(ThyBlackMan.com) Today, I attended my second ever comic con in Montgomery, Alabama but my first ever River Region Comic Con and I have to say, it’s was such an amazing experience. And the fact this comic con is just a few yards away from where my love of nerd culture actually began: Houston Hill Middle School referred to by people like me who used to attend there as “The Hill”
Prior to me growing up wanting to be a Power Ranger, the years of 1990-1992 were “the darkest period of my life” because I nearly drowned to death at a swimming pool during a field trip, my older auntie dying from a massive drug overdose and my two oldest brothers being shipped off to prison really took a toll on me mentally and personally.
Then on August 28, 1993, The Original Power Rangers debuted on Saturday morning and watching that episode had changed my life because I saw two superheroes that looked just like me in the form of Zach Taylor (my favorite all time Power Ranger) played by
Walter Jones (one of my former childhood heroes) and Aisha Campbell played by Karan Ashley (my former childhood crush). The Original Power Rangers were actually my favorite childhood show from back in the day.
Watching The Original Power Rangers was definitely a turning point in my life that helped me get out of “the darkest period in my life” because while most young black men in the hood including most of my older brothers grew up wanting to be in the streets, I grew up wanting to be a Power Ranger.
And speaking of Karan Ashley, I finally got the chance to speak to her today at The 2018 River Region Comic Con. And before speaking to her, I had to be sneaky by taking an actual pic of her because taking a selfie of her costed $40 at the event and I wasn’t gonna pay for a selfie at the event. Here’s the actual transcript of my five minute conversation with her.
Me: “You was actually my childhood crush from back in the day”
Ashley: “What?!? Did I fall off?”
Me: No, because I enjoyed seeing your sassy and tough personality”
Ashley: I didn’t wanna be this girly girl, I wanted to be someone who spoke my mind as well as being a tough girl”
Me: You was more beautiful and tougher than The Pink Becky Ranger played by Amy Jo Johnson.
Me: I actually wanted to be a Power Ranger growing up”
Ashley: “which one?”
Me: “The Black Ranger”
Ashley: “yay!!!”
Ashley: “I actually loved the shirt that you wore to the event today” and I was happy to hear her make that comment.
Seeing all these amazing cosplayers at The River Region Comic Con were so amazing including seeing one of my favorite cosplayers in the form of three black cosplayers with a skeleton on their back, even though it would have been creepy to see, but I actually enjoyed seeing my people cosplaying very well at the event.
And speaking of video games, I saw gamers enjoying themselves playing Dragon Ball Fighterz, Super Smash Brothers Wii U, Dungeons and Dragons. I also played Super Mario Bros. under The Super Mario All-Stars game for Super Nintendo and I played and passed the first two worlds without dying and that shows that my gaming skills haven’t wavered after playing video games throughout a majority of my life 25 years to be exact. My youngest brother played the first three levels on world three and died only three times, but I’m still proud of the way that my youngest brother handled himself especially after he died three times while playing Super Mario Bros. under Super Mario All-Stars for Super Nintendo.
Prior to playing Super Mario Bros. under Super Mario All-Stars for Super Nintendo, I actually spoke to a sista who said that she used to play Mario and Sonic all the time and I told her “Me and by brother also used to play Mario and Sonic all time, especially after we came home from school during our much younger days.
My favorite vendor at the event was the “Game On” vendor where they had all the old school gaming consoles and games from NES, SNES, Genesis, PS1, and even N64. Seeing many of the old school video games that I grew up playing like Dragon Warrior, Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt, and Super Mario 3 was very special to me.
It was amazing seeing so many people especially so many of my people attend today’s comic con. As I was leaving the event, a brother that wore a Star Wars shirt at the event asked me “Can I take a picture of your shirt?” and I said, “sure” and that put a smile on my face. Now he can show his kids and relatives the amazing Power Rangers shirt that I wore at the event today.
The Conclusion – Overall, I greatly enjoyed my experience at the first ever 2018 River Region Comic Con at Cramton Bowl and I am definitely looking forward to the second annual Gump City Con later on this year in October at Cramton Bowl.
Staff Writer; Kwame Shakir (aka Joe D.)