"We end season one with Hopper actually sort of selling Eleven out, right?"
Following on from the massive opening day, the Javits centre hit an obvious snag for those attending. A new bag search policy meant punters were stuck outside; some for up to four hours, in line just to enter the building.
The extra numbers through the doors were felt on the floor also with major congestion at each thorough fare, at peak times it would take almost half an hour to traverse one side to the other.
Those who did arrive early bee-lined for the Stranger Things panel, which hit capacity just a few short minutes after doors opened. Featuring Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven) and David Harbour (Hopper), the questioning almost immediately turned to every bodies favourite missing ginger, Barb. Confirming that Barb is very much dead, Harbour gave away some major hints at the upcoming Netflix season 2 of the show by stating that “We end season one with Hopper actually sort of selling Eleven out, right? He doesn’t know that she’s capable of destroying groups of people but he does kind of give her up to go into the Upside Down to save Will” as well as describing the wostory arc of Hopper and Ele to be a ‘very emotional one’.
The Madison Square Garden Theatre hosted one of its major draws as BBC America Takeover handed us the cast and trailer from the upcoming Doctor Who spinoff show Class along with the Doctor Who cast themselves. The coproduced show by Patrick Ness and Stephen Moffatt will centre around the Coal Hill Academy, a previous staple for Doctor Who episodes and will feature a class of students forced to help defend the cracks of time and space. Naturally the trailer sent the room into a frenzy, as did the sneak trailer for the upcoming Doctor Who Christmas special. With new companion Pearl Mackie on board, current Doctor Peter Capaldi described the new series as ‘Fresh’, stating that Mackie will give the show a new perspective on the Tardis journeys when she crosses into the third episode of the season. Fans will have to wait until early next year to see if this reigns true.
Don't miss a beat with our FREE daily newsletter
MSG also delivered the latest trailers from the Underworld and Resident Evil movie franchises. While little was divulged about the upcoming blockbusters, the key news everybody is taking away from the panel was a fan question asking Underworld star Kate Beckinsale about a possible crossover with another franchise fangbanger in Blade. Her response was a flat no, but that was because Marvel is doing something with that character, speculation has already spun to a movie reboot or Netflix series to come. Marvel have not confirmed anything about the story but did confirm today that the upcoming Black Panther movie will feature Oscar winner Forrest Whitaker in a role that’s being ‘kept under wraps’ and mentioned that it’s likely that we will see a Netflix crossover for their current TV hit Agents Of SHIELD.
The panels weren’t the only highlight of Day 2 though as the show floor opened up all its glory to public. Some of the hottest attractions of the day include the Adult Swim Rick & Morty VR Game in which players can don a VR headset and walk through Rick’s lab of calamity. Though the game left people beaming with laughter, the VR experience of the show is hands down the Resident Evil 7 cabin, a full two story cardboard cabin, constructed on the show floor with a line that lasts for hours, and for good reason. Once entered, the player is given a brief tutorial and calibration on the VR setup, before being thrown into a creepy, dilapidated house and successfully hide and escape the terrors of the game, presumably without soiling ones pants. It’s terrifying, immersive, amazing and needs a medical warning.
DC and Marvel both have their key titles on display, DC still trailing along its recent Suicide Squad movie with character painted cars and screen costumes on display much to the delight of thousands of cosplayers and their selfie sticks, as well as giving a full celebration to the Amazon Demigod Wonder Woman in her 75th year. Wonder Woman reigns supreme amongst the fans with the inspiration gallery from amazing artists, props from the upcoming movie, a building sized banner and even a portrait being constructed in jelly beans. Marvel aimed its draw to the small screen, featuring a photo booth for Iron Fist as well as Q&A and signing sessions for both Iron Fist and the recently released Luke Cage.
Those attending for the artistic displays found nothing in short supply either, with Spoke Art gallery handing out limited pieces by Tim Doyle and Chuck Sperry, Hero Complex Gallery featuring an exclusive and signing by Melbourne’s own Rhys Cooper and even more prints from the likes of Audrey Kawasaki and Tara McPherson. If you are after unparalleled access however, Artist Alley is brimming with talent. The area is bustling with people at a constant rate but fighting the crowds can pay off quickly with the ability to casually chat with Bob Camp of Ren & Stimpy fame, Scott Snyder from DC, Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti from Harley Quinn and Deadpool, writer extraordinaire Alex De Campi and even an Australian contingent with Josh Vann, Simone D'Armini of The Spider King and Patrick Brown and Bob Baxter with their latest collaboration Brown Fury. Fans can collect autographs, buy titles and prints or pay for custom sketches from the artists, it’s a Mecca amongst comic fans and sees many collectors wheeling around hundreds of books to complete their valuable collections with an obtainable autograph. For those willing to pay, the investment in a graded early Detective Comics or Amazing Spiderman will set them back into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, yet can still be purchased here if you happen to be holding a briefcase full of cash.
As Day Two draws to the close, Day Three is targeted squarely at one thing, The Walking Dead panel at the Garden. The preview of the upcoming first episode from the shows new season as well as Q&A with the hit shows cast will see fans lining up from around 3am just to camp out in their theatre seats ready for the 5:30pm start. This is the one most have been waiting for, the previous two days you haven’t been able to swing a Lucile without hitting a Negan cosplayer so hopes are high to see what information we’ll get from the hour talk.