New York Comic Con is exactly one month from today! Billy and Dave are excited, and hopefully so are you. Get ready for NYCC pre-coverage from here until NYCC. And on this episode, the guys show you how they would spend $20 at the comic book store this week, and review last week’s comics.
Oh, and Marvel figured out to get Dave to buy his first Star Wars comic: put James Robinson and Tony Harris on it.
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Like the Silver Surfer heralding the approach of Galactus, the Brooklyn Defender Launch Party heralds the return of New York Comic Con to New York City. Arriving a month before New York Comic Con, the Brooklyn Defender Launch Party is a celebration at Brooklyn Brewery in Williamsburg. For the past four years, NYCC and Brooklyn Brewery have teamed up to create the Brooklyn Defender, a limited edition beer whose recipe changes every year. They also enlist a comic book artist to create logo for the beer. In 2013, it was Tony Millionaire. In 2014, it was Cliff Chiang. In 2015, it was Amy Reeder. And this year, it’s Khary Randolph. Khary did an absolutely awesome job on this design, evoking the Super Powers action figure card backs of the 1980s.
I’ve gone to the Brooklyn Defender Launch Party every year, and the only bad one was the first one, when a Batman had too much to drink and puked near me and my friends. Bat-splatter is gross! But the past years there have been awesome, and I expect this year to be too. Attendees get a pint glass with the Brooklyn Defender logo, and everyone gets a chance to win NYCC tickets in a raffle. Plus, free cake from Rock Candy Cakes!
A change to this year’s event is that the event listing says that every attendee will get a ticket for one free beer. In the three previous years, it was free beer all night. It would be disappointing if they are going to restrict the free drink to only one. I’m hoping that’s a typo. Don’t be cheapskates, Brooklyn Brewery! The Brooklyn Defender wants you to provide free beer to the people!
If you’d like to attend the party, it’s 100% FREE to sign up. You just have to RSVP, which I recommend doing quickly, as an event that has free beer, free swag and a chance to win NYCC passes tends to sell out quickly. RSVP here: http://www.newyorkcomiccon.com/Events/Brooklyn-Defender/Defender-Launch-Party/
On this episode of the Tuesday Night Comics podcast, Billy and Dave sing! But don’t worry, it’s not until the very end…and it’s not for that long. We promise.
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There is so much comic book related TV news in the new episode of the Tuesday Night Comics podcast! Find out which shows are returning next fall, and which aren’t (Constantine, RIP)! Plus, Billy and Dave give you their picks on what comic books should be picking up this Wednesday, and review Avengers: Age of Ultron, iZombie Vol 3 and Secret Wars #1! This episode is jam packed with content! Give it a listen!
Note: This episode contains spoilers for Avengers: Age of Ultron.
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The day we’ve been waiting for it finally here. Reed Pop announced today to buy New York Comic Con tickets this year. There have been big changes from last year to the Retail Partner Program, so make sure you read all the details below. The Saturday ticket and Kids ticket prices have stayed the same, but every other ticket has seen a price increase from last year. Thursday increased by $5 from $35 to $40. Friday and Sunday have also gone up $5, from $45 to $50. It’s interesting that Friday and Sunday are now the same price as Saturday. Usually Saturday is more expensive because it’s seen as “the” day to go. The multi-day tickets both jumped $10, for $65 for the 3-Day and $95 for the 4-Day to $75 and $105 respectively. There are two VIP packages, both of whose details are outlined on the NYCC website. The two packages sell for $215 and $525.
Online ticket sales will take place on Wednesday, May 13 at 12 noon eastern time on the NYCC website. Unlike the past few years, where VIP Packages, 4-Day Passes, 3-Day Passes and individual day tickets went on sale on different days, everything is going on sale at noon on May 13. Yes, there were a lot of problems last year with the site crashing, and hopefully New York Comic Con addresses that this year, but even with dealing with the site crashes, and tickets showing up as sold out one minute and on sale the next, online remains the best way to secure yourself a ticket. Mark your calendar now. Seriously, like right now. Set an alarm on your phone. You do not want to show up late to this party. Have your credit card out and ready to go. Every second you delay brings you closer to getting locked out of getting a ticket. You can buy up to 10 tickets in an order, but only 4 of any one ticket (4 3-Days, 4 Saturdays, etc).
A very limited number of NYCC tickets will be on sale at Special Edition: NYC on June 6 and 7. The rules are strict. You can buy one New York Comic Con ticket. The downside to buying your ticket at Special Edition NYC compared to online is the added cost of a Special Edition: NYC ticket, which is $20 or $30 depending on which day you go (There is also a $50 full-weekend ticket). But this isn’t too much of a downside, because Special Edition: NYC rocks. Special Edition: NYC is like New York Comic Con’s younger, smaller sibling. But don’t let its size fool you. Special Edition: NYC is awesome if you are a comic book fan. Imagine NYCC, but without the video games, actors and wrestlers signing autographs, The Block, etc. It’s like they took Artist Alley and some panel rooms and turned that into a new convention. Special Edition: NYC is very reminiscent of the best smaller comic book conventions of yesteryear, but with A-list guests. Scott Snyder is going to be there. As is Jason Latour and Robbi Rodriguez, and many other creators. If you’re planning on buying your ticket at Special Edition: NYC, get there early. Last year, fans sprinted to the NYCC ticket line right at the opening like they were lining up for a Scott Snyder signing. Those tickets went fast. Expect them to go just as fast this year.
Here’s where the ticketing options experienced the most change. The list of retailers selling New York Comic Con tickets has been diminishing over the past few years. This year, there’s only one: Midtown Comics. For the past two years, tickets went on sale at Midtown Comics’ downtown location the day before going on sale everywhere else. Last year, they were the only store that sold 4-Day Passes. This year, they’re the only store selling ANY passes. New York Comic Con and Midtown Comics have not released any concrete details yet as far as date and location are concerned, just saying that tickets will be sold at a special event at Midtown Comics this summer. We don’t know if it will be at all three stores, just the downtown store or what. But I will say this, if you end up relying on Midtown Comics for tickets, be prepared for some serious waiting around Midtown Comics. The last two years, a lot of people slept out overnight (two years ago in the pouring rain!) in order to secure their tickets. The lines were capped early and still lasted hours and hours once tickets went on sale. The following day, when the remaining tickets were divided up among Midtown’s three stores, the downtown store was sold out of 3-Day, 4-Day and Saturday tickets before the store officially opened. I will say this for Midtown Comics, for all the craziness that goes on there when NYCC tickets go on sale, they are so much better organized than every other store that sold NYCC tickets last year. I remember reading about a store in Queens that had a line down the block before it opened, only to turn everyone away, because they pre-sold all their NYCC tickets to their regulars. I was at another store in downtown Manhattan where the owner bragged about holding NYCC tickets back for his regulars. That’s great for his regulars, but against NYCC’s ticket rules. Midtown Comics may have been packed with people trying to buy tickets last year, but Midtown played by the rules while keeping order.
You now armed with the information you need to secure a New York Comic Con ticket for yourself. If you follow my advice outlined above, you’ll hopefully find yourself with a NYCC ticket without having to pay an arm and a leg to a scalper. Good luck, god speed, may the odds be ever in your favor and may the Force be with you.
Written by Nick Doyle.
If you are a comic book fan who dismissed Special Edition: NYC last year as being New York Comic Con Lite, then you definitely missed out. Special Edition: NYC isn’t a scaled down New York Comic Con. It’s a comic book concentrated New York Comic Con. SE:NYC was a comic book fan’s dream come true. Imagine great local comic book conventions in the past, like the Ramapo High School Comic Cons of the 80s and 90s, but with the power of NYCC behind it, and you get SE:NYC! Last year’s line-up was great, and I expect this year’s line-up to be just as good.
This year, Special Edition: NYC is moving out of the Javits Convention Center to the nearby Pier 94. The two day convention runs Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7. Tickets are $30 for Saturday, $20 for Sunday, and $45 for the weekend. There is also a VIP package available for $100. Plus, if you’re a parent, both days are “Kids Day,” as kids 6-12 can get a Kids Ticket for only $5.
Tickets go on sale this Wednesday, February 4. Last year, tickets did not sell as briskly as they did for NYCC, but that doesn’t mean you should dawdle in securing your spot. The VIP option did sell out last year, and is completely worth it. The VIP ticket is priced at the not-breaking-the-bank price of $100. This gets you into the convention both days, a VIP lounge and coat check (okay, a coat check isn’t the most necessary thing for a convention in June, but it’s still nice), a poster signed by the artist who drew it, 15% off at the show store…okay, I get it, this all sounds nice, but you’re asking yourself, “Why should I pay more than double the price of the $45 weekend pass for the VIP Package?” Well, that’s easy! Because VIP ticket holders get into the show floor a half hour before everyone else. If you’re like me and love to get sketches from artists, this can mean the difference between securing a spot on someone’s list and being the guy who just missed the cut off. I got a couple of very cool sketches as last year’s SE:NYC thanks to the VIP pass getting me in early, so I’ll definitely be gunning for that package at 12 noon on Wednesday. Also, VIP ticket holders will get a private autographing session with two of the creators at SE:NYC. Which two? They haven’t said yet, but I’m guessing it will two of higher profile names attending the show.
Set your alarm for noon on Wednesday and get your SE: NYC ticket! Want more details on Special Edition: NYC? Check out the SE:NYC website.
Hey Tuesday Night Comics podcast listeners! In this episode, Billy and Dave preview new comics coming out October, 22, 2014, including Amazing Spider-Man #8, All-New Invaders #11, Arkham Manor #1 and Multiversity – The Just.
Photos by David Henehan, Graig Kreindler and Billy Henehan
There was so much excellent cosplay at New York Comic Con this year! People really went all out. Not only were there some truly excellent costumes this year, but I feel that more people dressed up this year than in previous years. Please enjoy our NYCC cosplay gallery. Who are your favorites?
Billy and Dave are joined by Tuesday Night Movies’s Gotham recapper, Nick, as the guys discuss New York Comic Con 2014. NYCC was a great time, and the boys discuss their encounters with Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, Adam West and others. They also preview new comics coming out Wednesday, 10/15/14, including the Gerard Way (of My Chemical Romance) written Edge of Spider-Verse!
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If you love Marvel superheroes, and you read your comics on a tablet, you need to join Marvel Unlimited Plus. It is awesome.
When I was growing up, I would see ads for the Merry Marvel Marching Society, or M.M.M.S. for short, the Marvel fan club of the 1960s, in the pages of old comics. I was jealous that there wasn’t anything like that today. Marvel Unlimited Plus is today’s M.M.M.S.
Marvel Unlimited is Marvel’s version of Netflix for comics. For a monthly or annual fee, you get unlimited access to digital Marvel comics from the start of the company to as recent as about 6 months ago. The catalog is updated every Monday, with newer comics and back issues alike.
Marvel Unlimited Plus adds another layer to the subscription. Each year, you receive a box of cool stuff, including an exclusive Marvel Legends action figure (this year’s figure is Rocket Raccoon), an exclusive variant covered comic, and a membership card. Throughout the year, Marvel will also mail out fun bits of swag like a fold-out Avengers anniversary poster.
But what really makes Marvel Unlimited Plus a must buy is access to the Marvel Unlimited Plus Members Only panel at conventions like NYCC, SE:NYC and SDCC. This year’s panel was insane. We saw an extended trailer for next year’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. When Agent M asked if there were any questions after the trailer, I raised my hand and said “Can we see it again?” And then he played it again. It rocked.
The panel also included exclusive preview art of upcoming books, and a star-studded line of panelists who were happy to take questions from the audience. On the way out, everyone was given a bag of exclusive swag that included another variant covered comic.
Ryan Stegman, Nick Spencer, Axel Alonso, Phil Noto, Gerry Duggan and Dan Slott take questions from the audience.
If you missed out the Marvel Unlimited Plus Panel at this year’s NYCC, do not miss it next year! This might have been my favorite panel of NYCC 2014!