Botcon - 2002
This was my first Botcon convention to attend, but I will consider it even more memorable because it was also my first meeting with friends I'd only known through the internet up until then and the trip was a weekend adventure unto itself! Here I'll describe to you some of the details of that trip and, of course, the convention itself.
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Not exactly a glamorous start to Botcon. Here, while lost in Wisconsin, we saw the legendary Oscar Mayer wiener mobile drive by! My friend, Jeremy, took this picture as we drove alongside in my sister's PT Cruiser. |
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En route to Fort Wayne we drove through Chicago. I wish the camera didn't flash because the skyline was stunningly beautiful. To the left hangs my sister's Gir doll from the show, Invader Zim, on Nickelodeon. |
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Unicron, the planet devourer, was the first to greet me AND the first bust I saw at the convention! It was huge - nearly two feet tall and the picture doesn't do it enough credit for the sculpture and design put into it. As if to tease, a sliver of Devastator's pre-mold bust is just visible to the left. |
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A smorgasborard of busts here! From top left to bottom front is Soundwave, Starscream, Megatron, Ironhide, Optimus Prime, and Prowl. Exactly like the characters from the TV series which was a joy (the prices for these things, on the other hand, weren't!). |
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Box of Transformers! Mostly Beast Wars, but Autobot Jetfire is clearly in here as well among a few others. Own a few of them, (such as the transmetals) but never saw the original season1 toys so I thought to snatch this pic of this incredible collection! |
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Yeah, the red-head is me. This woman had a very good costume (nice grill!) of Arcee and since this was Botcon, I had a picture taken of her and myself. |
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This painting of Megatron was one of numerous amazing pieces of artwork that were displayed, both out on the main floor AND in a special art room they had set up! |
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My hotel room just a few blocks away from the convention itself. What more can I say, other than it was MUCH better than the first one I stayed at that weekend. |
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Here I met up with the famous head writer of Beast Wars, Bob Forward. It was such a thrill! I seriously hope to become as great a writer as him someday. What I'm holding up is a picture I drew for the convention and had numerous people autograph, including Bob, the voice actor of Rodimus Prime, and Ben Yee who hosts Ben Yee's Transformers Page. |
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This was quite possibly the best diorama set up in the art room. It was incredible to believe that someone not only made this to scale, but put in a great deal of effort, even so far as to include the original character toys as well! |
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When I laid eyes on this diorama I immediately cracked up! The theme is...apparently...cross-dressing Predacons having a pajama party while Maximals Silverbolt and Cheetor try to spy. It was almost too much to believe! |
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This is the same picture I had drawn for the convention and had autographed by Dick Gatier (Rodimus Prime's voice actor), Bob Forward, and Ben Yee. It's the ILS characters meeting up with Rodimus Prime! From left to right it's Chee-Toy, Coyotek, RedStreak, Rodimus Prime, and Perceptor2. |
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The best picture I saved for last! Here are the elite members of the Iacon Literary Society that met up at Botcon. From left to right is Skyfire Maximus (a.k.a. Legendary Autobot), Coyotek, myself, Perceptor2, and kneeling is Coyotek's fiancée, Chee-Toy. These guys were so much FUN to hang out with! Coyotek and Chee-Toy are also wearing the T-shirts I brought to them as gifts. I really hope to meet these guys again next Botcon... |
For those that missed 2002, I really pity you. It was a blast and an experience to remember! I'm truly hoping that '03 will be just as good, although '02 I'll remember as the best!