Neighbor News
Motor City Comic Con 2016 Was Epic
The Motor City Comic Con has always been fun, but this year it took all (from celeb guests to vendors to a helpful staff) to another level
I spent the last weekend immersed in pop culture greatness at the Motor City Comic Con. Since 2007, this annual trip has provided tons of fun, while meeting celebrities and making new friends.
This year, the MCCC offered two very unique opportunities and I took advantage of both. First was the announcement of the Four Horsemen. A rare group appearance by “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Barry Windham and J.J. Dillon was huge enough for me to make the five hour drive from Chicago. Perhaps the best and most popular configuration of the legendary Horsemen, all five of these men were extremely fan-friendly at MCCC. Even my non-wrestling fan friend Cuzz realized the significance of this moment, as he raised the four fingers in our group photo.
The other main draw was an appearance by Michael Nesmith, who gained fame as one of the Monkees. I have loved the Monkees for most of my life and had met Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz at previous MCCC’s. This was Nesmith’s first such appearance and I was not going to miss it.
While the Horsemen and Nesmith were the big draws for me, there were plenty of other interesting celebrities as guests. Batman’s Adam West and Burt Ward drew their usual huge lines of fans. The Walking Dead’s Alexandra Breckenridge, Seth Gilliam, Michael Cudlitz, Sonequa Martin-Green, Josh McDermitt and Jon Bernthal, also had a big group of fans.
The list does not end there though. Paul Sorvino, Brent Spiner, Lea Thompson, Tara Reid, James Marsters, Hardcore Pawn’s Ashley Gold, Brenda Strong (from Seinfeld), Lena Headey, Ian Ziering, Kristy McNichol and many more celebs were kept busy signing autographs and posing for pictures.
I had the pleasure of reconnecting with the multi-talented Jordan Trovillion. Four years ago, I met and interviewed her. This year, I did a quick update interview with her. She is simply a sweetheart. Hopefully, it won’t be four more years until I see her again. Our interview can be found at On the Beat with Jordan Trovillion at Motor City Comic Con 2016.
I also interviewed Michael Zapcic and Ming Chen of I Sell Comics! Aside from being encyclopedias of comics, these guys are hilarious. Our interview can be found at On the Beat with Michael Zapcic and Ming Chen at Motor City Comic Con 2016.
Besides the many celebrities, there were hundreds of artists and vendors. I picked up several new Aquaman goodies, including some pins, prints and a couple figures. You just can’t find this stuff elsewhere.
In all honesty, I must mention the parking situation. A few years ago, due to the increasing popularity of MCCC, there were some major parking problems. The MCCC organization has worked very hard to rectify that situation. Several new lots have been added along with many staffers directing traffic.
Despite all of the extra effort, parking still got a little messy Saturday morning, which caused delays and minor frustration. Fortunately, things were running smoother as the day progressed. This is a minor issue which was quickly forgotten once inside and ensconced in the pop culture greatness.
Aside from the slight parking glitch, the convention could not have run any smoother. The MCCC staffers were everywhere, keeping things under control. I saw several go above the call of duty for some attendees who lost tickets or needed extra help. Handling the Four Horsemen photo ops and individual booths was a daunting task, but the staff was prepared, organized and everything was great.
The Motor City Comic is a staple on my yearly calendar. It truly gets better each year, but this year it seemed to take a giant step. The 2016 MCCC had the best lineup of celebrity guests, which brought the largest crowd ever and the staff handled all with a top notch level of professionalism and organization. While MCCC has always been an excellent convention, it raised the bar this year.
Taking it all into consideration, I am betting the MCCC 2017 will be even bigger and better. I know I will be there, surrounded by thousands of others, to judge for myself.
