Nickel City Comic Con’s first ever Fall Edition took place this past weekend, giving local comic fans, cosplayers, artists, and nerds a second opportunity to enjoy this family-friendly event. There were many indie creators and vendors who also attended the big show previously this year, which was perfect for those who missed them the first time around.

Of course, there were plenty of new attractions and booths to enjoy. Perfect for spooky season, there were replicas of a trap from the Saw franchise and the Myers’ house from Halloween to take pictures with. Similarly, there were famous television and movie vehicles to take pictures of yourself behind the wheel of, being the Bat Boat from the 1960s Batman series, a motorcycle from the TV series CHiPs, and the DeLorean from Back to the Future. The Bat Boat may have just been a replica, but I felt like a little kid climbing aboard and pretending to spray the Bat Shark Repellent. 

A slew of artists were there to buy their creative work from, including prints and plush toys. My wife and I bought some stickers from local artist Homer Is Where the Heart Is that depict “Pun-imals” (animals paired with other things for a pun name like Zom-bee and Pup-Kin).

Some other rather interesting vendors included a small company selling their fudge and a few selling replica weapons from movies, TV, and video games. One booth that particularly caught my attention was a local hot sauce company known as The Brunin’ Hollow Sauce Company. Each of their sauces are Lovecraftian themed. I picked up bottles of their “Sting of the Ancients” and “Arkham Madness,” both of which are delicious.

Usual guests like the Buffalo Ghostbusters, Buffalo’s Best Turtles, and the Superhero Alliance of Western New York were all there to put smiles on kids’ faces. The Buffalo Ghostbusters turned it up a notch with a gigantic inflatable Staypuft Marshmallow Man. The Order of the Phoenix cosplay group had an eerily tall Dementor with them that sent shivers down the spines of anyone who approached.

There were plenty of celebrities in attendance for photo sessions and autograph signings, like the iconic William Shatner and the cast of Weekend at Bernie’s. There were an unfortunate number of celebrity guests who postponed or canceled their appearances this time around, like Austin St. John of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers game and former Jackass and Viva La Bam star Bam Margera. Hopefully they’re able to come to Nickel City Comic Con in the future. I didn’t meet many celebrities this time around, but I did speak with Jeryl Prescot and got her to sign my poster of The Walking Dead.

There was no shortage of cosplay seen at the convention. From perfectly recreating Springtrap from Five Nights at Freddy’s to rocking the undead Georgie from It, there was a lot to be impressed by. These Nickel City Comic Con attendees put so much heart and effort into their costumes. I missed the Cosplay Contest, as I only attended Sunday, but I heard it was a great time for everyone who participated and spectated.

Yes, the celebrities, art, and cosplays were all tremendous fun, but there was something else I noticed while there that felt especially noteworthy. A kid hugged a remote-controlled, gold-painted R2-D2 as his mom shouted “Goldie missed you!” A father helped his daughter run her art booth. Folks crowded around others’ Lego creations to congratulate them on their work. This is what events like this are all about. Bonding with those we care about, making memories, and celebrating what we love. It makes it all feel truly special.

I will say, as an area of improvement for future events, it would be cool to see more of a focus on comic books. This is “Comic Con” afterall. There were a few local creators and one who has worked with Marvel and DC, but the “comic” part of this Comic Con was not as felt as it could be. That also comes down to which guests are available to appear, but it would be great to see as many comics-related booths on the show floor as possible.

The Fall Edition of Nickel City Comic Con, at least this year, was a smaller event than their main one in the summer. It was also one day shorter. That being said, it was still a fantastic time. The cosplay, indie artists, celebrities, and unique experiences made it a blast for anyone who attended.

The dates of the next Nickel City Comic Con have already been announced. The big show will be held at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center June 27th-29th. It’ll be exhilarating to see any announcements they make on their website leading up to then.

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