Famous Monsters Convention 2010

A couple of weeks ago I went to the first annual Famous Monsters Convention in Indianapolis. Apparently the old Famous Monsters magazine is making a comeback, and the publishers sponsored this show.

I went with my nephews Kyle and Aaron, and non-nephew KW Monster (not picture: me). This was Aaron's first ever geek convention. I was so proud (Sniff! Sob!).

Kyle had been to a horror con once before, but fortunately this time he didn't get sick and vomit in my car.

We saw this while standing in line. Don't jump, Kong! Peter Jackson's remake wasn't that bad!

It's Sammy Terry, famous Indiana TV horror host. I drew an illustration of Sammy and wrote a piece on him here. This is actually a statue of Sammy, as he wasn't there in person. He's getting up there in years, and I'm assuming the convention grind is too much for him these days.

His son was there though, and he's spearheading an effort to have Sammy inducted into the Indiana State Museum!

Kyle got to meet Rupert Boneham of Survivor fame. OK, I'm not quite sure why Rupert was at a horror convention, but whatever. Rupert has a charity called Rupert's Kids that helps troubled teens, so I'll give him a pass. He also lives in Indy, so maybe that's why he was there.

Kyle got an autographed photo, book and his picture taken with Rupert.

Yes, Kyle's wearing a Dr. McCoy t-shirt.

Dr. Tongue (from Day of the Dead) and the American Werewolf in London browsed the convention as well.

There were a lot of horror celebrities in attendance, including the casts of Return of the Living Dead (minus James Karen though, darn it), Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead and Day of the Dead, the Lost Boys, and Halloween. Ernie Hudson, the 4th Ghostbuster, was there as well. And Paris Themmen, who you know better as Mike Teevee from the original Willy Wonka movie.

Aaron was most impressed by a group of guys dressed as Ghostbusters, complete with proton packs and ghost traps. He wanted to know where one went to buy a proton pack. I tried to explain that you don't buy them anywhere, you have to make one yourself, but I don't think he believed me.

I was happy to find a rare and out of print art book that I'd been looking for forever, and for a reasonable price. We sat down to rest for a while, then headed for the car. As I got to the car I realized I'd left the sack with my book in it back in the convention. I ran back inside, and amazingly the sack was still leaning against the wall where I'd stupidly left it. I guess horror fans are an honest lot. Soon I'll be forgetting to wear pants when I got out.

As we left the show, we saw Death walking through the parking lot. I'd seen Death before at another horror show earlier this year. We asked if he needed a ride and he said he was good. He bid us farewell, told us to drive carefully, and said he'd see us soon.

See you next year, Famous Monsters Horror Convention!