Source: Smithy TV / YouTube
Event: Niagara Falls Comic Con
Guest: Pat Mastroianni
For Pat Mastroianni, the Niagara Falls Comic Con wasn’t just another public appearance—it was a milestone. In a segment for Smithy TV, the Degrassi alum opened up about his first-ever experience sitting on “Celebrity Row” and the hilariously opportune moment that landed him a grail comic book.
From Fan to Celebrity Guest
Mastroianni revealed that while he had planned to attend the convention, his original intention was simply to hunt for comic books as a fan. However, when organizers approached him to appear as a guest, the offer was too good to refuse.
“I couldn’t pass up that opportunity,” Mastroianni said, noting the thrill of sitting alongside pop culture icons he grew up watching on television and in film.
Despite it being his debut behind a convention signing table, he described the reception as fantastic, praising the energy of the fans and the creativity of the cosplayers.
The “Dental Surgery” Deal
True to his reputation as a treasure hunter, Mastroianni didn’t leave the convention empty-handed. He managed to acquire a dream book for his collection: The Amazing Spider-Man #129, the first appearance of The Punisher.
The comic was secured through a trade with his friend Walter from Big B Comics in Hamilton, but Mastroianni admitted the timing worked heavily in his favor.
“I think I got the better end of the deal because he had just come out of dental surgery a couple of days earlier and he was just doped up on painkillers. A couple of days later he emailed me and said, ‘I think you got the better of me on that deal, Pat.’ I said, ‘Yeah, I think I did too.’”