Salt Lake City FanX: A Solo Experience

Last month, I went to Salt Lake City FanX after not attending for the last five years. I went with a coworker on Thursday and again on Saturday by myself. Going on Saturday was my first time ever solo, and I wondered what it would be like. I ended up enjoying myself. I discovered three reasons why I liked it, but also one reason why I didn’t.

Likes: 

1. Prioritizing What I Wanted

At every FanX I’ve gone to, there are certain celebrities that I want to meet and souvenirs to purchase to commemorate my experience, and this one was no different. I planned to meet the actresses, Melissa Gilbert (Laura Ingalls Wilder) and Alison Arngrim (Nellie Oleson) from the 1970s and 80s television show, Little House on the Prairie, and to attend their panel. I also wanted to meet the host of a tv series I watched as a boy, Reading Rainbow’s Levar Burton. In addition, I anticipated purchasing a Disney lapel pin, Funko Pops (a FanX favorite), and possibly a piece of artwork for my souvenirs. Prioritizing whom I wanted to meet and what souvenirs to get helped me know how to spend my time at FanX.

2. Setting my Own Pace

Once I had secured the registration band to my wrist, I entered the main floor of the Salt Palace where FanX was being held and set a casual pace. Usually, I grow frustrated with how slow or fast and the directions the masses of people take, but this time I tried to remain calm and relaxed. As I did, I found myself smiling as I leisurely followed the flow, soaking in the atmosphere. I walked the aisles of vendors’ stalls, enjoying taking time to explore what interested me. I went early to celebrities’ booths, so I had time to meet and briefly chat with each of them. In an effort not to feel rushed, I decided when I wanted to leave the convention, and then gave myself plenty of time to look for souvenirs. 

3. Interacting with Fellow FanXers

In the past, I went to FanX with friends. We would talk about the actors and actresses we’d met, panels attended, and the merchandise and cosplayers that we had seen. When I was nervous before meeting a celebrity, they gave me needed encouragement. With them present, I wasn’t inclined to step out of my comfort zone and speak to other attendees beyond complimenting their costumes. This time however, in addition to praising some on their cosplays, I engaged in conversations with others. As I waited in line at “Celebrity Row” to meet Levar Burton, I spoke with one person about the shows in which he appeared. We also talked about other famous guests we met and our interactions with them. While exploring “Artist Alley,” I spoke with Zack Smith about the works he was selling as I perused his portfolios. Curious, I asked him about the process of getting a spot at FanX, if business was going well, and praised his clever artwork. I ended up purchasing two of his pieces; they were too irresistible to pass up. Whether waiting in line with another attendee or speaking with a seller, interacting with them reminded me that others were just as enthusiastic as I was to be at FanX.

Check out more of Zack Smith's art on Instagram and Facebook

Dislike: 

Being Unable to Share the Experience In-Person

As much as I enjoyed attending FanX solo, it was still different from the other times I’d gone. I was unable to share my experiences with friends or family in-person. Happy over meeting the stars of Little House on the Prairie and Reading Rainbow, I texted the selfies that I took and brief descriptions of my interactions with them to my family. They were delighted for me and asked what it was like meeting the celebrities. I also periodically texted a friend with whom I’ve attended FanX in past years. I told him about the cosplays I saw and my observations of the event after being absent from it for five years. Yes, I was sharing my experiences in real time with loved ones, but an iPhone can only communicate their words, not their tone, facial expressions, and body language.

I had a great time going to FanX by myself. I plan to go again next year. Now that I know what it’s like to attend solo, I will prioritize my time to meet whom I want and to shop. I will pace myself so that I can take in as much of the experience as I can. I will step out of my comfort zone by talking with other attendees. And I’ll remember that there is a drawback of not being able to share the event with others in-person.

Once a Ranger, Always a Ranger: The Legacy of Jason David Frank

As I was about to settle in for a Sunday nap, I got a text from a friend that Jason David Frank, one of the original Power Rangers and one of my childhood heroes, died this weekend, reportedly from suicide. Normally celebrity deaths don't rock me too much (don't get me wrong, all their deaths are sad). However, I've met Jason David Frank and even after all these years he's still Tommy Oliver to me (even more since meeting him). 

He began his legacy in Power Rangers as the evil Green Ranger. After being freed from Rita's control, it wasn't long before he led the Ranger team as the White Ranger and later the Red Zeo and Turbo Rangers. But to those familiar with the franchise,  there's no  red to rehash his character's life story.

When I met JDF at Salt Lake FanX 2016, I was impressed by his love for his fans. He said he wanted the 100th person in line to feel just as important as the first. He's the standard to which I compare all celebrity meet and greet (Well, him and Catherine Tate). His legacy goes deeper than his long history as a Power Ranger. To many who treasure the franchise, he raised them when their parents were busy working or were otherwise unavailable. He taught kids to stand up for themselves and yet to still be kind. He taught how to be a leader and a mentor. It's strange to think there can be no more Tommy Oliver surprise appearances in the future of Power Rangers.

While still unconfirmed, it's rumored that he died by suicide. This pangs me even more… he gave to his fans and wanted them to feel special and important… yet he had internal anguish and pain that was never resolved. 

Suicide is very preventable cause of death… and men are four times as likely to die this way. I want to ask all men (and women) to step up. If you've contemplated or attempted suicide, I'm glad you're still here. If you are currently dealing with depressive, anxious, or suicidal thoughts, please reach out for help. The world has already lost one hero this week, we don't need to lose you too. 

To Jason David Frank, Tommy Oliver will live on in the hearts of Ranger fans forever. Once a ranger, always a Ranger!

Dos and Don'ts of Comic Con

(Guest Post by Ken)

Last year when I attended FaxExpo Dallas , I did it with one of my kids in tow each day. This year, I mixed it up and brought kids one day, then came solo the next day. With this varied experience and now two years of attending a Con under my belt, I’ve come up with some dos and don’ts for attending a comic con:

DO: Use public transportation to get there

DON’T: Expect to find nice parking

This is at least true of the Dallas Con. On day one I took the train and it was nice and convenient, even with a train change (I also did this last year). On day two I thought maybe I’d save time by driving directly and parking, because I knew traffic would be light on Saturday. BIG MISTAKE. While the drive time itself was a bit shorter than the train ride, finding parking added 45 MINUTES OF MADNESS. There is no parking assistance attendants directing traffic and I ultimately had to park over a half mile away in a random paid lot.

DO: Bring water bottles and some snacks if you can

DON’T: Plan on buying food “quickly” between other things on your schedule

Walking around the conference is hard work! Stay hydrated and keep the energy up along the way. And be aware that if the con you go to is like Dallas, there will not be enough food options for attendees. Lines were nearly an hour long on Saturday. I was surprised that the food vendor stations and footprint were exactly identical to last year (when many people still stayed away due to Covid). They had not planned for the increase of attendees in a post-Covid world. So don’t bank on food being quick and easy to buy at the con (not to mention affordable—think airport prices)!

DO: Take your kids to the family-friendly stuff

DON’T: Bring small kids with you the WHOLE time

Last year I always had a kid with me, which really limited me to doing what would hold their interest. I actually did enjoy taking my kids, but this year it was nice to only have them for part of it. They still had a blast, but I also got to go hand out with my grown-up friends and do stuff they thought would be boring, like listen to panels. If you can work out a way to bring kids for some but not all of the conference, that’s ideal. Best way to plan ahead is to check out the schedule in advance to find both when the family friendly stuff is happening, and when the stuff YOU want is, so you can decide when best to have them with you. Better yet, if your spouse comes you could trade off having the kids.

DO: Check out the vendor floor

DON’T: Linger in the walkway on the vendor floor

Oh, the vendor floor! What an arena of confusion and bustling excitement and overwhelming claustrophobia! There was a lot of unused floor space at Dallas they could have used to widen the corridors between booths, but instead they designed as cramped of a setup as possible. Nonetheless, the vendor floor is a fascinating place worth a stroll for the people watching and to see the amazing collection of niche products. All I’ve bought each year is some comic books (that I let my kids pick). I’m not much of a merchandise-collector myself. But I still found the walk to be amusing and fun, albeit too crowded. And please if you want to check something out closer, approach the booth and clear the way for others passing rather than stopping in the passing space and causing a traffic jam!

DO: Attend celebrity panels

DON’T: Stand in autograph lines

My “don’t” here may sound like heresy to die-hard con fans, but I truly think standing in line for 2+ hours (this seemed to be the average wait time on Saturday) to meet a celebrity for 30 seconds while they scribble their name on a photo for you and then charge you $100+ is NOT WORTH IT. Especially since you can typically still have great interaction with celebrities by attending their very entertaining panel discussions and sessions, where they often have open-mic Q&A sessions where you can still have an interaction moment—for free! But what about the signature, you ask? Did you know that nearly all celebrities will send a signed letter or photo to you in the mail FOR FREE if you send them fan mail? No 2 hour wait among crowded sweaty people required, and it only costs 50 cents for a postage stamp. (My father has collected literally thousands of celebrity signatures this way)

DO: Attend something new you may not know much about beforehand

DON’T: Waste time somewhere if you’re bored

These are rules I first learned by attending professional conferences over the years, specifically regarding break-out sessions. Some of my favorite sessions as such conferences are often ones I didn’t know much about before but learned a lot at. That was true at FanExpo as well. My kids and I decided to attend a session by a kid’s book illustrator. He live drew pictures quickly on a projector as he told stories live and also discussed illustration and his career. At the end, he gave most of the drawings to my kids! It was really interesting and fun. On the other hand, sometimes a session, even one you were excited for, turns out to be a dud. There are lots of things to do, so if you are 5 minutes into a session and it wasn’t what you hoped, don’t be afraid to jump ship and go somewhere else! You are paying good money to be there and should get the most out of it.

Comic Con on a Budget

If you're like me with a budding career, a small family, and always bills to pay, you don't exactly have the money to buy great extravagant souvenirs at a convention. If you're like me, you might just feel lucky to get through the door. So if your budget is limited, but you still want to enjoy your next Con, here's what I learned about the experience at Fan Expo Dallas this year.

Merchandise

If you have a few bucks to spare, there are always great collectables and memorabilia. Be smart with it though. Cross-reference your purchases at the booths with prices you could expect with Ebay or Amazon. I remember finding a Digimon plush at FanX (and I love any Digimon merch), but Amazon had it for $10 cheaper. Pro tip: sometimes vendors will reduce their prices on the last day of the Con so they have less to transport out of the convention center afterwards. Bottom line: If you're going to buy merch at a Con, make it something you can't get cheaper elsewhere or something rare enough that the higher price is worth it.

Artist Alley

I have to pull myself away from Artist Alley sometimes because I love the artwork so much. I want to buy all of it but it'll be years before I have a man cave to display it all. That doesn't mean I can't enjoy it though. Until I have the space and money for that artwork, I've taken to following my favorite artists on social media so that I can keep tabs on their work. Let's me know if there's some art I want to buy and it feels my social media feed with something more joyful than whatever tragedy is happening today. Here are just a few of the artists I started following this weekend: Greg Horn, Dominic Glover, Brittany Ann, Judy Blu, and Brett Mitchell.

Celebrities

Meeting a celebrity is fun and exhilarating, but so very expensive. If you have some money to meet a celebrity, I would suggest seeing if they do photos at their autograph booths, instead of a professional photo--you get more time with them that way. You can also usually have multiple people in the photo op, so you can split the cost with a friend to make it more affordable--that's the only way I was able to meet David Tennant or Matt Smith. However if you're like me at Fan Expo Dallas this year and have zero dollar bills to spare for celebrities, your best bet for an interaction with them is asking a question at their panel. Sure, you're sharing the experience with hundreds of other people, but asking them a question gives you a moment of interaction with them for free. I still have my video of asking Jason David Frank about being a Power Ranger.

Panels

Speaking of panels, if you don't have any money for merchandise or artwork, you might enjoy spending your time at Q&A panels. Whether it's a celebrity panel or a fan panel, it can be a fun way to get to know others' perspectives with your fandom. Also, if you have been window shopping (which I often will spend hours doing), panels are also the perfect opportunity to rest your feet. Seriously, the only time I get more steps than a Con is at Disney Parks.

Cosplay

If you enjoy dressing up, cosplay can be another fun way to enjoy the convention. Budget can make this one hard, but I've written two blog posts about making it work on a budget (read part one here and part two here). If you're not comfortable dressing up but still enjoy the costumes, that's okay too. People-watching is one of my favorite activities at a Con. It's very affirming to have a stranger compliment your costume or to have someone ask for your picture. You can even turn this people-watching into a game. Last month I wrote about doing a Comic Con Bingo card. If you don't want something as strict as a bingo card, you can play your own game. For example, someone I met at Fan Expo Dallas was playing "Avengers Bingo". Basically he was trying to get a picture as many Avengers characters as possible (which worked out well because I was dressed as Captain America).

So take these tips into account when you're at your next Con and make the most of your time. It's a blast to be with friends old and new.

Why We Still Need Superhero Movies

Okay if you haven’t seen it yet watch this:
You remember those guys?
You remember that feeling when you saw the Avengers talk to kids in the hospital or give stuff away or show up to places in costume?
Once upon a time the superhero craze was riding high, and while some may critique it as another fad in cinema or something silly and unrealistic, the power of the craze can’t be argued with. Suddenly millions of people were talking about Iron Man and Thor at work, in church, and everywhere else you could think of. For an adult who grew up loving superheroes but having them immediately dismissed as something for kids, this was liberating. Suddenly I wasn’t a geek, I was a fan just like everyone else. Suddenly the heroes I admired and read about and loved were there for everyone to love and care about.
That all changed when COVID-19 attacked.
I know we haven’t spoken much about the pandemic, mainly because we want Latter-Day Saint Geeks to be a fun place for us to share our fandoms, but I want to digress for a moment and talk about something we lost: our superheroes.
See, aside from their movies with the big budgets and flashy lights, the casts of our favorite superhero movies, whether Marvel, DC or wherever Deadpool lands, were always out living up to their onscreen personas. They were actively talking about causes they were passionate about. They talked to fans online and in person. They stole costumes from the sets so they could go to charity events not as Chris Pratt or Henry Cavill, but as Star Lord and Superman. They gave us a world with real superheroes.

Now, sadly, the cameras are off. Production has ground to a halt and releases have been pushed back. Our heroes in the interest of public safety have quarantined themselves from the public like the rest of us, performing the most heroic act they could at this time: helping to keep everyone safe. There are no more random public appearances. No more comic con. No more opening night buzz about who the new villain is going to be, and at a time when we need it most we don’t have our heroes.
Until this little spot of light.

A kid who has literally grown up in the age of heroes performed a truly heroic act and saved his sister, and our heroes, ever wanting to praise those like them, have made an appearance to make this young Avenger smile. It reminds us that the superheroes are still there. The Avengers, the Justice League, the X-Men, they’re not lost forever, they’re just in hibernation. One day the winter that has been most of this year will end and they’ll be able to come out again. Someday Wonder Woman will take on Cheetah and Maxwell Lord and Black Widow will defeat Taskmaster and the world will be as it should. Till then it’s nice to see little glimpses of what we once had and what we will have again.

Meeting Royalty of the House of Mouse at Salt Lake City Spring FanX

(Guest Post by David T)

I was a teenager when Disney’s Aladdin and Pocahontas premiered in theaters in 1992 and 1995. As an avid fan of Walt Disney feature animation at that time, I learned who animated and voiced each character, particularly the heroes and heroines (the female leads who would later comprise the Disney Princess franchise). I knew that Aladdin was voiced by Scott Weinger with Brad Kane singing for him; that Linda Larkin and Lea Salonga spoke and sang for Jasmine; and that Pocahontas’ speaking and singing vocals were provided by Irene Bedard and Judy Kuhn.
As I grew older, I wondered what the women and men were like behind their iconic characters. I imagined what it’d be like to meet them in person, but never believing I would. Well, my dreaming became a reality when I had the pleasure of meeting Pocahontas (Irene Bedard), Aladdin (Scott Weinger), and Jasmine (Linda Larkin) at Salt Lake City Spring FanX two weeks ago.

Irene Bedard (Pocahontas):
Even though I was excited to meet all three actors, I was also very nervous. So I mustered the courage and met Irene Bedard first.

Irene reminded of Pocahontas. Like the titular animated character, Miss Bedard was dignified, and as I spoke with her, I could tell she loved and was proud of her Native American heritage. At the same time, Irene was warm and engaging. She actively listened as I shared my love for Pocahontas, and laughingly smiled when I expressed how excited I was when she joined Scott and Linda for their Aladdin panel earlier in the day. I took a photo with Irene at her autograph table, and at the conclusion, she expressed the wish that I would enjoy the rest of my day.

Scott Weinger (Aladdin):
Meeting Irene Bedard gave me the confidence to meet Scott Weinger. As I was waiting to meet him, I heard Mr. Weinger say to a small group of people meeting him that he wouldn’t be on Dancing with the Stars like his Full House/Fuller House co-stars Candace Cameron Bure and Jodie Sweetin. Listening to him, it hit me that I was meeting the guy who played Steve Hale (DJ Tanner Fuller’s boyfriend) and the voice of Aladdin.

My interaction with Scott was brief. I introduced myself to him, shook his hand, and got a selfie. After the picture, Scott told me that he was enjoying himself at FanX, and then we parted.

Linda Larkin (Jasmine):
After meeting Irene and Scott, I was finally ready to meet Linda Larkin, with whom I was most nervous about interacting.

Meeting Linda Larkin was a Dream Come True! She was very friendly and welcoming when I met her. When I took my picture with her, I asked Linda to hold Rajah (the Funko I brought), and she was enthusiastic to do so. I told Miss Larkin that Jasmine is one of my favorite Disney Princesses. I shared that I immediately related to the Princess of Agrabah the first time I saw her on the big screen. I also expressed to Linda how excited I was to hear her as Jasmine in the famous Disney Princess scene in Wreck-It Ralph 2. At the end, Linda shook my hand and thanked me for coming, and I expressed my pleasure at meeting her. After meeting each of them, I thanked Linda, Scott, and Irene for coming to FanX. I expressed the hope that they would have a wonderful time while they were there, which they seemed to appreciate.

In the last two years at FanX, I have met Jodi Benson (Ariel), Christopher Daniel Barnes (Prince Eric), Paige O’Hara (Belle), and now Irene Bedard (Pocahontas), Scott Weinger (Aladdin), and Linda Larkin (Jasmine). Each has been a nerve wracking yet memorable experience. It has truly been a Dream Come True to meet face to face with the actors who brought to life the iconic and treasured Disney Princes and Princesses of my childhood and teenage years. I hope FanX continues to invite the voices behind the animated royalty of the House of Mouse, and I eagerly await to see who I’ll meet next.

SLC Comic Con 2017 Highlights

Another SLC Comic Con has come and gone. I’ve done many of these post-Con posts before, so I’ll just keep it simple with some highlights of my weekend.

Meeting Catherine Tate: You’ll know her from Doctor Who, her sketch comedy show, or the Office most likely. She’s hilarious as a comedian and she’s sweet as a person. She came half an hour late to our autograph signing, apologizing profusely, up and down the line, because she’d been caught up at the Humane Society. Not only that, but when we told Catherine Tate that the autograph we were getting was for a coworker who couldn’t make it, she gave us both a gratuitous autograph for ourselves as well. Am I bovvered? Absolutely not.

Cosplayers: As always cosplayers are one of my favorite parts of a Con. I posted several on our Mormon Geeks Facebook page over the weekend, but here were a few of my favorites: Captain Canada (yes, he’s a legit character), Galinda and Elphaba, the USS Enterprise, Pacha and Kuzco, and the Flash and Vibe. I also had a bit of cosplay inspiration of my own, which made me happy. As I’ve written before, I enjoy doing my cosplays as cheap and simple as possible. I impressed myself in being able to throw together a couple t-shirts in my closet and my Mario overalls to make a Wreck-It Ralph costume. Cosplay can definitely be cheap guys!!

Stephen Amell Panel: Some quick highlights from the Stephen Amell panel.

• ·         If he could create a superhero from scratch, he would be Superdad. So cool to see him and his wife on that panel, showing himself as a family man.
• ·         He really enjoyed the script for the crossover this year. I guess it felt like a more cohesive story, instead of feeling like individual episodes of different shows.
• ·         If he could bring a dead character back, it would be Tommy.
• ·         If he had to pick between Arsenal and Speedy, he said he’d pick Arsenal, because of the familial connection with Speedy.

Catherine Tate Panel: Some more notes. The notes WILL NOT do her justice. If you ever get the chance to see her at a Con, just go. You’ll thank me later.

• ·         I asked her what she thinks Donna’s been doing since she got married at the end of the Tenth Doctor era. She thinks Donna spent all her lottery winnings pretty quick and now she’s back to being the best temp.
• ·         Some of her favorite stories to film were “Runaway Bride” and “Partners in Crime”.
• ·         She doesn’t really do any of the Sci-Fi stuff personally, but if she had to choose she’d choose time travel over space travel. So much more fun to have with history, instead of some other world where they can make up their own rules.
• ·         She started doing conventions this year because of John Barrowman.
• ·         She didn’t know how Donna’s story was going to end, but it was a good, solid ending and she approved of it.
• ·         For her comedy and acting work, she takes personality quirks from people in her life and turns them into characters.
• ·         She said it was magical to work with David Tennant AND she said she’s going to drag him to Comic Con.

What were your favorite parts of Comic Con? What was your favorite cosplay this weekend?

Keeping Comic Con Fresh

I hope everyone had fun at Salt Lake Comic Con. I had an interesting experience bringing some of my clients from work to Comic Con for the first time. This was my fourth Comic Con and as such going in I felt like there wasn't much for me to see or do. Been there, done that. However, since I was going for work, I was there anyway. It definitely got me thinking though about ways I can still have fun at Comic Con, despite having done it all. So here are some thoughts about keeping Comic Con fresh, even if you're a seasoned veteran.

Mormon Geeks at Comic Con

1.    Bring a friend: Bringing my guys to Comic Con, I got to see Comic Con brand new from their eyes. They got to meet celebrities and see cosplays for the first time. So if you need a refresher at why Comic Con is so cool, bring a friend who has never been before and feed off their enthusiasm.

2.    Check out Artist Alley: The artwork at Artist Alley is always changing. Even though I see some of the same artwork from Con to Con, I'll almost always see new stuff. Fair warning though: if you go to Artist Alley, have a budget, leave your credit card at home, only carry cash, etc. It's really easy to blow a lot of money at Artist Alley, so go with a strategy.

3.    Go people watching: Cosplay is always my favorite part of Comic Con. Costumes are always changing. After Civil War and Pokemon Go this year, I saw several Black Panthers and I saw an increase in Pokemon trainers. So with ever changing cosplays, there's always something new to see.

Apparently, I will never bring my family honor. xD

4.    Try cosplaying: If you've never cosplayed before, give it a shot. It's not as hard as I once thought and I've given pointers on how to keep it cheap. That's one thing I like about Comic Con, I've debuted a new costume each time I've done Comic Con. It keeps things interesting, because I never exactly know who will recognize me.

5.    Meet a celebrity: If there's someone who really draws you in, go meet them! Not all celebrities that come to Comic Con are as expensive as Chris Evans or Mark Hamill. Most of the celebrities I've met have been under $60. I'll typically budget for one photo op (though sometimes celebrities will also do a photo at autographs too).

I got to meet Jason David Frank at the press conference!
Go go Power Rangers!

6.    Attend a celebrity panel: Celebrity panels can be just amazing. It's fun to ask them a question and they have great stories to tell too. My favorite celebrity panels have been Mark Hamill, Peter Davison, and Sylvester McCoy.

7.    Attend other panels: Comic Con also has plenty of other panels on various subjects from the 50th Star Trek anniversary this year to cosplaying in a budget. They will typically have some podcasters, bloggers, authors, etc. to be on the panels for these. You won't get any spoilers on your favorite tv show, but you could get some new insights to your favorite character.

8.    Free photo ops: Comic Con has plenty of free photo ops that you can do, including the TARDIS, professional cosplayers, etc. They're fun and it's always interesting to see what I can put together.

Off to the DigiWorld via TARDIS

9.    Take pictures: If you see a cosplayer you like, ask to get a picture. Most cosplayers are fine with people taking pictures with or of them. I personally take it as a compliment whenever someone asks for my picture. It means I did a great job on my costume and that someone recognized my character.

Any other ways you like to keep Comic Con fresh? What keeps bringing you back each Con?

I found my doppelganger!

Highlights of FanX 16: A Photo Collage

I experienced so many fun things at FanX this year, and unfortunately have very little time to write about it. Though it goes without saying that I really enjoyed it, and I had a blast!

 So rather than putting together a report on it weeks or months later, I put together this photo collage to show the highlights of what I experienced.

Though it's different from the report I normally do, I hope you enjoy!

Joe, Spencer and me, as we wait for the press conference to begin

Cosplayers and children from the Make a Wish Foundation at the Press Conference

The celebrity guests who attended the Press Conference

Relaxing in the press room after the press conference,
while waiting for the other events of the day to start

Peter Davison, who plays the 5th Doctor in Doctor Who,
during his celebrity spotlight panel.

Spencer, at the mic to ask a question during the Peter Davison panel

The Geeky Parenting panel, which featured the Geeky Mormon,
Jake Dietz (third from the right)

Sylvester McCoy, who plays the 7th Doctor in Doctor Who,
walking around among the audience during his celebrity spotlight panel.

Levar Burton, host of Reading Rainbow,
and actor that plays Geordi LaForge
in Star Trek: the Next Generation,
 during his celebrity spotlight panel.

Stepping out of the TARDIS with my handy sonic screwdriver.

Me and a group of friends pose for a group picture at FanX

I found R2D2!

Gillian Anderson, who played Sculley on X Files,
during her spotlight panel

George Takei, best known for playing Hikaru Sulu in Star Trek,
during his spotlight panel

David, Spencer and me cosplaying as the Avengers

Me and Joe, in costume, at FanX

The contributing writers of Mormon Geeks who attended FanX this year

 Paying homage to the end of the first Avengers movie by eating shwaarma 

while cosplaying as the Avengers

A shot on the news of the Avengers saving the day in Utah

Thor ponders the question of which is mightier,
the sonic screwdriver or the magic hammer

Avengers Assemble...inside the TARDIS!?

Spencer and me, waiting for the start of the Doctor Who Ultimate XPerience

The celebrity guests and moderator for the Doctor Who Ultimate Xperience

Spencer gets to ask a question to the actors for three of the Doctors and the actress
for one companion at the Doctor Who Ultimate Xperience

Me cosplaying as Thor, and posing with Mjolnir,
at the end of the second day of FanX

The 10th Doctor has arrived

Alex Kingston, best known for playing River Song in Doctor Who,
during her celebrity spotlight panel

The Doctor seems surprised at how much bigger
the TARDIS is on the inside

Me cosplaying as the 10th Doctor inside the Infinity TARDIS

"Hello! I'm the Doctor!"

The 10th Doctor steps out of the TARDIS

The Doctors take on a dalek

Me and Spencer, cosplaying as the 10th and 11th Doctors

I think this is the 10th Doctor cosplaying as a jedi and the 11th Doctor
cosplaying as a Ghostbuster; either that, or whoever added the special effects
for the sonic screwdrivers couldn't figure out what they were or how they worked

Jerremy Renner, best known for playing Hawkeye in the Avengers movies,
during his celebrity spotlight panel

Me posing as a 10th Doctor action figure

The Doctor (me) and his newest companion (Katie), in the TARDIS

The 10th Doctor in his TARDIS, with his sonic screwdriver ready for anything that comes

The Star Trek: Who's Your Captain panel
(during which I stood up with a question/comment)

Spencer and I went in together for a photo op with Matt Smith 
(best known for playing the 11th Doctor in Doctor Who);
I'm going to say that I was going for a sneaky look in this picture, 
rather than being caught off-guard by the photographer

Me cosplaying as the 10th Doctor in one of his classic poses

The Doctor, ever ready with his sonic screwdriver

Three t-shirts I bought as souvenirs at FanX

Bookmarks of Superman, Green Lantern, and the 11th and 10th Doctors

These three pieces of Doctor Who fan art form a panoramic picture

The additions to my Doctor Who fan art

Star Trek and Star Wars fan art

Legend of Korra and Avatar: the Last Airbender fan art

New additions to my superhero fan art

I finally added the last book of a fantasy series to my collection

If you're reading this, you've made it to the end of my photo collage. I hope you enjoyed the pictures of my adventures at FanX this year.

And if you're curious, this year at FanX, though I'm not going to reveal how much I spent, I will let you know that I bought 14 new pieces of fan art (not counting 4 bookmarks, 3 t-shirts, a book and a photo op).

Now I'm looking forward to attending Salt Lake Comic Con, which is less than five months away!