Minneapolis Comic Con 2014

I attended my first nerd convention when I was in grade school. A small underwhelming Star Trek convention in St Paul with my father. My second convention took at least another 20 years.

When I first heard of the Wizard World Comic Con coming to Minnesota, I was thrilled. Then there was the fact that William Shatner would be there. I was over the moon. Eventually, logic set in. The cost was too much. I couldn't justify the money for a picture, an autograph. Just material things I really don't need more of. That Bobby Labonte signed hat hasn't really changed my life....

But a good friend and I had talked about going, and she asked if I was going to go. So I decided to do one day. A day pass, try it out, see how it went. No huge expenditure. Just putting my toes in the water.

I totally regret not doing VIP. Nathan Fillion was there. Shatner was there. That might never happen again. Shatner/Kirk has always been a strange force in my life. Shatner reminds me of my father. But like the bizarro world version. My father is a very good man. But I've never seen him punch an alien. He's entirely too logical to sleep with a green alien. Let alone many.

Yet, Kirk was always like an uncle. A crazy uncle who was cool but not really always trustworthy or functional. I love my father. As a kid Kirk was the cool version of my dad. As I grew I realized that the logic, double talk, charm of Kirk was more my father than I had seen. I didn't really know my father as a person until I had him as a teacher. He was my dad. He wasn't a person. I saw him teach and in that classroom, in front of those students, talking about what he cared about. He was Kirk. That's another blog entirely. But long story short. Shatner holds a place in my heart.

I did get to see some great question and answer sessions. Sean Astin, James Marsters, Shatner himself. I loved every minute of it. Shatner answered four questions. He told amazing stories. I got goosebumps twice. I laughed hard. I saw other audience members frustrated by his circular story telling. It all worked. I loved it all. I wish I could have met him myself. Talked to him. I might have hugged him. So it's probably better this way.

But I do know that I will go again next year if there is another con. If there is someone I want to meet, someone like Fillion or Shatner, I will make the expenditure to do so.

Movie Review: Wonder Woman (2009) Spoilers

I've had the pleasure over the past few months to rediscover several classic comic book tales through the increasingly stellar animated films that both DC Comics and Marvel Entertainment have been putting out straight to DVD.

Tonight I had the pleasure of watching Wonder Woman (2009). I've read the origin of Wonder Woman many times but have never found myself completely engrossed in the character. Historically, I've struggled with the worlds of magic/mysticism collide with that of the more common superhero. It's an argument meant for a different post entirely, or for that matter a white paper. However, this streamlined version of Wonder Woman, that introduces her to the modern viewer and does a good job of not overly explaining the mythology, was an enjoyable and eminently re-watchable version.

Wonder Woman, or Diana as she is known at the beginning of the film is voiced by Keri Russell. To me it's always a credit to a voice actor when I don't spend too much time trying to determine who it is. The voice fit Diana perfectly and I didn't even realize it was Russell until the credits rolled. Diana is given enough naivety and smarts to give the character's first interactions with the modern world seem plausible and natural. What was especially pleasing is that the tone of the film seems much like Diana herself. It never questions her abilities and moves forward with a consistent and entertaining tone.

Ironically, the fact that I immediately knew the voice behind Colonel Steve also improved the character for me. Colonel Steve is a hard character to accept at times. The carbon copy handsome, talented, charming blah blah blah. He's the star quarterback who donates his time to taking meals to old ladies and saving kittens from trees. At best he's grudgingly likeable. At worst, the viewer can't stand him. In a brilliant bit of casting, Nathan Fillion was brought in as the voice of Colonel Steve. Immediately, I couldn't hate the guy, no matter how hard I try. Fillion has made a career out of being the handsome, charming, seemingly too good to be true archetype that everyone can't help but love. No matter how strange some of Colonel Steve's lines could be worried or how the swings in his character's outlook changed, it worked. Mostly because Fillion's voice reminded you of some strange combo of Richard Castle, Mal and even Captain Hammer.

The rest of the voice cast is good to passable. Oliver Platt and Alfred Molina are excellent as Hades and Ares and the animation is never a distraction. On the whole an excellent rental and enjoyable for fanboys and regular watchers alike.

Grade: A