May 17-19, 2002 at the Novi Expo Center marked the premiere public screening of the new Dorks & Dice trailer at the Motor City ComiCon in Novi, Michigan. Most of the cast and crew were on hand to say hello to the public and enjoy their response to the trailer. “For the King!” seems to have been the most popular line in our offering and was frequently heard being parroted among the browsing throngs of happy comic and fantasy fans.

Our guest of honor was Bart Pierce, who was in the booth signing autographs and copies of The Evil Dead (Special Photographic Effects) and The Stunt Man (Documentary Co-Producer) DVDs.  An unexpected happy reunion occurred when Bart met up with his former partner in crime, Tom Sullivan (Special Makeup Effects on Evil Dead.)  It had been over twenty years since these two had shared the task of bringing life (and death) to the dead in Sam Raimi’s directorial debut of the Renaissance Pictures 1980 release of Evil Dead, which was produced by Robert Tapert (of Hercules and Xena fame) and starred the native Michigan actor, Bruce Campbell.

Tom was at the convention signing autographs and original artwork when he discovered the Dorks & Dice booth with Co-Directors, Brett and Drew Pierce. He had not seen them since shooting of the climax of Evil Dead in what was generously referred to as the Detroit Studio (their basement and garage) along with their father, Bart Pierce. Brett and Drew arranged the meeting, which was later sweetened when it was discovered that Evil Dead actress Ellen Sandweiss was also there to share in the festivities.

The ComiCon was a great success for us and we were further flushed by the positive responses we received from the crowds and the kind words and encouragement of Tom Sullivan.