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It was a big weekend for a lot of football players. Which is natural because of the NFL draft. It also was a big weekend for Chicago Bears defensive end Israel Idonije. His excitement had little to do with football and a lot to do with C2E2 — Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo — held at McCormick Place.
More than a casual observer at the event, Idonije was there at the Athleta Comics booth for the launch of his creation “The Protectors.” And he is part of a team effort that includes artist Bart Sears and writer Ron Marz.
Idonije’s comic creativity began at Bears training camp in 2007. “The Protectors” combines the worlds of sports and superheroes. “The Protectors” core characters are athletes with special skills — the type of skills beyond the world of sports. Your typical, or not-so-typical, superhero. Chicago serves as the setting for the comic.
Izzy also was part of a panel discussion Friday and spent significant time at the Athleta Comics booth where he signed autographs and posed for photos with fans — of football and/or comics.
Among a group of lovely ladies promoting his efforts throughout the expo was another athlete of some note.
Comic book creator Israel Idonije, who also plays for the Chicago Bears.
Saran Dunmore, who used to play for the Lingerie Football League’s Chicago Bliss and is a fitness personality who can be seen on NBC’s Channel 5 and elsewhere, handed out cards that explained a bit about the heroes in ghe comic book: “Discovering superhuman abilities, they must use their gifts to battle an ancient alien evil that plots mankind’s destruction.”
For an online look at “The Protectors,” you can go to athletacomics.com.
If nothing else, the Bears may lead the NFL in comic-book entrepreneurs. Linebacker Lance Briggs had his own debut comic book “Seraph” in 2011.
As busy as Idonije was at C2E2 (and the activity had to rival two-a-days at training camp), he was gracious enough to take time to chat with your humble correspondent.
A few more visuals from C2E2:
And some videos, too:
If things go according to plan (and on occasion they actually do around here), there will be more videos and photos from C2E2 later in the week.
And here is your daily dose of non-gratuitous video to start off the week (provided that you actually are starting off the week by viewing the videos):
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