Eternal Romance, OSFS and Canada all celebrate anniversaries in 2017

Eternal Romance #1

2017 marks a number of anniversaries, including the 20th anniversary of my supernatural comic book Eternal Romance, the 40th anniversary of the Ottawa Science Fiction Society (OSFS), and the 150th anniversary of Canada's Confederation.

My roots are in Canada, comics and fandom, so there are lots of reasons to celebrate.

Forty years along, OSFS is not the same organization as when I first became involved years ago, and there's a reason for that.

In the early days of OSFS, fen (plural for fan) came together because there really wasn't anywhere else to go. We were seeking like-minded people who loved to read science fiction, fantasy and comic books. We were delirious with joy when we found others who adored Star Trek, Star Wars, Dr. Who and Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, and even wanted to dress up like characters from those stories.

We didn't have a con to go to and show off our costumes or shop for geeky things, so we created one: Maplecon.

Janet as General Leia at Ottawa Comiccon 2017

We did those things before they were cool. Now there's a comic-con every weekend, and a new Star Wars movie every year. I can walk into a comic book shop and buy a Green Lantern ring or a Wonder Woman tiara or a Spider-Man hoodie that makes a pretty good makeshift costume if I want to -- something that I could only dream of in my youth.

I remember OSFS members calling people who didn't share our passions "mundanes." The mundanes didn't get us. J.K. Rowling called these types of people "muggles" -- the ones who didn't understand or who didn't embrace the magic.

The mainstream has embraced the magic.

OSFS has had an impact. We have been the trailblazers. OSFS is not the same organization it once was, but we should recognize and celebrate what it accomplished.

OSFS gave us a voice, an outlet for our passions, and for many, lifelong friendships.

Happy 20th anniversary Eternal Romance, happy 40th anniversary OSFS, and happy 150th anniversary of Confederation Canada!

General Leia makes for great costuming

One of the greatest gifts that Carrie Fisher bequeathed to fans is a Leia for all ages -- from rebel princess to rebel slave to rebel general in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

When I first started attending conventions, one of the best and most fun activities was creating costumes of favourite science fiction and comic book characters. (We called it costuming, not cosplay, back in the day BTW.) I even won some awards. While I never created or wore a Princess Leia costume, I am now of an age and body type that a General Leia costume suits better.

I am more of a costume assembler than seamstress, so I found pieces at the Value Village thrift shops. I searched the Internet to look at photos of the movie costume and kept my eye out for items. I am pretty happy with the result.

The first piece I found was the plum/purple vest - $6.49. I was actually looking for pieces for a Jyn Erso costume (which I have also been assembling), but grabbed this vest when I saw it.

The next piece I found were the boots - $6.99. I love the fact they are tall with flat heels and super comfortable.

I looked for some time, but could not find a jumpsuit or flight suit in my size at a reasonable price. What I did find was an army green shirt that fit well - Tommy Hilfiger - $11.99.

On a separate trip, I found army green cargo pants that are a close match to the shirt - $14.99.

Then I located a belt to complete the look - $3.99. It's not exactly the same buckle that General Leia wears, but it works fine for my costume.

I do not have General Leia's double sapphire ring. The button on the vest says Join the Resistance. The cost to date is under $45.

I'll talk about my Jyn Erso.costume - I'm calling it Jan Erso - at another time!

You can chat with me about costuming and comics at the Ottawa Comiccon, EY Centre, May 12-14, 2017. See you there!

-- Janet Hetherington

Down-home hospitality at Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo

Wonder Woman finds a home with Wonder Girl

The Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo (June 17, 18, and 19, 2011) proved to be a busy and fun show for me and Ronn Sutton (Honey West, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, Fear Agent). We were both kept busy talking, doing commissions and talking about comics, TV and movie to the many fans who passed our tables. And a lot came by!

"The convention was terrific," Ronn agrees, saying, "We were seated in guest area. We each had a table to ourselves and in a bit of terrific synchronicity, Leonard Kirk was seated next to us and David Ross right across from us. Other comics guests included Neal Adams, Michael Golden, Tim Sale, Mike Mignola, Joe Jusko, etc. I had a nice conversation with Bo Hampton, whose work I've always liked. I was pleased to find out he knew some of my art, too. Movie star guests included William Shatner, Jonathan Frakes, Doug Bradley (Pinhead). Guest George Romero had to cancel out until next year."

Calgary luggage handlers

It was our first time attending this comic-con, and our first time in Calgary. We had an inkling that it was going to be an interesting weekend when we got off the plane at the Calgary airport and saw cool model displays at the baggage pick-up featuring realistic dinosaurs ripping up luggage.

Ronn comments about Calgary, "It was funny to see all the police officers walking around wearing cowboy hats as part of their uniform. There were sculptures everywhere. Not abstract stuff either. Lots of sculptures of lifesized cowboys on horses, etc. Great park benches supported with a wagon wheel on each end. I was surprised at the number of large art galleries and performance/dance theatres. Calgary is a big money town (oil)."

As for the show, we heard that the crowd was around 35,000. Maybe it was because it was Father's Day weekend, or maybe it was just Calgary, but  there were lots of families (parents and kids) at the show, including a little Wonder Girl who bought a piece of my Wonder Woman art.

Gil is pleased with his Zatanna art

I did many commissions, like female heroines Zatanna and Batgirl. But I also did some fun animal-themed ones like Super-Monkey, My Little Pony (in high-heeled shoes) and a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.

Darren displays his mighty shield

Ronn and I signed lots of souvenir books, but one of the oddest requests for me was to sign a Captain America shield that also boasted (real) celebrities like Jonathan Frakes. It's going to look great handing on the wall. 

Ronn says, "The con staff were just terrific. They were constantly coming around handing out bottles of water to guests and bringing food." This was a relief but also very strategic, because it kept us at our tables!

Leonard Kirk and Liana K.

We went out to dinner after the show with friends and fellow comics pros Leonard Kirk (X-Factor), Dave Ross (Star Wars) and Dave's wife Judi. "Saturday night Judi wanted to go to Vietnamese restaurant," Ronn says. "What a comical time. The staff didn't have a clue what they were doing. Everybody was missing half their cutlery, and after they prepared our table half of us had plates and half didn't, including Dave Ross who got a saucer instead. The waiter came to table with dish he identified as "pork chops," which in fact was Judi's order of lemongrass chicken. Man, what a place. The food was good, though. We had a fun time. When we exited we noticed the name of the place was the 'T & A' Restaurant."

Speaking of which, there were plenty of fetching women dressed in costume at the comic-con, including TV personality Liana K., who scandalized Calgary police with her "faux nude" sci-fi gaming character costume.

Our ride back to the airport on Sunday night was also memorable. The convention was kind enough to provide a shuttle service for us -- and that turned out to be an adventure.

Ronn Sutton on the limo bus

"We're taken to the bus and the driver is there," Ronn recalls. "He's dressed in black cowboy hat and black tailored formal cowboy suit looking like a cross between Ronnie Hawkins and Santa Claus, with a big white beard and long white hair and huge rings on every finger. He ushers us on to bus. Holy cow! It's a limo inside!  There are long couches, mirrored ceiling, a bar, hardwood floors, and blaring sound system. We sit almost half an hour because he's waiting for more people. Finally he says they've called for a smaller car to take us. As we get off bus, actors Adrienne Barbeau and John Amplas (Dawn of the Dead) show up. So it's back on the bus and he takes us out to airport."

So Calgary put on quite a convention. Lots of down-home hospitality and great people. Thanks, Calgary!

-- Janet Hetherington

Quantum Quest to premiere January 22

Star Trek Voyager's Robert Picardo and producer/director/writer Dr. Harry Kloor will host the U.S. premiere of Quantum Quest, the 3-D computer animated large format adventure film, at the gala preview party of "Science With A Twist: An Evening Aboard The Enterprise" on Saturday night, January 22, 2011, at the Louisville Science Center museum.

Quantum Quest interweaves animated sequences with actual space imagery captured from seven ongoing NASA and NASA/ESA space missions. In addition to Picardo, the film boasts an A-list voice cast including two Captain Kirks (veteran William Shatner and Chris Pine), two Jedi Knights (Mark Hamill and Samuel L. Jackson) and two Darth Vaders (James Earl Jones and Hayden Christensen) – a first for Hollywood and the galaxy.

Quantum Quest will be released in large format and conventional theaters in spring 2011. 

Quantum Quest is the first time that NASA’s iconic Jet Propulsion Laboratory has ever initiated a film project and the first time that Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the surface of the moon, has participated in a feature film, lending his voice to one of the characters.

Combining solid, “real” science with Hollywood-style narrative story-telling, Quantum Quest is designed to communicate the excitement of space exploration and science discovery to students K through 12.  Quantum Quest will provide more free educational materials, prepared by leading educators, scientists, space and science organizations (including the Fleet Museum and the Planetary Society), than any previous large screen film.

“This is a stealth science education film disguised as fun Hollywood entertainment,” says Dr. Kloor. “Whenever we talk about science, it’s exact, but QQ’s message is to tell kids – and grownups of all ages – that science is cool.”