Where do I even begin? High school when the best friend and I first heard of this new fan convention in New York? College when we couldn’t go to comic con because October was always the month of midterms? Last year when both the best friend and I were settling in to new jobs and trying to pay the bills?

But this year! This year marked the start of us finally living a little for ourselves. For the best friend and I, it wasn’t just about seeing other fans dress up as different characters (aka cosplay) or getting the latest news about pop culture. It was about finally living life as twenty-something-year-olds, about taking a breather from the stresses of reality, and about participating in a community that made us happy. 

Join me in reliving our first New York Comic Con experience!

(What exactly is New York Comic Con, you ask? NYCC is an annual fan convention held in October dedicated to many pop culture and entertainment genres, such as graphic novels, anime, cosplay, and movies. It’s a four day event from Thursday – Sunday.)

Our Day 1: Friday (aka Chaos and Confusion)

NYCC took place mainly in Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, which is a gorgeous, gigantic glass building. Being clueless amateurs, the best friend and I decided to meet up at the center separately not realizing there were multiple entrances and that certain streets would be blocked. Result? It took us 45 minutes and assistance from a fellow fan in a ninja cosplay before the best friend and I finally found each other. 

Then, because we were still clueless amateurs, we spent two hours walking around the center, overwhelmed by the massive amount of booths, people, and activities. There was SO MUCH happening, and even with maps in hand, it took us time to figure out where to find anything. It also took us time to gather enough courage to ask fellow fans in amazing cosplays if we could take their pictures. (Seriously, how are people comfortable approaching strangers like that?? This is exactly why the best friend and I need a third friend who is NOT an anxious introvert.)

Here are a few of the amazing cosplays we did manage to snap photos of:

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NYCC is also known for their displays showcasing stunning, new, and limited edition figurines and collectibles. Below were some of our favorites!

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One of the floors of the center, the Show Floor, had a SyFy Wire booth which streamed live 15-minute interviews of cast and crew from various movies and TV shows. We managed to catch the cast interview for Dark Phoenix, an upcoming X-Men movie based on the character of Jean Grey, played by Sophie Turner. We had a horrible view of the stage, but yes, we saw her in person!

NYCC had so many cool artifacts that no matter what fandom you loved or where you turned, there was something there for you to fangirl (or fanboy) over. Here were some of the things that made us squeal:

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Last by not least, a selfie with the best friend to prove we were here (haha!)

Tomorrow, I’ll post about our second day of comic con (Sunday aka Successful and Satisfying). Expect a TON more cosplays (we finally worked up the nerve to talk to people!), our first NYCC panel, and seeing Jodie Whittaker up close! (Spoiler: she seems like a down-to-earth person who is genuinely loving being able to play the 13th Doctor.)