A replica of the DeLorean sits out front for fans to pose with at the midnight release of the new “Back to the Future” comic series at Heroes & Fantasies NW Loop 410 Oct. 20. Inside the store, prizes were being given out and artist Ninjalnk (Tim Lim) was signing copies of the newly purchased comic. Photo by Danielle Kelly
Austin owner rents decked out auto for parties.
By Matthew Cuevas
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Festivities at Heroes & Fantasies, 4923 NW Loop 410, were set to begin at midnight Tuesday in celebration of “Back to the Future” Day.
Oct. 21 marks the day in which Marty and Doc showed up at Hill Valley in the year 2015 in the 1989 film “Back to the Future Part II”, the second of three that have become cult classics.
That didn’t stop many fans, however, from showing up early for the main attraction — a replica DeLorean from Austin on display in front of the store.
With its light-up “flux capacitor,” “Mr. Fusion” fuel intake, fog machine and, of course, signature gull-wing doors like the DeLorean in the film, people were lining up for photo-ops.
In movie, the DeLorean acts as a time machine created by Dr. Emmett Brown portrayed by Christopher Lloyd.
Scott Dorlaque, the car’s owner and avid ‘Back to the Future’ fan has predicted for years that he’d one day be the proud owner of a DeLorean.
“When I was a kid, I would stand in front of my mom’s little gray Hyundai and pretend it was a DeLorean,” Dorlaque said.
“And I told my parents I was going to buy one one day, and they just never believed me, so I did it.”
Dorlaque’s friend Gena Castillo drove the car from Austin for the event, but she said she never hit 88 mph.
“It’s actually a fantastic drive, sounds beautiful. It’s got a hell of a blind spot though,” Castillo said.
Dorlaque rents his prized possession, which can sell for over $50,000 pre-owned, across the state, and even has a Facebook page for the car at www.facebook.com/GreatScottTimeMachineRentals
He advertises it for events, parties and weddings.
Jason Olivarri takes a selfie with artist Ninjalnk (Tim Lim), right, and his representative Matthew Skinner at the midnight release of the new “Back to the Future” comic series from IDW publishing Oct. 21 at Heroes & Fantasies 4923 NW Loop 410. Prizes were handed out and a replica of the DeLorean sat out front for fans to take photos with. Photo by Danielle Kelly
“So if you have a lucky lady who you’d like to drive off into the sunset with in the movie car, that can be done,” Castillo said.
A handful of the about 75 people in attendance were dressed up for the occasion.
One fan, Sean Meade, approached the store owner to cosplay as his favorite character, Marty McFly.
Meade, decked out in a holographic cap worn backward, light-up Nike high tops and inside-out jeans to look like the character from the second film, posed for pictures and carried a replica hoverboard.
The hoverboard, one of the most iconic objects from the second film, is a pink futuristic skateboard that could hoover above ground.
Meade also owns a Delorean but admits it needs a few additions.
“I’ve got some of the stuff on the inside, but I want to get the flux bands for the lights on the outside next,” Meade said.
The DeLorean may have been stealing the show outside, but inside Heroes & Fantasies had a special guest that had the comic book fans giddy.
Timothy Lim who goes by the pseudonym NinjaInk was in store to sign autographs.
Lim was signing the exclusive variant cover of IDW Publishing’s new comic based on the film, which he illustrated specifically for Heroes & Fantasies.
The line for Lim’s autograph was long, but those waiting were able to pass the time by watching the original “Back to the Future’ film being projected on a small screen.
Floor manager Andrew Casares was happy with the turnout and anticipated many more on Wednesday. By Wednesday afternoon, more than 400 people had visited the store.
“The crowd was good, good vibe from everyone, good feedback,” Casares said.
“We only have 1,000 copies of our excusive variant of issue No. 1. I have a feeling we’ll sell out tomorrow,” he said.
By 4 p.m. Wednesday, the store had sold more than half.
