A Hip Hop Comic Con Shout Out

This is a shout out to Hip Hop Chris from NYCC. (Did I pull that off, Chris? 'Shout out"? At least I know it sounded better than Sean did saying "Word.")

I was a good little girlfriend this weekend. I attended the New York Comic Con on Friday and Saturday and escorted the boyfriend! to a party thrown for DC's employees. Ok, ok...he didn't exactly have to twist my arm to attend a function at the Empire State Building with free dinner and an open bar. But the con itself is rather intimidating for a girl who's never seen Star Wars or any other movie or show based on long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away (or some shit like that).

I wore a navy blue, V-neck dress with ruffles at the bottom and a peacock blue sash that tied loosely around my waist. My hair was pulled back and had wavy tendrils cascading in front of my face. I took one last look in the mirror before grabbing my new, amazing Pan AM purse (The single greatest investment of my life...until I buy something else new, of course). This looks right, I thought to myself, just like the girlfriend of a comic illustrator.

I was greeted at the Javitz Center by a storm trooper standing in the middle of the intersection. He gave an exaggerated look up and down at my outfit, then, resting his hands on his white shell covered hips shook his head at me.

"What?" I started at him, not able to see his eyes. "I belong here!"

His head tilted to the side, mockingly.

"See? Here's my guest pass." I tugged on the cheap, plastic tag in the outer pocket of my purse.

Leaning in closer, he examined the validity of my pass.

"You think I'm over dressed?" I said quieter.

He pointed to his nose with one hand, and with the other, at me.

Just then a tall woman holding a whip, with purple streaked, jet black hair passed by. She wore what can only be described as a fishnet body stocking with nothing but a bra and panties underneath.

"Well, this will have to do" I said, "I left my catwoman costume at the brothel last night."

But storm trooper was no longer interested with girl in the blue dress. His eyes were glued on the dominatrix goth girl. I moved along, passing a dozen other women in fishnets and leather, several Leia's in the gold bikini, a few Poison Ivy's...and many many more characters that I couldn't even begin guessing who they were supposed to be.

While walking around the con with the boyfriend! on one of his breaks, he asked me who I would dress as if I HAD to come in costume. I gave him a look of disgust. Rolling his eyes, he added, "Just indulge me. I know you would never dress up for this...but if you absolutely had to...who would you be?"

I thought for a moment. "Tomb raider. Cause I could just wear cargo shorts and a cut off wife beater."

"Good answer," He nodded.

"And I'd style my hair in a french braid."

"Right."

"And do my make up so that my lips would look bigger," I added.

"Um, ok..."

"And I'd have to have a gun holster. You can't be Lara Croft without a gun holster."

"Oh no," He said rolling his eyes. "I lost you to the comic nerds..."

"Hm...maybe I would even wear a wig...just to get the hair coloring right..." I was talking more to myself now.

"I want my girlfriend back."

Aside from feeling slightly out of place, it was a lot of fun. Found a few interesting graphic novels I am looking forward to reading and I loved watching the boyfriend! be adored by fans! He was like a quasi celebrity and it was hysterical to watch. The guys who live in the apartment below us even stopped by and had a geek out moment when Sean was signing some books. At one point, Sean even said the words, "Guys, guys...I'm just like you." I snorted my coffee upon hearing this.

For those who haven't seen his work...I attached a couple examples above. Or check out his site at www.seangordonmurphy.com