It’s time for the Beat Staff’s brutally honest Winners and Losers of NYCC 2024 – a look back at what worked and what didn’t at New York comic Con 2024. And maybe to our surprise…..most of it worked! For details read on. With contributors from Justin Guerrero, Taimur Dar, Billy Hennehan, Riccardo Serrano Denis, Christian Angeles, R. Sikoryak, Deanna Destito, Jeremy P. Fuscaldo, Julian Lytle, George Carmona 3, Zack Quaintance, Masha Zhdanova, and Heidi MacDonald.
WINNER: WEBTOON, Pentacomix, CnC, GlobalComix, and other vertical scrolling related companies had quite a presence in NYCC this year compared to the past showing how this new medium for comics is slowly growing within the wider comics space alongside Manga which also had quite a large presence. There were also lots of panels related to WEBTOON and Tapas alongside some anime announcements and new book licensing by other publishers. Who knows where things will be in the next 5-10 years. (JG)
LOSER: The escalators. I’ve been to many NYCCs, and this year seemed the absolute worst when using the escalators, particularly the ones exiting Artist Alley. The bottleneck that occurred would make any fire marshal sick to their stomach. Thank the gods there wasn’t an emergency because we’d all be screwed. There has to be a better way to filter the masses down there. (DD)
WINNER: Beetlejuice cosplay. It isn’t uncommon to see Beetlejuice cosplayers at conventions. But thanks to the recent film, the character and franchise have been enjoying a moment lately. While the sequel is nowhere perfect, I quite enjoyed it. Lost count of the sheer number of BJ and Lydia Deetz couples costumes. I’m sure I’m not the only one who had the song “MacArthur’s Park” in their head every time I saw them. (TD)
WINNER: Bandai Gashapon. For the second year in a row, Bandai looked like it was printing money with its Gashapon machines. Gashapon are the token eating machines that spit out a small toy in a plastic bubble container. But these aren’t the vending machines outside bodegas taking a quarter or two. Each Gashapon token is $2, and each toy costs 2-4 tokens each. And the toys come with a much higher quality to go along with the higher price. The over 200 facings of Gashapon had a crowd around them all day every day. It was a token feeding frenzy! (BH)
WINNER: Me :) I was only at NYCC on Saturday, but I had a really good time this year! I enjoyed meeting other writers and editors from the Beat in person for the first time and catching up with old comics friends I hadn’t seen in a while. I got to see everything I wanted to see and buy the books I planned to buy on my way in, and I didn’t have to wait in any horrifically long lines for once! It made me feel really optimistic about the future of comics and comics journalism. Now I just want to hold on to that optimism for as long as I can. (MZ)
LOSER: My body. That song My Neck, My Back is about all of our body parts in pain right now post-NYCC, right? I’m assuming the next lyrics in the verse are “My feet, my calves, my right ankle and left knee.” Everything hurts. (BH)
LOSER: Comics. This year’s NYCC was the lightest the show’s ever been on comic books and comics content. As always, comics sellers had their own section on the floor, haphazardly laid out but still there. People gravitated to that section (around rows 3400-4000) and it was comforting to see fans searching through long boxes for specific titles and trades. Unfortunately, things became quite dire when you took in the entire layout of the floor. Image, IDW, DC Comics, and Dark Horse were missing in action. They had panels, but no con presence outside of them. As such, free comics were scant (other than a big push by Sandstorm, which had a big booth at the entrance to Artist Alley with free comics). Marvel had a booth, but it was aimed at fans of the cinematic universe. Massive, Mad Cave, Vault, Storm King, Scholastic, DSTLRY (located in Artist Alley this time around), and Ghost Machine were in attendance, but their booths were noticeably smaller than in previous years. They were also bunched up together for the most part, with very little breathing space. It felt like the showrunners settled on having just enough to classify as a comic convention. This is a worrying trend. Every year, comics lose more terrain at the con. Big gaming installations and pop culture booths take more and more space, pushing comics further away from any chance at sharing in the spotlight. The only saving grace here is Artist Alley, and it must be protected at all cost. (RS)
LOSER: Discussion panels. Seconding the post above, while there were a few panels promoting new releases from major publishers and panels promoting prose book authors, there were very few panels really about comics stuff that I remember from NYCCs past, or even panels discussing comics without actively promoting new releases. With the exception of the 20 Years of The Beat panel (which was fascinating to me, someone who was a child 20 years ago), every panel I attended was people selling me things. I miss being able to go to a panel that’s just a discussion of something interesting, and not someone trying to sell me their new books. (MZ)
WINNER: Bulletproof Comics. One of the highlights from the comics section of the main floor was Bulletproof Comics, a veteran store located in Brooklyn. Owner Hank Kwon made sure his booth stood out with tightly scheduled signing sessions (featuring Spencer Ackerman, Daimon Scott, Deniz Camp, among others), a large selection of figures and variant covers, and big store signs that made it easy to find despite the loud crowds. Readers desperate for the new Iron Man comic could get an early copy there as well, a week early to be precise. Hank was always present, eager to talk comics with whoever stopped by. What’s impressive is that he managed to bring the culture of his shop to the con, the very thing that makes his community-minded store so special. He always succeeds at this, and this time was no exception. (RS)
LOSER: Marvel Spider-Man panel. Marvel is no stranger to controversy and dealing with passionate fans but it certainly reached a new level on Sunday’s “Spider-Man and His Venmous Friends” panel. After the publishing announcements, it kicked off with the fan Q&A when someone grilled Spidey editor and moderator Nick Lowe about the death of Kamala Khan that the fan perceived as misogynist. (If you were surprised Marvel brought her back before she made her big screen debut that same year, you clearly haven’t read enough comics). Lowe disagreed with the premise of the question and kept trying to move onto another question when pressed by the same fan. While certain details of what exactly transpired during the Q&A differ, everyone agrees it was a most awkward experience that only served to highlight the disconnect between fans and editorial. I think it’s safe to say that Lowe is going to be taking some time away from social media and moderating panels. (TD)
WINNER: Comics dealers. Chatting with dealers on the show floor, those who specialized in selling comics at NYCC as opposed to tchotchkes had a great convention. The bins don’t abound at NYCC as much as they do at more comics focused shows like HeroesCon, but the dealers who brought their bins did very good business. (BH)
LOSER: The IDW logo. In a time where common ground is afforded less and less real estate, the reveal of the new IDW logo came just in time to show people that it’s still possible to come together for the singular purpose of clowning something. That’s how powerfully bad the logo is. The first time I saw it I thought it actually said ID Comics and that it belonged to a new publisher or imprint. I only saw the ‘W’ after further consultation with others who shared the same struggles, and even then it only ever came into focus once we figured out what the odd space in the middle of it is for (supposedly, it’s for titles and new imprint names, which doesn’t make things any better). Online, I saw many who referred to the new logo as ‘InW,’ further adding to the fire that was already raging. It didn’t help that the NYCC program book had the logo on the back cover and that IDW gave out hats that proudly displayed it, meaning everyone could join in on the confusion. Regardless of whether you enjoyed this year’s NYCC experience or not, there was at least one thing everyone could agree on: the new IDW logo sucks. (RS)
WINNER: The after parties. I don’t think I’ve ever done this many early mornings and after parties, back-to-back, within my lifetime. It was also my first time attending the Fandom party which I didn’t realize was also celebrating its 20th anniversary just like The Beat. Meetings were had. Talks were had. Refreshments were had. The only thing missing was the sleep. (CA)
LOSER: My internet connection. All weekend I had signal problems with my laptop connecting to the Wi-Fi in Javitts Center, especially on Thursday. I was under the assumption it would be a lot better this year but the Wi-Fi crapped out on me for most of the convention on my laptop. It wouldn’t be bad, save for the fact that I had a ton of breaking stories I wasn’t able to for us because of this. (CA)
WINNER: Artist Alley. Hey look, comics! The main floor of Comic Con can be overwhelming, but I felt at home in the artist alley. As I entered the alley’s massive space, the view felt daunting, with so many tables. Where to begin? I didn’t consult the listings; instead, I methodically walked down every row, and I ran into many artists I was happy to visit. I had a great time catching up with creators I knew, and there were plenty of other established artists and interesting newcomers that I didn’t have time to approach. Plus, the wild aesthetic shifts from table to table, from different scenes, kept it entertaining. I spent a good deal of time there on Sunday afternoon. Four days seems like a long time for an artist to operate a table, but those still standing were in good spirits. There was a lot of foot traffic, and I heard reports of solid sales. (R. Sikoryak)
WINNER: My kids. So every year I try to bring something home for my two kids, and I always struggle with the overpriced plushies, squishmallows, pops, and other stuff that I know they’ll want. This year, however, I found many vendors with reasonably priced trinkets, like specialty keychains and decals featuring literally every single character kids their ages adore, from Disney princesses to video game characters like Among Us and Minecraft. The deals were sweet too, with many retailers offering two-fers and three-fers, giving you a decent bang for your buck. (DD)
WINNER: Nuchas empanadas. A tasty snack that has nutrition and won’t break the bank at Javits center? I might have found my Goldilocks meal/snack. At $15 for two it’s very fast, comes in meat or veggies along with aioli sauce, and can be shared with a friend. Doesn’t taste bad either. Although there are better food options in the Asian food cart area (The banh mi cart was amazing and again two meals for the price of one), that’s a hike, and Nuchas are plentiful throughout the javits. Better than a pretzel! (HM)
WINNER: Erik Larsen. The Image co-founder and Savage Dragon creator banged out dozens and dozens of sketches for fans throughout the four days of NYCC, while also taking time to chat with people and sign comics. The artist said he doesn’t do at home commissions, so if you want something from him, you need to find him at a convention. (BH)
LOSER: Autograph hunters. From every report I’ve seen, the celebrity autographing area was a complete mess this year, with many big name talent arriving late, leading to fans getting bumped from an early group to a later group after already waiting in line for hours. Staff were giving people incomplete directions for the Kafka-esque queuing system, leading to more bumps and plenty of frustration. Over in Artist Alley, many comics creators are charging and charging more for their signatures. Sure, plenty of comics creators still offer free signatures, but just as many, if not more, don’t. (BH)
WINNER: Fans of Star Wars novels. A free ARC of Reign of the Empire from PRH. Timothy Zahn (Thrawn) AND John Jackson Miller (Kenobi) at the same convention? AND they’re both signing novels for free?? The force is with us! (BH)
WINNER: Scholastic Graphix party. We were treated to a night of free books and a chance to meet Scott McCloud, Gale Galligan, Jamar Nicholas and Jeff Smith. We also got to visit the Scholastic offices and offered free candy and food. (JPF)
WINNER: Me! I had the best freaking NYCC imaginable. Everything was coming up Millhouse all weekend. I interviewed Cristin Milioti, Rufus Wainwright and Robert Kirkman. I scored amazing sketches in Artist Alley from Todd Nauck, Erik Larsen and Bill Sienkiewicz. I found comics on my long time want list at bargain prices on the dealer floor. I found myself invited to Mike Mignola’s gallery party, chatted with Jeff Smith and Scott McCloud at the Graphix 20th Anniversary party and had a blast at The Beat’s 20th Anniversary party. I saw old friends and made new friends throughout the weekend, and got to show my daughter a great time at NYCC on Sunday’s Kid’s Day. What a weekend! (BH)
LOSER: Crowds. Like in previous years, this seems to be an issue with the Javits center, but the main showroom really needs to figure out a better way to spread out the foot traffic from the main entrance and the showroom. It is hard to get a chance to take photographs of cosplayers, booths, and get good pictures of the venue when you’re back-to-back, shoulder-to-shoulder, with other con-goers in tightly packed lines and groups. Makes it very hard to get to booths in a timely manner, or from one part of the venue to another in time for panels. Not sure what the solutions can be considering the large number of attendees this year, but it made it worth avoiding the main areas entirely for the duration of the convention which is unfortunate in my experience. (JG)
WINNER: Brad and Lisa Gullickson of the Comic Book Couples Counseling Podcast hosted the Harvey Awards and did a fantastic job with everything from setting the tone to perfectly pronouncing the names of the creators up for honors. Hosting a 2-hour award show is a lot, especially when the room is filled with some of the most prestigious names in comics, but they did a wonderful job of guiding the fantastic evening along. (ZQ)
LOSERS: Floor planning and execution. Understandably there isn’t a crystal ball to guide the layout, but there were vendors and Power Rangers shoved in the back against the west wall with a very narrow path for fans to pass through while the most southern area of the floor had ample space for crowds to move through. Folks on the edge of the small press area were given minimal light, making it hard for potential buyers to see what was on the table. The last is a story buzzing around about the unprofessional way an Artist was asked to leave Artists Alley. The Beat will follow up for more information. (GC3)
WINNER: Heidi MacDonald and The Beat. Look, I’ll be the one to say it…this website celebrated a tremendous milestone at the show, reaching the 20th anniversary of when Heidi first launched it in 2004. And to commemorate, Heidi and Deb Aoki organized a great party Saturday night, just hours after Heidi hosted a very interesting talk about the state of comics publishing with three influential comics publishers. Also, with Multiversity no longer around, it really felt like The Beat was one of the only sites covering panels and interviewing creators. Sure, a veritable army of wide-smiling streamers have risen to fill that gap, but The Beat is one of the last sites standing for people who want to read comics news out of a comics show. (ZQ)
WINNER: Bandai Namco/Tamashii Nations. Not only do they take over what feels like a fifth of the show floor as it blends in with VIZ and TOEI’s booths, but with such a diverse selection of things from Tamagatchi to Gundam to Pokémon, most will never know it’s all one company. They also bring different things to the other cons, as some of the big things were at SDCC, and it all felt like a different experience. Also, for those who like to buy their exclusives and special items at the Tamashii Nations booth, if they run out there, you could go right to the store in Times Square and get a lot of those items there. If you’re collecting, that’s great, and it’s much less frustrating if you see that SOLD OUT sign over something you wanted. (JL)
LOSER: The Main Show Floor. It felt like the show floor from the last two years, where everything is laid out. It left like I saw everything even when I hadn’t from doing interviews over the weekend. I was really confused by the TikTok Shop booth, as it felt like a gimmick and pandering along with the RYOBI power tools booth. I miss when they had unique booths for trendy Pop Artists with collectibles way back when. It felt like connecting Comics with the Fine Art World at the time. Also, there is no real DC Comics Booth, which I feel is a loss, I don’t think there was a significant Image presence, and no Hasbro on the floor. It felt lacking. (JL)
WINNER: NYCC Exclusive covers. Good lord, they were everywhere! According to Covrprice, there were 655 exclusive variants at NYCC this year. That’s enough for even Funko Pops! to be like “I think you’re overdoing it.” (BH)
WINNER: ThrillJoy. Former Funko head Brian Mariotti launched his ”revenge bod” toy company Thrilljoy at the show and based on the number of people I saw dragging giant thrilljoy bags around the show, a lot of people gave it a shot.
WINNER: Comic books. Despite the lack of comics content at NYCC, comics were everywhere, even if it was sometimes hidden deep in the DNA of the show. At Milton Griepp’s whitepaper on Thursday he said comics periodicals were rising in sales, mostly due to Marvel and DC launching their revamps, Ultimates and Absolutes. Even Marvel folks told me they were happy to see a healthy DC again…the DM’s health is directly dependent on the Big Two for better or worse. And based on the number of new comics companies and investors looking to get in on comics, there seems to be something in the air about comics again. Although they are all going in on the “IP model,” maybe some good books will slip through.
LOSER: Plugging in your phone. As many of the above comments indicate, NYCC 2024 was a pretty joyous and upbeat show where even our crotchetiest Beat staffers had a good time. But there were still many, many complaints about the crowds, access to areas, and the generally zoo-like atmosphere, especially on Friday and Saturday. Unfortunately the problem is very simple: THE JAVITS CENTER SUCKS. It was literally not designed for a lot of human to occupy its space at one time. Want an example? It may surprise you to find out that the Javits Center was not built in the long ago past but opened in the relatively modern days of 1986. However, as you walk around the original exhibit center you will never, ever be able to plug in your phone to charge it. Why? Obviously Javits was built before everyone had a small electronic brain grafted to their hand, but ALL of the plugs are in this obscure (to me) electrical interface known as a NEMA locking plug. You need an electrician to figure out how to convert it for 200 amps and that is by design. Javits was built so that in order to do anything you needed a Teamster, which is part of why it is such an expensive show to set up at. You can go over point after point, and it just goes on and on: the lack of bathrooms, the low ceilings, the choke points every time you need to go to a different level. It may shock you to know that the Javits Center actually has MORE exhibit space and overall space than the San Diego Convention Center, but it’s true! It’s just that the space is grimy and built on a scale that seems made for people who scuttle into a city like rats, and not the general populace looking to have a good time. New York City deserves a better facility but given all the constraints we’ll never get it….at least the new wing has electrical outlets!
LOSER: Photobombers. Seriously, what is wrong with you? Annoying and juvenile.
WINNER: Todd McFarlane. The Toddfather finally got his big media moment at this year’s NYCC: from delivering a thunderous keynote speech at Retailer Day that people kept quoting back to me all weekend; inducting Art Adams into the Harveys Hall of Fame and meetingD&Q publisher Peggy Burns; and getting involvedfor the first time in a Venom film’s promo cycle, meeting up with star Tom Hardy and director Kelly Marcel. Todd has had a long, far from perfect history in the comics biz, but at this moment he’s providing a voice of experience and survival that the industry needs.
WINNER: THE BEAT. Allow me my victory lap. 20 years and a stunning combined Beat 20th anniversary party and K-ComicsBeat launch party on Saturday that saw Beatsters old and new hanging out and connecting. I never thought I would or could last this long, but I did and the future holds………..many surprises. Thanks for coming this far with me!
English (US) · 