The stretch of sad (but predictable) conventional wine continues. New York Comic Con 2020, scheduled to take place in Manhattan in October, has been canceled due to the new coronavirus pandemic. Instead, ReedPop will partner with YouTube to move the convention online, similar to what San Diego Comic-Con did last month.
ReedPop’s NYCC is the latest major comic convention to announce that it will postpone its next event in person until sometime in the future. This is on the heels of San Diego Comic-Con, SXSW, en DragonCon make the same call, e.g. Emerald City Comic Con en Star Wars Party, both of which are run by ReedPop. In a statement, ReedPop thanks con-grass and fans for their support in this uncertain time, like it worked with the city to try to make something that now seems impossible.
“While today we’d rather give you an update on badges for sale, it’s probably no surprise that the physical event of New York Comic Con 2020 at the Javits Center will not run as intended. We truly appreciate your patience, as we worked with the Javits and local officials to find out what, if anything, could go on as planned in October. NYCC does not stop just because we can not do what we have done in the past. Instead, we look to the future. ”
Instead, the con will be hosted online, using a brand new website hub called “New York Comic Con’s Metaverse” and a partnership with YouTube for live streamed, pre-taped panels and other events. ReedPop announced that Starz ‘ American gods would have a panel, along with DreamWorks Animation, Hulu, and FX. CBS All Access will host another Star Trek Universe panel, equal to what the network the for San Diego Comic-Con. More panels will be announced in the coming months. While the version of SDCC left something to be desired, ReedPop is also trying to help its regular suppliers, “While fans may not be able to swing the Show Floor and Artist Alley walks at Javits this year, ReedPop is creating a virtual marketplace for fans to explore where exhibitors and makers will share their latest items. ”
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ReedPop also said viewers in the panels could interact with them via YouTube’s Live Chat and Community features, something that was noticeably lacking during SDCC, as through a Discord community. While personal photo-ops are obviously not out of the question, fans can expect “meet & greet, live Q & As, personalized autographs, videos and professional workshops.” Vice President Mike Armstrong told io9, “We are excited to provide one-on-one video chat opportunities with individual guests and makers who will have a fee, but the vast majority of our panel presentations will be free to watch via YouTube . “
It is one of several fan-cons that moved operations online to compensate for the lack of personal meetings due to the covid-19 pandemic. In addition to stalwarts such as Gen Con and San Diego Comic-Con, we have seen the addition of canned goods such as Warner Bros. ‘ DC FanDome, which will hold a series of panels on August 22 for DC films and shows.
Much has changed in recent months as a result of the pandemic. Less than two months ago, it was the Javits Center (where NYCC is normally kept) served as temporary field hospital for covid-19 patients. Falls may be in New York, but they are going through other parts of the country – the United States is up more than five million confirmed cases, with more than 160,000 dead. It makes sense that the New York Convention would be canceled this year, as there is no end in sight to this pandemic in the US
Metaverse of New York Comic Con will run from October 8 to 11 and you can find out more about the landing page.
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