Well, in a year where I have had so many new experiences, last weekend I had another one. DD had an op last month (she is now fine by the way and fully recovered), the date of which came out of the blue so she wouldn’t be able to make use of the tickets she’s bought for Comic Con Scotland in Edinburgh. I didn’t want to see her out of pocket so said I would buy them from her, and after discussing the proposition with Mr WIAA we decided to make use of them and go! And so we ended up driving down as Storm Austin was battering the country and faced the prospect of driving home as Storm Boelo hit our neck of the woods. But hey, we are long-term fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and two of the cast were going to be there as well as many others from the films and shows we love.
Our tickets were for 9am and our hotel was nearby so we got an early start. Even before we got inside the big building near the airport, we could tell it was going to be a fun day as lots of fans were already dressed up as their favourite characters. But it’s not called dressing up when you are a fan of cult films, TV series and comics, it’s called Cosplay. The first chap we encountered once we got in was dressed as someone we weren’t sure of, but he was happy for me to take his picture, as was everyone else as the day went on.
After a wander around to get our bearings we headed to the Q&A area where Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase) and Julie Benz (Darla) from Buffy were going to be interviewed and field questions from the audience. What a lovely pair of ladies they are and so different from the roles they played in the show – Cordy was Head “Popular” at Sunnydale High who regularly insulted and ridiculed the other characters, and Darla was a vampire. The ladies had enjoyed their time in Edinburgh apparently doing all sorts of touristy things and were now happy to recount tales of their time on set.
The downside of these conventions is that everything costs money and I shudder to think how much you would have had to pay to get an autograph and photo taken with all your favourite stars. I tried to take sneaky pictures of some of them at a distance at their signing tables, but their “people” were not having any of that malarkey so we continued to wander through the halls getting photos of the best dressed fans (see below).
I wasn’t able to catch a glimpse of any of the Stranger Things actors but I did get quite close to three of the Sons Of Anarchy bikers, who were really good with the fans. Kim Coates (Tig) even came out and did a group hug with some of them (he has the palest blue eyes I think I’ve ever seen). Although the 95-year-old William Shatner (Captain James T Kirk) was definitely there, he was kept behind a curtained area so we were going to have to wait until his Q&A to see him.
When we got to 1.30pm it was time for us to get our photo taken with Charisma Carpenter as that was the one DD had booked for herself, but now would miss out on. When we got to her curtained area the queue was already massive so we seriously thought we wouldn’t make it to the front before they shut up shop. Amazingly we did however and again she was really nice telling us where and how to stand, despite the fact she must have done this about a hundred times already. Unfortunately Mr WIAA shut his eyes in the first shot so we had to go back and get another – both photos were already printed off by the time we left the area. If someone had told me back in 2004, the year we bought and watched all seven series of Buffy in boxset form, that in 22 years time I would be standing next to Cordy getting a photo taken, I would never have believed them. Of course it was sad that DD couldn’t be there but hopefully she’ll do it another time. For anyone unfamiliar with the show or characters, this might help.
Photo taken, we had a fair bit of hanging around to do before Captain Kirk’s appearance so we checked out the many, many stalls selling merchandise, all very pricey. A light sabre for £150 anyone? Eschewing the light sabre, we made do with a Stranger Things key fob for £5. It was obvious by this time that the storm outside was starting to kick in and conscious of the fact that we would end up driving the 150 miles home in the rain and dark if we waited much longer, we made the executive decision to cut our losses and head off. William Shatner (cross-fingers) will have to wait until another convention. All this of course reminded me of that great punk record by Spizzenergi, Where’s Captain Kirk?
I have shared songs from Awesome Mixtape 2 around here before, a cassette of songs made for me by a music-loving friend back in the mid-80s. I’m not sure what happened to Awesome Mixtape 1 but I do remember that Spizzenergi’s song was on it. It really is something special and it seems they were the first band to top the newly created UK Indie Chart early in 1980 with the single. More than two decades after its release, it was included in Mojo magazine’s list of the best punk rock singles of all time. Well deserved.
So, “What’s It All About?” – Would I go to another Comic Con after experiencing this one? You know what, I really think I would but next time I would want to dress up, or cosplay as they say. Mr WIAA is already thinking along the lines of Deadpool (?!) but not as easy for females of my vintage. Something that involves a mask I suspect as who wants to see someone who has just started drawing her state “remuneration” dressed as Buffy or Princess Leia?
There is no doubt that many of the people who get drawn into these cult film and TV show universes were those perhaps on the fringes, who didn’t always fit into the main social groups. How great is it that they can find other like-minded people and have a grand old time with them. Just about everyone at our hotel the night before was discussing the convention and there were hair colours of every hue in abundance. 10 years ago that would have been DD but she seems to have gone more mainstream nowadays what with a husband, a house in suburbia and a sensible job. I know however that deep down inside we all remember well the year 2004, when we fully embraced the Buffyverse. I have even taken to wearing my claddagh ring again (true fans will understand).
Until next time…
Where’s Captain Kirk? Lyrics
(Song by Spizz/Mark Coalfield)
I was beamed aboard the starship enterprise
What I felt, what I saw was a total surprise
I looked around and wondered can this be
Or is this the start of my insanity
Oh but it’s true
As we went warp factor 2
And I met all of the crew
Where’s Captain Kirk?
Where’s Captain Kirk?
(Where’s Captain Kirk?)
(Where’s Captain Kirk?)
I went to the bridge and we were tossed about
In the storm of a vortex I was hit with a doubt
I saw in a dream in a memory of mine
Was it you, me in all the time
Spock pulled me through
As we went warp factor 2
And someone I saw I knew
Who’s Captain Kirk?
Who’s Captain Kirk?
(Who’s Captain Kirk?)
(Who’s Captain Kirk?)
Where’s Captain Kirk?
Where’s Captain Kirk?
(Where’s Captain Kirk?)
(Where’s Captain Kirk?)
So when I awoke from the dangers of space
I looked and I saw a familiar face
The time warp in space made a change in me
For I was the captain and the captain was me
Yes, it’s so true
As we went warp factor 2
The changes I have been through
As Captain Kirk
I’m Captain Kirk
(He’s Captain Kirk)
(He’s Captain Kirk)
Yes, it’s so true
As we went warp factor 2
The changes I have been through
As Captain Kirk
I’m Captain Kirk
(I’m Captain Kirk)
Oh yeah, oh yeah
I’m Captain Kirk
Where’s Spock
