Thursday at New York Comic Con 2013

Press day at New York Comic Con is always a pleasure since it is the least crowded day. It's a good day for scouring the dealer rooms and meeting up with old friends. Once the insanity of Friday and Saturday are upon us, you can throw the rule book completely out the window. Here are a few highlights from the 1st day of the con.

"I AM SPARTACUS!"

Stuntwoman and Actress Zöe Bell was on hand signing autographs and promoting
her new film from IFC entitled Raze

Master Gio Interviews Vampy Bit Me

NYCC 2013: A Bit of Mental Preperation

Another year, another New York Comic Con. As the weekend approaches, memories of last year's Comic Con continue creep into memory. It was that very weekend in 2012 that I lost my mom to cancer. This coming Columbus Day marks the 1 year anniversary of he passing, and I still miss her dearly.  It's sucks to have these memories tied in with the mecca of New York City geek events, but it can't be helped.

While I was only partially in attendance at comic con 2012, it did provide a mental escape for me. It was difficult. I remember pulling myself aside several times, ready to start bawling my eyes out, only to catch myself and hold it all back. Maybe I'm not the most open person when it comes to expressing my feelings, it's the Scorpio in me, but I was very appreciative of my friends who helped console me and cheer me up during those difficult days.

I've come a long way in the year since. I labelled 2013 as the year of change, and it has been just that. Things have changed for the better. I've moved to a new apartment in a part of Queens which I'm beginning to love. I'm now engaged to a wonderful woman,  whom I'm looking forward to spending the rest of my life with. Things are looking positive. I still miss my mom, that won't change, but I know she'd be proud of me if she was here.

I've reflected on my career a lot recently, coming to the realization that I want to still be a Graphic Designer first and foremost. That's where my true passion lies. And while my day job has sucked the fun and life out of it, I still strive to keep my career alive and moving forward. Photography has been a great escape from the negative hoopla and staleness of graphic design, but I don't see it ever becoming my career. I love taking photos, and I love taking them semi-professionally, but it'll only serve to enhance my skills as a designer and not as a new career direction.

This year, NYCC will be a little more subdued as the memory of my mom's passing will still be fresh in mind. I'll be there with my camera trying to snap photos of the most unique cosplays, and I'll be photographing for the Words of the Master website once again. However, things won't be as intense and insane as they usually are. Don't get me wrong, I'm still psyched about going, but I'm just over all the insanity. See you at the Javits Center...

Toy Fair International 2013: Yes Anime Inc.

YES ANIME

Specializing in Domestic and Imported anime, Yes Anime, Inc. is  the largest distributor of Japanese toys in the San Francisco Bay area. They specialize in a wide variety of designer toys, apparel, accessories, and snacks and bevarages among many other licensed goods. Their most sought after collector item, the Super Alloy Batman 1/6 scale 12 inch figure by Jim Lee, was received with great enthusiasm at New York Comic Con last year.

Toy Fair International 2013: Kotobukiya USA

To say that the Kotobukiya USA booth at Toy Fair International was quite impressive is an understatement. Founded in 1951 as single toy store, it wasn't until 1985 that the company began manufacturing it's first original toys. With  close to 60 years of toy expertise under it's belt, Kotobukiya decided in 2009 to form a USA team to meet the demand of a more global market. Kotobukiya's toy and statue lines can be found in most comicbook and toy specialty stores around the United States. Compared to their competitors, Kotobukiya offers what I'd like consider a more reasonable price range for it's regular and snap-fit statues, while still being able to maintain higher end quality

Toy Fair International 2013: Tokyo Pop / The Loyal Subjects / GANN Memorials, Inc.,

The 110th annual Toy Fair International is in full swing at New York City's Javits Center. The trade only show, which is not open to the public, brings together toy manufactures, licencors, distributors, and sales agents from around the world. Toys and entertainment take center stage at this event, but in the end, fun takes a back seat to business. This year, I had the pleasure to attend and cover the event for the first time. I received a first hand look at new and upcoming toys, while previewing some of the innovative ideas that hope to  become the next big toy coveted by boy and girl. This is the first of a series of blogs, and as you will read on, you'll notice that ToyFair brought the kid out in me as well.