The Picture Show : NPR
“So, what’s my name? Attention! My name is Black Freddie, and I’m blaaaack. Ha ha ha ha ha. Even as we get older, there’s an inner child… that’s inside of us. They’re us, you know. We’re still them because the inner child lives inside of us,” said Antwone Coward, who was dressed as Freddy Krueger at New York Comic Con in 2024.
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For 19 years, New York Comic Con (NYCC) has been the most famous geek gala on the East Coast. In 2024, the convention welcomed more than 200,000 participants. In 2025, that number increased by 50,000, making it one of the most attended conventions in the United States.
From beginner nerds to masters, each October the Javits Center is packed with enthusiasts participating in author, actor and production company panels, book signings and fan meet-and-greets. They play console and tabletop games, enter contests, and spend their precious gold and silver on NYCC exclusives and trinkets. But, arguably, the most exciting thing about the event is seeing thousands of people bring their favorite book, comic book, movie, TV show or video game character to life through cosplay.
“There’s some crossover because Caribbean culture really makes you celebrate yourself, be very comfortable in your own skin and always ready to party and have a good time. I feel like that fits well with cosplay in general,” Maurice Grant said. Kishel Browne (left to right), Dimitri Grant, Brianna Streater, Taijah Edgecombe and Maurice Grant pose here for a photo at New York Comic Con 2024 dressed as characters from the animated series. Demon Slayer.
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Attendees gather at New York Comic Con, held at the Javits Center in Manhattan, on October 18, 2024.
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Cosplayers are a community of their own, and in NYCC, the likelihood of coming across a fully functional DIY Transformer costume is as high as passing someone on the street who had a bodega bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich for breakfast. Characters from classic horror films, the DC universe, and Marvel are always popular choices, as are those from the Star Wars and Game of Thrones franchises. The anime community is also well represented; fans in Chainsaw Man, Dan Da Dan, Demon Slayer And My Hero Academia Suits can be seen wandering the halls, taking selfies together.
“One way to express yourself here is to go to another world with a different design. You can be a fantasy, be anything you want… It’s amazing. It’s the best thing in the world to express yourself, to feel free, to have a good time. You know what? If you have a dream in life, chase it,” said Daniel Thompson dressed as Static Shock.
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Meilani Ambrose as Momo from Dan Da Dan (left to right), Leila Baez as Angel Dust from Hotel in Hazbin and Isabella Harold as a Brazilian interpretation of the vocaloid Hatsune Miku.
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Cosplayers dance in front of New York Comic Con at the Javits Center in Manhattan on October 18, 2024.
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Finding your tribe among the denizens of cosplayers, when that tribe is a minority group often unlikely to engage in the activity, is particularly heartwarming. While it’s true that these types of events are generally considered safe spaces that welcome geeks and nerds of all backgrounds, many Black and Caribbean cosplayers say the NYCC community is nothing short of exciting.
The mutual enthusiasm is contagious, because more often than not, they tell NPR, they grew up isolated from their community at large because of their geeky and nerdy interests — as well as from cosplayers of other backgrounds. People featured here are from or have roots in Barbados, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Haiti, U.S. Virgin Islands, Bahamas, Dominica, St. Lucia, and the Dominican Republic. Many talk about the power of cosplay to build or strengthen family and friendship bonds or how it provides a means of escape. Seeing other people, of all ages, who look like them at NYCC takes an already electrifying experience to new heights. For four days, black and Caribbean cosplayers can come together. Their joy is a powerful affirmation of how glorious it is to be seen by your stage.
Attendees dressed as Power Ranger, stormtrooper and Rogue from the “X-Men” franchise incorporated Puerto Rican flags into their costumes at New York Comic Con 2024.
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“Growing up, I was a black nerd kid. Knowing that I found people who are like me and have the same interests, it’s actually kind of fun. And I’ll be honest: I never even thought about cosplaying before,” said Kyle Mallett, posed here (left to right) for a photo with Kris Mallett, Aiden Graves, Hailey Barnett and Jessica Johnson dressed as A characters.Vatar: The Last Airbender.
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Isaac “Soup” Campbell is a photographer based in New York. You can see more of Isaac’s work on Instagram at @moresoupplease.
