On November 15-17th of 2019, Bob Layton was one of the invited guests attending The Stan Lee Super Con in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This country has only opened their doors to pop culture within the last few years, so the show provided an unique opportunity to bring some fun and excitement to the entertainment-starved folks in this part of the Arab world.
On last last day of the trip, Bob, along his business partner Michele Grant, had lunch with Lieutenant Colonel Zack Kirby from Eskan Village Air Force Base, whom they met during the convention.
The Eskan Village Air Base in Saudi Arabia serves as a long-term residence for people in the United States Air Force, as well other branches of the armed services.
While the actual convention was over, Bob and Michele got the idea to take the convention to the troops stationed on the base who couldn’t get off-duty to attend the show.
To that end, Bob recruited his good friend and former Marine, the incomparable Sam Jones ( ‘Flash Gordon’, ‘Ted’ & ‘Ted 2’), to join him in putting on an impromptu comic con for our troops in Riyadh on Sunday night. Bob and company arrived on the base and were warmly greeted by hundreds of our servicemen and women! With tables set-up much like any comic con, Sam and Bob proceeded to sign autographs and take pics with the assemblage.
To quote Bob; “I have to say, from the bottom of my heart, this visit was one of the most rewarding moments of my entire 45 year career.”
And, at the end of the visit, Bob, Sam, and Michele were given an armored military escort to the Riyadh Airport after the event from the base personnel, as their way of showing their gratitude!
A very special BobLayton.Com thanks to Lieutenant Colonel Zack Kirby, and the base’s civilian liaison Mylyn, for coordinating this amazing event for us.
