FEATURE Forever Young

As pop culture festival Supanova sweeps around the country, childhood memories remain a force to be reckoned with.

Words Kerrie Davies Photos Yie Sandison

nside Sydney’s Olympic Park Frank Tiziano and Paul Quinlan dome, it’s raining cats, dogs and are such mature age innocents. ponies. Ears twitching and tails They are members of the worldwide Iswishing, they frolic with other organisation, Rebel Legion fans at Supanova, the pop culture (w:rebellegion.com) who are , festival that flies around Australia pilots, troopers, princesses and wookies. each year. The Rebel Legion rose in response to the Fighting 501st organisation that If costuming is a cultural radar, the caters to the dark side: fans of Storm Twilight and True Blood phenomenon Troopers, Siths, Bounty Hunters and is waning. Instead of star vampires, big daddy, Darth Vader. there’s excitement because Game of 501st Southern Cross Garrison Thrones (GOT) creator, George R. R. Troopers Patrick Firns and Craig Ellis Martin and GOT actor Peter Dinklage patrol the area cradling their helmets are attending “SupaNovember’ in while the Kirk family, who have just Brisbane, Adelaide and a one-off event driven in from Canberra, hurriedly get at the Sydney Opera House too. Cue dressed for the Garrison’s group shot. fur, dragons and medieval swords. Dad Travis Kirk is wrestling himself Modelled on the annual US Comic- into a costume as Commander Kody Con held in San Diego, Supanova and mum Fiona, wearing an official brooch as ‘Trooper Assistant”, adjusts attendance increased by 10,000 this seven year old Nathan’s Jawa costume, year in Sydney alone and the conference complete with glowing eyes. has over 60,000 Facebook fans. “The kids love to dress up,” she says. Yet while GOT attracts a whole “Our eldest Zac, wants one like Trav but new pop culture following, others it’s $900. He’ll have to be a good boy.” cling to their childhood with Star Star Wars remains family friendly. Wars, Superman and cuter-than-cute Nearby, a dad dressed as a trooper My Little Pony. Who said girls (and helps his yawning young son out of his boys) grew out of horses? costume’s mini-helmet, ensuring a new

18 www.chrysalismagazine.com.au www.chrysalismagazine.com.au 19 Paul Quinlan Like Comic-Con in the US, Supanova celebrates characters and childhood fascination is born like the turn up in a Wookie t-shirt. Wookies the actors who immortalised them Kirk kids. Not today though. require, “a complete hair suit in a for conventions forevermore. Here “He’s had enough,” he explains, medium brown colour. The outside of There was in Sydney, Supanova’s biggest stars leading his son through the doors back the knees, shoulders, back of head and are David Hasselhoff (although to their usual universe. upper back should be dark brown, gray this mythology it’s unclear if it is because of his geeky car The Rebel Legion are keeping or a mix. No bald spots and eight to show Knight Rider or just because he is and adventure in their distance from the troopers with ten inch hair is preferred. No faux fur, “The Hoff”) and “Her Worshipfulness” friendly rivalry. yarn or shag carpet Wookies.” the universe. Carrie Fisher, Princess Leia, still in “We’re the good guys,” Frank says of Nearby Rob Raposio has demand 25 years after Star Wars debuted. the Rebel Legion, although don’t tell slipped into his Superman costume Patrick managed a photo with her as Darth, but the 501st do charity work too. that boasts an inbuilt six pack, did Frank, who lined up for two hours. “The 501st are tight knit,” says Fiona. morphing him into the man of steel. “I get goose bumps thinking about He strolls around animé stalls in his Craig was elated when he glimpsed “I still remember being nine years Perhaps the rebranding, however, is how everyone helps each other. It’s a suit, which acts like a blue security her outside the convention centre. old at the Hoyts on George St,” Patrick the secret to its introduction to a new childhood indulgence but we also do blanket of confidence and identity. “She was having a cigarette and waved remembers. “You had to reserve a seat. teen fandom. lots of work for the Children’s Hospital Superman is enjoying a resurgence to me.” It was unlike anything I’d ever watched. “It is getting bigger each year. It’s the and Starlight foundation.” because of the gritty remake “She hugged me,” says Frank. At last count, I’ve seen it 27 times.” characters’ personalities and most of Like Travis’ Commander Kody, Frank of the hero in Man of Steel. “It was nice to meet her after so long. all about friendship. You can relate to and Paul are meticulous in their attention The director, Zack Snyder has flown in Wonder Woman was my first crush, ut not all retro Supanova it,” says Daniella, who is dressed as her to Star Wars detail; dressed as rebel pilots for a Q&A with Margot Kidder, the but Princess Leia in a slave costume fans are over 35, fretting favourite Pony character, Fluttershy. they are ready for action in a mandarin original Lois Lane. had a big influence on a 13 year old.” about details of pilot suits. Female fans of the show refer to orange suit, mid-calf boots, silver/grey For Rob, it’s not a new infatuation, Frank wonders if there is an ideal age High school girls Gabi themselves as Pegasistas, while their male leg flares, white flak vest and X-wing in which to have an enduring affection B counterparts are called Bronies, with a nor was it for the fans that flocked to Kattley, Daniella Babanour and Ebony hoof (closed fist) handshake. They are less helmet with Star Wars decoration. Comic-Con’s celebration of 75 years of for a hero. Bishop are dressed as My Little Ponies visible than Pegasistas in the Supanova “The helmet comes from the USA,” the superhero, where DC entertainment “The film had a lasting effect on which, like Superman, is getting a me,” Frank reflects. “As a child, it was crowd. Admittedly, to really stand out Frank explains of his pilot outfit. exhibited eight of the movies’ original new cinematic lease of life with the the perfect time. It was completely at Supanova you have to be dressed as “It’s about $300. All up, I think the suits, including actor Christopher film, Equestria Girls, out in September costume is around $1,200 but it is a different to anything I’d seen. There was Dr Who’s Tardis (yes, someone was). Reeve’s circa 1978. following the success of the re-released work in progress.” He says he likes the this mythology and adventure in the Bronies slip through the crowd “He’s been my favourite since television series in 2010 by Hasbro Rebel costume because it, “suits my I was a kid,” Rob explains. universe.” He adds, with an adult’s reality wearing subtler costumes ranging from Studios. The girls join long time fans of body shape.” “He struggled to fit in – his check: “And there were toys to play with. rainbow scarves draped over a suit jacket the show such as artist Kristy Broday. But the adult costuming of Star Wars power made him different. Star Wars was so well marketed.” to more visible rainbow wigs, like friends “I’ve liked it since I was five. I love is not child’s play. It’s an expensive I saw myself in his struggle, as I It’s the same childhood memories Nicholas Talbot and Owen Godfrey. the animation,” says Kirsty. “A lot of dedication, with members of both was an outsider too.” He glances that keep Star Wars alive for the “A lot of my older sister’s friends are the fans aren’t inspired by the new Rebel Legion and 501st adhering to down at his costume, pleased. 501st’s Patrick, and his fellow 6000 Bronies. They might not be so dressed strict costuming guidelines. Creature “I got it at Spotlight. I couldn’t members worldwide. movie. In Ponyland the original, they up,” Gaby agrees. “But they are coming costumes aren’t exempt so you can’t just have made this myself.” had jobs. Now they are in high school up to us and doing the Brony fist and Clockwise: Patrick Firns, Craig Ellis; Fiona and they’ve downgraded it.” asking for a photo.” Kirk and her son Nathan; Nicholas Talbot, Owen Godfrey; Rob Raposio. 20 www.chrysalismagazine.com.au www.chrysalismagazine.com.au 21 Supanova

Brisbane: 8-10 November 2013 Adelaide: 15-17 November 2013 Sydney: Game of Thrones – In Conversation with Peter Dinklage and George R.R. Martin at the Opera House, Monday 11 November 2013. Gold Coast, Sydney, Perth: Conventions return in April 2014 w: supanova.com.au

“I got into it about 18 months His parents may have a point in that ago,” Nicholas explains. “Originally I My Little Pony, Star Wars and Superman was sort of against it, then I grew to are quaint compared to super sexual like it. I’m on the radio show Celestia and violent Game of Thrones and Call Radio and Ponify Me, which is just They remember the of Duty. COD soldiers strut around for Ponies. It’s about the music. There energy of childhood the convention toting guns that make are thousands of fan songs, so it is a the Rebel fighters’ weapons look like creative and centralised pop culture. and this is a good water pistols. It’s really friendly and we raise money “It was simpler too (than today),” opportunity to Frank says. “There were good guys, the for charity too. We once raised $70,000 bad guys and a really bad guy (Darth for a girl with a brain tumour.” be a kid again. Vader). It was cut and dried.” “It’s social and interesting,” Owen The Ponies think so too. Fluttershy, agrees. “I found the group in 2011 aka Lauren Churchill, is waiting for her and thought I’d give it a shot. I started comic-loving boyfriend as more ponies, watching the episodes and skyping asked what Bronies are and I explained bronies and troopers arrive. friends in the group.” that it was about My Little Pony. They “It’s fun. I was up until midnight It seems a sweet way to meet girls. asked me, ‘Why don’t you do drugs making my outfit,” says Lauren. ‘Yes,’ Owen says, blushing. “They are like normal kids?’” “I think there’s a retro thing going on individuals and like-minded.” “My parents were horrified I’d and as everyone gets older they pass Clockwise: Frank Tiziano, When Owen was interviewed on mentioned that on national TV,” Owen it on. They remember the energy of Lauren Churchill, Mighty SBS TV’s The Feed about My Little says now. childhood and this is an opportunity Morphin Power Rangers, Pony, he told the show, “My parents “I told them, ‘Well, you said it!’” to be a kid again.” My Little Pony tattoo and Gollum.

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