While it might not be as big as San Diego, New York’s Comic Con is getting bigger and better every year. In fact, in just four years, it’s grown exponentially from a small-scale event attracting just thousands to now include Madison Square Garden as a venue and drawing in a crowd of tens of thousands. No other nerd get-together as grown as fast as this.

So you don’t get lost in a maelstrom of marketing at this year’s event, which runs from Thursday October 4th to Sunday 7th, we’ve scanned the schedule and pulled out the can’t-miss panels and talks that sci-fi fans, movie lovers, anime addicts, cosplayers and comic book crazies should make their top priority.

Plan of action
The most important thing to remember if you’ve never been to NYCC before is that you won’t be able to do everything; there’s just too much going on. The convention isn’t limited to the conference center; there are events, talks and panels held in venues all around town. So the way to guarantee maximum enjoyment is to carefully plan your itinerary and factor in time to get from one location to another.

The biggest events are scheduled to take place inside the Hammerstein Ballroom and Madison Square Garden and while you don’t have to actually make camp in the filthy streets around 34th Street, it’s advisable to get in a couple of hours before the actual event you want to see.

Oddly enough, some of the most interesting things I’ve seen at NYCC and indeed SDCC too, are the things that were on before the panel I came along to see. A TV series I’d never heard of, or a talk from someone I didn’t know…and they can turn out quite interesting.

Top tips and tactics
If you’re not prepared, Comic Con can turn into an exercise in frustration and often the littlest things make the biggest difference. Keep these things in mind:

• Hand sanitizer: New York is disgustingly dirty. If you’re riding on the subway, you’re gonna need this – especially before you grab a midday snack
• Sharpies (black and silver): You suddenly spot a favourite celebrity at an autograph booth, so like Bruce Willis said in The Last Boy Scout, be prepared
• An extra battery for your smartphone: You’ll be relying on your smartphone for a lot — camera, phone, maps, social media — and it will get drained. You might even want to bring two extra batteries
• The power of Twitter: News of a celebrity spot travels like wildfire at Comic Con; by keeping a close eye on #NYCC, you can find the cool parties and the awesome giveaways
• Finally, wear comfortable shoes and bring deodorant – it’s going to be humid – and a poster tube

Now, on to the schedule highlights, drawn from the convention website:

Thursday 4th October

Watchmen co-creator Dave Gibbons talks TV series
11:30am – 11:45am
NYCC Live Stage, Booth 174, Javits Center
Speaker: Dave Gibbons

When Earthlings become Martians: National Geographic’s Mars, season 2
3:00pm – 4:00pm
Room 1A10, Javits Center
Speakers: Michio Kaku, Andy Weir, Stephen Petranek, Jeff Hephner, Evan Hall, Lucianne Walkowicz, Dee Johnson and Justin Wilkes Jihae

Todd McFarlane talks new Spawn movie
5:00pm – 5:30pm
NYCC Live Stage, Booth 174, Javits Center
Speaker: Todd McFarlane

The Man in the High Castle panel
6:00pm – 7:30pm
Hammerstein Ballroom, 311 West 34th Street
Speakers: Isa Dick Hackett, Alexa Davalos, Rufus Sewell, Joel De La Fuente and Chelah Horsdal

Sony Crackle Presents: SuperMansion
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Main Stage 1-D, Javits Center
Speakers: Bryan Cranston Breckin Meyer Gary Anthony Williams Zeb Wells Matthew Senreich

A night with bestselling author Andy Weir
6:30pm – 7:30pm
Shop Studios, Level 4,  528 West 39th Street
Speaker: Andy Weir

StarTalk @ New York Comic Con, Hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson
7:45pm – 8:45pm
Main Stage 1-D, Javits Center
Speakers: Neil deGrasse Tyson, Brian Greene and Chuck Nice

Friday October 5th

Mortal Engines panel
12:00pm – 1:00pm
The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden
Speakers: Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens, Hugo Weaving, Leila George, Rob Sheehan, Stephen Lang, Hera Hilmar and Christian Rivers

American Gods panel
1:30pm – 2:30pm
Hammerstein Ballroom, 311 West 34th Street
Speaker: Neil Gaiman

Emmy-winning producer & writer Ronald D. Moore talks
3:30pm – 5:00pm
Shop Studios, Level 3, 528 West 39th Street

Saturday October 6th

Roswell, New Mexico world premiere pilot screening and Q&A
11:30am – 12:30pm
Room 1A06, Javits Center
See the world premiere screening of the pilot for Roswell, New Mexico, a reboot of the teen alien drama Roswell based the Roswell High book series. Afterward, there’s a Q&A with the cast and creators

Hulu and Seth Rogen’s Future Man panel
2:45pm – 3:45pm
Main Stage 1D, Javits Center

The Orville panel
3:00pm – 4:00pm
Hammerstein Ballroom, 311 West 34th Street
From Emmy Award-winning executive producer and creator Seth MacFarlane, The Orville is back for season 2. Join the some of your favorite crew members from the USS Orville along with the creative geniuses behind the whole operation to get an exclusive look at some of the new and exciting missions coming to FOX on 30th December

Star Trek: Discovery panel
4:00pm – 5:00pm
The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden
The whole cast and some of the crew will be in attendance in what will among the biggest event at this year’s NYCC

History Channel’s Project Blue Book
4:15pm – 5:15pm
Room 1A10, Javits Center

Family Guy & American Dad! panel
4:30pm – 5:30pm
Hammerstein Ballroom, 311 West 34th Street

Outlander panel
5:30pm – 7:00pm
The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden
Speakers: Ronald D. Moore, Maril Davis, Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan, Sophie Skelton and Richard Rankin

Sunday October 7th

What We Do In The Shadows
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Hammerstein Ballroom, 311 West 34th Street
Speakers: Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi and Paul Simms
If you found the humor in Thor: Ragnarok funny and you also enjoyed Flight of the Conchords, go and watch this

Bill Nye in conversation with Gregory Mone
12:30pm – 1:30pm
Shop Studios, Level 4, 528 West 39th Street

Doctor Who – BBC America official panel
1:45pm – 3:30pm
Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden
Watch the first episode live as it simultaneously premieres in the UK! After the screening, stay for a Q&A with Jodie Whittaker, who plays the latest Doctor and the creative team

Science or Fiction
2:45pm – 3:45pm
Room 1A24, Javits Center
Speakers: Bob Novella, Steven Novella, Evan Bernstein, Jay Novella, Cara Santa Maria and Bill Nye

The Tick panel
4:00pm – 5:00pm
Room 1A06, Javits Center
Speakers: Ben Edlund, Barry Josephson, Peter Serafinowicz, Griffin Newman, Valorie Curry, Scott Speiser and Yara Martinez

Archer panel
4:30pm – 5:30pm
Hammerstein Ballroom, 311 West 34th Street
Come see a not-to-be-missed exclusive sneak peek at the upcoming season and then join the voice cast of H. Jon Benjamin, Aisha Tyler, Jessica Walter, Chris Parnell, Amber Nash and Lucky Yates, plus Executive Producer Matt Thompson as they discuss bringing this animated series from script to screen

Scott Snowden is MyM’s US Editor. Follow him on Twitter.

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