that involve him screaming in fear.
The highlights of the panel came when they cast picked out a few cosplaying fans to come up to the stage to play a game where they actually win prizes.
A cosplayer dressed as Momo was highly praised by Abby Trott. It was a pretty fly cosplay if I do say myself. It was a fun segment to be had but the next highlight was a treat for all who attended the panel. Well one of the two treats.
The first treat was the live line reading from the cast on a particular scene from the show. This is something that was first down last year with the Japanese cast of BLEACH: The Thousand Year Blood War which was met with great praise from fans. So this year we have the English cast of Dan Da Dan to it and it lived up in every way. Here is an exclusive clip of it right here.
After the scene they decided to up the ante and do a character swap where the cast would do the roles of their other cast members doing their lines. It was highly entertaining indeed.
In classic NYCC fashion, the panel ended with the announcement of a gift given to everyone who attended in the form of a "golden ball" which is a reference to Okuran's missing set. The ball is actually a stress ball with a gold hue and with the Dan Da Dan logo (and Crunchyroll) to commemorate the event. Another great way to start an awesome few days of fun.
For the third year in a row fans were graced with the presence of another awesome ONE PIECE panel. This time they gave fans more info on what to look forward to in the long running series latest and most anticipated installment, "The Egghead Arc."
The show was co-moderated by actor Ian Sinclair (the voice of Brook) and Justin Rojas as they introduced the director of One Piece Wataru Matsumi and returning panelist producer Ryuta Koike who was in attendance last year.
Sinclair and Rojas provided question that would give more inside to what fans can expect in the upcoming season filled with exclusive information and reveals of the new attire the Straw Hat crew will be wearing in the next arc.
The moderators then introduce the latest cast member who will be an essential part of the new arc, actor Madeleine Morris who will play the role of Lilith in the "Egghead Arc." During the panel she talked a little about what it meant for her playing such a pivotal role in the legendary series and how important it was to assure a quality performance in the series for fans.
Just like last year, the two actors were provided a gift by the One Piece animation team which included illustrations of both Sinclair's and Morris's respective characters on the show.
Sinclair was ecstatic by the surprise as if he won "The Price is Right." Could you blame him. It is a fantastic custom illustration and a cherished gift of the two's accomplishments.
But they were not the only one's getting a gift from this panel. As always all of the attendees of the panel received an limited-edition One Piece promo card for their card game series featuring Gear 5 Luffy powered at 12000 which I am to believe that is a high powered card to have in your deck.
Overall, another fun and well received panel that left thousands of One Piece fans happy and wanting more. Especially after we got to see an exclusive sneak peek clip of the upcoming arc that the studio is currently working on and has said to premiere soon.
As great as the previous panels were business picked up when Robert Kirkman had his biggest Invincible panel to date. It was so big Kirkman decided to title it "Probably the Best Invincible Panel in the History of Invincible Panels" which is a very Kirkman thing to do.
The panel was moderated by Brandon Davis as he introduced the creator and main cast members Steven Yuen (Mark/Invincible) and Gillian Jacobs (Atom Eve) to the stage which (in Kirkman fashion if you ever been to a panel that Kirkman hosted) led to a very comedic and entertaining hour of hilarity courtesy of Kirkman himself who is one of the most unexpectedly funniest people around.
I first learned of his humorous ways dating back to SDCC when he hosted a panel with Todd McFarlane in 2017. That panel felt more like a comedy hour listening to the two creator's banter.
I later saw Kirkman at NYCC in 2023 for his last Invincible panel which also included a surprise appearance with Ed Boon as they revealed Omni-Man in Mortal Kombat 1 as the latest DLC character for the game.
This third panel I attended definitely supersedes the previously mentioned as he was at the grand hall known as Empire Stage where thousands of fans filled the room completely ready to see the Walking Dead and Invincible creator (and cast) talk about what's to come in the next epic season of the Prime Video animated series.
Kirkman talks about moments of the production of the show where he got emotional and how he was fortunate that he was doing it on a Zoom call where no one can see him cry. Steven Yuen and Gillian Jacobs also talks about her investment in her performance as Atom Eve where have to deal with a character who has family issues while also trying to learn and control her extremely powerful abilities. Kirkman than gave the fans in attendance the first look (before they released in on social media) at the season 4 teaser). I can tell you that watching a trailer of this magnitude at home is one thing. Watching it with thousands of fans behind you screaming with excitement is on a whole other level.
Put of the FOMO experience with NYCC is for moments like this where you can be able of your people enjoying the same fandoms. I remember first time I covered a panel in 2021 and that feeling was still with me in 2025.
I will add that during the watching of this trailer fans got majorly excited at the sight of some new character designs shown in the teaser along with Atom's mentioning of a mohawk version of Invincible which is a nod to a character in the comics that led to a huge ovation from the crowd. The new season will premiere on March 2026.
But things got real as Kirkman revealed the next big threat to Invincible and Atom as he introduced the latest cast member to the show Lee Pace playing the role of Thragg.
To say that the fans were hyped after this panel was an understatement. The fans were so hyped that many in the front row stormed to the stage to try and get an autograph. Unfortunate they did not succeed as they were blocked by security ready to handily any obstacle. Safe to say that those fans complied. But the impression was left with great results as fans are ready to dig into another season in 2026.
Out of all the panels that I covered over the course of the four days of fun, the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Reunion was the panel I was most looking forward to the most for a few reasons:
I am a huge fan of the seven season series.
I’ve been hoping to see a great AOS panel for some time.
I wanted redemption after what was the Fan Expo AOS panel
Fan Expo attempted to give fans what they considered a AOS panel in 2024. That panel only had two guest from the show consisting of Chloe Bennet and Jeff Ward (fresh off of his role in season one of Netflix’s One Piece live action series as Buggy). No Clark Gregg or Ming-Na Wen or even other favorite cast members like Henry Simmons, Elizabeth Henstridge, or Lian De Caestecker to be a part of the panel in Philadelphia.
While it was great to see Bennet and Ward on stage together the panel was hindered with production and lighting issues that made the chemistry of the two guest feel awkward at times. Fans got to enjoy seeing them in person but with Bennet being the only one there from season one and Ward coming in way later in the seasons there wasn’t much connections between the two when talking about particular episodes and seasons.
When I saw that ReedPOP announced the cast coming to New York Comic-Con my excitement heightened to an incredible level and I commented on their post "Here's hoping they get a panel." There were no guarantees that a panel would be put together and one can only hope. At the time they were only announced to do Photo Ops and Autographs.
The question ask, "will Marvel fans want to see actors of this once beloved series during the Infinity Saga?" The answer was a resounding yes. ReedPOP did in fact announced a panel starring main cast members Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, and Chloe Bennet together again. Fans were going to see the three most important character that has been around since season one to the end as they have a true discussion about their experience on the series in a whole. There was no way I was going to miss this panel. This also on a day that included the Marvel Television and Animation panel which happened after this AOS panel and followed by the Mortal Kombat panel and Cosplay Central Championships later that evening. Saturday was indeed the biggest and best day of panels for me.
Unlike the previous panels I attended this panel was held at the Javits Center's second biggest hall which is known as the Main Stage and it can accumulate a few hundred people in the room. It is also the only hall that has a concession stand where you can buy snacks and drinks.
When the show began after an awesome hype segment to get the crowd pumped (I will talk about that thoroughly soon) the fun began as the agents arrived to a roaring packed crowd.
As one who covered both Fan Expo's version of their panel and NYCC's version of their panel, in terms of crowd response crowd reaction to this panel was far and away the loudest between the two. Mostly due to the booking of the main actors together.
Added to that, it reunion marks the 13-year anniversary of when the show was first announced by Gregg at NYCC. Throughout the panel fans were thoroughly entertained by the chemistry, comedic banter, and nostalgia that was brought by the three acclaimed actors as they reminisced on their favorite moments, characters, and seasons.
As always NYCC provided great production value of this Main Stage panel. The lighting was incredible as you can see from the photos above and every went on without a hitch. One of the funniest moments of the panel was when the moderator asked subtly whether we would see the Agents somehow in the upcoming Avengers Doomsday considering that it is based around the Multiverse saga. They comedically teased the fans that they had an announcement to which Gregg said that "We don't know shit." The crowd ate it up. However they kept repeating it is the multiverse in various times of the panel. Even if they claim to know anything and it may be true, NDA's will make you forget very easily. We later learn this at the Marvel Television & Animation panel.
The moderator tried to bring up the subject of clearing up any common discussions that need to be debunked by the three kind of pivoted from that discussion. However, a fan during the Q&A was bold enough to ask about the situation I was waiting for them to discuss in terms of whether the show was still canon to the current MCU. Fan recall that during a certain point of the series the stories seemed to have separated themselves from the current Infinity Saga and went into their own journey.
Other fans (like myself) felt like the show still connects heavily to the series. As a person who watched the show from time to time and did a podcast episode on the Ten year anniversary of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. of the series I felt that there it would be hard to truly separate the series as the majority of it connects all the way to Infinity Wars and Endgame.
Another funny moment is in the panel is when Chloe mentions how every relationship she is involved with result in the love interest dying (with the exception of agent Sosa).
The three talked about how badass Ming-Na Wen was on the series fighting herself and others while also being the total opposite off camera.
This panel gave myself and all of the fans with the fanfare we have wanted and hopefully the live reaction from the fans in the Main Stage could muster enough from Feige to bring them back in some form or fashion. Especially because MCU fans never truly got their closer with Colson reuniting with the Avengers. For what it's worth I think we would all settle for at least the LMD version of Colson meeting up with Thor at some point. Here's to hoping!
In what was without question NYCC’s main event panel, MARVEL brought on a showcase that fans have been clamoring for. A presentation only enjoyed by fans in the West Coast. When the announcement of Marvel doing a major panel for their television and animation studios fans were hard pressed to find out who was set to be in New York with much speculation on who would appear and what would be announced.
Previously, Sony was said to be scheduled to have a panel at the event which had fans believing we would get some news on upcoming Spider-verse projects. However that plan was debunked as the studio canceled their panel.
Thankfully, Marvel came to the rescue and boy did they deliver. Fans attending live got to get an exclusive first look at some epic trailers and appearances from the actors of the upcoming series.
The panel began with an awesome video with the one and only Vincent D’Onofrio narrating an introduction to the panel as Mayor Wilson Fisk. Although D’Onofrio wasn’t there live it was still an amazing introduction especially if you were the moderator Brandon Davis as Fisk (sorry, Mayor Fisk) introduced him to the audience.
Davis first introduced the head of Marvel’s TV and Animation studios Brad Winderbaum who kicked off the panel with the reintroduction of X-Men TAS creators Eric & Julia Lewald who is returning to season 2 of X-Men 97’ as showrunners and oversee the development of the next two seasons. The creative couple then revealed the much anticipated trailer to season 2 which picks up where they left off with the coming of Apocalypse and the return of Cable and other new characters joining the fight. We also got more hints of Gambit returning as one of Apocalypse’s horseman.
After the trailer Winderbaum talked about what to expect from the new season of Daredevil: Born Again complete with a brand new exclusive trailer of the new season which also revealed that Krysten Ritter returns as Jessica Jones to help in the battle against Mayor Fisk and his thugs. In the trailer we also saw Bullseye returning as well. No sign of White Tiger but I am sure we will eventually see her. After the trailer Winderbaum then introduced Daredevil himself Charlie Cox to the stage who then also introduced Ritter to the stage. Both with huge ovations from the thousands in attendance at the Empire Stage.
Ritter talked about how good it felt to finally be able to talk about her return to the show as she had to deflect from all questions regarding whether she will appear on the show via NDA. Remember previously what I mention about the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Panel? Take that into consideration and use critical thinking. Then also do your research of the past decade of actors denying their involvement of a Marvel project (or any project for that matter). The two were joined together to give fans an idea on what to expect in the second season. Cox also talked about how he slipped up when saying that DD:BA was ending after season 2 only for them to reveal that a season 3 is already green lit.
Before they left Cox ask to watch the trailer as they were backstage during the first play. Their wish was granted as they were able to watch the trailer. Cox came down from the stage and set down on our photography section to watch it on the big screen. Ritter watched from the stage while the fans all got to enjoy a second viewing of the trailer with the same excitement as they had the first time especially when Jessica Jones appeared on screen letting Ritter know how excited they were that she was back.
After that presentation we were introduced to the stars of the upcoming Marvel Television series Wonder Man actors Yahya Abdul-Mateen (Simon Williams/Wonder Man), and Sir Ben Kingsley returning as Trevor Slattery (aka The Mandarin). The two talk about their roles in the upcoming series along with Sir Kingsley’s evolution of Trevor’s character that dates back to Iron Man 3 to the mini film Hail to the King, to Shang Chi: and the legend of the Ten Rings, to now joining Simon Williams adventure in Wonder Man. This series will definitely take the MCU in a interesting path and it looks to focus on some interesting subject matters talked about on social media.
The panel ended with a huge surprise appearance of VISION himself Paul Benttany who came to present fans with the world premiere trailer to VISIONQUEST. Fans in the Empire stage were ecstatic at the opportunity to finally get a glimpse of this series. In the trailer we see white Vision (who we last saw in Wandavision) come to what we believe is his home where he is joined by other Synthezoids including F.R.I.D.A.Y., who was Tony Stark’s final A.I. before he tragically died defeating Thanos. Another A.I. named E.D.I.T.H., and two other A.I. synthezoids named DUM-E and U.
We also heard and saw the return of ULTRON be this time in human form as an older looking James Spadder. The series is still in development and is said to be premiering in 2026 on Disney Plus. To make the experience even better, everyone who attended got to go home with a special edition comic book featuring X-Men 97' with Apocalypse on the front cover. I would tell you what is inside but the classic comic book fan in me won't open it to find out. It's an official collector's item.
It is very safe to say that this panel was the biggest panel in the five years I have covered NYCC. While I have enjoyed many panels over the years this was the HALL-H event I have been waiting to be a part of and I could not be a happier Marvel fan.
SIDE NOTE (UneXpected guests at the panel):
As fans were waiting in line to get into the Marvel Television & Animation panel I took notice of two very familiar figures from the MCU (Animated Universe) who were waiting to enter Empire Stage. It was none other than the legendary and iconic actors Cal Dodd and Allison Sealy-Smith who attended the big panel.
One has to wonder why the two did not present the trailer to X-Men 97' season two alongside Eric & Julia Lewald. Were there changes or time constraints involved? No one truly knows but nonetheless it was great seeing them there and truly appreciate them taking the time to let me get a shot of them.
They were greatly celebrated by fans who got a chance to watch the trailer which had both actors in it. NYCC never disappoints.
We end our panel adventures with a bang (or a fatality) courtesy of Warner Bros., Ed Boon, and the cast of the upcoming Mortal Kombat II film.
Mortal Kombat 2 was scheduled to release this year but was delayed due to much needed reshoots which upset many fan who was anticipating the film’s second installment. For those who were old enough to remember the second installment of the original Mortal Kombat movie (MK Annihilation) you understand why it is vital that they make sure they get the sequel right.
Seriously, that was one of the most terrible movies of the 90s and was met with so many issues it is painful to watch to this day. For me personally, I don’t care if it took them three years I don’t want it to ever turn out like that abomination.
So this panel was designed to insure fans that everything they are doing is in the right direction. And after what they did I have more confidence and more excitement for what they have in stored for MK2.
The panel was moderated by Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon who brought along the director of MK 1 & 2 Simon McQuoid, MK2 Screenwriter Jeremy Slatter and the cast of MK2 consisting of Karl Urban (Johnny Storm), Adeline Rudolph (KITANA), Tati Gabrielle (Jade), and Martin Ford (Shoa Khan) as they talk about their work on the upcoming sequel. Along with the questions, Ed Boon revealed that he would be in a cameo role in the movie as a bartender. The crew also took time to do a fan trivia about the MK mythology as they would choose one of the actors and challenge them to see if they know their Kombat knowledge.
In the end we were gifted with a sneak peak at a scene from the movie where Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, Jax, and Johnny Cage visit the Tarkatan village led by Baraka. Liu Kang request that Baraka joins the fight against SHAO KHAN but Baraka declines. This led to Johnny antagonizing the Tarkatan warriors resulting in Baraka wanting to challenging him to a fight to the death.
This was the scene that answered a lot of questions regarding the casting of Urban as Johnny Cage. Some fans were excited while others were skeptical. Then there were some that wanted The MIZ from WWE to take the role which seemed like a more fitting role for the wrestler since his entire gimmick mimics that of Cage in so many ways.
But after watching the scene fans in attendance were more than convince as Urban’s take on the Cage character felt right followed by some great fight sequences between him and Baraka. Fans clapped hugely for the scene.
The panel ended with the cast and crew wanting to do a group photo in front of the Empire Stage crew but this time everyone in the room wearing the special pair of Jonny Cage sunglasses that were given out at the beginning of the panel. Funny store about that as I never got my pair of glasses due to me coming into the panel late. However, thanks to the production crew I was able to get a pair making my rushing to the panel well worth it all.
OVERALL: For the fifth year in a row, ReedPOP has provided fans with a fantastic amount of panels that proved why NYCC is not only the best convention in the East but this year alone they have taken the crown and throne for best fan event of 2025.
They gave us everything from top panels in both Empire Stage and the Main Stage to incredible panels through the JAVITS Center (I didn’t even talk about what happened at the AEW and DC Comics panels).
If you are not convinced at what I just discussed in this article I don’t know what to tell you at this point. But if you are looking to attend an epic event that celebrates all of your favorite fandoms there is nothing better than New York Comic Con.
However, it doesn’t just start or end with the panels. We also have the showroom floor and more to talk about.
Let’s go there now!
The showroom floor can always be described as an overwhelming atmosphere of fandom. This area unlike most conventions is a pure spectacle full of incredible set designs and merchant booths, and epic attractions from some of your favorite companies that bring you the best in your favorite fandoms.
Everything from top anime companies, movie studios, comic book brands, and video game developers come to New York Comic Con to showcase their latest and greatest projects and promotions to the fans. And you never know who you will see in the showcase room. This year it was anyone from award winning actor and professional wrestler Paul Walter Hauser, to anime legends like Maile Flanagan, to even musical icons like Hip-hop legend Redman and recording artist and producer Post Malone.
Something that was brought to my attention after a conversation with someone at the con is that some of the normal pop up shops that would normally appear at NYCC did not appear this year. Pop-ups from companies like ATSUKO who always has some fantastic anime themed clothing apparel was absent this year.
Could the reason be tariff related? I can’t fathom any other reason why they wouldn’t be there otherwise. I was looking for a new jacket from ATSUKO but was disappointed that I didn’t see them back. If that is the case I do hope there will be some resolution in the near future. However, if you haven’t been under a proverbial rock you know the answer to that at this time.
Despite some setbacks the showroom had enough merchant areas for people to get a great gift for themselves and others. Places like Bandai Namco, Tamashii Nations were back (which also has a store in Times Square as well) and better than ever providing fans with great collectables and exclusives of your favorite anime and video games.
Thankfully, Marvel came through as they had their own pop up store with an awesome showcase display that had props of Daredevil helmets, info on classic comics, and more.
They also had a store were you can buy apparel like this Fantastic 4 varsity jacket that really hit the spot on a cold and windy day in Hell's Kitchen. Given the weather this year this jacket was the true hero of the weekend.
But seeing Marvel with a pop-up also told me that they were looking to do something big this year at Empire Stage as the prior years they put together a huge showcase on the showroom floor where stars from your favorite MCU film or TV series would appear for a brief interview segment. The change up spoke volumes that we were getting something huge and I was right. Also new to the showroom floor was EBAY who had a huge set up where you can do a live bidding of comic books and other fan based items. It was a pretty clever set up by the company and was in the normal area where the Gundam pop up would be which begs the question of why they decided not to do that this year as well.
Despite the lack of the traditional shops and displays, the fillers more than compensated this year. It didn't miss a beat.
COSPLAYERS ON THE SHOWROOM FLOOR
The cosplayers were out and in rare form this year. This is the East Coast Met gala of cosplay where the best of the best come to show their fandoms and their craft.
This year may be the most cosplay I covered in any of the years I attended NYCC and they came to play this year for sure.
While the cosplayers were showing their stuff on the showroom floor the real competition came at night. This year is special to me as this is the year I decide to FINALLY check out the Cosplay Central Crown Championship at the Main Stage and boy did it deliver.
The Cosplay Central Crown Championships are held every year at NYCC to see who is worthy to compete in the next level of competition against other regional champion cosplayers. The winners will advance all the way to the main championships in London, England. Winners will receive cash prizes, a trophy and certificate, and the chance to claim the title of Ultimate Crown Champion.
Judging will determine the winner based on three categories which includes:
Needlework (sewing, fabrics, stitching detail)
Armor (foam, thermoplastics, rigid builds)
FXÂ (animatronics, electronics, prosthetics, special effects)
The top winners are selected overall and also by category.
This year NYCC had a audience choice category where fans in attendance got to vote for their favorite cosplay by scanning a QR code and choosing who they think should win.
The pageantry of it all was a beautiful spectacle of design and craftsmanship. For me, I could have chosen any of these competitors as their concept and attention to details were really next level. The amount of time said to make these concepts takes a great amount of passion and love for the fandoms they represented in this competition and it showed.
The audience in attendance very loudly showed their love and appreciation for each cosplayer that walked onto the stage.
This event was well worth me attending it despite the amount of running around NYCC, Hell's Kitchen and Midtown I did prior to this. My hats off to all the contestants and winners of this event.
For the fifth year in a row I have attended NYCC and for the sake of sounding like a broken record, this event managed to top itself once again only this time beating out the West Coast in terms of attractions. From Post Malone, to Marvel bringing in some big gun level announcements and everything along with that made this the most impactful of all the years I have attended.
But it's not only the attractions but the customer care for all who attend. I can speak from experience with my interactions with not only NYCC staff but also security, other members of the press, merchant sellers, and more that the one thing they all have in common is kindness and patience to make sure everyone is having a great experience. So much to the point that if I hear that someone had a bad experience at this con I will very much question whether it is that person. Everyone I have come across handled and helped me greatly throughout the four days. To say that five years in a row is a testament of the quality of production, and care that ReedPOP brings to the table. This is from someone who not only experienced this for NYCC but also here in Philly when they held Keystone Comic-Con in 2018 and 2019.
The level of care that they provide is a rarity to say the least. Only seen by companies like Disney Parks, and Apple. Say what you will about their outside ventures, when it comes to customer service they are at the top of their game and ReedPOP is on that level.
If you have not taking the opportunity to go to a New York Comic-Con event I hope this article will give you a reason to save up, and invest in your fandom. There is not another like it in the East Coast.