Day two of New York Comic Con 2015! I had a very full schedule of panels starting around mid-day, so I got some time in on the Exhibition Floor and Artist Alley in the morning. I made a point of going through the small press section of the main floor – that’s where all the independent authors would be. I learn a lot from watching and interacting with other authors at these cons – both what to do, and what not to do. One guy jumped down my throat as soon as I made eye contact – nothing against his work, but I could tell at a glance that his comic wasn’t my style. I just smiled at him, wasn’t stopping, but he launched into a detailed description of his book, and when he finished he immediately jumped into a description of his other book without giving me an opportunity to speak or, you know, walk away. It was very awkward. He took a breath and I muttered “thanks” and kept walking. Whereas another person’s book did look interesting to me, I stopped, picked it up, read the back, and she just stood there, staring at me. I looked up at her and she said, “Hi,” and nothing else. I felt too uncomfortable to ask her any questions, so I put down a book I might have bought and kept walking.
Lessons learned – don’t be desperate. Give people the opportunity to walk away politely. But if they do seem interested, engage with them in some way!
I stopped to chat quickly with one author whose booth and books looked interesting (and who struck the perfect balance between the two extremes I just described), Cerece Rennie Murphy. I’m always curious as to whether it’s worth it for me, as a self-published author, to get a booth at NYCC, so I asked her about her experiences. She spoke highly of exhibiting at cons – she does a number of them – so something for me to think about. (Although I enjoy attending NYCC so much that I hate the idea of not being free to wander, go to panels, and take everything in.)
I made my way down to Artist Alley, to check in with Ryan and Mia. Lots of cosplayers, obviously, and I got a couple of pictures.
John Constantine and Zatanna.
And the Sixth Doctor! I love a good Doctor Who cosplayer. He doesn’t have the hair, but that’s for the best. Sylvester McCoy taught us years ago that nobody looks good in a Colin Baker wig. (Real Doctor Who fans know what I’m talking about.)
Here are Mia and Ryan at Ryan’s booth. I love that Death Betty pin-up on the wall. Ryan was talking to some folks and I was trying to capture him being all professional, but he spotted me and I guess wanted to look all smart.
So here he is expounding on comic philosophy. Very erudite! And look at those sketches on the table – gorgeous! You can find more of his work at ryanwinn.com. Check it out!
Selfie with Mia, just like the cool kids are doing!
I said goodbye to them for the time being and headed off to my first panel, wolfing down my sandwich on the way since I wouldn’t have much time for lunch later. First was “Crip Culture and the Media – Perceptions of Disability in Film and Television.”
From left to right, that’s Shannon Devido, Lawrence Carter-Long, Howard Sherman, Maysoon Zayid, and moderator Dominick Evans (sorry, I didn’t realize at the time that his face was blocked by the paper and I didn’t take another pic). This panel was brilliant. It was everything I was looking for in yesterday’s panel on disability, and more. These folks are actual artists and creators with disabilities (except for Sherman, a knowledgeable ally). I’m still processing everything. I was particularly impressed with Zayid, her points about the problems with actors without disabilities portraying characters with disabilities really struck me. Lots for me to think about as I move forward with improving the representation of people with disabilities in my own work.
I got to relax a bit, because the next panel I wanted to attend was in the same room. I moved to the front for “The Next Big Thing: Indie Authors Creating Brave New Worlds.” This was the panel I had been looking forward to the most, for probably obvious reasons.
From left to right, there’s Greg Garay, Cerece Rennie Murphy, Nilah Magruder, April Adams, Neil Gibson, and co-moderators Michael “7” Michael and Dean Plakas. Murphy (remember her, from a few paragraphs ago?) had put the panel together – it was the first of its kind at NYCC. Every year, I respond to NYCC’s feedback request by asking for panels on self-publishing, and I’m so, so happy that this happened. It was great hearing from both prose and comics authors on their own particular journeys to independent publishing. If I’m honest, I can’t say that I learned much that I didn’t already know about the actual self-publishing process, but the audience was filled with aspiring independent creators who I’m sure got a lot of info and some great inspiration. And I got introduced to the work of some brilliant independent authors.
My next commitment wasn’t a panel, but a signing. I’m not much of an autograph hound – if I’m buying a book from a creator, I’ll get it signed because why not, but otherwise, I don’t much care. But I couldn’t miss this one – Ana Matronic, from the band Scissor Sisters, was signing copies of her new book at the Sterling Publishing Booth. It was starting not long after the panel got out so I rushed up to the Exhibition Floor, expecting to be at the back of a long line. I needn’t have hurried – there was nobody waiting at all. WHICH IS INSANE. Ana Matronic is the epitome of awesomeness. So I took the opportunity to get a copy of her book, Robot Universe, and then just sort of stood around waiting for her. A small line did form behind me, but I was the very first to meet the electric Ms. Matronic.
Flawless! I stammered that I was a big fan, she signed my book, and I asked if I could get a picture. She was super nice. Love her forever!
Since I was done much sooner than anticipated, I had some extra free time. I wandered back to the small press section and picked up a comic by Neil Gibson, who had been on the indie panel, and had another quick chat with Cerece Rennie Murphy. I thanked her for putting the panel together and offered my services if she needed any help for next year. I doubt she does, everything went great this year, but anything I can do to increase the visibility of self-published authors at events like this, I’ll do! Need a spreadsheet? I’m aces at spreadsheets.
I wandered around the floor a bit and snapped a few more pics…
Silk! (Update – Instagram has provided some IDs for some of the cosplayers I took pics of – this is @silkyjem.)
Clark Gregg (Agent Coulson!) made what I think might have been a surprise appearance at the Marvel booth, signing whatever was thrust in his face.
I’ve never seen the movie and honestly did not realize that he was Conan. I just thought he was some random barbarian. Nerd cred damaged.
I get Wario and Waluigi, but I don’t know the middle two. Are they specific Mario characters or just general Mario world denizens?
Ms. Marvel cosplay makes me happy.
By the time I made it back downstairs I was at the end of the line for the next panel, but once again, only needing one seat worked to my advantage and I was front and center for “New York TimesOUT Presents Gay Geek Culture.”
That’s moderator Jude Biersdorfer from the New York Times, Sam Maggs from The Mary Sue, author Damon Suede, and actors Paul McGill and Andy Mientus. Judy Stephens from Marvel was also there, but she came in late and I didn’t get a pic. The focus on this panel was broader than just comics, covering all media, including Broadway thanks to those two on the end. I enjoyed that, being a theater person myself.
I had a choice to make – well, really, every day at comic con is filled with choices, because there’s always at least two cool things happening simultaneously. But I try to make it to everything queer I can, and I had to decide between another panel or the “LBBTQIA in Comics and Pop Culture Meet-Up.” I’m trying to get better about networking and being social, so I went to the meet-up. Regretted it almost instantly. It was lovely, everybody was sitting around chatting, but introducing myself to a stranger with no purpose beyond just getting to know them is not something I’m capable of without a vodka tonic in my hand. I did say hello to Andy Mientus because I have a friend in Spring Awakening with him, but after a quick mutual, “Oh, yes, of course, he’s great,” I couldn’t think of anything else to say and just sort of drifted off.
I’m much better with books than I am with people. Sigh. So I left the meet-up prematurely and resumed wandering.
Here’s a shot of the entrance hall. So many people!
Hawkeye, Agent Carter, WWII Captain America (@todaystuesday), and Doctor Strange (@elegantfeatherduster)! Love the mustache.
I really liked these three – Scarecrow, Joker, and Bizarro.
You’re a wonder, Wonder Woman.
The day was winding down, and I was beat, but I still had two panels to go! Penultimate was “Geeks of Color, Third Edition: Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger.”
I was actually seated way in the back, but I snuck up to get this pic. When they were actually speaking I couldn’t see them, so I might have my who’s who wrong (sorry!), but I believe from left to right it’s Camilla Zhang, Shelley Diaz, N. Stephen Harris (hidden by the podium), moderator Diana Pho, Melissa Grey, Eric Dean Seaton, Tatiana G. King-Jones, and Tracey John. Another good talk on representation by some smart artists, but I confess my attention lagged. I couldn’t see them so it was sort of like listening to a podcast, and I was tired, tired, tired. Not their fault – what I remember was great! (I’m so lame.)
My final panel began right after, at 7:45pm. I had been at the con for a million hours by this point, but I wasn’t about to give up in the home stretch. I made it to “BookTube 101” right on time.
From left to right, that’s moderator Natasha Polis, Christine Riccio, Kat O’Keefe, and Jesse George. BookTube is the name used for a subset of YouTube channels all about books, and it’s something I know very, very little about and thought I should learn more. These four were a lot of fun, I can see why their channels would be popular – they were all very charming and funny, and damn, their enthusiasm for reading was just a complete joy to experience. As tired as I was, they kept my interest for the whole hour. Really glad I stayed for this one.
And that was that! Ryan and Mia finished up in Artist Alley around the same time as I got out, so we went and grabbed some dinner at Chelsea Grill followed by cookies at Schmackary’s. (Can’t go to Times Square without Schmackary’s cookies.) Then home for a rest and recharge before day three.
Day two loot! It was a light day – I didn’t have much time to shop! Twisted Dark is the comic I picked up from Neil Gibson of the indie author panel, and Robot Universe is of course Ana Matronic’s book. (I love the kitty-cat crimefighter tote bag I got free with it.) The rest is assorted bookmarks and fliers I either took or had shoved in my hand. I do look at them all, once I’ve decompressed – I’ve found some good stuff I otherwise would have missed that way.
Sleep!
