New York Comic Con Moves Online for 2020

It’s not exactly unexpected, but it has taken a while for this announcement to be made. ReedPop officially announced today that New York Comic Con will be entirely virtual. As this year’s SDCC@Home did to moderate success, NYCC Metaverse October will offer panels livestreamed on YouTube during the event’s normal scheduled weekend of October 8-11.

NYCC Metaverse October will offer panels from entertainment’s leading brands, including Starz (which will be bringing the ever popular American Gods), CBS All Access (featuring the expanding Star Trek universe), DreamWorks Animation, Hulu, and FX. All of these will be available on NYCC’s official YouTube channel. More news will be made in the coming weeks regarding content, including premieres, announcements, fan contests, and more.

“We are thoroughly disappointed that we can’t gather together, in-person for the New York Comic Con we love to build and our fans love to revel in. We look forward to this weekend all year long, just like you, and with this being our 15th edition, we were particularly excited. I will miss walking up and down artist alley and seeing friends that I’ve made since we were in the basement at the Javits Center,” said Lance Fensterman, President of ReedPop. “While this year will definitely be a different experience, we are going to look to bring the best and most engaging event to our fans, exhibitors, and studios through our partnership with YouTube.”

Unlike the SDCC@Home panels, which were filmed in advance and offered no fan interaction, it seems as though ReedPop intends for at least some of its content to be literally livestreamed, claiming that fans will be able to participate in the talent Q&As by utilizing YouTube’s Community and Live Chat features.

Fans will also have the opportunity for more up-close and personal experiences with meet & greets, live Q&As, personalized autographs, videos, and professional workshops. ReedPop will also be creating a virtual marketplace to replace the show floor, giving exhibitors and creators the chance to share their newest items with the fans. As with the panels, more information will be revealed in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, fans can participate in the upcoming Metaverse August, which will be held August 13-16 and promises to be a “one-of-a-kind virtual experience with celebrities and creators, discover new releases, explore a marketplace, and access exclusive merchandise”.

I’ll be interested to see how this online NYCC works out, especially since ReedPop has had time to see what worked and what didn’t from SDCC@Home.

Keep up-to-date on the latest information about NYCC Metaverse October by checking out the official website.

Source: press release

Author: Jamie Sugah

Jamie has a BA in English with a focus in creative writing from The Ohio State University. She self-published her first novel, The Perils of Long Hair on a Windy Day, which is available through Amazon. She is currently an archivist and lives in New York City with her demon ninja vampire cat. She covers television, books, movies, anime, and conventions in the NYC area.

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