Even Wonder Woman couldn't have handled crowd control at the New York City Comic-Con held this weekend at the Javits Center. Even after closing off new ticket sales, thousands were still turned away or waited in long lines trying to reach the convention floor.
Just a bit of craftiness though was enough to land my handbags for the day, web-comic creator Chuck and Chino, along with me on the convention floor surrounded by art and artists, collectibles and collectors. After the jump lots of four-color magic.
- As mentioned, there were crowds both outside ... and inside.
- Chino and Chuck paused to pay homage to the gigantic lego Batman, while I took the moment to mug and give crazy eye.
- Upon entry we immediately ran into artist/writer Phil Jimenez, who has had great success with both big name projects like Wonder Woman and X-Men and independent projects such as the Invisibles and Otherworld. Just seeing Phil gave Chuck the giggles, although Phil has always given me more of a feeling of otherworldliness of my own.
- Seeing all of the people was fantastic, but shopping was at top of mind. The art of Kyle Baker immediately caught the eye, and although one of his altar candles now burns in my bedroom, it was this poster that had framing costs running through the brain.
- Almost ten years ago, my address was just around the block from where the 360toygroup is now located on Eldridge Street. But my move was for the better as my home would be filled with amazing items like the above.
- My apartment needs as little clutter as possible, but more great toys kept meeting my eye and had me considering how to properly display amazing items. The display by Adfunture finally had me asking, "What would Astrojesus do?"
- Yeah, I touched it. And, yeah, they came for me. And, yeah, I charmed my way out of it and we're all good now.
- And you just must, must have the Brokeback Mountain action figures.
- Another attraction is Artists Alley, which despite the homoerotic name, is an area where artists old and new, independent and mainstream both sell original art and create original art for their fans
- It was in the alley where we met Ivan Brandon and Andy MacDonald, a New York-based team that collaborates to create NYC Mech. (More on this on Monday, as my attempt to become more Oprahesque comes full flower with the first entry in the MO Books Club.)
- There's Phil again, now with another creator. Part of Phil's success is that he really loves the stuff and loves to talk to fans about it. While my eyes would be rolling around the third instance of "Did Superboy-Prime tear off Risk's right arm because of his Reagan-era upbringing?", Phil not only answers the question, he answers it graciously.
- And finally, the obligatory "aaaaaaaawwwwwwww" shot.
