Related: NYCC Coverage From Past Years
So, what are we excited to see this year? The usual suspects will be there (Walking Dead and Dr Who and Artist Alley), but here are the panels and places that we are getting our nerd on for in 2018.
American Gods
We haven’t spoken much about the upcoming season 2 of American Gods, despite being super fans of the show and the book. To be honest, cautious optimism has had to take over with regards to Shadow and his gang since showrunner Bryan Fuller (and Gillian Anderson as Media) stepped out of the project. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t curious.
Season 1 ended with the gods heading to an imminent collision at The House on the Rock, and the assurances that the olds and the news will clash in bigger and better ways than we see in the book have us intrigued and primed. NYCC is going to be the first look that any of us get at how the new showrunners have taken our faves and run with them. And thankfully, author and story-teller extraordinaire, Neil Gaiman, will be there to assuage our deepest fears.
Fierce Reads
For you book nerds out there, YA giants, Fierce Reads, are bringing some of our favorite authors to signings and panels at NYCC. Children of Blood and Bone author, Tomi Adeyemi will be there along with Melissa Meyer of Renegades and Cinder fame. And my personal holy grail of NYCC this year: Ngozi Ukazu, creator and author and illustrator of my most favorite happy place: Check, Please!
You don’t want to miss @tomi_adeyemi, @ca_london, @marissa_meyer, @apriltucholke, and @ngoziu on Thursday, October 4 at #NYCC for their stop on the #FierceReadsTour! ? Get your badges today: https://t.co/xWiJTeLjXk pic.twitter.com/JyXBZkU7sG
— New York Comic Con (@NY_Comic_Con) July 25, 2018
Can’t wait. Bring me all the book goodness and goddesses.
Randoms
I’m really excited to see Matt Smith, of Whovian fame, this year. I’ve never seen a single episode of Dr Who (although the fandom is ubiquitous enough that I was never able to escape knowledge of it), but I loved him so so so much in The Crown, that I might actually suspend my ban on photo ops to see him.
You don’t know who this next guy is … I guarantee it. Not because he’s not famous in certain circles, but because our readership just isn’t into … anime voiceover actors. BUT, BUT … Josh Grelle will be at NYCC this year, and I am going to geek out all over him because … he’s the dubbed voice for … YURI KATSUKI. That’s right. He’s responsible for this Yuri!!! on Ice moment:
I have taken a deep dive into nerdville here, but AnimeFest is coming and so is English-sub Yuri, and that’s all I care about.
Outlander
Oh, that’s right. Your fave is coming to NYCC this year because they realized they can be headliners there and not relegated to Ballroom 20 status. Why am I excited to cover season 4 of Outlander for you guys at NYCC when we cover TF out of it all season long?
Because this happened today:
Ah. So I’m _not_ invited this year. Nice of you to let me know. #HaveFun https://t.co/sJvsXOF305
— Diana Gabaldon (@Writer_DG) August 21, 2018
… and I find this tea exceptionally thirst-quenching. Let’s sip.
Here’s my humble opinion about who stepped in it here. From the studio’s point of view, Outlander is headed into its 4th season, not its 1st or 2nd, and it has well established itself amongst its initial fanbase of readers. It’s even established its own fanbase apart from the books. They’ve simply outgrown the specific need for the author to come to these types of PR events. Sure, she could continue to talk about adaptation and casting and so on, but that’s all been covered. Except for feelings on new cast members (who won’t be present) and new challenges to adaptation (which the producers can talk about), there isn’t much newness that she can bring to the party. Readers want to hear from her, and hear about the new book, but that’s something she can provide on her own press tour, if she so chooses. Neil Gaiman aside, it’s an unusual show that keeps inviting the authors back for late season panels like this one.
As far as Diana is concerned … damn, girl. She has never pulled A SINGLE punch, and it is thoroughly entertaining. This woman is wholly unbothered by calling out the studio that buttered her optioned bread into an international almost-sensation, and I would like to see the giant Meyers-sized balls she has under that kaftan to do it in public. Because, let’s be real. The studio should be letting her or her agent know whether or not they plan to invite her to things way before she hears about it on social media. Keep her ass in the loop. It’s not hard. She still gets the “You’ve Got Mail” chime every time someone decides to ask her about Jamie’s butt fuzz.
So … am I looking forward to NYCC? Well, will there be an Outlander fan who gets up in the Q&A and berates them for not inviting Diana and makes everyone uncomfortable? If so, I AM IN.
