Wheeeew New York Comic Con is a wrap, baby! After four days of intense crowds, miles of walking lugging books (for real, my step count was OFF THE CHART), zillions of delightful faces and bunches of moments reconnecting with old friends and chatting with new ones ... we're all done!
I was a little anxious going into it - two days after getting back from two weeks in Vienna, not having been to NYCC since 2016 - it was hella intimidating!
But being able to stay with my loooong time bestie Greg Lockard, and table next to him and frequent collaborator/pal Alex Segura made all the difference. As did reconnecting with sooo many people who still remembered me! I'm talking early 2000s buds, Webtoon Pals, Bmore Besties, comics friends over the years ... amazing. Are people still saying amazeballs? Because it might deserve an amazeballs.
I haven't been to this friggin' show since 2016! That was pre-divorce, pre-chemo, pre-James, pre-Austin Monica! This is a glimpse into how I was doing back then (with another long time bestie Jimmy Aquino):
It's crazy to think it's been so long. I got emotional when people came up who remembered me from back then, and were happy to chat and check out my new stuff. Fuck, I've missed New York and the bustle and opportunities and diversity everywhere. I got bagels in the morning from a super popular, grumpy deli and got to hear the NY/NJ/Long Island accents surrounding me everywhere ... and I felt comforted. I mean, I've always loved a grumpy East Coaster, but NY/NJ especially makes me feel like home. I love Austin, but the specialness of the East Coast still lives in me. I'm not going to wait so long before going back.
Not that I waited ... situations beyond my control kept me away, lol!
OH SHIT and one of the most magical things that happened among an already magical long-ass weekend was TWO women who I'd done portraits of back in 2016 CAME BACK for updated ones!
TWO PEOPLE!!
Here's the first one that I did in 2016 of this lovely woman:
And here's her updated-for-2023 one:
I've been off my con sketch game for a minute (hello, Procreate and my ability to undo and resize ad nauseum) but this con reignited that fire in me - I LOVE INKING WITH A BRUSH! So expect to see some more of that soon!
Here's the other lovely woman who came by to request a sketch - I haven't done it yet because she was leaving the show and wanted me to mail it to her, but here's the 2016 one:
And here's my source material for her now!
Apparently in New York everyone is gorgeous and doesn't age. I kind of always suspected, but CONFIRMED.
Speaking of sketches, here are the other ones I managed to eek my way through this weekend:
Okay, enough blathering - I'll leave you with my one celebrity sighting:
So awesome to spend some time with you, Monica! You're amazing.