Well, the 2018 Fan Expo has come and gone. I was once again in attendance just like I've been for the passed two years.
See, told ya.
I set up my table as per usual. I put my book, Censor Monkeys Have No Class, on its stand with all the pictures for sale right beside it. However, I tried a few different things this year. Instead of the usual poster, I made a new poster featuring Prof. Jordan B. Peterson arguing with some of my Censor Monkeys. I planned on using some of Dr. Peterson's 'star power' to help boost interest in my book. To my surprise, only a very small number of people recognized Dr Peterson or the free speech platform he stands for. So, for those woefully unfamiliar with Peterson's work, I'll embed one of my speeches he's made on the subject of free speech just below:
There, now we're all on the same page.
I also had this T-shirt made to show my solidarity with Count Dankula, someone I've blogged about previously. Nobody really noticed the shirt at all. Oh well. I think the good count and any of his fans knows that I'm in his corner.
Yes, like this blog post's title says, I did receive some complaints this time. They were about some cards I was handing out to people.
front
back
A member of the staff came to my table with one of those cards I had handed out and told me of complaints they had received. He told me that someone had come up to the staff and said "Someone is handing this out." Interestingly, he thought my big violation was that I had left my table to distribute these cards all over the conference floor. It states clearly in the Expo rules not to do that. Every sale or distribution I made at that expo I made solely at my table and I told him so. He heard me and then requested I stop handing out those cards in order to assuage to complainants.
This actually gives me a whole new immense feeling of respect for the Regina Fan Expo staff. This guy most likely saw the graphic on the front of this card and read the text on the back. When he saw that a complaint had been raised about it, he immediately assumed that the big violation I did was me leaving the table to distribute it (which,as I said, I did not). He didn't even think it could have been the content of the card that anyone could have objected to. This shows that the Fan Expo staff understand the importance of free expression so much that they can't even conceive of anyone having a problem with the contents of what my card says. As you can see, it contains so graphic images of sloppy sex or bloody violence nor does it contain any of the 'heavy words' George Carlin talked about: 'Piss Shit Fuck Cunt Cocksucker Motherfucker Tits' to be exact. All it contains is a strong opinion about free speech, nothing more than that. I guess whoever complained just can't handle strong language. That sucks to be them.
That all happened on Saturday. On Sunday, I obeyed the staff and refrained from distributing those cards even at my table. But I did put a little something extra at my table.
I put up a little sign announcing that I had gotten complaints. If anyone asked, I showed them my remaining cards to inform them about why the complaint was made. To my delight, everyone I showed this too was confused about it. Their common reaction was, "What's so offensive about that?" Frankly, that is the best response to hear in this case. Except for that one anonymous complainer, it seems that Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada is the free speech beacon to the world. Here's hoping that this divine example spreads to every corner of the globe so that all citizens can be free from censorship once and for all.
Ok, that's my basic overview of the Fan Expo for 2018. Now, as I always do for every comic book convention I attend, I will now post costumes pictures of everyone who visited my table.
Saturday
Red dunce cap and tea pot head. I don't quite understand the fetishes the kids have today.
This is a great Alice in Wonderland costume. That Chesire Cat looks like it was purchased from a Disney store possibly.
What a lovely pixie costume. It's possibly out of A Midsummer Night's Dream. What the Puck? (Sorry, I have a headache)
Now the illuminati know of my book. Soon it will be known to all.
This is either Captain Kirk c. Star Trek V or a displaced mountie. Either way, I salute this man.
Ok, so an Archie Andrews/Foghorn Leghorn crossover-type character has a steam punk girlfriend. Now I've seen everything.
Two girls came dressed in dog pajamas. Should I ask if someone gave them a bone this weekend? Naw, that would be dumb.
These kids look soooooooooo excited...... and they just can't hide it. They're about to lose control and they think they like it.
Dude looks like he's ready to join the Crusades and invade the Ottoman Empire in the name of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. I for one hope he is successful in his mission.
She was one of many Hogwarts school girls at this expo. She takes the good, she takes the bad, she takes them both and there she has the facts of wizardry...... or something.
She tells me she is Kiki. I believe her.
Dayum! Gypsy girl has many loaves of bread to slice.
Her helmet's over her eyes so she doesn't know she's aiming her bazooka backwards.
There's no need to fear. Steampunk Willie with the Golden Gun is here. Now we're all safe.
And Steampunk Willie's grandpa, Steampunk Abner, is ready to party like it's 1899 too.
Everyone who came dressed as a nail did not survive this weekend.
She's either an outer space British judge or an evil wizard. It's hard to tell those two apart really.
Deadpool was there and he straight up agreed with my free speech message. Way to go, Deadpool.
For real, she flipped through my book and said, "Wow, there's lots of satire." Most people would be tempted to make fun of her for openly stating what is and should be glaringly obvious. However, from my experiences in selling my books, she's one of the only people to recognize the satire in my book right away. Most people either just look dumbfounded or confused. Truly the dumbest I've heard is "Oh, it's a book." and "are you selling tickets to something?" So, for her to see even the bare basics of my book right away, I'd say her intelligence is just fine. Kudos to you, m'lady, for being above all of the below average people.
I fart in your general direction, you Jedi ka-nigget!
Ok, this lady tells me that she is an artist herself and that she posts said art on her Instagram account. She goes by the name 'kitty_cat1276'. If you have an Instagram account, look her up.
Inflamed Bellybutton and Sunburn Girl are here. Now all the baddies are scared.
Uh Oh! You'd better start behaving, kids. Here come the hall...... 'monitors'. (like I said, I have a headache right now).
I think they're dressed like an anime show so obscure that only 3 people in Nagasaki have seen it...... once........ back in 1987........... and even they forgot about it until now.
Rambo's little nephew Bambo who's schtick is always asking "Can I come shoot bad guys too, Uncle John??!!"
Here's a lovely couple that look like graphic novel characters that could kick everyone's ass. Do you see that dude in the hat? I think he's triggered by my table. BWA HA HA!!!
Sunday
Three little maids from school are they...
Steampunk high priestess commands you to buy my book. Do not shirk your obedience to her.
It looks like little Bat Girl here wants to jump into the panel and save that blonde girl's life. If only you could, little Bat Girl.
I'm walking in a spider web........ leave a message and I'll call you back.
This is not a costume, by the way. Some wiseacre told her that this room would be full of plutonium. That's why she's dressed like this. What a fun prank.
Ach! Hoot man! It's the proud Batman Tartan! He fights the Joker with chinks of "bat haggis" which is just bat intestines in a robin's stomach. It's really disgusting. I shouldn't have brought that up.
This samurai-ish looking dude absolutely agreed with my free speech stance. "Nobody can tell me what I can and cannot say!" He stated emphatically.
He shows up again alongside his two Jedi friends. They are now all off to fight for free speech everywhere. Godspeed, good gentlemen.
Another nice Alice in Wonderland costume. She looks like she'd rather spend eternity drinking tea with the Mad Hatter than even flip through just 3 pages of my book.
So, that was my Fan Expo 2018 experience. Here's hoping that the expo of 2019 will be just as memorable.
For another year, I will once again be selling my wares at the Fan Expo here in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. It will be on the weekend of May 5 and May 6 at Evraz Place. And, like previous years, I will by selling my comic book Censor Monkeys Have No Class.
If you didn't get a chance to buy it the previous two times I had a table at the Fan Expo, then hopefully your luck will change and you'll manage to buy a copy this year.
I'll be located in the same spot in Artist's Alley I've been every time I book a table at this event. To find me, just follow the arrows.
Like every year, the Fan Expo likes to invite celebrities to help draw in some big crowds. This year, the line up goes as follows:
Jason Priestly - He's best known for his role in the teen drama Beverly Hills 90210. He played the part of........... the guy with the hair that all the girls wanted. Or maybe he was just hired to protect everyone else there from the wrath of Shannon Dougherty. Actually, I avoided that show. But, anyway, he will be there.
Megan Follows - She is best known for her portrayal of Anne of Green Gables. I think everyone who was alive in 1985 and lived in Canada at the time saw this made for TV movie series.
Kristy Swanson - She is the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer. You see, it was a movie before it was a TV show. It would've been fun if the Expo had also invited Sarah Michelle Geller so that she and Kristy could have a pillow fight to the death and then see who is the superior Buffy. Maybe next year.
Eugene Brave Rock - He's a Native Canadian actor who played The Chief in the most recent Wonder Woman movie. I'm sure he's looking forward to constantly saying, "No, Gal Gadot is not here. Yes, I'll tell her you said 'hi'."
Charles Martinet - If his face is not at all familiar to you, it's because he's a voice actor who works with only a microphone for the most part. He does that "It's-a me, Mario" type Italian voice in every Mario video game Nintendo puts out. I recommend him for the lead in a Mussolini bio-pic.
Richard Horvitz - He's the voice of Ivader Zim. He'll be there too.
I know from previous experience that the Fan Expo is lots of fun and I hope to have even more fun this year. I will of course make a post on this very blog with photos and anecdotes about what I witnessed at or near my table, like I've always done.
