If you’re a fan of comics, manga, and anime, then you most likely know of the huge convention that takes place annually to honor them. Showcasing talented artists, writers, voice actors, and cosplayers; also being the spot to go for fan-made merchandise; listening to panelists of your favorite creators; and meeting people who share the same interests as you. This convention welcomes fans who enjoy all types of entertainment, from DC and Marvel fans, Chucky and Saw fans, and One Piece and Berserk fans to K-pop fans, fan writers and artists, and more! Comic-Con is honestly one of the best places to be, and it’s evident in how thousands of people sign up to go every year.

This year, on October 21st, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Rutgers will be holding their very own Comic Con. Organized by the Animation Alliance, Anime & Manga Association, and Art Students League, these students have worked as a team for months finding vendors and panelists to make this come together. These students surely had their work cut out for them dealing with the stress and frustration of struggling to contact people, but they managed to achieve their goals of vendors, food, and panelists. 

I spoke with the president of the Art Student League, and she said, “We started the process in June 2023 and had some meetings together about ideas, organization, who to reach out to, and how… We did run into some obstacles, such as budgeting and finding the perfect location for it. The previous comic con was held in the Athletic Center with ~100 vendors and was a large event. We wanted to stay true to the previous comic con and have a large event, but the cost would put a strain on each of the club’s budgets. So we plan on having ~30 vendors, 6 panelists, food vendors, a cosplay contest, and fun workshops.”

This isn’t the first time that Comic Con has been made on campus by the students of Rutgers. Previously, there was a virtual Con in 2021, and even before, all the way back to the first in 2016. The club’s hope is that Comic-Con will become a tradition that continues in the future and that the next E-Boards of the clubs will continue these conventions, as most of the current ones will be graduating in 2024. And hopefully, the future e-board will be able to handle the trials that their predecessors had in organizing the event. 

The president of the Animation Alliance said that she honestly hopes this is a good change, as I feel as though it brings not just the Rutgers community together but everyone from the city, as this will be open to all and anyone can attend. I’m hoping that the next president of the Animation Alliance will continue it as a fall tradition. I feel like it may bring more attention to the club and maybe bring in people who would like to join, so our club can be bigger and keep going for future semesters.”

The Comic Con will be free and open to the public, and with artists like Mark McKenna and writers such as Amy Chu attending, along with Dreamer’s Playlist as one of the panelists, this is an event that cannot be missed.

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