Comics Are Taking Over NY This Weekend!


NYC is the birthplace of comics, and this weekend comics are taking over NY state.  From Manhattan all the way to the capital, there are numerous cons and even a comic book theater festival, baby!  As Unleash The Fanboy’s top NY reporter (also, their only NY reporter), I wish I had the energy to cover all these events.  Sadly, not even the Flash could do that.  Maybe I could if I had the cosmic cube.  I MUST GET THE COSMIC CUBE, DAGNABIT!

Here is what’s going down:

NYC Special Edition

nyc special editionImagine if there was a comic con that actually was about comics!  That is what this 2-day convention is promoting itself as.  NYC Special Edition is put on by Reed POP, the same folks who run the New York Comic Con.  This mini-version will be held at the Javits Center in Manhattan, the same venue as NYCC.   A lot of top creators are going to be appearing at the show including Chris Claremont, Darwyn Cooke, my dude David Marquez, Frank Cho, Gail Simone, Greg Pak, Kurt Busiek, Peter David, Sara Pichelli, Brian Wood, Michael Allred, Laura Allred and many more.  Marvel, DC, Archie and Valiant all have panels set for the event, along with many more interesting panels you can check out here.

It’s $35.00 for an adult ticket.  The hours are 10AM – 7PM Saturday and 10AM – 5PM on Sunday. Here’s a link to their site- (click here for linky action)

I love that DC has very little presence at this con but Marvel is reppin’ big time.  While DC has a few panels, Marvel is putting on panels, has a booth and features their art and characters on the official poster.  With DC moving to the West Coast, it is clear that MARVEL RUNS NY!

New York Comic Fest

new york comic fest

A nearby con that also features an impressive group of top creators, New York Comic Fest is held this Saturday from 10AM – 6PM at the Westchester County Center in White Plains.  It is being promoted as “a sane alternative the huge, impersonal, overcrowded cons of the city.”  Guests appearing include:  Denny O’Neil, Scott Snyder, Mark Waid, Larry Hama, Jim Steranko, Ann Nocenti, Bill Sienkiewicz and a buncha others.  You can check out a listing of their panels here.

Adult tickets to the show cost $25 at the box office or you can purchase them online for $20 plus a $6.35 Ticketmaster service charge.  Check out their site here.

I am not sure which show was scheduled first, New York Comic Fest or NYC Special Edition, but it is a crazy move promoting two big shows in such close proximity to each other.  That said, both are promoting impressive rosters of creators and interesting panels.

The Comic Book Theater Festival Issue #2

brick Comic Book Theater Festival

If you haven’t heard, the Brick Theater in Williamsburg, Brooklyn is holding a theater festival with comic themes all month long.   Sounds crazy but they got my attention.   Throughout the month they have shows based on Jack Kirby, Namor, Michael Bay’s original Ninja Turtles script and even the King of Rock, DMC.  Some shows are free.  Most of them cost $18.  To see what shows are playing and purchase tickets, click here.

X-O Manowar Green Tea Blasts 

Orens daily roast valiant

In an interesting promotion, Valiant Comics have partnered with Oren’s Daily Roast and Midtown Comics.  Starting this Friday and running for three months, go to one of Oren’s ten locations and sip on a special edition cup of X-O Manowar Green Tea Blasts made of matcha green tea mixed with vanilla.  Then, bring the cup jacket into a Midtown Comics location and they will hook you up with a free Valiant comic.   Also, if you bring a Valiant comic into an Oren’s location, they will give you 10% off you next purchase.  The promotion kicks off this Friday with an invite only X-O Manowar Green Tea Blast Release party at the Times Square Oren’s from 3pm – 5pm where they will be giving out Valiant comics and other swag provided by Midtown Comics.  Check out their site here.

Albany Comic Con

albany comic con

I gotta give a shout out to the Cap City’s Albany Comic Con.  This may be my favorite con on the list because it is much less expensive than the other cons and it has a much more intimate aura to the event.  Seriously, what other con can you go to and listen to loads of stories told by the legendary Joe Sinnot?  For a smaller con it features some major guests including Ron Marz, Fred Hembeck, Bill Anderson, Todd Dezago, John Hebert and , of course, Joe Sinnot.

Ticket’s cost $10 and the show runs from 10AM – 4PM at the Holiday Inn on Wolf Rd.  You can attain $2 off coupons from Earthworld Comics, located at 537 Central Ave in Albany.  Plus, peep that bad@## poster.  Even though this is the smallest con on the list, they def got the best ad.  Check out their site here

Holy mayhem, that is a lot to do.  What will I be hitting up?  I’m going to be representing Unleash The Fanboy at NYC Special Edition, and we will see what else I find time for.  If you see me, be sure to say hi.  You will recognize me because I look like awesomeness.