Fan Expo and the Kurt Russell Hustle!

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Chicago Fan Expo coverage continues…

Saturday morning, I woke up early and had the buffet breakfast at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare. After spending most of the previous day standing in line, today was no exception, and a full breakfast of champions was in order. The Hyatt features an overpass tunnel I could use to get to my car in the parking garage across the street or to Fan Expo at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. A staff member stood inside, making sure anyone heading to the Expo had their appropriate passes. With all the running back and forth I did in those tunnels throughout the weekend, it’s a wonder we didn’t end up on a first-name basis. I had a couple of hours before my scheduled photo op with Kurt Russell, and I wanted to see some comic creators, specifically Scott Snyder, who created the comic world’s latest hit sensation, “Absolute Batman.” 

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Chicago Fan Expo Friday: Comic Creators and John Carpenter & Company!

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Just over a week after returning from my New Jersey trip, I learned of a startling convention announcement. The incomparable Kurt Russell was coming to Chicago and appearing at Fan Expo in my home city. This would be the actor’s first and, according to him, last such appearance. For a genre fan like me, it seemed inconceivable (as did the prices) while setting off every FOMO alarm in my nervous system. For the next 42 hours before his limited (another FOMO-triggering word) tickets went up for sale, I argued with myself about whether I should bite the bullet. Paying $400 for a signature made no logical sense, and the angel on my shoulder argued how stupid it was even to consider it. However, the devil on the other side proved the most influential. This wasn’t just some MARVEL actor or newly minted celebrity but one of my favorite actors of all time. The great McCreedy in The THING (1982), Snake Plisken in Escape from New York (1981), Stuntman Mike from Death Proof (2007), the wisecracking Jack Burton in Big Trouble in Little China (1986), Wyatt Earp in one of my favorite Westerns, Tombstone (1993), and Dean Proffitt from one of only a handful of comedies I’ll rewatch, Overboard (1987). At the end of the day, it wasn’t really a question of whether I would see him, but how to swing it financially. And nearly a month after this event, I’m still swinging!

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