Since 2006, New York City has increased its appeal to residents and tourists alike with the addition of Comic Con. According to the official Comic Con website, the convention has made a welcome annual appearance that has grown from 33,000 to 96,000 fans in attendance, making it the second largest comic book and pop culture gathering in the country. From Friday, Oct. 14 to Sunday, Oct. 16, the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center will be a Mecca of ‘geekdom' for Trekkies, Star Wars fans, and comic enthusiasts alike. Based on the list of celebrities and artists scheduled to appear, this year is sure to put up record numbers for fans of all persuasions.
Because Comic Con is essentially a celebration of all the men of steel and caped crusaders we have admired over the years, it would only be natural to invite their creators to the event. Stan Lee and Geoff Johns, key artists and creators behind Marvel and DC Comics, respectively, will attend for various Q & A sessions as well as signings.
While comics serve as the main draw for the convention, other forms of entertainment such as TV, film and video games are greatly emphasized with countless booths and panels for fans to attend. Some of the notable celebrities to represent each facet include the voice of TV's "Archer," H. Jon Benjamin, popular filmmaker Kevin Smith and Luke Skywalker himself, actor Mark Hamill. Aside from celebrity cameos, there are giveaways at almost every booth, daily costume contests and video game demos from all the major companies like RockStar and Nintendo.
Although each of these events are almost annual occurrences, this year marks a special occasion with the last-minute addition of a panel discussion for Marvel's feature film, "The Avengers." This film is the pinnacle of Marvel's biggest movies from the past five years which include "Iron Man," "The Incredible Hulk," "Thor" and "Captain America." On Saturday, Oct. 15, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30pm the discussion will include actors that span all of these films, including Chris Evans, Tom Hiddleston, and Clark Gregg. As the crown jewel of Marvel's cinematic universe, this is likely to be the most anticipated event of the entire convention.
The entertainment exhibitions and guest appearances draw in the crowds, but it is the crowds themselves that make Comic Con such an amazing experience. Aside from indulging in the almost limitless amount of geekiness, the parade of fan cos-
tumes is a highlight of the trip. For those who have not done so, it is highly recommended that you take part in the growing phenomenon that is Comic Con.
Christopher Spall can be reached at Christopher.spall@student.shu.edu.
