Photographing Marvel’s 85th Anniversary Celebration

I had the incredible honor of photographing a celebration that brought comics, watches, gemstones, and pure Marvel magic all under one roof!

Marvel marked its 85th anniversary with a private event at Catch NYC in New York City during New York City Comic Con 2024. Hosted in collaboration with Citizen Watches, the evening celebrated Marvel’s enduring legacy and the unveiling of their Marvel x Citizen watch collection, which blends iconic characters with timeless design.

I was brought on to capture the energy of the event. It was a great night with DJ Dimitri spinning tunes, Marvel illustrator Adam Kubert sketching live, and a mix of influencers, media, and longtime Marvel devotees exploring the new timepieces and limited-edition gems. Guests shoed up in fabulous cosplays celebrating their favorite iconic Marvel characters.

Marvel 85th Anniversary sign

Marvel Illustrator live sketching Wolverine

DJ Dimitri @dimeeeach wearing a Citizen Watch while DJ'ing

YAS, I said gems. East Continental Gems debuted their dazzling Marvel gemstone collection, including a handmade recreation of the Infinity Gauntlet made entirely of gold and precious stones. These six stones are worth an estimated $25 million and make up over 150-carats. It was a great celebration for fans of Marvel and luxury stones.

Hand Crafted Gold infinity Gauntlet with precious six stones

Marvel Illustrator Adam Kubert toasting to Marvel

Guest looking at featured products of Marvel's Thanos

Marvel has always been about bold storytelling and I’m grateful I got to tell a small part of that story through my lens!

Check out the full gallery here, and stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes stories from upcoming shoots.

With gratitude, Daniel Roa

All Images by Daniel Roa. Courtesy of Marvel, Disney