Living in sci-fi land

Stargate SG-1 star Tony Amendola.

They are a devoted and obsessive bunch, these sci-fi, gaming and comics fans. They're also, it has to be said, quite odd. Just ask the stars who attend events like the Armageddon Pulp Expo.

Actor Tony Amendola, who plays Master Bra'Tac in Stargate SG-1, agrees the fans are "odd people, but wonderfully odd. They're peculiar but extremely bright and they know their stuff much better than the actors do."

He's had people come up to him and talk in Chulakian, the language his character speaks on Stargate SG-1. He's even had someone pass him a note saying they "went through the Stargate last night and if I wanted to talk more about it then to give them a call".

"I didn't give them a call because that was more than I wanted to know," he deadpans.

Then there are the ones who turn up in a replica of Master Bra'Tac's costume. "They've duplicated it so precisely, they've even cast weapons," he says in disbelief.

Despite these obsessive types, Amendola, who has also featured in films like The Mask of Zorror and TV series CSI: Miami, enjoys travelling the world and appearing at expos.

"It's a chance to meet the fans, so they're not this faceless group," he says. "I've done a lot of theatre which is an event that takes place in one room, and when you do film and television as I have for a long time you miss the contact.

"These things are social events, and these people are passionate about this genre which means they can fantasise and dress up. So I take it in my stride and just watch them and am constantly amazed," he says.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is if you look back to when you were foolishly passionate about something in your teens then it's that kind of thing - the feeling of getting eaten by something. I admire that."

Since the inaugural Armageddon event in December 1995 at Avondale Raceway the show has grown and now has more than 100 stands spread over five levels. Around 30,000 people are expected this weekend to experience the latest in sci-fi, comics, gaming and other fantasy pastimes.

Fans will pay $30 for a star's autograph. Some of them would happily pay more for the signature of sexy Summer Glau, the star of sci-fi film Serenity. Glau is the biggest drawcard this year and for $30 fans can buy a print by comic artist Arthur Suydam, who will also be there.

Another attraction is Mira Furlan, best known in New Zealand for her role as French scientist Danielle Rousseau in Lost. She shot to sci-fi fame as Ambassador Deleen in Babylon 5 in the late '90s.

Furlan has a theory on the passion of sci-fi fans. "Could it be that in this realm things like the big moral issues are being discussed, whereas they're not in other genres? So maybe it's a replacement for religion. People are interested in the future and the bigger picture.

There is some value to big questions of humanity, destiny and space, and Babylon 5 was full of that. The perils within our world are more palatable when it's another world and a removed reality."

She respects the loyalty fans have to their favourite shows. "But I get worried about them," she laughs. "And when they ask me those weird questions like, 'In episode 73, when you said blah blah blah, what does it actually mean and how did it connect with episode 93?' I just say, 'You know much more than me so you figure it out'."

Darren Dunstan, a voice actor who stars in Yu-Gi-Oh! and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, believes the complexity of sci-fi shows and comics necessitates in-depth conversation. "Whether it be the ins and outs of a Yu-Gi-Oh! card game, or the long history of a comic book hero, fans have lots to discuss and have characters they know and care about."

Dunstan doesn't think of himself as a celebrity but he's surprised how passionate the fans are when they meet him.

"When you're crammed in a small studio booth recording a million lines, you sometimes forget you're being heard by thousands of people. But I think we all have a TV show that we love and if we had a chance to meet people involved with that show, we'd all be psyched."

Thankfully, says Dunstan, he remains just a voice. Although he has seen a few photos of himself on the internet. "Nothing x-rated though. So I guess some people must know what I look like. But no one's flagging me down in the street or anything."

Just yet, anyway.

LOWDOWN

What: Armageddon Pulp Culture Expo

Where & when: Aotea Centre, Auckland, October 21-23

Tickets: One-day pass, adult $15, child (under 12) $10; one-day family pass (2 adults and 2 children) $42; three-day pass, adult $42; child $26. Available from Ticketek.

Things to see and do at Armageddon

Summer Glau: Glau, the big star of this year's event, is best known to fans as River Tam, a 17-year-old psychic genius in Serenity. Get your hands on a print of her by comic artist Arthur Suydam, which has been done exclusively for Armageddon. She will be doing signing sessions on Sunday and Monday in the celebrity signing area on level three.

Celebrity signing sessions: Other stars signing autographs include Mira Furlan (Lost, Babylon 5), Tony Amendola (Stargate SG-1), Clare Kramer (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), David Nykl (Stargate Atlantis) and Rachel Luttrell (Stargate Atlantis). You can also get a photo taken with them (see website for times). Celebrity signing area, level three, 10.30am-12.30pm and 2.30pm-5pm. Autographs cost $30 and photos $25.

PlayStation preview: The new PlayStation 3 isn't due for release until November but the PlayStation stand on level three gives eager punters the chance of a sneak preview. Apparently, "it's like diving into a big screen movie and experiencing the excitement first-hand, in real-time".Animation experts There's an animation panel discussion with voice actors Kevin Conroy (Batman), Jennifer Hale (PowerPuff Girls) and Darren Dunstan (Yu-Gi-Oh!, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) on the main stage, 3pm, Sunday.

Plus: Among many other things there's a pizza-eating contest at 3pm Saturday; a pillow fight at 5pm Monday; and live wrestling on level one from Impact Pro Wrestling.