Magic City Comic Con, Ten Months Later

On November 16, 2015November 16, 2015 By StevenIn Life At Home4 Comments

It’s good to take a break from the Japan posts every so often. With only five posts left from that trip, this seems like a good time to detour.

In January of this year, when I’d been back to the US for just over three months, Amelie and I went to the Magic City Comic Con in Miami. I took a bunch of photos while we were there, and I prepped them for posting in the blog. What happened next was that I got caught up in moving into my first new apartment in the U.S. since 2003, and I completely and utterly forgot to post the Magic City photos.

With that said, here they are, and only ten months late. For the Flash, ten months is an eternity.

Miami Beach party people. Klingons. Same difference.

I feel like Rocky Horror is too easy for a Con, but kudos to this chick for finding that jacket.

As with any costume from video games, there’s always a good chance I just won’t get the reference. And if I never see another Harley Quinn at a con, it’ll be too soon. Seriously, Harley Quinn and Deadpool are the new Crow – there are far, far, far too many of them at any given event.

This was one of the highlights of the day- a “Peanut Butter Jelly Time” dance party with Waldo, Ash, Spidey, and the dancing banana.

Adventure Time’s Ice King needed a break from the South Florida heat.

What did I say earlier about all the Harley Quinns? It’s a little more palatable when she’s with a Joker, Black Mask, and Doctor Freeze.

Amelie, a TARDIS, and a Doctor. I think that’s a Tenth Doctor, but it’s possible she wasn’t going for a specific incarnation. The vaguely steam-punky TARDIS outfit was pretty nifty also.

There were lots of video-game inspired costumes at this con.

…and a larger than average contingent of DC Comics characters, like this excellent Huntress cosplay. The Batman Begins Batsuit utility belt painted purple is a nice touch.

A pretty decent Thor, with YAH. (Yet Another Harley.)

I caught this Airbender on the escalator.

More DC Comics folks- a Poison Ivy, a Robin, YAH, and a Riddler.

Here’s the reason for all the DC Comics Batman characters- Kevin Conroy, the voice of the animated Batman since 1992’s “The Animated Series,” was doing a panel.

Also attending this con was Jim Cumming, the voice of Darkwing Duck, Winnie The Pooh, Tigger, and many more.

…and back to the costumes. I’m not sure what’s going on with Kitty-Thor, but it’s a very fun outfit.

As we were headed out at the end of the day, we walked right past a very well done Spawn.

Which do you prefer, Coke, Pepsi, or some other third brand?

Megacon 2015, in Orlando, FL

On April 24, 2015July 23, 2015 By StevenIn Life At Home9 Comments

In the second weekend of April, Amelie and I headed to Orlando to attend Megacon, the third largest sci-fi/television/gaming/anime convention in the United States. I’ve been to many Megacons over the years, and my favorite things about them are primarily the panels and the costumes. They’re pretty crowded.

I love the panels because you often get to hear backstory about the filming of things, as well as bits of interesting life stories from the people on the panel. Plus the jokes… oh, such jokes!

This year, we attended four panels that were interesting. The first is Cary Elwes, best known for playing Westley in The Princess Bride.

The second was a special “Companions” panel which featured three Doctor Who names- Tony Curran, Karen Gillan, and Alex Kingston.

Next, we had an Arrow/The Flash shared panel, featuring Robbie Amell, Danielle Panabaker, and David Ramsay. In this photo, you can see that Robbie is wearing Batman underwear… and David is taking a picture of it.

Next was a Firefly panel, with Summer Glau, Adam Baldwin, Alan Tudyk, and the cardboard head of Nathan Fillion.

Lastly, we got to hear a nice chat with Stan Lee. About ten minutes in, Lou Ferrigno crashed the panel, followed by Michael Rooker (not pictured.) I’d like to point out that Lou Ferrigno is in his sixties, and he looks like he’s in his forties.

The rest of the photos in this post are all costumes. I took hundreds of pictures at this convention, but these were some of my favorites.

This is most of the Belcher family from Bob’s Burgers. They were only missing a Gene.

Oswald Cobblepot, at your service.

This gold Lamborghini was parked at the convention hotel, covered in Walking Dead stickers. I’m pretty sure it belonged to one of the Walking Dead cast members who was attending the convention.

Beetlejuice!

Griff Tannen.

A pair of scientists from Veridian Dynamics. (Science. Better.)

He was just killing time!

Run, Geordi, run!

Eddie Valiant and Roger.

Tetris!

A quiet moment between Joker and Harley…

This was one of my favorite cosplays- The Flight of the Navigator. He even had Max’s interface and the Puckmaren.

Jay and Silent Bob.

Bender Bending Rodriguez.

Doctor Strange, pre-Cumberbatching.

A rather astonishingly well done Silence and Madame Vastra.

Lando Calrissian.

Green plastic army men, complete with little foot-bases.

Number 9 from Futurama’s “Into The Wild Green Yonder.”

Anna of Arendelle.

The Arrow, Black Canary, and Arsenal, CW TV version.

I must confess that I’m not sure who this character is. I thought I knew, but when I checked the Internet to confirm, I discovered I was wrong.

Edit: A sharp-eyed friend spotted that this is Bishop, from the X-Men. I was so close!

A nearly full Serenity crew.

A tiny Eleventh Doctor, Rory, and Amy, along with a pint-sized Tardis.

A spot-on (and adorable) Jinx.

Static! I love this character.

Skeletor.

Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham. Yes, this is a real character- he first appeared in 1983.

Gru! (with a tiny Minion)

Chip and Dale, Rescue Rangers.

Jeoffrey and Khaleesi? I don’t know for sure, because I’ve never watched (or read) Game of Thrones.

Hawk-Girl.

The guy in the middle is Kuzco, and he’s carrying a tiny model of his summer home, Kuzco-topia. The lobster’s just a lobster. (Actually, I think he’s Sebastian from the Little Mermaid, but I’m not positive.)

This is a little dragon that I bought for Amelie. He’s super-cute, isn’t he?

Have you ever been to a Con? What was your favorite costume?

Last Weekend, In A Photo Gallery Nutshell

On March 20, 2013July 23, 2014 By StevenIn The U.S.5 Comments

While my inbox was exploding with new friends from being Freshly Pressed and listed in Friday Faves, I was out of the country, and mildly out of my mind. I’m planning on going back through all the comments and likes and follows from the Sci-Fi Expatriates post, but I just haven’t had the time yet. I got stuck for an extra night in Frankfurt last week because of flight delays, but that’s another post. That’s probably Monday’s post, actually.

The reason that I was in Frankfurt in the first place is that I was on my way to Orlando to hang out with some friends at Megacon, a pretty nifty convention for sci-fi, anime, gaming, and so forth. The big highlight of this year’s Megacon was a panel with the entire original cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation- Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, Michael Dorn, Levar Burton, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, Wil Wheaton, Denise Crosby, and even John DeLancie. Much fun was had by all.

Panels and friends are only part of the fun at conventions though- one of my favorite things about cons is all the people in costumes! People in fandom can be so creative, and I love to see what people get into. Generally speaking, I don’t get the anime and video game based costumes, but the stuff from comics, movies, and television I usually get right away because that’s my particular geekiness.

Since I only have two days between getting back from Florida and heading off to Frankfurt again (but planned, this time!) I’m going to cheat a bit and just show you guys a gallery of my some of my favorite costumes from the weekend. Make with the clicky to see captions!