Garden State Comic Fest 2021: A Win for Pop Culture
Joseph Watkins
I, for one, was very excited for not only the lessoning of covid restrictions, but the fact that comic con season is back again, with a vengeance. So, taking full advantage, on June 5th, 2021, I attended my first comic con for 2021 in the guise of Garden State Comic Fest.
Oh, it felt so go to be reintroduced to my habitat.
And as such, It’s time for RGN 99 to report on the great work, awesome staff, and phenomenal finds, at low prices, that GCSF:2021 provided.
Jersey Gardens
Housed in the Jersey Gardens Mall in Elizabeth, NJ., the staff created an epic event in an open, yet ventilated area of an empty store lot in the famed complex. As I entered, I was immediately transported to the realm of comics, cosplayers, pop culture, and most importantly, the smiles of the consumers as they too started to remember what’s it like to be at a comic con again, post covid.
Just seeing a con again brought me a renewed sense of vigor and hunger as I saw creativity in the form of new displays, merchandise, artwork and pop culture. Although my wallet limited how much I could buy, It just felt good to be out of the house and surrounded by creativity yet again.
Funko Merch
As with all my travels, I always look forward to hunting Funko Pops and this time, my search lead me to the land of Dragon Eye Gaming. Ran by the owner “Will”, I was able to collect some very valuable Pops that would be perfect for my collection:
Jiraya on Toad #73 And Vegeta #157.
These two iconic pops are considered to be some of the hardest items to grab and yet here they were, within arm’s reach at a reasonable price.
For Jiraiya #73, the Hot Topic Exclusive, when I asked the booth’s owner, Will, about him, he explained to me that he only had one left and that he had to hide it. I lucked out as I was the recipient of the final one. As he pulled out his last remaining pop, I was in awe at both the price and the actual figure. Amazon had it at the low price of $94.00, yet he had it at $70 and when the figure finally hit my hand, a tear swelled in my eye as I finally had in my hand the TOAD SAGE of the Hidden Leaf. The detail and love this figure has brought to my collection and to my heart is phenomenal.
For Vegeta #157, this pop was one of the most awesome Pops I ever bought. My first attempt at buying him came from a blind box at GameStop and due to personal reasons, I had to sell him. And here, for 2021, I had a second chance to buy him . When I asked if he had Vegeta #157 (in his training attire under Whis) in his stockpile for sale, he immediately goes into the crates, and in true magical fashion, he reveals my grail with a $70 price point. I bought the GameStop exclusive again and this time, it came with a free protective case. A nice victory, if I say so myself.
Special thanks to Dragon Eye Gaming for the reasonable prices and dedication to the Art of Funko Selling.
Rebirth of Cosplay
As GSCF was loaded with vendors, actors, health signs and great energy, one feature that always surprises me is the cosplay and how these artists are able to incorporate their face masks with their outfits. While it is a nuisance for some, to them, they treated their masks as a piece of attire for their stunning outfits. Some of them are here below:
Captain America/Falcon
Falcon/Captain America by mikettedw and dgcollins28
Lobo & Harley Quinn
Lobo and Harley Quinn: reallifelobo and sarah_campos113
Teen Titans
Teen Titans: (?)
Red Hood and Iron Man
Red Hood (rlh_nyc) / Iron Man (?)
The artwork and design they put into their attire continues to astound me. These dedicated comic book, movie, and media enthusiasts transform themselves into these iconic characters and for hours on end, showcase themselves for the world to see. With their own personal blend of sweat equity and passion, these people turn 2-dimensional comic book characters into live exhibitions for the world to see.
Respect to the cosplayers for their phenomenal work.
Codakhrome Comic Shop
At every con, I always try to find that eye-opening booth, exhibit, or display, that makes a patron’s heart skip a beat as artists display some new form of pop culture. My search led me to a series of pictorial representations of some of the best comic book images known to man by the company known as Codakhrome.
Created by the famed Dr. Chopper (Tobias), he credits his wife for his decision to create such intricate pieces of art. These portraits are mounted in a particular sized frame with either the front of the comic, the in between pages, or a combination of both are used for the display. As the pages are mounted, they are then colored, collaged and framed for viewing pleasure. His approach to pop culture is definitely one for the ages as multiple issues of the same comic are combined to make an authentic work of modern art. He also has been credited by multiple artists for his work as well, including world famous artist/inkist Sam De La Rosa. Dr. Chopper stated that his Venom: Lethal Protector collage was praised by the famed artist and to date, it proudly sits in his office.
Good Reads.
Prior to leaving, I was able to catch a glimpse of a brand-new comic that focused on the famed 47 Ronin. Dubbed 47 Furious Tales, written by W.S. Quinton, with art, colors and letters by Alexia Veldhuisen. This comic is not only informational, but very thought provoking as the 12 issue series provides action, parables and a modernized glimpse into how the 47 Ronin came to be. Masterfully done. I bought issue #1 and #2.
Final Thoughts
Covid-19 made pop culture come to a physical halt as events and convention spaces were deemed inoperable. Now, one year later, GSCF took the helm and created a low-key 3-day event that allowed the fans to finally feel a sense of relief and enjoy a comic con again. As I was were able to navigate a con that not only took our interests into consideration, but also our health as well, I have to give the staff props as they thought out every detail to ensure that no one became ill or illegally snuck into the venue.
To the staff of GSCF, thank you for bringing pop culture back to the masses in Northern NJ.
