Two School of Mass Communication students landed a rare interview with a comic book legend at the Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con event.

Lauren Patton, Theatre Arts and Mass Communications Senior, and Luke Overton, Mass Communications Junior Exchange Student, landed press passes to cover Comic Con as working journalists in February.

Using multiple cameras, they interviewed fans in outlandish costumes, as well as actors like C. Thomas Howell of “The Outsiders” and Michael Rooker of “The Walking Dead.”  They even ran into the star of “Doctor Who” when Matt Smith photobombed one of their interviews.

But their biggest thrill came when they sat down with Stan Lee, the co-creator of iconic characters like Spider-Man, the Hulk, and the Fantastic Four.  The 91-year-old talked about the inspiration behind some of his most famous characters and gave Patton a preview of some of his upcoming movie cameos.

“It was one of the most incredible and exhausting experiences I have ever had,” said Patton.

The students said the biggest lesson they learned was to make as many friends as possible.

“Luke and I made a point of always greeting the press coordinators in the morning when we arrived and wishing them a goodnight as we left,” said Patton. “Without these coordinators it would have been almost impossible for us to get any interviews, much less someone as huge as Stan Lee.”

Overton and Patton also appeared as guests the New Orleans radio show “The Week In Geek” to promote The Maroon newspaper and their work at the convention.