Hello and happy weekend to our readers! This particular one is jammed packed with lots of events to attend and cover. This weekend lies the return of Brooklyn Comic-Con. Sunday also marks the June monthly for NYC Tekken, for our more competitive fans.
Regardless of where your paths may lead, I'm here to be the weekend warrior giving you coverage from both events! Beginning with Brooklyn Comic-Con, this two-day event hosted by Sexy Nerds is the epitome of grassroots. To the fans of nerd culture, by the fans of nerd culture, BKCC takes place at The Breeze in Williamsburg.
Compared to its historical location at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, reaching here wasn't an inconvenience especially if you live in the borough. Located next to the L train and by several buses, this is also the location of the latest Etika memorial. Whether this location was a coincidence or if it was planned, seeing the late great Etika resonated with me. He was a huge inspiration who was gone too soon and inspired an entire generation to never give up on their dreams.
The convention utilizes two stories of the building. The first story hosts panels from various members of the industry as well as up-and-coming artists. While there was a single panel room, there was enough space for panelists and attendees alike to get comfortable. The second story is where the main action at Brooklyn Comic Con takes place.
When we first arrived, various artist alley and merch tables were set up. There were quite a few attendees during the early hours, slowly trickling in as the line from outside eased itself into the building. There were aisles of artist alley and merch tables that formed a square, with each corner having something of interest. The first thing we were greeted to was a table that served drinks for adult attendees who wanted some hydration.
To the right was a Sega Dreamcast kiosk which brought me back to the early 2000s. It was spacious enough that moving around wasn't an issue. In the back of one of the "square's corners" was a gaming area with a decent roster of games. Staples including Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros was in the line-up while classic titles including Aladdin and Streets of Rage also existed. There was even a set-up that included Nickelodeon All-Stars Brawl, keeping the options varied across generations and genres.
The star of the weekend was arguably renowned actor Phil LaMarr, known for works in live action, animation, and video games. He's perhaps best known, depending on the generation, for his role in Pulp Fiction, Virgil Hawkins in Static Shock, Samurai Jack in Samurai Jack, Vamp in Metal Gear Solid 2, Kotal Khan in Mortal Kombat, and so much more. Having a legend in the voice acting world was one thing. Having him talk to an audience of fans for over 40 minutes is another thing.
Hearing the wealth of knowledge that LaMarr provided over his very long-term career was enough for fans of comics and video games to enjoy. Fortunately, we were able to capture the panel in its entirety. Perhaps one day we can have him as a special interview guest like Richard Epcar in Anime NYC last year?
Overall, Brooklyn Comic-Con proved that grassroots and local cons can thrive in a "COVID-era" so long as there are those who support what actors put on the line. Not just actors, but everyone from volunteers to event organizers who do what they can for us fans. It's often a thankless job, but we here thank everyone who put in the effort to make the weekend great for all involved. Here's to next year.
