TV insurance mascots role call: Lady Liberty Mutual! Mayhem! Flo from Progressive! The General! (“For a great low rate you can get online / Go to The General and save some time!”)
Previously on Midlife Crisis Crossover:
For years we’ve been telling friends in other states that we’d one day do Atlanta’s Dragon Con, one of the largest conventions in America that isn’t in California or New York. We’ve been in Atlanta, but we hadn’t really done Atlanta. Hence this year’s vacation, in which we’re aiming for a double proficiency in Atlanta tourism and over-the-top Dragon Con goodness…
…where, as you can imagine in a show with 80,000+ in attendance, with or without the parade in progress, boring sights were in short supply. Every con of every size has its share of cosplayers bringing fun, creativity, imagination, and heightened quality of life to any and every square foot around them. We spent much of our time in lines, panels, and massive crowds where poses and shoots became next to impossible without making gridlock even worse, but we did what we could whenever time, space, and energy allowed to salute those who did their thing.
The deadly foes of Spider-Man! Rhino, Vulture, Electro, and the Green Goblin.
Donna Nobla and Captain Jack Harkness proving they can function just fine without the Doctor.
Killmonger from Black Panther and Angel from X-Men: First Class.
If you ever visit Marietta, city ordinance requires you to stop and see their Big Chicken, as we did back in 2007.
Ralphie’s mom, the Old Man and the Major Award.
Mayor McCheese, inducing flashbacks to our old jobs.
Super Dave Osborne, the greatest comedy stuntman of the 1980s who wasn’t a puppet.
Strawberry Shortcake, who taught kids you can be a hero and love desserts.
Princess Buttercup and Fezzik from The Princess Bride.
Barney Rubble, who parties a little heartier when Fred isn’t around to hog all the kegs.
As far as Marvel Comics characters I still need to see in their Cinematic Universe, the incredible Hercules is in my top 5.
J. Jonah Jameson furious because once again his paper needs MORE PICTURES OF SPIDER-MAN.
Maria Rambeau, costar of Marvel’s Captain Marvel.
Shazam! *boooom*
Suzy and Sam from Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom. (She’s a raven.)
Lex Luthor in his “Rebirth” Superman armor. DC Comics continuity comes at you fast.
Ladies and gentlemen, Indiana hometown legend Larry Bird from the Boston Celtics!
We’ve seen the real Svengoolie wandering C2E2 in Chicago a couple times, so it’s disorienting to see someone who’s not him.
Elton John, star of stage and screen!
To be continued! Other chapters in this very special miniseries:
Introduction: 20 Years of Road Trips, 2 Lifetimes of Geek Culture
Part 1: The Stars Our Destination – our usual roundup of actors and jazz-hands
Part 2: Cosplay on Parade
Part 3: More Cosplay on Parade
Part 4: Still More Cosplay on Parade
Part 5: Still More Cosplay on Parade Continued
Part 6: Still More Cosplay on Parade Continued Yet Again
Part 7: Deadpool Presents the Deadpool Cosplay Parade Starring Deadpool
Part 8: Ultimate Final Cosplay-Parade Climax Endgame Finale
Part 10: Last Call for Cosplay
Part 11: [coming soon]
Part 12: [coming soon]
Advance epilogue: Three Thoughts After Our First Dragon Con