 Iacon, the report. Grade: Not Bad. All things considered, I have a lot of good to say about this little shin-dig. Instead of typing something organised and coherent (as I have in the past), I'm simply going to type random sentences, spell things wrong, and just generally rant obsessively. Because when it comes down to it, all my years of carefully thought-out writings amount to the same thing as any random crap I may slap together and serve up with a side of jerk. That being said let's get started, shall we? The location was nice...and familiar. I like tradition. This was my 3rd TF convention in Indiana. Suits me. Keep it there. This particular show didn't pull in the big numbers (150 people attended, approximately?), but it *did* have the most important thing that MC Corporate Greedcon is missing: this convention had *soul*. This wasn't about product, profit margins, and con organisers who treat Transfans as second-hand goods, only useful for making money off of. This convention was about us, the people. Bravo. I went into this fully prepared to hate every aspect of it, to rip it to shreds and ridicule it up one side and down the other. I was gonna take these people's glasses and pocket protectors from them, and when they cried for mommy I was gonna serve them up old-school, with a side of snide, because I reckoned that these folks couldn't organsie their way out of a paper bag. In short, I came into this preparing to hate it. I came out loving it. These folks were willing to walk the walk. They don't shut you down and say they can't disclose this or that. They don't push you off to the side, or try to generate a false need in order to market a toy. They give us little trinkets, an acceptable meal, and all at a very small price point. MC Corporate Greedcon could learn a thing or two from these people. Are some of the people who put this show on former cronies of Glen (expletetive) Hallit? Yes. But in this case, don't hold it against them. They did a darn fine job this time around. Darn fine job. Things ran smoothly. And the price was right. For 100 bucks, I got swag, a meal, access to the dealer room, and the most precious of all, the chance to hang with my friends, the Fellows in the Cause of this fandom. The most precious thing in the world is the chance to share your interests with like-minded individuals. And this setting made it feel special. Just like the old days. There were people at this show that I might once have called enemy. Now I call them friend. Because they *know* what a convention is supposed to be about. They gave me that old-school sparkle back. I felt the way I *used* to feel about the Botcon, back before things went to hell and got sold off. What got run down by Glen, trashed by Hasbro, and finally destroyed by Mastercollector has been restored to me by Iacon, and for that, I thank them tremendously. They've proven that a small group of dedicated fans who *care* can still organise something for the rest of us. The joy is so palitable, the colors so vivid, that my heart cried out in wonder at what I found. My soul healed. Thank you, Iacon. Last year, I was about to give up on the fandom completely. This year...you've got me buying variants to document again. :-)
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Now, having said all that...it has been suggested that as the fanbase dwindles, there will be more of a need for an official, organised convention for us to all attend. That in the end, simply because of the cycle of life, an organisation like Master Collector will end up winning out for our attentions. That may be true...but you know, I hope the fanbase fights it. I hope they fight back with all of their might, because dammit, we deserve better! Show them what is it we *really* want, and make them give it to us! Show them that there *is* another way, and if they don't shape up, they can ship out. It's our fandom. Let's take it back. Yes, it's a toy-based hobby. But must we allow ourselves to be seduced by the toys offered at the MC Botcon? Must we bend over and take what they give us, with no reach-around, just because they think they're the only game in town? Can't we give our love, not to Corporate Greedcon, but to a convention that really and truly deserves it instead? No. Probably not. Hell, I signed up for Botcon too, and purchased the screw-me-in-the-pooch-priced toy set, because I'm a whore. It's 3 in the morning, I haven't slept decent in days, but truly I've never seen things so clearly. Botcon, as we know it, is dead. Long live MC Corporate Greedcon. But yet, out of the darkness, comes a light... If you want to go to a convention that feels like they did back in the day, then give it up for Iacon. They may not have the name, but dammit, they have the heart, the *soul*. If you didn't go this year, then you missed out. Because this, truly, was where it was at. They've given us hope. At least, until they become the next corporate Greedcon, and we begin the entire process over again. :-) Hehe. Circle of life, man. Circle of life. Botcon, if you remember, started out this way. They used to be our heart and soul, till they were taken away from us. But we've been given another chance, folks. With any luck, Iacon will have 5 or 10 good years in it before it either goes under, or gets absorbed by the Corporate Collective. That's a solid group of years of transformer love, man. Then it will be up to someone to start the Polyhex convention, or somesuch after Iacon gets bought out by nofunpublikations and merges with the Corporate Collective as well. But that's the future, and this is now. Live in the moment. Enjoy it. I know I did. Transfandom sucks...long live Transfandom!!
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Iacon got a few things wrong. For one, the beef was a little dry. For another...the Golden Disk Awards? Come on, that's just a liiiiittttllllee too subculture fanwanky for me. You need to lose that if you want this con to remain viable. If you want it as a seperate panel for those that enjoy such a thing, great! But I didn't apprciate being held hostage for that claptrap as I ate my meal and had to watch about what some online wankers thought about episode 443 of Cybertron, where Prime's mouth finally moves. I've scraped more interesting things out of the cracks in my shoe. Get a life, people. Malin, Phil, you do excellent work, and I love you to death, but your stage presense needs work. Get a little confidence in your voice on those microphones, for goodness sakes! Look, I'll volunteer to MC for you next year. Seriously. I'll bring my crew. You've got something special going on here, and there isn't a pro-dj voice amongst the lot of you. How the hell does that happen?! Used to do run my mouth off for a living, so maybe I'm being biased, but being timid up there in-front of the mic is no way to do it. I've seen you both be confident with the same people in other settings. Just because someone puts a microphone in-front of you doesn't change anything. Exude some confidence. You've done a good thing here. Be proud of it. They got the time of year right. They got the location right. Now, if they can just get those attendence numbers up, I think we have a winner. Stay tuned for my Botcon report later this year, where I once again go in hating, but come out with toys. What can I say, I'm a whore. A hasbro corporate toy whore. Stop making toys, dammit! This ranting lunatic brought to you by the letter Eeeeee!
(I'm going to love re-reading this after I've had a decent nights sleep, huh?) |
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Iacon, the Haul: 1) A repurchased Detrius (bought for 40, sold for 40, rebought this year for 35 from Tony P). 2) 2 sets of golden disks (brass) with Megatron hand-players (show exclusive). Also included 2 plastic slightly warped Creation Matrix (clear, dinner exclusive). 3) Japanese reissue Thrust and Trailbreaker, misb, very cheap, from a fellow I didn't know. 4) Bag of Jumpstarters from Mike and Bill, courtesy of William D. (Thank you!) The jumpstarter empire grows, yeeessss... 5) 2 small minions of Unicron from the CSF line, good and evil (I'll let Esteban fill in the details). This was Crazy-Steve's autocon-members-attending exclusive. 6) A horde of Sharkticons from the CSF line! This was the close-personal friends attending exclusive. :-) (Many, many thanks!) 7) TF Attackix from the SW/TF battle pack. 8) Naughty chinese Beachcomber mosc from Bickmore 9) Red HondaCity-R MIB from that tall fellow whose name I always forget. 10) A G2 TF comic featuring the Megatron about to step on Ninja Scarlet from GiJoe. 12) A Ninja-Scarlet GI Joe figure to reinact the scene with. 13) A small blue clear G2 Megatron decoy from Northern. 14) Red Snarl from Curt. 15) Omega Supreme missing two med clips otherwise complete that will be for a secret project (got some arms from Curt, the rest from Northern). 16) Cybertron Prime, Demolisher, and Unicron from Bickmore's younger, nicer brother. :-) 17) Intact complete Ironhide original for 4 bucks in a junk bin from a fellow I didn't know. 18) Iacon Pre-Reg table sign from Malin. I picked it up when I pre-reg'd at the table. He looked at me but didn't say anything.
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See the pictures of my entire trip by clicking on the links below: Wabbit Ears. Me, Northern, and Esteban hanging out, happy out, and stoned out. Esteban at dinner. How doe he keep those pearly whites? Uh-oh... Frank is about to do something naughty with Megs. Aaaaand...here it comes. "Aaaayyyeeee..." For everything else, there's Grumpy Card. The heck? Is this a problem in the midwest? Rose and Robowang, walkin' on sunshine... Scot McNeil making a 'surprise' enterance.
With fava beans, and a nice, er... |