While panels are often the focus of comic conventions, New York Comic Con has tons of great activities for attendees of all ages. For guests sick of sitting around, there are plenty of unique experiences to be had and memories to be made.
Blast-a-Trooper
Ever wanted to prove you were a better shot than a Stormtrooper? Then look no further than the Blast-a-Trooper events at the Family Headquarters in the Javitz Center. Held every day of the convention, Blast-a-Trooper partners the 501st Legion and Lucasfilm with charities in need. Fans can shoot Nerf guns at Stormtroopers to raise money for charities, which is a real double do-gooder whammy. A recent Blast-a-Trooper event at Emerald City Comic Con raised $20,000 for Seattle Children’s Hospital, so those darts definitely do some good.
Hang Like Spidey
For fans who really want to climb out of their comfort zone, Marvel is hosting a gravity-defying Hang Like Spidey experience. Spider-Man: Homecoming fans can celebrate the film’s upcoming home video release by exploring Peter’s bedroom, including climbing the walls and ceiling! Once back on the ground, you can test out Stark Industries‘ new web shooters and race to beat Vulture via the VR experience.
Get Educated
Give your body a rest and start working on your brain with NYCC’s incredible educational panels. Science panels like the StarTalk Radio Show with Adam Savage and Neil Degrasse Tyson and the Mythbusters Live! show are both entertaining and educational. There are plenty of other things to learn about, too, including social justice and inclusivity. There are a slew of great panels about feminism, race, disability, and more within the geek community. Try just one and broaden your geeky perspective in new ways.
Shop For Exclusive Merch
By far, the most expensive — but worthwhile — thing about NYCC is the swag! With over 1,000 vendors, New York Comic Con serves as a one-stop shop for all things nerd.
In addition to all of the great geeky gear normally sold at conventions, NYCC features convention exclusives like exclusive shirts, Funko Pops, action figures, posters, and more. While the lines tend to get long and there are limited numbers of these items, it’s still incredibly cool to own a limited edition item from your favorite show, movie, or comic.
Some of the exclusives this year are really cool: there’s the steel Night King Pop!, a Karate-puffed marshmallow man from Ghostbusters, and a 40th anniversary Darth Vader helmet.
Make New Friends
One of the best things about going to a comic convention is meeting a bunch of like-minded fans. It’s pretty much guaranteed there are going to be people with your same fandoms, and this presents a great opportunity to make friends.
Not great at initiating conversations? There’s a panel for that! On Saturday, from 1:30 to 2:30, fans can join Jenn and Trin (Cards Against Humanity, Friendshipping podcast), Maya Coleman (Secret Hitler), Sam Maggs (BioWare), and Spike Trotman (Iron Circus) for friend-making tips and tricks, along with an honest advice Q&A.