Written by Cynthia Tenicela
So you missed New York Comic Con 2020 this past weekend? Do not despair. Unlike in the BC (before corona) times this year the entirety of New York Comic Con 2020 was virtual and it has ALL remained online for your viewing, shopping and nerding out pleasure.
Panels featured everything from Anime to Zombies, including comics, superheroes, gaming, cosplay, celebrity guests, and much, much more!! Over the course of last weekend I watched almost 30 panels, visited the show floor, browsed the artist alley and bought some official merch. Even if you weren’t able to attend the live events you can still check out all of the convention goodness including over 100 panels via the NYCC youtube channel.
Here are 8 of my favorite panels that I think you should check out (the entire panels schedule is available online here).
Animate Africa: A discussion with animators and directors from the continent of Africa-yes animation is made in countries other than Japan and the US and the creatives in this panel showcase some of the best of what is coming out of African animation studios. I loved this panel because it gave me a window into a more global view of what is going on in animation studios outside of those I was already familiar with.
Clive Barker’s Books of Blood: Be sure to catch Books of Blood on Hulu (there was a screening during NYCC but it is no longer available) and follow up with the cast panel. Fair warning this movie is terrifying! I’m not kidding guys, I watched this when I was home alone and I was seriously creeped out. There are some deeper real world themes woven throughout the in your face horror in the film, a style that Clive Barker is well known for, which causes the film to be unsettling on multiple levels.
The Freak Brothers: First published in the late 1960’s Gilbert Shelton’s comics The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers have sold 40 million copies worldwide. Fast forward 50 years and the three stoners and their cat find themselves in our timeline with hilarious results. This was one of the best panels I attended all weekend as the star studded voice cast is hysterical! Thank you Tiffany Haddish, I haven’t laughed this hard since before the pandemic and I really needed it! Check out the panel with Woody Harrelson, Pete Davidson, John Goodman and Tiffany Haddish.
Black Horror: The movie Get Out opened the door to a new wave of black horror films that take on racism in American while scaring the crap out of you. This panel looks at some of the latest films in this genre with Bad Hair’s Justin Simien, Antebellum’s Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz and Tales from the Hood 3’s Rusty Cundieff. I loved the deep dive into how the themes of racism and social injustice that are so timely right now are explored through the lens of horror films creators.
Ready Player 2: This has to be one of the nerdiest events of the weekend. When you get Wil Wheaton, Ernest Cline and a DeLoreon together for a panel you are talking one hell of a nerd fest! The lively discussion includes talk about the sensation that is Ready Player One (the book and movie) and the highly anticipated sequel Ready Player 2. This is one panel where I really wished I could have been in the room (or Zoom) with them just to nerd out and be a part of the glorious pop culture conversation with two of the Kings of Nerdom.
Freaky: “It’s like Freaky Friday the 13th”: OK we are all familiar with body swap movies such as Freaky Friday and Big but what would you get if you swapped an average high school teen with a serial killer? A fabulous mix of gore and giggles that’s what! Join the cast in this bloody awesome panel which includes stars Vince Vaughn, Kathryn Newton, Celeste O’Connor, and Misha Osherovich. Okay, why didn’t I think of this? What a concept! It sounds like the cast had a blast making this movie and I’m definitely going to have to check this out when it’s available
The Stand: Stephen King’s massive over 1,000 page post-apocalyptic novel has been adapted as a mini series twice before but it looks like the third times the charm. The panel includes a star studded cast including Whoopi Goldberg, James Marsden, Greg Kinnear, Amber Heard, Jovan Adepo, Odessa Young, and Owen Teague. I’ve read a lot of Stephen King but have not read The Stand, the length is a bit intimidating. I am super excited to see this updated and timely version of a well loved King classic.
Rise of the Black Superheroes: Traditionally the universe of superheroes has been predominantly male and predominately white. This panel features influential Black women creatives including writer/producer Aida Croal, journalist and geek influencer Karama Horne (theblerdgurl) , actor/stuntwoman Carrie Bernans, and Emmy-winning director/producer Neema Barnette. This was one of my favorite panels. The women on this panel are creative, interesting, and take on some tough topics including inclusion and the work still to be done in the industry.
