GeekFest 2006

Otherwise known as Wizard World Los Angeles!

Back in March, Mikey and I took a lovely trip downtown to the oh-so-wonderful LA Convention Center (with the easiest parking in the area) where the event was being held. LA is just one of the stops on the Wizard "tour" (which includes Philly, Chicago and Arlington, TX). And this being LA, where all the stars are, it surely has to be the best for autograph collecting, my real reason for showing up! Yes, how very, very sad!

This wasn't my first comic/action-figure/geek convention, a few years back I did go to the Baltimore Comic-Con, though it truly paled in comparison (especially for autograph junkies). Scheduled to appear were Kevin Smith, Marlon & Shawn Wayans, Lou Ferrigno, Ray Park (what an ass!), and a whole bunch of comic book artists, writers and inkers. But who did I want to see and chat with? None other than all those ex-Buffy and Angel stars in attendance!

Unfortunately, this autograph thing ain't cheap! Did I really want to spend over $200.00 on signed photos? Absolutely not, so sorry Elizabeth Rohm (Det. Kate Lockley) and Andy Hallett (Lorne), I just couldn't justify the expense (though from watching him interact with the fans Andy was by far the most personable star there).

I most wanted to meet Charisma Carpenter, who played Cordelia on both shows. I was hoping for an Angel-esq. cutesy Cordy, unfortunately, Charisma was much more like the icy high-school cheerleader character she played on Buffy. At least the photo was hot!

Next up was Christian Kane aka Lindsey McDonald aka "Idaho Guy. Mike dared me to go up to him and say " What's up Idaho Guy?" I did, proving myself to be a really big 'mo. Luckily Christian was just so cool, he didn't give a damn.

Best of the bunch by far was Wolfram & Hart's head bitch, Lilah Morgan, played by Stephanie Romanov. Not only was Stephanie incredibly tall, busty and personable, but she also really knew her stuff. I had just been watching Angel, Season 3, mentioned to her the episode where she gets beaten up by the Asian guy from Lost, and she began talking in depth about the episode, her character, etc. I just geekily gushed all over her, I think Mike was quite embarrassed!

Overall it was a very good afternoon. I met some stars. I got some comics. I saw a bunch of collectible items I'd really quite like. I even saw some artwork I was quite partial to. I can't wait till the next one, Joe and I are going down to San Diego for the daddy of them all: the Comic Con International!

[ I don't know why I never wrote about this before, especially with the pictures et al, somehow it just slipped through the cracks. ]