I spent a few hours at Portland's Sci Fi and Fantasy convention on Sunday. I wondered whether I'd feel out of place. I mean, after all, isn't this a kid's event? For those who haven't been, there are dozens of booths with people selling art, books, comics, toys, costumes, etc., from everything from Lost in Space, to The Invaders, to Star Wars, to the Hulk. I can't name the more modern stuff, because I don't know it.
Here are the five things that I learned, in reverse order of importance.
5) Comic Con is not for teenagers. The mean age of attendees was probably 28. There were fewer teenagers by far than I thought would be there. Perhaps the cost kept them away. It's not a cheap event. The median age was probably a few years less. Demographics were skewed by old guys like me, and toddlers. There were lots of both kids and people with gray hair.
4) If you put on a costume, you don't feel self-conscious. Everyone in costume was having a blast, and posing for pictures. They were too busy to feel strange. I wish that I had had a costume, just for the grins that the little kids would pass my way.
3) Comic Con means big grins. At least, it did for me. No matter your age, it's still fun to see the stars of the movies you enjoyed years ago. Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) was there from Star Wars. He looked old, but was smiling and having fun. I remember him from the old mini-series Chiefs. I just watched that a few weeks ago. Adam West, known for Batman, was there, looking really old, but he had long lines of people waiting to see him. And not just people my age.
My favorite was Summer Glau, from Firefly, who, well, she looked terrific. She should, at 32. Can it be eleven years since Firefly went off the air? The volunteers said that she seemed to be the nicest of the stars. She had a kind word and a smile for everyone, and she seemed to genuinely be enjoying herself. Good for her! And thanks for coming to Portland.
And if you don't smile because you saw Batman, then smile for PackMan, or for giant lizards, or for Wonder Woman, or for the Hulk, or for the Mario Brothers, or for the Dark Shadows vampire. There was something for everyone.
I didn't see William Shatner. He was on break when I was there. Perhaps next year.
2) Comic Con means tights and cleavage. I hadn't realized how important skimpy clothing are to these genres. How did these people walk to the event? It was cold outside yesterday. So, gentlemen, avert your eyes. (By the way, Princess Leia, that costume probably looked amazingly cute when you were 16. And when you were 26. But you aren't 26 any more. You might want to check out Wonder woman, or Cat woman.)
By the way, there were plenty of men of various ages in tights (without the cleavage). But you won't see me in tights.
1) You can have fun at Comic Con, even if you are over fifty. The Back to the Future car was there. I saw a Lost in Space robot. R2 D2 was there, talking to the kids. At every corner there was something that made me smile. So, relax, and enjoy. You deserve it.
By the way, I'm looking for a good Malcolm Reynolds Browncoat costume. Contact me if you have any of the components.
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