New York Comic Con 2018: Hamptonites in New Projects, Shopping Tips and More

New York Comic Con proved once again this year that San Diego isn’t the country’s only geek mecca. From October 4–7 at the Jacob K. Javitz Convention Center, New Yorkers and folks from all over the map celebrated the big event, enjoying everything from top comic creators in the industry’s home city, to incredible art, media and film announcements and updates, hot new toys and video games, cosplay, friends and fellowship, discount comics and much more. And we even picked up some news about some new projects featuring Hamptons residents.

East Hampton’s Jennifer Esposito (Law & Order: SVU, NCIS, The Affair) is starring in what promises to be a dark, brutal TV series on Amazon Prime: The Boys, based on a very adult comic series by Preacher creator Garth Ennis presents a world where superheroes are the ultimate celebrities who take no responsibility for the carnage caused by their devastating powers. Esposito will play CIA Agent Susan Raynor, one of the people seeking to moderate these powered humans, in five episodes. Unfortunately, she did not participate in Friday’s panel at Hammerstein Ballroom, which revealed much about the upcoming show. One big takeaway: The show will tone down the famously dirty, gory and misogynistic source material, which would have a hard time in today’s social climate. Catch The Boys on Amazon Prime in 2019.

At Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, fans at the Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse panel were treated to the Marvel animated film’s first 35 minutes. The movie stars Montauker Liev Schreiber (Ray Donovan) as Kingpin, but he didn’t make the panel, which included Shameik Moore, who voices Miles Morales, and Jake Johnson as Spider-Man’s original alter-ego, a down on his luck version of Peter Parker, among others. The film hits theaters on December 14 of this year.

On Sunday, Hamptonite Ralph Macchio joined his fellow Karate Kid revivalists for a panel about Season 2 of YouTube Premium’s Cobra Kai. He and Johnny actor William Zabka, along with the show’s creator Josh Heald and screenwriters Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg revealed some interesting tidbits. As seen at the end of Season 1, Mr. Miyagi’s home and garden are going to be an important setting as Daniel LaRusso’s new dojo, where he’ll train students in Season 2. The team said they’re aiming not just to bank on vintage Karate Kid nostalgia, but to recruit a whole new generation of fans (who hopefully missed the Jaden Smith reboot). We had no confirmation about whether Daniel and Johnny would get to face off against each other in the new season, but they will both get to fight. Cobra Kai‘s 10-episode second season airs on YouTube Premium in the spring of 2019.

Also on Sunday, at MSG’s Hulu Theater, the gang from the CW’s Riverdale—including KJ Apa (Archie Andrews), Lili Reinhart (Betty Cooper), Luke Perry (Archie’s dad Fred Andrews), Mädchen Amick (Betty’s mom Alice Cooper), showrunner and creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and executive producer Jon Goldwater—offered some new info and insights about Season 3, premiering this Wednesday, October 10. Based on the Archie comic books, currently headed up by co-CEO Nancy Silberkleit of East Hampton, and once drawn by late artist Stan Goldberg of Hampton Bays, the series also stars Southampton’s Mark Consuelos as Veronica Lodge’s dastardly dad Hiram, though he was not at the panel.

Other non-Hamptons related highlights included the newly announced She-Ra and the Princesses of Power cartoon and The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance TV series on Netflix, George R.R. Martin’s Nightflyers (out in December), SyFy’s Deadly Class (based on Rick Remender’s comic) and much more.

Outside the panels, announcements and premieres, many come for the shopping on multiple floors and areas at NYCC. For the casual comics reader, or even those super fans who just can’t keep up the monthly schedules, NYCC is the ultimate marketplace for picking up missed issues or collected editions that can keep us reading word balloons through to next year’s con. And the best part? There are tons of books to be had in discount and dollar bins!

Where else can you find missing volumes of Ex Machina, Daredevil or The Walking Dead, along with well-priced omnibus editions and single issues to complete runs of your favorite series? (This is the only reason I have a complete run of DC’s Batwoman.)

Veteran Floor Shopping Tips:

1. Make sure to bring a large, strong and empty bag, or two, that is comfortable to carry. Books are heavy and the purchases pile up fast.

2. Bring a list of what you’re looking for—it’s too easy to buy issues you already have, or to get distracted and forget all about the things you actually hoped to find, and it helps to have a reference when asking about particular books.

3. Check multiple sellers before plunking down on a particular toy or collectible. Some vendors jack up prices for the con, but others have plenty of goods at better prices than you’ll ever find on eBay.

Learn more about New York Comic Con, including how to get tickets for next year’s events, at newyorkcomiccon.com.