Motor City Comic Con Review

Today I made my 3rd annual geek-out pilgrimage to the Motor City Comic Con and was able to get some pretty sweet custom cards of mine autographed.

I started out with Martin Starr who played Bill Haverchuck on Freaks and Geeks.  Freaks and Geeks is probably my second favorite show of all-time right behind The White Shadow.  It's a crime that it only lasted one season (actually only 12 episodes before being cancelled by NBC).

Martin was polite and introduced himself.  That always throws me off though.  Because, A. I'm certainly a fan and know who he is, and B. I'm socially awkward.  Martin seemed to get a kick out of the card.  I brought an extra card for every signer I made a card of in the event they show an interest and would want a copy for themselves.  Martin probably would have accepted one, but I was too goofy to give it to him.  I mean ... what if he says "no thanks".  Martin was one of the guests that did a photo op with the price of an autograph.  I almost turned it down because I didn't pay enough attention to his fee schedule and I know a lot of the guests will charge extra for a picture.

Point for the sweet D.A.R.E. hoodie, minus a point for the Clippers hat

The Haverchuck card is modeled after the 1982 Topps baseball card set.  I love the retro look of this design and have been wanting to use it for awhile now and I thought it would work out pretty well as a template for my F&G cards.

I love that Martin drew an arrow to himself.  That little unique touch is the best part to me.  I wanted to reference him being "cut off mid funk" but... I didn't.

Martin's F&G cast mate, John Francis Daley, had the next booth over but hadn't arrived yet. Luckily two booths the other way was another signer I had a card for.

James Remer who played Ajax in "The Warriors", another personal favorite of mine.  I actually sent Mr. Remer a copy of the card he signed today through the mail but never got that one back.  The lady that was was assisting him said she had a copy of the card.  The only way that was possible is if she has the copy I sent him.  I don't know, I always assumed those people that sit at the table and handle the money worked for the venue and not necessarily the celebrity.

Mr. Remar elected to use a red paint pen which I thought turned out awesome and he inscribed "Ajax" on the card which I was all for, plus it kind of matched "The Warriors" text color of the card.  I had it in my mind the whole time to ask him to put Ajax's catchphrase "Fuckin' A", but I lost my nerve.  Mr. Remar also gave me a free signed 8x10 which of course was very kind and much appreciated.  He was a really nice guy and seemed to take a liking to the card and probably would accepted a copy, but again and despite my wife's urging, I whiffed.

The card is modeled after the 1979 Topps baseball cards - the same year as The Warriors premiered. I rebuilt the template but left the baseball out as it only really made sense on a Furies card (which I have and will eventually do a post about).

1979 Topps baseball

Next up was Kristy Swanson.  There wasn't much to my interaction with her except for some awkwardness after she signed my card.  Both Martin Starr and James Remar's autograph came with the photo op so I guess I just assumed Kristy was doing the same thing.  She wasn't.  I said something to the effect "so, a picture now"? She looked at me and asked "did you pay for that"?  To which I uncomfortably and a little embarrassed replied "oh, uh no, I thought, oh, um, thanks".

This card is from the movie The Chase (1994) and modeled after the 1982 Donruss Knight Rider set.

Most of  design is pretty straight forward.  It's a thick blue border.  But, I will say I really took some time tinkering with the picture of the BMW 325is from the movie.  I was trying to give it that illustrated look of K.I.T.T on the Knight Rider card.  I think it turned out pretty nice.  I actually sent her this card when she was in Illinois for Days of the Dead back in November, but that was returned to sender.

1982 Donruss Knight Rider

Fourth was Lou Ferrigno.  I'd got Lou's signature before at MCCC, and it was actually a bummer experience. I love The Incredible Hulk television show, love it, but the first time Lou just must not have been feeling it because he was not personable at all.  In fact I'd say he came off as a grump.  I had low expectations, but the card I brought I realllly wanted signed.

This card is a mock up of the 1981 Topps baseball set.  I'd shied away from this design in the past because I thought that baseball hat in the lower left would be a bitch to do.  It actually wasn't all that bad, just time consuming.  But, the white outline that goes around it just wasn't working out for me. No matter how many times I redid it it looked like crap to me, so I admitted graphic defeat and just left it out all together.  I actually don't think it takes all that much away.

I'm not going to go as far as to say Lou was Mr. Personality this time around, but the wife and I did agree that he was not as off putting this time.  Still all business, no small talk and not much eye contact.

The card is from a season 5 episode (the final season) entitled "The Phemon" that aired in 1981. David "Bedecker" saves a talented pitcher from his sleazy manager.  The Hulk is holding a baseball bat, it needed a card - enough said.  I also have a card of said pitcher from the episode in the '81 Topps design that I'll do a post on at a later date.

1981 Topps baseball

Next was Thomas Ian Nicholas and my 1988 Donruss inspired Henry Rowengartner card.  This is another one that was sent but never had a TTM success on.

Thomas was a cool guy (great hair) and was amused by the card.  He also inscribed "Go Cubs", bonus.  This time my wife pretty much made me give him a copy.  Thankfully for me he graciously accepted it and said it was cool to have his own baseball card.

Last up was John Francis Daley.  We had gone back to his booth a few times but he didn't end up getting there until early afternoon.  Come to think of it I believe I read that he'd be showing up a little later on MCCC Facebook page.  The third time around was the charm for me, but by that time there was a bit of a line to see him.  He was actually the longest line we waited in.

He seemed to be very personable with everyone and was doing photos with all of those who got his autograph.  He seems like a really cool guy, like a guy you'd like as a neighbor because he would always wave hi and keep his grass mowed.  One thing that stuck me about him was he was a bigger guy than I thought he would be.  Not big like a linebacker, just not a runt like Sam Weir.

Sam Weir face or GTFO

John smiled at the card, although at first he thought it was a magnet.  I wanted to work in small talk about Freaks and Geeks being set in suburban Detroit and here we are in Suburban Detroit, but I'm not good at that type of thing and before I knew it it was the lady behind me's turn to probably be a better conversationalist than I was.

And that was that.  Well, except for getting Ilan Mitchell Smith to sign my VHS copy of The Wild Life.  I had a good time.  I usually don't get as many autographs as I did this year, but then again I wasn't making these cards before.  Until next year ...