NYCC’25: Anime, Ai, and the New Pop Culture.
When I first attended NYCC ten years ago, I was joked on by a few of my friends. Whenever I mentioned it, the geek in me shook and felt ashamed because of my love for comics, action figures, and video games. Still, I kept going, and it was my first nerdy dopamine hit.
Enter NYCC ’25. This year reminded me of that first time. Whoever did the event coordination this year made this event a VIBE!!! The anime and manga companies, Marvel, DC, Image, the indie titles; this year felt special and nostalgic.
And while one can easily recognize the pop culture shift with newer titles such as Invincible, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, K-Pop: Demon Hunters, and Absolute Batman, these brand-new universes are paving the way for a new generation of fans in the pop culture space. Yes, Spider-Man, Spawn, Superman, and many others are canon to the comic book experience, but now anime is paving a new way, allowing many more fans to embrace this evolving art form.
Additionally, as long as blood and violence are in cartoon form, shows can generate big profits. Remember that Invincible vs. Conquest fight? The superhero still exists, but now fans are looking for a different kind of hero; one whose morals blur between right and wrong, the gray area. Furthermore, anime characters and giant monsters, along with media layoffs, have become part of the canon and the danger zone within the pop culture universe:
Giant Monsters are all the rage - Jurassic World as they beat the anime genre and superhero markets
Anime beats superhero films – Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle defied expectations. $500 Billy.
Marvel: Layoffs, cancellations, and its parent company, losing money on a massive scale.
DC Comics gaining momentum becoming lord of all.
Image Comics, Amazon x Invincible series, Blood, Guts, Mayhem!!
With this shifting landscape, companies are now doubling down to claim pop culture’s crown, aiming to be the best of the best, the number one distributor of awesome pop culture media and merch. Even as I write this, anime, manga, and their merchandise have reached top-tier status, with fans connecting deeply to their favorite characters on their favorite shows
SideNote: The Dragonball Z series got me through college.
Giant brands, which once towered over fans with their announcements and writer signings, have dwindled down to nubs—mere shells that now include merch buying and spaces for photoshoots: a play area with a single TV and a few announcements. Even Marvel is feeling the heat, as their empire, struggling with less-than-stellar profits, has also dwindled. Hopefully, Avengers: Doomsday will bring it back. Hopefully.
But as companies fight to be the top in pop culture, a new force is changing the game: Artificial Intelligence. While it can boost creativity and productivity for artists, Ai has become both a gift and a curse as it has increased productivity among creatives while simultaneously displacing millions of those working within the tech industry.
And as Ai has become a growing entity within the industry, it has also caused a stalemate as well. There are rumblings within the Ai sector in which companies haven’t profited from the Ai revolution as of yet, with some, saying that the “Ai bubble” is about to burst.
With layoffs in many industries, especially entertainment, companies are losing their creative talent that, if combined with AI, could generate countless innovative projects and drive success. Right now, artificial intelligence is missing what I call the “Neural Spark,” that instant when a person connects ideas, experiences, and thoughts in a way that leads to real creativity. At its core, AI is still just a system that sorts information, linking commands, phrases, and facts from the internet.
SideNote: Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) tries to mimic the human brain by processing large amounts of information and use logical thinking at incredible speeds. It still misses what makes us human: our self-awareness, emotions, and the ability to find meaning in our experiences.
As Ai mirrors the human brain’s computational strengths, it still falls short of capturing the unique qualities and abilities that make us human: our empathy, imagination, and individual consciousness. In other words, it’s not Johnny #5, Ultron, or Bender. Not yet anyway. Yet, despite its impressive abilities, the algorithm still can’t replicate the spark of human creativity, something I saw firsthand while observing artists, writers, creators, and cosplayers at NYCC, some of whom shared their perspectives on AI.
OzzyOz Da Vyrus.
OzzyOz Da Vyrus
Oswald Wallace III, famed graphic artist hailing from NYC, known as OzzyOz, is an artist who blends anime, manga, pop culture, and street style. He has collaborated with various artists, including Cardi B, and is the former owner of the company VYRUS Style. His approach to art in the pop culture scene revolutionized the industry when he shifted to a more vinyl print style. He’s recently been on the socials discussing his thoughts on artificial intelligence and has even challenged his art against Ai. Having the opportunity to speak with him, he discussed his views on the newest algorithim:
Todd MacFarlane
A rebel within the comic book industry, entrepreneur, toy designer, comic book genius, and overall, awesome human being, Todd McFarlane has been the face of comics for decades. His departure from the pages of Marvel to form his own company, Image Comics and the creation of the iconic occult antihero Spawn, turned him into an international superstar and cemented his status as comic book legend. Todd’s approach to comics has been nothing short of extraordinary. And while he’s had his share of ups and downs within the industry, he remains vigilant in providing fans with the best in media and entertainment.
As Todd’s no stranger to controversy, he attacks it head-on, navigating challenges with the energy and flair of a supernova. To some, he’s lord and savior; to others, he’s your comic book uncle. To the masses, he’s the person who carved a lane in the comic book industry, allowing creators to obtain better ownership rights to their IP. To the world, he’s a real one. And as I sat in his panel, Spotlight on Todd McFarlane, I listened to his views on AI and it was worth it:
Final Thoughts
Here at NYCC ’25, two creatives who have revolutionized the pop culture scene offered their insight into the famed algorithm. Both agree, “It’s a tool.” But to replace the “Neural Spark,” the human element in creativity, would be detrimental to the creative process, the creator, the company, and the profits. Attending Todd McFarlane’s panel, his words: “Do you want to travel by car or bike?” still echoed as i thought about Ai. Technology may make the travel faster, but it’s still the Neural Spark that makes the journey worth taking.
As for the superheroes, they still exist within the pop culture space, their moral behavior however, has taken a back seat as 2025 makes room for the “gray area” superhero, the one whose morals parallels the survivability of the mission, the ability to achieve the victory. In other words, the hero who is willing to do what is necessary to win and beat the bad guy.
Artificial intelligence is here, and it’s not going away. While this set of ones and zeros is dismantling industries and companies across the world, it’s also improving lives and advancing creativity. One example of this improvement: AI is now detecting cancer in individuals, providing a greater chance of survival for patients. Greater technology, greater odds. As with any new tool, there’s bound to be disruption. Remember the horse and carriage?
Pop culture continues to be an evolving art form and for the first time in a long time, NYCC represented that shift. NYCC represented a space where the Flintstones met the Jetsons in the art game, where pen and canvas met touch screens and digital pens, where generations of veteran creators had a chance to speak with the next generation to discuss and debate the good and the bad of tech in art.
Whatever the view of pop culture, there’s no denying it…..pop culture has evolved, alive and reinventing itself. As for NYCC, they captured it perfectly for 2025.
Respect.
