Last weekend I spun a web on over to the Detroit FanFare! One year ago (at the 1st Annual Detroit FanFare) I made my very first convention appearance, and now (3 conventions and 1 year later) I'm back again!
Unlike the Dearborn Hotel Venue like last year, this time it was held at Cobo Hall in Detroit. I threw on my spandex and went over early to get a fresh start and was immediately freezing. I stayed this way for the entire weekend. Because Detroit is pretty cheap and doesn't believe in heating Cobo Hall. But luckily, for no one, they do believe in opening literally every door so that the refreshing fall air can share hypothermia with everyone - thanks Detroit!
The staging room was much bigger and so I took my time visiting the creators of GI JOE and Ninja Turtles, and continued onward in search of awesome action figures. For the first time, at this moment, people began approaching me asking me a question I'd not yet heard in my 1st year of being Spider-Man - - "is your butt real" and "may I touch it".
Now, usually, people just grope me and I say "everybody gets one!" and call it a day, but now people are asking. I suppose that's more polite, but a new trend none-the-less. So women begin grabbing my butt and taking pictures. Their assessment - my butt is real. From this moment onward, it sunk into my reality that my butt, not me, was the star of the show.
As I continued to walk around the show room, people would come to me for pictures, form lines or crowd around and ask all sorts of questions about my suit...while people could come up from behind and "sneak" a picture of my butt. Yeah get a job in surveillance guys, you were real sneaky. Then I see this gem:
I watched Bruce Campbell on stage thinking of all the times he's pushed me on stage, denied me into a theater or had been french at dinner as I sat shivering in the audience.
He walks past and says "hey Spidey" and I go talk to Brian O'Halloran, from Clerks, for awhile.
Peter Weller, Robocop, starts walking around, but boring people attack him and I let him take them on alone as I websling over to the costume contest.
I do some acrobatic moves and actually win, which is pretty cool because I snag myself an issue of "Spider-Man #1" and an animation cell from "Spider-Man: The Animated Series" for winning.
I continue my journey across the FanFare universe and before I know it it's time for the ShelDorf award show, of which I a part of! The show celebrates comic creators and artists, and being me - I get to scoop in there and accept some awards on the behalf of those not there.
The night was a success! People talked about my butt, seriously, while the show was going on so much that the announcer started talking about it. Whatever pulls in the crowds I guess! Some girls started grabbing it and I said "enough is enough! The left side needs attention too!". The crudeness of women these days!
Drawing lots of cops and military guys in addition to the kids and parents, Iron Man and myself could barely eat our food - - which by the way was the most delicious food I think I have ever had - -Andiamos or somethingsomething. As I look up the lobby of the Renaissance Center, I see people lining the over-looks and the balconies all the way up staring down at us and waving, screaming our names...asking about my butt. So weird.
The music stars up and no one is dancing, except this guy that looks like David Spade:
Naturally, I go and dance too, so that I can steal his thunder. About 5 ladies join me, including this girl that works for Marvel. She grabs my shoulder in whispers something in my ear. It was to do with a part on my body that sounds exactly like butt. Women.
I dance the night away and mange to have a pretty good time. Luckily, my dancing seemed to attract a few others and everyone began having fun. Spider-Man: Ice Breaker.
I call it a night around 2:30AM because everyone stops serving food. In Detroit. A major US city. Literally. Livonia stays up later than this town does.
In the morning I ride the Huel Perkins People Mover to the Cobo, oh yeah!
Huel gave me a slow but bumpy ride! I arrive back in comic central and begin doing the round, when I stumble upon a few more nifty interviews. Gives me a great chance to talk about the positive impact of media, movies and comics can have on American youth and the importance of art.
For only two days it was an unforgettable time. I only hope that I can impact the community more the next convention I go to - but I can't think of a higher note to end on, than of the one about connecting with our inner youth and using it to better ourselves and the others around us.
I'll always continue my efforts to help those in need, spread joy, and work hard to entertain the world. As I continue my quest to make a Spider-Man movie, I hope people stand behind me so that I will have the tools to reach out to people not just in Detroit, but the world.
Hey everyone! Recently had a great time at the Detroit FanFare convention in Detroit (obviously!) and will be back soon with a more in depth dissertation on it. Right now I'm hard at work constructing some Spider-Man inspired armor for the Michigan Renaissance Festival and hard at work on planning for my Spider-Man film.
If you haven't heard about the film - we're still hard at work with planning and raising funds, awareness and support. If you'd like to help out any way just contact us at adjectivespiderman@yahoo.com!
The new kickstarter and new video should be up very soon, but I want to make sure that the new project rewards and new video are as good as they can be. You guys deserve the best! I'll be back tomorrow with a bigger update and a lot of photos. Just posted everything on facebook and need to take a breather!
Photos are still coming in and the adventure is hardly over. My second suit is (still in construction much to my lament) nearing completion and my current suit is taking on many a repair. The new suit is much brighter, more rich in color, smoother, tighter and even more durable and solid in construction. It's involved obtaining many hundreds of dollars in new fabrics and supplies and lots of experimentation (I'm in college) but I can't wait for it to be shown off! It's hard to believe so much has happened since I created my first suit in May, 2010. It wasn't until September 2010 I wore it to my first convention, and now here we are, on the 1-year-mark, at my third.
By far, this was the best of any event. It was like every Halloween party I ever wanted, but for 4 days straight and with 40,000 people showing up instead of a handful. Let me now, take you on my adventure...
DAY 1: THURSDAY
I had driven down to Orlando for a Disney audition and so I missed out this day, as I was driving through the night. I did arrive at 3AM Friday, and things were still rockin'.
DAY 2: FRIDAY
I threw on my gear and grabbed my bags, walking through the ghetto part of town, because parking no longer existed apparently, and made my way into the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Hundreds of people in and out of costume mingled at the bars and made their way through the lobby as I arrived (undercover).
With my Ghostbuster gear slung over my shoulder and my bag of spandex in my hand, I knock on room 523 and meet up with the crew. Iron Man, War Machine, Mary Jane, Captain America, Iron America, Pepper Potts and Polaris open the door and we make preparations for tomorrow (which include watching 12 Monkeys starring Bruce Willis).
Sunrise.
I throw on my Indiana Jone clothes and head towards the street to pick up my badge, looking like this:
The line is thankfully totally empty and I get my official "Spider-Man badge"
I get back to the Hyatt with my badge and, of all the people to run into, I run into these guys!
I decide things are getting to dangerous for just a man, and so when I return to the hotel room I become Spider-Man
...which is good because I ran into a Xenomorph right after! I was in the Marriott where the center of the action was, and things ignited into full swing as I found my bearings. Hundreds of people called out "Spider-Man" as I got caught into photo-op heaven.
After mingling I met up with my good buddy, Iron Man and our new friend Spider-Woman and we had a picture shoot with The Avengers.
It was one adventure after another, and all I could see where hundreds of cameras and flashing lights as people yelled out for more pictures. It was like being a mega star! Just as I walked back into the hotel I ran into another group of friends and posed for a long time again. The fans couldn't get enough!
At this point I had stopped carrying a camera with me because it was getting so insane. And I figured "hey, everyone else is taking enough as it is"! Most of the day was filled with scouting around the 4 mega hotels and learning how they all inter-connected. I wish I had more pictures of what it was like - but being Spider-Man doesn't allow me to take too many on my own, so whoops!
The architecture was astounding in the Marriott and the skywalks between buildings were awesome to walk in. It was great to have so many people compliment me on the costume, it made me feel like my hard work was still showing through even among the pros and long-time attendees. I heard enough "this is the best suit I've ever seen" and "you are the only guy fit enough to deserve to wear that" compliments that it sure made me smile - even if no one could tell behind the mask!
But just because I was told all that, don't think I'm not busting my spidey butt to make sure I look even better next year! Many people had amazing costumes. I couldn't escape the thought that this was the best costume/Halloweenesque party ever while walking around. It wasn't at all the nerd-fest people always portrayed it - everyone (almost) was just normal. You had the nerds, the bros, the goths, the preps, the smart people, the shy people: it was just the most fun of every group all together. I ran into some of the "300 Spartans" and a few hiphop Spider-Men and they certainly gave me a run for my money.
By the time I ate some Moe's Mexican Grill and posed a few (hundred) more times it was already deep into the night and I decided maybe a little rest wouldn't hurt, but then I run into these guys:
They were great sports and generally really funny! They made me feel much better about how broken hearted I was that pizza was $5 a slice (ouch).
I head back towards the Marriott when another Spider-Man approaches and tells me he can't make it to the parade and that I should take his place. Parade eh? ....
DAY 3: SATURDAY
So I wake up early, throw on my tights and run down the street in search of the heroes preparing for the parade. Thousands of people lined the streets from the looks of it. Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong - but as far as my spider-eyes could see were people, and at the moment I was the only hero in the middle of the street! I heard cheering and screaming as I ran down. I felt like I was my own parade for a moment! Then leave it to Captain America to appear and lead the way! As I follow, I soak up the moment and pose for pictures and high-five the crowd. Truly a wonderful moment!
I hang out with the Deadpool group again, who at this point had become friends of mine. They were still all spot-on with the voice and personality. It really impressed even me. We all walked onward and I built up the courage to do some one-handed cartwheels. I sure am glad I didn't slip and fall in front of everyone!
It was an awesome parade, filled with squads of Stormtroopers, Colonial Marines, Xenomorphs, Predators, GI JOEs, Ghostbusters, Dragon Age guys, Mass Effect guys, StarCraft and WarCraft guys...pretty much everyone. Even the Three Amigos. I went inside and found even more awesome costumes. How could I possibly keep going into the same rooms and finding not a single person I met before? It was like hitting "refresh" on an imageboard constantly!
I walk into the Hyatt and find Mary Jane and the crew getting out of the elevators:
(not pictured: Mary Jane...who's on camera duty)
We head into the Marriott together and unleash a photo frenzy!
I slip away and let them take one for the team while I go make a change to my costume:
It took way longer than I hoped because my tailor had apparently done a really bad sewing job and I hadn't realized until I needed to make new adjustments. It's a good thing I fired him in October for stealing money! It was nice to be able to have my mask off, but it was a shame that doing so caused a lot of unnecessary damage because of what someone lied about a year prior.
When I went back to check on the guys, they were still in the same place I left them. I'd feel bad, but I was fully prepared to let them continue taking one for the team as I escaped their fate.
(me starting to make a break for it)
As their screams echoed to a dissipating roar into the sounds of the crowd, I found the time to meet more great folks.
The night ended with me watching a costume contest I wasn't allowed to be in, in which only people with stupid costumes won anyway. I'd sound less bitter if people with talent won, but as always - the people with the good costumes were sitting there with me, complaining too.
DAY 4: SUNDAY
Another bright and early day - I prepare for the "last day" of the con, with a nice early suit washing! Yay! Except water got everywhere, the sun decided to disappear AT THAT VERY MOMENT and the wind (that had be there the entire week) was now gone. So my suit was soaked the rest of the day. While I wore it. /whyIneedanothersuit
Hitting up the food court, I run into like-minded and gentlemanly figures along the way
Apparently I'm funny for being "Spider-Man wearing a costume" because apparently I forgot my mask was on when I got dressed in my regular day clothes WHOOPS!
Checking on my extremely wet suit, I discover that the time has come to be Spider-Man once more as the Marvel photoshoot is upon us.
As the picture shoot progressed, it rained but we stuck it out because we're super heroes! And that means we have contractual obligations! I always get a spot in the front because I can do the splits - which is cool for me...except that it means I'm standing in a puddle. And now my suit is drenched and I'm really not diggin' the feeling of being a water spider.
As we start to break into our own photo groups, Stan Lee walks in! We got into one last big group photo and then just mingled for another hour.
The black guy had a really awesome suit, and Paul from England did a good job at recreating the reboot suit. The damaged Spider-Man turned out to be a Deadpool guy that I ran into later in the night! We danced with the random "mobile dance crew" and talked about comics with the other DPs. It was really great.
After these pictures were taken I was stopped by many-a-professional photographer, including a guy who says he's putting me in a book about American cosplay that'll be out in a few years. "Cosplay in America". Awesome stuff from the looks of his first book.
At this point it was time to eat again, this time without having to do this:
Now I could
or
even
I had lunch with Andy (Iron Man), Sarah (MJ) and Cherie (Phoenix). All of whom helped me be where I am with Spider-Man. So I'm obligated to at least mention them once in this blog because, "everybody gets one".
After all that excitement, it was time to get my disability check, with this guy:
The night was winding down...after we watched a costume contest, watched a Jefferson Starship concert and then went to a rave...OH BUT WAIT
"Jefferson Starship: playing their hits at 12AM Monday!"
Oh so they played:
and
right?
NOPE SPIDER-MAN was not impressed. Waiting an hour in line and through an hour-long concert to not hear the only two hits the band has made me pretty mad. It apparently made a lot of people mad, because the only time no one cheered and clapped as after they said "thanks, cya" and left us there screaming for "Rock this City" and "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us". Ball droppers.
So I took my spider-butt elsewhere and enjoyed the con for my final night with all my new friends. Including people like this
Who, surprisingly was the most accurate Indiana Jones there besides me and this really old drunk man. Go to Indygear.com all you people wanting to look like the real thing! And Ghostbusters: go to gbfans.com. Really - you gotta get the CU27 suit and the right props or you just look like a fan and not the real thing!
But things got real serious when I met this guy
A very good movie suit! The only guy in the world that matches my suit, probably! I was impressed he managed to accomplish such a feat and was proud to have the opportunity to pose with him! I hope I meet him again one day. The night blurred into morning as I partied with hundreds of my new closest friends.
DAY 5: MONDAY
Switching to regular person clothes and packing up my stuff, I finally check out the con the way I'm "supposed to" for a few hours and check out all the awesome panels and rooms filled with comics and toys and costumes that I didn't even know existed! I hit the food court one last time, now without the sounds of cheers and whispers, but just regular banter. That's when I knew it was over and it was time to leave.
I head for the street and run into "Christopher Reeve: A Moment in Time" to see me out. A fitting ending, but a great beginning to my new tradition - Dragon Con.
Thanks for reading,
Spider-Man
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