2024 Motor City Comic-Con

A little delayed on this one, but here's my Motor City Comic-Con wrap up.  It's been a number of years since I've gone the the MCCC.  I go mainly to get my cards signed and in the past few years there just really haven't been any "must haves" for my collection.  

This year featured a couple of celeb guests that I wanted to add signed cards from for two of the sets I've made that I really like.  Those being my Freaks and Geeks set and my License to Drive set, the signers being Tom Wilson and Heather Graham respectively.  

I got Heather's autograph first.  Like I've said in past about cons and in-person signings, I'm terribly introverted and don't really look to yuk it up with the celebs.  They're there to sell their signature and I'm there to buy it.  I hardly even consider the micro interactions as "meeting" these celebrities.  Some are really outgoing and I've gotten something out of the interaction whether I intended on it or not.  But, if they're not chatty I don't mind nor do I feel they're rude.  Maybe they're not big on small talk like myself?  Anyways, I guess the point is I don't have any great stories from the signings.  Heather Graham merely said my card was "cute".  With her card, if I had to do over again I would have either asked for a different color, or brought a different card.  I thought since the card I brought was a tad on the darker side that a silver Sharpie would have really popped, but it did not.  You've got to hold it at the right angle to see it, really.  She asked if I wanted her to put "Mercedes" on the card and I agreed because that's a cool touch.

Then I got Tom Wilson's auto.  Freaks and Geeks is a GREAT show.  That show and The White Shadow are my all-time favorite tv shows.  Any time there's a chance to get autos from either of those shows on cards I've made I'm all over it.  Everyone in line who wasn't me was there to get some Back to the Future related signed.  I'm about to say something a bit sacrilegious here for an 80's kid ... but ... when it comes to BTTF, I could take it or leave it *gasp*.  Just not big on it.  Sorry.  I noticed when I got closer that all but maybe three of the photos Tom was offering at his table were from the BTTF trilogy.  Two were April Fool's Day (would've been my second choice after F&G) and another from something I didn't recognize.  No Freaks and Geeks though.  I did ask Tom when I got to the table how often he signed F&G stuff.  He said every once in awhile, and it was usually the DVD yearbook.  I like the way his card turned out although I wish it would've brought a green Sharpie.  I just assumed he'd have one but he did not.  Oh well.

Overall it was a fun little Sunday.  The best part wasn't getting my cards signed, it was going with my ten year old son.  He's got some nerdy interests like his dad so he had a good time telling me fun facts about the different things that were there that interested him (he's really into anime) and I in turn waxed poetic about good ol' 80's pop culture and the "back in my day" type of stuff.  

2018 Motor City Comic Con Review

My fourth Motor City Comic Con is in the books and I came away with radical autographs of  '80s icons. This is really the genesis of how Phantom Cardboard came to be. I wanted to make cards for things I loved from my childhood that didn't exist and then the ultimate coup would be to have the cards autographed.

One of the first things I saw was a tribute to Margot Kidder who was supposed to be signing there this year but sadly passed away just five days ago. There was a bouquet of flowers and a poster board of sorts that fans were signing.

First up was Larry B. Scott as he was there well before all other signers. Of course there's Revenge of the Nerds and The Karate Kid, but I totally forgot he was in That Was Then... This Is Now and SpaceCamp, a couple other '80s movies I really like.

Earlier before going to Comic Con I posted a picture on Instagram of one of my newest cards, the Cobra Kai "Tournament Future Stars" card done in the style of the 1984 Topps baseball card set. This card came about because I wanted to add cards for Cobra Kai members Bobby, Tommy, Jimmy, and Jerry to the Dutch, Johnny and Kreese cards I already made, but I couldn't seem to find any decent quality screen captures to use. What I decided to do was create a "Future Stars" card with the images I could find. Since the images only needed to be small head shots they didn't need to be super high resolution or anything. Topps -to the best of my knowledge- didn't make Future Star cards for their 1984 set, so I had to wing a design.

I saw that Larry B. Scott had an Instagram account and had posted about being at the Motor City Comic Con today so I tagged him on my card's post which he in turn liked. I was hoping when I went to have him sign it he would recognize it from that post and he did, which was super gratifying.

For Larry I had the Cobra Kai card as well as and another card inspired by the same 1984 Topps baseball set, a Lamar Latrelle Tri-Lamb card.

Larry was super cool and interacted great with each fan. He took care to find out how I wanted my cards signed which is always appreciated. He signed the Cobra Kai card small for me knowing I hoped to add three other signatures to it in the future.

He seemed to really like my cards. The first thing he said was that he had never seen these before which was a statement I got from all the signers really. That makes me feel good that I'm contributing something unique for '80s nostalgia fans like myself. 

The second signer I visited was Donald Gibb. If I heard correctly, the two people ahead of me were greeted with a "what up dawg?" from Mr. Gibb. If that's the case, it's one of my favorite things from the day. 

For him I had cards from Revenge of the Nerds and Bloodsport done in Topps inspired card designs from the respective years of the two movies releases. Donald told me he'd seen things like fan made jerseys and helmets but never trading cards.

Here's where it gets kind of funny. Mr Gibb asked if I'd like to take a picture with him and I told him thanks but no because having my picture taken really isn't my thing. I'm one of those who rarely likes how he looks in pictures. Anyways, he replies "I don't blame ya". As I'm walking away I'm thinking to myself that he just went full Ogre on me because I'm this big nerd! I was kind of crushed and honored at the same time to have just been insulted by Ogre. But, after thinking about it I'm pretty sure he just meant he wasn't big on picture taking either.  ... I hope.

Next was another Revenge Of The Nerds Alum, Julia Montgomery. Julia was super sweet. She loved the card. She was even seemed hesitant to sign the front because she said it was "beautiful" and didn't want to write on it. She asked if she could take a picture of it but I did her one better and gave her her own copy which she really seemed to appreciate. Like last year I brought extras of all the cards I had to be signed in the event the signer showed an interest then I could give it to them as a token of appreciation. Also like last year though I didn't outright offer the card if I wasn't 100% sure they would want it in fear of the signer saying "nah". 

Last up was THE man, the one I came to see, William Zabka. This was actually my third time seeing him but I had to get his autograph again with my fanhood at an all-time high thanks to the masterful job that was done on the YouTube Cobra Kai series. 

I'm not sure what the reason was but Mr. Zabka was delayed getting there. I heard he was expected there around 1:30 but I think he arrived there closer to 3 and I was there near the front of the line that had formed to wait for him. Despite the delay he was greeted to a heroes welcome upon arriving at his booth. Like before he was great with his fans, high-fiving and proclaiming "Cobra Kai is back!". Before he got to signing he took out his phone and took a video of us the fans doing some Cobra Kai chants. Hokey, but fucking awesome.

He complimented me on my cards saying I did a nice job on them and I told him how much I enjoyed the Cobra Kai series. I wanted to chat him up more but he had a decent sized line that had quickly formed so I just thanked him, shook his hand and shuffled off with my new treasures.

There's two other cards I brought to have signed. A Willow Madmartigan card for Val Kilmer and a Michael from Lost Boys card for Jason Patric to ink. I guess I didn't bother to read that they would be there Saturday and Sunday only. Although it would be epic to get these two cards signed, I'm not planning on going back. I like going on Friday. For one it's less crowded, and two the tickets are a fraction of what they are on the weekend. Maybe another time.

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 ...