By Luis Vazquez
Big Apple Con, run by Mike Carbonaro, is the longest tenored Comic Book Convention in New York City. Returning to the Penn Plaza Pavilion at 401 7th Avenue at 33rd Street opposite Madison Square Garden for two days this upcoming Saturday March 11th (10am-7pm) and Sunday March 12th (10am-5pm), there will be on display an energetic mix of comic boooks, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Horror and Cosplay on tap. The top comic book creators, retailers and celebrities will be in attendance with panel discussions, multiple costume contests and tables full of merchandise.
Big Apple Con is beyond thrilled to have the Comic Book Legend himself, Stan Lee returning to the big city to lead the festivities. The man who served as Editor-in-Chief of Marvel Comics and brought Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Daredevil, Dr. Strange, Hulk, the X-Men, Black Panther, Thor, Iron Man, the Avengers, Ant-Man, Hawkeye, S.H.I.E.L.D, and Silver Surfer to pop culture starting from the days before the internet, the cellphone, and television to the interactive world of today.
The Artist Alley is filled to the brim with top creators of comic books and other related media. Feast on these names:
Jim Steranko (Captain America)
Roy Thomas (Star Wars, Saturday only)
Howard Chaykin (Star Wars)
Romana Fradon (Aquaman)
Billy Tucci (Shi)
Aaron Lopresti (Ms. Marvel)
Nancy Silberkleit (Co-CEO of Archie Comics)
Reilly Brown (Deadpool)
Arthur Suydam (Walking Dead)
Michael Golden (Dr. Strange)
Renee Witterstaetter (Guardians of the Galaxy)
Rich Buckler (Deathlok)
Mike McKone (Avengers)
Soo Lee (Strange Attractors)
Jim Simon (ShieldMaster)
Guy Dorian (New Warriors)
J. David Spurlock (Vanguard)
Kristen Gudsnuk (Henchgirl)
Brian Kong (Crypozoic Entertainment)
Big Apple Con will team with Hippy Comix to present Underground Alley, which will include the cutting edge creaters of the Indy/Alternative Comix.
Frank “Foolbert Sturgeon” Stack (Adventures of Jesus)
Mark Bode (Cobalt 60)
Mike Diana (Boiled Angel)
Fly-O (Punk Magazine)
John Orlando (Humans)
Chelle Mayer (Peacefulshades)
Dan Fogel (Underground Price & Grading Guide)
But no cake is not complete without the frosting. The media list is the finest covering ever layed on. The Punisher Jon Bernthal (Game of Thrones), (Defenders: Upcoming) will be here Sunday only so jot that down. But he will have his co-stars from Daredevil Elden Henson, Peter Shinkoda, and Geoffrey Cantor.
Spencer Welding, who played Darth Vader in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Barbara Eden of “I Dream of Jeannie”, Jason David Frank of Power Rangers, Kristanna Loken (T3) will all be here in force. Jackson Bostwick (Captain Marvel on Shazam!), Rock Legend Marky Ramone along with Kathy Garver (Family Affair, Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends.) The Amazing Kreskin and Neil Kaplan (Transformers, Voltron), Johnny Brennan (Jerky Boys, Family Guy), Robb Demarest (Ghost Hunters International).
Special Effects and Prop Master from Zombieland and Hunger Games, Roy Wooley joins us with Taimak (The Last Dragon), and David Harris and Terry Michos of “The Warriors”, Can you Dig it?
But it doesn’t stop there! There is also a special screening on Sunday. Michael Valentine’s COMIX: BEYOND THE COMIC BOOK PAGES, will ve a must see documentary for both fans and aspiring artists.
The Cosplayers and costumers will be represented in the greatest numbers ever with multiple contests in different genres and $15,000 in prizes to be had. The Superstar Sponsors bringing this to fruition include:
Mood Designers Fabrics
Squishable
Five and Diamond SF
Bernina
Cosplay by McCall’s
Rickey’s NYC
Prop Store
For kids 12 and under therd will be a Kids Costume Showcase where everyone gets a prize, with fun activities for the young ones. But Big Apple Con is where adults become children again and children see their heroes come to life. See you there.
Leave a Reply