New York Comic Con: The Beast That Ate Manhattan
-- Library Journal, 2/28/2007
San Diego move over: the New York Comic Con (NYCC) rules baby! The second NYCC again proved the geekapalooza of the year, drawing a crushing crowd—more than 20,000 on Saturday alone—to Manhattan's Jacob Javits Center, February 23–25. Preventing a repeat of last year's overcrowding, organizers moved up to Javits's main floor, filling up half that cavernous space (rumor is that the '08 con will spread across the entire floor), providing ample room for roving crowds to view the nine rows of dealers' wares of current and vintage comics and graphic novels, art works, DVDs, statues/models, video games, and more.
Following the smash success of the inaugural '06 show, NYCC '07 offered a plethora of top special guests including Marvel Comics god Stan Lee, Stephen King (on hand for the launch of his Dark Tower comic, which he says "kicks ass"), horror director Wes Craven, Batman animator Paul Dini, artist legend Neil Adams, and a return engagement by last year's special guest, Jersey boy Kevin Smith, who drew the largest crowd (go Silent Bob!), plus dozens of authors, artists, and actors from the sf/horror genre.
Reflecting their role in bringing graphic novels and manga to the public, libraries were the focus of four sessions, with the librarian panelists offering tips on collecting, circulation, displaying, dealing with disgruntled parents, and more.
Attendees are an integral ingredient to the celebratory—albeit nerdy—atmosphere and many came elaborately dressed in the full regalia of their ink/celluloid heroes running the gamut from Superman to Darth Vader. Next year's NYCC will be held April 18–20.
