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By Beat Staff
Winner: The Harvey Awards – an improved venue, visually, a worthy lineup of Hall of Famers, heartfelt speeches by Fred Buell, Karen Berger, Vivek Tiwary and Neil Gaiman, Nadia Shamas and extra, an MC who struck the correct tone, and a brisk tempo made this the perfect ceremony because the awards format modified. The audio within the cavernous Crystal Palace continues to be exhausting to regulate however in any other case this was a really nice night to have a good time comics. (HM)
Loser: Whoever determined to provide all of the small comics publishers like Vault, Rocketship and Rebellion actually wretched sales space placement. (HM)
Winner: Panel workers. I felt like this yr the folks working the strains, particularly on the large panels, had been on prime of protecting the data and other people flowing. (DD)
Loser: the lounges. The press room within the new wing had barely any retailers and no lavatory close by, and whereas the again nook of the river pavilion had bogs and loads of energy, by noon nobody was checking professional or press badges. There had been drained con goers squatting in each nook, most probably as a result of their neighborhood lounge was overrun and crowded. (DD)
Winner: Nikki Liberatore, the press liaison for NYCC, who actually does go above and past with the various requests she will get. (HM)
Winner: Abrams Books. Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda’s She Eats the Night was in full show on the Abrams sales space, a e-book that I noticed many individuals discussing and studying on the present ground. Liu had an in-depth creator highlight panel the place she pulled the curtain again on her course of which was intimate, humorous, and profound. Abrams then had its personal panel showcasing the way forward for its graphic novel strains. Mariko Tamaki and John Jennings, as an example, spoke concerning the strains they’re overseeing and it appears to be like like we’re in line for some vital and transformative queer and black fiction and non-fiction books within the close to future. (RS)
Loser: Big identify comics publishers lacking in motion. This yr’s conference lastly felt like a return to normalcy, considerably. Marvel got here again after its absence in final yr’s con and it helped give the present that epic really feel pre-Covid editions had when strolling round and taking the area in. Unfortunately, DC’s absence muted the comeback a bit, as did no-shows like Dark Horse, Boom, and Image and their large cubicles. This did give smaller publishers extra time within the highlight, but it surely stored the con from reaching these pre-Covid highs that so made the expertise so particular and distinctive. (RS)
Winner: One Piece takes over Times Square. The huge, omnipotent presence that’s One Piece celebrated its future with new film promos and large ship and character inflatables on the con. But what actually took the cake was their Saturday evening takeover of Times Square’s large screens to additional promote the brand new film, subtitled “Red.” It’s fairly one thing to see a whole lot and a whole lot of individuals huddled in one of many busiest locations on Earth taking a look at manga and anime characters flashing within the brightest spot within the metropolis. It’s a testomony to the ability of anime and the way far forward of the sport they’re. (RS)
Loser: AEW. When AEW was beginning up and attempting to drive the model exhausting a couple of years again, they took to NYCC with aggression to make a press release. Big promoting billboards went up at Times Square and panels and signings had been plentiful. They had been even featured within the con’s print e-book guides. Last yr they’d a panel which featured Tony Schiavone, Adam Cole, Darby Allin, Thunder Rosa, and Orange Cassidy. This yr? Nothing. Jungle Boy and Britt Baker had been signing, together with Danhausen, however their presence was severely diminished. This is perhaps an indication of hassle in paradise given the current controversies surrounding CM Punk’s press convention and his altercation with The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega together with rumors of Khan dropping management of his backstage and reserving struggles (which he’s liable for). Here’s hoping the ship steers in direction of calmer waters come subsequent con. (RS)
Winner: Star Trek Universe panel reveals. At this level, Paramount+ has the Trek teases all the way down to a science, with the roster of 5 ongoing reveals (Discovery, Picard, Lower Decks, Prodigy, and Strange New Worlds) rotating from con to con. Especially thrilling is the revelation that Amanda Plummer will be part of Picard season 3, making her the (attainable) remaining villain for Picard’s crew, simply as her father Christopher Plummer performed the ultimate villain for Kirk’s crew in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. Let’s hope the third season of Picard has some Shakespeare quotations (ideally within the authentic Klingon). And I haven’t even talked about the return of (now Admiral) Jellico (Ronny Cox) on Prodigy. Plus, Paramount has discovered what women need: women need ship! Our first glimpse of the Shrike and USS Enterprise-F simply has me clamoring for extra. And these along with the USS Titan-A…! (AJK)
Winner: Moon Knight followers. While there wasn’t any particular information, Oscar Isaac confirmed that we will count on to see extra of “the system that is Moon Knight” in future installments of the MCU. While it isn’t clear whether or not which means a second season of his solo collection, or an look on one other present or film, the six episodes of Moon Knight have solely scratched the floor of the hero. After he didn’t seem on this yr’s Werewolf by Night particular, it’s good to know he shall be again in some type or one other – particularly because the character’s potential has barely been tapped. Plus: Isaac referred to as Pedro Pascal a “slut.” Now that’s leisure! (AJK)
Loser: Masking up. It was exhausting to inform if there was a masks coverage in place or just only a suggestion. When going into the conference middle, there could be folks passing out masks, however with no sense of obligation or requirement. As a consequence, the Javits Center was overflowing with folks and solely about 25% of them had been sporting masks. On busy days like Thursday and Saturday, it was uncommon to see folks masked up and even rarer to see any of the workers implement their mandate. (TL)
Loser: Super Mario Bros. trailer. The the filmmakers of The Super Mario Bros Movie. had their work reduce out for them to win audiences over after they debuted the first trailer at NYCC, specifically the controversial casting of actor Chris Pratt because the titular plumber. And whereas the animation and first half of the trailer was praised, followers weren’t impressed with the few seconds of dialogue of Pratt’s efficiency. In truth, it turned one thing of a web gag all weekend. Moreover, prolific voice actress Tara Strong criticized on social media the choice not to solid authentic Mario voice actor Charles Martinet within the iconic function. (TD)
Winner: Velma Dinkley. The brainiac member of the Scooby Gang is having a little bit of a second proper now with the character overtly depicted for the primary time as a lesbian in a current Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo Halloween film. It got here on the excellent time as Mindy Kaling was at NYCC to advertise her upcoming grownup animated Velma collection on HBO Max which has already been renewed for a second season. Moreover, I do know the character is a well-liked cosplay however I positively felt there have been lot extra folks dressed as Velma this yr than ever earlier than at NYCC. (TD)
Winner: Animation normally. Avatar: The Last Airbender (by way of the “Braving the Elements” podcast), The Owl House, The Dragon Prince, Chainsaw Man and Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War. Legions of followers confirmed up for Braving the Elements, and witnessing the sheer quantity of affection followers have for these franchises is unimaginable. It was bittersweet to see jaw-dropping Ida cosplays within the midst of The Owl House’s first and final NYCC panel. As for The Dragon Prince, the present is coming again in full power for a highly-anticipated fourth season following a 3 yr hole because the third season premiered. Overall, I felt like animation mainstays and newcomers, each the place anime and western media is worried, encompassed all the conference. I can’t start to explain the widespread wave of pleasure that enraptured us followers after we noticed Chainsaw Man’s enigmatic story come to life, or the ultimate arc of Bleach lastly on show after a ten yr hiatus. (GT)
Winner: James McAvoy. He is a real thespian, an actor with a captivating perception into performing, and a modern-day legend who took the time to take images with followers after the His Dark Materials panel on Thursday. (GT)
Loser: The Funko standby line. Why even hassle with a standby line if individuals who be part of it won’t have an opportunity to purchase merchandise? While the reservation system principally labored (after its epic fail the primary time round), legions of non-fan badge holders had been disenchanted by the dearth of a extra organized strategy to seize Funko’s merchandise. (GT)
Loser: The photo-op space on Friday afternoon. As a enjoyable sized particular person and somebody who continues to be relearning to be snug in dense teams of individuals, I used to be overwhelmed by how troublesome it was to maneuver within the autograph and photograph op space on Friday – I’ll chalk it as much as Sebastian Stan’s 14 photograph op teams and the truth that he was solely showing that day (I get it, I really like the person, met him virtually 5 years in the past and would meet him once more in a heartbeat). I used to be scheduled for 2 photograph ops, and due to logistical challenges, I left the designated space greater than an hour after I used to be purported to. Thankfully, this drawback considerably improved on Saturday, which was a miracle contemplating that Oscar Isaac, Brendan Fraser and Steve Burns (who bought out) had their first appearances that day. (GT)
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/trade-shows-events/article/90354-nycc-22-bright-lights-big-fandom.html
Loser: Peach Momoko followers. In an period the place many comics creators cost for signatures, an artist as common as Peach Momoko providing 10 free signatures and really low priced $20 remarques has turn out to be a rarity. This was nice for followers till her artist alley desk was overrun with overly pushy jerks with Exhibitor badges trying to generate profits off flipping a scorching merchandise. People had been loudly arguing over their place in line, and a battle virtually broke out in entrance of her desk on Sunday earlier than Peach introduced she wouldn’t be signing or sketching that day. Ms. Momoko did a particular make-up signing occasion at Midtown Comics on Monday, and warned that any faces she acknowledged as troublemakers the day earlier than could be booted instantly. (BH)
Winner: Felix Comic Art. It wasn’t simply Peach Momoko’s desk that was overrun with exhibitors. The Exhibitor cross offers the holder free reign of the present ground and Artist Alley, permitting anybody with one to line up further early for unique merchandise, signatures and sketches, leaving even the followers who lined up hours early to be the primary into the constructing at an excessive drawback. This isn’t new, but it surely actually appears to be a rising drawback. It was out of hand at HeroesCon this previous summer time and was simply as unhealthy at NYCC this weekend. Enter Felix Lu and Felix Comic Art. They gave out tickets initially of every day for the Felix repped artists. They had agency guidelines in place, together with a No Exhibitors rule that they caught too. I watched an exhibitor strive in useless to get a Daniel Warren Johnson sketch ticket on Saturday. He was losing his breath. Felix repped artists supplied free signatures as nicely. Between that, and their clear guidelines on sketches, they’re head and shoulders above each different artwork rep in Artist’s Alley in the case of being fan-focused. (BH)
Loser: The Todd McFarlane signing line at CGC. Todd McFarlane’s signing line at CGC on Saturday was an ideal storm of poor planning. It occurred on the CGC sales space on the present ground, situated proper smack in a excessive visitors space close to each a rest room and an entrance/exit. The quantity of reservations given out significantly exceeded the accessible area in and round CGC, with the road stretching like a snake for 4 aisles in a single course and turning for 2 extra aisles in one other course. The line was policed by one harried staffer. As a lot as I admire Reed Pop assigning folks to face round lackadaisically handing out masks within the panel wing, possibly a couple of of these folks ought to have been serving to monitor this a whole lot of individuals line. CGC workers supplied no assist with the road. Fans had been instructed by the NYCC workers member to police themselves at each intersection, resulting in loud arguments when followers becoming a member of what they thought had been the tip of the road found they had been nobody close to the again of the road. (BH)
Winner: NYC comics outlets. All week main as much as NYCC by way of the day after NYCC ended, it appeared like not less than one retailer within the metropolis was having a NYCC associated signing or occasion every evening. St. Mark’s Comics and Forbidden Planet hosted a number of signings in store, Midtown Comics hosted a variety of nicely organized signings at their sales space (take notes, CGC) and hosted Peach Momoko at their retailer on Monday whereas Bill Sienkiewicz signed his new comedian at Forbidden Planet the identical evening. What an incredible metropolis through which to be a comics fan! (BH)
Loser: Whatnot. Did I simply wait in line at WhatNot simply to win an empty soda can? Wait, did I simply wait in one other line at WhatNot simply to not win an empty soda can? Oof. (BH)
Winner: IDW Publishing. When it was introduced that IDW could be dropping three stalwarts of its publishing line, G.I. Joe, Transformers and My Little Pony, with the Hasbro license transferring elsewhere, issues seemed worrisome for the writer. But they’ve doubled down on bringing in large names to provide new works, like Scott Snyder and Stephen Graham Jones, whose comics, Dark Spaces: Wildfire and Earth Divers: Kill Columbus, had been proven off within the writer’s Sunday panel, together with New Yorker cartoonist Sofia Warren’s memoir, My Year With a Socialist Senator, and the continuation of IDW’s glorious Artist’s Edition collection spearheaded by editor Scott Dunbier. And should you’re at IDW for its licensed books, don’t fear, it doesn’t appear like TMNT goes wherever (for now). (BH)
Loser: IDW Publishing. I get it. You don’t wish to promote a property for a license to which you’re about to say goodbye. But come on. The remaining difficulty of G.I. Joe, at a landmark difficulty quantity #300, is ready to drop shortly after NYCC. Larry Hama, the person who has written G.I. Joe because the very starting, lives domestically. And you don’t honor his legacy on the franchise with a panel paying tribute to the person who’s the franchise?? No G.I. Joe panel, no G.I. Joe unique comedian. No Larry Hama signing. Come on, IDW! Talk about dropping the ball. I’m all for trying to the long run, however don’t slam the door in your current. (BH)
Winner: Superman. I coated all of the comics-related DC panels (aside from the Gotham City panel, which was 10:45 a.m. on Sunday, a time I didn’t understand was an possibility), and I simply discovered the Superman panel to be essentially the most thrilling. Moderated by Alex Segura with writers Joshua Williamson, Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Mark Russell, and Dan Jurgens, the panel was full of information. Specifically, Williamson is launching a brand new Superman #1 with artist Jamaal Campbell, whereas Action Comics is getting an expanded anthology format and Tom Taylor’s Jon Kent-starring run continues with an Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent miniseries. News in a Big 2 panel is a blast, as a result of the gang actually will get up for it. Moreover, although, I feel what stood out right here was the real creator pleasure. Every reply was considerate and honest, and the entire thing was refreshingly absent the same old generic hype that tends to populate these items. Rather than “The DC universe will never be the same!” or “We’re so excited to show this to you guys,” the solutions right here felt extra like excited associates telling you plans at an after-con bar meetup. Also, DC increasing its Superman line on this age of All Bat-Everything felt like a small (and really welcome) miracle. (ZQ)
Loser: Friday. Look, this can be anecdotal, however Friday felt extra packed to me than Saturday. It additionally felt like a superb variety of of us in attendance needed to shake off rust from lacking mega reveals for roughly three years. Whatever the trigger, I do know I for one had a greater time as soon as I acquired snug throughout the present’s second half, and speaking to others, many of us appeared to really feel the identical approach. (ZQ)
Winner: The ‘90s. ‘90s nostalgia is everywhere nowadays, and NYCC is no exception. At DC’s Jim Lee and Friends panel, Lee opened by asking who favored ‘90s comics. The capacity crowd erupted, a reaction that seemed to genuinely surprise Lee, who then remarked, “If I’d have identified you guys would have beloved the fabric we did within the ‘90s, I’d have carried out extra of it.” (ZQ)
Loser: NYCC panel pre-registration system. Something going incorrect with pre-registering for NYCC panels looks like a given and this yr was no exception. While I’m certain fairly a variety of folks had been upset that weren’t in a position to get into their desired Main Stage and Empire panels, I discovered I nonetheless was in a position to get into fairly a variety of them that had been listed as bought out on the web site even with out pre-registering or media reserved seating. (TD)
Winner: Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda’s She Eats the Night – not solely was this kind of the Book of the Show so far as buzz went, however their transfer from Image to Abrams was an indication of the chances of particular person authors to maneuver round and discover houses for initiatives. (HM)
Winner: New York Comic Con – for all of the nitpicking and losers, all of it comes from love of an occasion that unites so many elements of the business in a terrifying, stunning stew. So many individuals had been blissful simply to be collectively once more, and after the final three years, we’ll by no means take that as a right once more. (HM)
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