ATLANTA
Among the great things about Dragon Con are the wide variety of people, the occasional surprise, and the generous mixing in of humor.
One such surprise this year at the Labor Day weekend extravaganza was the appearance of Sylvester McCoy, the seventh Doctor of Doctor Who and the last Doctor before the series was put hold for nearly a decade.
In a sprightly manner, the 72-year-old McCoy
Sylvester McCoy listening to a question at Dragon Con. Photo by Ronald Hawkins.
didn’t just tell tales of his experiences as the Doctor and more recently in The Hobbit movies. He stepped down from the podium and led audience members in a Pied Piper like manner, winding around the room and blending large doses of humor in his responses.
In response to a question as to how to improve Doctor Who, he said, “Hire me.”
Terry Jones. Photo by Ronald Hawkins.
A more subtle humor was found in a presentation by Terry Jones, a member of the Monty Python Flying Circus troupe, director of the Python films and other movies, documentary maker, screen writer and author of numerous fiction and non-fiction books. He would nod his head while listening to the moderator’s or an audience member’s questions, answer frequently with non-committal, “Yeah, yeah” and then mix in a zinger.
Frequent Starbase Indy and InConJunction guest and master of ceremonies Moxie Anne Magnus was also one of the guests this year at Dragon Con. Moxie has never been accused of being overly subtle.
Moxie Anne Magnus at Dragon Con 2015. Photo by Ronald Hawkins.
Moxie Anne Magnus says she is the chief cosmetologist of the U.S. Starship Enterprise under Capt. James T. Kirk. If you see Moxie’s hair — and you can from several football fields away — you will know that she’s highly deserving of her rank.
I had the privilege of speaking to the time-traveling cosmetologist before one of her appearances. Like most people attending Dragon Con, what impresses her most are the fabulous costumes people wear at Dragon Con.
Moxie used our conversation to promote the album she’s making with Indianapolis-based Five Year Mission, her return to Starbase Indy this November and even treated us to some of her virtuoso ukulele playing.
Moxie also pitched her weekly “Tales from Salon Bay” comic strip that is available on the Internet and her upcoming performance in New York City. She noted I was wearing a Kurt Vonnegut T-shirt and said she loved his advocacy of peace.
Here’s a bit of the rest of our exchange:
I asked, “How does such an interstellar personality such as yourself have time for events like this and those in Indianapolis?”
She said, “It’s time travel you know. When you time travel, you have time for everything. You just have to sling shot around the sun.
“I never know if I’m showing up next year or last year. These things are all out of order for me.”
I asked her what cosmetology advice she gives Capt. Kirk.
“I don’t like to talk about that very much,” she said, brushing her hair upward. “He needs a little help.”
I also asked her about Pluto.
“I’ve always liked Mickey Mouse’s dog very much,” she said. “And I’m glad people are exploring him a little bit more. …And what about Goofy, he’s a dog too and talks and stands upright. I just don’t understand it. …
“That is what Pluto you’re talking about, isn’t it?”
Not exactly, Moxie, I said, but it’s been fun chatting, just like most of Dragon Con.
Photo by Ronald Hawkins.
