While I have been attending various conventions over the past two years Gen Con marks the point where history starts to repeat itself. So which Conventions will I be returning to and what am I doing to prepare for them? While I have a bucket list of Cons I want to attend, I’m still not going to be hitting everything on that list this year. This is partially due to needing to spend some time at home and not on the road. Currently I’m looking at finishing up 2024 with Cartoon Crossroads Columbus and then New York Comic Con. Both Cons couldn’t be more different but they do require some of the same preparations.

Cartoon Crossroads Columbus (CXC)

This is a “small” convention (13,000+) focusing more on the art of comics than the pop culture aspects. Originally started by Jeff Smith of Bone fame, CXC takes place in Columbus Ohio and is held in two places, The campus of OSU specifically the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum) and the Main Branch of the Columbus Public Library. It covers four days of sessions including the opportunity to tour the collection of the Billy- which is a bucket list item in itself. The Con brings in up and coming creators and those who are cutting edge. CXC also has a great mission dealing with involving kids. Last year they had sessions with Raina Telgemeier.

New York Comic Con

New York Comic Con is put on by Reep Pop who manages a number of Pop Culture Conventions around the country. To me it is the east coast version of San Diego Comic Con, what seems to be missing is the proximity to the studios, so not as many announcements, but still stars galore. Like SDCC there are comic creators who attend only a few shows a year. Last year this was where I picked up an Humberto Ramos page from Strange Academy. The focus though is mostly on pop culture, so autographs, photo ops and panels with stars of stage and screen. Cosplay is also big. It is held at the Javits Center and can be a madhouse.

Being a Comic Con Prepper

I start by waiting until the dates are announced for each and get them on my calendar. Sometimes dates are available early on, sometimes you have to wait. CXC will be held in Late September (September 26-29) and New York Comic Con will be held mid October (October 17-20). Once the dates are available then you need to find out when badges will be available. CXC is free- so tickets are needed for some events. NYCC you need a badge for – if you want to go for the entire Con for 2024 it’s $240, if you can get a badge.

Then it’s time to look at lodging- For CXC it’s close enough I could go for the day without any worry. I like to go for a few days so I get a hotel near campus, and have been using the same hotel for most Cons I attend in Columbus. For NYCC it’s a little more pricey. In the past I stayed with my brother, but discovered that that was a bit of a burden for his family (something I do my best to avoid) so this year I’m staying in New Jersey and using public transit to get to NYC. We shall see how it works out. A Newark hotel room, is cheaper (as is parking) than anything I could find in NYC. Of course this week they started throwing out information for the room block on Social Media… I’m not even looking. In the past I’ve done most cons on my own. This time around, Sue will be joining me, or at least stealing my car for the majority of each con. In Columbus, she’s got work to do and the hotel has internet, but is also going to go caching in the area. In New York, she’s heading to a fiber festival (Rhinebeck- the “Comic Con of Yarn”) upstate and will fly home as I drive back to Indy. Maybe we can get Sue to write something up about her experience in the land of Yarngeeks.

Then more waiting… this time to see what artists, exhibitors and panels are going to be there. For me it’s more important to see panels and artists, but for some Cons (NYCC) it’s all about the celebrities and exclusives. I get it, but for many it’s all about resale.

As it gets closer and I have an idea of some of the major things I want to do I’ll refresh myself on the various rules for what I can and cannot bring into the convention. Fortunately, I’m not considering major cosplay, but one of these days… I’ll most likely bring a typical book bag or messenger bag to carry things, but nothing to get in the way of moving through crowds. I don’t want to be “that guy” who ends up knocking everyone around him with his ginormous bag, or cart while navigating the aisles. I will also pack snacks, or some candy in case my blood sugar drops and bring along a water bottle room (temperature water). These are mostly for emergencies. Con food is expensive, but sometimes the convenience of not having to leave and return makes it worth it. It’s also my excuse to eat really really bag stuff once or twice a year. I’ll also bring something sturdy to carry comic pages or other original artwork without worrying about it getting damaged. I have a poster tube and page protectors that I have purchased in the past. if need be there will be a booth selling this kind of stuff- or at least there usually is around artist alley.

Cash is King?!? Just like every con is different som is every booth in the exhibit hall. In the past you had to pay in cash, I recall frantically heading over to an ATM in order to pay for one of my first pieces of original art. Now, for the most part, they accept card. There might be a charge added due to bank fees. Most artists still gladly and gratefully accept cash. Internet connectivity can also be spotty, which causes problems with paying for things. Most food places in the Con- only accept card, so be prepared for both.

The biggest thing you can keep in mind is- you won’t be able to do/see everything. It’s like taking a trip to Disneyworld. Plan around one or two non-negotiable things and then if you get to do more- Woo Hoo!

The Rundown for CXC

CXC tends to be more academic with many artists who are up and coming in the comics field. All the artists present are great, just some aren’t as known as others. Many are self published. CXC is an opportunity to learn about artists, and projects that don’t always get press. Opening night showcases the Ohio Animation Showcase. With travel times, I’m not sure I’ll make it. I also have issues with some of the more social events. Even though these people are my tribe, as I said, these are the intellectuals of the comic tribe and sometimes come across in a way that makes you uncomfortable in joining in on a conversation. Sessions and events run the entire weekend Thursdays and Friday are pretty much exclusive to the Billy Ireland throughout the day from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Tours are in the afternoon. If you are going- I highly recommend going on a tour. It is amazing. The sessions throughout both days are “Talk & Teach” with a wide variety of topics and speakers revolving around the comics professional or (like me) wanna be professional. Like some of the sessions I attended at Heroes Con these can be a little more focused on things you don’t think about until you need to- packing and shipping artwork for example.

Saturday and Sunday things move to the Main Branch of the Columbus Public Library. Up to this point there really hasn’t been an exhibit hall/artist alley. Here you also have three tracks of panels and one of those is devoted to kids. The weekend continues with artists and signings. This year some of the big names are Jeff Smith (duh), Art Spiegelman, Françoise Mouly, Chip Zdarsky, Kate Beaton, Bryan Lee O’Malley to name a few.

As a retired teacher I have found this and the Ann Arbor Comic Arts Festival (A2CAF) as great places to discover new comics for my classroom. While many creators are unclear on what the public considers “All Ages” for the most part these folks get it. I recall talking with an artist at a different con about his “all ages” book- that dealt with a post apocalyptic world inhabited by zombie strippers… Like Mom’s for Liberty wouldn’t make an example of me if that made it into my classroom?

Non-Negotiable: Tour the Billy Ireland, again. There are a lot of sessions, but I’m not sure about timing with things, so I’m not going to plan for anything except the tour this year.

New York Comic Con (the 800 pound gorilla that happens to be climbing up the Empire State Building in the room)

Everyone knows about San Diego Comic Con (SDCC)… it is the Comic Con that the world looks to as a “perfect example of what a “Comic Con” is… which like many things the media and Hollywood really have no idea about what a comic con is or should be. These are what I like to label as “Pop Culture Conventions” While they are nice, they don’t focus as much on comic books as they do on generic pop culture. It could be more celebrities, professional wrestlers, toys, etc. I look at it as any “comic convention” that spends more time promoting the actors that will be in attendance instead of the comic creators, isn’t a comic con. Yes, I’m a geek snob. If the first big announcement has nothing to do with a comic creator, it’s a Pop Culture Con.

Like some politicians it seems to all be about the numbers. Which one is bigger/better NYCC (250,000 attendees) or San Diego (135,000 attendees)? It is funny that just as NYCC is announcing programming, SDCC is announcing how their badges are sold out (SDCC isn’t until July). For many conventions they have moved beyond just getting badges. There must be a sense of elitism and exclusivity. At Gen Con you have the Very Important Gamer (VIG) badge which includes lots of exclusive things including access to a lounge to rest. NYCC has the same kind of thing, giving those willing to pay- reserved seats, first chance at signing up for tickets to things, and exclusive items. I’ve been following some groups who are livid about how the reservations for Funko Pops sold out before they got them. The difference between a NYCC Funko Pop and one you get somewhere else… a small sticker on the box. Next up are reservations for the big panels later this week. Unfortunately, with so many people in attendance, Who knows if I will be able to get tickets to anything I would like to attend.

As I said, after buying a ticket I then wait for other announcements. Who is actually going to be in artist Ally? Who is exhibiting? What panels/activities would I like to attend? This is what moves you up from a level one con goer. When I started going to Cons back in the 80’s (1980’s not 1880’s) I tended to go just for the Exhibit Hall. Living in Los Angels there was a regular con that I could dig through comics and pick up issues I was missing. It also had some screenings and presentations. I recall going to one for “The Last Starfighter” and another for “Buckaroo Banzai” and getting promotional swag for both films that has long since disappeared. I was pretty much a level one con goer. I’d spend hours in the exhibit hall, then head home with an empty wallet and treasures. As I grew up, I started to actually look to see what was else was going on. Sometimes it was things like a creative team on my favorite comic book talking about what the plan was for the upcoming year or an artist sharing their sketches. That was one thing I enjoyed about SDCC you could usually get into comic book related sessions fairly easily, it was Ballroom 20 and Hall H that meant you had to wait in the queue for days.

NYCC has released their panel list and I have gone through the list to see what I might be interested in. Being in New York (and no longer teaching) I’m also looking at what other activities I might want to do while in the city. I’m not going to spend four days wandering the exhibit hall. With my brother and his family attending on certain days, that makes me focus on things that might be nice for them. Last time was my brother’s first time at a con and we spent a lot of time wandering the hall. I was able to get him into two sessions- one on the Broadway adaptation of “Back to the Future” and another one on using improv techniques in your classroom. I’ve created two lists of options one for him, and one for his family, I’m doubtful either one will even be looked at, but it’s a start. I figure they will just want to gawk at everything in hall.

For me, there are two Star Trek based sessions I’m looking at- first is an interview with Paul Stashwick who played Captain Liam Shaw in the third season of Picard. The other is one that I most likely will need tickets for- dealing with the Star Trek Universe. While I try to avoid many panels dealing with TV & Movies, I have been a Trekkie for as long as I can remember, so I will try to see about getting in, if I don’t… that’s fine too. There is a really cool exhibit at the Museum of the Moving Image on Jim Henson, and there is also a temporary exhibit on Frank Oz, so I will make an effort to get away from the chaos of the Con and head over there. I also have a few other places on my list since I don’t see myself getting out to NYC as often as I had originally thought.

I’m still creating my list of other panels, fortunately most of them aren’t dealing with the Main Stage or Empire Stage so while I may need to wait in line, I won’t need to get a pre-ticket for them. DC has announced their “Absolute” universe – from what I understand similar to Marvel’s Ultimate Universe. So a starting point for new readers without legacy canon making the characters harder to understand. Again, a lot of the panels seem to focus on other realms of the geek universe, but I’ll keep looking and see what might be interesting.

Retirement keeps me away from those panels dealing with the importance of comics and graphic novels in the classroom. Most teachers I worked with wrote me off as a nut for even suggesting it (along with including play). The school comic cons that we tried to put together where pretty much what a comic con looks like to someone who has never attended a comic con. 🙄 Only once was one done well, and they turned it into a night event for families, even brought in artists to talk to people.

As for Artist Alley, I’ve created a list of artists I want to drop by and see, since this is a “Pop Culture Con” there are a number of artists who will not be in attendance. New York is expensive and they don’t make as much money as they could just working at home, or going to a con where attendees know and appreciate their work. Will I be purchasing anything? If something jumps- maybe. I am planning on attending another con later this year focused on Comic Art- so I am currently looking at saving money for that, but who knows?

Exhibitors? I will wander the hall, more to orient myself for when I walk the hall with my brother and his family. I need to know where all the rubber sword sellers are and stuffed animals. I bought a puppet last year, so maybe I’ll check those out again. Unfortunately, comic book wise, the prices at cons like this can suffer from hyperinflation. When the cost of living in an area is outlandish, the price reflects it. In Charlotte, at Heroes Con, while the attendees are more savvy, they also come from places where prices for everything (including comics) are more reasonable.

Fortunately, I really don’t care too much about autographs or photo-ops since those are the big things at pop culture cons. Hundreds of dollars to get a photo of yourself with… some guy who played some character in some film. If you want to do it- good for you! I know- part of it is I’m an introvert so I’m flustered when I have to talk to people, especially famous or semi-famous people. I have a hard enough time talking to artists who I admire, I don’t even want to think about talking to a “star.” Of course it’s hundreds of dollars if you can get a reservation…and another queue to wait in. I brought books to get signed at Heroes Con, I may pull a few for NYCC, but only time will tell- lugging around things at a con is exhausting.

NYCC has other activities going on concurrently- sessions for writers, gamers, anime, cosplay, etc. I’ve looked a few of these, but mostly out of curiosity. I checked these out a bit last year and will most likely stop by again.

Looking back at the numbers and having attended a number of Cons… Size doesn’t matter. NYCC is massive, as is SDCC. My current preference is still Heroes Con in Charlotte (50,000) and Gen Con (71,000) in some cases it’s hard to tell which is bigger by just looking. It’s also interesting to compare size and actual experience. Each has unique exhibitors. 2024 SDCC had LEGO, DC Comics, Marvel… 2024 NYCC- none of those. While they might have panels, nothing listed at this time. At least they have Funko, even though you can’t actually get a reservation to purchase anything. 🙄 No I don’t understand the appeal, but if it makes you happy. 😄

Non-Negotiables: I really won’t know until I can see if I can get tickets to Saturday’s Star Trek Panel… There will be some authors Thursday evening talking about their books that I’d like to hear and maybe get a book or two signed. There are a number of artists I’d like to see about getting something from them. The funny thing is there are also a few things outside of the Con I’d like to do… Fortunately I have time to figure it out. The hard part is making plans when people are involved, and when you aren’t quite sure about how transportation will work. Once I’ve traveled from the hotel to the con and back, I’ll know how the system works and can plan accordingly.

Afterwards

I have a few ideas for the trek back, but currently I’m planning on a return trip to the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester, NY to check out their D&D and Storytelling Exhibit. While Indianapolis has an amazing Children’s Museum, it tends to be all things to all people, while the Strong, just focuses on toys and the importance of play I really had a great time there last year and can easily get lost for a day there again.