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I was perusing the local convention scene a couple of weeks ago and came across this:

StarQuest, a Trekkie convention to be held in Frederick, MD, just a little ways down the road.

Now, I am not a Trekkie. Sure, in 1966 when Star Trek first came out, every Thursday evening I was glued to the RCA console just fascinated, fascinated. I, along with every other 6th grader in America, did the Vulcan salute and yelled “I need more power!” in my best Scots accent. But, when it ended, I was done with it. Never got into the follow-ons.

And I’d never been to a Trek Convention. Never had the interest. But this one looked like it had decent guests, including Teryl Rothery, Natalija Nogulich, Alexis Cruz, among others, and I figured, what the heck, set up a table, sell a few books, have some fun. So I went.

My set up:

which was next to the breakfast buffet:

Get a muffin, get a book.

My neighbor:

Hmm. Not a lot of Trek-themed items on the table.

The main vendor/celebrity area:

Hmm. Kinda sparse.

Except for the Farpoint guys. You can always count on the Farpoint guys.

Okay! All set. Open the doors!

Guess there must have been a transporter malfunction.

I went to dinner in Frederick (which is a happening town), packed up, and went home.

One word summary: Wow.

I mean, wow. Just wow. The little town of Dover, Delaware, a place familiar to we Air Force types who’ve traversed the nearby base at one time or another, had themselves a fine little Comicon. Gotta say, this was one of the best ‘cons of any kind I’d attended in quite the while.

Could have something to do with the place I stayed the night:

The State Street Inn. Check out my room:

and the rest of the place:

Feral cats and two of the best hosts in America, Michael and Yvonne Hall:

After a whirlpool tub soak and Yvonne’s downright dangerous breakfast, I headed over to set up at the Dover Public Library:

Nice. They even have their own derelicts.

Incidentally, Tj O’Connor, a man with piano wire in his watch, was here somewhere. At least, that’s the rumor.

The room in which we vendor types were to set up:

Hmm. Bit tight. And hot. I was beginning to develop a sense of foreboding, especially after I managed to set up at the wrong table and had to move (that’s on me. I suck at directions) and ended up dumping my table all over the floor in the process (that’s also on me. I’m clumsy). But, soldier on, ’cause, you know, still had a whirlpool-tub-and-dangerous-breakfast buzz.

The neighbors:

Still no Tj. Wonder where he could be?

Anyways, my final set up:

Yep, bit of an overlap with the neighbors. As I said, tight. And hot. And sense of foreboding on the rise.

Then, they opened the doors:

The place was MOBBED. From about 0930 to 1830, a constant stream of ComiKazis, never the same face twice, unrelenting, a tide of Marvelites and DCistas and Animeniacs. Even Loki showed up:

Ghost Rider:

No flaming skull. Would be a short-lived costume.

Get a minion. Take over the world.

Beautiful.

Beautiful and tough.

War Machine. Not Iron Man. Got it?

This is the granddaughter and great-grandson of Vince Alascia, one of the first Captain America artists of the Golden Age and a Charleton Comics guy. In the presence of royalty.

Dark Elf pirates. It’s a thing.

Scout Regiment keeping us all safe.

Still no Tj. I wonder what he was doing?

Place was so packed, I managed to get exactly five minutes away from the table for necessary biological functions. Not complaining. It was great. Kudos to Kerri Hollyday and the rest of the Dover Library staff for putting on a Ritz of a show.

I am definitely going back next year.

With, or without, Tj.