NYCC Cosplayers

I didn't get photos of nearly as many cosplayers as I wanted. Some got past me too fast. Some shots I did take were blurry because I was too rushed. I also managed to cut off some feet as I had only my regular, kit lens, and couldn't back up enough. There were so many wonderful costumes, as always.

Another Year, Another New York Comic Con

This year, the 4-day passes sold out really fast, so by the time it was my turn, 50 minutes after entering the site's queue, there were only 3-day passes and dailies left. Three-day passes don't include Thursday, my favorite day because it's the least hectic, so I ended up getting passes for Thursday and Friday only, which cost a bit more than a 4-day pass. Adding Saturday would've been too much money to spend extra for walking around, shopping, and taking photos. I don't do panels; haven't done that at a con in years.

I spent most of Thursday in Artist Alley, chatting with folks and taking pictures. First stop was getting on the line for Amanda Conner, my favorite artist and one of the very few people I'd stand on line for these days. For most of my time at NYCC, Amanda has graciously let me take a photo of her with my little stormtrooper action figure, Steve. It's a NYCC tradition! Jimmy Palmiotti was there at the time, too, so I got them both to pose with little Steve. They're the nicest people and I love chatting with them.

Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner, and Steve

I got to meet Kyle Higgins and picked up the not-yet-released-to-stores compilation of the first 5 issues of C.O.W.L. which has edged its way into my top 5 favorite comics with its unique slant of unionized superheroes.

Kyle Higgins

Autographed Copy of COWL Book 1

I don't really collect art, anymore. My money goes for action figures and other toys these days and I have no place to showcase art, anyway, thanks to no wall space. But I did get a few autographs on the cover of my program, including Adam Hughes.

Adam Hughes

I then headed over to the giant toy and comics mall, aka the seller's floor, and bought a few things. Mostly, I took pics of cosplayers and upcoming 1:6 action figures, such as these.

I already have Mal Reynolds, from QMx on pre-order. It was nice to see the figure in person, though!

Mal Reynolds 1:6 Scale Action Figure

 I became a Honey West fan with the TV series in the '60s and have enjoyed the recent comic book series. I do need to read the novels on which the show and comics were based. So I was happy to see that Phicen is doing a seamless action figure of Honey, due out in 2015.

Honey West 1:6 Action Figure Doll

And there's a new player when it comes to high end 1:6 action figures: Star Ace. Their distributor is YesAnime. They're starting out, this month, with a series of Harry Potter figures.

Ron Weasley and Harry Potter 1:6 Action Figures

I'll showcase my favorites of the cosplayers I snapped in another post.

NYCC Artist Autographs

I could have gotten more, but I felt funny going up to artists whose work I'm not all that familiar with. And a few others, like George Perez, had lines and my legs were not happy about the idea of waiting on another line after Friday's 70 minutes to get the Aardman Batman, never mind that there were plenty of those left at DC Collectibles on Saturday and NO line! At least, I'd met George Perez years ago and got his autograph then.

The program guide didn't have blank pages for autographs, so I made do.

Autographs

Autographs

NYCC 2012 Day Three

Spent a few hours at the con hanging out with a friend in the dealers' room, and the rest of the time in Artists Alley, getting autographs in the program book (which had little room for signatures) and taking photos. Here are some highlights.

Matthew Clark

Ron Randall

Amy Reeder

Dustin Nguyen

Cliff Chiang

Stephane Roux

Aaron Lopresti

Tom Raney

Ramona Fradon

NYCC 2012 Day Two

Today, the 3-Day Pass folks joined us 4-Day Pass folks, making for serious crowding in the main show room. I spent some time in Artists Alley, and had a delightful chat with Joshua Middleton and bought a print of Poison Ivy, which he signed. He had only that and one other of the smaller size, and since I don't have wall space for the larger prints, I didn't get one of the Supergirl prints.

Joshua Middleton

Bill Barnes

 I also chatted with Bill Barnes of Unshelved, the library comic strip.

Then I went shopping in the main room and took pics of people in costume. There are so many wonderful cosplayers at the con this year, as usual.

And here's today's purchases.

Today's Goodies

I also, on a whim, picked up the 0 issues for Red Hood and the Outlaws and Green Arrow, which I spotted at one of the comics dealers. I skimmed them on the way home. I don't like and never liked Jason Todd, and while his origin now is actually more sympathetic, it did nothing to make me like him even a bit. As for Green Arrow, I prefer the origin as told in the recent, pre-DCnU mini. I suppose they think this is edgier, but the other was edgy enough. Actually, I really like the first chapter of GA's origin as told in the new Arrow series, which I really enjoyed. A lot. More on that in a bit.

What I was really interested in was seeing if Roy Harper would figure in either of them, despite my earlier lack of interest in anything to do with Roy in the new DC52. Yeah, it's a year later and maybe I'm mellowing a bit in my negative attitude about the books. Or just curious. And I have to admit, the way Roy was used in Green Arrow 0 wasn't bad, though we didn't get his background. There was no mention of his ever being raised on a reservation, and I'd hate to have him lose his Native American connection.

So, is anyone reading Red Hood and the Outlaws? Has it improved from Kory as Bimbo book? Is it worth reading? Given I've frozen Roy in my mind pre-Lian's death, I think I'm at the point where I'm ready to accept an alternate universe Roy Harper. I'm reading Nightwing and that's really good.

Back to Arrow. The quick review: I loved it. Amell is great as Ollie and I like the gimmick of alternating present time with flashbacks to his time on the island. There's intrigue and a nifty connection with Laurel Lance, her sister whom Ollie cheated on her with, and their father, Det. Lance, played by the wonderful Paul Blackthorne, who has it in for Ollie. There's lots of promise here for a fun, fast-paced show that's action and soap opera rolled into one.

Batgirl Awesomeness

I'm interrupting the lack of posting here to post a link to this awesome Batgirl fan video I discovered thanks to a post over on Robot 6. It's just chapter 1, but it shows real promise with nice production values and good acting. I can't wait for chapter 2. And I love that it's Steph Batgirl.

Meanwhile, this weekend is NYCC, so there will be photos posted here starting Thursday or Friday. I don't do panels or autograph sessions, but I hope to get lots of good cosplay pics and pics of new toys.

NYCC Sunday

It was kids' day at the con. Lots of short folks underfoot. It might've been more mobbed yesterday, but today it really got to me. I could hardly move anywhere. I didn't get many sketches this con, partly because I never got to Amanda Connor's table at the right time and partly because too many of the artists I wanted sketches from were too busy finishing commissions. I don't really commission art or buy finished pieces because I have no room to display them and my money goes toward supporting my toy, book, and comics habits. ;)

Anyway, Cliff Chang was nice enough to do a quickie for me, and Dustin Nguyen did a quick Steph Brown Batgirl sketch. To me, these little sketches are like enhanced autographs.

Now, I'm exhausted and my feet and legs hurt, not from walking around so much as from standing around or moving at a snail's pace trying to get through the dealers' room where I hang out pretty much the entire time I'm at the con.

Highlights in photos...

Cliff Chang

At the DC Booth

I'm not sure what's scarier: that they made these Alfred E. Neuman Justice Leaguers or that I think I want the Wonder Woman one.

Celebrating Spy vs. Spy's 50th Anniversary

Jimmy Palmiotti

Neal Adams

Toys! Toys! Toys!

Steph Batgirl by Dustin Nguyen

Sketch by Cliff Chang

More NYCC ComicCon Photos

I spent time in Artist Alley today, then visited with a flickr friend who came to the con from out of town.

Katie Cook

Amanda Connor is always obliging when I ask her to pose with a toy.

Dustin Nguyen

Amy Reeder