Edward Pevos may not be Superman, but he makes a pretty convincing Clark Kent. Pevos, MLive’s entertainment writer at large, will don his fedora, tie and press pass to work the floor and moderate panels this weekend at the Motor City Comic Con as the unassuming reporter alter-ego of the Man of Steel. But his real superpower is being the authority on “fun.” Comic Con, at the Suburban Collection Showcase in Novi, is one of the highlight events of the year for a reporter who goes where the action is – whether its Tigers Opening Day, a Taylor Swift concert or the opening of a hot new restaurant. “I think I have one of the most interesting jobs in the country,” Pevos said. “I get to immerse myself in so many different events or activities and bring that fun back to readers, because I legitimately have fun anywhere that I go. “ MLive is a local news organization but we also want our readers to feel connected to the sports and entertainment scene throughout the state. So, for 10 years Pevos has been traversing the greater Detroit area to tell readers about great entertainment to take in, amazing attractions to enjoy and not-so-hidden gems, Campus Martius and Belle Isle. But he has a special excitement for comic cons – big conventions where fans can see and meet celebrities from genres like comic books, action movies, horror, fantasy and more. Hundreds of hard-core “cosplayers” dress in elaborate costumes to depict their favorite characters from franchises like Star Wars, Marvel, Lord of the Rings and Ghostbusters. “Even before I was working with MLive, I was going to comic cons,” Pevos said. “A ton of people are dressed up and very creative, there's memorabilia and art, celebrities to meet, games and so much more. It's literally like going to Toys-R-Us as a kid.” Pevos knows the regulars and they’ve come to know him – Clark Kent working the floor to photograph cosplayers and interview celebrities. His A-list of interviews includes actors /entertainers like Meatloaf and the late Val Kilmer – one of the last interviews the actor gave. He has moderated panel discussions with celebrities in the past and has been tapped for two more this weekend: One on Saturday with actors Leslie David Baker (Stanley) and Kate Flannery (Meredith) from “The Office,” and one on Sunday with Bradley Whitford (Josh) from “The West Wing.” For Pevos the avid fan, it’s “still a thrill” to meet celebrities, he said. But the professional knows he has a job to do for the fans’ benefit, so he puts in the homework. After actor Heather Graham was on a Pevos-moderated panel, she stopped him as he walked by later in the day. “She said, ‘You had a lot of thought-provoking questions,’ and it was very sincere and nice of her,” he said. “I felt I really did some research, and she was appreciative of that.”
Comic cons can be a bit overwhelming, so Pevos has some expert tips for first timers: Saturday is the busiest day, with the most celebrities and largest crowds. If you’re new to the Motor City Comic Con you may want to try Friday or Sunday. Sunday is Kids Day, with family-focused activities and more moderate crowds (along with easier parking). Get the event booklet and circle the things you don’t want to miss. “It's kind of like going on a cruise ship – you really want to see what time things are scheduled, where things are at,” he said. Oh, and leave time to explore – you might run into Clark Kent. He’ll be the one with fedora, press pass and the large smile on his face. “I'm legitimately having fun – it's not just work for me,” Pevos said. “I enjoy it just as much as they do and I'm trying to bring that fun to them.” For more information on Motor City Comic Con or to buy tickets, click here. # # # | 