20 years is a long time. But also, it’s a blink of an eye, or so I’m told. Putting together one of the largest (and at times, the largest) conventions in NYC for 20 years? Now that is something special. I remember stumbling into the first year of NYCC and, within an hour, having to leave because of the fire marshals. That is a true New York experience.

But it grew, and grew, and grew. We have seen panels that introduced us to Tomorrowland, Mr. Robot, and Mike Tyson Mysteries. There have been spotlights on everyone from Josh Brolin to the cast of Super Troopers. Artist Alley has flourished, showcasing some of the greatest talent from around the world. The team has grown exponentially, and yet it all still feels familial. That’s tough to do when you have hundreds of thousands of people pushing through (give or take 250,000 in 2025).

And sure, there have been hiccups—but try putting together a dinner party for 20 people and making it perfect, let alone 4 (maybe 5) days of mayhem and chaos. Let’s not forget that feedback is generally taken seriously, and the expansion of the Javits Center was a godsend. Through it all, it’s still ours.

I digress. The 20th anniversary is looking to be a proper celebration, featuring a Nicolas Cage spotlight (heaven), A24 giving us their take on Friday the 13th with Crystal Lake, Whalefall from 20th Century Fox, and our perennial favorites, Blumhouse.

We are also going to see the World Premiere of my personal hit from last year, Common Side Effects, and a special One Piece panel.

We’ll hopefully be on the ground taking in all the sights, smells, wonder, and history as we rub shoulders with new and old fans alike.

Cheers.