The Creators, Cosplayers & Community bringing New York Comic Con to life
New York Comic Con (NYCC) 2024 attracted over 200,000 attendees
NYCC 2024 is projected to have generated an estimated economic impact of $80m for New York City
Over 650 top exhibitors showcased their merchandise at NYCC 2024
Walking into the Javits Center for New York Comic Con (NYCC) feels like entering an alternate universe. A towering banner reads, “Welcome Home, Heroes (and Villains),” as cosplayers and fans from across the globe gather to celebrate their favorite fandoms. Where else could you encounter Deadpool chatting with Harley Quinn, Beetlejuice striking a pose with Iron Man, or Darth Vader strolling alongside Princess Peach?
NYCC 2024, organized by ReedPop – RX's pop culture division, part of RELX, and the number one producer of pop culture events globally – attracted more than 200,000 attendees for a weekend of star-studded celebrity appearances, comic legends, and unforgettable cosplay. Highlights included panels filled with exciting announcements, sneak peeks, and trailer drops from some of the most popular and anticipated series such as HBO’s The Penguin, Apple TV+’s Shrinking, Starz’ Outlander, The Walking Dead Universe and Disney+’s Goosebumps, as well as appearances by major stars like Elizabeth Olsen, Orlando Bloom, and John Boyega.
Millie Bobbie Brown and Chris Pratt speak onstage during Netflix's The Electric State panel
Millie Bobbie Brown and Chris Pratt speak onstage during Netflix's The Electric State panel
John Boyega meets fans at NYCC
John Boyega meets fans at NYCC
Tom Hardy, Josh Horowitz, Kelly Marcel, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Juno Temple at NYCC
Tom Hardy, Josh Horowitz, Kelly Marcel, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Juno Temple at NYCC
Cristin Milioti, Colin Farrell, Deirdre O'Connell and Clancy Brown at HBO’s The Penguin panel
Cristin Milioti, Colin Farrell, Deirdre O'Connell and Clancy Brown at HBO’s The Penguin panel
Kyle MacLachlan signs autographs at NYCC
Kyle MacLachlan signs autographs at NYCC
Luke Tennie, Jason Segel and Jessica Williams speak at the Apple+ Shrinking Panel
Luke Tennie, Jason Segel and Jessica Williams speak at the Apple+ Shrinking Panel
Outlander panel discussion
Outlander panel discussion
The Creators
NYCC is more than just the ultimate celebration of pop culture, it’s also a hub for creators, businesses, and industry professionals. For the first time ever, the convention added a fifth day, dedicated to professional programming. “One big bet we made this year is that we expanded the show into Wednesday. The show floor wasn’t open, but we hosted programming aimed at business-to-business (B2B) professionals, including publishers, toy manufacturers, educators, librarians, and other industry players,” said Chris D’Lando, Event Manager at ReedPop. “It’s a space for networking and fostering business connections.”
The buzzing show floor featured over 650 exhibitors, including major names like Funko, Bandai, Marvel, Scholastic, and Webtoon, alongside 500 Artist Alley participants. Comic book legends Jeff Lemire, Dexter Vines, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, and many others showcased their work. This year, the convention’s estimated economic impact on New York City is $80 million, according to New York City Tourism + Conventions.
“I love our Artist Alley. As a comic book fan first and foremost, I can say without hyperbole that NYCC’s Artist Alley is the best in the world. It's over 500 creators, each with their own table, selling original art and comic books. If you are a comic book fan, it is the best of the best in the industry, all under one roof.”
For creators like Megan Withey, a fantasy and pop culture watercolor artist, NYCC serves as the culmination of her year-long creative efforts. “This is my biggest show,” said Withey. “We do 140 conventions a year, and this is the flagship. It’s incredibly important to me and my business.”
Watercolor artist Megan Withey painting at her booth at NYCC 2024
Watercolor artist Megan Withey painting at her booth at NYCC 2024
Ian Leino, stained-glass artist and founder of Geek Orthodox from Asheville, North Carolina, has been exhibiting at NYCC for eight years and shared the fulfillment the event brings beyond just sales. “We used to do eight or twelve shows a year, but now we’ve scaled down to just three, and New York is one of them,” said Leino. “As an artist, selling my work helps me survive but being able to interact and see people's reactions to my work—that is the real payment."
"The kind of community that NYCC fosters is just fantastic. New York is especially unique in that in addition to meeting lots of fans, we also have larger-than-life celebrities come by. Everybody kind of equalizes when you gather around and talk about your favorite Lord of the Rings characters. It’s a wonderful place."
