This Wasn’t Destro’s First NYC Rodeo

By Destro Designs – Viper Den Studios

So, you’ve most likely heard me talk about my recent trip to New York Comic Con, either on my Saturday show or with my brother Mark on the Monday show. But there are a few more angles to this adventure that I want to get into.

You see, I have history in the City.

Back in my 20s, I knew people scattered throughout New York City and the surrounding area, mostly in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and out on Long Island.

I used to make trips down there to pick up some boutique weed you couldn’t find upstate. I’d catch shows at CBGB, St. Vitus, the Bowery, and about half a dozen other places. Those were some wild times, and the memories have stayed with me all these years.

Even back then, just like last week, the moment I crossed the George Washington Bridge or the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, something happened to me.

I could feel the heat coming off the streets. I could feel the electricity in the air, like the entire city was turning me into a bolt of lightning.

If you’ve never experienced New York City firsthand, I assure you, there is no place like it on Earth.

Last Thursday, I pulled up in the Despoiler, handed the valet my keys, grabbed my backpack, and hit the sidewalk.

Within my first few steps, I looked up at those towering buildings, some stretching more than 30 stories into the sky, and instantly knew I was back.

I could feel it.

That familiar amperage of New York City collided with the excitement of attending NYCC, and suddenly I was floating down the street.

I’m telling you, I was riding a high that didn’t even begin to fade until nearly 10 hours later, when I was already back on the Northway and halfway home.

Now, the details of what happened at Comic Con have already been pored over. You’ve heard the stories, seen the coverage, and probably caught some of the conversations on our shows.

But there’s another part of this trip that meant just as much to me.

The city itself.

That walk back to the Despoiler at the end of the night felt exactly like those adventures I had in my 20s.

It was 11:00 PM, and the streets were still JAM-PACKED with people. Everywhere I looked, people were talking, shouting, laughing, and moving in every direction. The whole place was alive.

Rather than heading straight back to the car, I decided to take the long way around so I could stroll through Times Square and bask in the glow of its massive digital billboards.

There’s something about standing in the middle of all that light and noise, surrounded by thousands of strangers, that makes you feel like you’re standing at the center of the universe.

I ducked into a café, grabbed a large coffee for the drive home, and headed back outside.

Then something hilarious happened.

As I was walking down the street, I spotted a guy who looked exactly like someone I knew from back home. I was literally a second away from shouting his name across the sidewalk before I got close enough to realize it wasn’t him.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

Again, I was high as fuck. Not just from the excitement of Comic Con, but from being back in a place that has always had that effect on me.

Now, could I actually live there?

Probably not.

I don’t think I could maintain my sanity living in some cramped apartment building with people stacked above, below, and beside me.

But man, would I love to have a place I could swing down to whenever the mood struck.

Spend a weekend hustling and bustling through the streets, grabbing coffee, hitting bookstores, checking out shops, and just soaking up everything the city has to offer.

Because New York is an inspiring place, even in the dead of winter.

And let me tell you something: If you ain’t walked from Midtown to Chelsea during a snowstorm, helping stranded drivers get their cars unstuck while passing around a flask to stay warm, you ain’t lived!

Those are the kinds of experiences you never forget.

New York has always been the Big Apple, a hub of excitement, creativity, chaos, and opportunity. It’s a place I’ve loved for decades, and I can honestly say I’ve never had a bad time there.

There are at least a dozen stories running through my head right now that I wish I could tell you.

Some are hilarious. Some are downright ridiculous. And a few would probably need some serious cleaning up before I could put them into print.

Maybe someday I’ll figure out how to make one or two of them suitable for public consumption.

But until then, I really just wanted to rap with you about something that might have gotten lost in all the excitement surrounding NYCC.

This trip wasn’t just about the hobby. It wasn’t just about meeting people, seeing incredible collectibles, or covering one of the biggest pop culture events of the year.

It was also about returning to a place that has been part of my life for a very long time.

A place that still makes me feel like that 20-something kid chasing music, adventure, and whatever else the night might bring.

I fucking love New York City.

And after last Thursday, I’ve already decided I’m going back again, just for the hell of it.

Maybe sooner rather than later.

If there’s a book I want to track down in Midtown, an interesting event happening somewhere, or someone coming through town for a signing, I’m going to make the trip.

It’s only about a two-and-a-half- to three-hour drive, and honestly, I love every mile of it.

So, while New York Comic Con 2026 may be in the rearview mirror, don’t think for a second that you’ve seen the last of me wandering those streets.

The Despoiler will be making its way back to the Big Apple.

Expect more from Destro in the City.

— Destro Designs, Viper Den Studios