Kids Need to Read Geek Prom 2012
Sponsored by Bookmans
Hosted at Phoenix Comicon
by Denise Gary
Photographs © Bruce Matsunaga, Devon Christopher Adams, MrAnathema Photography, Eric Fiallos, and Ash Rhodes
The theme was Space-Geek.
Your Host, Crazy Neon Alien Lady.
Asteroids streaked overhead!
Beings came in droves . . .
Aliens
Geeks
Nerds
Dweebs
Pigs
Superheroes
And even a few creatures humans call children.
And then there was . . . Gus!
Tearing up the stage!
Dancing for donation dollars!
Taking off his . . . gear!
What was Crazy Neon Alien Lady to do but perform the ThinkGeek Bookworm Microbe dance with him?
Stop the madness, Mork!
There were multiple impromptu dance-offs . . .
. . . crazy conga lines . . .
. . . and crazy crazies!
The display of terrestrial festiveness continued with Justice League Arizona leading earthlings in a daring rendition of YMCA.
Human attire was thrown to the audience.
A humanoid from Mojo-Bone Software Studios (Adam Goldman) talked at supersonic speed, causing the audience to fling their appendages upward with great zeal!
Such as this being!
Many fetching Arizona Avengers were put on the block as lunch mates.
This celestial star child (Actress Patricia Skeriotis) displays a ThinkGeek Wampa Rug.
Hope made itself known amidst “Amok Time” during a sweet moment of Pure Imagination between author James A. Owen and daughter Sophie.
The vivacious, audacious Arizona Avengers led exuberant party-goers in the Time Warp.
More human attire was thrown into the audience, along with Avengers “blood vials.”
An honorary superhero caping was conducted . . .
. . . which sent Crazy Neon Alien Lady into a super-geek meltdown!
Let them eat Geek! (Arizona Avengers birthday celebration)
Sugar brought jubilation!
The green Irish-Martian DJ (Michael Dougherty) was plied with cosmic chocolate.
Meanwhile, the caped Crazy Neon Alien Lady turned diva in her new attire.
The revelry continued unabated.
Cupid Shuffle, Cosplay Edition
A call was put out for the Quando, Quando, Quando Suspender Dance, limited to unmarried Geek couples wearing suspenders.
The stage was filled with suspender-clad Geek couples dancing to Englebert Humperdink in old-school Geek fashion.
The suspender dance was a ruse for a Geek-posal!
Up next was the KNTR Fashion Geektacular with “Geek-Card-Holding” judges Wynter Holden (Phoenix New Times), Emily Whitmore (Ahwatukee Foothills News, Nerdvana), Jonathan Simon (LightningOctopus.com), and James A. Owen (author/illustrator).
KNTR Fashion Geektacular commentators Michael Flores (Western X creator) and Victoria Paege (actress) sized up the competitors.
There were fifty colorful contestants in the Fashion Geektacular, all vying to become the Geek Monarchs of 2012.
This couple was dressed just like the couple in the Kids Need to Read Geek Prom logo (designed by Bookmans).
KNTR Geek Prince 2011 Jayden returned, this time as a Clark Kent/Superman hybrid.
Geek Runner Up: “Dirty Little Secret”
Geek Runners Up: “Opulent Otters Steam Geeks”
Space-Geek Runner Up: “Greedo”
Space-Geek Runners Up: “Chest-buster Boyfriend and Girlfriend”
Comic colorist Peter Steigerwald took the stage to announce the KNTR Fashion Geektacular winners.
Returning KNTR Geek Queen 2011 Cara Nicole crowned the winners.
2012 KNTR Geek King Ryan Sant: “Link from Zelda”
2012 KNTR Geek Queen Christina Glover: “Lois Griffin from Family Guy”
2012 KNTR Space-Geek Kings Tony Hernandez, Matt Stetler, and Jeremiah Johnson: “Pigs in Space”
2012 KNTR Space-Geek Queen Ying Xiong: “Katana from Mortal Kombat”
Author/illustrator Steven Riley serenaded the winners to our Geek anthem, Geeks of America.
KNTR Geek Prom 2012 Royal Court
Party-goers descended upon the “freebie basket” near the end of the evening.
Thanks so much to everyone who threw all cares to the wind to have a great, Geeky evening while supporting Kids Need to Read! Your happiness is our happiness!
See more fantastic photos in the Kids Need to Read Geek Prom 2012 Photo Gallery, Geek Arch Photo Gallery, and Captain’s Chair Photo Gallery.
Information can be found at the Kids Need to Read Geek Prom Webpage
Related Blog: Kids Laugh and Learn at KNTR Build-a-Book Program with Steven Riley
Related Blog: Memories of Phoenix Comicon 2012
Related Blog: Doing Time, “Con”-Style
Related Video: Phoenix Comicon 2012: Behind The Scenes – Geek Prom by NewMutinyMedia
Thank you Lori Cothrun and Bookmans for your wonderful sponsorship! It is always stupendous to work with you every year, especially knowing you make it possible for all funds raised at the Geek Prom to support Kids Need to Read!
We are so deeply grateful to our long-suffering volunteers who work so hard for Kids Need to Read and by so doing, give up their opportunity to have fun at the Geek Prom! You make the magic happen! (Pictured: Volunteers Rachel Hungerford and Whitney Begley)
Much love to Amanda Tucker of Modified Minds for making my insane costumes the past two years! It is so much fun to be off-the-wall!
We would like to give special thanks to our heroic Geek Prom photographers and videographers, all of whom volunteer their services:
Photography Director Bruce Matsunaga and Candid Photographer Joe Abbruscato (MrAnathema Photography)
Candid Photographer Devon Christopher Adams
Geek Arch Photographer Eric Fiallos (with Cara Nicole)
Captain’s Chair Photographer Ash Rhodes and his wife, Kendra
Big Brain Pictures Videographers Amanda Mahan (pictured), Jason Wamble, and Delano Clark
We gratefully thank the following:
Presenting Sponsor
Bookmans Entertainment Exchange
Hosting Sponsor
Phoenix Comicon
Prize & Auction Sponsors
ThinkGeek
Arizona Avengers
Atomic Comics
Barnes & Noble – Mesa
Big Fish Games
Hero Comics
Mojo-Bone Software Studios
Pop Culture Paradise
SnorgTees
Waldenbooks
Super Galactic Decorators
Themers, LLC
Host
Denise Gary – Kids Need to Read
DJ
Michael Dougherty – Big Damn Fan Films
Fashion Geektacular Commentators
Michael Flores – Creator, Western X
Miss Victoria Paege – Actress
Fashion Geektacular Judges
Wynter Holden – Phoenix New Times
James A. Owen – Author, Illustrator
Jonathan Simon – LightningOctopus.com
Emily Whitmore – Ahwatukee Foothills News, Nerdvana
Singer: Geeks of America
Steven Riley – Author, Illustrator
Auctioneer
Adam Goldman: President, Mojo-Bone Software Studios
Special Entertainment
Arizona Avengers: Time Warp
James A. Owen: Pure Imagination
Justice League Arizona: YMCA
