Preview by Brad Balfour
Big Apple Comic Con
“Back to Spring”
Saturday & Sunday March 25 – 26, 2023
10am-7pm (early admission 9am)
General Admission $35 Saturday; $30 Sunday;
VIP Admission $90
Two day General Admission $50;
Kids under 14 $15; Kids under 10 are Free.
Meet and Greet with Roy Thomas $220 (Includes Sunday VIP admission)
The New Yorker Hotel
481 8th Ave.
New York, NY 10001
www.bigapplecc.com
There are comic cons and then there are comic cons. While the New York Comic Con is a huge affair with thousands of attendees and media stars, bigger isn’t necessarily better. And that’s the case here. thankfully, there has been The Big Apple Comic Con, now in its 26th year. This is the local con that’s about what matters — Comic Books — and all its related creative content. From 10am-7pm (early admission 9am), BACC is rolling out its 3rd Annual “Back To Spring” event, this Saturday and Sunday March 25th and 26th.
An essential NYC comic book and pop culture collectible event, it’s a national hub for comic book collectors and traders with many of the biggest dealers in the country in attendance and some of the greatest collectibles are exhibited, bought, sold, traded.
In addition, The BACC Back to Spring event will include over 100 artists, guests, exhibitors, and cosplayers, with a special focus on up and coming artists from the NYC area.
Guests include:
Legendary Marvel Comics creator, writer, and editor Roy Thomas who wrote more than 1200 titles, edited over 1000 Marvel books, and is responsible for thousands of subjects produced while Editor-in-Chief at Marvel from 1972 to 1974.
GoGos members Kathy Valentine and Gina Shock — once the biggest all -emale rock band in the world — will make an appearance at BACC.
Twice Oscar-nominated Bill Plympton is the King of Indie Animation. He has been won many awards such as 1991’s Prix Spécial du Jury at the Cannes Film Festival for “Push Comes to Shove” (which was featured on MTV’s animated series Liquid Television). His video animation credits include over a dozen Simpsons episodes.
Alitha Martinez, a 2018 Eisner and GLAAD Media Award winner (World of Wakanda) is an innovative, and versatile (Iron Man, Moon Girl, Black Panther, Nubia, Archie) master of the craft has been tackling difficult LGBTQ and multicultural subjects throughout her career
Best selling author, playwright, screenwriter, actor, and teacher Clay McLeod Chapman is at the forefront of horror genre (Ghost Eaters, Whisper Down the Lane). The NYT noted how, “Chapman uses the macabre to explore the humanity of his characters and reveal an almost spiritual side to the horrific.”
Russ Braun is the artist behind Jimmy’s Bastards, and Marvel’s hit Where Monsters’ Dwell, whose long and storied career began at DC comics with Batman and Justice League
Jamal Igle, Inkpot Award winner, artist, editor, art director, is the creator of the hit comic Molly Danger. His work for DC, Marvel, and Image, from Starship Troopers, Green Lantern, to Supergirl, Iron Fist/Wolverine to Venture, and Nightwing have distinguished him as a master stylist and a major voice of the new generation.
James Sherman is a unique comic book artist whose pencils and inks balance color and realism spans a 50 year career from DC to Marvel (Superboy, Justice League, Startrek, Punisher, X-Men, Spiderman …)
Ulises Farinas is an artist and illustrator of Star Wars, co-creator of Amazing Forest, Cloudia & Rex, Motro, and Gamma (Dark Horse), Lockjaw (Marvel). His most recent work is Dungeons & Dragons
And on Sunday, there’s an exclusive Meet and Greet with Roy Thomas (20 guests only). Origins of Play will again offer a comprehensive, playable history of video games. Pick your favorite from SpaceInvaders to Super Smash Bros and play all day (or park the kids and enjoy our panel events).
The best comic book sales platform, HipComic, is onboard with free books, and a special membership offer. As is CGC dealer and CGC Signature Series Facilitator, Captured Collectibles. And there’s BACC’s rightfully famous Cosplay contest, with prizes.