I Love the National, But Comic Con Does It Better
New York Comic Con reminded me why I fell in love with collecting.
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New York Comic Con reminded me why I fell in love with collecting.
It also reminds me how far behind the sports card world still feels when it comes to big shows.
The sports card show calendar is dominated by the National, which I love! That event allows me to catch up with friends, get exclusives and cards for my PC, and enjoy different activities with the corporate booths.
Last year, Fanatics Fest entered the scene.
It became a meeting place of sports leagues, teams and fandoms. Fanatics Fest is a lot closer to a Comic Con feel than anything else for sports fans, with its star-studded panels, special guests walking the floor and unique experiences.
But it hasn’t reached the excitement level of New York Comic Con for me. I have felt this way about cons compared to sports cards shows for at least 15 years.
I actually wrote about this for Beckett in 2010 — dreaming of a National with panels, artists, and crossovers that celebrated collecting the way Comic Con does.
Fanatics Fest is a lot closer to that vibe. In just two years, it has created a fun event for sports fans that feels family friendly. I brought my son to inaugural show and he had a great time.
The challenge with Fanatics Fest is that it feels all about Fanatics. The company is there to sell you their brand and provide showgoers with “A Fanatics Experience.”
There is a “look at us” vibe and look at everything Fanatics is able to do.
Whereas at New York Comic Con, it feels like it’s more for the fans and the experiences to be had at the show. ReedPop, the show’s organizers, aren’t making themselves the star of the show. It still feels like an event for fans.
Let me tell you a story to explain: On Sunday, I went to the NYCC with my 9-year-old Pokémon-loving son. He’s one of those kids that is an encyclopedia when it comes to Pokémon characters.
Mitsuhiro Arita, one of the original card illustrators for Pokémon, was signing.
Even if you don’t know his name, you have seen his artwork. He illustrated the famous Charizard card from the base set (see below).
Our first stop at NYCC was to meet Arita. My son, in an Umbreon costume, spoke to Arita about how much he loved his illustrations and how much he loved Pokémon.
Arita was not signing any Pokémon items at the show, but he had other things available like DC Comics variant covers of Venom and Batman, and his own artwork.
We bought a Venom variant cover and got his autograph.
That unforgettable experience that my son hasn’t stopped talking about cost us $47 total.
Coming from the sports space, I feel like I have been conditioned to expect an autograph of someone of that stature to cost a lot more money.
Compared to cards, comics are a much more accessible hobby to take part in from a financial standpoint. The value isn’t in the weekly comics – though there are some variants that can carry a premium.
But, for me, I see the value in the experiences. That’s why a place like New York Comic Con feels so rich and exciting. There are dozens – if not hundreds – of artists to interact with. There is literally something for every fandom no matter what you like. Different collaborations lend to exciting collectibles.
Imagine if the National had an artist alley for card illustrators, panels with athletes and designers, and kid-friendly zones where young collectors could create their own cards.
And the people.
I can’t forget about the people.
The richness and diversity of people who attend Comic Cons are unlike anything you see at card shows.
I left New York Comic Con riding a wave of excitement – and I’m not even a comic fan. The energy is so wild and different than most things I get to experience at card shows.
Maybe that’s what the card hobby is missing — a place where collectors, artists and athletes all come together not just to transact, but to connect.
Have you ever had a collecting moment that felt truly magical? Hit reply and tell me about it.
It’s Hockey Season
It’s time to chase those Young Guns! Upper Deck Series 1 Hockey is here and that means it’s time to chase the newest group of rookies. Here are four to keep an eye on!
Ivan Demidov: Montreal’s No. 1 pick (5th overall) in 2024 made his debut last spring. This is the biggest Young Guns chase in the product. (Buy on eBay)
Jimmy Snuggerud: The St. Louis Blues first-round pick in 2022. The son of a former NHLer has two goals and an assist on this very young season. (Buy on eBay)
Ryan Leonard: Leonard was the Washington Capitals first-round pick in 2023. He had an impressive college career. (Buy on eBay)
Gabe Perreault: The Rangers’ 2023 first-round pick is starting the season in Hartford and is considered New York’s top prospect. This is a personal favorite of mine and I may have already picked up a single. (Buy on eBay)
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Great write up! Good insight to the Comic-Con vs. FanFest Vs. the National
I have 2 such moments that come to mind as magical for me. The first was my first time meeting with Mike Yastrzemski in Charleston, WV. I'm pretty sure that I've shared that story with you already about how it almost didn't happen & then ended up turning into everything falling into place perfectly. The 2nd was at the National meeting with the amazing women of the @AAGPBL & spending hours talking with them about their experience in the game before going home with my treasured piece of memorabilia. Both were experiences that can never be repeated again (unless I live long enough to see Mike's son play professional baseball.)😁😁😁