PopHorror Let's Get Scared
The leaves are changing color, the temperature is getting colder, and my wallet is begging for mercy… That means it’s convention season! With the breeze that October brings seems to also drag dozens of conventions with it, especially those along the East Coast. Any nerd will tell you there is no bigger convention than New York Comic Con. It completely takes over the Big Apple, offering a safe haven for all geeks alike. You don’t even need to punch in directions to the convention center, all you have to do is follow the dozens of cosplayers like the Pied Piper.
Taking place at the Javits Center, New York Comic Con is filled to the brim with all corners of fandom. Upon entering, I was visually astonished with the Cthulhu-sized banners hanging, promoting new shows and movies. Years ago, the vendors seemed to be sixty percent Funko Pop! related. This year, there was a lot more of a variety. The Funko booth itself is like its own entity within the convention, gathering dozens to gawk at the tiny toy figures. Other companies are also there, providing a sneak peek of upcoming products. My favorite of which came from the NECA booth, showing future Krampus deluxe action figures.
My main reason for attending comic conventions is the celebrity guests. New York Comic Con always manages to snag dozens of ‘white whales’ in the collecting hobby. Some of which include Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen, Matt Smith, and Orlando Bloom.
This year, I met Josh Brolin, John Boyega, Ti West, Andy Serkis, Walton Goggins, and Carla Gugino. Brolin was visibly tired, but still giving all his energy to fans. What surprised me was that he would add personalization and character names for no extra charge. This is something usually unheard of with bigger names like him. He was impressed with my Grindhouse poster, commenting on how cool it was.
Walton Goggins was only there Friday, meaning his line was packed all day. He was an addition to the Fallout TV show reunion, in addition with Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, and Kyle MacLachlan. He signed my House of 1000 Corpses poster, mentioning how crazy of a movie it is. John Boyega was a fan favorite at the convention; full of energy for every person who approached his table. It was very obvious he was there for his supporters, and not just for a paycheck. I added him to my Attack The Block poster, even teasing a sequel as I left.
Next up was Ti West, making his convention debut. X and Maxxxine are two of my favorite movies of all time, and he was happy to share behind the scenes facts. He really took his time with people. Carla Gugino had great pacing. Her line was massive the entire weekend, but she didn’t deprive people. I got a photo from Gerald’s Game at her table and I told her how it was one of, if not, my favorite Stephen King movies. She expressed that the movie was seen by many as impossible to shoot, relying too much on one location. However, simplicity can be a key part of creativity.
Andy Serkis capped off my New York Comic Con experience. I was unaware of just how many large franchises he has graced with his presence. Everything from Lord of the Rings to Star Wars to The Batman, the dude has done it all. He signed my DVD of The Cottage, pressing me as to where I found it.
Something I also must express is my appreciation for the unsung heroes of the comic cons of the world: the volunteers. Everyone that was working the event were the nicest people you can imagine. I regret not asking for names, because a lot of them really went above and beyond
While most of this event was a blast, I had one negative experience. When I was a kid, I was a huge fan of Gravity Falls. That show was my jam back in the day. Alex Hirch, the creator and prominent voice talent on the show, was doing a signing for The Book of Bill. It was a first come, first serve event, so I got there early to better ensure I got in. I was maybe thirtieth or fortieth in line. Being that he was signing for about two hours, I felt like my spot was good. However, they only let about twenty or so people into the actual event. This left a lot of fans very disappointed and, overall, just seemed very disorganized.
New York Comic Con is the convention that got me into the convention scene. Yes, it’s pricey. Yes, it’s chaotic. But, damn, it’s a whole lot of fun. I plan on returning next year, along with 350,000 movie-loving geeks. Until then, I think my wallet deserves a break…
