With the exciting announcement of “superheroes” as theme for our local Eighth Annual Saline Scarecrow contest, already compelling reasons to attend the 2019 Michigan Comic Convention are that much greater. [1,2]
Not that anyone really needs justification for such indulgences, right? [3,4]
For those who have yet to share in comic con experiences, think part celebrity appearances, part specialty vendor offerings, and part attendee costumes. Wrap that in the envelope of panel discussion rooms and an organized exhibition floor with banks of sellers who, yes, serve the interest of comic book collectors — and a whole lot more. [5,6]
With 2019 marking the eighty-year anniversary of The Batman, Michigan Comic Convention has arranged for 1995 Batman Forever movie star Val Kilmer to be on hand both Saturday and Sunday. [7-10]
As this is an event covering more than comics, Star Trek is among the broader multi-genre entertainment areas covered here. Serving this interest, actor Michael Dorn from Star Trek: The Next Generation will be on site at Cobo Center starting Friday for all three days, and will participate in an August 17 panel starting at 5:00pm. [11-14]
The total roster of individuals notable for their work on screen and in the creation of visual arts will top fifty.
Beyond that, cosplay is the cultural heart of these gatherings. [15]
In a Geeks article subtitled, “How Cosplay Made Me into a More Functional Person,” author Kyla Green sought to take explanation beyond Merriam-Webster and first use of the term in Japan a full year before the first Ghostbusters movie premiered. [16-18]
Cosplay is not just putting on a fancy costume and going out in public. No matter if you make your cosplay or buy it, there is a whole philosophy I discovered. Cosplay is sort of like being Vegan. It is not only an activity, it is a lifestyle. If you ever went to a pop-culture convention, … disrespect is forbidden.
Subject to securing appropriate upfront permissions, of course, comic cons can serve as match made in Heaven between cosplayers interested in having their efforts memorialized and photographers working to hone their skills.
And for competitive Saline Scarecrow Contest entry planners this year, a treasure trove of ideas for concept and refined implementation.
The 2019 Michigan Comic Convention will be held at Cobo Center in downtown Detroit this weekend. Show hours are noon to midnight on Friday, August 16; 10:00am to midnight on Saturday, August 17; and 10:00am to 5:00pm on Saturday, August 18. (Note that Exhibitor Hall closes at 7:00pm on the first two days.)
Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. [19]
References
- “Saline Scarecrow Contest” Borer Family Chiropractic.
- Michigan Comic Convention (home page).
- “Comic Book Collecting Is Passion For Some, Business For Others – And For Many A Signature Event Headed To Detroit” Dell Deaton (July 25, 2019) Saline Journal.
- “Grand Rapids Comic-Con Provides An Immersive Look At Unique Culture Of Passion, Fun, And Impressively Serious Group” Dell Deaton (November 12, 2018) Saline Journal.
- “‘Comic-Con’ trademark may have to activate superpowers to survive attack” Daid Kravets (September 21, 2017) Ars Technica.
- “The Ten Commandments to Collecting Comic Books” Simpleman’s Comics (February 17, 2017) YouTube.
- “The History of Batman” JediwolfDestiny (September 9, 2013) YouTube.
- “Batman first appeared eighty years ago in the comics and Emagine Theatre is celebrating his movie 1989 reboot” Dell Deaton (April 5, 2019) Saline Journal.
- “Batman Forever (1995) Official Trailer – Val Kilmer, Jim Carrey, Tommy Lee Jones Superhero Movie HD” Movieclips Classic Trailers (April 10, 2014) YouTube.
- “Val Kilmer” IMDb.
- Star Trek (home page).
- “Michael Dorn” IMDb.
- “Star Trek: The Next Generation” IMDb.
- “Celebrity Schedules” (August 12, 2019) Michigan Comic Convention.
- “The ‘cosplay’ economy: how dressing up grew up” Katryn Furmston (December 8, 2017) The Conversation.
- “The Philosophy of Cosplay” Kyla Green (2018) Geeks.
- “Ghostbusters (1984)” IMDb.
- “30th Anniversary Trailer from Ghostbusters (1984)” IMDb.
- “Tickets” Michigan Comic Convention.
