My First Time: A Couple’s Con

By DR Hanson
It’s my first time. A phrase I rarely get to use these days. But this weekend marks my first attendance to a Comic Con and my debut as an online blogger. I’ll avoid the beer and comparison of women to farm animals, thanks Mark Zuckerberg. Needless to say, I’m excited and nervous. Will they like me, these geeks and gamers? Will I fit in with my Flash T-Shirt I bought at Urban Outfitters or will I be eyed curiously as a poser who bought his Flash T-Shirt at Urban Outfitters? I rest upon the knowledge that I’m well versed in much of comic lore, following the X-Men since I was 8, and if all else fails, I know my strapping partner will defend my right to be there as a veteran Con goer himself. I almost hope for an altercation involving a pencil so I could watch Jamison masterfully deflect the number two weapon with the reflexes of Matt Murdock. My mind is filled with these questions and fan fiction as I wake up Saturday morning to start my first Con with the love of my life. As I turn on NY 1 I momentarily forget the excitement and nerves that seconds ago crammed my cranium when I hear the story of 2 gay teens and 1 gay man and his brother who were viciously attacked and tortured in the Bronx on October 3rd.

Like the New York Comic Con, my partner and I are celebrating our 5th year anniversary this month but this news reminds me that we live in a society that still hates and fears us. I’m saddened that my day has already been clouded with news of a very real injustice. I long for a reality where heroes exist that would avenge these victims. I sigh and get ready to submerge myself in an event that celebrates that reality. My mood begins to rise when we exit 34th Street and head west. We fall in line behind two guys with weekend passes proudly hung around their necks while a slightly overweight man in a Red Lantern shirt picks up our rear. I smile knowingly at Naruto as I too am on the same pilgrimage to the Javits center which for one weekend is magically transformed into the Mecca of Marvel. And DC. And Image. And IDW. And, well you get the picture.

Jamison is shocked by the numbers this year. I learn later than nearly 100,000 people were in attendance. Not quite the San Diego numbers that Jamison felt, but crowded nonetheless. The organizers have crammed every nook and cranny of the Javits center with panels ranging from “Steampunk 101” to “Archie Creators Tell All”. And booths galore await your presence where you can learn about The Green Lantern Corp or discover the much overlooked independent publishers and their passion projects.

My passion project is a television pilot a friend and I have been working on so it made sense for me to attend the “Starters Guide to Independent Television” hosted by Ned Canty one of the organizers of The New York Independent Television Festival. It was encouraging to hear that other creators went through the same creative process that I am right now and extremely encouraging to learn that you don’t need to pour thousands of dollars into your product if the idea is solid. And our pilot is very solid.

The next panel I attend is “Intro to Voice-Over Acting”. As an actor myself I thought it would be interesting to learn a different side of the trade. I hear voice over actors actually get paid. What a novelty. Jamison does not attend and it’s really his loss.

Stevie Vallence (Emmy Award winner for her work on Madeline) gave a great little session! Volunteers from the audience were encouraged to join her in creating funny and unique voices. Her approach is quite fascinating as each new voice begins with a laugh! Stevie would hand a script to a volunteer that had a little drawing of the character they were voicing, she’d instruct them to physically mimic the character, and ask them to laugh. And from that laugh was birthed a crotchety old realtor and a daunting emperor motivating his army. It was amazing to watch these guys and gals throw themselves into this silly exercise and make themselves vulnerable as we cheered them on. A rare scene of trust and encouragement among strangers, especially in NYC.

After the panel, I find my partner outside talking to friend of his who works for Funimation before we grab a bite to eat downstairs. The event is a sensory overload as my eyes and ears struggle to process each character as they rush past me! There’s Storm and Wonder Woman and a Star Fleet Cadet! My best friends from my childhood have become corporeal. Though some characters are rounder then the way Andy Kubert or Jim Lee draw them. I see an Ironette Dancer from Iron Man 2 wearing skin tight spandex that seems to accentuate every flaw in her body. And I say kudos to her! If a tall skinny douchebag can walk around in nothing but a blue Speedo and body paint channeling his inner Bobby Drake, then bring on the fat rolls. It makes me wonder, though, when was the last time this young woman felt so empowered to share so much of her body and soul with complete strangers. And I realize we’re not strangers. We are a family; of misfits, of outcasts, so meek when watching “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” alone but so mighty when surrounded by our brothers and sisters.

This is truly a haven for them. For us. And it makes me wonder if the New York Fire EMS Expo happening next month at the Javits Center would have more confidence than this couple dressed as Green Arrow and Black Canary or this very helpful young woman whose side boob I caught on camera for a photo scavenger hunt we participated in.

We did not win. And I’m okay with that, surprisingly, because I won something else at the Con: a community of men and women who support and uplift no matter the situation and who share a love of good conquering evil. And no hate crime can take that away.

DR Hanson is perfectionist who is rarely perfect. An actor by education living in New York City (I know, I know, you can’t throw a brick in this city without hitting two of us), he pays his bills as an Assistant Producer at a Special Effects Post Production Advertising Company. When he’s not ordering lunches and creating artist’s schedules he’s playing Mario Kart or taking a bath. He also watches way too much television. His mother would be so proud.

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