Category Archives: Convention Report

Convention Report, Podcast

Comic Timing Episode 277 – Toy Fair 2026 In Review

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We’re back for what has now become our annual Toy Fair episode! Ian and Kris are here to give their takes on this year’s trade show. How did 2026 compare, as the toy industry faces some real life hurdles such as tariffs and inflation? Highlights include their experiences at booths manned by Mattel, Hasbro, Spin Master, Lego, Bandai Namco, and Funko, thoughts on the upcoming Masters of the Universe movie and the related toy line, WWE x Street Fighter, swapping Barbie heads, Cars as a franchise turning 20 years old making us all feel old, Optimus Prime is our Truck-Dad, Pokémon pinball, the return of Crossfire to have its theme song get stuck in all of our heads again, KPop Demon Hunters toys EVERYWHERE, some New York City geography and survival guide tips, and so much more.

Show notes:

Mattel: 0:16:04

Hasbro: 1:21:04

Spin Master: 1:53:58

LEGO and Bandai Namco: 2:10:05

Kris’ Day 2, including Funko: 2:47:50

You can support future releases of Comic Timing and get in on the occasional early releases of the show at http://www.patreon.com/ComicTiming. Video versions of most episodes are at http://youtube.com/@comictimingpodcast, along with Raph’s new shorts series, Raph’s Comic Catch-Up, so go ahead and subscribe if you haven’t already done so.

You can also follow Comic Timing on Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/comictiming.bsky.social, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ComicTiming/, and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/comictimingpodcast. And please, if you can, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts; it helps attract new listeners! Finally, you can join in on the conversation at our Comic Timing Fans group on Facebook, which is a great place to hang out and talk comics.

Follow Ian on Bluesky, and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/i_am_scifi. Kris is lampbane on Bluesky, and you can check out her various other works at http://linktr.ee/krisnaudus.

Thanks for listening, we’ll catch you next time, and as always, there’s always time for comics!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:21:25 — 185.2MB)

Convention Report, Podcast

Comic Timing Episode 263 – New York Comic Con 2025 Convention Report

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New York Comic Con 2025 has come and gone, and now it’s time to break it down and discuss it. Ian is joined by Kris and Raph for the bulk of this one, and then Chad Burdette pops in for his thoughts about an hour or so in! We go through what changed since last year including major revisions to the show floor layout, some news from the con including DC’s return to New York Comic Con with a full booth after thirteen years away, Jim Lee and DC’s stance on AI and the upcoming entrance into the public domain of Golden Age Superman, the new X-Men slate post-Age of Revelation (poor soft boy Doug Ramsey) and Joshua Williamson’s Iron Man over at Marvel, The Harvey Awards winners, Rick Veitch’s shelved Swamp Thing run from 1989 will finally see publication, the full return of Vertigo, and more. Plus, Kris and Ian got to see the full-length All You need is Kill Anime movie months before it hits screens in the US, some Star Trek news out of the panel, some talkof parties attended, books and other swag obtained at the con, people seen and hung out with (hi Jamal go see him at Baltimore Comic Con and check out the panels he’ll be on), Mothra, Raph treating people like human beings, and more more where that came from!

Be sure to check out Chad’s work over at the Comic-Watch site, and on their YouTube channel!

And here’s the video version of this episode:

You can support future releases of Comic Timing and get in on the occasional early releases of the show at http://www.patreon.com/ComicTiming. Video versions of most episodes are at http://youtube.com/@comictimingpodcast, along with Raph’s new shorts series, Raph’s Comic Catch-Up, so go ahead and subscribe if you haven’t already done so.

You can also follow Comic Timing on Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/comictiming.bsky.social, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ComicTiming/, and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/comictimingpodcast. And please, if you can, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts; it helps attract new listeners! Finally, you can join in on the conversation at our Comic Timing Fans group on Facebook, which is a great place to hang out and talk comics.

Follow Ian on Bluesky, and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/i_am_scifi. Brent posts regularly to YouTube on his channel, BK’s Bullets and can be found on Bluesky. Kris is lampbane on Bluesky, and you can check out her various other works at http://linktr.ee/krisnaudus. Raph is on Twitch at RaphDoesStuff, Instagram, and Bluesky.

Thanks for listening, we’ll catch you next time, and as always, there’s always time for comics!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:51:18 — 109.1MB)

Convention Report, Podcast

Comic Timing Episode 244 – Toy Fair 2025 in Review

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For the first time since 2023, the Toy Association put together their usually annual Toy Fair! For 2025, the show is back in its native slot of February, and Kris and Ian attended to share their thoughts on the show. Companies discussed include Mattel, Spin Masters, LEGO, Hasbro, Playmates, Bandai Namco, Funko, Super7, and tons more. Learn about the themes of the year, including foods that you can’t eat (aka snacks that are actually plushies), a large increase of toys and plushies that either have butts, fart, or both (because toys and plushies be classy), miniature worlds, making toys for “kidults” willing to spend money on nostalgia. Plus an easier way to get into Dungeons and Dragons for beginners, Barbie and Play-Doh unite, advances in plush technology (yes, we’re being serious), Toy Story toys mid-pose are creepy as heck, is the bag holding multiple plushies sentient according to Toy Story rules, pinball games for Dungeons & Dragons and Uncanny X-Men, Brooklyn people will find Brooklyn people anywhere they go and will then reminisce for fifteen minutes, and if you’re at the show long enough into the day, you can luck out and get free donuts!

And here’s the video version of this episode:

You can support future releases of Comic Timing and get in on the occasional early releases of the show at http://www.patreon.com/ComicTiming. You can also follow Comic Timing on Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/comictiming.bsky.social, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ComicTiming/, on Threads at https://www.threads.net/@comictimingpodcast and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/comictimingpodcast. And please, if you can, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts; it helps attract new listeners! Finally, you can join in on the conversation at our Comic Timing Fans group on Facebook, which is a great place to hang out and talk comics.

Follow Ian on Bluesky, and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/i_am_scifi. Kris is lampbane on Bluesky, and you can check out her various other works at http://linktr.ee/krisnaudus. And here’s the quickie What Funko? game Kris created, since there’s a Funko of literally everything.

Thanks for listening, we’ll catch you next time, and as always, there’s always time for comics!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:51:57 — 109.3MB)

Convention Report, Podcast

Episode 233 – NYCC Interviews: Penguin, Star Trek Lower Decks & Section 31, and The Toys That Made Us

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Today, we present to you the press interviews Kris conducted during this year’s New York Comic Con! She got to sit down with stars of Max’s Penguin, Star Trek: Section 31, and the creators of Star Trek: Lower Decks and The Toys That Made Us! Here’s a full breakdown for you guys by timestamps:

Penguin:

Diedre O’Connell (Francis Cobb) – 4:04

Rhenzy Feliz (Victor Aguillar) – 14:13

Clancy Brown (Salvatore) and Michael Kelly (Johnny Viti) – 23:19

Cristin Millioti (Sofia Falcone) – 33:42

Lauren LeFranc (showrunner) – 42:55

Star Trek: Lower Decks: Mike McMahan (creator) – 53:35

Star Trek: Section 31

Olatunde Osunsanmi (director) and Kacey Rohl (Rachel Garrett) – 1:12:26

Omari Hardwick (Alok Sahar) and Robert Zalinsky (Zeph) – 1:26:26

The Toys That Made Us: Brian Volk-Weiss – 1:41:46

We really hope you enjoyed this new format of episode here, and we hope to bring you more press interviews in the future!

You can support future releases of Comic Timing and get in on the occasional early releases of the show at http://www.patreon.com/ComicTiming. You can also follow Comic Timing on Twitter at https://twitter.com/comictimingpod, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ComicTiming/, on Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/comictiming.bsky.social, and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/comictimingpodcast. And please, if you can, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts; it helps attract new listeners!

Follow Ian on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/i_am_scifi, on Bluesky, and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/i_am_scifi. Kris is on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/lampbane and http://www.twitter.com/KrisNaudus for the professional Tweets, lampbane on Bluesky, and you can check out her various other works at http://linktr.ee/krisnaudus. And you can read her articles at Make Use Of.

Thanks for listening, and we’ll catch you next time!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:16:48 — 81.1MB)

Convention Report, Podcast

Comic Timing Episode 224 – SDCC News & Deadpool & Wolverine Movie Review

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We’re back, and there’s TONS to discuss! Donovan, Jamal, Brent, Raph, Brandon and Kris join Ian to go through a whole bunch of San Diego Comic Con news, including the return of the DC Bullet logo, DC’s Absolute Comics line, Mark Waid and Dan Mora on Justice League Unlimited, Jeff Lemire on Justice Society, Ram V’s Fourth World, and of course, Marvel’s Hall H announcements for Fantastic Four: First Steps and the shaky cam footage we totally didn’t watch we swear, and the Doctor Doom Downey Jr. reveal. Then, we pivot to an in-depth and spoilery review of the long awaited third movie in the Deapool franchise, Deadpool & Wolverine (starts at 1:11:00). Finally, a discussion of Roy Thomas’ claim that his editorial assistance has earned him a creator credit on Wolverine. SNIKT, bub. Plus some Creature Commandos talk and THE WAR WHEEEEEEEL!

Here’s the video version for this one:

You can support future releases of Comic Timing and get in on the occasional early releases of the show at http://www.patreon.com/ComicTiming. You can also follow Comic Timing on Twitter at https://twitter.com/comictimingpod, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ComicTiming/, on Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/comictiming.bsky.social, and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/comictimingpodcast. And please, if you can, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts; it helps attract new listeners!

Follow Ian on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/i_am_scifi, on Bluesky, and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/i_am_scifi. Brent is on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kossinab, and he posts regularly to YouTube on his channel, BK’s Bullets; Raph is on Twitch at RaphDoesStuff, Instagram, Twitter and Bluesky; and Brandon is at http://www.twitter.com/TheDabbaDon, https://bsky.app/profile/thedabbadon.bsky.social and https://www.twitch.tv/thedabbadon. Kris is on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/lampbane and http://www.twitter.com/KrisNaudus for the professional Tweets, lampbane on Bluesky, and you can check out her various other works at http://linktr.ee/krisnaudus. And finally, Jamal is https://bsky.app/profile/jamaligle.bsky.social, https://www.instagram.com/jamaliglecomics/ and occasionally at http://twitter.com/JAMALIGLE.

Thanks for listening, and we’ll catch you next time!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:37:46 — 84.3MB)

Convention Report, Extra Point, Podcast

Comic Timing Extra Point Episode 17: Convention Catch-Up – New York Comic Con 2023 and AnimeNYC 2022

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And there came a time when Ian finally found the opportunity to release recordings made at recent conventions. That time is indeed today! Depending on your definition of recent, that is. First, we flash back to last year’s Anime NYC, just in time for this year’s Anime NYC, as Ian interviews manga translator for books such as Cat + Gamer and Marvel’s Demon Wars, writer and beer buddy, Zack Davisson, as well as artist Robert Wilson IV from Oni Press’ Heartthrob, Vault’s Barbaric: The Harvest Blades, Bitch Planet issue 3, and a bunch of posters for bands such as Metallica and Weird Al! We then flash forward to New York Comic Con 2023, as Ian runs through his experiences at the convention, followed by convo on the floor with Donovan Morgan Grant and artist and creator extraordinaire, Mr. Jamal Igle. This includes discussion of The Harvey Awards, the existence of Death Note: The Musical, attending the Steve Ditko panel on a whim, and so much more.

Follow Ian on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/i_am_scifi, and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/i_am_scifi; You can find more of Zack Davisson’s work at https://zackdavisson.com/ and you can follow him on Bluesky. Robert Wilson IV can be found on Instagram and at https://www.robertwilsoniv.com/. Donovan is at https://twitter.com/donoDMG1 and check out his podcast “Questions: We Don’t Have Answers”. Finally, Jamal Igle can be found at https://twitter.com/JAMALIGLE, on Bluesky and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jamal_igle_artist/

Thank you to all who support and listen to the show in any way, and we’ll talk to you next time!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (49.7MB)

Convention Report, Podcast

Comic Timing – Episode 213: Toy Fair 2023 In Review

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Recently, Toy Fair held their (usually) annual event at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City on September 30th through October 3rd, 2023. Ian attended the trade show for the first time, and he discusses the event with Kris Naudus on this very episode. They delve into just what exactly Toy Fair is, where it will be headed come 2025 after 100+ years in NYC, how this year’s event compared to previous years Kris experienced, and so much more. So much more includes highlights from Vault and their AEW figures and professional cosplay you can wheel around in a custom overhead bin friendly suitcase, tons of Lego playsets and buildable art, Bandai’s Tamashi Nations selections as well as their Godzilla and Tekken figures, Funco’s massive presence and their integration of Mondo’s high-end collectibles, Foam Alive’s incredibly soothing foam fun and other sensory pleasures like slime and putty, Super7’s TMNT and GI Joe offerings, the return of Ty and Beanie Babies, InstaCake (just add water), bubbles and Bluey everywhere, Playmobil’s Star Trek and Magnum PI sets (you read that right), Fresh Dolls, including their Black Panther: Wakanda Forever dolls, The Elf on the Shelf Santaverse, and tons more!

You can support future releases of Comic Timing and get in on the occasional early releases of the show at http://www.patreon.com/ComicTiming.

Follow Ian on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/i_am_scifi, on Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/iamscifi.bsky.social and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/i_am_scifi; Kris is on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/lampbane and http://www.twitter.com/KrisNaudus for the professional Tweets, Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/lampbane.bsky.social and you can check out her various other works at http://linktr.ee/krisnaudus.

Thanks as always for listening, and we’ll catch you next time!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (53.1MB)

Convention Report, Podcast

Comic Timing Episode 210 – The New York Comic Con 2022 Wrap-Up

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New York Comic Con 2022 was held from October 6-9, 2022. Now that the con has been put to bed, this Comic Timing/CGS crossover episode goes into the minutia of what went down, from the mindset of longtime convention attendees, artist alley participants, and one first-timer. The crew consists of Ian Levenstein (haven’t missed a NYCC yet!), Kris Naudus, Jamal Igle, Julian Lytle, and Donovan Morgan Grant. They discuss both positives and negatives, ranging from layout to inconsistent rules management, panel slate, the exhibition floor, crown management, and a whole lot more. Plus some comic book recommendations at the end to round us out. 

You can support future releases of Comic Timing and support the production of various podcasts at http://www.patreon.com/ComicTiming.

Follow Ian on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/i_am_scifi, and on Instagram at http://instagram.com/i_am_scifi; Kris is on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/lampbane and http://www.twitter.com/KrisNaudus for the professional Tweets. You can find Jamal Igle on Twitter at https://twitter.com/jamaligle and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jamal_igle_artist/. And be sure to check out Dudley Datson and the Forever Machine on Comixology! Julian is on Twitter at @julianlytle and you can read his movie reviews at https://idobi.com/author/julianlytle/. And you can find Donovan at https://twitter.com/donoDMG1, on his podcast Questions: We Don’t Have Answers, and at DC Comics’ website!

Finally, be sure to check out Comic Timing’s new YouTube channel for additional content and releases.

Thank you so much for continuing to follow the show, and we’ll catch you next time!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:06:19 — 60.2MB)

Convention Report, Podcast

Comic Timing – Episode 183: Comfort, Kris, Conventions, Actors and Adam

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Episode 183 is now available for your ear holes! This is the last piece that was recorded during New York Comic Con weekend, only not at the con itself. Back at the old apartment, Ian sat down with Kris, Comfort Love and Adam Withers to discuss the growing trend of actors and actresses demanding more money from conventions in order to attend a show. How will this in turn affect attendees, artists and writers at the con, and how the show itself is run? What is the ceiling for how much people are willing to pay to hit a convention, and will it take a show saying, “No way,” to an actor to make that ceiling happen?

The group also delve into Comfort and Adam’s history attending shows as independent creators, and a few of the difficulties they faced getting their feet in the door as indie superhero creators, and Kris and Ian briefly get into Flame Con, what made it work so well, and why it is immediately one of the better small cons around. It’s a laid back, flowing conversation, and I hope you guys dig it as much as we all did recording it! For more on DashCon, follow this here link; in return, you get an extra hour in the ball pit. And Adi Fitri IS Malaysian!

You can e-mail the show at comictiming@gmail.com and be sure to Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ComicTiming. Be sure to follow Ian on Twitter @i_am_scifi, Instagram at i_am_scifi or on Tumblr at heehaw-ds9.tumblr.com; Kris is on Twitter @lampbane, Instagram at lampbane, Tumblr at both lampbane.tumblr.com and Garak’s Clothiers, and check out her articles on Engadget. Finally, you can find Comfort and Adam on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr as well. And get The Uniques on Comixology while you’re at it, why don’tcha?

Thanks again for listening, and we’ll catch you next time!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:16:33 — 45.7MB)

Convention Report, Podcast

Comic Timing – Episode 182: The NYCC 2016 Interviews

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We’re back, baby! After a month off to recharge and move home base, Comic Timing returns with a doozy. It’s all the interviews Ian conducted at the 2016 New York Comic Con, which took place October 6th through the 9th! Here’s the full list of participants, some new and some returned customers:

  • Julian Lytle – Ants, Ignorant Bliss Podcast
  • Carlos Cabaleiro – Artist, The Golden Guard
  • Dave Dwonch – Action Lab Entertainment, Creator, Cyrus Perkins and the Haunted Taxi Cab, The Geek Savants Podcast
  • Mystery Guest – Stuff, Things
  • Chad Cicconi – Label design of Blade’s Bloody Barleywine, Artist, Blue Hour
  • Jamal Igle – Artist, Black, creator of Molly Danger, part of Actionverse
  • Julie and Shawna Benson – Writers, Batgirl & The Birds of Prey, CW’s The 100

    • Thanks once again to everyone who stopped and talked all weekend long, whether it be on the mic or just to catch up. You guys and gals are the best! Onward to 2017’s New York Comic Con.

    You can e-mail the show at comictiming@gmail.com and be sure to Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ComicTiming. Be sure to follow Ian on Twitter @i_am_scifi, or on Tumblr at heehaw-ds9.tumblr.com; Brent is on Twitter too @kossinab. And be sure to pre-order Comfort and Adam’s The Uniques Vol 2: Paint it Black, which is available for a whopping 45% off at DCBS!

    Thanks again for listening, and we’ll catch you next time!

    Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:38:19 — 57.0MB)