Amid the Actors Strike, the Con Marches On
New York Comic Con returned to the Javits Center this past weekend with the SAG-AFTRA actors’ strike still in effect. At the summer’s San Diego Comic-Con, movie and TV actors were scarce. The few exceptions were there to discuss projects other than movies and TV shows, like Jamie Lee Curtis’ panel on her comic, Mother Earth.
New York Comic Con, in contrast, featured an array of movie and TV celebrities. The difference is likely due to the disparate business models of the two. At Comic Con International’s SDCC, celebrities are brought by production companies, studios, or distributors to promote their works. The stars receive recompense from these organizations for their assistance publicizing their products. This type of promotional activity on behalf of these companies is forbidden by the union during the strike.
At a commercial con like ReedPop’s NYCC, most celebrities attend on their own initiative and are remunerated by providing autographs and photo ops with fans. The celebrities are free to attend as long as they don’t promote the products of struck organizations.
Whether it was due to the strike or a change in focus for NYCC, a significant number of celebrity headliners did not appear in panel or interview sessions and were available only for fee-based autograph signings and photo ops. While Chris Evans appeared on stage in a spotlight panel, fellow Avenger Tom Hiddleston was only listed for fee-based autographs and photos. And so it was with many of the media guests.
Celebrity Programming Sessions
As for the programming sessions, the impact of the strike was readily apparent — at least in most instances.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon presentation from AMC Networks and AMC+ was either exempted or otherwise evaded strike restrictions with a session featuring series star Norman Reedus, showrunner David Zabel, Executive Producer Greg Nicotero, and Chief Content Officer of the Walking Dead Universe Scott M. Gimple. On Thursday, fans were treated to an early screening of the first season’s finale, three days before the episode’s Sunday air date, as well as a teaser preview of season two featuring the return of fan favorite character Carol Peletier.
The session with actors from the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise was officially titled, “Karen Gillan, Chukwudi Iwuji, Michael Rooker, Sean Gunn & Pom Klementieff In Conversation.” There was little doubt, however, why the room was packed with fans. One of the hosts warming up the audience slyly suggested they were there for the panel for “Security Guards of the Milky Way.” At times, the discussion drifted into talk about the popular series, including a debate about whose makeup takes the longest time to apply (Karen Gillan’s Nebula was the winner) and other production details and backstage anecdotes.
In contrast, Ewan McGregor assiduously avoided mentioning his role in the Star Wars franchise or other movie work in a session deftly moderated by Ashley V. Robinson. In his first appearance at New York Comic Con, McGregor talked about his stage acting, charity work, travels around the globe on his motorcycle, and how to brew a proper pot of tea.
Similarly, the spotlight panel with Chris Evans steered clear of any mention of his character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Evans, like McGregor, spoke about working on the stage and discussed personal topics such as his affection for his dog, Dodger.
Befitting the Friday the 13th weekend and the proximity of Halloween, horror was prevalent in the movie and TV panels with presentations by Blumhouse, Shudder, AMC, and John Carpenter. As a director, whose union was not on strike, Carpenter talked freely about his long history of film work in his spotlight session.
Comics and Graphic Novels
Also well presented at the show, both in the exhibition hall and in panel sessions, were manga, literature, and graphic novels. The Titans of Graphic Novels session featured popular authors Rachel Smythe, Raina Telgemeier, and Kazu Kibuishi in a panel moderated by Robin Brenner of the Brookline Public Library.
Noteworthy among the comics panels were the number of new and emerging publishers and imprints such as Rocketship Entertainment, Bad Idea, and Mad Cave Studio.
Ghost Machine, a new creator-owned imprint of Image Comics, was officially launched at the event, with a blockbuster panel featuring Geoff Johns, Brad Meltzer, Peter J. Tomasi, Gary Frank, Jason Fabok, Maytal Zchut, Francis Manapul, Lamont Magee, Bryan Hitch, Brad Anderson, and Rob Leigh. In contrast to previous companies in which creators own the intellectual property they create, at Ghost Machine the creators all share in the IP of the company’s creations.
Other star-studded comics panels came from companies big and small.
From Pitch to the Page featured Scott Snyder, Stephanie Phillips, Mark Sable, Neil Kleid, Scott Hoffman, and Kim-Joy discussing their process.
In Behind the Comics Pages, Scott Snyder, Jack Snyder, Jock, Tula Lotay, and Valeria Favoccia talked about their work with moderator Will Dennis.
At Marvel Fanfare, editor-in-chief C.B. Cebulski moderated a session featuring six artists from three generations of Marvel’s creative talent: two legends, Frank Miller and John Romita Jr.; two former Marvel “Young Guns,” now major artists, Steve McNiven and Adi Granov; and two up-and-coming “Stormbreakers” (the successor of Marvel’s Young Guns program), Elena Casagrande and Lucas Werneck. The comedic banter between Miller and Romita was a highlight of the panel.
Cebulski, along with Ryan Penagos, also hosted Marvel—Next Big Thing, featuring forthcoming content from the publisher. Presenting their works were Al Ewing and Gerry Duggan, the always amusing Chip Zdarsky, Jonathan Hickman and Valerio Schiti, and Jed MacKay.
In other sessions, performers best known for their work in other media announced their debut as comics creators.
Rapper/songwriter/actor Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi announced he will co-write a Moon Man comic with Kyle Higgins in conjunction with Image Comics
Actor Tom Hardy announced he will serve as creative collaborator with writer Frank Tieri and artist Ryan Smallman on Arcbound, a forthcoming 12-issue series from Arcbound Studios.
New York Comic Con has always featured a large and exceptional Artist Alley. This year was no exception, with creators from A (Arthur Adams) to Z (Zoe Thorogood). See the Comic Book Creators album in Flickr for photos of comics creators in Artist Alley and panel sessions.
For the full set of photos from the weekend, see the Flickr album New York Comic Con 2023:
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