Pix from NY Comic-Con: Group 1

All of these will be enlarged by clicking. Pix first, descriptions row-by-row further down, because I haven't spent much time figuring out how (or whether) I can more selectively place images with text.

Sorry about missing yesterday's post here. I was finishing my write-up of the session called HOW TO WRITE SCIFI/FANTASY/NOIR AND GET PUBLISHED. It's now posted with other convention stuff on the front page at Fantasy BookSpot. Go read it. Or don't. But please.

I didn't take a ton of pictures, because the crowds precluded being able to back up for framing or even getting a clear sightline. People instinctively backed away from costumed characters to allow easier photos (or perhaps from discomfort even fear) so that's what I got. It's my excuse and I'm sticking with it. Still, I hope these give some flavor of the event. Apologies out of the way, here we go.

Row 1.
1) The shivering line around the Javitz from the crowds I described here.
2) In the registration foyer, a towering Lego Batman astride a Lego gargoyle. Another cool LegoBot was inside the exhibition hall. There were banners, figurines, and racks of comics sticking up everywhere as well as roaming paid and voluntary costumed characters creating cartoon-colored visual overload.
3) Most of the comic vendors, and they were legion, had some variety of this display. Piles upon piles of cardboard boxes filled with plastic-sleeved comics sorted by type and title. Many also had arrangements of action figures, trading cards, or other collectibles. Must be a huge pain to inventroy, set up, and take down. Even if you knew what you wanted, it could take hours to check every haystack. Only a hardened comic browser could brave all the stalls and bargain tables and booths.

Row2.
1) I actually recognized the UglyDolls, though not by name. This one is Wage who works in his apron at the local Super Mart and smiles on the inside. Most comics are meant to be pored over, up close, like old LP album art. So, from a distance, a lot of the jam-packed visuals don't read. Given my general ignorance, much of the content started to blur and I found myself drawn to simpler, less compressed forms like this.
2 & 3) Though I am a comic ignoramus, even I've seen Sailor Moon. This Sailor Venus cosplayer- the more formal title for dresser-uppers- is recreating Mina, the Sailor of Love from the wildly popular manga turned television series.

Row 3.
1) Given the violence, sex, and antisocial psychosis entertainingly on display in much of modern comicry, you may be surprised by my report of the relative warmth and lack of butt-kicking directed at the resident Smurf. People have embraced a meta-ironic approach to the Belgian Blues.