Once Upon a Twilight!

NEW YORK COMIC CON REVEALS LINEUP FOR EXPANDED PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMMING OFFERINGS FOR 2025 

 

Curated Programming  for Industry Professionals Across Comics, Entertainment, Retail, and Literary Space to Include Panels, Free Giveaways, Private Signings, and More

 

NORWALK, CT – August 27, 2025– ReedPop, the world’s leading producer of pop culture events, today unveiled the lineup for their professional programming for New York Comic Con’s 2025 show.  Building off the success of last year’s offerings, ReedPop will be kicking off programming on Wednesday, October 8, and expanding through all four days of the convention. NYCC returns to the Javits Center in New York City on October 9-12, 2025. 

 

From Wednesday, October 8 through Sunday, October 12,  industry professionals across comics, entertainment, retail and the literary space, as well as sponsors of NYCC, will be able to participate in programs curated and led by

experts within their fields, with the goal of reaching those looking to increase their industry knowledge, sharpen their skills, and expand their networks. Set in a dedicated space for Pros located in the Javits Center’s River Pavilion, this year’s offerings will include a Friday Marketing Summit with experiential marketing and events agency Experience12, and masterclasses with industry leaders like Josh Horowitz and global brands like Kickstarter, Warner Bros Animation, and New York Public Library. This year Professional Programming is only open to Industry Professionals. This includes badge and ticket types such as: Artist Alley, Writers Block, Pro Thursday, Pro 4-Day, Press, Content Creator, Panelist, Exhibitor and Sidekicks.

 

To register for a Pro Badge go to Professional Registration. The deadline to register is September 5.  

 

Programming highlights for this year’s event include:

 

 

Wednesday October 8 

Comic Book Retailer’s Day

Jim Lee, known for Batman, Justice League, Suicide Squad, and Todd McFarlane, co-founder of Image Comics, will chat with comic shop retailers. There will be over 4 hours of comic book publisher presentations and discussions amongst industry veterans blending storytelling, mentorship, and industry talk.

 

Thursday October 9

                The Comic Industry Mixer Presented by Comic Sketch Art (Bar Sponsored by IDW Publishing and Event Bags Sponsored by Yen Press) The mixer starts at 7:45 PM with drinks, food, and presentations by the owners of Challengers + Conversation (Chicago) Tom King, (Supergirl Women of Tomorrow) and Courtney Menard (Director of production, Tiny Onion). This mixer is geared towards professionals in the comic industry.

 

The New York Public Library will once again present a full day of programming for librarians and educators, and any other interested professional. Highlights of the NYPL program include ¡Wepa! Puerto Ricans in the World of Comics, Misogynoir and Multiverses: A Black Girl's Guide to Fandom Culture, and Creepy, Crafty & Curriculum-Ready: Spooky Stories for Classrooms, Libraries & Beyond!

Friday October 10

 

ReedPop will collaborate with global experiential marketing and events agency Experience12 for the inaugural PopCultr Marketing Summit at NYCC. Sessions include: 

• Live Engagement & Events - Learn why live experiences are an essential marketing strategy as digital attention spans fragment, and audiences crave authentic connection. 
• Tabletop Games - Learn how TTGs and TTCs create brands people belong to, and the strategies driving their passionate communities. 
• Anime - Learn how Anime has become a dominant cultural force while flying under traditional marketing's radar, and what other industries can learn from it.

 

The Return of Backyard Sports: Celebrating the Joy of the Game - The panel will explore the creation of multi-generational storytelling in a multi-platform, endlessly fractured media environment. Playground Productions bought the rights to the Backyard Sports franchise in 2022, and has since relaunched the classic titles for modern consoles to enormous success. This panel seeks to understand how to tap into the original audience while expanding into evolving and new audiences. Panelists include: James Deighan (CEO, Mega Cat Studios), Lindsay Barnett (Founder and CEO, Playground Productions), and Chris Waters (Chief Product Officer, Playground Productions). Moderated by Jenny Maas (Senior Writer, Gaming and Entertainment, Variety)

 

                The Harvey Awards (Invite Only) - The Harvey Awards are one of the comic industry’s oldest and most prestigious awards. Recognizing outstanding achievement in multiple categories, the Harvey’s have been a fixture of the comic industry since 1988. This year, the Harvey Awards returns to New York Comic Con – the largest pop culture gathering in the United States. Spotlighting comic books, graphic novels, manga and more, the Harvey’s are industry awards selected by a full body of comic and publishing professionals. The Harvey Awards are an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the best & brightest, helping new readers, current fans, booksellers, retailers and librarians distinguish the best comics of the year as voted on by their peers. This year’s nominees will be selected by a handpicked contingent of industry voices and voted on by qualifying professionals.

 

                Learn about the art and profession of audiobook narration in Voices in the Dark: The Art of Horror Audiobooks. Join a chilling lineup of voice actors and creatives as they pull back the curtain on what it takes to terrify through sound alone. Why is horror uniquely suited to audio? How do narrators embody fear, tension, and monstrous characters with just their voice? And how do producers wield pacing and sound design to amplify dread? Expect behind-the-scenes tales from recording booths where even the narrators got spooked. Whether you're a longtime listener or simply love a good scare, this panel invites you deep into the dark—and leaves you wondering what's lurking just beyond the headphones.

 

The Art Knight: Batman in Animation

For over three decades, Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) has defined the animated legacy of the Dark Knight – from Batman: The Animated Series and Justice League to Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Batman: Caped Crusader, and countless DC animated films along the way. Join an all-star panel of WBA's top artists and creatives - featuring James Tucker (Executive Producer & Showrunner, Batman: Caped Crusader), Juan Meza-Leon (Director, Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires), Mike Roth (Executive Producer & Showrunner, Bat-Fam), and Simon J. Smith (Executive Producer, Batwheels) – for an in-depth look into the artistry, creative processes, and inspirations that fuel their bold new takes on one of the most iconic characters in comics and pop culture.

 

Saturday, October 11
                Kickstarter 101. Join Kickstarter's Head of Publishing, Oriana Leckert, for a look at the tips, tricks, and strategies behind successful literary crowdfunding campaigns. You'll learn about the benefits of building community and raising money through crowdfunding, the publishing landscape on Kickstarter, and the most important elements of building and running a project, illustrated with case studies from authors and publishers across the literary spectrum. 

 

Writing Workshop: Carving Out Your Niche. Writers: grab your pen and notebook and join authors Matt Dinniman (Dungeon Crawler Carl), Jim Butcher (The Dresden Files), Alexandria Bellefleur (The Devil She Knows), Kimberly Lemming (I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I’m Trapped in a Rom-Com), and Rachel Harrison (Play Nice) as they do a deep dive on creating writing your niche. Featuring insight into their creation process, exercises to flex your writing muscles, and invaluable advice on finding your voice as a writer, this isn’t one to miss!

 

Comedy Fandom: How Audiences are Built in 2025. With the comedy landscape ever evolving, it’s becoming more important for comedians to build their own audience. As gatekeepers seem to be less relevant, comedians no longer need a late-night set, buzzy festival performance, or network-produced special to break through. Today’s comedians are utilizing new tactics to reach and develop audiences. Whether that be social media, Youtube, or podcasts, a single path to success is gone as comics are building their own new ways.

This panel will discuss ways comedians are building their audiences today, how the industry is evolving to support them, how clubs are booking them, and predictions on how things could look in the future.

 

How Influencers Drive Music Discovery. Influencers are increasingly becoming the tastemakers driving streaming spikes, chart placements, and even tour demand. This panel brings together influencer marketers, artists, and creators to explore the new gatekeepers of music discovery. We’ll dig into how songs go viral, the blurred lines between promotion and authenticity, and what it takes to build lasting impact beyond the trend cycle.

Whether you’re in music, entertainment, publishing, or any field looking to connect with audiences in fresh ways, this session offers a behind-the-curtain look at the strategies, successes, and stumbles shaping the future of influencer marketing. Panelists include Josh Bernstein (President of Z2 Comics + Records),  Sean Rameau (Digital Marketing Director at MNRK Music Group), Skye Sweetnam (Singer of Sump Cyco + Influencer), Pablo Douzoglou (VP, Head of Marketing at Beggars Group), moderated by Josh Goldfeder (Senior Marketing Manager at The Syndicate).

 

The Art of the Interview with Josh Horowitz. Join the creator and host of the acclaimed Happy Sad Confused podcast for a masterclass on interviewing. Josh will cover topics such as finding your voice as an interviewer, dos and don'ts that have served him well, plus practical tips for building a podcast and crafting a career in the entertainment industry. This exclusive NYCC masterclass is one you won't want to miss! 

 

Sunday, October 12

                What Comes Next?: A Nonfiction Insider’s Look at How To Get Published. Join nonfiction literary agent Alia Hanna Habib (Take It From Me) as she offers up some tips, insights, and behind-the-scenes tools of the trade to help writers decipher what happens once you have a pitch, proposal, or book.

 

Everything You Need to Know about Indie Publishing. Are you ready to publish your book, but you're not sure where to turn? One option, chosen by an ever-increasing number of writers, is to self-publish. Join this panel of experts as they discuss the process of, and challenges and opportunities presented by, independent publishing.

 

Beyond the Mask: VTubers, Identity and Content Creation in the Digital Age. Creating content online today can be exciting, exhausting, and everything in between. Whether you're building a brand on Twitch, YouTube, TikTok, or behind a VTuber avatar, this panel dives into the reality of growing as a creator in a space that never slows down. Join streamers, video creators, and corporations for a down to earth conversation about finding your voice, building a brand, growing a community, and making content that actually feels meaningful. We'll talk about starting from scratch, dealing with platform shifts, staying consistent, and keeping your sanity while doing it all in public.

 

NEW Amenities for Professionals at NYCC
Professionals are invited to relax, recharge, and connect in a space designed with their comfort and productivity in mind. Sink into a couch or spark new connections at the Press & Pro Lounge.

If you need a quiet spot to work or conduct interviews, our rentable media suites and private office spaces are ideal for editing, recording, or catching up on work between events. Hosting a catered lunch? We’ve got a dedicated space just for that, too. To reserve a private office or media suite, contact Mike Negin - mikenegin@reedpop.com.

 

Industry professionals looking to attend professional programming can apply for a Professional Badge on New York Comic Con’s official site by September 5.

Stay up to date on the latest New York Comic Con news at NewYorkComicCon.com and on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

 

About ReedPop
ReedPop is a boutique group within RX – one of the world’s leading event organizers. Launched in 2006, the group has become the number one producer of pop culture events globally and a full-service digital content provider and media company. Delivering once-in-a-lifetime fan experiences curated specifically for localized audiences, ReedPop currently features events in North America and Europe, including New York Comic Con (NYCC), Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), PAX West, East, and Unplugged, Emerald City Comic Con (ECCC), Star Wars Celebration, MCM Comic Con, Eurogamer Expo (EGX), MagicCon, Florida Supercon, BookCon and more. In addition to organizing and managing events, ReedPop owns and operates the pop culture news site, Popverse, which is the exclusive home for livestreams from all of ReedPop's major comic cons. The staff at ReedPop are a fan-based group of professionals uniquely qualified to build and serve the communities with whom they share a common passion. (www.reedpop.com).