Tiki Con Screams Into Niles, Ohio this Weekend!

Screaming Tiki Comic and Pop Culture Convention is being held this weekend in Niles, OH. The convention started on Friday (10/17) and concludes tomorrow (Sunday, 10/19).

Had the chance to see my good friend Ruben Procopio, catch up and talk about his latest releases Orville, Bernard & Miss Bianca from The Rescuers and Shere Khan from The Jungle Book. We talked of the wingspan of Orville's wings and how his wings and scarf balance the piece. He liked the Jungle Book grouping I posted the other day on the blog and said Shere Khan is probably slightly bigger than depicted in the grouping but felt it would still work well with the other two pieces.

I had the opportunity to see Masked Avenger Studios first release in a new product line of retro figures called Really Retro (TM), the officially licensed Adam West bust. Click here for additional information. Announced on Friday was the concept drawing of the next release, the Burt Ward bust. Both appeared in the popular and iconic Batman television series (1966-1968).

Feastured guests on hand were Adam West (Bruce Wayne/Batman), Julie Newmar (Catwoman-TV series pictured at right), Lee Meriwether (Catwoman-movie based on the TV Series) and Yvonne Craig (Barbara Gordon/Batgirl). In addition to characters from Batman was Noel Neill, Lois Lane from the Adventures of Superman television series (1952-1958), Margot Kidder and Sarah Douglas from Superman the Movie (1978). It was a great opportunity to see all these people I grew up watching either in film or television in one room, in person.

A special treat was seeing the Batmobile and Batcycle from the television series. The Batmobile's front end design is characteristic of the face of a bat with the hood scoop extending down into the frontal area accentuating the nose. Right and left eyes extend into the ears with dual 450 watt lasser beams installed in amber reflective lenses. Hood scoop follows the front area with a hydraulically operated steel chain and cable cutter blade. Hidden behind the ears are functional headlights for normal street driving. The grille cavity is the mouth of the bat with the internal mounted rockets.

The dash is equipped with many different Batman innovations such as the Batscope that is hooked up with a revolving closed circuit antenna to bring the Batman full vision plus the Bateye switch for anti-theft control, the antenna is for an information radio wave pickup of messages and computering from the Batcave with an electronic unit installed in trunk. A Detect-a-scope is used to determine the area in which Batman or Robin are in, also the Batray reactors and lasser beam button controls, plus many flashing warning lights and directional electronic systems. Attached to the anti-fire theft control systems are swivel 5-way nozzles that eliminate any fire throughout the vehicle. Ad double cable control exhaust cutout system are used for sound volume.

The Batcycle made its first appearance in 1966. It was a 1965 Harley Davidson with a side car, but it was taken on lease and was only used for the first season episode "Not Yet, He Ain't."

Later that year, a new Batcycle was introduced. Off-site was the Bat Copter. Was really cool to see all of these in person plus was able to find the Hot Wheels 1:50 1966 Batmobile that was released earlier this year that up until today, I was unable to find plus the 1:18 Batmobile.

This was my first time attending a comic book convention, was very different seeing a lot of people walking around in costume, those working the convention plus collectors as well.

Walking around were Batman, Robin, Superman, Wonder Woman, Supergirl and Spiderman, the Green Hornet and Kato, Batman villains such as King Tut, Catwoman and the Mad Hatter. Catwoman was dressed just as she appeared in the television series and couldn't miss the opportunity to get my picture with her :)

Was a great opportunity to see Ruben again (Thanks as always Ruben!) and take a walk down memory lane.