The highlight of the 2010 Chicago Comic Con, at least for me, was being able to meet Brent Spiner.   In person he is every bit as witty and personable as he seems on the big and little screens.  I found it impossible not to be drawn into his wit and charm at once. Some of the stars of the shows we have all come to love were there simply to sign an autograph and make a buck – but Brent Spiner took time to visit with each person who came up to him.

It occurred to me as I visited with Mr. Spiner that having helped create the drama that was Star Trek: The Next Generation would, perhaps, make that suspension of disbelief that makes movies so much fun, all the more difficult.  If you have ever been on the other side of the proscenium arch (I have) the technical aspects of a production can sometimes steal the escapism that draws us into the stories on the big screen or the small.

A large part of the con was, of course, being able to meet the artists that create the comics.  I have long since stopped actively collecting and reading comics, but it was interesting to talk to some of the artists, such as Jeff Balke who has agreed to spend some time with us on an upcoming show.  The floor of the show was very much like a strolling through a costume contest; and we will feature a few “costumes of the con” on these pages soon.

In the end, while this was my first con, attending it seemed to enable all those present to be just a little closer to the bright shining center of the universe (or at least our corner of it).

Bazinga

I have never been a big fan of sit-coms. They have always seemed a bit trite to me.  Then Fran brought home the first two seasons of “Big Bang Theory”.  The relationship of the ensemble of geeks Sheldon, Wolowitz, Koothrappali, and Leonard,  due as much to the actors as the writing, pulled me into the comedy. So, of course, no trip to the con would be complete without a Big Bang Theory Bazinga T-Shirt.

Side Notes:

As soon as one war ends another one starts…at least that’s the way it has been going these days in Eve Online for me.  It has always seemed to be a love/hate relationship with me.  Recenctly a “corp-mate” from days gone by joined the corp I am currently flying with – only to suffer over 1 billion isk in loses as his tech 2 ship was blown out from under him when war targets caught up with him when he least expected it (which is the way it alway seems to be).  I think in the end the reason I stick with Eve is for the potential of where it may go.