Have you looked at the panel list for New York Comic Con 2014? There are A LOT of panels this year! Yes, there are a lot of panels every year, but I feel that this year there are more, a lot more. Wading through the entire list of panels can be time consuming, so that’s why we’re here to give you our picks for the not-to-missed panels of NYCC 2014!
In past years, the Thursday panels have seemed like little more than afterthoughts. That’s not the case this year, with big names presenting big things on the first day of NYCC!
The doors to NYCC open at 12 noon on Thursday, giving you a full hour to buy exclusives, pick up merch and autograph tickets, and check out the show floor before heading to the first panels of the con at 1 PM.
I’m surprised this panel isn’t on Sunday, aka Kid’s Day, because it would be PACKED! As it is, I’d still expect a crowd, as you’re getting previews of both Tomorrowland and Big Hero 6, AND Directors Don Hall and Chris Williams (Big Hero 6) and Brad Bird (Tomorrowland) will be at this panel! If those names don’t ring a bell, Don Hall and Chris Williams directed a little movie called Frozen, and Brad Bird directed two of my favorite animated movies ever, The Iron Giant and The Incredibles.
1:00 PM – 1:45 PM – Friend of Comic Vine – 1A21
I consider myself a Friend of Comic Vine. I’ve helped update their wiki, participate on their message boards (though sadly not as much as I’d like to recently), and even wrote an article that’s currently sitting on their front page. I’ve met EIC Tony Guerrero and Gregg Katzman before (both of who are great guys). If you’re an active user of Comic Vine, I would consider this a can’t-miss panel, as it’s your chance to meet your fellow Viners in person. Not to mention that Brian Buccellato, Jimmy Palmiotti and Josh Fialkov will be there too.
Hodor! Osha (or Tonks for you Harry Potter fans)! Both will be at this panel dedicated to our favorite HBO show. A word of warning – if you haven’t read the books, be wary about attending this panel. Spoilers abound when fans start asking questions.
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM – Doctor Who Comics Panel – 1A10
IDW recently launched two new Doctor Who series, one focused on the 10th Doctor, David Tennet, and one focused on the 11th Doctor, Matt Smith. And right around NYCC, another series featuring the 12th Doctor, Peter Capaldi, will launch. This panel will have writers Nick Abadzis, Robbie Morrison and Rob Williams, and artist Simon Fraser. Plus, every attendee will walk out with some Doctor Who swag.
2:15 PM – 3:00 PM – ComicsPro “So You Want to Be a Comics Retailer?” – 1A05
Are you thinking about quitting your day job and following your dream to talk and sell comics all day? If so, this panel is for you. Actual comic book retailers will be on hand to answer your questions. Come prepared.
3:15 PM – 4:00 PM – 50 Years of Fandom! How Comics Took Over the World – 1A06
I was ready to write this panel off until I saw that the panel guests included Maggie Thompson and Michael Uslan. This should be a very informative panel about the history of comic book conventions in particular and fandom in general.
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Skybound’s The Walking Dead – Empire Stage 1-E
If you’re a fan of The Walking Dead from Image Comics, this is a must-go-to panel for you! Robert Kirkman will be there! Do you need another reason? No, I didn’t think you did.
5:00 PM – 5:45 PM – Image Comics – I is for Immersive – 1A21
This panel had me at Jamie McKelvie. The former artist of the dearly missed Young Avengers, and current artist of the excellent Image Comic, The Wicked + The Divine, will be on hand. I’m guessing Wicked + Divine writer Kieron Gillen will be there too, though he’s not listed as of yet (but will be at NYCC). Also at this panel: Brandon Montclare (Rocket Girl), Kelly Sue Deconnick (Pretty Deadly) and Kyle Higgins (C.O.W.L.). Head here straight after The Walking Dead panel.
5:15 PM – 6:45 PM – Design Your Own Cape with Art Force Five – Family HQ 1C02
If you’re bringing your kid with you to NYCC on Thursday, take them to this! Your kid (and you too, why not?) can design his or her very own superhero cape, picking out the color and the emblem. Don’t have a kid? I don’t think you need one to attend this, and everyone needs a cape!
The show floor closes at 7:00, so you can either head home, head to an after party or head to these late panels.
6:45 PM – 7:45 PM – Adam West & Batman: The Complete Television Series – Main Stage 1-D
The Adam West Batman series is finally coming to DVD and Blu Ray this fall with an official release from Warner! I. Cannot. Wait.
7:15 PM – 8:00 PM – Firefly Online: Bringing Back the Verse – 1A06
Firefly is back! Yes, it’s as a video game, not a TV show, but it’s a video game that you and all your browncoat friends can play together. Plus, Andrea Romano will be on the panel. Andrea Romano makes every panel better. Hmmm…I wonder if they’ll be giving out beta keys.
7:15 PM – 8:00 PM – Bleeding Cool – The Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘N’ Roll of Comics Revealed – 1A24
Start you day with a Comic Vine panel and end it with a Bleeding Cool panel. Bleeding Cool has picked up on stories we’ve run here, but that’s not why I’m recommending this panel. Rich Johnston is a very entertaining and very polarizing fellow in the comics industry. I have nothing but love for Rich, as Bleeding Cool is a site I check daily. This should be a VERY fun panel, full of rumors and innuendo.
8:00 PM – 8:45 PM – Sketch Fighter – 1B03
Well, this looks like a lot of fun! Comic book artists and stand-up comics will go head-to-head in what appears to be a Win, Lose or Draw type game show. Plus, all the art made during this show will be auctioned off at the end, with the money going to The HERO Initiative. No word yet on what artists on participating
It’s a WB double feature! Want to see the pilot of Constantine two weeks early? Go here! I wonder which they’ll show first. I’m hoping it’s Constantine, just because I’ve never seen The 100. I wouldn’t be surprised if they show The 100 first, knowing that most people are showing up to see Constantine.
