Fans of Fandom

Every year for the last couple years, I’ve gone to New York Comic Con (NYCC) with a close friend of mine. It’s a tradition of ours; she flies up from Alabama to New York to join me in an annual three-day nerd-out session of comic book panels, anime screenings, costume contests and more. Whenever I’d describe the experience to my non-nerd friends and family members, they wouldn’t quite get how much of an event it was. It’s an art, mastering Comic Con. You have to have a plan going in that first day, take the time to sit down with that program book and plot out which panels and screenings you have to get to and when to start lining up (also, ask yourself, “How popular is this panel? About how many people will be there? When will they start lining up? Are there any other queues that will conflict with this? When will it be necessary to tag-team these lines?”). You have to familiarize yourself with the Jacob Javits Center, map out the quickest routes to the best events. You have to make your shopping list in advance (Chain mail and body armor? Check. Signed copy of Bryan Lee O’ Malley’s new book? Check. Natsu Dragneel cosplay wig? Check. Expensive steampunk corset dress? Check. Random large costume death scythe to help you get through the crowds on the show floor? Double check.) and map out those vendors, pushing past scantily clad Harley Quinns and ducking under wire wings and other troublesome costume appendages. You have to plan bathroom time. Yes, even that, because figuring …