NYCC 2024

NYCC 2024: More Anime Than Comics? My Take on Saturday's Experience

This past weekend, I made my way to the New York Comic Convention (NYCC) and, as always, I was excited to immerse myself in all things geek culture. But something felt a little different this year, at least on Saturday. NYCC has traditionally been a celebration of comic books, pop culture, and fandoms of all kinds. However, this time around, it felt more like an "Anime Con" than a classic comic convention. That’s not necessarily a bad thing—after all, I do enjoy anime and manga—but it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting.

The Anime Influence

The biggest contributors to the convention floor on Saturday were Konami and Viz Media, both of which brought heavy anime and manga vibes to the forefront. Between Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece, and My Hero Academia displays, it was clear that anime had taken over in a big way. Konami was front and center, pushing Yu-Gi-Oh! hard, with demos and games going on throughout the day, while Viz Media had an equally strong presence with manga promotions and merchandise.

If you're into anime and manga, this would have been a dream come true. For me, while I do appreciate both, I was hoping for a little more diversity in content. Don’t get me wrong, the energy was fun, and after going to the Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Disturbance Special Premiere Event, I was rejuvenated in the franchise. Certainly, one thing I can thank NYCC for.

The Gaming Scene: A Disappointment

As a huge Star Wars Unlimited fan, the biggest letdown for me was the lack of representation for the game. I was really hoping to see some demos or maybe even participate in a quick game, but there was nothing to be found. The gaming focus seemed to be heavily geared toward Yu-Gi-Oh! and Dungeons and Dragons, which were both running all day. I did spot some casual games of Magic the Gathering, but those were people who brought their own decks to play for fun. It wasn’t an official part of the event.

For a convention of this size, I was honestly expecting more variety when it came to the tabletop gaming scene. The absence of Star Wars Unlimited felt like a missed opportunity, especially given the rising popularity of the game. Hopefully, next year they’ll expand their offerings in this area.

I do want to give a shout out to SRG Universe, specifically Steve Resk, who showed me Supershow the Game. It was a lot of fun learning it, and I look forward to bringing it to the table and eventually getting it on the monthly podcast.

Artist Alley: My Sanctuary

One thing that never disappoints at NYCC is Artist Alley. It’s always the highlight of any convention for me, and this year was no different. The lineup of artists was stellar, and I had the pleasure of getting one of my favorite commissions to date from Reilly Brown. I really enjoyed his recent book Outrage and his work on Deadpool has always stood out to me. So, getting a personal piece from him was an absolute win.

Speaking of the book Outrage, the writer and the reason I knew about the book was there as well. Every major convention, I always make it a point to stop by and grab something from Fabian Nicieza, and this time around was no different. It's become a bit of a tradition for me, and I love the consistency of seeing familiar faces in Artist Alley. The artists always bring their A-game, and the experience of chatting with them and seeing their latest work in person is unbeatable.

Final Thoughts

Overall, my experience at NYCC on Saturday was a mixed bag. The convention leaned much more into anime and manga than I expected, and while I enjoy both, I missed some of the more traditional comic book content that usually makes NYCC feel so special. The lack of Star Wars Unlimited on the gaming floor was a personal disappointment, but Artist Alley, as always, saved the day. The atmosphere and talent in that space were second to none, and it’s why I came back to NYCC after missing it since 2021.

If you’re a fan of anime, this year’s NYCC would have been perfect for you. But if you were hoping for a more traditional comic experience or to dive into a wider range of tabletop games, you might have walked away feeling like something was missing.

Did you attend this year’s NYCC? Let me know what you thought, especially if you were there on Saturday!