Mary Elizabeth Winstead SpaceconSa 2024

This was another autograph I was really excited about. MaryElizabeth Winstead had been in a few movies I find memorable. So, I had a lot of options of photos to print. For this convention, I stayed with the Star Wars theme.

This was the last autograph I needed to get. It was after 6 PM on Saturday. I heard a rumor I could get in line early as they weren’t checking the assigned groups. And that did work...for a while. After being in line about 45 minutes I was told to leave. While my feet complained, I didn’t complain. I left and came back at the correct time.

The set up was good. The handler checked the items brought. Checked on the color and location to sign. He told Mary Elizabeth what to do and he went to the next person. Wow. I was impressed. As I stepped in front of her, she whispered in her ear. She nodded but she was talking to the last fan. She picked up the pen and signed. I had wanted her to signed on the back of the jacket. She signed to the left of that.

I was disappointed. I thanked her and walked out. As I made my way to where The Wife would pick me up, I debated with myself about going back and asking for it to be corrected. I need to be more assertive.

AH

Ahmed Best SpaceconSA 2024

Okay, Jar Jar got a lot of crap from the fans. And I certainly didn’t like the character. I have always thought that the pandering to kids and blatant marketing were the worse part of the franchise.  But I’ll get off the soap box now.

Ahmed Best was in San Antonio and I got his signature. I was excited to get this autograph. When I walked up, he was just chatting with fans. They had always gotten their items signed. He was hanging out with them.  I really wish I had more time as they were laughing a lot. I dd have a couple of questions, but I was rushed and thanked him and made my way to the next guest.

 AH

Hayden Christensen SpaceCon SA 2024

I will admit, this was the big draw for me to this show. I missed getting Hayden Christensen’s autograph when he came to Dallas a few years previously.  It’s frustrating when you wait too long and all of the tickets are sold out ahead of time. I did not want to make the same mistake. I bought by ticket a LOOOONG time in advance.

SpaceCon SA is another convention run by the Superhero ComicCon team. I find them fairly organized and on top of their game.  The convention did some things differently this time. I’m assuming it was because of an NBA game being played in the building next door and a Cheer competition on site for the same weekend. With these changes, chaos can ensure. I have heard a lot of complaints about the Hayden line. I didn’t have any issues but I did know they have VIP lines for BOTH regular and premium items. Instead of 2 lines there four. Then you have photo op lines too. The volunteers directing people didn’t always direct the fan to the correct line. That makes for a lot of wasted time and a lot of time on hurting feet.

A buddy was hanging out with me and got to go through the line with me. He told me afterward, that I basically told him to shut up and smile. Sorry about that. I see to do that with people hanging out. I need to get better.

While in line I chatted with the person in front of me. Turns out she works with Steel City ComicCon. We have a great conversation and it really helped to make the time pass. That has been a convention on a radar for a while. I hope to go soon.

Hayden was nice. He shared a few words with everyone but he was moving fast.  We exchanged hellos and then he handed me the photo and made my way out with my buddy.

AH

Eman Esfandi SpaceConSA 2024

Eman Esfandi was charming and chatting with everyone. His conversations were to the crowd and not just the person in front of him. While it makes for a slow line, you are part of the conversation and the time flows faster.

He mentioned Star Wars wasn’t on his radar. When he was learning about the role and the series, he had to do a crash course on Star Wars. As he learned more about Vader, he thought the people that dressed up as Vader were…odd. He used a more colorful word. If Vader was such a horrible character, why would anyone cosplay him. No, I’m not going to tackle that here.

When it was my turn, he asked if I wanted a quote. That set me on my heels. He didn’t have a suggestion and I wasn’t prepared. This was the first thing that popped into my head. I’m not sure if Ezra ever said that but it fits. Everyone says it one time or another in the Star Wars universe. He paused and then said it fits.

AH

Lexa Doig SpaceConSA 2024

Yes, I will admit, I have a crush on Lexa Doig since I saw her in Andromeda on WGN decades ago.  It seemed the show was preempted or the times changed. Probably because of Braves baseball. I didn’t watch it each week. I only recently watched the whole series from start to finish.

Not to fanboy out, but I really liked how she played 3 different versions of herself on the show: the ship, the hologram, and the android. They were all slightly different and I liked how she kept that straight. The differences of the versions, didn’t bleed into one another.

She hasn’t done many conventions so I was excited to see her name listed. When she signed, I tried to keep the inner fanboy from showing. I asked if she could add the quote. I had printed it for her. She stared at it. I explained in season 1, Dylan mentioned she was literally the air he breathed because she was the ship he was in. In the 5^th season, she was mad and paraphrased him and warning him he was not in control.

I paused. I had just fanboyed. I apologized. I even moved back a half step. She lived it. Either she remembered or didn’t. It didn’t matter. I just liked the symmetry.

She added the quotes and I kinda floated away.

AH

Josh Brolin SpaceConSA 2024

This was an expensive autograph for me.  I would have loved to have gotten a quote added to my Josh Brolin photo of Gurney Halleck but a quote was an additional charge that was almost as much as the signature. Oh well.

While I saw a few Goonies items getting signed, most people were getting items from Deadpool signed. Deadpool 2 is a great movie and it was tempting but I liked this movie more. I have always enjoyed the Dune books.

The line was long. it was late on Friday. He signed quickly and not chatting much with people. I think that was more of the set up than his personality. He seemed friendly and would pause now and then. But the handlers were moving people quickly.

I handed over my blue deco pen and he blotted first and then signed. That’s always good to see. He finished and mentioned he really like that pen. He looked over the pens available at the tabled and didn’t see any. I offered him mine. He gave me quick smile and handed it back.

Then I walked away and waited for my autograph to dry.  Decos are great but dry slow.

My Friday was over and it was time for The Wife to pick me up and take me to the hotel.

AH

Robert Duncan McNeill SpacCon SA 2024

I’ve had an unsigned photo of Robert Duncan McNeil for years.  He has been listed for several shows I’ve attended but cancelled. It happens. I admit to being skeptical this time too.

When I walked to his booth, I was excited to see him sitting there and chatting with people. Yeah! I quickly walked over before he could disappear.  I was fishing out my autograph ticket and photo as he looked up and said ‘hi’.  I know I had a big silly look on my face.

I apologized for not being ready. Normal chit chat as people try to get organized.  I handed over my ticket and then the photo.  He pulled over the photo and I told him to ‘hold it’. He looked up curiously.  I saw the ticket wasn’t scanned it in.  I didn’t want to rush the process.  I just said, I wanted to be sure the ticketed cleared. He wasn’t worried about that. He signed.

I told him I was carrying that photo for a long time waiting for this opportunity. It was good to get it signed.

I think he expected some Star Trek questions. Nope, I went straight to Resident Alien. I told him my dad loves the show and talked me into watching it. My question was about Alan Tudyk. I asked if he was hyper like Robin Williams and was it disruptive on set.  I think he’s already answered that question a few times.  He said Alan was amazing like Robin but not disruptive at all.  He was very focused on set. Great to work with.

Then I brought up something that is not PC.  I said my friends and I like that the females are not Hollywood glamorous. I know that sounds like an insult but it’s refreshing to have real people.  He admitted it was by design. It’s not what the show is about. The fans can follow the story and not get caught up in clothing or weight gain/loss.

Again, another great encounter.

AH

Mica Burton SpaceCon SA 2024

Hopefully, you understood I was excited about my last trip to San Antonio for Big Texas ComicCon. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I look forward to going again. While I got less autographs at SpaceCon San António (Only 2 weeks after Big Texas ComicCon, which makes for a LOT of driving.) I was looking forward to this show for a long time.

The first autograph I picked up was for Mica Burton. It was early evening on Friday. She was in a couple of episodes of Picard, along with her dad.  My autograph ticket was for Saturday but she was at her table and no one was around.  They let me hand over my photo. 

We chatted about my drive and how it was worth the toll charges just to avoid Austin.  She smiled and told me used to work in Austin.  Yes, my jaw might have dropped. So, we talked about her job and Austin. She said Austin traffic was worse than LA.   While I believe that, I think she was teasing me.

A great encounter and a great way to start the convention.

AH

Peyton List Big Texas ComicCon 2024

I got to the convention on Friday. Later than I wanted (Traffic/construction). I had some hopes of getting a lot of Cobra Kai signatures Friday. After seeing the crowds, I jumped in the line for Peyton List and hoped I could get that before the show closed for the night.

Peyton also spent a lot of time with the fans. As she chatted, she learned about them. She gave an extra autograph to a teacher as a gift for the class. She mentioned how she wasn’t the best-behaved kid and thought maybe this would be a carrot for the kids.  Another talked about using her signed photo as a family gift for Christmas. She shut that down and had the young man pick out a photo for each family member and signed for free.

No one asked. She just did it. There was just respect and sharing. When it was my turn, I handed over the photo. She signed. Then I mentioned I was listening and watching as I waited in line. A cautious smile crossed her face.  I mentioned the free signatures she gave. She quickly dismissed that. I told her no one was watching; it wasn’t something she needed to do. She dismissed that too.  I followed up, that was why it impressed me so much. The little things like that, can make an impact. I was happy to see it and I wanted to say thanks for being a good person. I know my opinion doesn’t mean anything to her but it needed to be said.

AH

Xolo Mariduena Big Texas ComicCon 2024

Outside of Ralph Macchio and William Zabka, I think XoloMariduenda had the largest line and the one with the most anxious energy in it. I heard a lot of comments about waiting 4 hours and being asked to come back later. Or they failed to get him on Friday so they needed to come back on Saturday.  The lines I saw on Friday made me get there early on Saturday and get into his queue first thing.

Very friendly. He spent time with everyone. He seemed most excited about the Blue Beetle merchandise he signed.

AH