This year, transportation was a bit tricky since I don't have a car of my own anymore. It worked out that my stepmom drove me to Dallas, so all was well. Even though I showed up half an hour after the dealers' room was supposed to open, there was still a massive line of people snaking around the hotel. I walked right on in and picked up my Happy Jackal Graphics dealer's badge. Not only is it $35 cheaper than a standard lowly proletariat badge, but it gets me early access to the other dealers. Too cool. I set up camp with the Jackal crew, and about half an hour later, the doors opened to the unwashed masses. However, this year was not like other years. The space between tables was huge. Despite the 6000(!) con-goers to pick up a badge this Friday, the dealers' room did not feel nearly as cramped as last year. I mean, look at the football field that was behind our dealers' island. I decided to take it easy this year, so I didn't take any commissions. I set out a few comics and portfolios and just hung around the Happy Jackal table most of the day. Shon did his usual routine of offering free sketches to the various girls who happened by the table. With a massive memory stick for my camera, I got many more pictures than last year (scroll down for a sampling). Unfortunately, Mike never showed up. I tried emailing him before the con to no avail. In my report for last year, I claimed no A-Kon is complete without Mike showing up, but I made the best with what I had. I got to chat with Tim Ely for a while, which is cool since I've seen him at quite a few A-Kons, but never really talked to him. Everyone just packed up and went up to the room early. Mr. Heavensrun was to provide a room for me this year. As luck would have it, he had a room in the con hotel. Unfortunately, six other people were sleeping in this room. And at least half of them snored. I got to sleep under a table with no sheets. Being resourceful, I used a towel to keep warm, for what little it did. At least I got a pillow.

After a sweet six hours of uncomfortable sleep, I got up and made a break for the dealers' room. I spent most of my time drawing in my sketchbook when I wasn't helping to run the table. I'll get those pictures up eventually. Joe Wight showed up in his whole storm trooper (not a Go Bot) get up, which was quite entertaining. After the dealers' room closed was more eventful than the previous day. Brian, Shon, DAQ, and I went down to the artists' ghetto to spend some time drawing. Elin and Pat of Radio Comix dropped by, with Elin sporting very pink hair. Best of all, this year's Ulala showed up after the cosplay show. Different girl from last year, and I don't recognize the outfit. Perhaps it is from the second game, which I never got an opportunity to play. But the effect is quite pleasing nonetheless. After Shon and Brian left, DAQ and I were left to draw on our own, when--out of nowhere--a DJ set up a few tables down, and a bunch of people jumped out of the shadows to start dancing. The unfortunate truth is that only one of the dozens of people with glowsticks could even dance. Don't get me wrong, I certainly can't dance, but I know better than to embarrass myself like that in public. While there were some truly noble attempts at producing something approximating dance, it was just a bit much for DAQ and me. We moved camp down to a location with better lighting and continued to draw. When I finally returned to my room, I found that someone had stolen my pillow. My only pillow. That's all I had. Another night of barely sleeping ensued.

I dropped in the dealers' room early again, and picked up a box of nice looking Stand Alone Complex figures cheap. That's another one of the perks of being a bourgeois dealer--getting the good deals from other dealers. Now Shon had also given me a nice Ulala figure, which I had displayed prominently, despite the fact that it wasn't for sale. Several people expressed interest in it, but I was not parting with it. But then she showed up--last year's Ulala. I regretfully told her I couldn't sell it, but just after she left, Shon managed to find another figure of Ulala in her white outfit. Now the only problem was that the girl had run off to who knows where. Just as we were packing up to take off, Shon ran into her, and I ended up giving it to her for nothing. She promised to wear the Ulala outfit again next year, so I have to make it to the con in 2005 to make sure she follows up. We got everything into Brian's car, and he drove me to Austin, thus ending another year's A-Kon.

Friends slumming it in the artists' ghetto.


Bonus points for use of stilts.


Shon dishing out his free sketches.


Holy shit!


It's Faye Valentine!


Joe is a bad ass.


I guess she couldn't find a real guitar.


Ulala is always the best costume.