Spotlight on David Tennant at New York Comic Con Main Stage- Overstuffed!

 

New York Comic Con brought out the star power as David Tennant took the stage with a gleam of excitement in his eyes, ready to engage with his fans. The panel was a unique opportunity for attendees to get to know the actor behind some of their favorite roles. The atmosphere was especially electric considering the ongoing writer's strike, which left no room for comments or questions on newly created content. 

During the panel, one amusing moment was when Tennant was asked to choose his favorite New York style food -- bagels, pizza, or cheesecake. With a laugh, he noted that any choice would disappoint two-thirds of the population, but he eventually settled on overstuffed bagels, emphasizing the need for them to be really overstuffed. 

Tennant shared his excitement about his upcoming role as Macbeth at the Landmark Theatre in Philadelphia, running from November 14th to 18th. He revealed that he had been working on it just that morning, understanding the unique challenges of bringing a supernatural play like Macbeth to the stage. 

When asked about which other character he'd like to play, Tennant joked about Lady Macbeth, but quickly stated the importance of such roles being played by talented women, showing his respect for gender-appropriate casting. 

Tennant also discussed the beauty of Shakespearean plays, highlighting how different actors can bring unique interpretations to the same material, providing audiences with fresh perspectives and experiences. 

The topic then shifted to whether Tennant had seen any recent theater productions, but he admitted that he couldn't go as often as he'd like due with having his children. 

When asked about the possibilities of doing a musical, Tennant expressed interest but also humility, acknowledged that he might not have the singing talent of performers like Idina Menzel in Wicked.

When asked about his name, Tennant took a trip down memory lane when discussing his choice of the stage name 'Tennant,' revealing that he orginally considered 'David Brandon' before settling on his last name inspired by Neil Tennant of The Pet Shop Boys. The Screen Actors Guild required him to formally change his name if he wanted to keep the name Tennant, so David MacDonald became David Tennant. He was getting married, adopting his son, and expecting a daughter all simaltaneously; so his family followed suit in adopting the name 'Tennant'.

The actor reminisced about his lockdown project, the TV comedy series 'Staged', filmed during the COVID-19 pandemic. He, Michael Sheen, and others found solace in working on the virtual series and were thrilled by the positive response from viewers.

Tennant also spoke about his role in the audiobook 'How to Train Your Dragon, sharing the story of how he returned to the project after doing the original audiobook, after twenty years. "Yes, I am impossibly young! I was ten then," he jokes. He praised the books, particularly for 8-9 year olds. 

Reflecting on his career, Tennant expressed gratitude for the diverse media he has worked in, calling it a "real treat." He explained that he doesn't always get to choose his roles, as they are often based on practical factors, like proximity to his family and if the role feels right.

Discussing his drama school experience, Tennant valued the sense of community but also noted the lack of practical life skills taught in drama schools, like managing taxes and fame. 

As for his foray into the podcast world, Tennant felt like an imposter, as he is not a journalist, but enjoyed it nonetheless. He acknowledged the oversaturated market and humbly blushed at an audience member's enthusiastic support. 

When the audience changed for him to write a book, Tennant playfully protested, claiming the book would be too boring and it would feel like doing homework. 

When asked what advice he would give to the audience, Tennant initially appeared stumped, but what followed was a refreshingly candid and relatable response. 

With a furrowed brow, Tennant began by humbly stating that he didn't believe he had much valuable advice to offer. He even humorously admitted to struggling with tasks as mundane as tying his shoes. However, an idea suddenly struck him, as he seized the moment to share a piece of wisdom. 

Looking down at his feet, Tennant made it explicitly clear that he was not paid to make this statement, and he humorously quipped, "This is not an advert!" As he peered down at his Niky shoes he got for Christmas, he stated in low excited tone: "These shoes are really comfortable." Tennant's face brightened as he emphasized, "Good shoes do make a difference. Strive for a comfortable shoe!"

David Tennant's engaging and candid panel at New York Comic Con offered fans a glimpse into the life and personality of the beloved actor, leaving them with a deeper appreciation for his diverse career and down-to-earth nature. 

NYC Comic Con 2023: A Familiar Yet Challenging Year for Fans and Vendors

By Abby Jensen

Published: October 12, 2023

Manhattan, New York City

Comic Con, the annual mecca for fans of comics, movies, TV shows, and pop culture, returned for its 2023 edition, but this time, there was a noticeable shift in the atmosphere. While the show floor and artist alley remained as vibrant as ever, the prevailing economic challenges have cast a shadow over the convention's traditional appeal. 

Familiar Faces on the Show Floor: 

As attendees wandered through the bustling show floor and artist alley, they were greeted by a sight that had become all too familiar. Booths were brimming with an array of merchandise, from vintage comics to limited-edition collectibles, all echoing the nostalgia and enthusiasm that Comic Con is known for. However, beneath this surface, something was notably different. 

Economic Struggles Loom: 

The primary divergence this year was the harsh economic reality many attendees faced. With financial burdens weighing heavily on people's minds, the allure of purchasing items that could be easily found on e-commerce platforms like Amazon or eBay at a fraction of the cost seemed to have waned. The common sentiment appeared to be that with every dollar spent at Comic Con, one less dollar could be allocated to essential expenses like bills and groceries. 

Diminished Interest in Familiar Offerings: 

In the midst of this economic turmoil, attendees seemed less inclined to explore each booth in detail. The enthusiasm for items that frequently grace Comic Con, year after year, was at an all-time low. With the struggle to make ends meet overshadowing the joy of collecting, many visitors opted for a more cursory experience of the show floor, bypassing the meticulous examination of items that had once fueled their passion and looking for photo opportunities of themselves in front of scenic backgrounds or of other Cosplayers whose costumes they admired. 

Familiarity Breeds Disinterest: 

One recurring sentiment among returning Comic Con goers was that, for those who had attended multiple times, the show floor had begun to feel repetitive. The feeling of "seen it all before" permeated the convention, making the novelty of exploring the vendor booths less appealing. For these attendees, the show floor held significance primarily if they were in search of a specific item or sought to assess the quality of a product before purchase. 

A Glimmer of Hope: 

Despite the challenges, Comic Con remained a source of connection and community for fans. Cosplayers continued to impress with their creativity, and panels and discussions offered valuable insights and entertainment. The convention's role as a gathering place for fans of all things pop culture remained unshaken, even in the face of economic hardships. 

 From the panel: "Geekspaces Assemble! Safe Spaces for our Marginalized Communities" featuring speakers: Amin Amat, Andre Frattino, Jennifer Yin Li, & Katie Pryde.

In conclusion, Comic Con 2023 provided an opportunity for fans to come together and celebrate their passions, but it was evident that economic woes had taken a toll on the traditional excitement associated with the show floor. While the convention retained its sense of community and inclusivity, attendees had to navigate the stark reality of balancing their love for pop culture with the pressing demands of their wallets. 

Back to the Future?

 Hey everyone,

It's been a long time since we last posted. I know, it's been a very weird series of events since 2020 but prior to that, where were we? Well, if you must know... Jess and I got married and started that amazing adventure. After that, I switched careers and went back to school in a way... I became a teacher. New posts coming soon! Goal is to do one or two posts a day. 

Testing... 1-2-3!

Attempting to test new feeds.

MCU: The Next Phase?

So, here's a question... We know that the Infinity War is coming up soon and that Thanos will be the main villain but it seems like almost every other past movie's villain had been able to control a portion of the Infinity Stones/Gems. It would make much sense for Thanos to utilize these past villains as a plot.

Red Skull, Loki, Ronan, Ultron, and Malekith mainly are the ones I am referring to. All of which had seemingly been killed on screen. Well, save for Loki who is off pretending to be Odin at the current moment. Red Skull, for all we know, got beamed away by the Tesseract. That leaves Malekith, Ronan, and Ultron to explain. Ultron seemed to well calculated to not have a back up on a remote server or cloud to come back with a new robotic body.

Malekith had a hatred for both Loki and Thor. Thanos would be wise to bring Malekith back to use against the Avengers in the Infinity Wars battle. Malekith might not be able to go full round for round against the likes of Thor but that should slow him down. The issue is that Malekith did seemingly get crushed by his own ship in Thor. But let's not forget to mention that Malekith did have a healing factor and body was found.

Now, to go hand in hand as a way to bring back Ronan who was destroyed in Guardians of the Galaxy... let's not forget that of all the current villains that we have seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that Thanos is probably angry with Ronan the most. He did disobey Thanos in their agreement and he stole the gem that was supposed to be given back to Thanos. He also challenged Thanos' might. I could see Thanos reanimating Ronan as one of his new pawns against the Avengers/Guardians.

Sure, the dynamics of Thanos controlling these villains will be tough. But let's remember; Malekith wants to make the Asgardians suffer. Loki wants to rule Asgard. Ultron wants to rule Earth. Red Skull wants to rule Earth as well. Ronan wants to have the Kree prosper and rule pretty much their area of space. Thanos wants to rule everything.

I'm banking on that if Thanos was to offer each of them part of a promise to get their wish fulfilled if they swear allegiance to him, that you'd have a pretty good league of Anti-Avengers for the the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy to deal with. Sure, one on one, these villains were not able to beat their counterpart but keep in mind, Ultron nearly destroyed the Avengers on his own. Toss in Red Skull to keep Captain America occupied, Malekith to handle Thor, and Ronan to handle the Guardians, you're not giving the Avengers the one thing they do best at; taking on a threat as a team. They would be too divided to handle whatever else Thanos was going to toss at him.

Now, the only flaw in this possible outcome is; where will Loki really stand? He's survived failing Thanos and I'm sure that's not going to forgotten by our cosmic conqueror. Just as much as we can remember that Loki won't want to submit to Thanos; right now he's living the dream even if it is a complete deception. He has the throne of Asgard. Why would he want to risk giving up his complete rule to having to fulfill his 'debt' to Thanos?

If Thanos was to put this Cosmic Cabal into play, would Loki break off to tell his brother? Sure, Loki doesn't want to have Thor pay attention to Asgard but with Thanos having conquest on his mind... his Asgardian playground is possibly going to be threatened.

Besides, why would Loki want to get his hands dirty in this fight when he can play dirty and let Thor and his friends battle Team Thanos?

So, the question is... Do you think we'll see the other villains pop up in the upcoming Infinity Wars? If so, where are you going to think where Loki is going to stand; with Thor or Thanos?

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