ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – The Big Lick Comic Con returns to the Berglund Center, and fans have a chance to meet some of their favorite celebrities.
Joining the WFXR News Team in the studio on January 31 was the cult classic actor Flash Gordon Sam Jones, iconic WWE wrestler Sergeant Slaughter, as well as comic book writer and Big Lick comic con creator J.D. Sutphin.
Sam Jones is known for his character Flash Gordon, popularized in the early 1980s with a film and then other television roles. Flash Gordon is considered a cult classic of the era, and in 2012, he reprised the role with cameos in the movie Ted and its sequel, Ted 2. Jones is also a former US Marine and has been awarded multiple humanitarian awards, including Citizen of the Year and Outstanding Achievement Award in California.
Jones said he loves meeting his fans.
“It’s remarkable. They’re the ones who support us. It’s an opportunity for the fans to tell us their story,” said Jones. “At the comic con, you’ll see. I’ll have my sunglasses on the table. Because some of the stories are heart-wrenching. They’ll say to me, Sam you don’t understand, you saved their life. The impact of my character and or the movie saved their life.”
Robert Remus A.K.A., Sergeant Slaughter, is an American wrestler with the WWE who began his career in 1974. Sgt. Slaughter is a WWE Champion and Hall of Famer who became a fan favorite across the wrestling universe. He fought the likes of other household names, including Hulk Hogan and the Iron Sheik. His likeness was also used for action figures by Hasbro in comic book and toy franchises like G.I. Joe, as well as animated series.
Sergeant Slaughter explained that wrestling keeps him young, and just like GI Joe, they are in their prime.
Slaughter said he even got to wrestle at the Berglund Center and said, “There are certain arenas that you love going back to because the fans understand what we’re doing, and they came there to be entertained. So when you can entertain the people that want to be entertained it gives me goosebumps just thinking about walking down that aisle, whether you’re the villain or the hero, and you put that show on for them, and they go home and say that was the best show. We’re going back to the next one. “
He said, “It puts a smile on your heart when you see that.”
J.D. Sutphin explained that making people smile is exactly what you want to happen. He said, “I think back to the times that I saw [Sergeant Slaughter], and at that time it was the Roanoke Civic Center and popcorn spilling around and people were shouting and having fun. That’s the same energy of our comic con. It is not a quiet event. It’s electrifying and engaging, and it’s inspiring.”
J.D. said the event started in 2017 and knows people who have left their jobs to follow their dreams to write comics or create art.
He said, “I can tell you right now, there will be a child that will go into that place this weekend and they’ll be the next Sergeant Slaughter, the next Larry Hama, the next voice actor because they have to start somewhere.”
Everyone is a kid at some point and has to start somewhere to get inspired and that’s what Comic Con is all about for the participants and readers. The young at heart only participate, but it’s the kids that are truly inspired.
There are going to be many other celebrities at the Big Lick Comic Con on Saturday, February 1 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
If you want to buy passes you can enter early, all you have to do is visit biglickcomiccon.com.
Kids 12 and under get free admission.