Days of the Dead Chicago 2022

When I first started working on this write-up, I wasn't sure what I was going to put here. What I wrote in my coverage of Days of the Dead Indianapolis this summer (which you can see here) applies just as well to this one, and I don't have anything to add to it, nor do I want to simply restate the same thoughts in different (or the same) words.

As the main difference between my coverage there and my coverage here is the interview itself, that's what I'll discuss. More specifically, an element of the interview that a few people have already heard it have asked about: the vague "You are lucky" I gave when Amanda said she hadn't been asked to sign anything particularly...unique.

If you also want to know the story, keep reading.

If you don't, I completely understand (as often as I tell it—and I do tell it, because it's...well, it's something—part of me wishes I didn't know it either), and I'll see you next time.

I started asking about the most unique/different/interesting thing someone's been asked to sign in, I believe, 2011, as part of my coverage of Chicago Comic Con (then Wizard World, now FanExpo).I figured it'd lead to some interesting stories, and it has. But only one sticks out, after over 10 years, as the biggest "What the heck? I didn't even realize that was something that could come up..." ever.

That answer? An inner thigh from Electra and Elise Avellan.

Electra and Elise Avellan are twin actresses, best known for their roles in Machete and Grindhouse. I interviewed them as part of that 2011 Wizard World Chicago Comic Con coverage where I started asking this question. So not only was that the most "...what?" answer I received, it was also one of the first. Heck of an initiation.

But the story gets even weirder. While they were in agreement about the answer (obviously) being "an inner thigh", a follow up question revealed that they weren't actually thinking about the same time. That's right, they got that request more than once.

Naturally, the only follow up question that came to mind at the time, and I'm guessing it's one that a few of you have as well, was "Male or female?" So, figuring I couldn't be the only one wanting to know that, and being rendered otherwise completely speechless, that's what I asked.

The one who originally answered the question said "Female", while her sister simultaneously said "Male".

Without me needing to say a word to clear up that discrepancy, the one who said "female" turned to her sister and demanded to know when they got that request from a guy. Her sister answered, and, with her memory now refreshed, both agreed the answer to the original question was "Male".

And thus concluded one of the most memorable convention interviews I've ever done.

Over the years, conventions have changed a lot. Even in just the 15 or so years that I've been attending or covering them, quite a bit has changed. Some of those changes are things I like. Others? Not so much.

But I don't think there's a single change that I'm as happy about or proud of as the environmental changes and the steps taken to preserve guest and attendee safety and comfort.

As interesting as that story was, I'm very glad it wouldn't fly and would get shut down today.

The celebrities on the other side of those tables are people, just like you. Whether it be this show or any other, keep things respectful and classy. Not just because you might get thrown out if you don't, but also because it's just the right thing to do.