Aquaman at C2E2 2017

It was a close call at C2E2 2017.  Seeing an Aquaman at any comic con is a rarity and at C2E2, I was experiencing the usual Aquaman drought.  I had been immersed in pop culture madness for two full days and had yet to see any sign of Aquaman.

As usual, I saw many people dressed as Harley Quinn, The Joker, Batman, Wonder Woman, various people from The Walking Dead and almost every other character imaginable.  Some were so obscure people had to explain them.  Still, despite thousands of costumed fans, there was no sign of any Aquaman, my favorite superhero.

My luck changed just as I was exiting C2E2 for the day.  I saw the familiar green and orange in the distance and knew it had to be an Aquaman.  I raced over and got my picture with Aquaman.  This alone made the convention a success.

Many times, I have lamented the lack of Aquaman at these conventions.  It is frustrating because I know when they eventually make an Aquaman movie, he will gain popularity, but it will probably be the newer version of Aquaman.  I only hope the "cool" thing for fans to do then will be to appear as old school Aquaman.

Until then, I will continue searching for the rare Aquaman at comic cons.  I will also continue to get pictures and celebrate my victories.

Aquaman and me in Chicago, IL-April 2017.

Captain America (and No Aquaman)

I know what you are thinking.  Here comes another rant about Aquaman.  Everytime I post a picture of me with a superhero, it always ends up being a rant on the under-appreciated Aquaman.
It's a new year though.  I made some resolutions.  I will put the entertainment aspect of this blog ahead of my lifelong crusade to get Aquaman his due respect.
Towards that goal, I present Captain America from Wizard World.    Cap was kind enough to take a moment to pose with me (a noted Aquaman fan).  Obviously, Cap does not have the level of pettiness that I possess.
Cap was one of many superheros at Wizard World.  In fact, he was one of several Captain Americas at Wizard World.  Not that I was keeping count, but I saw only one Aquaman.
Captain America is a popular superhero.  He was created in 1940, as a frail boy who was turned into human perfection via a special serum, to help fight the war effort.  He was also the first Marvel superhero to be turned into another medium. Captain America was ranked sixth on IGN's Top 100 Comic Book Heroes in 2011 (Aquaman ranked #52, just as a point of reference).
I give credit to this Captain America.  He even bulked up for the occasion and carried the famous shield.  For this effort, he was well-received by fans at Wizard World.  He posed for many pictures with fans, celebrities and other superheros.  Oh, he also got featured right here on Johngy's Beat.  Anything less would seem un-American, even for an Aquaman fan!

Captain America and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2012.

A Phantom in Purple (and in Novi)

My favorite color is purple.  How cool would it be if I was a superhero and I got to wear purple all of the time?!  That's exactly what the Phantom is.  I know I will never be a superhero and it only follows that I can't dress in purple all of the time. 
At the 2010 Motor City Comic Con, I met a guy who was a superhero and did wear purple, although probably just for the duration of the convention.  I don't know who he was, but he was the Phantom to all who asked.
The Phantom is an interesting superhero in that he has no super powers.  That's doesn't sound much like a superhero to me.  Ahh but he is a superhero and he has been fighting bad guys for about 80 years.
On second thought, if he doesn't have any super powers but is a superhero, perhaps I could be a superhero, too.  Then I would dress in purple and achieve my dream.

The Phantom and me in Novi, MI-May 2010.

Batman Out...Johngy In!

As I have written many times, I enjoy taking pictures with convention attendees who are dressed in character.  Last year on wrap-up day at Wizard World, I ran into Batman and Batgirl (where was Robin?).
I wasn't really impressed with Batman.  Despite having a molded front torso, the Caped Crusader still seemed to have a nice paunch pushing forward.  As for Batgirl, what is not to like about a young, attractive woman dressed in purple leather?
I think Batgirl was ready to dump Batman.  She was digging my Aquaman apparel.  Aquaman beats Batman anytime.

Batman, me and Batgirl in Rosemont, IL-August 2011.

Meeting Aquaman Again

Over the years, I have met Aquaman a few times at the Motor City Comic Con.  It's one of the highlights for me.  He's a really nice guy.  When my camera failed last time, he waited patiently for me to regroup and take a picture with him, despite being in a hurry to get to one of the many activities at the show.
He is constantly being stopped for photos.  Oh sure, I know he dresses like that for the fun of it and the fans are part of it, but still, it does take patience to handle it.  I have never seen him refuse a photo request and I have never seen him rush anyone.
He is a yearly staple of my MCCC experience.  In 2012, I'll be looking for him as always.

Aquaman and me in Novi, MI-May 2011.

Batman Didn't Impress Me

Even as a kid, when I watched the Batman tv series, I kind of thought that Batman didn't look really tough.  No, this isn't another "bash Adam West" thread (although it could be).  Instead it is another "praise Motor City Comic Con" post.
As I have stated and shown before, attendees often dress in character.  Sometimes they do so for a costume contest.  Sometimes they do so just for fun.  Whatever their reason, it is always interesting to the rest of the onlookers.
At the MCCC I met an attendee dressed as Batman.  He was in pretty good shape (better than West had appeared), but he lacked height.  On the other hand, why should he not indulge just because he is vertically challenged.  He looked pretty good all things considered.
Other things of note in the photo include Torrie Wilson and Cookie's fan (singular).  Wilson is a retired wrestler turned actress.  She had a decent line throughout the convention.  Cookie, however, is a current wrestler who had very few fans during the event.  In fact, the guy shown might account for half of her fans. 
Hey, it's all part of the fun at the Motor City Comic Con and there is always quite a bit of fun there!

Batman and me in Novi, MI-May 2011.

Paying Homage to the Aquaman Shrine

I am a huge fan of Aquaman, but I have to admit I am probably not the biggest fan.  That honor goes to Rob Kelly, Creator/Editor-in-Chief of the Aquaman Shrine.  The Aquaman Shrine is overflowing with everything Aquaman, including products, merchandise, artwork, reproductions and anything else you could possibly imagine related to Aquaman.  The site is amazing and I could spend hours daily just roaming around the various sections.
I wrote to Rob and applied for Friends of Aquaman (F.O.A.M.) based on my coverage of Aquaman here on my site.  To my pleasant surprise, Rob emailed back pretty quickly and presented me with my official certificate confirming me as an official FOAM member.  I couldn't be any prouder!

The Power of the Green Lantern

The Green Lantern is an interesting Superhero in that there are a number of Green Lanterns.  I don't profess to understand the entire concept, but I now there have been several different incarnations and there are several Green Lanterns existing together.

I usually meet Superheros at the Motor City Comic Con, but this time, I met Green Lantern at Wizard World.  It seems Superheroes like to hang out at conventions.  That makes sense, since there are so many Superhero fans in attendance.

This Green Lantern was especially fan friendly, as he always made sure to pose on the right side of each fan.  This way, his power ring would be visible in the picture.  If only all celebrities were that crowd-pleasing!

The Green Lantern and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2010.

Friendly Encounters

This is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebs.

My family loves this site and I am sure they all read it daily.  Every one of them is always on the lookout for a Friendly Encounter.  My nephew Matt Parker is the king of Friendly Encounters, but today, I am featuring his parents, Jean and Scott.
Jean and Scott are real global travelers (sorry, cheap plug for one of my employers, Global Traveler magazine, the industry's #1 source for travel and business information).  One of their 2010 excursions brought them to southern Illinois, where they encountered the Man of Steel, Superman.
Regular readers might say that this is a stretch and usually only Nancy gets away with stretching the definition of meeting a "celebrity".  That is probably true, but it's my site and I set (and blur) the rules.  Therefore the picture qualifies.  Besides, how often can you get a picture with a Superhero who is twice your size?  The only thing better would have been if it was Aquaman!

Jean and Scott Parker with Superman in southern, IL-Summer 2010.

Aquaman Spotted in Michigan

As my friends know all too well, I am a huge fan of Aquaman, the most maligned Superhero ever. I have also written about it here before.
The Motor City Comic Con is full of people dressing as various characters. I am always on the lookout for any Aquman (Aquamen?).
Luckily for me, the first person I saw at the 2010 MCCC was Aquaman. I immediately took advantage of the photo opportunity to digitally capture the moment with my favorite Superhero.
Please note, this is old-school Aquaman, the way it should be. I have spoken against the newer version of the man of water.

Aquaman and me in Novi, MI-May 2010.

The Hulk was Incredible

Every year, I look forward to the Motor City Comic Con. They have a lot of interesting celebrities and sometimes even more interesting attendees.
Last year, I ran into the Hulk. I hear that I wouldn't like him when he is angry, but he seemed quite friendly when I asked him to pose for a picture. He even hammed it up a bit for the shot.
He's no Aquaman, but he is incredible or at least that's what I hear. Unfortunately, I did not see him morph back into his alter ego or maybe I did and didn't notice him in the crowd.
This Hulk is just one of the many guests who really have a good time at the MCCC. I have not gone the costume route and I will not be donning superhero tights this year either. Still, I enjoy seeing others dress up.

The Hulk in Novi, MI-May 2009.

Holy Batman Again, It's Val Kilmer

Last Wednesday, I wrote about meeting Batman at a summer fest in Schaumburg (IL). Previously, I have written about meeting Batman (Adam West) and other Superheroes. Today, I am featuring one more Batman.
Val Kilmer appeared as Batman in the 1995 film version. It was only a few years later when I met Kilmer at the Hollywood Celebrities Show.
Kilmer had a huge line and was charging a pretty large amount for an autograph. I wormed my way in for a picture though. I have a special place in my heart for Kilmer from his movie Top Secret! Plus, anytime I can get a photo with a Superhero, I am in!

Val Kilmer and me in Rosemont, IL-late 1990's.

Holy Photos, It's Batman

Everyone knows Aquaman is my favorite Superhero, but I would never miss the chance to take a photo with any Superhero. Many years ago, Louie and I met one while working.
Years ago at Lerner Newspapers, we occasionally had a booth at various neighborhood fests. One such event was Schaumburg Fest in the summer of 1990. Our Powers That Be decided to make a big cardboard replica of our front page, with a big square hole in it. The thought was that fest-attendees would flock to our booth to have their picture taken.
Aside from the fact that fest goers really couldn't care less about having their picture taken for a "cover" of the Schaumburg Voice, the attempt was pointless since we had nothing else at the booth. So a handful of people came over, but then quickly left after taking their picture. We didn't supply the camera. Some people came over and left annoyed, because they didn't have a camera either!
The moment of the day occurred when "Batman" walked by our booth. Even before there was a thought of Johngy's Beat, Louie and I jumped at the chance to have our picture taken with the Caped Crusader.
Silly us, we also thought it could be used for a fun story in the paper about the event. Unfortunately, the Powers That Be didn't see any use for it. Why have any fun stuff in the paper? Why give yourself a little free publicity in your own paper? Did I mention that paper went out of business within the year?
Well, I found a use for it. Right here and right now!

Louie Atsaves, Batman and me in Schaumburg, IL-Summer 1990.

It's Just Me (and Me and Me and Me...)

It all started with this self-portrait. In 1989, for whatever reason, I decided to make cartoon heads of co-worker Louie Atsaves and myself. These faces eventually found their way onto tshirts and an odd phenomenon was born.
It is simple, but fairly outdated now. The hair is much less black and much more gray. The glasses are smaller, the face not clean-shaven and the hair a lot shorter.
The Simpsons have been around since 1989. The Simpsons have appeared everywhere. It only took 20 years, but thanks to Simpsonize Me, Johngy has joined the Simpson universe. I was disappointed that I couldn't get any good face fuzz, but other than that, it is a pretty good replica.
While the Simpsons were huge when I was younger, South Park became huge in the late 90's. I ventured over to SP Studios to make myself a resident of South Park (CO). This is probably the most realistic animated version of me. The options are numerous.
As a kid, didn't everyone dream of being a superhero? I stumbled across the Hero Factory, which made me one. I was a little disappointed with some lack of options. I think I ended up looking a little like John Stamos, but I like the 'Four Eyed Brute' tag!
This next one came from Wee World. It had a fair amount of options, but the bodies were limited.
I am not even sure what to do with an avatar, but Meez allows you to create pretty interesting ones. The options were mind-numbing, but often not what I wanted. The big bottle of Coke was a nice accessory.
If anyone knows any other good similar sites, let me know.

Another Catwoman?

Two weeks ago, I wrote about THE Catwoman, Julie Newmar. Today, I am featuring another Catwoman.
This Catwoman never appeared in any of the Batman incarnations. This Catwoman didn't have her own booth, like Newmar or any of the other celebs. This Catwoman roamed around the convention center posing and signing autographs for free. Since I already met 'Aquaman' and 'Wonder WoMAN', I had to add this Catwoman to my collection.
Okay, before you question my logic, I must tell you that some other people wanted her to pose with KITT, the car from Knight Rider. That is just wrong. You can't mix stuff like that.
I don't ask baseball players to pose with football helmets. I don't ask actors to put me in wrestling holds. Why would anyone want a picture of Catwoman in KITT?
Even she didn't understand it, but she posed anyway. She was in the costume contest and any fan publicity was a good thing.
What do I know anyway? Besides, why am I trying to be logical in this setting?

Catwoman and me in Novi, MI-May 2009.

THE Catwoman:Julie Newmar

When I met Julie Newmar, I remember thinking, "Cool...I just met Catwoman! THE Catwoman!" Sometimes I am still that little kid with stars in my eyes.
Besides tv's Batman, I really didn't follow much of Newmar's career, but her role as Catwoman was enough for me. I loved that show. I loved all of the celebrity super villains.
Newmar portrayed Catwoman 12 times (Eartha Kitt played the role once and Lee Meriwether took over the role for the 1966 film). I also believe that Newmar's Catwoman was the best and most challenging to Batman.
Newmar played Catwoman as vulnerable and misunderstood and compared herself to Batman. I really think that bejangled the Caped Crusader more than her crime capers. There was a great dynamic going on there. I am a bit surprised Newmar never had a spin-off show.
I told her that she had a big impact on Laurie. She smiled and said something like, "That's sweet." Maybe she just thought I was trying to be nice. However, she (as the Catwoman) probably had an impact on a lot of smart, young women. I don't think she was as powerful as Mary Tyler Moore, but that's another story.

Julie Newmar and me in Novi, MI-May 2009.

Aquaman is THE Man!

I just learned that May 2 was Free Comic Book Day. It is always the first Saturday of May. On that day, participating comic book shops around the world give free comic books to people for just coming into the stores. I don't know if you get to pick out specific comic books, but I know which one I would pick.
Anyone who knows me, knows all too well that my favorite Superhero is Aquaman. I am not sure when my fandom began, but it has been this way as long as I can remember.
I often refer to him as the most maligned Superhero ever. In fact, Maxim magazine once listed Aquaman at #2 on the list of most useless Superheroes (behind Robin). This was an insult, but not really important enough to really incur my wrath.
In mid 2003, when I heard that the producers of Aquaman were changing Aquaman by giving him a harpoon in place of one hand, I wasn't happy. It's one thing for a silly magazine to insult Aquaman with so little respect for his abilities. It is entirely another for his own makers to have so little faith in the depths of Aquaman that they needed to 'spice up' the story by giving him a harpoon hand.
I might have mentioned this a couple times (or maybe a dozen) around the office and particularly to Laurie. Her response (to all of my rants) was for me to write a column.
Laurie had a keen sense for what her readers would like. Fortunately, I rewarded her faith by producing a column (with a lot of help from her) which resulted in a handful of calls/emails from readers.
I am really grateful that Laurie allowed (and encouraged) me to write. I am also pleased that she liked my writing, since I was a fan of her writing before I really even knew her.

My Aquaman guest column from the Lerner Times-October 9, 2003.

Total Nonstop Action at 2007 Motor City Comic Con

One of the fun parts of the Motor City Comic Con is the fans. Many fans will dress as their favorite Superhero or sci-fi character for the costume contest (and some probably just for fun). Previously, I wrote about meeting Aquaman, my favorite Superhero. In 2007, Total NonStop Action wrestlers Gail Kim and Christy Hemme were pretty excited about meeting 'Wonder Woman'.
Much like my meeting with Aquaman, the fact that it wasn't really Wonder Woman did not stop Hemme or Kim from wanting a picture taken with the Amazon Princess. The fan paying the part was no woman, but he did make me wonder. Actually, this fan was one of the most photographed people at the show.








Hemme and Kim are very good wrestlers, who pride themselves on actually being able to wrestle. They also have done acting and Hemme has her own band (HEMME). Both were very fan-friendly.
For me, it was just fun to see Hemme and Kim eagerly call Wonder WoMAN over to pose for a picture. It isn't often that a celeb wants a picture with an attendee.

Gail Kim, Wonder WoMAN and Christy Hemme at Motor City Comic Con in Novi, MI-May 2007.

Friendly Encounters

This is another in a series of meetings of my friends and celebs.

Jason Voyles is a blogger bud. Treasure Never Buried usually centers around his young son Connor, with sports cards as a backdrop. JV served our country in Afghanistan. Now he manages a restaurant, adores his son and is the self-proclaimed "Greatest Husband in the History of the Universe". He recently started a new blog for baseball card traders, the HaveWant blog.
In June of 2008, the Voyles family attended their first big league game together. They saw their hometown Mississippi Braves battle the Tennessee Smokies. You can read the whole story at Take Me Out to the Ballgame-Part 2.

Connor had his first celebrity encounters and I have the pictures to show the moments. Without further adieu, I present young Connor and his 2 new friends, the Incredible Hulk and Spiderman.

Connor Voyles and the Incredible Hulk and Spiderman at Trustmark Park in Pearl, MS-June 2008.

Aquaman

In March of 2008, I was at Motor City Comic Con in Novi, MI. Obviously, it was a comic book convention. From being there the previous year, I knew that many attendees dressed in costume for fun and prizes. This year, I kept my eyes open for my favorite Superhero, the much maligned and totally under appreciated Aquaman.

I had just about given up and was walking to the exit, when I ran into him. Now, unlike when I met Spiderman (see Spiderman post), I know this guy wasn't the real Aquaman. Still, I needed to capture the moment.

Aquaman and me at Motor City Comic Con in Novi, MI-March 2008.