Among the galaxy of stars lighting up the 36th annual Motor City Comic Con beginning Friday, May 15 at Vibe Credit Union Showplace (nèe Suburban Collection Showplace) in Novi will be two actors from the ’70s TV sitcom Happy Days and three cast members from that classic ’80s prime time soap opera, Dallas.
This sounds like a huge attraction and surefire draw for the Social Security set. However, given how you probably envision the typical Comic Con attendee-cosplayer-comic creator, is anyone even going to know who these people are?
“I believe we bring people in from all different ages and experiences,” counters Beth Burland, who has supported her brother Thomas ever since he launched his first Detroit comic book jubilee in 1990 and was recently elevated to president of the company that produces Motor City Comic Con. “We don’t want to just be in one specific niche.
She adds, “You don’t necessarily have to be old to know Dallas or Happy Days. Like if your mother watched them when she was younger and told you about them, or if you watched the reruns with your parents, I think it crosses generations.”
So while they all may be just a wee bit older, longtime fans are almost certain to recognize Don Most (Ralph Malph) and Anson Williams (Potsie Weber) from Happy Days (The Fonz, Henry Winkler, was scheduled to join them, but “Aaaay!” he had to withdraw), and Patrick Duffy (Bobby), Linda Gray (Sue Ellen), or Charlene Tilton from Dallas. (Ooooh, wonder what Lucy Ewing looks like today?)
However, anyone worth their Comic Con credentials should salivate over celebrating the 60th anniversary (can that be possible?) of the original Star Trek with an appearance by William Shatner — returning as a real-life space traveler but forever our intrepid Captain Kirk, still going boldly at 95 — alongside USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) Next Generation crewmates Brent Spiner (Lt. Commander Data) and Jonathan Frakes (Commander William T. Riker).
“I do too many of these Cons,” Frakes laughed in a recent phone conversation. “And the Motor City is a really good one. It’s a real success story.”
Frakes recognizes that to be a prominent part of a franchise as successful and enduring as Star Trek “is amazing. It’s a gift, right? And Shatner, who I see a lot at these Cons and whose house I go to for Monday Night Football, is 95 and he’s completely compos mentis. He’s funny, he’s present. He’ll do two Cons in a weekend and just released a heavy metal album. He’s really an inspiration to all of us.”
And while he notes that there is no new Star Trek project in the works for its Diamond Jubilee year (“It’s very disappointing, but I’m an eternal optimist”), Frakes is currently inspired by two achievements. He directed two episodes of the new Big Bang Theory spinoff Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, premiering this July on HBO Max, and has launched a podcast with, of all people… his Next Generation shipmate, Spiner.
“Have you heard about our podcast?” he asked excitedly. “It’s called Dropping Names…and Other Things, The Brent and John Show. We’ve got 20 episodes in the can, I think we’ve aired about four or five. It’s been just a spectacular experience.
“I mean, the last thing the world needs is another fucking podcast,” Frakes concedes. “But this one is just about dropping names. We’ve had Jason Isaacs, Seth MacFarlane, we opened with LeVar [Burton], but it’s not a Star Trek podcast. People come and tell their stories about names of people who have affected them or they were surprised to be in the room with. Ron Perlman came on and told us a Marlon Brando story that was just amazing. Our old makeup man, Mike Westmore, used to tell us stories about Bette Davis. I hesitate to use the word gossip, but a lot of Hollywood stories come up.”
Among the more than three dozen other pop-culture paragons scheduled to appear at our spring Comic Con, you’ll find:
• British actor John Boyega (Finn in the Star Wars film trilogy, security guard in the movie Detroit);
• Southfield native Selma Blair (Hellboy franchise, Legally Blonde);
• Kit Harington (Jon Snow of Game of Thrones, making a rare Comic Con appearance);
• Charlie Cox (Daredevil in Daredevil: Born Again);
• Patrick Warburton (The Tick, Puddy on Seinfeld, Joe Swanson on Family Guy. “I’m looking forward to meeting him,” Burland says.)
• Karl Urban, leading a reunion of the hit Prime Video dark comedy The Boys with co-stars Laz Alonzo, Shawn Ashmore, Simon Pegg, and Tomer Capone;
• Tyler Hoechlin (Superman & Lois, Teen Wolf), and
• WWE wrestling legends Jerry “The King” Lawler and Kane.
And speaking of wrestling, among the major headlines at this Comic Con is that Pure Pro Wrestling is bringing six live wrestling matches to Vibe Showplace during the weekend. (For an additional charge, of course.)
“They had wrestling at Comic Con way back, I can’t even tell you when, so we thought, let’s give it a try,” Burland says. “It’s something different. We’ve always been bringing wrestlers to the show as long as I can remember, so we do attract people who love to watch it.”
(ATTENTION, Vibe Showplace employees: remember to protect your folding chairs and display tables!)
All that, along with cosplay contests, Dungeons & Dragons and other tabletop game marathons, and panels featuring some of America’s top comic artists, animators, and writers like Absolute Batman’s Scott Snyder.
“There’s tons of things to do,” Burland beams. “We think we have a great lineup. You can come to Comic Con and stay all day. You want to play bingo? We have bingo.”
Probably within walking distance of the Dallas table.
The 36th Motor City Comic Con takes place May 15-17 at Vibe Credit Union Showplace, 46100 Grand River Ave., Novi. Hours are noon-7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Information on tickets, guests, exhibitors, and all activities is available at motorcitycomiccon.com.
Motor City Comic Con May 2026
Time Fri., May 15, 12-7 p.m., Sat., May 16, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sun., May 17, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Location Vibe Credit Union Showplace, 46100 Grand River Ave., Novi
