The 25th anniversary of Michigan’s biggest comics and pop culture event was in full force this year! An expanded floor, snazzy panel rooms, better parking and a more fluid layout may have made this the best year yet.
I only attended on Sunday — I missed out on William Shatner and the cosplay competition (so sad, I know!) but I could have attended panels from the moment I arrived to the second I left. There was a perfect storm of celebrities and topics that had me reeling in my fangirl-dom.
First up was a panel with Game of Throne’s very own Khal Drogo — Jason Momoa. I had to do a double-take when I was walking the floor trying to find where the panel rooms were at — I looked up and he was three feet away, towering over me! I followed him for a bit, knowing if I followed him I’d eventually reach the right room, but got stopped by someone wanting to take of picture of my cosplay and lost him! Suffice to say I was late to the panel trying to figure out where it was, but was very impressed with the amount of seating and with the nice room when I arrived.
Jason is super funny and laid-back, and gave some very insightful answers to questions about his past roles and acting in general. Also, his favorite beer is Guinness — a fact not so much insightful as it is amusing!
I was unable to get decent video/audio of the panel, but fortunately I was able to find a brief transcript from another Momoa fan. Here was a rather amusing bit from the panel…
Regarding what Khal Drogo would be doing if he were still alive on GoT:
“It wouldn’t be a series. I’d just cross the goddamn ocean, kill everyone, and sit on the throne. I’d say, ‘DANNY NOW!’ She comes and sits on my lap. Dragons are playing on the floor. Stallion mounts the world, riding dragons, everyone’s happy, I’m drinking, you’d be drinking, and I go ‘Here honey here’s your f—ing throne, I’m going to go drink with my boys.’ None of this seven book bull—-. Cross the ocean, give your wife what she wants.”
Then, regarding whether he stays in shape between roles:
“No. On Red Road I didn’t do a d—n thing. If you’re going to pay me to work out, I’ll work out. If you ain’t paying me to work out I ain’t doing s—t. You have to pay a homie.”
By some cruel twist of fate (or just bad scheduling), Jason Momoa and John Barrowman’s panels overlapped, so I had to run next door to catch the Barrowman panel and arrived a few minutes in.
I only know JB from his role as Captain Jack Harkness on Doctor Who and a teeny bit from a couple episodes of Torchwood, but I knew to expect an entertaining, fun-loving guy. Incredibly spirited and energetic, John is nothing short of a sight to behold on stage! See for yourself — check out this full video (not mine! I was too far back) of the panel. Highlights included middle fingers, lots of inappropriate innuendo and the entire room singing happy birthday to a 5-year-old kid! It doesn’t get much better, folks.
After the John Barrowman panel I was able to walk around and check out the art for sale and catch some cool cosplays!
Clobberella and butterfly costume from “The Butterjunk Effect”
Storm Trooper and Boba Fett
Swedish Chef, Bee and Puppycat!
And last, but certainly not least — and I LAMENT the fact that there is not photographic evidence of this, but I did not want to pay $40 — I got to meet Xander Harris himself, Nicholas Brendon! I only got to speak to him for a few moments, but received a fantastic hug that will last me a lifetime! I was thrilled to have met my favorite character from Buffy and to find out he is such a nice guy in real life. *sigh*
No, he was not suggestively holding a crayon when I met him. Source.
To sum it up, MCCC this year was a huge success. I was able to see the majority of the floor and pick up some art and comics and saw two AWESOME panels in the span of a mere four hours. This is a fantastic con to attend if you are in the Mitten state or surrounding area and I’m sure there are only better things to come in 2015! SEE YOU THERE next year!
