The Walking Dead Fans Should Be at Motor City Comic Con May 15-17

If you didn’t know, there is an annual Comic Con held every year in Detroit. Well, actually it’s called the Motor City Comic Con, but it’s held in Novi. Specifically, it’s held at The Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi. Does it really matter where it’s being held if there is a ton of cast members from The Walking Dead coming to take photos and sign autographs? No, I didn’t think so. Warning: Spoilers Ahead.

By now, you’ve probably gotten over the crazy season five of The Walking Dead that saw several regular cast members die and aren’t constantly thinking about the return of the most watched show in October for a sixth season. Well, some of you reading are probably gearing up for the show, or the recently names spinoff Fear the Walking Dead, which will air this summer. If you live and die, that’s figuratively, The Walking Dead, or are a casual fan, you’ll want to attend at least one day of this year’s Motor City Comic Con to meet several cast members of the hit show, including some that (spoiler alert!) aren’t on the show anymore.

Michigan’s Own Steven Yeun One of Several The Walking Dead Cast Members Appearing (Photo Credit)

Now I warned spoiler alert, but I’ll say it again as we’ll be listing the cast that is appearing and how many episodes they were one or what their current status is on the show:

• Daniel Bonjour: plays Aiden, appeared in 3 episodes, died in season 5, photo $40, autograph $25
• Chad Coleman: plays Tyrese Williams, appeared in 31 episodes, died in season 5, photo $60, autograph $50
• Michael Cudlitz (new addition): plays Sgt. Abraham Ford, appeared in 22 episodes, still alive, photo $60, autograph $40
• Lawrence Gilliard Jr.: plays Bob Stookey, appeared in 22 episodes, died in season 5, photo $50, autograph $40
• Emily Kinney: plays Beth Greene, appeared in 50 episodes, died in season 5, photo $60, autograph $60
• Alana Masterson (cancelled): plays Tara Chamber, appeared in 25 episodes, still alive
• David Morissey (cancelled): plays The Governor, appeared in 20 episodes, died in season 5
• Roger Mitchell: plays Paul, appeared in 3 episodes, died, photo $40, autograph $25
• Chandler Riggs: plays Carl Grimes, appeared in all 69 episodes, still alive, photo $80, autograph $60
• Michael Traynor: plays Nicholas, appeared in 6 episodes, still alive (barely), photo $40, autograph $30
• Scott Wilson: plays Hershel Greene, appeared in 37 episodes, died in season 4, photo $60, autograph $50
• Steven Yeun: plays Glenn Rhee, appeared in all 69 episodes, still alive, photo $80, autograph $60

Michael Cudlitz Was Recently Added to the Lineup (Photo Credit)

This is one of the biggest lineups of The Walking Dead actors you’ll ever see in one place. Motor City Comic Con had Daryl Dixon himself (Norman Reedus) last year and this year gets a bunch of the supporting stars from the show. Other regulars from the show Scott Wilson, Jon Bernthal (Shane) and Jane McNeil (Patricia) were also present last year and participated in a panel. Last year, the convention saw a record 40,000 attendees, a figure that is expected to be beaten this year with the strong lineup and The Walking Dead focus.

This year, a Walking Dead panel will be held on Sunday at 1pm in Speaker Room 1. The panel is called “Meet the Dead of the Dead”. The panel will feature Daniel Bonjour, Chad Coleman, Lawrence Gilliard Jr., E. Roger Mitchell, and Scott Wilson. Fans can ask questions during the panel and will also hear stories from filming.

Also keep in mind that two of these actors appearing (Riggs, Yeun) have appeared in every single episode (69 of them) of The Walking Dead. All told, counting the cancelled Masterson, Motor City Comic Con, was set to have seven of the fifteen actors appearing in the most episodes. Kinney ranks eight, Wilson tenth, Coleman thirteenth, Masterson fourteenth, and Cudlitz fifteenth.

Take a look at a lineup for a Zombie themed convention like the Walker Stalker Cons (no Michigan dates yet) and you will see only three to four stars from the show, with the exception of Orlando (that’s a pretty strong lineup too). Take a look at this complete list of Walking Dead stars at conventions and Motor City looks like a real winner.

Tickets for the convention can be purchased in one day passes or a weekend pass. Adult passes are prices as $25 (Friday), $35 (Saturday), $30 (Sunday), or $70 for the 3 Day Pass. Kids under 5 get in free (with a paid adult) and Sunday all kids under 12 get in free. Kids pricing is $10 per day or $20 for all three days. VIP passes cost $150 and include a 3 Day Wristband, tote bag, exclusive comic and/or print, and a fast pass/early admission ticket to get you through lines quicker.

The Motor City Comic Con has been held at the Suburban Collection Showplace since 2005. This particular Comic Con was started by Michael Goldman, the owner of Motor City Comics. The convention has attracted some huge names over the year too, which includes:

• 2000: James Doohan (Scotty from Star Trek)
• 2002: David Prowse (Darth Vader!)
• 2004: Julie Benz (Rita on Dexter), Ron Perlman (Hellboy, Sons of Anarchy), Alfronso Ribeiro (Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)
• 2006: Adam West, Burt Ward (Batman and Robin from original TV series)
• 2007: Lou Ferrigno (Incredible Hulk)
• 2009: Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia of Star Wars)
• 2010: Adam West (the original Batman)
• 2011: George Takei (Star Trek), Brent Spiner (Data on Star Trek), Kate Mulgrew (Star Trek Voyager, and now Orange is the New Black)
• 2012: Dean Cain (Superman on Lois and Clark), Billy Dee Williams (Lando on Star Wars), Christopher Knight (Peter Brady on Brady Bunch)
• 2013: Stan Lee (legendary comic creator), Norman Reedus (Daryl from The Walking Dead), Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride, Saw), Micky Dolenz (The Monkees)

Aside from The Walking Dead, there is a ton of other famous faces you can see and meet at the 2015 Motor City Comic Con. This list includes:

• Rachel Adams, Ms. Michigan America 2015
• Alloy Ash, print model from Michigan
• Anastasia Baranova, Syfy’s Z Nation
• Camren Bicondova, plays young Selina “Cat” Kyle on Gotham, this is her 1^st signing convention
• Linda Blair, best known as the possessed child from The Exorcist
• Ronee Blakley, actress
• Billy Boyd, played Pippin in Lord of the Rings
• Jeremy Bulloch, the original Boba Fett, was part of our recent Star Wars in Michigan 2015 Guide
• Nakisa Burrise, the Yellow Ranger from Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers
• Dean Cain, Superman from Lois and Clark
• Emma Caulfield, Beverly Hills 90210, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
• Tony Curran, Defiance
• Robert Englund, Freddy Krueger
• Terry Farrell, played Jadzia Dax on Star Trek Deep Space Nine
• Jason Faunt, the Red Ranger from Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers
• Lou Ferrigno, the Incredible Hulk
• Vivica A. Fox, actress
• Zach Galligan, Gremlins
• Lance Henriksen, actor, frequently seen in James Cameron movies
• Judith Hoag, played April O’Neil in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• Thomas Howell, ET, The Outsiders
• Tom Kenny, voice of Spongebob Squarepants
• Ken Kirzinger, played Jason Voorhees in several movies, including Freddy vs. Jason (2003)
• Marvin Kove, played John Kreese (evil karate sensei on The Karate Kid)
• Ralph Macchio, the Karate Kid
• Mark Margolis, best known for his role on Breaking Bad
• Andrew McCarthy, numerous television and movie roles
• Gates McFadden, Star Trek The Next Generation, played Beverly Crusher for 154 episodes
• Jaime Murray, known from recent work on Dexter
• Denis O’ Hare, True Blood, Emmy nominated work on American Horror Story
• Jodi Lyn O’Keefe, Prison Break, The Vampire Diaries
• Robert Patrick, played T-1000 on Terminator 2 Judgement Day
• Lori Petty, Point Break
• Daniel Phillips, makeup on movies like Oz The Great and Powerful, The Hobbit, was also contestant on reality competition Face Off
• Roddy Piper, wrestler
• Michael Rowe, plays Floyd Lawton (Deadshot) on Arrow
• Tom Savini, makeup artist for movies like Friday the 13^th and Texas Chainsaw Massacre, now an actor in Quentin Tarantino movies
• John Schneider, best known for his role on Dukes of Hazard, but also known to comic book fans as Clark’s dad on Smallville
• William Shatner, played Captain James T. Kirk on Star Trek
• John Wesley Shipp, played Barry Allen on The Flash (1990 tv show), now plays Allen’s dad on The Flash (The CW show)
• Ksenia Solo, Black Swan, Orphan Black, Lost Girl, Turn
• John E.L. Tenney, host of Ghost Stalkers, and famous paranormal expert
• Greg Valentine, wrestler
• Jimmie Walker, played James Evans Jr (J.J.) on Good Times, famous for saying line “Dy-no-mite”
• Michael Welch, Twilight movies, Z Nation
• Dawn Wells, played Mary Ann on Gilligan’s Island
• Amanda Wyss, actress
• Billy Zabka, played Johnny Lawrence on The Karate Kid, recently seen on How I Met Your Mother

As you can see there are some huge names to get non Walking Dead fans excited too. Keep in mind that you could meet both Freddy and Jason and also meet the Karate Kid and Johnny Lawrence. There is two former Power Rangers and a former Superman. You can also get your photo taken with three stars from The Karate Kid (Kove, Macchio, Zabka) for $100. This is a lineup that rivals any of the national conventions, with the exception of the granddaddy of them all San Diego Comic Con.

If you do miss the Motor City Comic Con this weekend, fear not another will hit the Mitten State later this year. The fairly new Grand Rapids Comic Con will hold its third annual convention at Devos Place the weekend of October 16^th through 18^th.