It wasn't unheard of for San Antonio to host a number of massive events in the same week. Not too long ago, Diwali at Hemisfair overlapped with Dia de los Muertos at La Villita while Alamo City Comic Con hosted throngs of San Antonio nerds, all happily crammed into the Alamodome. I was there. I met Jeff Goldblum, it was great.
Then the coronavirus pandemic hit and our city went from party town to a quiet bizarro version of itself. The panchangas stopped.
As we come out from the COVID-19-induced haze, events are popping back up. Markets are back. Restaurants can't keep up with diners. And though Big Texas Comicon announced its return later this year, some fandoms are taking things a little slower.
For Heroes and Fantasies Vice President Adam Conley, that means opening his stores up for meet-and-greets that don't resemble the chaos usually found at most conventions.
Like other retail shops during the pandemic, the beloved comic book enclave closed its doors for several weeks. Though the company has a serious social presence, Conley and co. had not dabbled in e-commerce during their three decades in business.
READ MORE: 'We can't wait': Big Texas Comicon is returning to San Antonio this fall
"It was pretty detrimental to our survival, and we were not prepared," Conley said. Their online pivot helped them stay afloat, with customers ordering through curbside pickup. "We catered to our local market because having been around for 34 years, the locals are what built us and helped create what we are."
Face masks are definitely required, especially at their gaming tables that returned later in the year. And as new fans trickle in — "WonderWoman," "Wandavision," and a slew of other Disney-backed projects have helped keep nerd culture satiated throughout the pandemic — Heroes and Fantasies is trying its hand at personable, intimate events with some of your favorite actors.
In October, the shops welcomed Jason David Frank of "Power Rangers" fame for a meet-and-greet. The actor had requirements in place to keep things safe, including masks worn during photos, but the trial run paid off for the shops. They were able to bring in talent without blowing their budget, and still made the trip worth it for the stars.
Building relationships with the appropriate agent takes a minute, but Heroes and Fantasies now has the ball rolling. Lou Ferrigno of "The Incredible Hulk" had a nonstop line for his 4-hour stints at the shop in late February.
They'll continue hosting events into May with "Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace" baddie Darth Maul himself making an appearance on April 24 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Selfies and signatures with actor Ray Park will be offered, $60 each, or $100 for the combo. VIP passes are also available for $25 with their own set of perks.
Park, who also featured in 2000's "X-Men" movie as Toad, already has a great track record for appearances, something that Conley's excited about.
"We've heard nothing but great things about him and his fans," Conley said. "Doing it at the store gives it that more personal feel, it's a more intimate setting to talk to the celebrity with."
Come May 14, they'll host Jason Faunt, the Red Ranger in "Power Rangers Time Force" at all three shop locations.
Will conventions go back to their bustling norm? Maybe. Or maybe they'll revert back to conventions of the '80s and '90s, when venues held a total of 30 vendors, and celebrities were a nice bonus.
"It was nothing like we're used to setting up now where we have a 60-by-60 booth and hang things from the ceiling," Conley said. "I remember a convention at the Wyndham in '93, and Stan Lee was just there signing autographs. The line was there but it wasn't insane."
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April 14, 2021 at 05:09AM
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Celeb appearances take more subdued approach at Heroes & Fantasies - mySA
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