NY Comic Con, not just for nerds
By Brigit Bauma
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s Comic Con coming to New York City!
Comic Cons used to be well-known as places for super dedicated and all-knowing comic book fans, often referred to as “nerds.” However, according to Kean University students, it’s not as it used to be. The Comic Con crowd has grown to include a wide variety of people, having a little something for everyone. “Outside looking in, people may see it that way, but I think people have to see it for themselves,” said
Malcolm Allen, senior and adult fitness major, who had gone to the N.Y. Comic Con before.“[The audience] is really broad. Everyone thinks it’s for nerdy people, but you’d be surprised who is interested.
I love video games, but comics I don’t really care about. Go to Comic Con for the video games or movies because it’s really unpredictable.”
The annual N.Y. Comic Con is being held Oct. 10-14 at the Javits Center in Midtown Manhattan, 655 West 34th St. Fans from all along the East Coast come together for this fantastic event to show their love for their favorite comics, movies, video games, TV shows and more.
“It’s a place where you can go as your favorite fantasy character and have fun and meet others who have the same interests as you,” said Dwain Chandler, senior marketing major.
Kean University students all seem to have heard of the N.Y. Comic Con, but very few had been though it is just a train ride away. One would think that not many people would go because there is the stereotype that Comic Cons are for nerdy people. However that is not the case.
“I thought it was [for nerds] until you see who is actually there,” said Elijawon Scott, a senior psychology major.
If you look on the internet for videos and pictures of the Comic Cons hosted across America as well as around the world, you would see all of the different kinds of people who attend. Pictures of famous celebrities are even found at conventions. According to Business Insider, Jamie Foxx, Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Lawrence and Olivia Munn were just a few of a large list of celebrities who made an appearance at San Diego Comic Con earlier this year.
“I don’t think you have to be a different kind of person to be into it,” said Kasey Walker, sophomore sociology major.
All around the convention center, famous and not-so-famous people and groups will be crowding the floor at booths or panels. Booths are where manga authors, video game producers, anime illustrators, literary writers and comic book creators sit to speak to fans, sign autographs and sell merchandise.
While panels are sessions where fans can sit and listen to creators, actors, writers and producers speak about their past, present or future projects. In addition, such things as info sessions, sneak peaks and fan Q&As are featured in the panels.
Celebrities of all kinds will be making an appearance at the 2013 NY Comic Con. Famous illustrators and writers of the comic book world can be seen all days of the convention. Some of the more famous ones include Charlie Adlard of “The Walking Dead” series, Dan Slott of “Amazing Spiderman,” David Finch of “Dark Knight,” George Perez of “New Teen Titans,” John Romita Jr. of “Kick-Ass” and of course the famous superhero creator, Stan Lee. Literary author R.L. Stine, famous for the “Goosebumps” series, will be there too.
Other celebrity appearances include actors like Chloe Grace Mortez from “Kick-Ass,” Felicia Day from “The Guild,” Gillian Anderson from “X Files” and William Shatner from “Star Trek.” A gaggle of writers and actors from series like “Game of Thrones,” “Torchwood,” “True Blood” and “Power Rangers” will make an appearance as well, including Jason David Frank better known as the mighty morphing green and white Power Ranger.
What Comic Con is most famous for other than the celebrities themselves are the cosplayers. Cosplaying is when fans wear costumes and accessories to represent a character from a fictional work. Fictional works can include anything from digital media to print to their own imagination.
“I’ve seen that cosplay show on Syfy. People make up their costumes sometimes,” said Kesi Powell, a junior and recreational therapy major. “They get super into it with make-up, costumes, and acting out that character.
Kean students had mixed feelings about cosplaying. But Scott summed it best, “It’s kind of bitter sweet. There are interesting ones and weird ones, but over all pretty creative.”
NY Comic Con is an event that only comes around once a year and it is becoming more and more popular with each passing year. Tickets for the N.Y. Comic Con are almost sold out, so if you’re interested check out their website www.newyorkcomiccon.com. You can also scan the website to see who else will make an appearance and all of the other cool events going on at the convention.
“If you’re not a fan of comics, you can go for the video games, books and movies. There is a broad collection of things there,” said Allen. “It’s really not simple.”
Truly, it is an experience for all. Every single person interviewed agreed that if they had the chance to go they would.
“If you get the opportunity to go, you should,” said Chandler. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.”