The Calgary Comic Convention, or my day with Smallville's Lex, Michael Rosenbaum

Last weekend I was in NYC for the New York Comic Con. This weekend was the Calgary Comics Expo in Calgary, Alberta. I've been a guest at this show a couple of times, and really, really like it. In fact, I consider it my "home" convention. I was invited to be a guest again this year, having last been here in 2006 when Michelle was in China. I really wanted to go this year, but wasn't sure we could pull it off. Last week was NYCC, next week is my mother-in-law's college graduation for her Master's. So, I'd figured it was out of the question.

Yesterday morning, Saturday, the first day of the Calgary convention, I was sure we weren't going. I got up, and mowed the lawn. After finishing that most glorious of tasks, I walked inside the house and asked Michelle if she wanted to go to Canada. She said sure, why not. So, we loaded up the car, and headed North. With Jonas in tow, we made the 14 hour trek to Calgary. (It's usually much shorter than that, but there were heavy delays at the border....) I'd contacted a friend who was already at the show, and got the promoters to have badges for Michelle, Jonas and me.

After settling into our sweet hotel here in Calgary last night, I checked the programming for the convention, and saw that Michael Rosenbaum, "Lex Luthor" on Smallville and "Flash" on the Justice League cartoon was set to do a presentation on Smallville. When I got to the show this morning, the promoters told me they were very glad I came, because Mr. Rosenbaum was a little wary of doing the presentation by himself, and they asked if I would share the stage with him since I've done my share of Smallville-related projects. I told him I would be happy to, as long as it was clear that I've only freelanced (and interned) for the show, and am not a staff member who officially speaks for it, or anything like that.

So, Michelle and I found the table space they'd set aside for us at the convention, and set out our wares (a few TMNT comics, some Smallville magazines, and Chinese calligraphy Michelle painted and wanted to test market at such events....) We were reunited with our good friend Mark Waid, who sent Jonas the Superman and Batman costumes he's wearing in pics I've posted here previously. We had Jonas wear his Superman one for the occasion. Mark loved it. (Mark being here was actually the deciding factor for Michelle's interest. She wanted to introduce him to Jonas and show off the gifts...)

I also had good chats with some of my fellow comics writers. So it was good times.

An hour before our panel/presentation on Smallville, Micheal and I met to chat briefly while he ate. The guy is great. He was totally cool to talk to, and said he was glad I was there for the panel. He posed for a picture (which I screwed up with shaky hands...) with Jonas, signed a Smallville magazine for my sisters, and we headed to the panel. Well, I did anyway. He had to do an interview first. So, I started off the presentation answering questions about how I started as an intern with the show, and what specifically I I've done since we made it clear I don't do episodes but the ancillary projects like the DVD features (the Green Arrow doc from last year got RAVE reviews from a few of the fans there), trading cards, comics, web stuff, etc. Then, it was announced that Michael Rosenbaum was ready! He came out to thunderous applause from the 200 fans in the room. Michael and I bantered back and forth, and answered questions from the fans. Actually people only had questions for him. My turn passed when he came out. I said I was like Conan O'Brien interviewing him. It was a LOT of fun.

Michelle and Jonas sat in the front of the panel, but had to leave since Jonas was getting fussy. They went out the guest door, and waited for me to finish the panel backstage. Suddenly, George Takei, Sulu from Star Trek, appeared backstage and sat next to Michelle and Jonas, saying something to the effect of "My, there's a little one!" referring to Jonas. (Trust me...in his Sulu voice, it's AWESOME!) They chatted for a minute while Michael was getting laughs and I was his straight man. It was a phenomenal experience. Michael and I finished out panel, and said our goodbyes.

The show ended not too long after that, and I took the opportunity to show Michelle around Calgary. I served as a missionary here in 1998-2000. Tomorrow we'll be going up to Edmonton where I spent the rest of my missionary time. It was fun to see the old stomping grounds. I even found my old apartments here in town.

Michelle and I are really not what you'd call spontaneous people. But this little family vacation has turned out to be a great idea! I even got one of the old Super Powers figures I have been searching for!

Ten years ago today, I left for South Africa as a technician/stagehand for a performing from my university. If you had told me that I ten years later I'd be sharing the stage with Lex Luthor from a Superman TV show, and Sulu would hang out with my wife and son, I'd never have believed you. But here we are. It was an amazing day. What a way to mark that anniversary!

Michelle and I have been quoting Dash from "The Incredibles" all day today: "This was the best vacation ever! I love our family!"