Our Small Man is a trooper.
As those of you who’ve been reading along for a while would know, despite serious health issues earlier on in life, he’s now an interesting, quirky sixteen year old. So delightfully quirky in fact, that whereas most teenagers admire actors or athletes, Small Man’s personal hero is veteran voice actor Rob Paulsen…
When we discovered that Rob was going to be a guest at Oz Comic Con in Melbourne, we immediately booked flights and tickets. After all, how often does life give you the opportunity to meet your heroes face to face?
It turns out that Small Man is a good judge of character, because Rob Paulsen is a really nice guy. Our son paid for a professional photo, and Rob was so pleased to see him – he shook his hand enthusiastically before chatting to him for a couple of minutes on how they should pose for the shot. Small Man left the photo booth with a grin plastered on his face for the next hour.
A little later that afternoon, we queued up to get the print signed. Rob, bless him, remembered Small Man, talked to him for a while, and made him feel special. I sheepishly gave Rob a box of brownies that I’d baked for him the night before and brought to Melbourne with us. I wish I could have given him more, because honestly, he made my son the happiest kid in the world that day.
Mr Paulsen, thank you. x
. . . . .
Oz Comic Con was a blast!
Sadly my suggestion that we attend in costume was vetoed (I wanted to dress up as ABBA, but no-one was willing to go in drag). Before we even walked in the door, we ran into The Lord of the Rings contingent…
The great thing about events such as Comic Con is that the people who attend are almost universally nice. Folks who’d put a lot of effort into their costumes were delighted if you asked to take their photos, stall holders were invariably charming and interested in the geeky details of their product, and the management was chaotic but helpful. I took 300 photos, but have just included the highlights here for you.
The Ghostbusters were drawing a big crowd, and deservedly so, as their costumes were fantastic…
For the Doctor Who fans, there was a Tardis…
…and an impressive Weeping Angel…
Star Wars fans weren’t disappointed either (and there were certainly a lot of them there)…
The guys from Resident Evil (apparently it’s a game – I had to ask Big Boy) would have been scarier if their “victim” hadn’t been grinning quite so much…
A Spiderman villain, or so I’m told…
Brave Sir Knight had trouble sitting down in his outfit – I watched him struggle to get up from the games table…
True geek heaven – there was an entire section dedicated to board game play…
There were TWO onsite tattoo booths…I felt a little queasy watching (I’m such a wuss)…
There was merchandise galore!
If you had the body for it, you could have bought a corset in every colour…
Cartoon artists occupied an entire wall of stalls, offering their brilliant pieces for sale…
The card collectors were well catered for…
I was astonished by the number of stalls offering coloured and fantasy contact lenses…
The Hulk was a true collector’s piece at $799…
…and I resisted a Sheldon Cooper doll (but was very tempted!)…
Finally, a couple of pics of my favourite stall, selling gorgeous steampunk costume pieces…
More photos from our Melbourne trip to follow!
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
looks fun and whacky! What is steam punk?
Nic, steampunk is a genre of science fiction, based around the premise that steam became the predominant power source rather than electricity. :) There’s a bit about it here – and your kids will know all about it, I’m sure.. :)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_punk
Thank God Nic was here before me as I have never ever even heard of the gentleman before! Now, am putting this aside and having a s.l.o.w look afterwards to try and understand just a little bit :) ! Am so glad your son appreciated and methinks your box was equally appreciated: however ‘wacky’, I am certain he has a sweet tooth :D !!!
Eha, there’s a bit on steampunk here – it’s a genre of science fiction:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_punk
It’s certainly very geeky if it’s not your thing, luckily I have two sons AND I’m an old comic book fan from way back! :)
May I laugh? I am SO out of this, but surely shall look up your link and learn! Thanks!! Yes well, would you believe my parents did not allow me anywhere near a comic book . . . the closest was the comics page in the SMH and I got ‘ticked off’ if either parent saw me on THAT page :) !!!!
Am waiting for an email message, so went to your link! How fascinating!! Jules Verne, HG Wells, the Victorian Era, art nouveau etc et al! Have to research this further!! I was very much considered a geek in ‘my time’!!!! But fair go for ‘mature’ gals like me since the movement began in 1987!!! I had done a lot of living before then :) !
oh I wish I could have gone, I was in Melbourne in February (for a Star Trek convention) and i’m going again in a couple of weeks, the timing was just wrong. The last convention I went to I (and my son) were one of only 5 or 6 people who were in costume, definitely not the same as the conventions I used to go to 20 years ago :( I’m glad your son had a great time.
Lauren, if you get to go to the next one of these, make sure you dress up! There were SO many people in costume this year! :)
I will try :D I love going to conventions, its where a group of same minded individuals can feel normal :D
My Small Man would have LOVED to have gone, but alas another time. Speaking of time, your whispering angel is actually a Weeping Angel, and if David Tennant or Matt Smith was there, we would have had to manipulate both time and space to get there!
Tania, thank you for pointing that out, I *did* actually know that, so I’m blaming jetlag (even though Melbourne and Sydney are on the same time zone :)). I’ve changed it now before my friends Lil and Luca ring to tell me off! :)
Ahh yes – Whovians are very passionate people!
That story left me all goosebumpy. Is there anything better than seeing your child happy like that? I think you’re a scream for thinking of taking brownies. What a great idea.
There really was nothing better, M, he was just so happy! And I kept thinking that Rob and the others would have missed the 4th July to make it to the convention on the 6th in Australia, so then I thought about baking him some brownies. I was on a bit of a manic brownie kick last week – thankfully a few days in Melbourne seems to have broken the cycle (before I broke the scales!). :)
What a thrill for Small Man and you and Pete are the best parents! And of course you gave his hero a box of brownies! Seeing that hulk there reminded me of a few months ago when I was in our local bookstore with my small man and the only other customer in the shop was the hulk himself with his two kids. I whispered to my Small Man that he was in the presence of the Hulk but he didn’t believe it was him – he wasn’t looking green or very bulky and he had a cap pulled right down over his head! xx
Oooh, the Aussie one? He’s a great actor, but I can still remember when he did stand-up comedy! :)
How very wonderful for small man indeed Celia! Isn’t it lovely that his hero totally lived up to his expectations. I think the boys were mean not to costume up with you, and would have made a beeline for the steam punk booth first of all :) xox
Becca, it was just the best! The steampunk stuff was just gorgeous, all fakes of course, but beautifully finished!
How lovely for Small Man and your family and how lovely too that he has such a nice hero; it’s nice to know you’ve got kids who have role models you can like! What fun and it would have been hysterical to dress up as ABBA! When I’m alone and dancing in the kitchen to ABBA, I think (but of course, I would) that I don’t do a half-bad job:) In public, I reckon I could do almost anything for fun if I could wear a mask – and if everyone else is loopy at the same time – what’s to lose!!
Jan, I wanted to go in a blonde wig as Agnetha, but the boys all pointed out to me that it wasn’t appropriate for Comic Con (it wasn’t “Disco Con”, apparently). :)
I saw Oz Comic Con snippets on the news so I can imagine how great it was to attend. I am so delighted for Small Man! It’s wonderful when your heroes live up to your expectations — my hero and meeting was (gulp) 38 years ago when I met Gough Whitlam, I was a little older than Small Man is now.
Rose, isn’t Gough Whitlam an amazing man? I was at a wedding years ago where he did the bible reading – it was truly astonishing! I’m glad you got to meet him! :) xx
Isn’t it great when people you admire turn out to be great in person??? This event must be a bit like the huge comic and games festival in Lucca every year. Italians like nothing better than a chance to dress up…for this reason it is a fun few days in Lucca.
Deb, so great and SUCH a relief! I so didn’t want Small Man to be disappointed! Why does it not surprise me that the Italians love to dress up? ;-)
What a fun day out Celia. I bet you were clicking away all day capturing all the wonderful costumes and sights. What a treat for Small Man.
I must admit that I probably wouldn’t be comfy dressing up in a costume either – oh dear – what a party pooper I am. Pete and I always sigh when there is a themed evening for birthdays. Sorry!
:-) Mandy xo
Mandy, that’s because people know who you are. It might be different if you were completely anonymous – wig and mask – it’s the superhero secret identity thing.. ;-)
Small Man has a good ear.
He really does, Peter! Not a bad eye, either, he notices details most of us miss. Then again, sometimes he doesn’t hear or see things right in front of him, although I put that down to having a teenage brain. :)
You guys look like you had such a great time! I have to admit that I had no idea who most of the costumes were but I did recognise Sheldon Cooper although the doll isn’t really that much like him :)
We had the best time! None of the dolls were particularly good likenesses, but cute nonetheless! :)
That’s a very cool trip to share together as a family. I’m glad that Small Man’s hero lived up to expectations.
I am too, Jo, I really am. I love that all the mothers who comment completely understand how I felt, thank you! :)
How very lovely of you and Pete. When I was younger than him my parents just made fun of my heros’s, dont ever ask me …who. It looks like such fun. I imagined what fun you were having all weekend
Such a good time! My feet are sore now from all the walking! :)
This all looks pretty cool Celia…but really what it tells me is that you are an amazing mum, spending time doing things that make your son happy and making the effort to be interested in his ‘stuff’. The brownies top it off…I bet Rob loved them x
Jane, thank you! Rob did like the brownies, he just sent me a tweet! Yaay! :)
I echoed Jane@Shady Baker’s words – she said it all!
Gosh, I love that red corset in the middle of the photo – gorgeous!!!!
what a fun event, Celia, made me think of our favorite TV show, Big Bang Theory ;-)
let me clarify: the corset would never leave home, obviously… no chance I would step out of the house wearing THAT ;-)
C’mon Sally, with a mask, no-one would ever know it was you! :D I think you’d look fabulous in them too – and for the workmanship involved, I thought they were a steal at $40 each! You’ll have to go to the next Comic Con and pick a few up – Phil would love it, I’m sure.. hehehe
Very exciting and you and Pete are great parents. I love the brownie bit- Of Course you made brownies for him- and I know he loved them. Jordan loves Art museums and we have made the rounds of every one we ever got close to- Much easier when his heroes are mostly all deceased- you don’t have to worry about their character although you also don’t get to make them brownies. :)
Thanks for sharing all the pictures- this was a very entertaining post!
Heidi, thank you, it was great fun for all of us! I’m not usually a fan of big crowds, but this crowd was really friendly and just so interesting!
Love the corsets of course! I could wear one on the farm. What a fantastic day for you all! Lovely portraits too of all the um.. unusual people! c
Darling, you would have fit into all of them as well. You wouldn’t have known which one to choose, they were all so gorgeous!
hahahahahha,..;what a lovely event if you are into that such of thing! :)
Sophie, it really was geek heaven! :D
hihihihi! ;)
What a glorious time. Our ComicCon is next week. Can’t wait! Maz
Maz, you’re going to the San Diego one? Wow…how wonderful that you got tickets! :)
I am lucky enough (fans self) to get pro passes every year. This year I’m riding down on the train with the “Legends of Animation” panel. I’m a groupie. :-)
The Legendary Animators of Classic ’60s Cartoons
Legendary and award-winning animators Bob Singer (character and background designer, Bugs Bunny/Scooby Doo), Art Leonardi (designer/director, Pink Panther),Willie Ito (layout artist/Bugs Bunny, Flintstones), and Iraj Paran (character and title designer, Super Friends, Josie and the Pussycats), share their vast experience shaping animation history and creating hundreds of classic characters and cartoons we love from Disney, Warner Brothers, and Hanna Barbera, with over 100 years of experience among them.
Maz…I’m speechless…that is AMAZING!! Good for you, darling! xx
Now that looks like a lot of fun & what a great day your son had. Nice to hear that there are still nice guys out there.
Diana, it really was the best weekend we’ve had in ages! :)
What a great story….. I like the gift of Brownies. I’m sure they were well appreciated and made his trip that bit more memorable, especially as you say he was away for 4th July. Was there any Archie comics characters at the convention?
Craig, not a single one! Nor any being sold on the stalls either! I looked out especially for them! :)
What absolute fun, Celia!
Lizzy, it was just the best! :)
Oh give me a couple more years and my boys would absolutely love going to something like this…and *ahem* me! New Dr Who this year Celia, who will it be, who will it be??
Brydie, it’s coming to Sydney next year! :) And I’m still hoping for Rupert Grint as the Ultimate Ginge, but I suspect he might be a bit TOO young…
What a nice guy Rob Paulsen turned out to be and what an experience for Small Man! Though I’ve never been to Comic Con, I’ve heard so many great things about them. I’m glad you were able to do this for Small Man. I’m sure he’ll never forget going. Way to go Mom & Dad! :)
John, thank you. x Apparently the Comic Cons in the US are truly amazing! :)
I’m guessing Small Man was the only kid whose mum is cool enough to bake and take brownies for his hero!
ED, I love that you think that’s cool, thank you. I felt a bit dorky, actually.. ;-)
What a great time Celia for children of all ages! Bet you are Small Man’s Superwomen with the brownie cape too!
Cheers! Joanne
He spent the weekend on cloud 9, Joanne! :)
I must say that sounds like a fun adventure. :)
Karen, it really was! It was so nice to get away as a family – doesn’t happen as much now Big Boy is in his twenties!
It’s another world….the dressing up! Think you would have made a great Agnetha!
I’d need a blonde wig, but I already have the white beret! :)
Comic Con is always soo fun! I love seeing all the cosplayers. My daughter is really into that now. she’s dressed as Sherlock (BBC version) and is starting to grow her steam punk costume. We’ll be going to Edmonton Comic con in September.
Isn’t it a blast? We’re so looking forward to going again – it’s coming to Sydney next year!