Expos taking over the world

On the Nov. 23-24 weekend, the Lethbridge Entertainment Expo welcomed sci-fi royalty to the southern Alberta area, as Marina Sirtis from the hit television classic “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and Aaron Douglas from TV’s “Battlestar Galactica” were the first celebrity guests to grace the inaugural celebration of pop culture entertainment.

It was pure unadulterated fun for the whole family. My family and I made the pilgrimage to Exhibition Park in Lethbridge — the weekend mecca for comic book and all things entertainment-related. Books, collectibles, movies, TV, art, activities, games, clothes, vendors galore and a plethora of costumed crusaders. Darth Vader, Stormtroopers, Batman and Batgirl, Ironman and a cavalcade of superheroes and a rogue gallery of villains filled the venue with nostalgia. The highlight of the event was being able to introduce my kids to the vast array of fond memories from childhood. One vendor even had classic, still in their wrapper, “Star Wars” bedsheets from the 1970s. If I had a million dollars, like the Barenaked Ladies song says, I’d buy so much merchandise at an event such as this, to adorn my walls and fill up my living room, basement and bedroom. But… I digress. I only spent a little and came home with a few cool items.

I was most definitely similar to a little kid in a candy store. Bouncing back and forth from table to table, as I scanned the entire room, as to not miss a single moment.

Some people have sports in their lives to inspire and entertain. I have always loved a good old comic hero kicking an evil villain’s butt. I’ve cherished the ability to collect masterpieces created by the artists and writers dedicated to the fine art of defining pop culture, all wrapped up in a clear plastic cover. I’ve played with the toys depicting beloved characters from the books, TV shows and movies I grew up with and now my kids are growing old with. Our youth preserved in the pages transporting us to the planet Krypton. Our creativity tweaked, as we suspend the belief a teenager bitten by a radioactive spider can save the day. Our renewed faith the force may be with us and our desire to boldly go where no man or woman has gone before in a galaxy far, far away. The Lethbridge Entertainment Expo and comic and entertainment celebrations similar in design will persevere in the geekdom proudly called home by many a pop culture fan. So as Spock says, “Live long and prosper” and as the green monster who we wouldn’t like when angry aggressively asserts, “Hulk smash.”

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