Volume 22, Number 5 George Takei: An American Voice by Kevin Shirley Monday, Sept. 2 A grateful and passionate George Takei It became his “mission in life” to raise took the stage in the Marriott Atrium awareness among his fellow Americans Ballroom Sunday morning to answer of this history in order to keep it from questions from fans of all ages about ever happening again. Then his voice “all things Takei.” He began with a lowered: “Sadly, it is happening again boisterous “Oh Myyy,” followed by a along the southern border.” moment of refl ection on the occasion Takei felt called to help the next gener- of the 53rd anniversary of Star Trek and ation of Americans understand the his- just what that meant. A television series tory of immigrants and the racism that that struggled to stay on the air be- has so oft en driven immigration pol- came a major entertainment franchise icy at the national level. As a child he because of the loyalty and passion of read comics, and those stories stayed its fans. Takei was very intentional and with him. He concluded that he would deliberate in saying “thank you” to all. share his story with the next generation He was not only amazed by Star Trek’s bombed Pearl Harbor.” Takei was refer- of Americans through a comic; in this dailydragon.dragoncon.org longevity, the fact that “our children ring, of course, to the years he and his case a graphic memoir. Working with now play us,” but that the incredible family spent in a Japanese internment Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott, and illus- support of the fans has given him a camp, located far from his Los Ange- trator Harmony Becker, Takei penned platform to be heard. “I have access les home, in the swamps of Arkansas. They Called Us Enemy, the story of the because of you,” said Takei. American citizens all (except for his internment from the perspective of a “I spent my childhood behind Amer- dad), his family was caught up in the 5-year-old child. His goal was to tell n ican barbed wire,” he said, “be- anti-Japanese fervor that swept across the truth of his experiences, as well as cause we looked like the people who this nation in the wake of Japan’s attack. those of his parents. Masquerade o Winners Best Toddler: Natasha and Cristian Kersh as Belle and Chip g Best Teen: Makayla Hulsey and Allysan Morris, Bast Egyptian Goddesses Best Youth: Ianna and Adelin Gore, Queen Amidala and Padme a Best Animation: Lauren Stewart, Hawk- girl Best DC: Genesis Crowder and Re- r becca Kunimoto, Wonder Woman and Mother Hyppolita Best Novice: Kimberly, William, Bran- from Phantom of the Opera Best Disney: Eric Engler, Klinger the don and Matthew Oswald, the Guard- Best in Show: Lynn and Bowie Sessions, M*A*S*H 4077 Disney Princess ians of the Galaxy Stacie and Jim Mossey, David TErres, Best Fantasy: Katie Brubaker, Eowyn D Best Journeyman: Jasper Norris, Jave Aaron Lilyerd, Grace Butkowski, Beth from Lord of the Rings the Space Raptor Thornton, and Eliot Thomas, Scoo- Best Marvel: Scott Goodwin, Thor Best Master: Devon Baker, Red Death by-Doo Group Talking Games, the Dark Side: Eddie McClintock by Alicia Pack There are certain Dragon Con guests superpower in the game is intuition. darkness because I think that’s true of y who need no introduction, and Eddie “Looking around [at the game], there’s any person, myself included. Granted, McClintock is certainly one of those. At a Darrin, Allison, Saul, Joanne, and Rog- my character Jack Payne that I played l Dragon Con 2019 Dragon press conference on Sunday aft ernoon, er Rees as MacPherson, and you guys in Shooter was a little darker than most reporters sat down with the actor to talk were having fun playing a game I was of us would have hoped. I tried to give i games and playing darker characters. a part of. That made me feel good and him some humanity. What I wanted him On Saturday evening, Warehouse 13 nostalgic…It’s a great way to keep the to be was like a Pete character, when he fans had the opportunity to play the memory of the show alive and move it wasn’t murdering ruthlessly. I want the show’s new board game aft er bidding to another generation.” viewer to be confl icted. ... I can’t nec- a in an auction to benefi t the American While we all love hero Pete Lattimer, essarily say I like playing a dark charac- Heart Association, Dragon Con 2019’s recently McClintock has played char- ter more than I like playing a character offi cial charity. Of course, McClintock acters who identify with the dark side. like Pete, but I fi nd them both interest- played where he discovered that Pete’s “I do enjoy playing characters with ing in their own ways.” D Peter Mayhew: A Member of the Family by Kevin Shirley Sunday aft ernoon in Marriott A601- As each panelist introduced them- word “family” continued to come up. 602, friends, loved ones, and fans of selves, a recurring theme immediate- Mayhew enjoyed not just his days at Peter Mayhew gathered to share their ly appeared: Mayhew was always in Dragon Con but his evenings as well. As memories and love for the man who the moment when working with the Johnson declared, you may be holding e created one of American fi lm’s iconic fans. He was kind and loved them, a pint while Peter was holding a pitcher, characters: Chewbacca the Wookiee and no matter what his struggles may but the warmth and the comfort of fami- from Star Wars. Bryan Young, Albin have been, he had the ability to turn ly and friends was always there. Johnson, Cheralyn Lambeth, and Ryan “it” on, focus on those fans, and give In what is quite possibly a Dragon Con h Ziegler guided the hour. This was not them not only his full attention but his fi rst, the session concluded with a a Q&A. Rather, the session was an energy as well. Wookiee “salute” and a bagpipe trib- opportunity for people who knew, ap- The discussion then turned to Peter’s ute from a “pipe-trooper.” As the song preciated, and loved the man to come relationship with Dragon Con. When echoed through the room, those in T The Daily Dragon together to fi nd solace in the company Young met with the Star Wars track attendance stood in silent homage to of one another. director to prepare for this panel, the Mayhew, a member of the family. Monday, September 2, 2019 The Daily Dragon Vol 22, Num 5, p. 2 Hy = Hyatt S = Sheraton 2019 Dragon M = Marriott W = Westin Hil = Hilton Schedule Changes AM1/2 = AmericasMart Bldg 1/2 Awards The following previously confi rmed present- Corinne O’Flynn will be on “Visitors from Jon Boutelle will not be on ““Make the Bad by Debbie Yutko ers will not be able to attend Dragon Con Beyond: Ghosts and Spirits in UF” Mon 1PM, Men Stop, 2019 edition, v2” Mon 2:30PM, 2019: Emily Andras, Asher Angel, Aaron-Mi- Chastain 1–2 (W). Athens (S). Charles Gannon hosted the fourth an- chael Hall, Rachael Harris, Dirk Manning, CANCELLATIONS nual Dragon Awards on Sunday eve- Misty Massey, Jack McDevitt, Jorge Molina, UPDATES ning, assisted by attending luminaries *NEW* “News from the Atheism Front” Mark Pellegrino, Cherie Priest, Mercedes “William Shatner Live!” Mon 10AM, was David Blue, Mike Capps, Peter David, Mon 10AM, 204–207 (Hil). Lackey, Chris Schweizer. Grand Salon (Hil), now Atrium Ballroom (M). Katherine Kurtz, Larry Niven, George Scott Sutherland will not be on “Space “Google is Skynet” (was “The Terminator, ADDITIONS Weather” Mon 10AM, 212–213 (Hil). Pérez, Tim Powers, Cat Rambo, Bran- I Robot, Chappie, Wall-E”) Mon 1PM, 204– don Sanderson, and Chelsea Quinn Zachary Levi will not be on “Shazam Cast: *NEW* “The Hard Part: Asking for Finan- 207 (Hil). Yarbro. cial (and other) Support for our Organiza- Qualities of a Hero” Mon 10AM, Centennial tions” Mon 10AM, 204–207 (Hil). II–III (Hy). Gannon noted that the theme of this year’s Dragon Con is the 50th anniver- Will the Real Karate Kid Please Stand Up? by Kelly McCorkendale sary of the Apollo moon landing. He asked the crowd to consider Michael In 1984, Ralph Macchio, as Daniel Collins, who didn’t get to walk on the LaRusso in The Karate Kid, lift ed his arms moon, and stayed up in the command sky-high, assuming “the crane” stance, module, more alone than any man and face-kicked his nemesis, the bully had even been before. Gannon asked known as Johnny Lawrence, played by all the nominees, those who won and William Zabka. We all cheered. Our those who didn’t, to stand up and be hero prevailed, getting the trophy and recognized for their marvelous eff orts the girl. Good bested evil. and achievements. Or did it? And the winners are: Fast forward thirty-some-odd years to a little show called How I Met Your Moth- Hank Reinhardt Fandom Award: Ed- er, where Barney Stinson began to chip ward DeGruy away at our perception of The Karate Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Minia- Kid, singlehandedly forcing us all to tures/Collectible Card/Role-Playing question our allegiance to Daniel/Mac- Game: Call of Cthulhu: Masks of Nyar- chio. As our Karate Kid—as the Karate gray area around the characters, show- of the late Pat Morita, Mr.