Leai Huddleston at Fan Expo (Where's Terry?)

I met artist Terry Huddleston many years ago at a comic convention. I am not even sure which one, but I know I have seen him many times since then in Detroit, New York, Chicago and more.

Terry always has a big booth displaying a lot of fantastic artwork. Aside from the size, it is draws a crowd for all of the beautiful art. I proudly have a few of his pieces in my home. There's always room for great versions of Aquaman and Terry had a couple beauties.

A couple years ago, I went to his booth as usual an I learned he was at another convention. His wife Leia was there instead. While I have met her a few times, I didn't have a real chat with her until this year.

She is just as engaging as Terry. With an infectious and welcoming smile, Leia drew the usual big crowd to the booth. I didn't want to take up too much of her time, but it was nice to finally chat a bit.

For more info on Terry's creations, go to terryhuddlestonart.com. Also, check back here for my recurring coverage of comic cons and the people I meet.

Leia Huddleston and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2025.

Angel Medina at Fan Expo 2024

As I have been reporting, Fan Expo returns to Chicago this Friday through Sunday. As usual, I will be joined by Tony "On the Beat" as we cover this fun weekend.

Several years ago, my comics friends urged me to meet comic book artist Angel Medina. Since they certainly knew more about comics than I did and they all said the same thing, I had to meet the man. Unfortunately for me, it took several years, because he is very busy at his booth. I never interfere with business, but I kept checking several times at each convention. Finally, a couple years ago, we got in early as the press and I was aboe to meet Angel without disrupting his fan interactions.

Angel has worked for many companies, including Megaton Comics, First Comics, Marvel Comics and more. He did some illustration for Spawn and also Kiss: Psycho Circus, based on the band.

For more info on Fan Expo go to fanexpohq.com. Also, check here for my recurring coverage. If you see Angel, definitely check out his booth.

Angel Medina and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2024.

Heather Antos at Fan Expo 2024

Fan Expo returns to Chicago this Friday through Sunday. As always, I will be "On the Beat" meeting all sorts of celebrities and interesting folks.

After researching the creators in Artist Alley in 2024, I was impressed with the work of Heather Antos. A former assistant editor at Marvel, Heather has done a lot of work on the Star Wars franchise. That alone makes her extremely popular at any convention. I am not a huge Star Wars fan, but I appreciate the legacy it has and Heather is a big part of the comic side of it. She also has worked with Disney, Deadpool and more. Heather is currently Senior Group Editor at IDW Publishing. 

For more info on Fan Expo go to fanexpohq.com. Follow Heather on X to learn more about her and her work. Also, check here for my recurring coverage. 

Heather and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2024.

Sheryl Steines at Fan Expo 2024

Fan Expo Chicago returns August 14-16. As usual, I will be "On the Beat" all weekend meeting all sorts of interesting folks.

One of the most interesting creators I have met is Sheryl Steines.I interviewed Sheryl one of the first times I met her. That was a typical coverage interview for Wizard World. Since then though, i really became a fan of her work.

At some point I learned her love of writing started with reading Nancy Drew mysteries. As a big fan of The Hardy Boys books (counterparts to Nancy Drew), I certainly could appreciate that.

Sheryl bills her work as urban fantasy and mystery. Her stories are very character-driven. It is easy to get drawn into the characters once we get to know them. Sheryl does a great job with character development. She also tends to focus on strong women characters, but not at the expense of male ones or stories. Again, Sheryl does a wonderful job with balancing all. That is what makes her a fantastic writer.

She is also a very nice person. She always has time to chat with me. I enjoy seeing her at conventions and checking out what is new with her and her work.

One additional impressive part of Sheryl is she is active on social media and is not afraid to express frustration during dry writing spells. Sheryl shows it isn't always easy, but she shows her talent wins in the end.

I don't know if Sheryl will be at Fan Expo this year, but Artist Alley is filled with dozens of creative folks. You can get more info on Fan Expo and fanexpohq.com. Also, check out Sheryl at sherylsteines.com.

Sheryl and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2024.

Dan Parent at Wizard World 2021

Fan Expo returns to Chicago August 14-16. Of course, I will be "On the Beat" all weekend meeting all sorts of celebrities and interesting creators.

Dan Parent is an artist and writer I met many years ago. Known for his work on the Archie franchise, Dan has done plenty of other work, too. He has done so much great work with Archie that other work gets overshadowed.

With Archie, he introduced Kevin Keller, the first openly gay character in the series. He also has done crossovers with Sharknado and Batman.

With a lot fewer comics in my youth, Archie was one of the most popular. It seems the series got left behind for a while when flashier, more action-packed comics flooded the market. Thanks to folks like Dan though, Archie has regained some steam. At Fan Expo, it is always good to see the attention Dan gets for Archie. This just proves good stories written by talented writers are timeless.

For more info on Fan Expo go to fanexpohq.com. Also, check here for my recurring coverage. Also, follow Dan on Instagram to see his great work.

Dan Parent and me in Rosemont, IL-October 2021.

Jason Mewes at Wizard World (Fan Expo)

Running August 14-16, Fan Expo is approaching fast. Of course, I will be "On the Beat" as usual.

The convention scene in general has undergone changes over the many years I have been covering cons. There use to be a lot more comic books. The focus started to shift to celebrity appearances. As that got more popular, bigger names started appearing, while the overall guest list got a bit smaller. Either way, there is something for everyone.

I met actor Jason Mewes about a decade ago at Wizard World (now Fan Expo). Mewes is probably best known for playing Jay, the vocal half of the Jay and Silent Bob duo. Although very popular, Mewes still made sure everyone had a special moment while meeting him.

I especially like these type of interactions. While I was a fan of his, I didn't know a ton about him. I wanted to meet him for my coverage, but didn't know what to expect. It turned out to be completely enjoyable.

Every year, I have a few such interactions. I look forward to another year of meeting new folks and seeing how those moments go.

For more info on Fan Expo go to fanexpohq.com. Also, check here for my recurring coverage.

Jason Mewes and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2016.

Steve Horton at Fan Expo 2025

Fan Expo returns to Chicago August 14-16. As usual, I will be "On the Beat" meeting celebrities and creators of all sorts.

Since acquiring Wizard World several years ago, Fan Expo has done a great job. Most attendees wouldn't even know any difference.

One of the great parts of Fan Expo is the guest lineup. Where else could I meet a New York Times bestselling comic book writer this easily? I did just that last year when I met Steve Horton.

A graduate of Purdue University, Horton is a graphic novelist who has done work for Image Comics, IDW, Dark Horse Comics and more. He has written for various comics, including Amala's Blade: Spirits of Naamaron with Michael Dialynas and Satellite Falling with Stephen Thompson, among his other work.

In 2020, Horton authored Bowie: Stardust, Rayguns, and Moonage Daydreams with Michael Allred and Laura Allred. The graphic novel won two Eisner Awards in 2021 and is a must for all Bowie fans.

The guest list for this year  has started to be announced. Among the big names are John Carpenter, Mr. T., PJ Soles, Ron Perlman and many others. For more info and scheduling, go to fanexpohq.com.

Steve Horton and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2025.

Friend Encounters: Sara Richard and Noah

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends meeting celebrities.

Never one to hog the spotlight, I always enjoy when others do interviews for me (or do my work for me). Many years ago, my young cousin Noah conducted a bunch of interviews at Wizard World. One of those was with Sara Richard, one of my favorite artists and just a cool person in general. That interview is at On the Beat With Sara Richard.

With very little notice, Noah did a great job with Sara. Of course, it takes both sides to have a good interview and Sara was her usual awesome self.

I first met Sara about 15 years ago and immediately loved her artwork. Already established as a talented artist, Sara's career really has blossomed. She has done work for trading card companies, comic book publishers and many more businesses. Her work continues to amaze me.

Noah handled interviews at other places, too. He did a few classic interviews at Resistance Pro Wrestling. For such a young guy, he handled it all very well. I haven't seen him in several years, but these experiences will always be among my favorites.

For more info on Sara, go to sararichard.com. For even more fun, follow her on social media. She is a blast.

Noah and Sara Richard in Rosemont, IL-August 2013.

Stacey Marie Brown at Wizard World (Fan Expo)

Several years ago, I met an interesting author. Somewhere it was written she is a "writer of hot cocky bad boys and sarcastic heroines who kick ass." With all due respect, I think that last part might also describe Brown.

She has written several book series. There is some interconnection, but her website does a much better job of showcasing and explaining those. She also has some scheduled for release this year.

I haven't seen her in almost 10 years, but I am hoping she will make an appearance at FanExpo or perhaps do a book-signing in the Chicago area.

Brown is one of many authors I probably would never know if not for FanExpo. Artist Alley contains many authors and is always a good source of discovering new ones.

Go to staceymariebrown.com for more info on all of her books. For more info on FanExpo go to fanexpohq.com. Also, check here for my recurring coverage.

Stacey Marie Brown and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2016.

Chris 51 at Wizard World (Fan Expo)

Chris 51 is an artist, tattooist and a self-described aftertainer I met years ago at Wizard World (now Fan Expo). I watched him work his ink magic on a few people, before interviewing him. Both parts were entertaining.

Chris 51 cites his passion for pop culture as the start of his career. That might be, but a lot of people love pop culture. Some of us even have longtime sites devoted to pop culture. Few of us reach the level Chris 51 has. You have to be special to have 51 as your last name (more on that later).

Chris 51 created and starred in A&E's Epic Ink. He also appeared on My Morphin Life with Jason David Frank. He created the Geeksterink Legends Tattoo Tour at Wizard World, which is where I met him.

One cool thing about Chris 51 is his use of himself as a Simpson's character, because I got a little flack for using South Park for my character. If a talented and successful guy like Chris 51 can do it, why can't I/

Anyway, the 51 comes from the area 51. in Oregon. There are some connections between the part of Oregon and the mysterious territory in Nevada. Chris 51 does his work at Area 51 Tattoo in (wait for it) Springfield, Oregon. There's another Simpson's reference.

Chris was completely fun and cool. Although he was extremely busy and I wasn't getting a tattoo, he gave me several minutes of his time in a very entertaining interview.

Look for Chris 51 on social media and also area-51tattoo.com. For more info on FanExpo go to fanexpohq.com. Also, check here for my recurring coverage.

Chris 51 and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2016.

Cartman at Wizard World/Fan Expo

I freely admit I have a fascination with mascots and characters of all sorts. When I met Cartman at Wizard World several years ago, I had to get a picture with him.

I realize he isn't a mascot. He wasn't really a character either. He was someone cosplaying as Eric Cartman from South Park. It wasn't even a particularly great cosplay, as it was more of a cardboard cutout, then a costume. Still, I was assigned with getting fun character pictures and this worked for me.

More recently, Wizard World was purchased by Fan Expo, but it retained all the pop culture greatness. There is still a lot of cosplay, although many characters are out of my range of knowledge. I'm old and not hip to new video game characters or even some television characters. They do look good though and they are entertaining.

For more info on Fan Expo, go to fanexpohq.com. Check back here for my recurring coverage.

Cartman and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2013.

Josh Bodwell at Wizard World (Fan Expo)

Josh Bodwell is a trivia wiz and a well-known tattooist, who has been seen on Epic Ink on A&E. I met him at Wizard World several years back. I did not get a tattoo from his, but I did get a Johngy's Beat promo which is in the far left column. Bodwell is also a talented artist, creating beautiful pieces for events, trading cards and more.

All of that is why he was a hugely popular guest at Wizard World. Celebrities with that big and varied of a resume make fantastic guests because they appeal to several groups. 

Bodwell was extremely engaging when I met him. Although very busy with his tattoo work and meeting fans, he took several minutes to chat with me about comic cons.

This is one of the many reasons I love FanExpo (who took over for Wizard World). I wanted to meet Bodwell because of all he does, but once I met him I had even more respect for him. All an attendee wants is for the celebrity encounter to be pleasant. Bodwell exceeded that expectation by a wide margin.

Go to joshbodwell.com for more info on him. For more info on FanExpo go to fanexpohq.com. Also, check here for my recurring coverage.

Josh Bodwell and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2016.

Leia Huddleston at Fan Expo

Artist Terry Huddleston's booth is always a stop I make whenever he is at Fan Expo. Terry's art is incredible.

Terry first caught my attention many years ago. He had a backdrop of superhero heads he drew. They were incredible and certainly attracted folks. This year, I almost didn't recognize his booth, because he had made changes. It still was as appealing, but I didn't recognize it as his at first. Then I saw his smiling better half, Leia.

She said Terry was working a different convention. How cool that he has his stuff at multiple conventions. He is quite popular and it is well-deserved.

I usually get a pic with Terry, as I do with all creators. This time, i got Leia for the first time, as she stepped in for Terry. They are such a cool couple. I always enjoy seeing their happy faces, along with his new artwork.

For info on future events, go to fanexpohq.com. Also go to terryhuddlestonart.com to learn more about Terry and his awesome art.

Leia Huddleston and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2025.

Ask Trevor Mueller About Comics

Comic artist and creator Trevor Mueller is one of the first creators I met and befriended through comic cons. I met and interviewed him many years ago, but my most recent interview with him is at On the Beat With Trevor Mueller.

Trevor has a lengthy resume of his own creations, as well as contributing stories to several anthologies. One of his most successful works is Albert the Alien.

In Artist Alley at comic cons, it is hard to stand out. Trevor has a unique setup. Along with his booth, Trevor holds a sign reading "Ask me about my comic." It sounds very simple and it is, but it is also effective. I am familiar with his sign, but one of my assistants wasn't. When walking by Trevor, my guy pointed him out as a potential interview. That's how it works. Of course, I explained it to my assistant and we congratulated Trevor on mission accomplished.

Trevor is such a creative person. I always stop by his booth to "ask him about his comics," but of course, I don't need the sign to push me. I will always check his booth/

For more info on Trevor, go to trevormueller.com. If you are at a comic con, go to his booth and "ask him about his comics."

Trevor Mueller and me in Rosemont, IL-Agust 2025.

Remembering Jason David Frank

Jason David Frank died three years ago today. Perhaps best known for his work on Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers, JDF was highly skilled in martial arts. He even developed his own form of karate. Tragically, he committed suicide at a young age.

I had the pleasure of interviewing him at a press session for Wizard World (now Fan Expo). He was generous with his time, thoughtful with his answers and generally a great guy. That interview is at On the Beat with Jason David Frank. He was even kind enough to do a promo for this site, which is in the left column.

Showing more class, when I ran into him at the actual convention, he greeted me happily and thanked me for a good interview. That was unexpected, but much appreciated. Although I wasn't a huge fan of the Power Rangers, I am glad I got to meet him and to have a couple extra nice encounters with him.

Jason David Frank and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2014.

Nei Ruffino at Wizard World (Fan Expo)

I meet a lot of creators in Artist Alley at Fan Expo (formerly Wizard World). Many of them I see every year. Some of them I have seen only once. Nei Ruffino is a one-timer so far.

Cover artist, colorist and creator Rufino started her career as a tattoo artist. She eventually made the move to comics and has worked for DC, Marvel, Dynamite, Top Cow, Image, Aspen, Zenescope, and Big Dog Ink.

You can see some of Ruffino's work behind usin the picture below. Her pieces are bautiful on their own or within the context of a series. Her style fits anything, but retains he unique touches.

Hopefully, I will meet Ruffino again at a comic con. Then I can learn first hand a bit more about her work.

For more info on FanExpo go to fanexpohq.com. Also, see her  work at The Art of Nei Ruffino on Facebook.

Nei Ruffino and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2015.

Connie Faye at Fan Expo

I first met artist and illustrator Connie Faye many years ago at a convention. I was immediately drawn to her beautiful work. I was impressed by her use of light colors, flowing graphics, interesting images and more.

Based in the Chicago area, Connie has worked in the graphics and illustrations field for 20 years and for several companies, including the United States Marine Corps. She has also provided creations for trading cards.

After seeing her at a couple conventions, she seemed to disappear from them. Recently, I saw her at a couple conventions again. I was so happy to see her and her new illustrations.

Unfortunately, it appears she won't be at many (any?) conventions in the near future. The problem isn't her. It is the conventions. Prices for vendors have gone up a lot. In addition, prices for attendees are much higher. Attendees have o budget their money. They need to pick which ce,ebrities to meet and what merch to buy. Gone are the days when you could get all you want for a reasonable price.

It's really a shame. Fantastically talented folks like Connie Faye are often priced out. Smaller cons aren't the answer either. Smaller crowds mean less sales. Even with lower vendor prcies, it still is questionable for vendors. It's all relative.

I don't have an answer. As long as enough folks go to the conventions, prices will continue to rise. Smaller vendors will have a hard time making it worthwhile.

Connie Faye's website is in transition, too. Her website is still up, but the best place to see her work is Connie Faye on Instagram. For more info on FanExpo go to fanexpohq.com. Also, check here for my recurring coverage.

Connie Faye and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2024.

Friend Encounters: Matt Knicks and Noah

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring my friends meeting celebrities.

I first met Matt Knicks about 14 years ago at Resistance Pro Wrestling. With Chris Castro, Matt was part of a team known as The Two Star Heroes. They often opened the shows or even were part of the pre-show. They deserved better than all of that.

Matt and Chris were a very talented team. The fans loved them. They really were Four Star Heroes. Both left RPro and became the foundation of Freelance Wrestling. Not only did Freelance quicky surpass RPro, it is still thriving today.

Back then, Matt and others were at Wizard World to promote RPro, My young cousin Noah was there as a Johngy's Beat intern. Much like when my nephew Matt did the interviews, I enjoyed seeing Noah do the job. Like Matt, he did it well and it was good to have a new voice and perspective. Matt was very nice to Noah and I totally appreciated his consideration.

Matt took some time off of wrestling, but he returned and hasn't lost a step nor popularity. I am happy to have seen him earlier this year. My pal Tony, who hadn't seen Matt wrestle, was also impressed with his ability and kindness.

Noah is all grown now, but he will always be a part of the Johngy's Beat team (whether he likes it or not LOL). Since he moved back to the area, I hope to see him soon.

Go to freelancewrestling.com for more info and scheduling. Freelance is one of the most popular wrestling companies in the midwest. Check them out if you get a chance.

Noah and Matt Knicks in Rosemont, IL-August 2013.

Rob Schneider at Fan Expo

From an appearance on a Dennis Miller special to joining the cast of Saturday Night Live, Rob Schneider became famous and has been successful and busy ever since. That's nearly 40 years in show business.

When I saw he was appearing at Fan Expo Chicago, I knew I wanted to meet him. We got our chance Sunday morning. The crowd had died down a bit as it usually does on Sunday. We meandered over to Schneider's booth and chatted with him a bit. You're never going to get a full conversation, because celebs are there to make money. Still, Schneider was as engaging as anyone. He quickly came out of his booth for the picture and thanked us for coming. He seemed in great spirits all weekend.

It's always risky meeting your favorites, because you never know how they will be. Schneider was everything you would want in a celebrity guest. If he comes again, I will have him sign this picture.

Thank you to Fan Expo for the hospitality. Go to fanexpohq.com for info on all of their shows.

Rob Schneider, Tony and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2025.

Mad About Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt

Fan Expo Chicago always has a large celebrity guest lineup. This year, as soon as I saw Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt were coming, I set my sights on meeting them.

Both have had great careers on television and in movies, but my favorite role was pairing them on Mad About You. Ordinarily I prefer solo shots with celebrities, but in this case, I wanted both together and was happy when I saw they were doing a joint photo op. '

The time to chat during photo ops is minimal. At best, you hope for an exchange of pleasantries. I am happy to report both Reiser and Hunt were very nice, asking our names and thanking us for coming. It doesn't seem like much, but when they have hundreds of photos to take in a short time span, that is about as good as it gets. If you want more time to chat, it is best to go to their booth for an autograph. Even there, time is obviously limited, but at least you get a couple minutes.

I did not get their autographs, because we left after this photo op, but I hope to get them to sign the picture in the future. Then do I get Tony to sign it, too? LOL.

Thank you to the fine folks at Fan Expo for the hospitality. Go to fanexpohq.com for more info on future shows.

Paul Reiser, Tony, me and Helen Hunt in Rosemont, IL-August 2025.