NYCC 2024 Day 2 [Recap]
Day 1 at New York Comic Con was a whirlwind of excitement, energy, and unforgettable encounters, and I (along with Michael Schwartz, writer of Armored and my weekend bunk-mate) was ready for round two!
My first mission? Secure the highly coveted Peach Momoko Spawn exclusive from Spectral Comics. After missing out on the Absolute Batman Akira homage on Day 1, I braced myself for another high-stakes rush on the show floor. The demand was through the roof, and as I lingered in the line, the reality set in—these books were going to sell out long before I got anywhere close to the booth. As much as I wanted to snag a copy, the line wasn’t moving in my favor. Turns out, my decision to duck out may have been for the best, as I later heard the commotion turned a little sour when the supply officially dried up.
Undeterred, I headed to Artist Alley, where the real magic happens. First stop: Christian Ward. The multi-Eisner-winning artist graciously signed my copy of City of Madness and Spectregraph from DSTLRY. I couldn’t help but gush about his upcoming work and recommended City of Madness as a must-read for the spooky season. Ward’s style is dark, haunting, and mesmerizing—perfect for curling up with as Halloween approaches.
Ram V was next on my checklist, and while I feared I’d missed my chance, a last-minute signing window from Martin Simmonds came to the rescue. With Dawnrunner being one of my favorite debut issues of 2024, I made sure to express my excitement for the series and my anticipation for the upcoming New Gods. Seriously, if you haven’t added this to your pull list, now’s the time before the final order cutoff!
As I continued to explore Artist Alley, I was lucky enough to connect with three incredible artists: Dan Mora, Jorge Corona, and Nick Dragotta. Dan Mora, widely regarded as a superhuman talent, was a delight to meet. His speed and consistent quality in every project he touches have earned him well-deserved praise. Jorge Corona’s recent work on Transformers has been stellar, and his collaborations with Skottie Young, like Ain’t No Grave and The Me You Love in the Dark, are worth checking out if you haven’t already. And of course, Nick Dragotta’s record-setting cover for Absolute Batman 1 has everyone buzzing—it was a privilege to snag a signature from him on Javier Fernandez’s Akira homage print, even if I couldn’t get the comic itself.
A highlight of the day was receiving a beautifully detailed remarque from the London-based artist Crom, who brought Birdking to life with Daniel Freedman at Dark Horse. His sketches are a work of art in themselves, and I was thrilled to get one for myself and one for Lance from Comic Book Keepers. Crom doesn’t often make the trip across the pond, so this was a rare opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.
My next stop took me to the Bandai Namco booth, where I caught up with Justin Cavender. We chatted about the latest NYCC exclusives, his personal collecting habits, and tips for navigating the frenzy of con-exclusive hunting. Bandai Namco’s setup was as impressive as ever, featuring a massive Dragonball display complete with photo ops, model building, and more. Plus, the traveling Gundam Base store had no shortage of jaw-dropping mechs on display. It’s always a pleasure catching up with Justin, and you can check out our full conversation, as well as a gallery of the goodies at the Bandai Namco booth, below:
While I’ll dive deeper into the details in a separate spotlight, the MechaBreak booth deserves a quick shout-out for being an exhilarating experience. The mech-battling game brought high-octane energy to the show floor, and I can’t wait to see more from it in the coming months.
As I wandered through Artist Alley, I stumbled upon Ryan Jampole, the brilliant artist behind the Archie Mega Man run—a series that holds a special place in my heart. I had no idea he’d be at the con, so I was woefully unprepared but managed to snag some cool stickers. Meeting Ryan was a surprise highlight and brought back some serious nostalgia for those Mega Man adventures.
The day concluded with a prestigious event—the Harvey Awards. Hosted by Brad and Lisa from Comic Book Couples Counseling, the awards celebrated legendary creators like Larry Hama, Arthur Adams, and Akira Toriyama, among others, inducting them into the Harvey Hall of Fame. It was an awe-inspiring moment to see comics legends recognized for their contributions to the medium. With appearances from modern icons like Robert Kirkman and Todd McFarlane, the ceremony was a reminder of the lasting impact that comics have on fans across the globe. It was a fitting cap to an incredible day at the con.
Before the night ended, I made one final stop at Thrilljoy’s kickoff party, thanks to a gracious invitation. Thrilljoy, led by former Funko CEO Brian Mariotti, is making waves in the collectibles scene, and I’ll dive deeper into their latest offerings on Day 3 (stay tuned for the full write-up!).
Day 2 was packed with unforgettable experiences—conversations with creators, stunning artwork, and the kind of moments that make NYCC such a magical place. With a head full of memories and arms full of swag, I’m gearing up for the final day of the con. Don’t miss my Day 3 recap for even more highlights from New York Comic Con!
