Superheroine, where are you?

“Javits Center!” the M34 bus driver shouted into the microphone just before 4PM, on February 23rd, a Friday afternoon. “Join the line and enjoy yourself,” he said and his tone was unmistakably sarcastic.

The line of ticket holders, most of whom bought there tickets online in advance to forgo long lines like this one, was stretching around the block. In the cold wind, some of them were shivering in a single T-shirt, always black with some super hero printed on the front.

Inside, on three floors, the Comic Con Show, only the second of its kind in New York City, welcomed the first few hundreds of visitors on the first half day of the weekend- long program.

On Level 3, the exhibit floor, where 140 vendors offered their merchandise, a small being with green head and long green hands chased a boy about seven years old. The boy fought back with a laser sword. When another green headed being appeared, the boy ran to his father screaming “Damn, there are more of them!”

In what seemed like a paradise of commerce and consumerism, a few vendors and visitors stood out.

In the back, near the food stands, Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, a Californian in her later thirties, exhibited her watercolors called Fantasy Art. The prints varied from Tarot cards to fairies, all gentle and subtle in details. She already sold out several $10 and $15 pieces, like the Empress card. “There is a lot of cross-over between comics and what I do,” she said. “I do a lot of comic conventions all over the country, and I have family in New York, so this way, I can combine business with pleasure.”

At the Atomic Comics booth, people in bright yellow overalls with symbols of radioactivity on their chests talked to visitors in such a nice and sincere way that it was clear – they were not from New York. “We are a bit sleep deprived,” Lou Louis, said noting that her parents had fun giving her her first name. “We drove out here in three days from Phoenix, Arizona in our mobile comic van. It’s the first of its kind!”

Lou had a great time on Thursday being a tourist in New York, riding the subway, visiting China Town, Ground Zero, The Empire State Building, and of course, Midtown Comics. “It was my dream to go to that store. It’s like the biggest comic store ever!” she said.

Atomic Comics was established 20 years ago by Mike Malve who is proud to be present with his booth at every comic convention in the country and with his new mobile comic van all over Phoenix. (He also likes to mention that he knows Steven Colbert.)

Robert Wilman, an Atomic Comic employee of five years answered countless questions in front of the van. “The van can get comics to people who otherwise would not be interested,” he said. “We go to air force bases, mall parking lots and schools,” he said. “Over the summer, we go to classrooms to tell the kids about the history of gaming and comics. People love the van!”

To the left, past countless commercial booths, the Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company presented one of its shows, Living Dead in Denmark, on a flat screen TV. The play was a parody of comic characters with Asian martial arts incorporated in the scenes. This small, five years old, Manhattan based non-profit alternative theatre company was able to afford the $1800, six-foot long stand only due to a generous donor.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to be here, to get out name out here, get people know who we are” Abby Markus, the young and vibrant managing director, said. “This is our target audience and if five more people come to see our show as a result of this booth, we had a successful weekend.”

Michael Timko, an overweight forty-something bald man stoped at the booth. “This is the coolest name I’ve seen here,” he said with enthusiasm. “I just saw a similar show a few weeks ago. Let me get your card, I love this stuff!” he said to Markus who talked him into filling out a form to win free tickets.

Near the level entrance, across from a few people playing card games, Claire Nelson, of California, sat on the floor, resting.

“This is my first time in New York; my friend talked me into coming,” she said. “I got a bit tired because we’ve been running around the city all day before coming here. But to be honest, the San Diego show is much better. It’s bigger and there are more previews of movies and shows with actors and artists talking to the audience.”

In the middle of the floor, Wendy Kelman, the executive director of Geppi’s Entertainment Museum, dressed in a dark business suit, was not tired at all. Everyone, who stopped by the Museum’s showcase – and many did – received from her a poster, a brochure and even a map of Baltimore, where the museum is, with its location clearly marked. “It’s only four hours by car from here,” she said energetically.

“The older you are, the more you get out of it,” said of the museum that opened last September, Patricia Moore, sales and marketing representative. “We’ve got things that go back to the middle 1700s. You can follow the history of pop culture with us.”

Around 7 PM, at the $2 coat check, Frank Giella, waited for his coat with son James, 9. He was happy with his visit. “It’s bigger than last year and there is more comic related stuff, not just mass media. I like that,” he said. His son James liked his bag full of free give-aways. “They are trying to get kids back to collecting habits.”

Carlos Santofimia and his son Bastian, 8, from Florida, waited for the bus outside the Center. “I must tell you I was very disappointed in the organizers,” he said with a tick Spanish accent. “I bought the tickets online for both days for both of us and then I come here, wait in the line for an hour in the cold and learn that my son didn’t even need a ticket.”

A native of Madrid, Spain, this single dad did not really mind the inconvenience. “I think he has talent. He is eight now. I want him to be exposed to the best and here he can meet the artists and get some collectibles.”

“I hope it was worth it, Bastian!” Santofimia said looking at his son with a loving smile.