Every year, midtown Manhattan is flooded with superheroes, villains, and popular characters from manga. Anyone who gets lost on their way to the Javits Center this year could simply follow a K-Pop Demon Hunter on their way to New York Comic Con. A haven of science fiction and fantasy books, shows, movies, and art, NYCC welcomes people from all walks of life to celebrate their favorite things about their respective fandoms.
Our team went to check out new releases and insights from creators and fans alike. Here are some of the highlights!
Matthew McCreary, Editor
I love listening to experts talk about their craft, especially when it comes to books. That’s why it was such a treat for me to sit in on the panel about how authors and art directors come together to make the beautiful covers we see on our shelves. The panel was led by Penguin Random House Art Director Scott Beal and attended by Rob Hart (author of Detour and Assassins Anonymous), Jennifer Keishin Armstrong (author of Seinfeldia and Parks and Rec), and Jayson Greene, who actually collaborated with Beal on his speculative debut, Unworld.
I really enjoyed Hart's insight about how to develop an artistic theme throughout the entries of a longer series, but my biggest takeaway was that a cover doesn’t have to be entirely accurate to the facts within the book. It’s more important that the art captures its essence so that you can actually do that thing you’ve been warned against for so many years: judge a book by its cover. You should at least be able to detect a general vibe or aesthetic, even if the plot or characters need to be investigated further.
Then, in a discussion hosted by Julie Snyder, authors Akwaeke Emezi (Freshwater, The Death of Vivek Oji), Amelie Wen Zhao (Song of Silver, Flame Like Night), and Aparna Verma (The Phoenix King) discussed how they have drawn on myths from around the world to design their fictional worlds and characters with accuracy, grace, and sensitivity. As science fiction and fantasy continues to grow more inclusive and diverse, it’s never been more important than now to make sure we get the essential things right… even when we’re making things up.
Kelsey McConnell, Editor
One spooky highlight of NYCC was the BlumFest 2025 panel Friday evening. Besides a terrifying sneak preview of a scene from the upcoming Black Phone 2 movie (which looked absolutely incredible and has received positive reviews), we were also treated to a surprise appearance from Five Nights At Freddy’s actor Matthew Lillard.
Another great slice of the weekend was my tour of Artist’s Alley. There was so much incredible talent selling remarkable prints that I had to really do the math on what was in my wallet. I was surprised to find my favorite artist, Tragic Girls Co., on the lineup, and quickly snatched up a few pieces there.
Amanda Yee, Editor
Comic-Con this year was full of familiar faces and fan favorites. I started off by seeing George R. R. Martin as he announced his newest show, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Based on The Hedge Knight series, HBO’s latest stars Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan the Tall and Dexter Sol Ansell as one of the seemingly infinite Aegon Targaryens, and it debuts on January 18, 2026.
Then, a few reunions really stood out: Laurence Fishburne and Joe Pantoliano’s reunion panel for the Matrix was amazing, as was the X-Men: Days of Future Cast with James McAvoy and Elliot Page. The crown jewel was seeing the cast of Shang-Chi confirm that there is a plan for another film, even if it will come after Avengers: Doomsday (slated for December 18, 2026).
Featured image: Connor Gan / Unsplash
