New York Comic Con: A Photo Essay (w/ Harry Dresden, Space Marines, and Yes the Elusive Yeti!)

The fifth annual New York Comic Con was this past weekend. I only attended on Friday despite it going on all day Saturday and Sunday for which my feet are eternally grateful, especially since Saturday was sold out to a capacity crowd of 80,000 people. I arrived during the relatively sedate Professional Hours, which gave me 3 hours of wandering time before the general public could enter. I had no luck getting a copy of The Heroes or Side Jobs, but I did see a real copy of the latter. I managed to meet Joe Abercrombie at his signing.  He was quite a nice fellow and I was surprised to learn he knew of Mad Hatter's Bookshelf. We took a picture together in which he was caught caressing my hat.  I hope it was as good from him as it was for me. Soon after entering I spotted this harry fellow.

Much later in the day I spotted the Yeti's North American cousin Bigfoot who was quite nice and not at all animal like.

But, man. I don't understand how someone could walk around all day in these outfits despite it being a relatively cool day. Next up are a couple photos taken right before the Fantasy author panel.

Priscellie from Jim-Butcher.com

The lovely Priscilla was dressed as Queen Mab from The Dresden Files. The next day she dressed as Molly, but I haven't found a picture. But look over her shoulder and you'll get an impossibility.

Yes, that is Harry Dresden with a cell phone of all things. Wizards can't use cell phones! How sparks weren't popping off him and that phone I'll never know, but he looked spot on with a hand that clearly is still healing and a rune inscribed staff.

Warhammer was promoting its online version with my favorite outfits of the show. This Space Marine was life size and clocking it at probably six and a half feet tall and his eyes friggin' glowed and a massively cool sword.

This is an Ork from Warhammer as well who was nearly as impressive as the Space Marine.

The next few pictures are from The Art of the Brick by Nathan Sawaya who does the most amazing things with Legos.  This was basically a mini exposition of his best work.

Han in Carbonite

This was as large as a  4 person breakfast table.

This is Sawaya's most famous piece "Yellow."

Next up are a couple photos I snapped at the Fantasy Author Panel, which should have been called: Giants of Fantasy what with the star studded panel. We had Joe Abercombie's (First Law) first American appearance as an author as well as Jim Butcher (Dresden Files), Naomi Novik (Temeraire), Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn), Peter V. Brett (The Painted Man), and newcomer Deborah Harkness (A Discovery of Witches). The panel was housed in a room far too small to the point that fans were turned away.  I barely got in and I was there 45 minutes early. A lot of love was thrown around for George R.R. Martin and Tolkien and much of the discussion skewed to writing habits and influences.

Below is video for the event, but for those preferring to read the discussion visit this run down by Tor.com, but keep in mind the videos are much more complete.

NYCC Panel Video: Fantasy Authors from Suvudu on Vimeo.


NYCC Panel Video: Fantasy Authors Part II from Suvudu on Vimeo.

Video games are very important to the show as well and I was able to play Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds (PS3), Kirby's Epic Yarn (Wii), Redemption (X-Box), and Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii). Kirby's Epic Yarn will be a must for me when it is released and M v C 3 brought me back to the arcade version. I got in a couple games of Magic: The Gathering both against players and their online version, which was a bit clunky. I also managed to meet many of my favorite current comic creators including Bryan J.L. Glass writer for The Mice Templar, Brian Clevinger and Scott Wegener creators of Atomic Robo, and David Petersen creator of Mouse Guard.  Signed copies of all their graphic novels were had by me.  I also went to a Marvel panel where I learned one of the Fantastic Four will be dying in their recently launched storyline.  It was weird seeing the FF logo with a 3 in it.  The issue with one of the character's dying will be sold in the famous death bag most famous from when Superman died. 

Plenty more went on while I was there, but you can only get a small taste. I'll definitely try to go back next year.

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