Tampa Bay Comic Con 2015: Con Report

On Saturday I was up and about at 5am. Every con I go to I'm an early riser. The weather was going to be bad for August 1st but I figured that being inside would work out.

I was on the road at 7 and after a brief stop at the credit union was on my way driving on Bayshore with few other cars and not many joggers. 10 minutes later I was parking my car inside Fort Brooke and then it was a short walk to the Tampa Convention Center.

It was already a long line at 7:30. I talked with a few people in line and saw people in nice costumes walk by. Soon it was 8am and we all hurried inside. The line moved fast when the doors finally opened.

I'm glad I brought paper money because the Cash line was fast. Then I headed to the freebie table to pick up an Iron Man poster and a bag. Then I found a wall out of the way to take a quick glance at the program guide. The three big draws for autographs and photo ops were Carrie Fisher, Lea Thompson, and Linda Hamilton. The ladies were the honored guests.

Surprisingly the dealers room was opened at 8am. Generally there is a 1 to 2 hour wait and another long line to get in. This year I just walked in. I always walk up and down each aisle just to see what each booth has. Then I remember what booth has what I want and where I am likely to spend any money.

It was the usual Star Wars toys, Star Trek memorabilia, and of course comics and magazines for sell. Nothing really grabbed my attention and then I found my favorite booth each year, the one selling Japanese candies and snacks. I was less impressed this time because I found the same items cheaper at MD Oriental Market in Pinellas Park. For example, he wanted $10 for Green Tea flavored Kit Kat that you can get for $5 at MD. Not sure a sweet deal at Comic Con. He did have a Sriracha shirt and I did buy that. I have been looking for one for a while and decided $20 was a good price for a shirt.

During my initial trek through the massive dealers room, there were few anime goods however the anime booths I stopped at had excellent figures. I didn't find any tables with DVDs or blu-rays. Café Anime Tampa had good legitimate DVDs like my favorite, Genshiken. I stopped briefly to say hello and then I was at the used game booth.

It is hard to find import games in the US unless you shop online and the best option is to fly to Tokyo for Nakano Broadway or Super Potato in Akihabara or go to Osaka for Den Den Town. I always find the best used games in Den Den Town. So I was happy to see some imports. I didn't find any Dreamcast games but the Playstation games were only $10 each and it was buy 2 get one free. I picked up Dino Crisis, Sister Princess, (possible dating sim,) and the weirdest game I could find. I got it just because it was weird and that was Puffy, I Love You. Puffy is a Jpop girl group that had a mega hit in Japan back in '98 with the Jet album. Years later they had their own cartoon, Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi on Cartoon Network. Looking through the game manual, I saw that you needed a pistol controller. That was odd for kawaii idols singers but I can't really judge it until I actually play it.

I went downstairs to see if anything interested me. The panels were very typical. The celebrity guests wanted too much. I had already seen the dealers room and that meant I could finally do what I wanted and that was take pictures of cosplayers. at 10am there wasn't that many people. I was sitting in a chair bored, waiting for something to happen. Then a really cool cosplayer came walking in and after taking his picture, I was off in search of cosplayers.

Tampa really has some unique and creative individuals and I saw some amazing costumes at Comic Con. Most of the good ones were handmade. After picture taking in the hallways and the dealers room, I ran into Travis Kirk and agreed to help him out with photo shoots.

So I headed downstairs to the Riverwalk and it was raining. After waiting around, I decided to go back to the dealers room to see if I could find Travis. Then I noticed that in the afternoon, the con was in full swing and people were everywhere making it hard to walk.

Ok my only bad experience at Comic Con was when I was looking out a window looking for my friend. The sign above the door said Exit so I walked out. Then a real rude, 19-year old Sentry employee yelled at me that this wasn't an exit despite the fact that Exit is clearly displayed above the door. He didn't seem like he would shut up so I almost demanded to get his sup's name. The biggest disappointed were the idiots hired by Sentry who had no concept of working events and dealing with the public. None of the Sentry staff was up to par and extremely unprofessional. If I'm paying $35 to get in, better treatment and a professional staff is needed. After I walked away from the angry young fool, I went backstairs and waited at a table near Riverwalk. Soon I spotted Travis and I was off to my first real photo shoot. I am still learning everything my Canon Rebel T3i can do.

The first photo shoot was a lot of fun. I was just holding an umbrella with a flash but I was also learning about lighting and angles. It was a really relaxed shoot and it went smooth.

I helped out with another one in a stairwell that provided interesting challenges. It was hard to get the angles I wanted in a small confined space and I really hoped that the rain would stop. There is so much scenic beauty outside.

The next one was a lot of fun. I met Rennie Starks, who I liked and followed on Facebook but had never met in person.

She brought three of her friends and we had a wonderful time shooting outside while the rain was lite. That was a great shoot. Rennie was so into her Harley Quinn character that her personality really shined through the photos I took. You can follow her here.
https://www.facebook.com/renniestarkscosplay
Here are some of the ones I took.

Rennie and her friends were so outgoing, energetic, and friendly that you couldn't help but get caught up in the enthusiasm. That really made Comic Con special.

After that, it was time to return home. With all the rain Bayshore was flooded and blocked off, Swann was flooded so I carefully snaked around side streets that weren't flooded until I made it safely back home.

Overall, Comic Con was a good experience. Hopefully next year Sentry will be replaced by a professional security and events company. At the very least the sullen youth needs to be retrained or let go. No excuses for such a bad employee with a crap attitude.

 

All of my pictures of Tampa Bay Comic Con are here.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/genkigaijin/sets/72157656638151742

First Impressions: GATE Episode 1: The Self-Defense Force Goes to Another World

Ok, the Summer Simulcasts are in full swing for '15, and I decide to watch GATE on Crunchyroll.
GATE begins in Tokyo's Ginza area as Youji Itami heads to Shimbashi Station. Itami is a self proclaimed otaku who is on his way to a doujinshi con when he suddenly falls down on his butt screaming. He is terrorized by a vision of strange creatures who are wearing Roman amour. Fantasy becomes reality as these creatures entered our world through a gate and wreak havoc.

Itami is a JSDF reservist who is forced into action as he protects the civilians out on the street. Ordering the police he is able to save them and so begins the war between humans and a unknown race.

Based on a fantasy novel series by Takumi Yanai, the GATE shows enough promise to warrant giving Episode 2 a watch. The animation is solid, the music is good, and the plot moves along at a steady pace.

GATE is worth a look and based on what direction the plot goes in, I will keep watching it. Hopefully it won't derail.

Mega Happy Japan Trip '15: Day 7

Sunday was my last full day in Japan. I was finally going to do what I intended to do on this trip and that was to meet my friend Jun. I had no idea what to expect. I just knew it was going to be good.

That morning I got away from the Western foods for the breakfast buffet and decided to go for the Japanese side. I'm so glad I did.

Ok I had miso soup, steamed rice, soba noodles, umeboshi, (sour plum,) croquette, vegetables, mackerel, and some tasty nori. Also a nice salad. I should have gotten this earlier on my trip.

After, I walked outside to the nearby drink machine and bought ice cocoa. I have had plenty of hot cocoa but never ice from a can. It was good.

I walked outside, waiting for Jun to arrive. Across the street at an izakaya I saw high school boys in black uniforms shouting. They were celebrating someone's birthday. They took him outside and in a big group threw him up in the air several times. It looked like a lot of fun.

Soon, Jun arrived and I got into the SUV. His wife Kaori was with the kids, July and Jessica, in the back. We drove for about 20-minutes. I used that time to find out what Jun had been doing. He told me that I was fatter. I asked him how did he stay in shape. He pointed at a pizza delivery car and asked how many slices I ate and how often I ordered pizza? I said twice a month and 5 slices. He said that was why. They order a large and only eat one to two slices and they order once a month.

 There is truth to that but I also feel that walking everywhere helps.

We stopped at a traditional Japanese restaurant for soba noodles. This is the nice restaurant where you take your shoes off.

I let Jun and Kaori pick out my lunch.

It was really good and better than the soba I had for breakfast.

Following lunch, we got back inside the SUV and drove off for the highway. It is so relaxing to go for a Sunday drive in Japan. The interstate traffic was not jammed like on Saturdays. Also it was a treat for me to see Tochigi from a car instead of a train.

We headed to the resort town called Nasu. It is a quaint town and only certain colors are allowed. I saw lots of black and brown and no harsh reds on any of the buildings. Jun explained that people love to own a second home in picturesque Nasu and that European and Western style houses are the most popular. We passed several lush green forests that looked serene.

Ok we were going to an amusement park but the Gundam exhibit had already passed. So we went to Safari Park instead.

At Safari Park we first went to feed the rabbits and see the petting zoo.

Next, we got into a rental car and drove through the gates to see animals up close. We each had food to feed the animals from the car. 

I had my window down and Kaori told me that there were free roaming tigers and lions inside so I rolled it back up. Here are some of the animals we saw.

Then it was back to feed the rabbits again.

Group photo time. My antler hat was so heavy.

Seeing the Tanoi family interact made me sad and I wanted to be married and have my own children.

I still have hope for the future.

Here is a short video on what is was like driving through Safari Park.

One last look.

Next we went to the Sapporo Beer Garden, also in Nasu. We had the whole place to ourselves on this lazy Sunday afternoon.

 It is a nice place with a beer sampler with meats and cheeses. I believe there is a beer factory here.

New beer.

I could have stayed here all day. However, time to go.

Seeimg Palm trees made me miss Tampa.

We got back on the highway and headed back. We stopped at a department store because I needed a bag to take stuff back in.

That night we were joined by Joshua and went out to dinner at my favorite unagi (eel) restaurant

Children's beer that foams up and tastes like ginger ale.

Fried eel bones that were so addicting. I didn't want to stop eating them.

My favorite Japanese food is unagi don, which is grilled eel over rice with a sweet, tangy eel sauce.

 It was all so good. The only thing I didn't eat was the shrimp head. You are suppose to suck the brains out from the head and I couldn't bring myself to do it. So I gave it to Joshua. He liked it. I'm glad it wasn't wasted.

 I was dropped off at my hotel and July shook my hand and I said goodbye to Jun and his family. Jun told me that they would be visiting Tampa soon.

On Monday morning I was up at 3am to pack up. Then I waited at 4am at the bus stop in front of the hotel. I was advised to get on the bus early due to Tokyo Monday morning traffic jams. 

Here is Utsunomiya at 4am.

Soon the highway bus arrived. It would take me from this point to Narita International Airport.

I was sad to leave.

Then I waited for my long flight to Chicago on this plane.

Last minute souvenirs.

I felt so sad seeing this last view of the land and the Sea of Japan. Maybe it is because I hate goodbyes. Most likely it is the good friends that I leave behind.

Usually I get cranky when I return to the US. This time was different. When I got off the plane at Tampa International Airport, I was glad. There is nothing like being able to sleep in your own bed at night.

So ends my trip and I hope you enjoyed reading it because I had fun writing it.