Blagojevich, on media blitz, reaches out to local super fans
The Chicago Comic Com had all the pop-culture heroes in attendance on Saturday: Batman and Robin, Capt. Kirk, Rod Blagojevich.
Rod Blagojevich?
Yes, the former governor of Illinois made a special appearance on Saturday at the annual pop-culture convention in Rosemont.
He signed autographs and posed for pictures for $50 and $80 a pop, respectively just days after a federal jury convicted him of making false statements to the FBI. The charge was one of 24 corruption counts levied against him by the federal government; the jury deadlocked on the other 23.
Saturday's Comic Con appearance was just the latest in a media blitz Blagojevich has been on since the end of the trial. On Friday, he appeared on "The Today Show" and called in to WLS AM radio.
"I was invited to come here by the promoter, and I thought it would be a fun way to get out among the people," Blagojevich said Saturday.
In the early going, his booth attracted plenty of curiosity seekers, but relatively few people interested in getting an autograph (for a $50 fee) or having a photo taken with him ($80). Before Blagojevich arrived, nine or 10 people were lined up at his booth. Chicago resident Paul Tesarski was one of them.
"I bought two pictures of him at the auction they had in Arlington Heights," he said of a sale that occurred Thursday at a storage company where the Friends of Blagojevich campaign fund hadn't paid the storage fee. "I figured I'd have him autograph them for me."
When asked if he is a big Blagojevich fan or supporter, Tesarski shook his head.
"No, but I think (the pictures) might be worth something some day," he said. "It's really just an investment."
Blagojevich looked relaxed and happy when he entered the main room at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, about an hour after his scheduled 10:30 a.m. signing session was supposed to begin.
Before taking a seat at his booth, Blagojevich toured the room, walking among a crowd full of people wearing Darth Vader and Boba Fett costumes while a throng of journalists and photographers followed close behind.
He shook hands and chatted with a number of celebrities at the con, including Lindsay Wagner, star of the 1970s television show "The Bionic Woman," (who Blagojevich admitted to having a crush on) and Adam West, who played the title role in the "Batman" show from the 1960s.
"It was great to meet those heroes that some of us used to watch on TV," Blagojevich said. "I loved seeing Adam West."
Blagojevich's autograph charge of $50 put him on the high end at the Comic Con. Wagner, for example, charged $25. Burt Ward, who played Robin on the old "Batman" show, charged $40. And William Shatner, the one and only Capt. Kirk from "Star Trek," charged $75.
Paula Richmond of Zion, a yearly attendee of Comic Con, couldn't help but buy an autograph from Blagojevich.
"It's totally strange that he's at an event like this, but still, how many times do you get to meet a former governor?" she said.
Organizers of the Chicago Comic Con, which runs through today, said Blagojevich has become a part of pop culture, and so was an appropriate guest to have at the convention. In keeping with the atmosphere inside the convention center, two men dressed as Superman and Batman stood next to Blagojevich's booth for much of the morning, attracting nearly as much attention as the former governor did.
"I might offer my hand to him in friendship," said Greg Carlson, the Minneapolis man dressed as Superman. "He's attained celebrity status now, and I hope he can make amends."
Some comic-book fans have grumbled about the convention's recent emphasis on booking celebrity guests from movies, TV and now politics over comic creators.
An employee at the Naperville location of Graham Crackers Comics, a DuPage County-based retail chain, said even with someone like Blagojevich causing a stir, the show still attracts plenty of comics fans.