So this weekend is Planet Comicon in Kansas City, Missouri. I’ve never been before. But since I live in St. Louis I’m only a ~3-hour (maybe 3.5 hour with kids) drive… I figured why not? I’m going with my family and my buddy Jon’s family.
Fun fact. Jon owns my LCS, Altered State Comics. It’s a fantastic comic shop. They don’t have a big online presence YET but if you live in Missouri or Southern Illinois you should go check them out. Great store and event better people. Jon also created the Drunk Wooky logo. Which I love.
To make things even better, the Planet Comicon KC staff hooked me up with press passes to cover the event. So this Wookiee gets to go for free in return for sharing my experience.
Here’s why I’m going…
- Why not? Comicons are fun (I like fun) and this is a big one for Missouri and it’s their 25th anniversary.
- One of my best friends lives in Kansas City and he and his wife recently had a baby. I want to see the baby.
- I want to document the process of getting comics/merch signed, witnessed, graded, etc. at events for those that don’t go to comicon type events ever or very often.
I don’t go to comic or nerd-related events or conventions all that often. This is largely because I have 3 kids and if I’m going to go out of town it’s going to be a place that with sand, or a theme park, or mountains, or is designed for children. Plus St. Louis doesn’t currently have a big comicon type event since FanExpo St. Louis stopped happening.
While the artist and celebrity list isn’t on the same level as SDCC or NYCC, the lineup is still pretty great. There are three people in particular that I want to meet…
Ian Mcdiarmid a.k.a. Big Poppa Palpatine
Steep price on his signatures but who knows how much longer he’s going to want to do these types of events? Ya, know?
For $150, I’m only going to get one thing signed. When I was thinking about this I wanted to make sure it was something rare. Something people don’t talk about very often. I landed on a Panini Dark Italian variant of Star Wars: Darth Vader #1 by Matteo Scalera from 2015.
This was only sold in box sets of 6 variants – in Italy – back in 2015 and has all foil text on both the front and back covers. It’s dope and until now I’d never seen one in person.
Since it’s a pricey signature that I plan to get graded – I went the safe route and bought a slab that was already a 9.8. I then busted that mug open for Ian to sign. Here’s the process in one minute.
This was my first time cracking a slab. But it got the job and the book seems to be in the same shape it was when it was sealed.
If you’re wanting more details on how I did it, just watch this video. That’s pretty much what I did.
Nika Futterman a.k.a. Asajj Ventress
With Asajj included in the season 3 trailer for The Bad Batch I had to get something signed by her. Asajj is a great character. She’s great in The Clone Wars show, the Dark Disciple novel, and in pretty much any comic she’s been in.
Here’s what I’m having Nika sign…
I chose those books because of the cover art.
Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories #5 cover B by Cary Nord is one of the best portrayals of Asajj and Dooku’s relationship in my humble opinion and John Tyler Christopher’s recent Negative Space exclusive on Star Wars #41 is just perfect for signatures.
Meaning I chose them because I like them.
Kevin Eastman a.k.a. the guy who created The Ninja Turtles
I was born in 1988. I was a child throughout the 90s. TMNT was my shit. I had a million different action figures, coloring books, etc.
Of course I’m going to see Eastman.
I actually don’t know what I’m going to have Eastman sign. I don’t really collect TMNT comics or toys.
I do have some hardcover books of the recent Last Ronin stuff. (which are fantastic btw)
The initial plan was to have him sign my Star Wars: Darth Vader – Black, White, and Red #4 1:25 variant (his only Star Wars comic cover) but it had some secret spine ticks on the back that I must have missed when I got it. Such is life.
So, as I write this, I plan to figure it out once I’m there. There shouldn’t be any shortage of Eastman created art at the event.
There are more, but those three are the three that I’m absolutely waiting in line for.
Though I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t considering getting Danielle Fishel (Topanga from Boy Meets World) to sign something. I genuinely considered having her sign a Star Wars comic to get grades just so I could flex about having the only 9.8 Star Wars book signed by Topanga. It’s a dumb idea but that’s the stuff that makes me smile.
Here’s the full guest list if you’re curious.
But that’s it for now.
I’ll share my experience at the event all day on Saturday and throughout next week with some larger breakdowns of what I did. If you want me to do anything specific just DM me on Instagram or Twitter.
For light and life!
Grand Admiral Frik
