Tales from Wizard World 2010: It's BLAGO!!!!!!!

Why was Rod Blagojevich at Wizard World? How did the fans react? Did anyone try to stink palm him??? Many questions were asked on Day 2 of the Chicago Comic Con aka Wizard World, the biggest question that was on everyone's mind was: Who asked this jerk to come? Wizard World did. Well at least that's what Blago said, apparently Wizard World had invited him because of his "Pop culture status". Oh yeah Blago and I had a nice little chat... and I do mean little.

Saturday at WW was a madhouse! I'd never seen Wizard World this busy! The day before I'd received a tweet from @WizardWorld about Blago showing up and the place was buzzing. At first I laughed and I thought it was pretty funny that Blago was showing up and that he'd hang out with all us nerds. Then I found out that he was charging $50 an autograph and $80 for a photo op. I was quickly disgusted by the fact that a criminal (he was charged with one count out of 24 technically he's a criminal) was going to charge people for his grimy services! I arrived at WW at about 9:40 am, as I waited for my nephew and his friend to get through the line, I saw the media circus set up shop around Blago's autograph table (which was separate from the rest of the celebrities). I hung around and spoke with a couple of camera crews then went off with my nephew and his pal. About an hour later they announced over the PA that he had arrived the announcement was met with boos and yells. I yelled at my nephew "follow me, we're doing this shit!!" since it was technically my third day at WW I knew the shortcut to Blago's spot. We hurried past costumed freaks and fat dudes eating cheese curds, we get to Blago's media circus to find that people are starting to line up and its getting busy!

I muscled my way through the crowd with my nephew and pal, I slithered past security and stood right next to Blago's table. While I was standing there I was blinded by the flashing cameras and lights. It was like people couldn't get enough pictures with Rod and the man seemed to love every minute of it! All of a sudden a guy starts yelling at Blago "Rod, Why didn't you stop Obama when you had the chance?" Blago looked at him with a puzzled look on his face and responded "I wanted Obama to be president!" (well duh! How could he sell his senate seat if Obama was still sitting in it?) The guy yelled back "You're a LIAR!!!" I looked at the guy and said "Shut the fuck up!" I looked over to Blago's henchmen (or security guard... whatever) and said "Don't worry about that guy, I'm sure that dude is still a virgin." (its true the guy looked like Seth Rogen dressed him) Blago's henchman laughed and asked me why I was standing around, I showed him my press bracelet and asked if I could holler at Blago. (I said "holler" because henchman was black and I figured he'd feel more at home if I spoke to him in "hood") Henchman told me he's get Blago for me if I waited a minute or so. A armed Rosemont police officer was standing next to me, I turned to him and said "So you get to protect Blago huh?" the cop looked at me completely bored and responded with a "yeah... lucky me."

I was told to not record my quick interview, I guess "fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me" right? Anyway, I shook Blago's hand and he made almost no eye contact with me. Instead he looked over the crowd and swelled with pride. I asked Blago "Why Wizard World Rod? Why are you here?" Blago responded with how he had become a permanent fixture in pop culture and it only made sense that he showed up, especially with his "main demographic" being here. Apparently Blago thinks nerds love him. I asked who had invited him and he quickly responded with how WW's PR department gave his boys a call and he decided it was the "right thing to do". Blago has this aura about him, he comes off as a really charming guy. It was almost like you could be sucked into a conversation with him about nothing and you'd be totally happy about it. I then asked him what he had planned next for him, Blago assured me that he was ready to take on the prosecution's retrial and wanted to rebuild his family and move forward with other media ventures. I told him he should have a talk show like Jerry Springer or Maury, He smiled and agreed I swear I could see the cogs turning in his head as he looked into the heavens. I brought up Sam Adams Jr's quote from the press conference about how a retrial would cost Illinois more money, Blago agreed and said that we didn't need more dead babies out in the street, I totally giggled and thought of walking down Michigan ave. playing kick the can with an infants skull. I wished Blago luck because he seemed to be preoccupied with his new line forming full of autograph seekers and well wishers. I asked him for a pic he obliged and insisted that we shake hands in the picture. As I walked away I looked back and I saw a man who believed he truly was larger than life, my nephew then asked me who that guy was... I responded "The guy in the news who's in a shit load of trouble." What a weird dude.

Tales from Wizard World 2010: Angus Oblong

That's right ladies and gentlemen that is the creator of The Oblongs and all around bad boy Angus Oblong, his manservant Sparkle, and myself at the Wizard World's Chicago Comic Con! The 4 day nerdfest wasn't very memorable for a lot of hardcore fans. But Cliff, Bruni, and most of all me will remember it as a time that we hung out with Angus Oblong.. a lot! On Thursday I got to WW at about 4:40 pm and doors opened at 5pm, Cliff and Bruni were heading there after work so when 5:00pm rolled by I headed inside. The year before I remember being pretty damn upset that Angus had skipped WW so I was hoping to see him, low and behold Angus was setting up shop with his handsome manservant Sparkle. I walked over to get the scoop as to why he didn't show the year before. "Hey! I know you!!!" yelled Angus Oblong, I was taken aback. Not only does this man meet thousands of people a year and it had been a couple since he'd seen me but he lives in L.A. where he probably sees more Mexicans that he'd probably like to. I told him that we'd seen him every year and always hung around and spent some cash at his table I even had a couple of pictures taken with him. I introduced myself and told him that my friend Rich would be super excited to hear that Angus would be there, "Well get his fat ass over here!" he exclaimed (Rich is about 115 lbs. soaking wet). I walked away and quickly texted Cliff "ANGUS OBLONG REMEMBERED MEEEEEEE!!!!!!!" I was extremely flattered and my nerd hard on was raging! I forgot to mention that Angus accused me of "Coming on to him" which I replied "Hey, Its Thursday. Its FUCKING College Night!!! Anything goes BRO!!!" He got a kick out of that. I'm a damn funny guy! When Cliff got there I quickly led him to Angus' table, When we got there Angus yells "Hey BLACK!!!" (Cliff is definitely Black aka African American) Angus had us laughing our asses off while he lightheartedly belittled his manservant Sparkle. I noticed he had a Dr. Rockso figure at his table, I inquired abut it and told him it was cool. "Give me 5 bucks for it man, some fan gave it to me and I don't want it!" I called his bluff and paid him, He then signed the doll and I told him I'd carry it around in hopes that the guy who gave it to him would see me with it and feel like an asshole. I don't know if the guy ever saw me or noticed but that was the end of Day 1.


Throughout the weekend we'd pass by and hang out, Angus asked me my name a dozen times and kept forgetting so eventually he decided it would be best if he wrote it on his hand. So we fist bumped, took pics, made fun of dorky looking dudes, made horrible remarks about women and children, and I'm pretty sure we built a lot of bad karma for us. But it was worth it! Sparkle and I talked a lot he's one of the coolest guys I've met at comic cons and we had some great quick conversations. We traded facebook info and we're probably gonna end up having a bromance! Eventually Sunday came around and I really wanted to get an interview with Angus, When I asked him he was a bit nervous. Angus asked me to wait to interview until he'd had his coffee, I came back about 20 minutes later. Angus buzzed me off again and I came back 30 minutes later, he wanted to check my questions out so I let him check them out and reassured him that it would be just as if he was talking to me. After buzzing me off again I returned 15 minutes later so that he'd get "mentally prepared" for the interview. We sat down and had a great time with it! Afterward I thanked him and spent a measly 6 dollars at his table (I'm cheap OK??!!) We wished each other luck... well maybe I wished him luck and he probably yelled an obscenity at me (He's a very funny and playful guy).
Interviewing Angus Oblong has been one of the best moments so far in my short journalism career. I couldn't have asked for a better sport and to hang out with a guy who truly loves being around his fans. A lot of guys in the industry will blow you off or act very condescending towards you, but Angus treated myself, the crew, and all his fans like friends. So if you ever get to meet Angus and you buy one of his awesome books and he draws a character on the "This book belongs to.." page, It's not just a drawing its a gesture of friendship. Thank you Angus for making a lackluster Wizard World one that The Napalm Assault will never forget. Fag.

Email me @ leoperez@thenapalmassault.com for the audio of this interview, I'll be fixing the link to hear the interview soon. Thanks, sorry about that!