At New York Comic-Con capes, cowls and… microchips?

The last time I walked into the halls of the Jacob Javitz Convention Center for New York Comic-Con, I was single, childless, and planning to be an indie comics writer. I set up a meeting or two with some comics newbies and bought a few collectibles. Fifteen years later, I was unprepared for the cosmic shift I experienced last weekend.

As I walked the halls of New York Comic-Con 2024 with my teenage son, I was struck by how much the event has evolved and matured. With around 550 exhibitors in the 410,000 square meter exhibition area, technology giants such as TikTok, eBay, Samsung, Konami and Capcom, the publishing houses Scholastic, Simon & Schuster and Penguin Random House as well as the entertainment giants Paramount+, Nickelodeon and HBO were represented. According to the trade fair organizers, the fair consistently attracts around 200,000 visitors – that's why few Brother of San Diego Comic-Con.

What was once a haven exclusively for comic book fans, collectors and cosplayers has now evolved into a pure technology and pop culture showcase. And as I walked from booth to booth, it became clear to me: geek culture and technology are no longer just partners – they are becoming inextricably linked. We no longer just read comic panels or watch movies. Now technology allows us live These stories bring them into our lives in ways we could not have imagined a decade ago.

At some point during the show, I strolled over to the HBO booth promoting the new comedy “The Franchise.” The activation featured “Tecto: Eye of the Storm,” the fictional franchise from the series’ fictional Maximum Studios. The show parodies the difficulties of superhero filmmaking and it was fun to delve into the silly world, with behind-the-scenes photos, superhero props and playful nods to classic superhero tropes and trademarks. I was able to design and name my own superhero, complete with a custom digital movie poster created against a green screen and sent to my iPhone within an hour.

But it wasn't just about green screens and QR activation codes. At every turn you can feel how technology is integrated into the fan experience – be it the use of 3D printers to create hyper-realistic cosplay costumes or rows of gaming PCs used for demos of the latest incarnation of “PUBG: Battlegrounds” were set up. The technology wasn't an afterthought at Comic-Con; it was the focus.

Does anyone else remember those frighteningly flammable Halloween costumes bought at the local store? Times have changed. I was fascinated by how cosplayers embraced technology. Aside from impressive sewing skills and makeup, programmable LED lights, voice modulators, and even robotics take cosplay to the next level. My jaw dropped when I saw a life-sized Iron Man suit that looked like it came straight from the franchise – complete with a flip-up faceplate and a glowing arc reactor in the chest.