JonCottage

Honestly, I've not got the patience to read back over 33 pages! However, noting that Jacqueline Pearce is attending, how about maybe stretching to Paul Darrow, Michael Keating or Gareth Thomas? Come on....you've already bagged Servalan, why not Avon, Villa or even Blake himself! (still, I'm a big HAMMER fanatic so I'm still v.excited )

I'm 31 (32 by LFCC-time) and I've only been doing these since 2007. Done a few cons outside Showmasters but (and I'm being honest!), SM put on the best ones. LFCC has become an annual thing for me now and I'd not miss it for the world!

Marvellous stuff people!

- 'Starsky & Hutch' model '76 Ford Torino (£30! Bargain!) - 'Freddy' glove - Quatermass 2' repo print - 'Joker' print on canvas - 'Joker' DC Comics Super Hero Collection w/figurine - 'Retromancer' by Robert Rankin (signed) - 'Retromancer' limited edition tarot card print (signed) - 1/144 Gundam Sentinel-ZZ model kit. - 'The Flash' (Barry Allen) figure

William Shatner, Sean Pertwee, Tom Noonan, Julian Glover & Greg Rucka were all just excellent people. Yet while their own approach to the weekend is to be commended, yet again Robert Rankin was the embodiment of, for me, how a guest should interact. If you just want a signature, he'll provided you one with a warm and sincere hello, a smile and an elaborate squiggle. If you get to chat to him then grab a chair 'cause you could be in for the long-haul: and that, for a fan like me, is perfection itself! I'm in no doubt I shall see and chat to him again next year! All hail the Grand Master of Order Of The Golden Sprout! Huzzah!

With William Shatner, it was hardly surprising that both the autograph and photo lines were HUGE, with the former a little more organised. Naturally, being so popular it really was an ‘in-and-out’ experience. No chatter, no personalisations. I can fully appreciate why this is and truthfully it didn't bother me at all. Robert Rankin was as warm, charming and dapper as ever. He always has a tale to tell and every show he’s at I always pick up his latest book, this time, ‘Retromancer‘. He even signed a limited print too while we talked for a moment about his yearly appearance at LFCC. Sean Pertwee was cheery and full of his usual brand of swagger. Happily added ‘Sausages’ to my ‘Dog Soldiers‘. Just as I suspected, it wasn’t the first time he’d done that! Tom Noonan looked somewhat nervous but was nonetheless polite and friendly. I figured it was probably that he rarely does conventions and therefore was somewhat overwhelmed by the reception he was receiving. Julian Glover was a complete gentleman in every way and really rather busy. Very quiet but utterly charming. Whilst signing my ‘Quatermass & The Pit‘ DVD, he asked me if I still thought the film stood up today. I do and said so. It remains not only one of my favorite Hammer movies, but one of my most treasured flicks of all time. Greg Rucka was just exceptional. After signing the story ‘Delivered’ from the ‘Hellboy: Odd Jobs’ collection, we talked about the origin of the story and it’s inspiration. He proceeded to tell me about the time when working at DC in NYC when, at the end of the day he and a few of the DC guys would sit at sundown in Central Park and have a smoke. As dusk set in, he would marvel at the change in the park’s population. Change as in species. Rats. Hundreds would descend at twilight to relcaim the park as their territory and this, Rucka recounted, unnerved him somewhat (‘Delivered’ tells the tale of Hellboy loosing his gun (the Samaritan) in Central Park, whilst looking astounded at the rats taking over the park in a similar fashion. In his attempt to discover who (or what) has taken it, he is introduced to Mick, a six-foot talking rat, who arranged for the theft of the gun so he could introduce himself to Red in an attempt to forge dealings with the BPRD. A quintessentially ’Hellboy’ notion)

I've posted my photos as part of my blog over at http://fanboyconfessional.wordpress.com/. If anyone's curious....

Leaving Clacton on the 5:50, so should be outside EC around half eight

05:50 from Clacton to Liverpool Street (first train out). That'll take just shy of 1hr30mins (in around 07:16). Then the tube from Bank/Monument (chuffin' engineering works, no Tower Hill/Circle Line this year) to Earls Court. Hoping ( ) that I'll get outside EC2 for 8am (he says, if I don't stop for multiple Espresso shots).

While this will be only me third LFCC, and apart from 2007, I attend alone. I did '07 with my best mate (who was good enough to drive up to London for the day) but I don't think he really enjoyed it that much. My best mate is my 'best mate' for multiple and very justifiable reasons, but I was always conscious that he thought that I may have been taking too long browsing the merch, queuing for autographs or just generally pottering about. I still offer up the chance to go together every year but he (always politely & honestly) declines. Honestly, though, I get on much better alone. I can spend as much time as I like wondering about without worrying about other people with me. I had a great time in '07 with my bud, but I found it's even more enjoyable iif I go alone. On a side note, if I had seen this post earlier, I'd have PM'd you as I bought my Early Bird ticket this evening! Nuts. Don't worry if you end up heading up on your lonesome. You'll still have a fantastic time whatever, especially with what SM have offered up this year in the way of some true Sci-fi legends and iconic temporary acquisitions. (look out for the tubby bloke in his favourite Green Lantern t-shirt, pratting about on his iPhone.)

I'm now wondering if the Tumbler can pull a 'Webber'. Praise Be to the Squash Hog.

This. Is. Outstanding. Well done people!

I'm just being a little jovial. I agree, GL is a great character and one of my faves (as the avatar proves!). So to for The Flash. What Johns & Van Sciver have done with both series is simply awesome. For those GL fans, any opinions of the whole CG-suit for the upcoming movie? Personally, I'm kinda ok with it, seeing as the costume is a manifestation provided by the ring anyway.

Regarding GL, apart from anything else a hero who you can nullify completely simply by painting yourself yellow is in danger of becoming a laughing stock That's true! What's that Big Bang theory gag about the Lanterns? Raj: "I like Green Lantern,I'm just saying it's pretty lame that he can be defeated by the color yellow." Sheldon: "Only the modern Green Lantern is vulnerable to yellow." Leonard: "Golden Age Green Lantern was vulnerable to wood." Raj: "Great.So I can take them both out with a number 2 pencil?" While the whole 'yellow' thing has now been removed since Geoff John's 'Rebirth', I doubt the movie will deviate from the origin story. What a life it must be to go in fear of a Lemon.

I'm not the only one who hates Singer's *ahem* 'attempt' at Superman then? Good-o! While I can't agree that the "public don't give a toss about Hal Jordan", I can see your point. Characters such as Green Lantern, The Flash, Green Arrow etc etc are outside the public consciousness. They are, like many others, the privy of the fanboy. DC are somewhat lagging in the movie adaptations compared to Marvel and, whilst I'm still geared up for a GL movie, I agree that there should be an attempt to get Superman right before moving on. Still, who knows. Maybe a positive reaction to, say, Green Lantern may spur on a better developed Man Of Steele flick than the tossycock Singer delivered. With Nolan in the producers chair and with the right director, it could be spectacular.