Hulk SMASHES the Albuquerque Comic Expo
By Daniel Johnson, Investigative Reporter
Louis Ferrigno, known for his role as The Incredible Hulk, is visiting Albuquerque to make an appearance at the Albuquerque Comic Expo (ACE) from June 27 to 29, and expo goers will have a chance to meet and greet with the iconic actor this weekend.
Ace is scheduled to be at the Albuquerque Convention Center located at 401 Second Street NW in the east complex, and passes vary from $20 for a daily pass to $40 for a three-day pass.
Ferrigno, who was born in 1951, said that by the time he was three that he had lost more than 75 percent of his hearing to ear infections which he suffered as a small child.
“Being a person with a disability does not mean that you have to take a second seat to anyone, you have to take action for yourself because others will only respect you as much as you respect yourself,” he said.
A person who has a disability has to be able to give 110 percent, because they have to work harder then others to succeed, he said.
Ferrigno said that has also he suffered from a speech impediment since he was a child and that it had to be overcome by learning to speak with the feeling of how his tongue moved when saying words.
“I am not asking anyone to pat me on the back, because it is all about taking action for yourself and maximizing your own personal power to be the best that you can be,” he said.
Ferrigno said that dealing with people was not the easiest of things for him to do because he was rejected a lot when he was younger.
Everybody has some form of a disability be it physically, mentally, spiritually or emotionally, but there is something that all people have that affects the way they perform in life, he said.
“I overcame all of that by body building and building a physique that gave me admiration and respect from others,” Ferrigno said. It is all about individuals taking action for themselves, he said.
In regards to students who struggle with disabilities Ferrigno said being scared to take action is not an option for any student of any age, but especially for students that suffer from a disability.
All students need to embrace their educations and if there is something that they are passionate about, that by all means they need to show that passion for their educations, he said.
Ferrigno’s advice for students with disabilities like him he said is to “not listen to negativity from anyone and always continue to be passionate, because that can be your platform for the future.”
Being in more than 40 films and five different television series has allowed Ferrigno to have the development of a strong fan base and given him opportunities to see the world, to which he said he never let his disability get in the way of these dreams of accomplishing his goals.
Everything from acting to being a Deputy Sheriff in Los Angeles County has allowed Ferrigno the opportunity to gain wisdom and experiences that can never be replaced, he said.
“I decided to go through the Sheriff’s academy because I have always been fascinated with law enforcement, since my dad was a Lieutenant in the NYPD and I wanted to be able to give back to the community,” Ferrigno said.
Going through the academy was not easy for him he said because there were multiple different styles of tests besides just physical fitness.
There was a lot of studying, test taking, shooting, driving and high-speed pursuits that he said he had to learn to do somewhat differently with his disability. “It is not something you can just speed through or try to rush,” Ferrigno said.
In regards to Albuquerque he said it is a quit town, and seems to have a nice calm before the storm of the convention this weekend. He said the last time he was in the city was about 20 years ago for a body building competition.
“I love the dry weather here, because back in New York when I was growing up I hated the stickiness of humidity and having to take two showers a day,” he said. A big convention like ACE is something he has never done in New Mexico, he said.
Ferrigno said that he is also excited about this show because there is a great culture in this city, and he trusts he has a huge fan base here. “I am basically here to have a good time and support the ACE Convention and myself,” he said.
It is very exhilarating for him he said because the expo has got comic books, Q & A sessions, as well as expo goers being able to meet with the celebrities, and that this will be a great show for people of all ages.
For more information on the Hulk, the expo’s activities or other celebrity guests attending ACE, go to abqcomicexpo.com.
