Inside Undiscovered Realm Comic Con 2025: Cosplay, Collectibles & Community in Westchester

Inside Undiscovered Realm Comic Con 2025: Cosplay, Collectibles & Community in Westchester

On June 21 and June 22, 2025, I made my return to Undiscovered Realm Comic Con, held once again at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, New York — and just like last year, it didn’t disappoint.

If you’ve never been, URCC is a locally loved convention that blends pop culture, cosplay, gaming, comics, anime, and collectibles all under one roof. It may not be as massive as New York Comic Con, but it has a more personal vibe, and that’s a big part of its charm.

Second Year, Same Great Energy

This was my second year attending, and it felt like reconnecting with everything I enjoyed the first time: friendly people, creative costumes, and a strong vendor presence that kept me walking the floor for hours.

One of the first things you notice when you walk in is how welcoming the atmosphere is. People are genuinely excited to be there — whether they’re longtime fans, first-time cosplayers, or casual visitors looking to browse and take everything in.

I didn’t go for any celebrity meet-and-greets this year, but there were some big names in the building, including R.L. Stine, author of the Goosebumps series. His panel required a separate ticket, which I skipped this time, but it was still great knowing he was in the building.

Cosplay Highlights

URCC always brings out impressive cosplay talent. This year, I saw everything from Star Wars characters like Darth Vader and stormtroopers to creative takes on Poison Ivy, Ghost Rider, Spider-Man 2099, and even a surprisingly accurate Jack Sparrow.

Everyone I photographed brought a high level of detail and creativity. You can tell how much time, effort, and passion goes into each costume — from the props and makeup to the posing and overall performance.

As a photographer, these moments are what make events like this so enjoyable. I shot the entire day with my Canon EOS R6 Mark II, using the RF 15-35mm f/2.8 for wide coverage and the EF 70-200mm f/2.8 for portraits and tighter shots.

Vendor Rows Full of Treasures

While cosplay gets a lot of attention, the vendor section is where I spent a big chunk of my time. There were dozens of booths offering vintage action figures, rare comics, original artwork, anime merchandise, enamel pins, and more.

Independent artists were selling their work right alongside retailers with nostalgic collectibles, which made exploring each aisle a great mix of new finds and childhood throwbacks. I didn’t leave with a haul this time, but I definitely left with a list of vendors to look up later.

Behind the Lens & Vlogging the Day

This year, I also decided to vlog the full experience — the cosplay, the vendors, and the energy of the convention. I filmed everything on my GoPro Hero 9 and edited the footage with a mix of anime-inspired tracks licensed through Envato Elements, including “Anime 2025,” “Hopeful Anime Rock,” and several others.

Putting the video together really brought the day back to life. If you want to see the full experience, the vlog is available on my YouTube channel.

Final Thoughts

Undiscovered Realm Comic Con may not have the scale of the biggest conventions, but that's exactly what makes it special. It’s intimate, local, and full of passionate people — from fans and cosplayers to artists and collectors. If you’re in the New York area and haven’t checked it out yet, I definitely recommend adding it to your list for next year.

Until then, I’ll be editing photos, reflecting on the weekend, and already looking forward to coming back for round three.

Photos taken with:
Canon EOS R6 Mark II
RF 15-35mm f/2.8
EF 70-200mm f/2.8