There is simply no right or wrong way to tackle the annual New York Comic Con. The event takes over the entire Jacob Javits Center, morphing a typical convention center into a niche lovers paradise for nerds. Harsh? Perhaps. But it’s that nerd culture that is so widely embraced by the Con, which welcomes lovers of the most silly or trivial pieces of pop (or not pop) culture and houses the collective passion of these fans and hobbyists under one incredibly spacious roof. And based sheerly on size, there is simply no way to experience it all, despite a four day window to do so.

Thousands upon thousands of fans from right here in New York City and the surrounding boroughs as well as travelers from around the world descended upon the west side venue over the course of the long weekend. From toy collectors to cinephiles, comic book enthusiasts and video game masters, there was certainly no shortage of things to check out, interactive experiences in which to partake, as well as celebrity panels and autograph sessions from cartoonists to actors and comedians. Simply put, there’s no way to outline how much there was to see and do at this year’s New York Comic Con and still do it any semblance of justice. If you wanted to sit around and play a video game or watch a live podcast taping, you were able. If you wanted to shake hands with your favorite Star Trek actor or preview upcoming television shows, you were able.

So much of the festivities of the weekend were reserved for the Friday and Saturday sessions of the convention but with scheduling conflicts, we were forced to head over on Sunday afternoon. To our surprise, the space was still insanely packed with people just reveling in the whole experience. The 2013 New York Comic Con was completely sold out, so it really should have come as no surprise, but there’s really not much that you can do to prepare for the size of the crowd on hand for this annual extravaganza. And what’s more, they aren’t necessarily dressed in attire that a typical convention at the Javits Center might indicate. Aside from the ability to meet celebrities, enjoy a bit of nostalgia in checking out items from your youth, and picking up some free promotional swag, there is no substitute for the people watching that Comic Con provides. Inside, you’ll find some of the most elaborate costumes you’ve ever seen in your life as worn by the thousands of attending guests – so many in fact, that those of us dressed in our normal daily wear feel more like outcasts than those adorning masks and tights. Scroll through our photo gallery for a brief glimpse of what we ran into as we paraded around the event floor. Admittedly, half of the costumes were lost on us, but the attention to detail was strangely satisfying as the attendees walked around the convention with their heads proudly held high.

As far as sightseeing, we eschewed many of the panels and signings, preferring to take on the afternoon like any other attendee. We strolled through the massive displays at local costume shop Ricky’s, perusing different ideas for our own Halloween costumes as well as the aptly named Nerd HQ display, most of which has apparel adorned with the ‘Nerd’ moniker. We passed through an array of gamers all standing, playing “Assassins Creed IV: Black Flag” with great intensity. We walked by onlookers posing for pictures in front of a red Corvette from ABC’s new show “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” From movie posters to movie stars, girls dressed as guys, and guys dressed in drag, there was just so much to see and do at this year’s Comic Con that we need to reserve a full weekend in 2014 to make sure that we capture it all thoroughly. But who are we kidding, I’m no nerd.