OMG! New York Comic Con starts…today! Too bad I won’t be there until tomorrow. I’m super excited though!
Why am I so excited? Because this will be my first time attending a convention on the East Coast. Because I’ve never been to NYCC. Also because…so many awesome things are going on this weekend!
Here are some of the awesome things to look out for at NYCC (or, at least, the things I’m looking forward to and think you should be excited about too):
Geek Therapy Invades NYCC!
Steve Kuniak and Josué Cardona are teaming up to bring the geek therapy movement to New York Comic Con. They will be at booth #342 all weekend, giving you information on the Geek Therapy Podcast (Josué) and the Gamer Wellness Project (Steve).
They’ll also be happy to talk at length about how geek culture can be used in therapy and empower clients and society in general.
I’ve even heard that Dr. Travis Langley (who wrote Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight) might stop by!
Buzzkill Interview
On Saturday I’ll have the opportunity to interview the creators of Buzzkill, Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw. I’m really excited about this, as it will be a chance to get a behind the scenes look at a comic that could be impactful in therapy.
Not to spoil anything (or repeat myself when I post the interview) but Buzzkill is about a superhero who gains his powers through drinking and using drugs. He’s had enough of it ruining his life, and so he tries to quit using…but will the super villains let him?
I can’t wait to hear what Donny and Geoff have to say about their story.
The Mary Sue – Representation in Geek Media Panel
Susana Polo (The Mary Sue), Jamal Igle (DC artist and creator of Molly Danger), Kate Leth (web cartoonist, Kate or Die!), N.K. Jemisin (The Inheritance Trilogy), and Phil Jimenez (DC and Marvel artist) will all be on a panel discussing diversity and representation in geek culture.
I’ve brought up the topic of representation a few times, and it will be interesting to hear different experiences of how being represented (or not) in comics, video games and movies have affected people.
The panel will be Saturday, October 12 at 2:45 PM in room 1A01.
Pop Culture Anti-Bullying Coalition
The Pop Culture Anti-Bullying Coalition will have a booth with professional staff on hand to talk to children, teens, young adults, and parents about bullying and how to overcome it.
This is the first time a booth like this has been at a convention, and it seems like an important issue to address. So many youth who are into geek culture are bullied by peers. On top of that, many are bullied from those within geek culture (such as with online gaming). Education for all involved is key to ending bullying.
They’ll be at booth #630
Geeks OUT Dance Party
Who doesn’t love a good party? Geeks OUT will be hosting SNIKT, a queer dance party at Vlada Lounge (331 West 51 NY, NY) from 10pm-4am. There will be geeky queers dancing, and drink specials. I don’t know if I’ll be there, but I’m sure I want to be there!
Mike Kunkel at the BOOM! Studios Booth
I may not have a chance to talk to him, but I will be dropping by the BOOM! booth (#1344) to see if I can get a copy of Herobear and the Kid and have Mike Kunkel sign it.
There’s something about a stuffed toy that comes to life and protects its companion that warms my heart. It also has some therapeutic qualities, as in creating a transitional object. Also…how cute is this?
There are also a few things I’m bummed about missing because of flying in late, and the wedding I’m attending Sunday (don’t these people know it’s Comic Con weekend?!). Things like:
LGBT and Allies in Comics Panel
Geeks OUT is holding a panel about queers in comics. I’ve been to a few of these panels (held at other cons, usually by Prism comics) and they’re always a good time and very informative.
Panelists this time around are Greg Pak (Superman, Code Monkey Save World), Marjorie Liu (NY Times Bestselling Author), Rich Bernatovech (Sentinels), Daniel Ketchum (editor at Marvel), and Dan Parent (Archie Comics).
The panel will be tonight at 6:15PM in Hall 1A14.
I’m sad I will have to miss it, but I will be visiting the Geeks OUT booth (#1575).
Anti Bullying Panel/NO H8 Photoshoot
I am forever doomed to miss the Anti Bullying Panel held by the Anti-Bullying Coalition and the NO H8 Campaign. I missed it at San Diego Comic Con, and I will miss it again this time around. Everyone else should go see it and report back to me!
Panelists include Alice Cahn (Cartoon Network VP), Adam Bouska & Jeff Parshley (Founders, NOH8 Campaign), Ashley Eckstein (“Star Wars’” Ahsoka Tano & Founder of Her Universe), Brad Bell (Husbands), author Bonnie Burton (Mean Girls), Jenna Busch (Fan TV Entertainment Editor), and a rep from the Anti-Defamation League.
The panel will be held Sunday, October 13, at 3:45 pm in Room 1A14.
The NO H8 Campaign will also be holding a photo shoot at the Anti-Bullying Coalition’s (booth #630) Sunday Oct 13th from Noon-2PM. More information is here.
I will also be tweeting all weekend @TherapeuticCode!
Hope to see you all there!