Phoenix Comic-Con.

There were a lot of weird people there...then again....I was there so that goes without saying.

 

I met Chris and his girlfriend Caron at the convention.  Now, Caron and Chris haven't been going out very long so it was a big step for her to accompany him to the convention.  Chris was really excited about the convention but he kept it pretty well under wraps because he didn't want to freak his new girlfriend out.  She was a really good sport about it because, you know, I just encouraged Chris to be more and more geeky.  I DID run around a little like an excited 5 year old though.  I mean, it was a convention full of toys!  Yeehaw!

 

When I first got to the Mesa convention center I noticed that there were a ton of teenagers dressed like anime characters.  Now, I have not read any of the comic books or seen any of the shows that they were trying to portray but these were some very amateur costumes that involved either (a) a lot of blood or (b) a neon colored wig.  A lot of the teenage girls dressed like japanese schoolgirls but with a lot of blood....weird.  A big group of kids ran past me being chased by another group of kids who were holding a "boom box" that played something that sounded like it was from a video game.  I'm really out of my element here.

 

I get my cool Saturday entrance badge with a cartoon character on it and wait for Chris and Caron in the lobby.  When they arrive, Chris tells me that the character on my badge is Spawn and that its drawn by Todd MacFarlane.  Now...that's about the only guy I've heard of in this whole convention and what I've heard about him isn't good...in fact I heard that he was a big jerk.  A douche to be more exact.  Chris, ever the diplomat, says that Mr. MacFarlane indeed was a douche to him but that it could have been that he had a bad day.  We enter the convention center and I see some stormtroopers posing for pictures.  I jump in and get a photo with them and, while putting my arms around their plastic costumes, notice that they are rather hot and sweaty under there (because humid, hot air is coming out of the black spaces between the storm trooper white shield stuff).  Ick.  Those storm trooper costumes are really authentic looking though. 

Next we go to a vendor who is selling Battlestar Galactica action figures.  I see an awesome action figure of a cylon centurion and ask whether they have any of Starbuck.  Unfortunately I have to settle for the cylon.  Actually, the cylon looks way more ominous and scary and I can picture putting it by my computer at home.  Yes...I'm an official nerd and I've arrived at nerdopia.  I ask the vendor is he has any opinion about whether Todd MacFarlane is a douche and he tells us that MacFarlane is a notorious douche and that he is one 24/7.

 

Chris tells us that the panel discussion with Aaron Douglas (Chief Tyrol from Battlestar Galactica) is about to start so we walk around to the conference room and eagerly take our seats (except for Caron who is just humoring us).  A lot of people have Battlestar Galactica t-shirts and I start to wonder why I don't have one yet...I mean really.  Aaron Douglas shows up and he is unrecognizable.  I mean, the dude looks like Grizzly Adams and he is wearing a black t-shirt that also makes him look a little like Jerry Garcia.  What happened to the chief?  He explains that he's on a break and that he is taking a break from shaving.  Yes...I gather that.  He just filmed a pilot for some show called The Bridge about a Chicago police detective.  Alright...enough of the blah blah blah...let's here what you have to say for yourself....cylon.  Yes...in the show there are characters who look and act human but who are really machines and Chief Tyrol is one of them.  It was quite a shocker when he was revealed to be a cylon....but I digress.  He drinks several beers and tells us funny stories about the set of Battlestar and he does a really great imitation of Edward James Olmos.  In sum, we all love the guy...even if he is a cylon.  Even Caron agreed that the guy was pretty entertaining. 

 

Afterwards we tried to find something to eat and the pickings were slim.  We really didn't have that much time because we had arranged to have our picture taken with Aaron Douglas at 3:00 pm.  I was hoping that there would be a food stand with food named after science fiction characters or something but no such luck.  I had a hot dog and a bottle of water.  [For which Mack chided me mercilessly on Monday.]  There were cars and different displays outside of the convention and we took a look at "Kitt" from Knight Rider and "Karr" [who is apparently the bad guy car from the show].  When I was stuck in Keller Army Hospital at West Point with sciatica and a herniated disc for a week, there was this orderly who would come by my bed to watch Knight Rider.  He knew when the reruns were on and he'd just take it upon himself to change the channel on my TV to the show.  He's come in all flushed and say, "Hey! Knight Rider is on!"  It was funny because I don't ever remember telling him that I liked the show or anything but it was hard to deny his great enthusiasm.  I've often thought how wonderful it would be to have a car that could drive me to and from Phoenix while I took a nap....  [If you caught the new Knight Rider, there is NOTHING good about it...Kitt is now a transformer or something...totally unrealistic now.]  There was a sign for a group of guys who called themselves the Arizona Ghostbusters.  Well..I don't really know what they're doing at the convention but I HAD to get a picture with those guys! 

 

Next we go through the comic book artists area and wait in line to get a comic book cover signed by a fellow named Talent Caldwell.  Now, Chris is a little star struck and he just sticks the comic book cover in front of Mr. Caldwell and, after its signed, turns to leave.  I jump in and ask him how long he's been a comic book artist and he has to think and he tells me 9 years.  I then ask him whether he's drawn Superman before.  He flips through his sketch book and shows us a really cool sketch of Superman and tells us that he used that sketch to show whoever at whatever comics that he could draw the guy.  Interesting.  Chris is totally silent but taking it all in.  I feel like a mom with a kid that has just met Mickey Mouse.  "Yes," I tell him, "My friend Chris loves Superman."  I look at Chris and sort of egg him on with my eyes trying to get him involved in our conversation.  Stick around and ask a question or two...prolong the experience a little.  Chris says nothing.  I end up with a lame, "you're very talented" and we leave.  I would never have guessed this but Chris is a little shy around these guys.  In different circumstances [like in front of Jon Hamm] I would probably be the same.

 

We get in line for our picture with Aaron Douglas and Chris and I are really excited.  I tell Chris that he should think of something to say to him...and Chris tells me that he always wants to ask a question at one of the panels but he can never think of anything past "you were really cool in...."  I think of that Chris Farley sketch on SNL where he interviews famous people and all he does is tell them how cool they are.  Its our turn and Aaron Douglas is very friendly...especially to me and Caron.  I tell Caron and Chris that I don't care who stands on the one side of Aaron but that I'm going to be on the other side.  We all sort of decide that it should be Chris because he's definitely the bigger fan.  But Aaron takes matters into his own hands and says "why don't I hug the ladies?"  Then he puts his arms around me and Caron and squeezes and Chris is barely in the picture.  Its hilarious. 

It would be very easy to crop Chris out of it and I WOULD if I didn't think he'd start crying immediately.  I tell Aaron that we feel like Chris Farley in his interview show and he gets it immediately.  I say "Remember when you were in Battlestar Galactica?" and he says "that was awesome."   Yep.  He's a pretty cool cat.

 

After the picture is taken we have to wait a while for it to be developed.  I figure that I need to get a picture of Chris with one of these weirdos and I see what I think is a woman with a bird attached to her shirt and a weird hat on.  I tap the person on the shoulder and ask if I could take her picture with Chris. 

It ends up being a guy!  A VERY UGLY guy.  Chris then threatened my life.  All in a day's work....

 

We finally get the print of the picture and I take it over to Aaron Douglas' signature booth area and he signs it for me.  Then I see a still shot from Battlestar Galactica and I shell out the $20 for the autograph and tell him to write "Dear Tanja, I am a cylon...sorry.!"  Which he does -- of COURSE HE DOES -- I paid him to.  Yeesh.  He tells me that'll it'll never work because he's just a machine.  Sigh...the story of my life.  I would definitely say this convention was a success.  We walk around and I see all the booths and even buy a Daredevil comic book that Chris insists is a "good read."  He was right about the Watchmen so we'll see. 

Comments

[Todd not Toad]

The Frank Miller "Daredevil" series is classic. Grab the graphic novel and I'll buy it from you if you can honestly tell me you didn't like it.

[Destructo]

Chris already convinced me to buy it at the convention. I just need time to read it now...