While the first comic con in New York was back in 1964, ReedPop’s New York Comic Con launched in 2006, making 2026 the 20th anniversary of the comics/media/games juggernaut.
As my past coverage shows, I often alternate between comics panels and the larger movie and TV presentations. This year, however, I focused largely on comics (with a few exceptions).
Comics Panels: DC, Marvel, and More
DC Comics is currently riding a wave, and the company had a large presence both in programming sessions and on the show floor.
DC Executive Editor Chris Conroy moderated DC’s Vertigo + Black Label session. Conroy announced DC Black Label Presents, a series of standalone stories, including Terry Dodson writing and drawing the Zatanna comic, Amy Reeder on Poison Ivy, and Denys Cowan drawing O.M.A.C.
Writer Brian Azzarello and artist Eduardo Risso announced a new 100 Bullets miniseries, 100 Bullets: Enemigos. Writer Ram V discussed Black Tower: Crow Conspiracy and writer Deniz Camp talked about Bleeding Hearts. Writer Mariko Tamaki and artist Rosemary Valero-O’Connell discussed their forthcoming book, The Crying Doll.
Also on the panel discussing their works were Jason Aaron, Kami Garcia, Hannah Templer and Grace Ellis.
The buzz around DC’s Absolute line remains high. DC’s Absolute Universe panel included a raft of creative talent from the series, anchored by Absolute Universe architect Scott Snyder. Joining Snyder was Absolute Batman artist Nick Dragotta and colorist Frank Martin. Snyder discussed building the story toward major changes coming in the oversized Absolute Batman issue #25. Writer Jason Aaron and artist Juan Ferreyra will team up for a five-issue Absolute Justice series. Aaron also talked about his upcoming work on Absolute Superman. Artist Hayden Sherman discussed Absolute Wonder Woman and Al Ewing talked Absolute Green Lantern. Other creators in the power-packed panel included Rafael Albuquerque, Belén Ortega, Nick Robles, Che Grayson, Frank Tieri, and moderators Chris Conroy and Katie Kubert.
DC Publisher and Chief Creative Officer Jim Lee took the stage to introduce DC’s Jim Lee and Friends. Art from upcoming books was shown but, unfortunately, I have no photos of either the art or the “friends” — which included Nick Dragotta and Rafael Grampa — since after a brief introduction by Lee, photography was forbidden during the session. Enforcement was strict, with monitors constantly checking for cameras and cell phones. The restrictions were so severe that audience members were prevented from even looking at the cell phones during the session.
Marvel Comics, of course, also had a major presence at the con.
After a brief appearance by new Marvel EIC Stephen Wacker and Streaming, Television and Animation Head Brad Winderbaum, Executive Editor Nick Lowe moderated the Marvel Comics: The Spider-Web session. Joining Lowe were editors Tom Groneman and Kaitlyn Lindtved who announced a spate of new Spider-Man books along with creative team members Joe Kelly, Ashley Allen, Lee Bermejo, Alex Segura, and Charles Soule.
After a bombastic introduction by Executive Editor Nick Lowe, the Marvel Comics, House of Ideas session was moderated by EIC Stephen Wacker and actress and comics writer Iman Vellani. Creator panelists included Danny Khazem, Ashley Allen, Phillip Kennedy Johnson, and Stephanie Phillips. Editor for Asia Originals, C.B. Cebulski introduced editors Naofumi Mashino and Kenta Matsui and discussed Marvel’s manga-influenced versions of Iron Man, Spider-Gwen, Deadpool, and Venom as part of the Marvel-Kadokawa Partnership. Following this, filmmaker and writer Kevin Smith made a surprise appearance to announce the first-ever crossover series between Star Wars and the Marvel Comics universe, Star Wars/Marvel: Hope Assembles.
Beyond the big two, other panels took a historical perspective on comics.
While the official Harvey Awards Ceremony was Friday evening, earlier in the day, the Harvey Awards Hall of Fame session gave a preview of the Hall of Fame inductees moderated by Paul Levitz. On stage were two of the creators to be unducted that evening, writer/artist Frank Miller and artist Klaus Janson. In the audience, although unannounced from the stage, were the descendants of other Hall of Fame award recipients, including Denny O’Neil’s son Lawrence, Dick Giordano’s son Richard Jr., and Jerry Robinson’s son Jens.
In The Year of Jack Kirby, Roy Schwartz moderated the session with creators and historians discussing how they first encountered Kirby’s artwork and why this was, indeed, “the year of Jack Kirby” — as demonstrated, in part, by the recent naming of Jack Kirby Way on Essex Street in Lower East Side (an initiative spearheaded by Schwartz). Panelists included artist Adi Granov, artist/writer Dean Haspiel, writer Chris Claremont, and Jack Kirby Museum & Research Center Executive Director Rand Hoppe.
The Legacy of Jack Kirby session brought together creators, historians, and academics to discuss the historical impact of the work of the famed artist and writer. Panelists included writer, editor, and historian Paul Levitz, Columbia University Curator for Comics and Cartoons Karen Green, Jack Kirby Museum & Research Center Executive Director Rand Hoppe, artist Ryan Dunlavey, comics historian and librarian Amie Wright, and Brian Carlin and Joe Schmidt from the NY Department of Education. Attendees received a copy of the comic Sketches on the Sidewalk: Jack Kirby by Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey, published by the NYC Department of Education.
Beyond Comics
Often I’ll arrive very early for an upcoming programming session and stumble across the preceding panel, resulting in discovering a topic about which I knew very little.
Before the Harvey Awards Hall of Fame presentation was the Tamashii Nations Showcase. Jacki Jing and Atsuhiko Suzaki moderated the session with voice talent Matt Hill and Sam Vincent and designers Motto Okamoto and Miyamae. I know almost nothing about Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles, bit the company certainly has a rabid fanbase. The crowd broke into wild applause as new models were revealed on stage.
Equally enthusiastic was the crowd for Metro Boomin presents OnlyHands, held in the room before The Year of Jack Kirby panel. The music producer will appear as a playable character in an upcoming fighting game. Also on the stage were The Boondocks artist and co-executive producer Carl Jones and OnlyHands CEO Zane Comer.
Media Panels
Despite my comics focus this year, I managed to catch two media focused panels.
In the Spotlight on Nicolas Cage the noted actor discussed his long career in movies in conversation with Victor Dandridge. The conversation naturally focussed on his work in action and cult movies. Regrettably, the actor wasn’t asked about what I believe is one of his most underappreciated films, The Family Man.
The Shudder panel included Late Night with the Devil star and comics writer David Dastmalchian along with director, cinematographer, and screenwriter Ernest Dickerson, and actor Deborah Ann Woll moderated by Fangoria.com digital editor Angel Melanson.
Booth Signings and Artist Alley
Beyond the programming sessions, the other opportunities to meet comics creators are at booth signings and, of course, in Artist Alley.
The IDW booth hosted a number of the company’s top creators, including Ben Wickey, author of the deeply researched More Weight: A Salem Story, Patrick Horvath, author of the cult hit Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, and Ghoul author/artist Kasey Iris. Rising horror star writer Hannah Rose May met her Fatal Fest artist Andrea Scalmazzi for the first time in the booth after working together remotely on the book.
Other noteworthy creators at booth signings included Scott Snyder, Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner, Frank Tieri, and many others.
New York Comic Con has long had one of the largest Artist Alley. Tiny Onion held down a corner of the floor near the entrance where James Tynion IV was signing throughout much of the con. The creators I photographed in Artist Alley included Lee Bermejo, Jim Starlin, Jeph Loeb, Greg Capullo, Nick Dragotta, Tom King, and many others.
Cosplay
While I don’t focus primarily on cosplay, it’s always fun to shoot a photo of a clever cosplay costume.
For a photo gallery of over 500 photos, see the Flickr album New York Comic Con 2026:
