The Frantics and Other Fun at Fan Expo
”I don’t normally
tell you what to do,” my friend Andrew said (wise man, for sure), “but Fan Expo may be a challenge for a person
in a wheelchair.” He then proceeded to tell me about the massive crowds, the
lineups, the crowds, and oh, yes, the crowds. He knows me well, knows I hate crowds,
knows how difficult it is to have fun when you travel seated and the masses
around you are standing. He has also attended Fan Expo and Comic-Con a number
of times and knows whereof he speaks.
Naturally, I ignored
his advice.
The Boy has been a fan
of The Frantics for a very long time
and they were appearing on Friday. Since the Friday was allegedly a less intense
day than Saturday, this is when we chose to go. Because: The Frantics!
Normally when we are
out, I take a lot of photos, as does David. This time, there are embarrassingly
few. I was too overwhelmed by the everythingness of what was happening to
remember my camera. And that was early on a Friday!
geeking out at the interesting stuff brought by the
vendors, bemoaning that all T-shirts seemed to be made for teens/svelte geeks,
and...
Wait. Is that Kathleen
Turner signing autographs? I’ve loved Kathleen Turner for decades and she is a
fellow RA fighter!
I’m still giggling
over that one.
I wasn't the only one who got a casual photo op. Here's David with Maurice LaMarche.
It was very difficult
for me not to go home with one of these voracious stuffies
I was also pleased to
meet Zombie Jesus, with whom I had a very funny chat about rising from the
dead.
The title of that
shot? Jesus takes the wheel. Of course.
We decided to venture
into the larger exhibit Hall, just to check it out. Three elevator rides later,
we were there and it was... It was...
Thank you, Fan Expo
There are no words for
Fan Expo. Except possibly overwhelming. Spending a day there is physically
exhausting, but also mentally mind-boggling. There is so much to look at, so
many impressions, and that’s just the vendors. You throw in a gazillion people —
over the four days, it was estimated that 140,000 people would attend — and
cosplaying. Which ranges from homemade and thrown together at the last minute,
to intricate movie-quality costumes.
So. Much.
And then it was time
for The Frantics. First, there was an hour-long Q&A with Paul, Dan, Peter,
and Rick. An undeservedly fairly small audience, but it lent an intimacy to the
event that made everything even better. Afterwards, we headed to the photo op
area and the result was more than worth the price. Just take a look at that top photo!
Getting back to my
conversation with Andrew. Before we went, I told him that this was likely a
one-time deal — going full well knowing how crazy it would be, but being able
to say that I’d been there. And then never going again. Unless of course Patrick
Stewart would be attending.
When we left,
exhausted and impoverished, The Boy and I looked at each other and immediately
agreed that we would be back next year.
As long as you know
what you’re in for — massive crowds, long lines, spending money — you’ll have a
blast.
Comments
I used to work in a bookstore near where Kathleen Turner lived at the time (and maybe still does) and sold her many a book. She's a wonderful person.