NYCC Kicks Off Third Show Tomorrow



By Tom Spurgeon

The New York Comic-Con opens its third show Friday, at the Javits Center in Manhattan. Backed by trade convention powerhouse Reed Exhibitions, set in the traditional heart of the North American comics publishing industry, launched in advance of an expected Wizard Entertainment attempt to establish a show in the New York City area and beginning its run right before that group's shows suffered what is at least a perceived decline across the board, it's easy to argue that NYCC is already the second most important North American convention on the yearly calendar. Here are a few things to watch for at this year's show.

* any lingering administrative problems -- The show's first year was dogged by a massive screw-up in registration that forced even a few people with pre-paid tickets to go home, not to mention some bizarre and ultimately unflattering spin from fans of the show that focused on how awesome it was that so many people wanted to get into the show and reveled in the ability of insiders to gain entry when some people were left on the sidewalk. While last year went smoothly, and the show has grown as much as a New York show can grow given the premium on convention space, the Spring dates will likely bring even more fans out and thus test the improved registration process that much more rigorously. Expect a smooth show and a high probability for sell-outs.

* Marvel and DC's announcements -- Look to see if the big North American comic book companies make significant publishing announcements at the show, particularly on any of their panels. For one, DC could really use a big year and Marvel could use any opportunity to put more pressure on DC. More to the point of this piece, the degree to which new projects and new plotlines are announced can be seen as a measure of the degree of those companies' support for any given show.

* Stan the Man -- Stan Lee is announcing a new project at the show, and receiving an award.

* programming glitches -- Will Reed-style show programming appeal to the North American comics crowd? Some people weren't too happy about the way crossover star power was added to one panel. Will more traditional comics convention programming work at such a show?

* charity -- The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is headquartered in New York now, and the Hero Initiative should have a major presence at the show as well. This seems like a significant opportunity for both groups to raise major funds through a variety of strategies that would only be possible in New York. There was a party for Jeff Smith last night with ticket proceeds going to the CBLDF, and I think an early-bird party on Tuesday.

* bigger art comics presence -- smaller publishers can't afford to be early adopters on comics conventions, but if the show is successful they tend to come around eventually. Fantagraphics will exhibit this year, which is a good sign that the show may have a greater presence from that area of comics in coming years. They have to do pretty well, of course.

* show debuts -- I don't have a long list of these, and I figure that coordinating books for a Spring debut is something that's still in the early phase for most publishers, but I thought this was a fairly astonishing book about comics, and recommend it.

* advanced movie word -- Expect to see and hear a lot about Iron Man, and perhaps the new Batman movie as well, but it may be worth noting that if the show goes back to earlier in the calendar, as expected, a lot of future studio involvement may depend on how well the convention provides an opportunity for choice publicity at this more amenable summer movie publicity platform date.

* comparison for comparison's sake -- It may be worth noting that while people in costumes cavort in downtown New York, the show's almost spiritual opposite is taking place in Luzern. I love me a big American comics convention, although I'm still a bit baffled at the costumes, but it would be nice if there was a show like Fumetto on the North American calendar, too.
 
posted 8:10 am PST | Permalink
 

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