Op-Ed: What Philly’s Fan Expo Taught Me About Morality, Fandom & America

I hit up Fan Expo in Philadelphia—formerly known as Wizard World—with some friends about a month ago. We were looking for a good time. Chill vibes. No stress; a chance to geek out at one of our favorite pastimes: comic book conventions. Except, like most things in America, it ended up being about more than just costumes, collectibles and cosplay.

Fan Expo is more than a comic book event. It’s a full-on pop culture celebration, an amazing sight to behold. We’re talking Star Wars, Marvel, DC, gaming, anime, fantasy, action figures and, of course, celebrity photo ops and autograph sessions. But once I got in the building and started doing my media rounds, it didn’t take long for something to start bothering me.

When I got to the area for autographs, I was disturbed.

Mel Gibson had the longest line in the building. Next to him was the saintly Danny Glover. Gibson, a guy I once admired, has a well-documented history of racism, misogyny, antisemitism and abuse. And he had a line of fans wrapped around the proverbial block. People paid upwards of $300 for photos and autographs. Meanwhile, incredible actors of color like Danny Glover, Giancarlo Esposito and John Boyega had lines so short you could’ve walked right up and said hello with no wait.

And that’s exactly what I did with Giancarlo Esposito. No line. No crowd. Just me, face-to-face with a legend who’s been in Do the Right Thing, Breaking Bad, The Mandalorian and several other classics. His legacy is long, brilliant and full of purpose. Right next to Esposito was the Deadpool dog, who had a mob of fans vying for a picture and maybe even an autograph.

A dog got more love than Giancarlo Esposito. Not from me though.

I try not to knock people’s nostalgia. Mel Gibson is a cinematic icon to many. Mad Max. Braveheart. Lethal Weapon. Sure, the résumé is long— but so is his rap sheet. This is a man who told the mother of his child she would be “raped by a pack of n*****s” (The Guardian, 2010). A man who’s made hateful, violent remarks against women, Black people, Jews and the LGBTQ+ community. He was even stripped of his right to bear arms at one point. And now, here he is welcomed, celebrated and adored by fans who seemingly see no conflict between his hate and their hero worship.

That disconnect is the real issue. In comic book and fantasy culture, the entire foundation is based on the battle between good and evil. Heroes fight for justice. Villains get their comeuppance. We root for the underdog, the righteous, the brave. And yet, here in the real world, people lined up to support the villain.

Giancarlo Esposito? John Boyega? And Danny Glover, for goodness sake…these men are the good guys. Not just in films, but in life. Boyega spoke out boldly during the George Floyd protests, risking his career to stand up for justice. Esposito has played morally complex characters, yes—but in person, he’s the real deal. His energy is pure. His presence is inspiring. He’s never once been on the wrong side of history, in fantasy or reality. And just google Danny Glover and his efforts to make the world a better place.

So why were their lines short?

The answer might be uglier than we want to admit. Celebrity worship in this country doesn’t require a moral compass. It just requires a memorable face and a few blockbuster roles. Redemption arcs are gold. In fact, they are given out freely—especially if you’re white, male and rich. Meanwhile, principled people of color are often undervalued, overlooked and, yes, under-booked. Look at the numbers, salaries and opportunities.

This isn’t just a Fan Expo problem. Fan Expo was great and one of the better cons. This is an America problem.

We’ve seen the same thing happen in Hip-Hop. The culture, born from struggle and built on values of resistance, creativity and truth, has often been diluted by those who enter it without respecting its roots. The core gets forgotten. The message gets lost. And too often, the villains become the headliners.

That first day, I decided not to do any official press work. I was truly shaken up and discouraged. I had to take a step back and reflect. What does it say about us when Gibson embodies everything we claim to fight against yet has the longest line? When the man who played Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian watches fans line up for a dog?

It made me question whether we actually mean what we say when we claim to support the good guys, the heroes. Does profound morality really matter to the masses or does only matter in fiction?

Eventually, I did spend money, something I don’t normally do. I bought a photo with Giancarlo Esposito. Not because I needed it, but because I believed in it. I have red carpet pictures with him already. But I wanted to put my money where my mouth was. And I’m proud of that photo, not just because of who’s in it, but because of what it represents: support.

To those who got a photo with Mel Gibson: congrats. You paid top dollar for a memory with a man who has, time and time again, proven to be the opposite of a hero.

As for me, I’ll still attend these conventions. Overall, Fan Expo was spectacular. On Sunday, the last day, I interviewed and talked to many people. Some interactions were like a family reunion of people I love and others were new, fresh relationships. I’ll still find joy in fantasy and storytelling. I’ll never let anybody steal that. But I’ll walk in a little more clear-eyed. A little more thoughtful. And a lot more intentional about who I choose to support—onscreen and off.

Because in a world where people still can’t tell the villain from the hero, I know which side I’m on.

Chuck Creekmur is the co-founder of AllHipHop.com, a cultural commentator, media entrepreneur and lifelong comic book fan. The Hulk is his still his favorite.

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