Fan Days, the little brother to Dallas Comic Con’s Fan Expo, is happening this weekend at the Irving Convention Center. Unlike other Cons that center on Star Wars/Trek, Doctor Who or other specific comic genres, Fan Days is an across-the-board appeal to all bases of Fandoms. Fan conventions pretty much started with the Trekkies and they still hold a large influence of this con.
John De Lancie, famous for playing ‘Q’ on “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” is appearing all weekend. He was kind enough to sit and chat just a bit between autograph sessions and I asked as to what he is doing these days. “Besides this? Well, I just got through with a run of a play and I directed and “Star Trek” opera that is currently in workshops.”
De Lancie is most famous for his work on “Star Trek.” He actually only appeared in a few episodes during the eight year run but ‘Q’ was the most pivotal character in the series. Putting the Federation on trial in the series premiere and introducing the dreaded Borg to the Federation, and moreover the humans, are among his high points in the series. This is one of the reasons he is still one of the fan favorites of “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” He now voices a character in “My Little Pony” by the name of Discord. Discord is pretty much the same trickster character just in a much less maniacal persona.
When asked about the new version of the “Star Trek” movies his response was generally tepid. He likes the new movies but he just doesn’t think they are as “story-driven” as the shows and other movies were.
If you would like to hear from John himself and have an opportunity to ask your own questions, he and Michael Dorn (the Klingon Lt. Worf) will have a panel discussion at 12:30 on Sunday, October 16th at Fan Days. Tickets are still available online (http://dallascomiccon.com/tickets/) or at the box office in the Irving Convention Center 500 West Las Colinas BLVD in Irving.
