TMNT CO-CREATOR KEVIN EASTMAN VISITING DETROIT

Cowabunga! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles co-creator Kevin Eastman will be making a Detroit area appearance at the 2025 Great Lakes Comic Con. He will be participating in a panel discussion for event attendees included with the cost of admission on Sunday, February 23 as well as offering autographs and photo ops for fans for an extra charge on Saturday, February 22 and on the 23rd. Autographs are $40 or $80 for his signature with a TMNT remarque. Photos with Eastman are $20.

In the late 70’s and early 80’s, self-published “Mini Comics” became a main artistic outlet, and while soliciting illustration work from local fanzines in Northampton Massachusetts, Kevin Eastman met like minded creator Peter Laird and the partnership studio, Mirage Studios, was formed. Less than a year later in the middle of a late-night drawing session, Eastman doodled a new character he dubbed a “Ninja Turtle” to make Laird laugh— several sillier sketches and a final drawing of four characters later “Eastman and Laird’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” had officially entered the universe! 

Self-published in May of 1984 the first issue sold out of its 3000 copies overnight and quickly became a fan favorite. Catching the eye of Merchandising Agents and Hollywood Producers, Eastman and Laird maintained full control of their creations while guiding them through Toy Licensing, TV Series adaptation, as well as Feature Films, and by early 1990 the TMNT’s were number one in all three categories. 

In 2020, based on an original 1987 concept by Kevin and Peter, Kevin adapted and launched The Last Ronin with longtime TMNT Writer/Co-Writer Tom Waltz. The epic tale quickly became the TMNT publishing event of the decade, both a critical success, and a New York Times Best Seller. The series continued with The Last Ronin: Lost Years in 2023 and 2024, The Last Ronin II: Re-Evolution.

The 2025 Great Lakes Comic Con is going on from Friday, February 21 through Sunday, February 23. The event is taking place at Macomb County Community College's south campus' Sports & Expo Center in Warren. Eastman will only be at the event on Saturday and Sunday.

For more information, visit greatlakescomicconvention.com

FLASH GORDON MOVIE SCREENING WITH SAM JONES

Detroit area sci-fi fans won't want to miss out on this! In advance of his appearance at this year's Great Lakes Comic Con, Sam J. Jones who portrayed the lead character in FLASH GORDON (1980) will be participating in a special screening of the movie on Thursday, February 20 at Patridge Creek's MJR theatre in Clinton Twp. The event begins at 7 pm and should wrap up around 9:30 pm.

Sam J. Jones will introduce the movie, then after the movie there will be a brief Q and A with him. Autographs or photo-ops are not included with this movie night. Sam J. Jones will then be at the Great Lakes Comic-Con, February 21-23, 2025 for photo and autograph opportunities. The movie night does not include admission to the Great Lakes Comic-Con. Comic-Con tickets must be purchased separately.

Limited seating available for this special movie screening. Advanced ticket sales through Eventbrite only. No ticket sales are offered at the event. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets!

Included with your movie ticket: small-sized popcorn (1 free refill) and pop (1 free refill). Who else is GEEKED about the chance to watch FLASH GORDON with Flash Gordon?!

GREAT LAKES COMIC CON 2025

Be ready to march over to Macomb County Community College's South Campus for a weekend of full of comic books, cosplay and celebrities. The 2025 Great Lakes Comic Con will be taking place February 21 - 23 at the college's Sports & Expo Center in Warren, Michigan.  The event will feature more than 150 vendors and crafters, as well as artists and entertainment personalities who will greet fans, sign autographs, provide photo ops, and participate in panel presentations.

Special guests at this year's Great Lakes Comic Con include Kevin Eastman (Co-creator of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Sam Jones (Flash Gordon [1980] actor), Demolition: Ax & Smash (Three-time WWF World Tag Team Champions), Bill Morrison (former editor of MAD Magazine), Lisa Trusiani (writer for Marvel Comics' Barbie series and Kim D.M. Simmons (official photographer for Kenner Products marketing of Star Wars toys). They will be participating in panel discussions that are included with the show's price of admission and signing autographs and providing photo ops at an additional expense to attendees who wish to interact with them.

Admission costs $55 per person (Children under 10 FREE) for a weekend pass or individual day passes can be purchased for $20 (Friday), $25 (Saturday) and $25 (Sunday). CLICK HERE to purchase Great Lakes Comic Con admission tickets online. This year's event hours are Friday, February 21 (5pm to 9pm), Saturday, February 22 (10 am - 6pm) and Sunday, February 23 (10 am - 4pm). Note that Kevin Eastman will only be appearing on Saturday and Sunday,

Scheduled events for the weekend include:

• Adult Costume Contest: on Saturday, February 22nd at 3:15PM;
• Children Costume Contest: on Sunday, February 23rd at 2:00PM; 
• Gaming – hosted by i-Con Tournaments – Super Smash Bros., Mario Kart; 
• Magic the Gathering and Pokémon – open play on Friday, then tournaments on Saturday and Sunday – hosted by Game Players;
• A Dungeons and Dragons Campaign – No experience necessary! Available all three days – hosted by Game Players; 
• Face Painting by Chantel – bring the little ones, and the older ones, to have their faces painted; 
• The Balloon Sculptor – Witness the talent of Tim Thurmond the Balloon Sculptor.

For more information about this event, visit greatlakescomicconvention.com. The Macomb Community College's Sports & Expo Center is located at 14500 E. 12 Mile Road. Hope to see you there!

MANDOVERSE DROID PERFORMER COMING TO MOTOR CITY COMIC CON

Fans of the Disney+ Star Wars: The Mandalorian and its spinoff shows on the streaming service will be GEEKED to know that Chris Bartlett who is known for portraying droids within the "Mandoverse" will be a guest at the Spring edition of the Motor City Comic Con taking place May 16-18, 2025 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan. He's known for playing the acting role of robotic characters known as droids and actually builds the costumes himself he wears for the productions. Anybody who is into cosplay has to love this guy!

Chris Bartlett has taken on the role of a number of different droids in a variety of The Mandalorian episodes as well as made appearances in Ahsoka and The Book of Boba Fett. One of the most popular Star Wars appearances by Bartlett has been as Q9-0 a protocol droid turned mercenary in the first season of The Mandalorian. He also has taken on one of the most iconic roles within the Star Wars galaxy as C-3P0 in Disney+ Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Chris Bartlett will be appearing all three days of Motor City Comic Con (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). Hear his stories from behind the scenes of these Star Wars shows during a panel discussion at the Con where he will share insights and inspiration with fans. Which Star Wars droid do you think is his favorite? Ask him at Motor City Comic Con! He will also be providing autographs for $40 and photo ops for $50 during the event.

Tickets for admission to Motor City Comic Con are available online at MotorCityComicCon.com:

Adult admission tickets (ages 13 and up) 

Friday Pass $35* online purchase / $40 at the door 

 Saturday Pass $45* online purchase / $50 at the door 

 Sunday Pass $40* online purchase / $45 at the door 

 Adult Weekend Pass $100* online purchase / $110 at the door  

Children admission tickets (ages 6-12) Kids 5 and under are FREE all weekend with a paid adult.

Friday Child Pass (ages 6-12) $5* online purchase / $10 at the door 

Saturday Child Pass (ages 6-12) $10* online purchase / $20 at the door 

Sunday is Kid’s Day All children under 12 are FREE with a paid adult 

Child Weekend Pass (ages 6-12) $15* online purchase / $25 at the door

*Additional processing fees will apply with online ticket purchases. Online sales will end at 8:00am each day, May 16-18. After 8:00am tickets will need to be purchased at the box office.

VALENTINES DAY THEMED COMIC BOOKS

It is February and love is in the air with Valentine's Day approaching! Daredevil and Electra, Batman and Catwoman, Superman and Lois Lane, Archie and Betty (or is it Veronica), Snake Eyes and Scarlett ... what is your favorite comic book storyline romance? 

Enjoy the holiday with some Valentine's Day themed comic books hitting store shelves this month:

Archie Comics -- ARCHIE'S VALENTINE'S SPECTACULAR ($3.99)

You are cordially invited to join Hearts, Flowers, and Candies on a tour of the romance capital of the world... Riverdale?! Let the three Spirits of Valentine's Day sweep you off your feet and show you why, in Riverdale, EVERYONE gets a Valentine!

Skybound -- CREEPSHOW IN LOVE ($4.99)

Romance + CREEPSHOW? This three-course special is for all the lonely hearts out there! 

First, murderous MIRKA ANDOLFO (SWEET PAPRIKA) spins a horrifying yarn about the Valentine's Day Killer in "Madness of Two"! 

Then, petrifying PATRICK HORVATH (Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees) concocts a love potion for a "Cursed Casanova"! 

Finally, yelpin' YUL-PYEONG OH and paranormal PURÉ invite you to the zoo for the worst first date ever in "Penguin Avenger"!

Mad Cave Studios -- DICK TRACY: VALENTINE'S DAY SPECIAL ($6.99)

When a string of murders occurs on the set of a romantic movie filming in The City, Dick Tracy is on the case. In this world of glitz and glamour, where everyone tells a story but no one tells the truth, Tracy races against the clock to separate fact from fiction and stop this killer before they fulfill their promise to strike again — on Valentine's Day! PLUS: While investigating a series of bizarre deaths, Dick Tracy finds himself transported into the life of his dreams! But what is lurking behind this locus of love? Find out in the Dick Tracy Valentine's Day Special!

Dynamite -- POWERPUFF GIRLS VALENTINE'S KISSY FACE SPECIAL ($5.99)

It's almost time for the annual Valentine's Day card exchange in the City of Townsville — and when a cute boy in her class catches her fancy, Blossom starts getting into the spirit of the holiday in a big way!

Suddenly, every scenario she encounters — from going out for pizza to clobbering giant monsters — is an occasion for a swooning flight of fancy. Even Mojo Jojo's villainous schemes transform into fairy tale adventures through her newly heart-shaped eyeballs! Can Buttercup and Bubbles bring her back down to Earth in time to save the city from its inevitable attackers? Or will the Titans of Townsville succumb to the ultimate weapon — Cupid's arrow? 

Find out in this 40-page seasonal special, handwritten on rose-tinted paper by PAULINA GANUCHEAU and lovingly drawn by SAVANNA GANUCHEAU, featuring a bouquet of covers from both Ganucheaus as well as hopeless romantic NICOLETTA BALDARI.

THE LAST OF US FIRST SEASON STEELBOOK

If you haven't seen the first season of HBO's acclaimed television show based upon the sci-fi/horror video THE LAST OF US now is a good time to consider a binge watch before the second season is released this April. Catch up on all 9 episodes plus 3 hours of special features with the limited edition 4K Ultra HD Steelbook of The Last of Us: The Complete First Season available for preorder now with a March 18, 2025 scheduled delivery date from Amazon.com. 

In 2003, a parasitic fungal infection ravages the planet, turning humans into violent creatures known as the Infected. Twenty years later, hardened survivor Joel (Pedro Pascal) is hired to smuggle 14-year-old Ellie (Bella Ramsey) out of an oppressive quarantine zone in hopes of delivering her to the rebel Fireflies. But what should be a quick job soon becomes a brutal and heartbreaking journey as they traverse a desolate U.S. – while depending on each other’s unique skills for survival. Created, written, and executive produced by Emmy® winner Craig Mazin (HBO’s Chernobyl) and Naughty Dog’s Neil Druckmann, this riveting series brings a video game world to life, painting a grim vision of the future of humanity – and the lives of those who would risk everything to save it.

This post has affiliate links, which means this blog could earn advertising money if you buy something. This doesn't cost you anything extra, ageekdaddy.com just has to give you the heads up for legal reasons. Click away!

THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM STEELBOOK

A MARTIAL ARTS EXPLOSION! Individually, they’ve starred in the most adrenaline-pumping martial arts adventures ever. Together for the first time, Jet Li and Jackie Chan join forces to create the greatest epic of them all – The Forbidden Kingdom. As ancient Chinese warriors, they must train and mentor a 21st-century kung fu fanatic who’s been summoned to fight a centuries-old battle and free the imprisoned Monkey King. If you’re a fighting fan, the wait is over. The team is ready. The Kingdom has arrived.

You can visit The Forbidden Kingdom beginning February 25 when this movie from Lionsgate will be available from Amazon.com with a steelbook release to add to home video entertainment collections. The Forbidden Kingdom is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) with a run time of 1 hour and 44 minutes.

This post has affiliate links, which means this blog could earn advertising money if you buy something. This doesn't cost you anything extra, ageekdaddy.com just has to give you the heads up for legal reasons. Click away!