New York Comic Con: Four Tips to Survive the Extravaganza

Jim McCann knows comic-book conventions.

The writer — whose new graphic novel, “Return of the Dapper Men” with artist Janet Lee, debuts this weekend — spent years working publicity and PR for Marvel Comics. He traveled across the U.S. from New York to San Diego, at all of the major comic-book conventions.

amNewYork spoke with McCann, 36, who you can meet at the Archaia booth, about the keys to surviving the New York Comic Con this weekend.

1. Pace yourself
“It’s going to be the biggest con you’ve ever seen on this coast. Just know there’s going to be stuff you’re not able to do, but there is still so much that you’ll be able to do, so pace yourself. It’s going to be like going to an amusement park of your imagination.”

2. Hydrate and eat
“Personal experience: I kick into what people refer to as ‘hummingbird mode’ where I flutter about the convention running on pure adrenaline. And you’re really run down by the last day. Don’t forget to eat and drink ... because there’s so much to distract you, you just forget sometimes.”

3, Be ready for the unexpected
“You’re going to see people dressed up as everything from ninjas to slave Leias to Super Mario Brothers. It’s going to be a visual feast for all of the senses. Know that around every corner, there’s going to be a surprise.”

4, Have good personal hygiene
“Bring hand sanitizer. One awesome thing about conventions is you get to meet tons of people. Unfortunately, there is the phenomenon of the post-con funk. You’ll have a whole lot of fun, and you don’t want to offset that by having to take two sick days the next week.”

Check out these five graphic novels at the New York Comic Con

‘Return of the Dapper Men’
Writer: Jim McCann
Artist: Janet Lee
Archaia Studios Press, $24.95
Writer Jim McCann describes the story as a modern-day steam punk fairy tale in a land where time has stopped until one day 314 identical Dapper Men rain down from the sky in pinstripes and bowler hats bringing back time — and change — to the world.

‘City of Spies’
Writers: Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan
Illustrator: Pascal Dizin
First Second, $16.99
A young girl and a superintendent’s son team up in 1942 New York to foil a real-life Nazi spy plot in this charming yarn. Dizin’s bright, clean palette pops in this pitch-perfect portrait of wartime Gotham.

‘The Amazing Screw-On Head’
Creator: Mike Mignola
Dark Horse, $17.99
This lighthearted hodgepodge from “Hellboy” creator Mignola collects his award-winning title story (of a mysterious robotic creature that battles zombies at Abraham Lincoln’s behest) with more than 50 pages of new material.

‘American Vampire’
Writers: Scott Snyder and Stephen King
Artist: Rafael Albuquerque
Vertigo, $24.99
Yes, that’s the Stephen King who joined Snyder for this visceral vampire epic, with stories split between the roaring 1920s and the gritty Old West.
‘Parker:

The Outfit’
Creator: Darwyn Cooke
IDW Publishing, $24.99
The impossibly talented Cooke unveils the second volume of his adaptations of Richard Stark’s “Parker” series, “The Outfit,” which is a balls-to-the-wall crime noir.

If you go: The New York Comic Con is at the Javits Center Friday though Sunday. Visit newyorkcomiccon.com for ticket, schedule and signing info.