Introducing Whatnot Liveplex: NYCC’s Live Shopping Mall
This year, Whatnot will bring live shopping to the center of New York Comic Con (NYCC) with the debut of the Whatnot Liveplex, a 5,000-square-foot, shopping mall-inspired activation at the Javits Center. From October 8–11, the Liveplex will spotlight the people shaping what’s next in comics, collecting, and pop culture, with Whatnot sellers at the heart of the experience.
More than twice the size of last year’s footprint, the activation celebrates the collector communities that define NYCC, from comics and memorabilia to music and sports, in a way that only Whatnot can. Shoppers and fans can expect specialty shops, an arcade, exclusive product drops, and live programming from top sellers, artists, creators, and celebrity guests.
As the Home of Hip-Hop Collectibles, Mass Appeal will return as our official partner featuring their own dedicated storefront spanning the worlds of hip-hop and pop culture.
The Liveplex experience will extend beyond the convention floor, with all of our NYCC programming live streamed via Beyond the Con , giving Whatnot shoppers a way to join from wherever they are.
The Liveplex Puts Sellers Front and Center
For Whatnot sellers, NYCC is one of the biggest weekends of the year. Spanning creators, artists, and collectible brands, sellers are partnering with the top names in the industry to create one-of-a-kind shows for their buyers. The Liveplex will give sellers the opportunity to go live and sell right from the floor, including those without a standalone booth at the convention.
Seller programming includes:
Thursday, October 8
10:00am - 11:00am: Todd McFarlane will release a signed two-pack of NYCC-exclusive comics celebrating the announcement of Spawn’s appearance in the Diablo Immortal video game franchise.
2:00pm - 3:30pm: Comic Sketch Art will feature Brett Bean, creator of Image Comics’ hit series D’Orc, for live signings.
Friday, October 9
12:00pm - 2:00pm: Trinity Comics and Czarface will debut an exclusive comic accompanying Czarface’s album release. Zoe Lacchei will also sell an exclusive edition of Absolute Batman #24.
2:15pm - 3:45pm: Comic Sketch Art will feature Ryan Ottley, co-creator of Invincible, for live signings and an exclusive drop of his first-ever Absolute Batman cover.
4:00pm - 5:00pm: VeeFriends with Gary Vaynerchuk will be selling something giant (to be announced!).
Saturday, October 10
10:00am - 11:30am: AC Comics and Clayton Crain will debut an exclusive five-cover connecting box set for Absolute Batman, along with a blind-bag release of Crain’s Out of Hell.
12:00pm - 2:00pm: Trinity Comics will host a live signing and art exhibition with legendary Marvel artist Peach Momoko.
2:00 - 3:30pm: Plastic Empire and Pixar Art Director Ben Su will launch their Dungeon Crawler Carl NYCC-exclusive blind bag.
4:00pm - 5:00pm: PSA will celebrate “10/10 Day” with host Arris Quinones and Gary Vaynerchuk, featuring the slabbed Mass Appeal x PSA NYCC Whatnot Exclusive Blind Box.
Where Hip-Hop, Comics and Collectibles Collide
Anchoring Whatnot’s programming is the return of our official partnership with Mass Appeal, the Home of Hip-Hop Collectibles.
With their own dedicated storefront, the Mass Appeal space will be a live cultural destination, featuring artist and creator discussions, celebrity DJ sets, exclusive Marvel collaborations, and shows with hip-hop legends. Artists, athletes, entertainers and other cultural figures including Nas, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, Busta Rhymes, Anderson .Paak, Cordae, Erick the Architect and others, will join throughout the weekend to sell exclusive items, interact directly with fans and tell the stories behind the collectibles.
Key programming includes:
Thursday, October 8
5:30pm – 7:00pm: Nas, Slick Rick, Havoc, and other special guests will release a black-and-white sketch poster featuring Sanford Greene’s cover art for the upcoming Legend Has It Vol. 2. The artwork pays homage to the original 1975 cover of Giant-Size X-Men #1.
Friday, October 9
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m: Anderson .Paak & Cordae will drop Heavy Is the Crown, a special-edition Marvel comic collaboration named after their forthcoming album. The comic features two variant covers, including artwork by Peach Momoko.
Saturday, October 10
5:30pm – 7:00pm: Busta Rhymes will release Incredible Hulk #1, a reimagining the landmark 1962 comic with Hip Hop legends Busta Rhymes and J Dilla in celebration of their Dillagence II album release.
Shop NYCC’s Hottest, Most In-Demand Exclusives
Part of the thrill of NYCC is discovering limited-edition releases and must-have products inspired by beloved characters, creators, and franchises. Throughout the weekend, Whatnot sellers and partners, including Marvel, AthLife, Mass Appeal, Hustl, and more, will offer over 500 exclusive drops in-person and on the app.
Highlights at the Liveplex include:
Amazing Spider-Man #1001: A special variant cover celebrating Jalen Brunson’s championship run, reimagining the iconic Avengers #4 cover with Brunson as Captain America and Miles Morales striking Brunson’s signature pose.
Iron Man: Racing Towards Doom: A brand new NYCC-exclusive edition of the first Marvel × Williams Racing comic where Formula 1 drivers Alex Albon & Carlos Sainz team-up with the Avengers to stop Doctor Doom.
Whatnot-exclusive Bloo PIX! figure: A new Thrilljoy blind-box featuring its mascot in a black Whatnot jersey, with a limited yellow-jersey chase in one in every six boxes.
Macho Man Randy Savage Big Rubber Guy, New York Mets Edition: A WWF-style action figure from Collect Major wearing an officially licensed New York Mets uniform.
Fans can also shop previous Marvel collaborations featuring Coco Gauff, Fat Joe, Bo Jackson, Brian Dawkins, The Notorious B.I.G., and BABYMETAL.
Beyond the convention floor
NYCC may be happening in New York, but fans don’t have to be there in person to take part. The Whatnot Liveplex experience will extend beyond the convention floor, with all programming live streamed via Beyond the Con throughout the weekend.
Beyond NYCC, hundreds of additional comics and collectibles sellers will also stream from around the world, offering even more limited-edition releases and live shopping experiences.
Follow along on Whatnot to join the fun from wherever you are.
