The Javits Center transformed into a pop-culture playground this weekend as New York Comic Con 2025 took over Manhattan from Oct 9-12, uniting fans from every corner of the fandom universe.
From major studio panels and exclusive trailers to nostalgic reunions and intricate cosplay, this year’s convention proved that NYCC remains the heartbeat of geek culture in the city that never sleeps.
A Multiverse of Spider-People Meet-up
The iconic quote from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, “Anyone could wear the mask,” resonated at New York Comic Con 2025, where Spideys of all kinds—and their foes—gathered for an official Spider-Verse meet-up and photo op!
“The fandom as a whole has brought me lifelong connections, and everybody in this world has their niche… for me, I definitely belong to this community,” said Izabella Perez, Spiderman 2099. The sense of community that defines the comics and movies was clear at the meetup. Monti Wilkins, dressed as Spider Punk, shared how he met Perez a year ago and emphasized, “It’s really about the community and friendship.”
The spider mask comes with great power and responsibility, yet anyone can wear the mask – whether that’s a cowboy spiderman, a civic spiderman, or even a Dominican spiderman!
The Voice of Naruto in New York
Malie Flanagan, the voice of Naruto, made an appearance at KAYOU’s New York City Comic Con 2025 booth on Naruto’s birthday. As China’s top collectibles and trading card brand, KAYOU marked its stateside debut by hosting prominent voice actors at its booth.
Flanagan, Naruto’s voice for over twenty years, spoke to the franchise’s unprecedented reach. “I could never imagine this,” she said. Naruto stands as one of anime’s most successful series, selling 250 million manga copies and is valued at over $10 billion.
The series also inspired Boruto, a sequel about Naruto’s son. Just as in the show, Naruto’s multigenerational impact continues. Flanagan says she often hears how the show has brought families closer, and she’s very grateful for that.
Reflecting on the journey, Flanagan remarked that when the series began, she told the cast, “We’ll be old women doing this—and now, here we are.”
Invincible Returns With a New Villain
One of Friday’s most anticipated panels was for Prime Video’s Invincible, cheekily titled “Probably the Best Invincible Panel in the History of Invincible Panels.” The animated series, based on Robert Kirkman’s hit comic, wrapped up its third season this past March, capping off with two of the highest-rated TV episodes of the year.
Fans packed the Empire Stage as creator Robert Kirkman and voice actors Steven Yeun and Gillian Jacobs discussed the show’s creative process, character dynamics, and teased what’s to come in Season 4. As tradition, they screened a new Burger Mart teaser, but the biggest surprise came when Lee Pace was announced as the voice of Thragg, one of the franchise’s most powerful villains.
Marvel Takes Manhattan
Saturday belonged to Marvel Studios, which showcased what’s next for its television and animation lineup. Brad Winderbaum, Head of Marvel Television and Animation, opened the panel with a focus on Marvel’s “East Coast stories,” premiering new trailers for Season 2 of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man and X-Men ’97.
The highlight of the day was the world premiere of the Season 2 trailer for Daredevil: Born Again, filmed locally at Silvercup Studios in Long Island City. Star Charlie Cox introduced the trailer, which was set to Childish Gambino’s “Lithonia” and featured the long-awaited return of Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones. Ritter joined Cox onstage, and the pair shared stories about filming around New York.
“Once we get a shooting location, we’ll often text about, ‘Oh, there’s a cool ramen place nearby,’” Cox said, drawing laughs from the crowd.
Winderbaum also unveiled the first trailer for the upcoming series Wonder Man, welcoming stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Sir Ben Kingsley to the stage to discuss the challenges of introducing a new hero to the MCU. The panel closed with new footage from Vision Quest, featuring actor Paul Bettany, who revealed that the show will explore “human” versions of beloved AI programs J.A.R.V.I.S., F.R.I.D.A.Y., and E.D.I.T.H.
An Airbender’s Anniversary
Avatar: The Last Airbender marked its 20th anniversary on Sunday with one of the weekend’s most heartwarming panels. Hosted by Legend of Korra voice actress Janet Varney, the event reunited the original “Gaang”: Jack De Sena (Sokka), Mae Whitman (Katara), Dante Basco (Zuko), Michaela Jill Murphy (Toph), and Zach Tyler Eisen (Aang), who showed up proudly repping New York in a Knicks sweater and Mets hat.
Co-creator Bryan Konietzko joined the panel to discuss the future of Avatar Studios, teasing new books, video games, and an all-new animated series and film currently in development. With countless fans dressed as benders, warriors, and spirits, the crowd’s energy made it clear that Avatar remains a generational favorite two decades later.
Chainsaw Man Cinematically Carves Up
Another standout on Sunday was the Chainsaw Man special panel, held less than two weeks before the premiere of the upcoming film, Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc. Produced by MAPPA—the acclaimed studio behind Attack on Titan and Jujutsu Kaisen—the panel featured studio president and supervising producer Manabu Otsuka, CGI producer Yusuke Tannawa, and assistant director Masato Nakazono, marking his first-ever visit to New York.
Tannawa discussed how the team blended 3D backdrops and environments with traditional 2D elements, creating a visual style that feels both cinematic and true to the manga’s chaotic energy. The previewed scenes reportedly earned loud cheers from fans, setting the stage for one of the year’s most anticipated anime film releases.
As Comic Con Comes to a Close
Between the major studio reveals, fan-favorite reunions, and an endless stream of cosplay creativity, NYCC 2025 once again proved itself as a celebration of imagination. Whether fans came to spot their favorite heroes, meet beloved creators, or show off their cosplay, this year’s con reminded everyone why New York remains an epicenter of fandom culture.
