Motor City Comic Con brings sci-fi stars, top artists to Novi
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Facebook Twitter Delicious Digg Fark Newsvine Reddit StumbleUpon Technorati Yahoo! Bookmarks Print News – Motor City Comic Con volunteer Vivian Lobdell takes time out to share a moment with comic book artist … Thu May 13, 9:35 am ET
By Cornelius Fortune, Associated Content
When comics and pop culture collide, the result can be quite exciting, especially for fans.
Motor City Comic Con offers one of the most diverse experiences for both the casual attendee and the hardcore collector alike. From classic TV and movie stars to comic book artists, it's a one-stop shop - a cornucopia of imaginative media.
The event will be held May Friday to Sunday at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi.
Some of the most highly anticipated actors scheduled to attend include Adam West ("Batman"), Linda Blair ("The Exorcist"), Lindsay Wagner ("The Bionic Woman"), Eric Roberts ("The Dark Knight" and "Heroes"), Ray Park ("Stars Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace"), Jim Kelly ("Enter the Dragon") and others.
Comic book stars Ethan Van Sciver ("Flash: Rebirth"), Rebecca Buchman ("Superman/Batman"), Guy Davis ("Hellboy") and many more will be on hand to greet their fans.
Such diversity ignites Vivian Lobdell's commitment to the convention. With 15 consecutive years at Comic Con under her belt, the Grand Rapids resident enjoys the company of her fellow volunteers.
"When I first went to the convention, it was so small compared to what it is now," Lobdell said. "It was all comic book-related, and I was following a few comics at the time."
She's been to many types of conventions and prefers shows that are organized by the locals, as opposed to large corporations.
"It makes you feel like you're really a part of it," Lobdell said. "I really like the fan- and family-ran conventions."
In order to get the most from your convention experience, she suggests heading to the freebie tables, which typically have a variety of things you might expect at a comic book convention and often more - you just need to show up and explore the space. And for those individuals looking to enhance their convention experience without spending a great deal of money, Lobdell recommends the small press area.
"Many have mini comics available free or for a small fee," she said. "It's where much of the talent of tomorrow starts out and where even more very talented people choose to stay. Basically (they're) some of the friendliest people around, usually, with time to share with you. Never know where you'll see these folks next."
It's also a good idea to have a copy of the program handy and pay attention to the floor plan to find where everything will be located.
If you're interested in getting an autograph from your favorite comic book artist, the good news is they rarely charge for it (maybe for a piece of autographed art, but not for the signature itself). On average, a media guest can charge between $20-$25, sometimes more.
As a volunteer, Lobdell earns a free autograph after her shift is completed. But that's not all: She gets to hang out with a veritable who's-who list of sci-fi/fantasy legends, such as Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett from the original "Star Wars" movies). They always share good conversation, and there's a long list of others, including comic book artists and writers.
"I think people should not only come to comic con," Lobdell said, "I think they should volunteer. It's a lot of fun if you're able to be there more than one day. Plus, you get a free autograph. The Goldmans have been really lovely to us. The people that work there try to make it a fan-friendly convention, focused on what people want."
Peter Clor, a Dearborn resident and longtime comic book reader, wants the convention to go back to basics: comics.
"Motor City Comic Con needs a larger presence, especially from Marvel and DC because they do not show up to our conventions to promote their books," Clor said. "They used to a long time ago. I think it's because our convention turned into a media blitz and became less about comics."
Clor, who has attended the convention in the past, may visit this year if invited by friends. He does see the need that the event fills for genre fans.
"It's a great place to go catch up on the TV celebrities," Clor said, "and there's a lot of toys and statues to look at. It's kinda like that genre fest you can go geek out on."
According to Motor City Comic Con show coordinator Jeffrey Serling, the comic-to-media guest ratio is about 60 to 40, with comics winning.
"We have always been a comic con first and foremost," Serling said. "I always try to bring in the best comic list as possible. We have such a wide variety of artists and writers, from independent to freelance artists."
Serling, who started collecting comics when he was 10, was surprised that despite Michigan's ailing economy, attendance went up 25 percent last year. The success of the show, he noted, is due to Michael Goldman, who launched the Motor City Comic Con 20 years ago.
"The one thing that makes the Motor City Comic Con is that we are a family-run show; we're grassroots," Serling said. "We're not a huge conglomerate. We're able to run the best possible show in Michigan, and it's run quite nicely. I think it's one of the main reasons our guests return - we have that kind of reputation."
Expect a professional auction, independent film screenings, engaging panel discussions - and, yes, get your best costume ready, because the popular costume contest will return.
About 15,000 people attended last year and Serling suspects a repeat performance or an increase in crowd size, which is even better.
"It's really a fun thing for all the fans," Serling said.
For more information, visit www.MotorCityConventions.com/motor_city_comic_con.
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