WinterCon 2023

The weekend of December 2&3, 2023 marked the latest edition of one of my personal favorite conventions: WinterCon! Of course, I was on hand, on that Saturday, to cover it all for you guys, as well as have a great time, all while wearing my Rick Flag cosplay once again.

The first thing I did was go up to the two cast members of the always fun to watch  Jaws 2, Gigi Morgan and Gary Springer. As a fan of this movie, they were the two I was most excited to meet. As I have said in the past on here, my stuff was in storage (if anyone cares I finally have my stuff back). So, that meant that my Blu-Ray copy of this sequel wasn't with me. I had to buy it on 4K that very Friday. Anyway, I got it signed and got pics with them. They were both so incredibly nice and friendly and were a great way to start my day with legit awesomeness!

The only other autograph that I got that day was from the legendary Larry Hama, He is the longest running and most famous writer of the G.I. Joe comic, as well as the file cards from the back of the original A Real American Hero toy-line. This was the second time meeting him in just a couple of weeks, since I was at a signing for the release of issue #301, which marked his return to G.I. Joe, at Forbidden Planet the month before. As a lifelong G.I. Joe fan meeting him, however many times is both awesome and an honor. Also, he is super nice in person. This time around he signed a facsimile of the first issue of the comic. He also told he that when he broke into comics he wanted to write cartoon humor stuff and never imagined himself doing a military comic! Mind blown!

But, there was a ton more of cool sites to see, including, of course, lots of cosplay. Here are some of the favorite things I saw that day:

As always, it's great to see my friend Nelson D. Martinez, here with his finance. 

I actually got to partake in another DC photoshoot. Where I got to photograph a throwdown between Dr. Fate and the Flash! This is actually one of my favorites that I shot this con. 

Finally, I got some great deals including, one dealer who was trying to get rid of his NECA figures, so he sold him at $20! Even more awesome was one dude who was selling and trying to get rid of G.i. Joe Classified figures. So, he sold ANY that he had at $10 each to me! Honest to God, if he had more, that I didn't already have and wanted (he had some from the Snake-Eyes movie, but I don't collect that sub-line), I would've bought a shit more! 

Anywho, here is what I bought at the con. They were:
NECA Universal Monsters The Mummy (Boris Karloff)
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #1 facsimile (which Larry Hama signed for me) 

Peanuts Charlie Brown Hallmark Christmas ornament

G.I. Joe Retro Classified: Destro
G.i. Joe Classified: Cobra Viper

Lady Jaye
Cobra Trooper

I had so much fun, cosplayed, met some great celebs, and got kick ass deals. What more could one ask for? I already can't wait for the next edition of WinterCon! 

One more thing, I want to thank you guys for your continued support and readership. Moving had made to write last year, but I am hoping that I will finally be back to my usual often posting. I also want to wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year. May this be a good year for all of us!

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NYCC 2023: Sunday- The Final Chapter with John Carpenter and Cosplay Galore

I wasn't able to secure a Saturday ticket for the 2023 edition of New York Comic Con, but I was back the next day, October 15, for what ended up being the most epic and awesome day of the entire con for me. Fuck, it was one of the best days of the whole damn year for me!

You see, I got to meet one of my heroes: the legendary master of horror, John Carpenter! Between moving and not having our actual place (until just a few days ago actually), this year has been really hard. My depression and anxiety have been hit hard by all of this. One day, my mom randomly said that she wanted to gift me John Carpenter's autograph at Comic Con! I was surprised, touched, and grateful. So much so, that I cried as I thanked my mother. This meant so much to me, as Carpenter is one of my biggest influences and heroes. Someone, whose work and movies, I've loved since childhood.

I had my autographed scheduled for that Sunday and met up early with friend Danni, to do that first and foremost on that day. There was a long line, but I must say that Comic Con handled it well, and it really didn't last as long as it could've in a less better run con. Anywho, when I finally got up to him, and I told him that he was one of my heroes and biggest influences. He replied to me, "Well, Gio, you have a beautiful girl with you." He was, of course. referring to my friend Danni, who was greatly flattered, and I was left with one of the greatest memories I'll ever have in my entire life.

He signed my newly bought 4K copy of my favorite movie of his, one whose my love for has only grown more and more over the years and viewings: The Thing! I adore this movie and this autograph is one I will cherish for all of my life.

After that it was back to enjoying the rest of the con. I was still in my Rick Flag cosplay, and I was soon to discover that luck was truly with me! As I ended up winning a Jurassic World dinosaur and $75 off of a lighsaber! You'll see that and other stuff that got below. For now, here are some visual and cosplay highlights of the final day of Comic Con!

This is the final swag that I got at NYCC 2023:
From Super7, I got NYCC exclusive shirts of mummy Snoopy and Woodstock and Transformers Good-Bye Megatron
50% off of books with something free got me Garbage Pail Kids: The Ultimate Pop-Up Yearbook at half off and Stranger Things Tarot Cards for free!
A Roman Reigns WWE Elite action figure
The aforementioned Jurassic World Mosasaurs, which I won
And, winning $75 off of a lighsaber I got me one that will be great for my Obi-Wan cosplay!

And, so ended this awesome and epic day! It was another great edition of New York Comic Con. You can, of course, bet your ass that I will be back next year! Who amongst you were there this year? What were your highlights? Let me know in the comments section below.

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NYCC 2023: Friday- Rick Flag, My First DC Comics Cosplay and More!

On Friday, October 13th of the 2023 edition of New York Comic Con, I did my first ever cosplay based on a DC Comics character. It being the The Suicide Squad (which is one of my absolute favorite superhero movies of all time) version of Colonel Rick Flag as played by Joel Kinnaman. And, I had a fucking blast doing it!

This might just be my favorite pic of mine from the entire con this year. I simply LOVED this Wendy's inspired cosplay!

What really added to the fun for me and made it a true highlight for me was being part of the DC Comics group cosplay. I've never done any cosplay shoot with a group this big, and it's honestly an awesome feeling and memory. I truly hope to do something like again. 

The following two pics were taken at the shoot by Carlos A. Smith:

The following ones I took at the shoot, as I wasn't in these group shots or are pics where I in got with fellow DC cosplayers:

Here are some other cosplays that I saw and loved on that day:

This awesome Harley Quinn cosplay was done by Mackenzie.

The only panel that I got to attend this year was the one hosted by Shudder for the highly enjoyable V/H/S/85 and the V/H/S franchise in general. It featured directors from various entries in the franchise.

On this day, I bought:
And, a NYCC exclusive Vinimate AEW figure of Sting in a CM Punk shirt sold at the Diamond Select Booth.
A NYCC exclusive glow in the dark The Phantom of the Opera action figure by NECA (at their booth).

I wouldn't be there on Saturday but returned for Sunday for what end up being not just the best day of the con, but one of the best days I ever had at Comic Con. But, that is for another story...

In the meantime, who amongst you were at NYCC on this Friday and what were the highlights for you? Let me in the comments section below. 

To be concluded with next NYCC post!

NYCC 2023: Thursday- My First ever Group Cosplay: Bob's Burgers & Much More!

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