They say, “quality is better than quantity,” and it is beyond true. However, when you have both, now that is a winning combination. This year’s NYCC saw DC’s booth had big name comics, new products, and aside for a breakdown in communication with guest signings, had an overall great showing.
Upon first entering the DC booth, fans are usually greeted with some kinds of free merchandise. The one that was probably the most fan-favorite, would have to be the owl mask found in Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s run in Batman’s Court of Owls storyline. Other merchandise included free pins and number 1 issues of the New 52.
As far as eye-candy is concerned, DC had plenty to offer. Throughout the large area, fans could observe many DC collectibles. A large glass display held several DC statues, including Batman, Joker, Green Lantern, and of course Superman. I definitely wouldn’t mind some of those in my collection. In addition to these awesome statues, DC displayed several of its collaborative art done with the MAD brand. Several paintings depicted MAD’s famous face on DC’s famous character’s body. DC also had a flat screen T.V. that showed many of DC’s current movies and upcoming films like Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 2. All in all, DC’s booth had plenty for fans to see and interact with.
Everywhere around the DC booth there were people interacting with various features that DC was offering. One of the busiest parts of the booth was no doubt the new video game that DC was releasing in April 2013. The Injustice: Gods Among Us video game area was jam-packed with fans, which were itching to get their hands on the controller. Fans were treated to a trial run of the game that puts DC greatest heroes and villains in a Mortal Kombat type fighting game. Fans new to the game, were guided by a DC representative and were easily on their way to fighting with Batman, Cyborg, and even Harley Quinn.
Right next to the video game section, was an oldie, but a goodie area of the DC booth. At the pictures area of the booth, fans were able to superimpose themselves in various scenes found throughout the DC universe, like Jim Lee’s Justice League cover. With the video game and photo areas jam-packed, DC was having a successful day, and fans were having a fun-filled one too.
Now, it wouldn’t be a DC booth without some of comic book’s heavy-hitters coming to the stage. DC did not let down in this department. Artists, writers, and actors filled the DC area during the whole show. Cast members from Person of Interest, including Michael Emerson, were in attendance to sign autographs for the fans. In another area, you could see David Finch sketching a full-body Batman for a lucky fan. And then in another area, you could listen in as Geoff Johns, Jim Lee, and Scott Snyder were being interviewed. You could even see Greg Capullo, who by the way is one of the friendliest guys I have ever met, walk around and sign, talk, and take pictures with the fans after his signing session. I was lucky enough to get Greg to sign my owl mask, but just missed Snyder as he was walking to a DC panel.
This brings me to my, and various other fans, let down with the DC signings. This year DC decided to give out a limited amount of bracelets for each of their signings. I think this was a great idea, as it avoids a lot of the problems that I witnessed last year during the signings, like a mass amount of people just standing, waiting, and clogging up the area in and around the DC booth. The problem that I faced, along with other fans I spoke with, is that many fans were unaware of the bracelet system. One fan even commented to me that “You just have to be at the right place at the right time to get bracelets.” Did DC post anything on Twitter or on Facebook about the bracelet system? I don’t know to be honest, but even still, a reminder tweet or message in the AM would help out a lot fans in the future. Unfortunately, I was unlucky in the bracelet department and missed out on the Capullo and Snyder signing, but luckily I know they will be around again. Better luck next year, I guess.
Overall, things at the DC booth were great. Yeah, I had some bad luck with the signings, but even if I knew about the bracelet system, I still could have missed the cut. That’s the things about NYCC, you snooze, you lose. I did get a chance to play Injustice, and I did get to see some great Collectible items. And while I didn’t get to get my comics signed, I still got to chat with Greg Capullo, Scott Snyder, and even said hello to Jim Lee. The DC writers and artists are some of the best in the business, and they always seem eager to please fans and go beyond their scheduled signing session. That’s why I’ll keep coming back.