"Otakon 2007 Report" Monday July 23rd, 2007

I have survived Otakon 2007/Harry Potter Weekend. I had a blast down at Otakon and it was definitely a very memorable weekend. I'd thank Dave, Mike, and George for helping me get there and back and for helping find a place to stay. I want to thank all of you who I met while at the con and a quick shout out to Christine who let me sign her jacket where it was to be joined by the likes of awesomeness like Juno and others. Anyway let me get into the quick rundown of my weekend.

I left NY on Thursday and met up with Dave and Mike at Penn station. We took the NJ rail down to his mom's house where we stayed for the night. We then drove to Otakon on Friday morning and arrived at the convention center around 10 or so I think. After registration we hit a few screenings of which I was most intrigued by Air and Pumpkin Scissors. Afterwards we went and took the Anime Quiz show Qualification test. Mike knew the guys running it so he took himself out of contention. I would like to tell you I got in, but I only knew two of the answers and figuring two wasn't going to cut it, I ended up giving joke answers for every one of my questions. Dave and I stuck around for some free door prizes and chatted with the eventual winner of the Quiz contest Doug and a cool girl named Hayley (I have no idea how she spells it and this is my best guess). Hayley was super cool because when she won a second door prize, she let me have it. Mmmm... Hard candy made of Gundumium...

It was around then that we realized George and Michelle would run late and we had lunch and then went to the Dealer's Room. It definitely seemed larger and more stocked than I remember it being the first time I went almost three years ago. After we all got some swag we went and checked into the hotel room. George and Michelle arrived right around then and after we settled in, we headed back out to go watch the actual Quiz show. It was run pretty good and we all had fun watching it. Dinner was up next and then we hit the Naruto fan panel which wasn't that good. So we hit Artist's Alley and George and Michelle went on a shopping spree. I got to meet the very talented Jennifer Brazas who writes and draws Mystic Revolution. It's a great webcomic that I enjoy on a regular basis as it brings me joy.

At around 11:30 we all left the convention and George, Michelle, Dave, and I went to the Barnes and Nobles in the Baltimore Harbor area to pick up a copy of Harry Potter. Dave left after we arrived since he just wanted to see what was going on. Basically it was mayhem. There were people milling about and no one knew what was going on. We were hoping to find someone who worked there who could tell us what to do, but no dice. There was a line and it took us forever just to find the end of it. We waited for a while only to find out that when we got to the end it was the line for preorders only. We asked where we had to go then if we didn't preorder and the sales people looked like we had asked where they kept the sporting equipment. To be honest I don't think they were prepared for the surplus customers from Otakon of which I would say a third to a half  the crowd were from. We walked around till a Baltimore police officer gave us the heads up that we needed to get a blue bracelet from some random person walking around the store. A quick shout out to Baltimore's finest! They knew more about what was going on in the bookstore than people who actually worked there. After that it was the waiting game and two hours later (despite it feeling like four) we each had a copy of the final chapter in the sage of the Boy Who lived. After we got back to the hotel we dropped off our stuff and then went back down to the lobby to read. It was kind of surreal to be in a hotel lobby at Otakon and reading the LAST Harry Potter book. Good times. We ended up going back up at 4 in the morning.

The next day we headed out to the con at about 11 and met up with Dave and Mike (who had gotten to the con earlier) in the Dealer's Room. We all bought some cool stuff and it was then that I met up with Christine and her husband, who as I had mentioned before had allowed me to sign her jacket. It was cool to meet them and random at the same time since we had tried to set up meeting later on. Like I said they were both cool and I hope we see then again the next time I go to Otakon. I also hit the Alpha Shade table which was in the Dealer's room and chatted with Chris about his amazing work on the website for his webcomic. After that we all kind of got separated and once we all got back together we went back to Artist's Alley. Dave and I bid on a few pieces at the Art Show, but unfortunately we didn't win anything. I did get to meet "Juno" from Star Cross'd Destiny. I had once upon a time used Star Crossd as my secret snowflake at BuzzComix when they were lower than Ninja Spirit in the polls. I think it had more to do with BcX not being SxD's usual voting site. Either way SxD is way more popular than it ever was even back then and it was nice to meet Juno and give her some support on an amazing project.

It was around then that we went to Cheesecake Factory for dinner. Everyone got stuffed on good food and cheesecake and we went back to the Con to hit the "How to be a Ninja in 1 hour" panel. I thought it was going to be more of a funny thing, but it was more of a Ninjas 101. We stayed for the whole thing and if any of you were there you might have been hit with a slight spoiler for something later in my comic. Boo spoilers!! After that I think we went to check out the game room. I didn't think there was anything much to say about it. We played some games and then made our way to the Silent Hill panel. I would say more about it, but we left early and all I can say is they probably could've used some more panel experience or planning.

We were going to hit the Masquerade next, but I ran into an asthma problem and I was going to run back to the hotel to grab my inhaler. I decided to hell with going back to the hotel and just started asking people if they had an inhaler. As unhygienic as that is, I was helped by a very nice girl by the name of Jamie I think. That was cool of her since she had no idea who I was. I offered to wash the case for her, but she said she would do it. So if you happen upon this site, thank you very much! Unfortunately when I went to meet up with the others I realized I had forgotten my phone in the hotel room and I ended up running all the way back top get it anyway!! I ran into a bunch of fellow con-goers who were hard up for cash for food and I ended up hooking them up. Hopefully they weren't just ripping me off, but I think I like to think I helped feed some teens in need. Anyway I met back up with everyone else and we then hit the Fan Parodies and needless to say they were hilarious as hell. The night ended at about 1 or 2.

The next morning we woke up, packed, and checked out. After dropping our bags in the cars, we went back for one last trip through the Dealer's Room and Artist's Alley. It was then that I realized the guys from Apple Geeks were at the con. They were tucked in the corner of the Dealer's Room behind next to the Megatokyo booth. For whatever reason there was no one there when I saw the booth and I was lucky enough to say hi to Hawk, get a poster signed and get a sketch. All without having to worry that there was a line of people behind me. Very cool. Afterwards we all went to the Eminence Concert. That was cool and after it was all over it was time to head home. I got back in NY at around 9 or so.

So that is my Otakon special report. I would have pictures, but I had to read Harry Potter and go to work this morning. I will see you all on Thursday with a comic and until then I will try and recover from an awesome weekend. I will have my thoughts on the last Harry potter then and also a special offer for those of you who couldn't make it out to Otakon. Thanks again to everyone I met and everyone I went with. Let's all do it again next year!!

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