Press Release:
Planet Comicon Kansas City, the largest and longest-running comic book convention and pop culture event in the region, is excited to share the addition of Karate Kid/Cobra Kai star Ralph Macchio to the guest roster for our epic 2020 event, joining his previously announced co-stars Martin Kove and William Zabka!
Ralph Macchio made his cinematic debut in the role of Johnny Cade in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1983 film, The Outsiders, starring opposite Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez and Matt Dillon. In 1984, he appeared in his most well-known role, as Daniel LaRusso in The Karate Kid. He later turned to theater and made his off-Broadway debut in Cuba and His Teddy Bear with Robert DeNiro in 1986. The show was a hit, and it quickly moved to Broadway. Macchio scored another big screen success in 1992, with My Cousin Vinny, starring alongside Marisa Tomei and Joe Pesci.
In 2011, Macchio competed on the 12th season of ABC’s dance-competition show Dancing with the Stars, ultimately placing fourth. Since then, he produced a series for the National Geographic Channel, American Gypsies, and starred in the 2012 film He’s Way More Famous Than You with Ben Stiller, Jesse Eisenberg and Vanessa Williams. That same year, Macchio was cast as Psycho screenwriter Joe Stefano in the film Hitchcock, appearing with Helen Mirren, Anthony Hopkins and Scarlett Johansson.
In 2017, Macchio returned to the character of Daniel LaRusso in the YouTube Red series Cobra Kai, co-starring William Zabka, who played Johnny Lawrence in the original film. The series has just completed its third season of production, which will premier in the spring of 2020.
Planet Comicon Kansas City is already hard at work at bringing together a galaxy of creator, celebrity, and cosplay guests for our epic 2020 extravaganza. Here’s a quick rundown of our other recent announcements.
CELEBRITY GUESTS
John Cleese (Monty Python, Fawlty Towers, Harry Potter, A Fish Called Wanda)
Rachel Skarsten (Batwoman, Reign, Lost Girl, Birds of Prey, 50 Shades of Grey)
Martin Kove (The Karate Kid, Cobra Kai)
William Zabka (The Karate Kid, Cobra Kai)
Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series)
Phil LaMarr (Justice League, Samurai Jack, Futurama)
Clifford Chapin (My Hero Academia, Attack on Titan, Tokyo Ghoul)
Luci Christian (My Hero Academia, One Piece, Full Metal Alchemist)
Colleen Clinkenbeard (My Hero Academia, Dragon Ball Super, One Piece)
David Matranga (My Hero Academia, Attack on Titan, Appleseed)
J. Michael Tatum (My Hero Academia, Samurai 7, Attack on Titan)
Diamond Dallas Page (WWE Hall of Fame)
Booker T (WWE Hall of Fame)
Charles Martinet (Mario Brothers)
Miles Luna (RWBY, Camp Camp, Red vs. Blue)
CREATOR GUESTS
Roy Thomas (Wolverine, Conan, X-Men, Avengers, former Editor-In-Chief at Marvel)
Ant Lucia (DC Bombshells)
K Lynn Smith (Plume, Hope)
Megan Levens (Buffy, Star Trek, Back to the Future)
Rob Schamberger (WWE Artist in Residence)
Cullen Bunn (Harrow County, Deadpool)
Afua Richardson (Black Panther, World of Wakanda, Wonder Woman)
Freddie Williams II (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Batman)
Baldemar Rivas (Unearth, Realm, Bubba Ho-Tep)
Kyle Strahm (Spread, Downfall)
Brian Gordon (Fowl Language)
Jeff Moy (Legion of Superheroes, Legionnaires)
Phil Moy (World of Warcraft, Powerpuff Girls, Legion of Superheroes)
Timothy Zahn (Star Wars: Thrawn, Dragonback, Conquerors)
Black Friday/Cyber Monday Deal: 20% Off Planet Comicon Express Packages!
Back by popular demand and just in time for your Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping needs, we’re rolling out FIVE Planet Comicon Kansas City Express Packages! Each one is uniquely themed and the perfect gift for every pop culture geek on your holiday shopping list.
Whether it’s Justice League Animated, Pro Wrestling, Nintendo, My Hero Academia or Karate Kid/Cobra Kai, each Express Package will include the following:
- Hard/soft merch and collectibles relating to the package theme (An $80 value!)
- A limited edition Planet Comicon Kansas City pin
- One (1) Planet Express coin, which may be used one time for :30 early entry on Saturday OR as a Fast Pass Line access for one guest autograph session or professional photo op OR for express line access into a panel presentation.
For a limited time only, these Express Packages are AVAILABLE NOW FOR 20% OFF THEIR FULL LIST PRICE! Like last year, we expect these Express Packages to sell out quickly, so hurry while supplies last!
Express Packages do NOT include admission. An admission valid on any day of the show MUST also be purchased. The admission will have a separate credential, which must also be worn. Photo ops and autographs are also sold separately. Packages will be picked up at the Planet Comicon Merchandise Booth (#1115) during show hours.
Click here to purchase Admission Tickets and Express Packages….
For more information about the 2020 show, event photos, interviews and more, “Like” Planet Comicon on Facebook and follow @PlanetComicon on Twitter. Planet Comicon Kansas City is always available online at www.planetcomicon.com.
