Fan Con not like majority
Our state hosts several comic book conventions throughout the year and after attending more than a dozen, I can’t say I’m much of a fan. Too often, these events feel like industrial meat grinders — you shuffle in, wait in line, get a celebrity autograph and are promptly herded into the next line to do it all over again.
Occasionally, though, a convention breaks the mold. Hot Springs Spa-Con, for example, offers a more intimate, homey atmosphere where you can actually have a conversation with the guests. So when I heard there was a convention in Batesville this past weekend, I decided to check it out.
This is the second year for White River Fan Con in Batesville — the “Christmas Capital of Arkansas” and hometown of NASCAR legend Mark Martin. At first, Batesville might seem like an odd place for a comic con, with the nearest major population center, Jonesboro, over an hour away. But on second thought, bringing this kind of event to more rural parts of the state might be a real benefit to all the nerds who don’t live near Little Rock or Fayetteville.
I walked into the Independence County Library on Friday night and the moment I stepped through the door, I was unexpectedly rushed by a gaggle of librarians, each one greeting me and thanking me for coming. The opening night event was billed as a VIP meet-and-greet with the celebrity guests, but to my surprise, it also included dinner with them. It was surreal eating sliders, sandwiches and bacon-infused mac & cheese while sitting next to legendary professional wrestler Greg “The Hammer” Valentine. The food was catered by various local restaurants located in the city’s historic downtown. In fact, one of the main objectives of this event seems to be boosting the local economy.
I spoke with the event’s chairman, Joel Williams, and asked why he and his team decided to host this event here. “First off, all our funds — everything we make this weekend — goes directly back into the Independence County Library to help continue its mission. But at the same time, what we really want with our con is to bring stuff to Batesville so people can see all this talent out in the world, and hopefully give our local artists and our young dreamers something to aspire to, whether it’s writers, cosplayers, artists, voice actors — you name it.”
That variety of guests and the different professions represented at White River Fan Con is something that truly sets this event apart. The main celebrity attractions spanned seven different disciplines: acting, voice acting, writing, cosplay, wrestling, podcasting and magic — literally a little something for everyone. And because of the free-form openness of this event, I had the chance to chat with each of the guests.
First, I sat down with actor Jason Douglas, a native Arkansan with over 300 credits to his name, including “The Walking Dead,” “Breaking Bad,” “No Country for Old Men,” and most recently, the “Dragon Ball Z” anime.
“I was actually born in Sear
cy,” Douglas answered when asked about his Arkansas roots.
Searcy is my hometown as well. We reminisced about our little slice of Arkansas for quite a while before I asked how he ended up becoming a voice actor.
“I kinda just got recruited. I was living in Houston at the time, and there was a company called ADV Films, one of the first companies licensing anime and bringing it over to the States. I was an actor looking for work, doing stage and corporate industrial films and local commercials. Then I started this voice-over stuff as a side gig and doing it consistently meant I didn’t have to work in a restaurant or move furniture. And here I am, some 30 years later.”
Other guests over the weekend included author Robin Caroll, and Zi, a St. Louis-based scientist, magician and mentalist who spent the weekend performing close-up magic. There were also paranormal investigators from the “Dark Ozark” podcast and Randal Reeder, who has appeared in all three “Deadpool” movies as Buck, the big biker barfly friend of the titular character.
Reeder told me how he started out as a professional wrestler at the age of 18, and due to his size, ended up on shows like “Walker, Texas Ranger” and in films like “Sin City,” where he was typically cast as a tough guy or brute. Based on my interaction with him, though, he’s the complete opposite of the characters he plays.
I spent the rest of my time wandering the showroom floor, catching glimpses of my childhood — nostalgia from the ’90s staring back at me. Vendors sold action figures from all the classics: X-Men, Star Wars, He-Man. Kids huddled in the game room, experiencing Mortal Kombat on an arcade cabinet for the first time. I even bumped into some friends, including Luke Irvin, who was there representing the “Agents of M.A.C.E.” podcast, which — no surprise — covers all things Marvel.
White River Fan Con is a fledgling festival and, sure, it may feel a little rough around the edges in rural Arkansas. But its heart is in the right place, investing in a community of nerds, geeks and dreamers who might not otherwise have this kind of opportunity.
Besides, where else would I get the chance to say I had dinner with Greg Valentine while he regaled me with stories of the time he broke Ric Flair’s nose with a hickory cane?