What Happens in Comic-Con, Stays at Comic-Con

In October of 2010, the opportunity presented itself for me to go to the New York City Comic Book Convention (or Comic Con).  The convention’s date was actually pushed back to around Columbus Day weekend, which is when SUNYIT has a 4-day weekend (and I had a five-day weekend since I did not have any Friday classes that semester). 

One of my brother’s friends from law school had gone to previous Comic Cons in New York City and was anxious to go with others.  Since both my brother and I are pretty nerdy, we jumped on his offer to stay at his apartment at Stamford for free and train in and out of New York. 

This was actually my first time going to New York City, the closest I ever got was my brother’s apartment in White Plains where he was going to law school.  I definitely had to learn the city ways quite quickly (don’t make eye contact, the pedestrian crossing sign is flashing because you have 10 seconds to cross the road, and you’ll be walking everywhere). 

Honestly, when I started to walk around the convention center, I realized just how little I actually knew about comic books.  I definitely saw the need to improve my knowledge if I were ever to go again. 

The title of this blog post was actually a sign at Comic Con that stated this.  I do not know who originally said this adaptation of the Las Vegas quote, but I saw just a bunch of cool things at Comic Con.  My first thought after getting into Comic Con (after waiting for my pass for more than an hour outside) is everyone here is a person that was most likely made fun of in high school for what they like.  As a person that walked passed me said, “This is Comic Con!  You can’t judge me like that!” 

I think that is what was so great about walking around at Comic Con (well, until they accepted too many people into the place and I was groped by at least 50 people).  People were dressed in costumes ranging from Final Fantasy characters, comic book heroes and villains, to one of the 19,340,782,459 Pokémons (which I saw on the train I took from where I was staying to Grand Central Terminal;  I knew I was on the right train.)  Someone even dressed up as the Old Spice Guy!  No one questioned why he or she spends so much on his or her costumes.  Most people, including myself, wanted pictures of their masterpieces.  I saw people playing The Legend of Zelda music on ocarinas, people trading their different game cards, and even two people holding a sign asking to borrow someone’s DS so they could Pokémon battle!  In high school, these people would have had the crap beaten out of them.  At Comic Con, they are accepted.

The exhibitors offered many great and diverse things to see and buy.  Many of the exhibitors were comic book resellers.  I saw an original X-Men comic, which when it came out only cost 12 cents (the person was willing to sell it for $350).  I actually bought my first comic book of a collection of Alice In Wonderland comic books, because I loved the original Disney movie and really liked the artist’s interpretation of the illustrations.  (This falls under the Comic Con “don’t judge me,” rule because I know a lot of you are yelling at me that I would even consider that a comic book!)  I also picked up a lot of “swag” for free.  I have so many posters and not enough space!

It definitely was a great experience, when I was not being groped 50 times an hour when they allowed too many people into the convention center than was allowed.  I probably would have been happy with just seeing Grand Central Terminal (based off my transportation nerdiness I acquired from a general elective class I had taken on transportation in the community).  If I ever do go to Comic Con again, I definitely need to study more comic books, as well as bring a big bottle of Purel, if they are going to go back the convention center again.

(Can you tell Final Fantasy is my favorite video game series?)