Monster-Mania August 2025

This past weekend of August 15-17 held the latest edition of Monster-Mania in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. My friend Freddie and I attended that Saturday the 15th and had fun as we always do. 

I was short on cash, so I only met two celebs, but they were both awesome. First up was Paul Kratka who played boyfriend Rick in the always fun to watch Friday the 13 part 3. He was really nice in person and talked to me for a bit. We discussed the enduring popularity of the franchise and Jason, himself.

The other celeb that I met was the great Joseph Whipp. He played police Sgt. Parker in Wes Craven's masterpiece A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). He also appeared in Scream, The Hidden, and more. In person, he is one of the nicest celebs I have ever met! He talked to me for a good bit asking me about my shirt (I told him it's The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs where he plays horror movies) and if my Nightmare box set that I gave him to sign was new (I told him no, but, I ran out of space on the inlet card and was now getting the cardboard slipcover signed). The Monster-Man employee who took the pic, then made us pose for a bunch of pics: normal, pointing, fist bump, and drunk! And, then he still talked to me about how amazing it was to work with Craven! Meeting him was definitely the highlight of the day for me.

Sadly there was far less people in attendance than I have ever seen, at this con, but there was still some amazing cosplays on hand. Here are some of my favorites that I saw on this day:

Writer and cosplayer Crystal Rose Cardano

We stayed for the Friday the 13th part 3 cast panel which was fun to listen to. Though, we did leave right after that.

Here are the two autographs that I got:
Friday the 13th part 3: Paul Krakta
A Nightmare on Elm Street: Joseph Whipp

The only thing I bought was something from Vinegar Syndrome's booth. It's Fatal Delusion on Blu-ray. I never seen this W.A.V.E. production, but it stars gorgeous scream queens Deana Demko and Tina Krause. So, I was like, "Sold!"

Did any of you guys go to this Monster-Mania? If so what were the highlights for you, and who did you meet? Let me know in the comments section below.

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Garden City Comic Fest: June 2025

Comic-book convention Garden City Comic Fest was held this past weekend of June 28th & 29th at the Essex Center Codey Arena in New Jersey. My friends and I went on Sunday the 29th. This is our first time attending it, and we had a blast!

The first of the two people I met that day was the lovely and multi-talented Jo Armeniox. She is an actress and voice over performer having appeared on Boardwalk Empire and done voices on Pokemon the Series: XY and XYZ as Shauna and Red Dead Redemption, among other projects. She was really sweet and down to earth in person.

I also met comic-book artist Nikkol Jelenic. She has done work for comic companies Top Cow, Marvel, and Dynamite. The later includes the covers for the horror/ fantasy franchise crossover Red Sonja Vs. the Army of Darkness. It's that that caught my eye at her booth. I picked up the first issue and got it signed by her. She was really cool and nice, in person (as well as being beautiful). I asked her if she was a fan of both. She said she was and that she only works on stuff she's a fan of. She also told me, that while she likes Red Sonja, she is more of an Army of Darkness fan. This only made her even more awesome in my book!

Here are some of the cool sights I saw at the convention:

Comic-book artist Fred Zorn signs his comic for my friend.

Being Sunday, there was probably less cosplay than the day before, but there was still some. Here are some of my favorites that I saw on this day:

If you are wondering why I didn't do any cosplay, this was honestly a last minute thing. And, also it was too hot. My anxiety would have killed me if I was all dressed up. As we had to walk to and from the venue from my friend's house. Anywho, I have four days in October to cosplay for NYCC. 

Here is the swag that I bought at this con:
Funko Pops:
Universal Monsters Walgreens Exclusive: The Invisible Man
Jurassic Park Anniversary: Tyrannosaurus Rex (both were 50% off, so essentially 2 for $15)
Red Sonja vs. the Army of Darkness #1 (which I got it signed by cover artist Nikkol Jelenic at her booth)
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #30 (which was 50%)
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #36 (which was in the $1 bin)

The reason that I go some of these great deals us cuz it was Sunday.

On a side note, I'm looking for old issues of the Marvel run of  G.I. Joe or any of the trades that collect them. But, being low cash I don't have a lot to spend on them, so if you wanna help a brother out, or at least point me in the right direction, please don't hesitate. Thank you.

Anyway, we had a great time. I loved the way that it felt and looked like an old comic-book convention with celebs. That's something you don't see in NYC, really, so we loved it. And, will definitely be back for it next year!

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Chiller Theatre April 2025

This past weekend of April 25-27 was the latest edition of the April edition of Chiller Theatre. My friends and I went on that Saturday the 24th, and we had a truly epic time! The weather was kinda crappy with rain, including at least one down pour, but none of that ruined what was one of the greatest times of the year!

The first celeb that I went up was George Milhalka, the director of the awesome Canadian slasher My Bloody Valentine. He was really nice in person, talking to my friend Freddie and I for a bit. We learned that he is a fellow, big Vincent Price fan!

Up next for me was the lovely Suki Goodwin of the underrated and atmospheric Hell Night. Starring Linda Blair this 80's favorite is a good time to be had. Goodwin was a total babe in that movie, and she was definitely one of the people I was most pumped to meet. I am happy to say that she was awesome to meet! She is very sweet and still gorgeous.

Speaking of people that I was dying to meet the next two celebs, I didn't get a pic with. But, I got their autograph. First up was legendary heavy metal guitarist George Lynch. The former lead guitarist of Dokken and various other bands, including Lynch Mob, his horror connection comes through the classic title track "Dream Warriors", from A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 3: Dream Warriors. And, let me tell you he was THE most awesome guest of the weekend! He was funny, friendly, and cool as fucking hell! He joked with me and told me some wild and awesome tales, including that classic tale of Dokken snorting coke off of the Freddy glove on the set of the classic video for the aforementioned "Dream Warriors"! Seriously, Lynch fucking rocks!

I did the same with another celeb I was dying to meet. He was the one, that excited me the most the minute they announced him: Muse Watson. He's best known for playing Ben Willis the Fisherman of I Know What You Did Last Summer. He was nice in person, and seemed to be taken back by all the love that his classic slasher character has.

And, speaking my autographs here are all that I got at this show:
Hell Night: Suki Goodwin
Queens of Scream/ I Know What You Did Last Summer: Muse Watson
Nightmare on Elm Street Collection/ A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 3: Dream Warriors: George Lynch
My Bloody Valentine: George Milhalka

There were some really cool statues and props in the some of the rooms in Chiller, like these:

Not only did this dragon flap his wings, but he "breathed fire", too (actually his mouth lit up).

The Exorcist Regan head above is one of only two remaining heads actually from the classic movie! These props come courtesy of The Witch's Dungeon. My friend's and I seriously need to go to this museum dedicated to classic horror and sci-fi!

As the show itself was winding down, we went out to dinner. Of course, we came back for the party! And, man did we have a blast! This was the most fun that I have had,  since honestly I don't even remember! Also, since we were able to stay and chill for a long time, we could actually drink. And, in my case, I was happy drunk! Yay!

While, at the party, I ran into this awesome Daenerys from Game of Thrones cosplay by Jade Green. She was really cool and sweet, and I told her that she's gotta get pic with that aforementioned (and pictured!) dragon statue. She said that she would. I wonder if and hope she did.

Two of the actresses from Pitch Perfect were signing at Chiller. And, that night they were chilling at the party/ bar with their own friend. The other actress, Alexis Knapp, left early that night. But, Hana Mae Lee and their friend hung longer. My friend Alan and I got a pic with Lee. She and her friend were really awesome and down to earth. Lee also commented that she liked my look and told me to check out her goth band, Grave Condition. 

A little after that, it was soon time to go home after one hell of a night and awesome time!

Here is the swag that I got at Chiller:
From director Pete Jacelone's booth: Psycho Sisters (1998)

From Vinegar Syndrome's booth: Severance and Spoonful of Sugar
Got a copy of the latest issue of Screem magazine, which got me a free copy of Dick Tracy: RKO Pictures Collection:

This was another epic Chiller, and I already wish it was October for the next edition! Who among you went this weekend? What were your favorite memories? Let me know in the comments section below!

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