Aside from contracting the stomach flu, this past weekend at NYCC was a complete win! In more ways than one ….
I flew into NYC on Friday and got in around 6pm. My friend Jay was at JFK to pick me up. We drove into Manhattan and I helped him as he directed a friends cable access TV show. From there, we went out to eat with the crew and, by the time we got home around midnight (ET) I was POOPED! It didn’t help that Ms.Naru, Paul, BlkCat and I had all been up until 3am the morning before working on finishing touches for my Gwen Stacey costume and playing around on Justin.tv (some of our exploits are still up in highlights for your enjoyment)
The next morning I pulled myself out of bed and got ready to hit the convention. Jay drove me to the subway stop (in the Bronx where I was staying) and I hopped on a train to Manhattan. Now, on any normal day, that’s probably not a big deal. However, I was decked out - head to toe - in my Gwen Stacey costume. This warranted quite a few double takes and glances in my general direction.
I arrived at NYCC and felt a little overwhelmed. I hadn’t expected the event to be this big. True, the very first NYCC - two years ago - was met by the fire marshall telling people that they had to vacate the premises as they had COMPLETELY oversold but, pshhh. I guess I also felt a little lonely as this was the first convention I had attended alone. None of my girls could make it up and I was starting to really feel it.
After walking the floor a couple of times, I headed down to grab lunch. As I turned the corner, my friend Leonard (GEN community member - Ghinto) stopped to ask if he could get a picture. He hadn’t recognized it was me beneath the wig. We headed off to lunch and I ran into friend and another GEN community member, Tralfaz. Now I was starting to feel like this was a scene from Wizard of Oz. We’re off to see the Marvel Wizard!
After lunch, it was time to head up to the Marvel booth to check in on when the contest was going to start. No one really knew the answer. One person said 4pm, another said 6pm and one even said they weren’t sure that it was happening!!! Finally, I was told to check back in at 4pm and they would have a more definitive answer.
Leonard and I decided to go over to the main stage and sign up for the general cosplay contest that was being held. There were two categories: Hand Made and Purchased. Since Gwen’s costume is bits and peices of purchased clothing (dyed, trimmed and fashioned to match her comic persona) I entered into the purchased category. Who would have thunk it - I won! :p
I took my prize (a DVD set from Naruto and also Ranma 1/2) and headed back to Marvel.
As I walked up, a gentleman motioned for me to come over to him.
“If you sign this peice of paper I’ll give you the prize” he said.
“NO one else came for the contest!?” I stated
“Only you.”
I signed the paper, with mixed emotions. I had really worked hard on my costume and I had hoped that John Romita Jr. and Sr. would be able to see my hard work. I voiced this concern and, after presenting me with my prize, the gentleman took me over to meet the Romita’s.
As I walked up to John Sr. he had a great big grin on his face “Oh! You won? My wife and I had taken your picture during the day. I was hoping you would be the one who won!!”
REDEMPTION!
Immediately after, as I was walking around the Marvel booth, I ran into fellow GEN community member - Belle Cher. She was dressed as Black Cat from Spiderman. As we chatted, they announced that they were holding a general Marvel costume contest. I decided, since I was there, to go ahead and enter. There were some GREAT costumes in the line up. Another Gwen (who had come too late for the competition), 2 Black Cats, a Zombie Wolverine (who was REALLY well done) a White Queen and Black Queen, a few spidey’s…. and others who I didn’t recognize. So, after just kind of… falling into my 3rd costume contest of the day …. Um …. I won.
Leonard, acting as my angel by carrying my winnings, and I headed to artist alley. I stopped by to chat with my favorite artist Greg Horn and also stopped by to tell Billy Tucci that BlkCat (our very own Heather) said hello. For those of you who haven’t seen Billy’s drawing of Heather as Black Cat ….. She looks pretty damn amazing!
After a LONG day at the convention, I headed out to dinner with Leonard. We went to this AMAZING Japanese restaurant and I had some of the best sushi I have EVER eaten. After that, I hopped in a cab and headed down to Slate inc. to chill with the Top Cow crew.
Slate was a cool little place that had ping pong tables, pool tables and a club upstairs. Seth Green was there with our crew as well as his co-creator of Robot Chicken - Matt. Seth …. is a GREAT ping pong player. He went up against every person in our party (sans myself) and beat the living crap out of them. I was too smart to subject myself to that embarassment.
After hanging out, a few of us headed over to this famous hot dog place in Alphabet city.
Tired, achy and ready to hit my pillow … I headed back to Penn station where I got on the 2 train and found my way back to the Bronx.
Check out some more pictures from NYCC - Day 1 (Click to enlarge)
What an amazing day at NYCC! Now .. it was time for day 2.
April 22nd, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Congrats!
But ten bucks bets your Emma Frost costume would’ve won more.
April 22nd, 2008 at 1:19 pm
That sucks that you had to go alone. I was alone for most of the day Friday. It’s so much more fun when you have someone to share it with. I was dressed as Zatanna on Saturday. I wasn’t even aware there was a costume contest! Oh well.
You can check out my Day 1 (Friday) recap at my blog:
http://www.thenerdybird.com/
April 22nd, 2008 at 1:21 pm
I WISH I WAS THERE! I envy you for getting to hang out with the Top Cow guys…I am such a freaking fangirl! You look great as always, I cant wait for SDCC!
April 22nd, 2008 at 1:28 pm
I am so jealous of everyone’s cosplay outfits. I wish I could think of something!!
You looked great, congrats on the winnings.
April 22nd, 2008 at 2:02 pm
oh, I didn’t know you were all by yourself, if I had known that I totally would have helped you out… granted, my knee was all busted out and I was walking around the Javits like “House” on a warpath, but I think I would have been OK.
Congrats again on everything and I hope to hang out again soon…. wish I knew about Top Cow being @ Slate
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Hey Becky, you know I wish I was there too. And you got to hang out with the Top Cow people, how sweet was that.
April 22nd, 2008 at 5:01 pm
No more White Queen?
April 22nd, 2008 at 6:36 pm
I’m so proud of you Becky! I knew that costume would payoff someday. You have Gwen Stacey down to a tee! Sorry you got the stomach flu. Glad you’re all better now.
April 22nd, 2008 at 6:39 pm
YAYAYAYAY!!!! Congrats! That is sooooo cool… and thems be some cool prizes! Ooooooh… I so can’t wait for SDCC!!! FUN!
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:33 am
Dear Aktrez
I hope that you are feeling better now
I had no clue you were at NYCC
I would have been sure to look for you
Its great that you found Belle Chere,
The photos came out great and everyone looked great in the costume
I think NYCC in its 3rd year is getting better but I get the impression its not as amazing as other Cons which are older
I hope that you are now feeling 100%
Best regards
Anthony
New York City
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:48 am
I’m hesitant to believe your ‘lonely’ comment as you knew I was going to be there all weekend. I was enthused to meet you initially, but after some pictures you left without a farewell. After telling you I spoke to Newsweek about GEN when we met up later on, you again left in the same manner as before. Frankly it made me feel snubbed and that you had only contacted me prior because you wanted something from me. In my follow-up interview with Newsweek I did mention GEN again, but without as much passion as before.
Regardless, congratulations again on your winnings and it’s nice to know you enjoyed your time in NYC.
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:54 am
Aktrez,
It was a total surprise seeing you and Belle there. I hope you are feeling better! The convention was really well run this year. The artist alley had plenty of space and the panels were SDCC quality. The exhibitors were handing out great swag as well. Tralfaz, it was great meeting you too!
April 23rd, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Awesome pics and report!!!!
April 24th, 2008 at 4:20 am
Hey, congrats on your wins! Well deserved. I saw you at the Con and thought that was an amazingly accurate Gwen Stacy costume. I was at the general contest as the girl Joker. Wanna trade your Ranma 1/2 DVD for a Buso Kenshin one?
I had to rush out after I got my DVD to go to the Venture Bros panel. Were we supposed to stay up on stage for a group picture or anything?
April 24th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Belle,
I’m very sorry that you felt that way! Complete misunderstanding. I left when the crowds started asking you for pics and I didn’t want to impede! There have been MANY times in the past when I have met other cosplayers on the “field” and have later heard they were upset that I was “hanging” around for pictures. That was YOUR costume and YOUR time and I honestly didn’t want to step on toes!
Again, I wish we had exchanged phone numbers. I didn’t know that you wanted to hang out during the con together or I would have most definitely stuck around with you!
A complete misunderstanding on my part and I am sorry you came away from our first meeting feeling badly. That was not at ALL my intention.
April 24th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
It sounds like the NY Comic Con is making an effort to improve every year
Its never going to be SDCC but as long as they keep trying
Next year its going to be held in early February
I want to apologize for not finding either Aktrez or Belle Chere at the NYCC
I must have been clueless not to have found either one of you there!
Its the amazing costumers that are the best part of the convention for me personally
Here is to more great Conventions in the future!
Best regards to all!
April 24th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
I want to sincerely apologize myself for jumping to brash conclusions and being inconsiderate. It was only upon later reflection did I reconsider it could be something I wasn’t seeing.
The more people in pictures, the better, in my eyes! I’ve been disregarded and brushed off by ‘known’ cosplayers before, and I was afraid this was just another case. Perhaps they brushed me off because they didn’t want me in their camera space! I suppose that’s a facet of cosplaying that I’ve been blind to since, for me, it’s all about fun.
I now know that this was all a lack of communication and a misunderstanding. My apologies for introducing even a little drama.
May 1st, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Hey Akrez,
It was fun hanging out with you, too! Let’s do it again soon!
Mel
May 1st, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Yes Mel! Sorry I didn’t call you back the other night. I was asleep when you called. Let’s try to hang out sometime next week if possible!