New York: Costumed fans gathered at Manhattan’s Javits Center on Thursday as New York Comic Con marked its 20th anniversary, celebrating two decades of community, diversity and pop culture.
Attendees dressed as their favourite characters and connected with fellow enthusiasts at the annual convention, which has become a gathering place for fans.
“I keep coming back because it kind of feels like home,” said an attendee who goes by Sparkle. “It really just brings the community together.”
Joel Diaz, another attendee, welcomed the convention’s growing LGBTQIA representation, pointing to the inclusion of drag panels.
“Now they have drag panels, 13 years ago they didn’t have that, so it’s really cool to see that representation,” Diaz said.
Marketing director Fallon Prinzivalli said the event had grown beyond its comic-book origins, with roughly 250,000 people expected to attend over four days.
“It started with comics, and that is still absolutely the heart of what we do,” Prinzivalli said.
The anniversary celebrations include a partnership with Coney Island, with performers from the New York amusement destination scheduled to appear throughout the weekend.
This year’s convention is also set to feature celebrities including Hayden Christensen, Idina Menzel and Nicolas Cage, who are scheduled to attend and interact with fans.
Organisers describe New York Comic Con as the largest pop culture event on the East Coast of the United States. The convention runs through October 11.