Planet Comicon: Star Wars Showcase

The Imperial March starts playing and six cosplayers in elaborate garb strode onto the stage. Among them were a jedi, a few Imperial guards, and perhaps the most awesome Star Wars costume in this writer’s opinion: that of an Imperial Stormtrooper. I thought this must be one of the most atmospheric entrances of the weekend. After all, I was sitting before the Star Wars Showcase at Kansas City’s Planet Comicon. It’s safe to say there was a considerable amount of anticipation in the room for the discussion to begin. The cosplayers, frozen in their poses, would stand in a line across the stage for the duration of the hour-long panel.

Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca himself, sadly but understandly not in costume) and Tom Kane (voice of both Narrator and Yoda for Star Wars: The Clone Wars, among many other shows/games) appeared immediately thereafter. Mayhew seemed to tower over everyone else onstage as he lumbered to his seat, black hair falling in disarray down his back. His contemplative British drawl seemed so outlandish and unexpected that I just sat, nonplussed. Kane, at least, avoided all such expecations. I knew that many voice actors were very talented at sounding legitimately like other people; the image of a tall, white-haired man in a plaid shirt as the voice of Yoda was no cause for shock.

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And yet I was very shocked and pleased to learn throughout the unfolding discussion that Kane had also provided the voice for a personally beloved animated character: Professor Utonium of TV’s Powerpuff Girls. It was all I could do to keep from giggling in delight when he said, in character, not once but twice: “That Mojojo was the worst lab assistant I ever had! Bad monkey!” Kane went on to answer a fan’s question that working on Powerpuff had been, quite possibly, the most satisfying experience of his career. “It was just the most fun. We had a great staff, and every day was a blast.” When asked his favorite project, however, Kane could not deny his Star Warsian fandom; “Clone Wars” was his decided answer.

The two went on to answer a veritable smorgasbord of questions. Mayhew commented that one of his dearest memories was seeing the the Chewbacca costume for Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. “It wasn’t all CGI after all.” Mayhew also mentioned that he loved being asked, at 48 hour’s notice, to fly to Austrailia in order to reprise the part.

Other of fans’ questions included the following: What was it like working with Harrison Ford? (“It was good. If you are good actors, you work it out together.”) How about George Lucas? (“George was more a technical director, but he was good because he really liked the machinery of filmmaking, not just dealing with actors.” What’s your favorite kind of music? (“70′s rock ‘n’ roll.”)

When asked their favorite part about Comic Cons, both immediately answered, “the fans. We wouldn’t be here, we wouldn’t be doing this, without them.” No one could deny that truth. It’s because of the fans that we can all look forward to much more Star Wars in years to come.

For more about the many amazing things that happened at Planet Comicon in Kansas City, check out our coverage and exclusive content on our Project-Nerd Convention Tour page.

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