Comic Con Sept 2014

Just checking out the Tardis.  It's bigger on the inside!

Recently I started telling some random story to the girls at work, and they started laughing about how nerdy I was.  Honestly I've know this about myself for a while, but apparently it's escalated a bit as of late.  I've decided now that I'm out of school and my mind isn't consumed with the next upcoming midterm, I've picked up all kinds of random hobbies and interests to fill in my "spare time."  One of these hobbies rapidly became my running, gym rat obsession (see "run day" post).  The other thing I've gotten into is the strange and exciting world of fandoms, whatever that is.  Apparently that's what the kids are calling it these days when you really like a movie, TV, or book series, and you know an inordinate amount about said series.  Anyway, almost a year ago when Comic Con was going on in Salt Lake, I was really bummed out that I didn't get to go because I was in California.  (I live a really hard life…~heavy sarcasm~)  I was really just sad because at the very last minute Sir. Patrick Stewart came as a guest star.  Honestly, he's a pretty big name.  That being said, I decided early on that I was definitely going to Comic Con's next big event.  It was mainly for the chance to bump into some famous actors, but it was also so I could hang out with people who enjoy some of the same things I do!  Disclaimer, this is going to be tons of pictures, and me freaking out about famous people.  So… just… be prepared!


Awesome Outfits

Comic Con was September 4-6, and I actually bought tickets and took off work a couple months in advance.  Yes, I was excited.  Also, as we have already established, I really like to dress up.  I started collecting items for my costume way in advance.  Thanks to my recent obsession with Doctor Who, I decided that I was going as a character from the show.

 

For those of you who didn't catch the 50th Anniversary special of Doctor Who, I dressed up as Bad Wolf girl, played by Billie Piper.  Believe me, people familiar with the Doctor loved my outfit!  Also, if you want to watch this, come on over and we'll have a party.  I was just super proud of myself because I saw dozens of Doctor Who characters, but I only saw one other Bad Wolf girl.  (I ran into her on Saturday.  This was a random bonding moment.  I almost made it the entire time as a completely unique costume!)

Bad Wolf girl with David Tennant, or the tenth Doctor.

On Friday I wore my Jedi costume from Halloween a couple of years ago.  This was a fun costume because it was really comfy to just walk around in.  And believe me, most of Comic Con is just walking.  Seriously, I probably walked at least three miles!

Events at the Con

For Thursday and Friday, I ended up going to the Con on my own which stressed me out at first, but honestly I had a blast.  Saturday my three brothers drove up to hang out with me, and check out the Con.  This was the first time I'd ever been to an event like this.  I was blown away by just how crowded this event was, as well as how crazy awesome people's outfits were.  I ended up waiting on the sidewalk outside of the Salt Palace for probably an hour before even getting into the building.  This was somewhat distressing because I had purposely purchased a VIP ticket so I could skip such trifling things as lines!  Haha.  However, by Friday they had sorted a lot of these issues out.

Okay, apparently there is a thing called cosplaying which means "costume play."  I'll be honest, I think that name is super lame, but I can't argue with what people do with that!  I saw a huge variety that ranged from extendable wings, huge weapon props, full home-made armored outfits, and all of them in incredible detail.  Honestly, despite all my costumed efforts at Halloween, I was on the conservative spectrum when it came to costuming compared to what I saw.  It was amazing!

Anyway, I spent most of the con just walking around identifying and appreciating other people's interpretations of their favorite characters.  It was hilarious, and I loved finding other people who love dressing up as much as I do!  I took lots of covert (and less than covert) pictures of people as I wandered around.  I got lots of costume ideas, and I really enjoyed just chatting with all kinds of fun people.  Honestly, I couldn't get over how generally friendly people were.

This storm trooper in a kilt was pretty awesome.  There is an entire legion of stormtroopers based in Salt Lake, so these guys were all over the con.

There were so many awesome Batman people.  Huge groups of Batman characters, Batmans in full armor, and Jokers that were almost too realistic.

The most terrifying Ronald McDonald.  Ever.  Wanna play a little game?

We want.  A SHRUBBERY!

Captain Hook from Once Upon a Time.  I couldn't get over how much this random person looked like the actual famous person!  I just found him while we were going through this very crowded area, so I barely managed to snap a picture.  He was a pretty good sport.

There were tons of events going on.  They had an entire floor with booths selling comics, artwork, tshirts, toys, food, books, and pretty much anything else you can imagine.  There were several neat props scattered around including the trolls from the Hobbit, Han Solo in carbonite, Smaug the dragon, the Delorian, several different Batmobiles, and the Tardis!  There were also panels where random topics were discussed, or panels for celebrities.  I quickly figured out that my favorite thing to do was check out people's costumes, and to sit in on celebrity panels.  I caught part of Cary Elwes (Princess Bride), Sam Witwer, and Alan Tudyk in their panels.  I really didn't get too much into the panels this time around.

Smeagol.  There were a few other LOTR props, including Smaug.

Han Solo in Carbonite.

The brothers with the Batmobile.

Meet the Celebrities

I will be the first to admit that I'm a bit of a nerd.  However, I'm really not into comics, and the main reason I was at the Con was to meet celebrities!
When they first announced celebrities, Sam Witwer and John Barrowman were the guys I was most excited to meet.  I know Sam mainly from Being Human, Smallville, and voice roles on The Force Unleashed, but he also appeared in The Walking Dead, Dexter, Battlestar Galactica (I haven't seen this), and voice role on Star Wars: Clone Wars.  I admit I ooged out a little bit when I first saw him!  I attended his celebrity panel, and I loved that he is actually a huge Star Wars fan.  Anyway, I can only hope he didn't recognize me, because I was a tiny bit of a stalker!

This was my professional photo op with Sam.  I tried really hard not to be a groupie, but I did tell him I was a huge fan! 

After getting my autograph.  Love him!

Here is Sam in the Walking Dead.  First season, he's the zombie inside the tank with Rick.  This is probably where most of you guys would have seen him.

The con had actually set up different booths where you could get an autograph and chat, or you could get a professional photo done with your favorite celebrity.  You did have to pay for each of these, so I only picked a couple of people I wanted photos with.  Sam was the only one I got an autograph from, and he was actually nice enough to sit and talk with me for a couple of minutes!  I was seriously impressed with how nice he was.  Also, random side note, I've been catching up on the last season of Being Human (Sam plays a vampire named Aiden), and I'm still freaking out that I got to meet him!

Michael Rosenbaum with the brothers! 

Michael Rosenbaum.  He plays Lex Luthor in Smallville, a TV series about Superman's teenage years.  Seriously, he was the best part of that show for me!  I was an annoying fan, and I made a witty comment to Michael that he looks really great with hair (because Lex is completely bald).  He seemed to appreciate that!

Alyn Tudyk.  I know him mainly for his role in the awesome series Firefly, as well as A Knight's Tale. He has actually been in several films recently, and he voiced the Duke of Weasilton from Frozen.  Hooray!  His panel was hilarious, and by the way, seemed like a really genuine kind of guy.

Stephen Amell.  He plays Oliver Queen, or the Green Arrow.  I really only got into this show because I knew John Barrowman co-starred, and I figured I couldn't miss the chance to meet this guy.

John Barrowman.

I got to hug Captain Jack Harkness!

I nearly missed my photo op with this guy because I was stuck outside the building!  John Barrowman was actually the guy I was most excited to meet because of his role in Doctor Who.  He plays Captain Jack Harkness in Doctor Who, and the spinoff show Torchwood.  He now has a role in Arrow as the Black Archer.  Anyway, he was hilarious, and obviously the most fan-friendly one of the bunch!  Of course I was wearing my Bad Wolf girl outfit.



I had such an excellent time!