Many media guests and comic book professionals attended the recent Motor City Comic Con in Novi for the first time and had nothing but nice things to say about it – and Michigan!
“It’s been awesome!” said former Executive Vice President of Marvel Television Jeph Loeb in what was his first time at MC3 and in Michigan as he signed copies of his work for a long line of fans. Loeb – who’s currently penning DC Comics’ “Batman” – has worked on the TV series “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” and “Daredevil,” et al.
Comic pros meet the fans
Another first-timer Frank Tieri, who’s written “Batman” and Marvel’s “Wolverine,” agreed with Loeb.
“The fans have been great! I definitely would come back,” Tieri said.
While this was fan-favorite artist Arthur Adams’ (Marvel’s “X-Men” family of titles, “Fantastic Four”) first time at MC3, it wasn’t his first time in Metro Detroit.
“I was here last in 1991 when I had more hair,” quipped Adams. “It’s been delightful! I’ve ate some more very good food and met lots and lots of nice people.”
This year marked “X-Men” and “New Warriors” writer Fabian Nicieza’s first time at MC3 since 1990.
“I thought MC3 was a really good show with a good staff and great fans,” said Nicieza, who co-created Marvel’s popular anti-hero Deadpool.
Fans from all over endured long lines to see their favorite celebrities or have their favorite comics signed.
RELATED: Fans Find Community at Motor City Comic Con
Hawkeye at MC3
Perhaps the most popular guest at MC3 was Jeremy Renner, best known for playing Hawkeye of the Avengers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as well as his Oscar-nominated roles in “The Hurt Locker” and “The Town.” Renner, dressed in a black suit and tie, wrote the recently-released “My Next Breath: A Memoir,” which chronicled the horrific snowplow accident he was in on Jan. 1, 2023, where he broke nearly 40 bones, and his road to recovery.
“Renner was great. Definitely worth the wait,” said MC3 first-timer Andrew Garcia, of Florida. “I found him to be kind, resilient, and amazing. It’s shocking how quickly he has bounced back from his accident. He is the best example of modern medical science and plain positive thinking!”
More MC3 fun
Charlie and April Carden, of Grand Rapids, hosted a “Star Trek Trivia” panel. Charlie, who also hosts the podcast called Secret Friends Unite!, was impressed with MC3.
“It’s an incredibly well-run show,” he said. “I’ve been going to the modern-day style of comic-cons for over a decade, and as time goes by, the cream rises to the top. A lot of smaller and lesser shows in Michigan kind of fall by the wayside, where Motor City is growing and thriving.”
“X-Men: The Animated Series” appearances
This was also the first time the voiceover actors from 1992-97’s “X-Men: The Animated Series” and its 2024 sequel series “X-Men ‘97” attended MC3 courtesy of Unknown Comics. The cast included Cal Dodd (Wolverine), George Buza (the Beast), Alison Sealy-Smith (Storm), Alyson Court (Jubilee), Lenore Zann (Rogue), Catherine Disher (Jean Grey), Chris Potter (Cable, Gambit) and Matthew Waterson (Magneto).
“It’s been overwhelmingly positive. It’s really exceptionally well-attended. I did not see this coming. The fans are exceptional,” said Potter. “If it wasn’t for ‘X-Men ’97,’ I don’t think I’d be here today. We’ve never really been involved in any fan conventions at all. At the time (of the original series), we really didn’t know how successful the show was for years until we were told by fans. I’m meeting tons of people who are generational fans; they watched it with their parents. It’s quite a phenomenon.”
While Court, a Toronto native, is new to MC3, she’s not new to Metro Detroit. She pushed hard for her and her cast mates to come to Michigan since she did many personal appearances here in the 1990s and looked back upon them fondly.
“I love Detroit fans, which is why we ended up coming to this event,” said Court. “I’ve always had a great time in Detroit.”
Court voiced Jubilee, the youngest member of the X-Men, in the original “X-Men” cartoon and voiced Abscissa, an older version of Jubilee from an alternate future, in “X-Men ’97.”
“We didn’t know what we were making at the time,” said Court. “We had no idea that more than 30 years later we’d have this kind of impact and resonance with so many people all over the world. It’s a multi-generational show now. The fact that it’s come back is a testament to just how dedicated this fanbase has been. They were unwavering, never faltered, and just continued to push and push and push and have all of these different petitions over the years to get this show to come back – and that’s what happened! So thank you!”
Court could not sing Metro Detroit’s praises enough.
“It’s soooo good to be back in Detroit!” she said. “I can’t say it enough because everyone’s lovely; they’re saying ‘Thank you for being here’ and they’re really kind, supportive and friendly – it’s wonderful. If I don’t see people on this trip, know that I will try as hard as possible to come back again.”
Sealy-Smith was unaware who Storm was when she first auditioned back in the early 1990s. Storm, who has a regal bearing and commands the elements, is the first female leader and the first Black leader of a team of superheroes in comics. For Sealy-Smith, “it’s absolutely marvelous” to play such an iconic character.
“I think of it as an honor and a privilege to be able to wield so much power – her mutant powers, her power of leadership, her power to touch people. When I first started doing this in the 1990s, this was a good gig. I was an actor, a hungry actor. I had my kids – my second daughter had just been born. My work was mostly just getting money to pay the rent and make sure the kids were fed, that kind of stuff. By the time, it came around to ‘X-Men ‘97’ and understanding the impact, understanding the fact that this character is iconic, then you just go, ‘Wow!’ To be a part of something this wonderful, this far-reaching, it has been nothing short of amazing. I feel privileged to be a part of this,” she explained.
Sealy-Smith had a wonderful experience at MC3.
“I’ve met lots and lots of wonderful people. That’s what’s so fantastic about this time around: It’s just getting the chance to connect with people in a way we couldn’t possibly do in the 1990s. I’ve really been enjoying myself,” she said. “The con itself is marvelous. Attendance has been great. People are really friendly. I’m having a grand old time. This has been an absolutely amazing experience, and I consider myself lucky to be able to add (MC3) to the list of wonderful experiences that I’ve been allowed being on this journey with Storm and the X-Men.”
