At NY Comic Con, to role-play is to be your own true self

Twin sisters Jacqui Lou and Jacqui Lynn Valdez cosplay with their nephew Fredrick Tan. Photos by Boyet Loverita & Lindy Rosales

Whenever you see Batman, a Jedi knight, and anime maidens walking the streets of New York, it can only mean Comic Con is in town and an assortment of costumed characters is popping up all over. It’s my chance to see my childhood characters come to life and maybe share a train ride with them.

I made it to the last day of the convention. Jampacked as always. It took a few minutes for us to get past the crowd after having our press badges scanned.

We were greeted by a giant Rugrats. Whee! What a joy to be at the New York Comic Con (NYCC). There’s so much to see and take in. In a venue this massive, you don’t know where to begin.

Our first stop was the Artist Alley where row upon row of artists provided on-site sketches, and displayed their books, drawings and other creations. I met two artists who came all the way from the Philippines. This is Dennis Crisostomo’s second NY Comic Con. He came to promote his book “Pedro Penduko” under Epic Studios and VRJ Books.

“It’s a great convention to meet new artists and release new projects,” said Crisostomo.

It is his first time at NYCC for Jim Jimenez, although he is not a newbie to comic conventions. He is appreciative of the fans that he’s met and taking in all the different styles of drawings of other artists from Europe. He drew the illustrations on his brother Jay Jimenez book “Kate,” and did the drawings for the comic books “Immortal,” “Metropolis,” and “Exodus.”

“Nakatatak po sa isipan ko at hindi ko po makalimutan ito,” (This experience is embedded in my mind and I will never forget it), said Jimenez.

Crisostomo’s and Paredes’s next stop will be California for the Los Angeles Comic Con.

In the section called The Block was a table for Women in Comics NYC Collective International, an initiative that serves to educate communities about the role of women working in comics.

Barbara Ang, a FilAm artist based in Queens, said it means so much to her to see her friends, fans and followers come to NYCC to see her and her latest creations.

“It’s been wonderful,” she said.

Ang was an environmental engineer on construction sites working 12-hour shifts. She started her artistic pursuit a year ago when she discovered an Instagram challenge called “Inktober” where an individual produces an ink drawing each day for 31 days.

“I got hooked and I started creating and it turned into my full-time job. I have a lot more free time. I love it, I get to live my life, work at my own schedule and be my own boss. It’s great!” Kudos to this millennial who has found her calling early and is living it up!

We ran into a friend, Wendell Gaa from the Philippine Consulate, who was dressed as Yoda complete with a green light saber. This is his
6th Comic Con.

“This year was one of the biggest attendance I’ve seen so far. The celebrity star panel in the photo-ops was outstanding. It’s so fun,” he raved.

Jacqui Lou and Jacqui Lynn Valdez are twin sisters from Linden, New Jersey who took their nephew Fredrick Tan to his first NYCC.

“It’s really good to see all the artists around, and all the cool costumes,” said Jacqui Lou.

“This is a great place to be right now, a lot of things are going on and we’re having a great time,” came Jacqui Lynn’s response. As for Fredrick? No doubt he’s having fun.

Barbara Ang left her job as an environmental engineer to become a comics creator

Artists Jim Jimenez (left) and Dennis Crisostomo