The New York Comic Con (NYCC) will be held 18-20 April at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. They’ve recently issued several announcements, which are detailed here (for up-to-date lists of guests, exhibitors, and special events during the NYCC, check their web site):
Pop culture publishing and consulting company ICv2 will again host its signature ICv2 Graphic Novel Conference in association with NYCC. The third annual ICv2 Graphic Novel Conference, “Breaking Out,” will be held from 1 to 5PM on Thursday 17 April at the Javits Center in New York.
Panel topics will include “Graphic Novels for Tweens,” which will focus on the fast-growing tween market for graphic novels; and “The Battle for Talent,” moderated by Publishers Weekly senior news editor Calvin Reid, which will focus on how changes in graphic novel rights deals are affecting what gets published, and how. Key buyers will talk about the most important trends in the business and what to expect in the future in “Buyers Panel: The Next Three Years.”
Confirmed panelists include buyers: Jeff Ayers of Forbidden Planet New York, Alison Hendon of Brooklyn Public Library, Jim Killen of Barnes and Noble, Ed Masessa of Scholastic Book Fairs, and Bill Schanes of Diamond Comic Distributors; publishers and editors: Dan Buckley of Marvel, Liza Coppola of Viz, Mike Kiley of Tokyopop, Betsy Mitchell of Del Rey Books, and Mark Siegel of First Second; and agents: Judy Hansen and Bob Mecoy.
The event will wrap up with the Transcontinental Printing Cocktail Party at 5PM, a chance to meet, mingle, and chat with the key players in the graphic novel industry.
Tickets for the ICv2 Graphic Novel Conference are now on sale here. For more information on the ICv2 Graphic Novel Conference, see this page.

Legendary comic book writer and creator Stan Lee will be a Special Guest of NYCC. He’ll make several panel appearances, and receive the first-ever New York Comics Legend Award at a special VIP party at the Virgin Megastore. Lee co-created Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, the Silver Surfer, and the Incredible Hulk, as well as many others.
NYCC Shot Manager Lance Fensterman says of Lee appearance: “We get to have the extreme privilege of hosting Stan Lee at our show, and we have the distinct honor of awarding him our first-ever New York Comics Legend Award, which we have created to honor New York City’s greatest contributors to comic books and to New York life. I can’t possibly think of anyone more suited to be the first recipient of this award than Stan Lee! He has done so much through the years for both comics and for New York City.”
The reception for Lee, where he will receive the award, will take place on Thursday 17 April at 8PM at the Virgin Megastore, 1540 Broadway (in Times Square), New York City. A limited number of tickets will be made available to fans starting 28 March at www.nycomiccon.com. This reception, which will include a selection of famous and traditional New York City fare, will center on the presentation of the New York Comics Legend Award, followed by comments by Lee, as well as brief comments by select friends and colleagues of his.
Lee said of his NYCC appearance: “Even though Los Angeles has been my play pen for the past few decades, I’ll always consider New York my home town. It’s the beautiful city where I was born (a beautiful baby!) grew up (beautifully!), got married to my beautiful wife and had my beautiful daughter. (When I find an adjective I like, I stick with it!)
“So, whenever I can wheedle an opportunity to return to the greatest city in the world, it’s an indescribable thrill for me. And, to make it even more fabulous, it gives me the chance to meet old friends—artists, writers, editors, fans, all sorts of terrific people who speak the same language—the language of creativity.
“Hey, what I’m trying to say is—I can’t wait to see ya!”
The New York Comics Legend Award will be given to one recipient each year. Each recipient must have made a major contribution to the advancement of comics, either through achievement in art or business. They will have had to have made a significant contribution to the civic life in New York either through charity, education, public service or by advancing the image of New York City through direct involvement with New York City causes, or through positive depiction of the city and its culture within their body of work. They must each have lived in New York City for a minimum number of years in order to be eligible for the award.