2004: Otakon or Bust: A Voyage of Intrigue
By Trevor.M

The Setup

What happens when 2 marketers from separate sides of the country attempt to get Toku licensed? What dangers await them as they risk the perils of meeting up with their “Certain Friends” And what happens when it’s all happening as my wheel bearing is about to go out? Find out now on today’s exciting episode of “As a certain board turns”

The Trip

Thursday, Michigan, 5 A.M.

The intrepid explorers of JAMS load up into our two Vehicles. There are 6 of us, warranting 2 vehicles since a certain member of our group refused to stay behind. With a busted wheel bearing that quite literally threatens to fly off at any moment we suit up to make the perilous voyage into Baltimore. Our mission? To make a presentation to certain Industry Reps, and defy the laws of Anime Fandom by celebrating Toku instead. A perilous 13 hour stood before us, with road construction, traffic jams, mountain tunnels and Mega Man fan fiction standing before us. But with My trusty Super Sentai Mix Vol. 2 we were able to arrive by 8 P.M. in the scorching inferno that is Baltimore Maryland. Now three dangers lay ahead of me for the convention.

1:: By the arrival to the kingdom of Maryland the wheel was letting off a horrific noise.      Which means I could spend very little Cash at the BCC
2:: A "certain" crew was somewhere out there.
3:: I had an Ex to avoid the whole weekend.

Gentlemen…..we were on a mission from god!

The Con

Friday
Awakening at 4 AM my crew and I ventured down to the Baltimore Convention Center. We arrived to be only about 50 people back in line a good thing when you contemplate the fact that there will be 20,000 people there in a few short hours. 4 hours pass, stories are told, people are met and Game Boys are played. Then finally we are whisked into the BCC. Badges in hand we checked our programming guides. 1.5 hours to the Gundam Panel, my friend Stephen was hosting it and had made every excuse imaginable to not let me on (He was still sore I took over the panel at ACen) So with time on our hands we traveled to Video 3 and watched Ultra 7. Then we headed to the panel…sure enough there was an extra seat up there, so I got front row and harassed the heck out of him till We finally got to Turn A Gundam (the one series he knows he can’t beat me on) so he finally admitted defeat and let me onstage. He wowed the audience with my exuberant personality and left them all reeling! Then we traveled down to the dealers' room.

Unfortunately for the previous few Cons I’ve found myself disinterested in the dealers room so I only gave it a passing glance (BIG MISTAKE!) I was more interested in saying Hi to my main men Keith and Lance of Manga and Funimation. I walked around for a while, shared good stories met people I’d spoken to on-line and then left. Still no “Friends” though. I would have thought my Mega Ranger Changers would have sent up a signal….I’d already ran into several fansubbers who knew what they were but none from Nihon. Time to crack out some of the bigger guns. Back to the Hotel I went where I changed into My Big One Costume.(I’d hoped to have the full Sentai costume done as well by Otakon but alas it has not happened) I walked back to the Con after the 15 minutes it took me to get the full suit on and started marching around trying to draw attention. Sadly little Sentai exposure meant only about 3 people in the halls knew who I was supposed to be. I made my way to the Artist Alley and began looking for a friend who is working on a piece of the Sentai costume, instead I was greeted with an unexpected sight. A 12” AbareKiller!!!! Perfectly sculpted in all of Mikito’s
Bad-Motherness!

The man who had it led me back to the dealers room where we bought it but his had been the last one all they had left was the companion AbareBlack figure. (which I bought). The Day continued on and as more and more Lovely Cosplayers filled the halls I regretted and embraced my decision to leave my Miroku costume at home.

Saturday
I made my way to the convention center at about 9 AM. The Industry panels didn’t start until 1:00 p.m. so I had lots of time. Me and some friends wandered around the dealers room for a while and I talked to Keith some more. Then suddenly my Cell phone rang….Twas’ the mighty Jeff. I directed him to my position and waited for his arrival…who would he be? Some lanky nerd some Fat Geek? Oh my! Who is this sculpted Latino God?! (Editor's Note: !?)

With Jeff met we proceeded to go around for a while until we made our way to the Geneon Panel early in the afternoon. From there it was several hours of panels asking questions about Toku and any interest they have in live action programs. After all that we went down to the dealers room again and spoke a bit more formally with Industry Reps. Some new some old who we’d talked to before. Eventually Jeff had to leave to meet up with the Wife and Child (Editor's Note: That's the real world for ya!).

I continued onto AN’s Panel and continued our crusade. Eventually Media Blasters Panel came and I waited in anticipation. After having been accused of having made up their interest I was gonna ask a rep point blank. Their response, Yes, the licensing of Toku is a venture they are interested in! YES! SUCCESS! Now I had solid proof I was telling the truth, King would have to apologize to me and Jeff now. So thinking my work was done I went down stairs to support my Friend Scott Melzers' new Project. (turns out I left a little early and allowed other forces to act up!)

Scott’s new video while only 50% done was hilarious! And the premiere of the completed Re-death was shown. Really folks, there is nothing like a studio of Dancing Gendo’s. The night continued on as I made my way up to the top floor. I met up with my Friend Will and a Super-hot woman dressed as Soundwave from Generation one! All was good until….oops! My Ex! Had to duck out and leave the center.

Sunday
Not really a momentous day. We only stayed long enough to go to Funimation's Panel so we could hear Lance Banter with the crowd and I could say bye to him. We also went back one last time to the Dealers room so I could say goodbye to Keith. Turns out it was a good thing since Keith invited me to a party in October. Then we left the BCC and started our trip back home. Certain my tire was about to fly off (which It nearly did a couple times) we traveled slowly eventually returning to Michigan around Midnight.

The Conclusion
An OK con, Otakon had a problem of scheduling everything good this year at the same time as everything good this year, which created a large amount of frustration. The efforts of me and Jeff bore fruit and I managed to accomplish most of the things I set out to do. The only thing I didn’t get done was meet with Nihon, me and Jeff were looking forward to meeting them and clearing the air in person. After speaking to Jeff I hope this is but one of a great many new articles I’ll be writing as I join the Japan Hero Staff. (Editor's Note: Heck yeah!)

Trevor M.