This Week:
Karla
Topic: Wizard World East.My
intro....
Fuck, sorry this took so long to
write up, but between working 40 hrs a week, having to hand write, then
retype this when I got home. (Yes, even though I sit behind a computer all
day, they won't let me open a single Word document, I know fucking
retarded.) Being a single mom, fucking off on the board, my computer
crashing (at least I saved 90% of my info) having writers block that and I
am truly not a writer. Hell, I always got D's on my English reports, even
though I have above college level reading compression and pretty good
spelling skills, but I could barely knock out a paragraph.
Look at me now!!! 16 years after
graduation and being able to knock off this long ass story and my one for
Vulgarthon.
So I would like to thank Kevin Smith
and the internet for getting me to do something I thought I would NEVER be
able to do.....WRITE.
Also. I want to apologize if I got
any quotes wrong. It's not like I was taking notes or anything. I was there
to have fun!!!!!
So now on with my story of Wizard
World East…
Day One
The drive out to Philly was pretty
much boring, uneventful and fucking long (13hrs). Got into Philly around 8
am. Parked and I got coffee from Dunkin Doughnuts (the best coffee!!!)
Waited in front to get in to the
Convention Center, until about 10:30, when they decided to let us in. I got
to meet some artist and dealers (at least the ones that smoke, lol) I didn't
pre-order online so I had to wait in line to get tickets. I least met some
cool fanboys in line.
They finally let us in the main hall
at noon.
Of course, I first go to the View
Askew booth. I watch Bryan watching me walk up to the booth. I said “Hi
Bryan” to my surprise I get “ Hi Karla” and a hug =)
He introduced me to the lovely Amy
Noble. It was really cool, she even recognized my post name. =)
Bryan mentioned to me that I was
dressed rather conservatively for a comi-con (I found out on Sunday that
when I was walking in he thought I looked like a businesswoman. Instead of
the fan girl I am =) )
I blushed and said “Yeah, your right.
I do have a sports bra underneath though.” I talked with Bryan and Amy for
about 10 – 15 minutes while they were finishing setting up.
“Well I am going to make around the
room, I will be back later.”
“OK see you later Karla.”
I was walking around, just taking in
my surroundings, acclimating myself to where everything was set up at. About
half way though, I was thinking that Bryan was right and started to unbutton
my shirt and put it in my bag. I was making my way upfront, when I saw the
Wizard Booth. They had a jar full of action toys. You had to guess how many
figures were in the jar. My guess was 72. The right answer was 77. I was 5
off. Damn it!!!
Then I waited in line of the Wizard
Wheel Trivia. The premise is they ask you a question in the genre of your
choice. If you get it right, go get to spin the wheel for various prizes. If
you lose, then they give you a physical challenge i.e.: 10 jumping jacks
while yelling out “I love Wizard.” My personal favorite was… Skipping around
the booth, waving your arms and yelling “I’m a flower, I’m a flower” As I
was getting closer in line, there was a lady with the Kevin Smith Film
Festival tickets, but we had to get out of line to get them, since I was
almost at the end of the line I decided to wait. I got to pick up some free
swag on the way though (a couple of posters.) Finally it’s my turn. Of
course I ask for a Kevin Smith question. “What recently produced Kevin Smith
film had a clown in it?” I gave him a you can’t be serious look. “Vulgar,
written and directed by Bryan Johnson” then I started to list of the actors
that was in it. He gets a semi annoyed look “OK, spin the wheel” It landed
on an action figure. Ohh I got a Morph figure. After winning my cheesy
prize, I check out the rest of the Wizard Booth and of course to pick up my
Film Festival Ticket.
I go outside for a smoke and went out
to the Jeep to drop off a few things. As my bag was already getting loaded
down with goodies =) that and I had to grab my Green Arrow #1 for Kevin to
sign.
I get back to the convention center,
go back upstairs and swing by the VA booth, “So Bryan, what do you think? Am
I dressed for a comi-con now?”
“That you are.”
I had Amy take Bryan's and my
picture. Then I talked with him and Amy for a bit, till they started a get
busy. So I started on my way again.
I saw a line in the Wizard Booth, so
I asked what it was for. It’s for the
Kevin Smith signing. Fucking A!! I
make my way though the line and the girl had about 10 or 15 tickets left for
the signing and she even had some left for the film festival! I picked up an
extra ticket, since my buddy Matt said that he wasn’t getting in till 5 or a
little after. After securing my prized tickets, I walked around the hall to
see if there was a line for Kevin started yet. No luck. So I made yet
another round the hall. There in the far back on the left, a small line had
started. I got in line and talked some cool fangirls while we were waiting.
By the time 1 o’clock rolled around they had to make more barriers for all
the people waiting in line. I’m glad I went looking after I got my ticket.
Kevin finally arrives about 10 after
1. Huge applause! It took about 45 minutes or so to get though the line.
Finally I got up to Kevin (I think that he recognized me) I had him sign my
comic. He signed it
Karla, I’m watching you, Kevin Smith.
That kind of gave me the heebie
jeebies since I do post on the board quite often. The girl behind me was
nice enough to take my pic with Kevin and I returned her the favor to her.
Finally after over a 2-hour wait, I was FREEE!!!
I stopped by the VA booth on my way
outside. Bryan asked where I have been. “Well, I was getting my Green Arrow
#1 signed.”
“Haven’t you met Kevin before?”
“ Yeah a few times at Vulgarthon.”
“So why then?”
“ I wanted to get my comic signed and
didn’t want to deal with the crowds on Saturday, well I will be back I going
outside for a smoke.”
(Bryan, what did you think I drove 13
hours just to see you? I did go out there to see Kevin too. ;) )
I went downstairs and was sitting out
front smoking my cigarette. My feet were already hurting me at this point so
I decided to go out to the Jeep and change shoes. I put on a pair of white
socks with my black dress shoes. Talk about TACKY! Then I had remembered
that I had my black fuzzy thigh highs in my suitcase. Much better. I learned
later though, don’t wear thigh highs if you are going to be walking around a
lot. They slip down and it really fucking sucks, a lot.
After a few smokes, I headed back up
to the Convention hall and back over to the VA booth. Walked up and started
talking to Bryan,
“Well, I figure since I’ve been here
a lot today, I might as well buy something. I think I will finish off my VA
DVD collection.”
“Which one are you missing?”
“I need A Better Place”
He goes over and grabs me my copy, as
I get out $40, he takes a 20 and gives me a sly wink and smile.
(And before all of you go on a rant,
I got deals all weekend for all the swag I bought, but my Wizard Shirt. What
can I say; it helps being a big busted, good-looking woman at a comi-con.
Hell dealers were almost tripping over themselves to give me their comics
that they were giving out. I think I got 4 copies of Fade to Blue that
weekend. Decent comic too, girl stuff…but good. I also found out that Bryan
gave a few other hot looking girls a few deals. Bryan you slut! LOL!)
After making my purchase I talked
with Bryan and Amy for a while.
Bryan had mentioned that it was cold
in there and I mentioned that there was a Dunkin Doughnuts nearby. I asked
him if he wanted me to go and get him something.
“Nah, but if you want to keep me
company, your more than welcome to.”
“Sure.”
He asked Amy and Walt if they wanted
anything. Walt wanted a pop.
On the way out of the Convention
hall. We see a bunch of fanboys that just couldn’t wait to get home to read
their comics. I mean the wall was lined up with fanboys. How truly sad and
pathetic.
On our way there we pass my Jeep, I
asked Bryan if he could pick it out.
“That looks like Kevin’s Jeep, don’t
tell me.”
“No, I wanted a Jeep since 94, before
I even knew anything about
Kevin, that and he never said
anything about having a Laredo.”
(Oh also for a side note. When I got
my Jeep my friends didn’t say oh, what a fangirl, you bought a Jeep like
Kevin’s. No it was. Cool Karla, you finally got the Jeep you always wanted.
Also, so you know Bryan I got my Dogma and Clerks stickers 2 days before I
even saw Kevin’s Jeep. The only true fangirl aspect of my Jeep is the
placement of my bumper stickers. That and who in fuck in Flint would know?)
Bryan and me were about to walk into
Dunkin Doughnuts and there was this strange funky machine, sitting out
front. They tell us that it would be a few before we could go in, they were
testing the structural integrity of the building. While we were waiting, I
took out my camera and took a picture of city hall. Here Bryan thought I was
taking a picture of the machine.
Your silly Bryan!
We finally are able to go in. Bryan
gets a hot chocolate and a small
Pepsi light ice for Walt, he asked if
I wanted anything, but I had a juice in my bag.
On the way back me and Bryan got into
a discussion about my dread ex and why we split and some of the BS that I
went though. We were walking back into the main hall and bump into Kevin.
(This was during his smoke break during the signing) Kev looked a little
surprised to see me with Bryan. (I could tell by his body language, you know
those expressive eyes that he has.) Kev had asked why Bry was out of the
booth and they talked for a few. Then he asked what movies were going to be
playing at the film festival. “I think it is going to be Clerks, Mallrats
and either Chasing Amy or Dogma. I’m not sure I got my info from another
fangirl.” Kevin asked one of the guys who was working for the Convention, he
didn’t know but was willing to find out. Kevin said, ”Don’t worry about it,
it’s not that important.” Kevin wanted to walk and talk to Bryan some more,
so I offered to take Walt in his soda.
I go back to the VA booth and ask Amy
where Walt is, if he was still
wandering the convention floor. Nope,
he was on the other side of the booth on the Graphitti Graphics side. Amy
asked where Bryan was. “He’s with Kevin, he wanted to talk to him for a
few.”
Walt thanked me for his drink and I
went off to smoke a cigarette. I didn’t smoke around Bryan because I know
that he doesn’t smoke.
What can I say I am a polite smoker.
Went back up once again and of course
the first place I go, you guessed it the VA Booth. Bryan was back by then. I
stood there talking with Amy. First she asked about Jersey Girl. I told her
“It’s either going to be shooting in Toronto or Philly and that they were
going to be starting shooting in August.”
“Ok thanks, I didn’t know that. So
they should be starting preproduction in July.”
Ok Amy, you didn’t know when or where
Kevin is shooting Jersey Girl. Come on you’re the man’s secretary. It just
blew me away, I knew more than Amy Noble. Actually, it totally fucking
freaked me out. Got me thinking that I was getting to obsessed with all
things View Askew. But after 2 months I am still here. A little obsession
never hurt anyone. =)
Then we talked about my jaded
feelings about relationships and how I don’t think that I will never find
the right person. What can I say; I have always been happier when I have
been on my own. I guess it’s that independent spirit that I have. Amy told
me something about that I shouldn’t give up the right person is somewhere
out there. Well Amy, they truly aren’t any here in Flint or Michigan for
that matter.
I really need to get out of Michigan.
Damn you Ming for getting that in my head at Vulgarthon. That I should get
out of Flint. He said that he’s afraid that I will get shot or something. I
live in the burbs not the North end of Flint. Oh one more thing, one of the
reason that I do post so much, is Ming told me to post more at Vthon. So
blame him. ;) Also Ming, I missed you in Philly!
I talked with the VA crew for a
little while longer. By this time it was about 5 pm. I went out front to
look for Matt, cause he said that he would be in a 5 or so. So I am sitting
out front chain smoking and talking with a few people, waiting for my friend
to show up. So far it is a no show. So I headed back upstairs to see if he
had slipped by me at some point. So I go wondering around the convention
hall with no luck. I stopped by the Cross Gen booth and was checking out
their online comic. Pretty cool stuff. I met the Publisher, Mark and he was
giving me the spiel about Cross Gen on the web. When a woman from Discovery
Channel interrupted us, I think her name was Gayle. She excused herself for
interrupting. Not a problem at all. Because of this I got to find out that
Discovery was there to shoot some footage for a comic book documentary. They
are going to be doing a history of comic books. How cool is that? We all
talked for a few minutes, and found out they were having trouble with
Marvel. After Gayle left, I got all signed up for Cross Gen comics on the
web. Not a bad deal either, $8 for 8 months. I found out later that evening
that I had forgot to get my Way of the Rat comic for joining up (I ended up
picking one up on Sunday.) I go back out front to see if Matt had made it in
yet. No luck!
So I smoke yet another ciggy waiting
for him. I got tired of waiting so I head back up and go over to the VA
booth. I talked to Bryan, Amy and Walt. Since it was more than obvious that
I had been stood up (it was around 6:30) Bry, Amy and Walt were wondering
where I was going to stay.
Bryan, “I’m not going to find you out
on the streets sleeping am I?”
Bryan you are so funny. I’m an
outdoors type gal, I love camping, biking, hiking, etc. So sleeping in my
Jeep would have been no big deal for me.
“No, I got my Jeep if nothing comes
though, I’ll be all right. It’s still early, I’ll figure something out.
Besides we are all only here for a limited amount of time. You might as well
do the most of your time here, while you’re here.”
I hung out at the booth till a little
after 7:30.
“Since I am going to the film
festival tonight, I better grab something to eat.”
Bry, “So you’re going to be at the
film festival all night, then?”
“Yup, free entertainment for the
evening.”
“But haven’t you seen those movie
like a hundred times?”
“Yes, but I haven’t seen Clerks on
the big screen yet. I have only seen it on my 25” TV.”
Amy ”Oh, I haven’t seen Clerks on the
big screen yet either.”
“Well, if your not doing anything
later, stop on by I’m sure that you could get in.”
I said my goodbyes for the evening
and head out to the Jeep to change clothes drop off some stuff and grab some
munchies (M&M’s and pretzels.) I smoked a few one hitters in the Jeep. I
realized how late it was, so I blew off getting something to eat. My
adrenaline was pumping all weekend, so I ended up not eating much. That and
not being with anyone, I didn’t have anyone to make sure that I did eat.
I headed back to the Convention
center to get to the Marriott. I had trouble finding the Ballroom that it
was going to be in.
The Marriott Ballroom C was actually
in the convention center in the left hand corner, near the Marriott. After
finally finding the Ballroom, I go in and get a seat near the back. Since I
was so rudely stood up, I had an extra ticket. The really cool guy, who sat
next to me, was also stood up. So he got up and gave our extra ticket to the
girl who was taking tickets, this way in case anyone who didn’t have tickets
could get in. We sat there bsing for a bit as he was trying to pack his
goodies in his backpack. He ended up having an extra Darth Maul
“Do you want it?”
“Fuck yeah! Why are you giving it to
me?”
“I rode my bike in today and have no
room for it.”
“Thanks a lot! You rule!”
“Not a problem.”
By this time Kevin comes in to a huge
round of applause. Kevin does
a Q&A for us for over an hour. The
only 2 questions he didn’t answer was… What’s a Nubian? And the story about
Walt Flannigan’s dog, in which he said that he would answer tomorrow at the
Main Q&A.
There was also a question about on
just how red is Affleck’s costume in Dare Devil. “No it’s not that color red
(pointing to a
Vulgarthon jersey) it’s almost a
blood red.”
Scott Mosier and Robert Holtzman (Ratface)
and Malcolm were standing in the back. It was the first time I had seen
Mosier or Ratface in person. So I was staring at Mosier a bit. You know that
feeling when someone is watching you? Well I think Scott felt that and
looked right at me, I quickly looked at Kevin. I didn’t want him to think I
was some freak or stalker type person, I just never had seen him in person
or up close before. Kevin answered a few more questions before Mosier was
waving at him that it was time to leave.
After Kevin was done speaking and
left about just of half the people left. So then we got to watch Clerks,
Mallrats and Chasing Amy. Also
Kevin, if there was any complains
about the girls bathroom smelling like cigarettes and pot, it was me. =) It
was a long ass walk to go out in front of the hotel and I was being lazy
after walking all day. By the time Chasing Amy got over with there were only
14 of us left. It was just after 3 am. There was another guy who sat down
near me, Bob.
So since I still didn’t have a place
to crash for a few hours yet, so I asked him. Well, it shouldn’t be much of
a problem. So we walk down to his hotel about 6 blocks away from the
convention center.
We get upstairs and his dad wasn’t
back yet. So we stayed up watching Conan, till his dad came in with another
guy. They were both drunk and head off to the bedroom. I gave Bob a
knowingly smile. Yup, his dad was a cock smoker. So we both ended up
crashing out in the front room.
Day 2 next week… |
