New York Comic Con 2012 Part Two

Before Sandy came along and made everything rather messy.
NYCC entrance. Jacob Javits Center, NYC. Oct. 2012.
Photo by Michele Witchipoo

Before the mess of Hurricane Sandy and the U.S. Presidential elections, there was the seventh annual New York Comic Con. The NYCC took place at its’ usual spot at the Jacob Javits Center. From 2006 onwards, the NYCC has become the second largest comicbook convention in the United States. It’s second only to the infamous motherload of them all, the San Diego Comic Con.

In 2010, I had a small table at the NYCC over in the Artist Alley section. Perhaps one day I’ll have another table again. For now I’m content walking around with a professional badge around my neck, observing everything.

Monsters. NYCC. Oct. 2012.
Photo by Michele Witchipoo.

Mainstream comic book conventions are good for highlighting current pop culture trends. As mentioned in my previous post, Doctor Who and The Avengers were huge among costumers this year.

In the Doctor Who catagory, you had both genders doing the Matt Smith look, complete with fez hats. There were a few David Tennants as well. I did spot someone dressed as the fifth doctor, and one lone  Tom Baker clone. Even children got in on the act.

Baby Dalek.
NYCC 2012
Photo by Michele Witchipoo

There was a small collective of Harry Potter fans. Of course, no comicbook con is complete without people dressing like their favorite characters. For example, I saw a Spiderman with a pot belly, a Venom with a sizable crotch bulge, one Rorschach, a few Jokers from The Dark Knight era, a few Harlequins, plenty of Deadpools, Blackcats, and who can forget Star Wars. My faith in humanity was briefly ignited for one second thanks to a couple dressed like Dr. Frankfurter from The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

My faith in humanity was briefly restored when seeing this couple.
Doctor Frankfurter from The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
NYCC, Jacob Javits Center, NYC.
Oct. 2012. Photo by Michele Witchipoo.

Here’s some photos from the weekend of Oct. 11 – 14th, 2012.

Crowd towards the end on Friday night.
NYCC. Jacob Javits Center, NYC. Oct. 2012.
Photo by Michele Witchipoo.

Women posing for photos.
NYCC, Oct. 2012
Photo by Michele Witchipoo.

Angel costume.
NYCC. NYC Oct. 2012.
Photo by Michele Witchipoo.

Some men love being underneath women’s feet.
NYCC, Oct. 2012. NYC
Photo by Michele Witchipoo.

Rapper Jean Grae after participating in a panel about Hip Hop and comicbook culture. Also a fellow Love and Rockets comicbook fan.
NYCC. NYC. Oct. 2012.
Photo by Michele Witchipoo.

Wanna smell like a member of The Avengers?
That’s actually kind of scary…considering
you’re in battle inside sweaty metal armor all day.
Ironman cologne.
NYCC. NYC. Oct. 2012.
Photo by Michele Witchipoo.

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New York Comic Con 2012 Part I

Before Hurricane Sandy and the US Presidential Elections, there was the 2012 New York Comic Con.

The New York Comic Con has become an annual event in NYC since 2006, making it the second largest comicbook convention in the United States, next to the San Diego Comic Con.

My ‘Professional’ pass for the 2012 NYCC.
Photo by Michele Witchipoo.

I had a small table in Artist Alley back in 2010. Perhaps one day I’ll have another shot at having a table in that section. In the meantime, I was perfectly content to walk around with a professional badge around my neck.

Greetings Earthlings. NYCC Entrance. Oct. 2012.
Photo by Michele Witchipoo.

Like all such events, there are trends. Particularly pop culture trends, and comic book conventions are no exception. This year the 11th regeneration of Doctor Who, (currently portrayed by Matt Smith) was in vogue. An interesting development in this craze was there were just as many females dressing up as ‘the doctor’ as there were males. There were more female doctors, as a matter of fact, fez hats and all.

In the autograph section was British actor Peter Davidson, who was the fifth doctor in the ongoing series. Currently in the UK version of Law and Order, he was gracious enough to pose for fan photographs.

Doctor Who fan Ben Herman shakes hands with British actor Peter Davidson, who played the fifth Doctor Who. New York Comic Con 2012. Photo by Michele Witchipoo. Oct. 2012.

One sidenote: his current son-in-law is the tenth doctor, David Tennant.

Besides Doctor Who being in vogue, there were The Avengers (not the American punk band from the late 70s, I meant the comic). There were especially a lot of fans dressed like Captain America, no doubt thanks to the hit movie. All the cosplayers were out in full force, of course. I did see two people in attendance dressed like characters from The Rocky Horror Picture show.

Hip Hop/Rap & comics panel. Went here by accident, but stayed because of some of the righteous stuff that was being said. Reminded me of some of the globalization lectures I heard in Austria this past spring.
Fuzzy photo taken by Michele Witchipoo

By accident I walked into a panel discussing Rap and Hip-Hop’s connection with comic-book culture. Instead of turning around, I stayed due to some of the key points being discussed during talks. My eyebrows were raised when female rapper Jean Grae mentioned reading my all-time favorite comic Love and Rockets during her formative years. Afterwards I approached her, informing her that I was also a huge Los Hernandez fan. Well she gave me an unexpected sincere hug, and that converted me into being her fan.

Joel Hodgson from Mystery Science Theater 3000. NYCC 2012.
Photo by Michele Witchipoo.

On Sunday there was a pleasant surprise. Joel Hodgson from Mystery Science Theater 3000 from Mystery Science Theater 3000 was signing autographs.

Onto Artist Alley. A major improvement when it came to this department. It was much more organized than in previous years. Therefore it was easier to walk around, checking out assorted artists, ranging from established to the independent. For example, George Perez (Wonder Woman circa 1980s) had a table selling his work.

Here’s some additional photos from this year’s event, which took place at the Jacob Javits Center.

Proof that social media and/or iPhone apps have made it into the heart of pop culture consciousness. Instagram app. NYCC 2012.
Photo by Michele Witchipoo

Love in an elevator. NYCC 2012.
Photo by Michele Witchipoo

Felix The Cat! At the NYCC, you might need more than a bag of tricks.
NYCC Oct. 2012.
Photo by Michele Witchipoo

Even at comic cons, it might be a nice day for a white wedding.
NYCC 2012.
Photo by Michele Witchipoo

Cosplayer. NYCC 2012.
Photo by Michele Witchipoo

Fan dressed as the 10th Doctor. As in Doctor Who. NYCC 2012.
Photo by Michele Witchipoo.

Checking out the activities before extermination.
NYCC 2012.
Photo by Michele Witchipoo

One of these days, I’m gonna dress like a furry for Halloween. But that’s all. No funny business. Just the costume.
NYCC 2012
Photo by Michele Witchipoo

Orko!
NYCC 2012
Photo by Michele Witchipoo

Punk/Batcave 80s throwback.
First spotted her during in the “Art Takes Times Square” event in June 2012.
NYCC 2012
Photo by Michele Witchipoo

Punk/Batcave 80s throwback.
First spotted her during in the “Art Takes Times Square” event in June 2012.
I want her skirt.
NYCC 2012

More photos to be added. To be continued.

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NYCC 2010 Photos Part II

A week later, and here’s part two of the NYCC 2010 blog post.

During the the three-day weekend of the NYCC (New York Comic Con) 2011, I was stationed mostly behind my table. When Sunday rolled around, figured it was time for some quick explorations. Inside the Jacob Javits center, the NYCC took most of the main floor, while New York Anime Festival was downstairs.

Costumes from the NYCC/New York Anime Festival, Oct. 2010. Jacob Javits Center, NYC.

I’m not really familiar with the whole Manga/Anime/COS underworld. It’s not my thing, although I like some of Osamu Tezuka’s work. Like upstairs, the lower level where the Anime Festival was jammed packed.

Downstairs at the New York Anime Festival, Jacob Javits Center, NYC. Oct. 2010.

Upon entering the Anime section, it was crossing into a whole other world. The general age of this Anime/COS crowd was probably tweens, to early teens. Almost everyone other than the artists and vendors were sporting some kind of costume.

New York Anime Festival/NYCC 2010. NYC

Don't ask, don't tell. New York Anime Festival, downstairs at the NYCC/Jacob Javits Center, NYC. Oct. 2010.

On the mini-stage was some sort of singing contest, with a costumed female contestant warbling off-tune. I walked around the Anime section some more, when some sort of COS conga-line broke out. Half-scary, half amusing, I figured that I had my fill of this mini-Neverland. Time to go back upstairs.

COS play outfit from the New York Anime Festival. NYC, Oct. 2010.

New York Anime Festival 2010. Jacob Javits Center, NYC.

My favorites were the like the frilly Victorian-style of the “Lolita” costumes. If I could get away with it, maybe I could have one of those Lolita dresses hanging in my closet.

From the New York Anime Festival/NYCC 2010. NYC, Oct. 2010.

NYCC/New York Anime Festival 2010. NYC

NYCC/New York Anime Festival 2010. NYC

Back upstairs to the NYCC:

BuzzBuzzBuzzBuzz...or as someone said on Facebook: "Where's the bug spray?" NYCC 2010. NYC

Is it a peanut? Is it a waffle? The result of too many carbs. NYCC 2010, NYC.

The real reason why I was at the NYCC 2010; I had a table in the Artist Alley section:

The section my table was located, NYCC 2010.

My DIY sign. NYCC 2010. NYC

Jammed full of goodies at my table. Artist Alley section at the NYCC 2010. NYC

My next two appearances: Welcome To My Nightmare 5, Williamsburg Brooklyn, March 27th 2011. MoCCA Art Fest 2011, NYC, April 10-11, 2011.

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Nominated For Three Awards

Well well well…and a top o’ the morning to you! Just found out that I’ve been nominated for not just one, but THREE Hallers awards! For those who don’t know, The Hallers are awards presented by CAG (Comicbook Artist Guild).

The Hallers was formerly known as The Caggies, but the name was later changed to The Hallers in honor of late cartoonist Rusty Haller (1964 – 2009). Infor about Rusty Haller can be found here: http://aceandqueenie.com/)

The nominations I received: Best Webcomic, Best Cartoonist, and Best Artist.

It’s an honor to be nominated. Even if I don’t win anything, it’s still an honor.

More details forthcoming.

BTW, for those who don’t know, I will have a table at the NYCC 2010, Artist Alley. Weekend of October 8 -10, 2010. New York City’s biggiest comic convention will be at the Jacob K. Javits Center (655 West 34th Street 11th Avenue)

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