Broken Plot Device

Been back from Anthrocon for a week and a half now, but I’ve finally managed to sort through my photos and find some gems to share with y’all, to give you a small peak into the convention that was… Anthrocon 2008!

I drove into Pittsburgh mid-way through Thursday. The con didn’t officially start till Friday, but already the city had been “invaded”. It was hard to NOT find someone with con badges, tails, or sometimes even full suits within a 3 block radius of the Westin. Pittsburgh was well prepared however, as almost all of the nearby restaurants and shops had some kind of “Anthrocon special” advertised in their windows. The city really rolled out the red carpet this year! It was pretty awesome.

Thursday also happened to be the birthday of awesome artist & friend of mine, Jen “Spunky” Seng! She turned the big 3-O this year. Doesn’t look it, does she? Still our adorable, pocket-sized Spunky.

left to right: Solid Asp, Spunky, and Ultimate Havoc. And Piyo, the “marshmallow”

Friday morning the Dealer’s Room opened, and my weekend officially began!

I was pretty happy with my set-up this year. The biggest new thing was that awesome banner, complete with pvc pipe stand! I was dead center of the Dealer’s Den, but you could easily spot me from anywhere in the room. Special thanks to 24 Hour Banners who printed it for me. Seriously, their turn-around is QUICK; 5 hours after I sent them my pdf, it was already in the mail.

Anthrocon’s a big con (We hit 3,390 in attendance this year), so of course I wasn’t the only one earnin’ the cash money that weekend…

left to right: Sean Blackthorne, Fenrir Lokison, Max Blackrabbit, and gNaw

Cottontail Gin (left) and Bonk (right)

Scully Raptor (left) and Fossil (right)

While most of a dealer’s con experience is spent working and drawing, there’s of course always time for fun. Matt Burt (aka “Gunmouth”) frequently enjoys exploiting that fact to unfortunate lows.

My boyfriend Bob and I understood this fact, so before the con we prepared a little surprise for him.

A close-up of the shirt:

As much as I wish I could take credit for this shirt’s genius, it was mostly Bob’s idea. I am proud to say though that the “T-Rex in a head lock” part was my contribution. I didn’t get a photo of the back, but it has Matt’s head on a bikini-clad woman’s body, driving a pink Cadillac, with Patrick from “Sponge Bob” in the passenger’s seat and the T-Red in the back. Matt was somewhat confused, and his girlfriend Kami doesn’t try to hide her amusement.

Anthrocon was the official public debut of Broken Plot Device. I was handing out fliers much like the one Bonk is holding and spreading the word. I brought 1,000 fliers with me, and left with about half of them. (printed thanks to 48HourPrint.com, which also printed 2 sets of business cards for me. Good quality, fast turn-around, highly recommended!)

That link-back from Better Days doesn’t hurt either (by the way, Jay Naylor is the specimen of awesome, thank you so much Dude! I owe you a beer or something, seriously.)

I just hope that I can keep the comic going on a level somewhere between “nifty” and “epicly awesome” so you guys stick around.

Sean Blackthorne : Cheer up emo kid, and EAT A BAG OF…. you know what

To everyone who came to my table, said Hi, or even bought something, you guys get the biggest thank you of all! If it wasn’t for all of you, I wouldn’t be doing this mess. Thank you!!

I think it’s a given that I’ll be back next year. But will YOU?!? That’s right, all you people out there who didn’t go to AC this year? You missed out! Don’t wanna miss out on next year? Than bookmark the official site and remember to preregister when it opens up later this year!

Thanks for an awesome con. See you all next year!