For years (going back to 98 for me), there was a local comic book convention called Big Apple Comic Con or Big Apple Con for some. I would day trip there with my friends and check out the stuff for sale. There were just as many comic book dealers as there were bootleggers there, I mean $30 for a complete MacGuyver season 1 boxset on VHS? SCORE!

This con also survived the fiasco that was known as Big Apple Anime Fest (a con that this person misses truly). I remember going into a basement of a church to check out this con. As time went on, BACC ended up across the street from Penn Station at the Penn Pavilion. I still went, as long as my friends went to. Last year I went to Big Apple Con and met Jason Mewes and the late Captain Lou Albano. My feelings about this con? It sucked. I know that comic book cons will have a different crowd that of anime fans. But going to Big Apple Comic Con shouldn’t have the feeling of being surrounded by a bunch of fat dorks in some kid’s basement who have never gotten laid in their entire life.

So earlier this year, Wizard World bought Big Apple Con and now calls it Big Apple Comic Con. That doesn’t say much to me. I was at Wizard World Philly last year and it was atrocious, especially the costume contest. WWP was a trainwreck, nuff said.

So this year I went. Why? Friends. I went to meet up with Baltimore Lauren and her crew and check it out. It took me 45 minutes to get into the Exhibit Hall. Hell, I saw my sister Trish and my bro-in-law there too! I get in and I go, WTF. It’s an overglorified basement! The only saving grace to me was the expansive Nintendo booth with playable New Super Mario Bros Wii! Even with the list of guests, I thought it would be a lot better… So I met up with Baltimore Lauren and we left. Hanging out with her crew and getting food was a hell of lot more exciting than this.

Today, The Anime Fanboy went to BACC and this is what he reported to me…
“It seems that a couple of dealers got into a fist fist or two for various reasons. Also due to the low turnout for autographs and panels, William Shatner was not happy with this and left early on Saturday.”

If you think that’s something… Straight from the NYAF-CC crew, they were escorted out of the con on Friday! To add insult to injury, BACC is the SAME WEEKEND as NYAF-CC! In all seriousness I doubt NYAF-CC has ANYTHING to worry about with BACC. I mean really, are you going to travel 20+ blocks north to a halfassed convention? I think not.

Big Apple Con has been around for 30 years. Don’t be too surprised if there isn’t a 2011 con.

DJ Ranma S

DJ Ranma S is cosplay veteran. He has won numerous performance awards with his friends over the years. He has staffed conventions in the past, ran panels, judged a couple of masquerades, a jack of all trades. He's worked dealer's room too! Running this site is his way of giving back to the cosplay community. He feels that it's his turn to give a future cosplayer their fifteen minutes of fame.

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