The first time I went to WonderCon was way back in 2002 while I was in college in San Francisco. I was the only girl in the group and was rocking my Batman Underoos and a very ill-fitting SFSU sweatshirt.
Since moving to Southern California I wasn’t sure I’d ever go to a WonderCon again but fate had other plans (namely construction) and planted WonderCon in Anaheim this year. I had to go. Now, normally I like to spend at least two days at a comic book convention; however, WonderCon inconveniently fell on St. Patrick’s Day weekend and the Irish blood in me refused to give up the St. Patty’s Day festivities. Therefore, I settled for going to WonderCon on Friday only.
This was the first Comic Book Convention for my Mom, my sister-in-law Troi and my friend Hayden (aka Geek Outlaw). We’re all going to San Diego Comic Con this Summer so it was good practice for them. My Mom wore the HNG t-shirt I had made for Long Beach Comic Con and guys were flirting with her all day. What can I say? I have a hot mama. Hayden wore his Geek Outlaw outfit which was so weighed down by his geeky accoutrements that he literally had to mosey.
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1J67TEVdIN0]
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First things first. Star Trek. Star Trek actors are the only celebrities I get star struck by. I’m not sure why that is other than the fact that I heart Star Trek sosososososososo much. Seriously, Harrison Ford could walk up to me and I’d be like “yo, what’s up dude?” but if Patrick Stewart did that I would freak the fuck out. So it should come as no surprise that when I saw Anthony Montgomery (aka Ensign Travis Mayweather) I freaked the fuck out.
I was in the process of purchasing a comic book and getting my face sketched on the back of it (more on that later) when Hayden and I realized that Anthony was in the booth right next door. I couldn’t move yet because of the sketching so Hayden went over and warned Anthony that a Super Trekkie was in his midst. I tend to be a very shy person but as soon as I got the go ahead from the sketch artist that I could move I practically mauled the poor man.
He now holds the distinction of being the only Star Trek actor that I’ve hugged. Twice. Seriously though, super super super nice guy. I even told him my Connor Trinneer story and he got a laugh out of that (short version: I had just arrived at Whole Foods in Hollywood and saw a guy holding a baby and trying to get a grocery cart. I got the grocery cart for him and when he turned around and thanked me I realized it was Connor Trinneer and I almost had a heart attack right on the spot).
Anthony was there promoting his new graphic novel Miles Away. Y’all should check it out because it looks really good and because I heart him. A lot.
Back to the comic book I was purchasing before I saw Anthony….
Artist: J caught my eye because she’s a fellow HNG who wrote a comic book. Seriously, she’s badass. She combines the comic with music to create a whole experience for the reader. I love and support my fellow HNG’s and you should too. So check her out.
One of her artists, Will Olmo, did a quick sketch of me on the back of the book.
While looking for an artist I saw at LBCC (alas, I never found him and I can’t remember his name) I ran into two other artists that I will be paying close attention to from now on. The first one is Mike McKone who happens to live just a few miles away from me. I’m going to try and hit him up for an interview. The second is Gerimi Burleigh creator of Eye of the Gods and Morningstar. We first noticed Gerimi because Hayden is a fan of the country western genre and Morningstar has a cowboy twist to it. After talking to him, you can’t help but like him. Super talented and super nice. Plus, he has an awesome name.
DC is fighting hunger in Africa with their We Can Be Heroes campaign. To bring attention to the cause they had a photobooth set up wherein you could get your picture taken with shadowy images of the Justice League.
They printed a picture for you (or in Hayden’s case, a crapload of pictures…the printer went nuts over his sexy photo and wouldn’t stop printing them). The photos will be accessible online and on the DC facebook page at some point.
We went to an Amazing Spider-Man panel where I saw and got super excited about this:
But the best panel was Nerdist Industries Live! I really hope that no one reading this is too young to remember MTV’s Singled Out. It was back when MTV still played music videos and there were only a handful of reality shows, namely Real World, Singled Out and Love Line (though LL may have come later…I can’t remember, I haven’t watched MTV in years). Anyhooters, people mostly remember Singled Out because it introduced the world to Jenny McCarthy. I remember it because it introduced me to Chris Hardwick. My love for him has only increased over the years what with The Nerdist, Talking Dead, and various hilarious commentaries on E! pop culture shows.
He introduced several people who will be participating in the new Nerdist youtube channel.
Those of us in Ballroom 3 had to pay dearly to see this panel. Warner Brothers decided that right beforehand they would force everyone waiting for The Nerdist to watch an episode of The Secret Circle. It was worse than Chinese water torture. And this is coming from someone who enjoys Twilight (I know, I know). It did give Chris the opportunity to tell jokes about sexy witch scissor sex (that’s how you complete the circle, right?) which almost made it worth it. Almost.
Other Chris Hardwick gems:
Nerds make the shiny things that distract the mouth breathers.
A nerd’s true superpower is to try to understand something and try to live it more than any other living creature.
At the end of the panel Chris had two Angry Bird stuffed animals. The first he threw right to a kid in the front row who made them all feel horribly guilty for cussing. The second he decided to throw as far as he could. The guy next to me was crazy still during the whole panel but he wanted that GD Angry Bird. I’ve never seen a man that size move so fast. It was pretty epic. And the guy was STOKED. Of course I captured it on video.
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3GAz77TDqs]
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On to cosplay photos!
We got to take pictures in front of an Avengers poster while holding Cap’s shield.
And then with Captain America himself.
There was Batman.
And Rogue.
Hulk…at least the top half of him…
And Spidey (who was insanely flexible).
And then there was whatever the frak this guy is.
To represent the gamers we had some Halo.
And some Halo Barbies.
Scorpion had some crazy white contacts lenses that gave me a really great mental picture of what Roose Bolton’s eyes must look like.
Abraham Lincoln was in attendance just in case any vampires showed up.
Battlestar Galactica was represented.
This is the best Doctor #10 I’ve ever seen at a Con. He was spot on.
These fellow HNG’s made their Tardis dresses themselves. As a very non-domestic lady I was extremely impressed.
It takes this artist 8 hours to put this Firefly display together every time he goes to a convention.
Represent.
My favorite shirt of day.
I heart Transformers. Haha, j/k, it’s a Gundam.
And, of course, there was plenty of the Force.
Last but not least, Hayden’s favorite, the Ghostbusters.
….and all the times Troi and I decided to photobomb Hayden’s pictures… 🙂
Our souvenirs, including an R2D2 for my nephew.
WonderCon turned out to be a good time had by all. The newbies are sufficiently stoked for SD Comic Con and I got an 8-bit Starfleet communicator. What more could a girl ask for?