Arisia 2007: Field report

[bewareofgeek]

Elsewhere, on LiveJournal, someone described this year's Arisia as being "nibbled to death by ducks". I think that's a fair description: A bunch of minor annoyances, individually quite harmless, that added up to a fairly major mess. That being said, it wasn't a total wash for me. While the hotel is FAR too small for a major convention, it is also quite beautiful, with a 15-story atrium. At one point I suggested we use it for BASE jumping :)

Anyway, here's my report:

Got into Cambridge on Friday at around 1:45. Registration wasn't open yet, so I checked into my hotel room instead, and crashed for a bit (making the usual call home). Then I made my way back down to the lobby, and waited in line for a bit to pick up my pre-registration packet. Along the way, I gave away some duplicate Gold Digger issues from my collection, enticing a couple of new readers. :) Then I basically hung out until the group I usually con-go with (Misters Mutant & Hart) arrived. That was about 3:30.

After that, it was a fairly quiet afternoon. We did the Dealer's Room (I picked up a gift for Mary and a fun-looking novel for myself), and snagged a surprisingly tasty dinner at the lobby cafe (a turkey wrap and a really good chocolate chip cookie).

Then came Panel Time. Given that I was sitting on 5 panels this year (and moderating two of them), I didn't really have time or energy to attend any others. My first panel was technically a contest: an Eye of Argon reading. My initial thought was to go Shakespearean, but another reader was far too good at it ("resounding clangggg!), so I decided to modify my approach to "Mrs. Doubtfire" :). Did okay, but I got one "bzzt" for leaving out a punctuation mark. :P.

Panel 2 on Friday Night was "Anime in a nutshell", which was notable for actually having an attendee who WASN'T an anime fan :D. After that, I was pretty well wiped out, so I headed back up to my hotel room and turned in.

Then came Saturday, the day that broke my brain. :)

Met up with the Johns for breakfast (introducing them along the way to the "trash-talking Dalek" scene from Doctor Who), before spending time and money on Dealer's Row (two Pratchett imports from Pandemonium). Grabbed lunch from the cafe again, and tried to mentally prepare myself for the day's panels. While I was at the freebie table, I bumped into norda  & Michael, who were unfortunately on their way out. But it was good to see them. My first panel of the day (and first moderating job ever) was the Steampunk panel, which should have been subtitled "Girl Genius, and maybe some other stuff." :) It went better than I expected, given my limited knowledge of the genre.

Panel #2 was the tough one: "Changes in Comics". I think I may have been a bit heavy-handed at times, but when a panelist an an audience member start trading comments about Civil War and characterization... you do what you have to.

Thankfully, I had an hour to rest up before the Planetary panel, which meant another trip to the cafe, and another cookie. (Yay!). That panel was cool, even if we couldn't decide if Ellis hates all superheroes, or just Superman (who he's killed by proxy 5 times). woodwardiocom is a great moderator, with REALLY cool goggles. :D

After that, the Johns and I caught the second half of an old Miyazaki anime, Sherlock Hound (could he be ANY more laid back?) then headed out to the masquerade, which was up to it's usual high standards. Notable costumes included a Dementor, Mr. Freeze (Dini/Timm version), and an impressive minotaur. Funniest costume was probably the gerbil hamster. And there are some young costumers we can expect great things from.

Highlight of the night, however was Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles. While it was shaky in some spots (one character practically had "will die before the end" tattooed on his forehead), it was fairly impressive, and a worthy follow up to the original. I'm told it will also be marketed in Japan as a sequel to Genesis Climber Mospeada.

After my Robot fix, we caught Video Hell (including a clip of Hans Conreid singing about his "do-me-duds"), and called it a night. The next morning, we grabbed a quick breakfast, and I went home.

On a scale from 1 to 10, I think I'd give Arisia 2007 a 7.5. Hopefully, next year, the ducks will stay home.

Comments

[jackolantern.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to think of five times that Ellis has killed "Superman", and can come up with only four: twice in Planetary (the one that Axel Brass & Co. fought, from the "snowflake" and the one that Leather killed in infancy); the Clark Kent from Planetary/JLA; and The High in Stormwatch. Who's the fifth? (Apollo, of course, didn't die, at least on Ellis' tenure.)

[mdg1.livejournal.com]

Also in Planetary, the hero Spider Constantine killed (while he might be riffing on Marvelman, the archetype is close enough).

[zarhooie.livejournal.com]

Ellis hates all superheroes. Check out the-engine.net and the title of his section for superhero works. It should also be noted that Ellis had The Engine around for quite a while before adding a superheroes area, or even allowing spandex discussion to occur, anywhere.

[mdg1.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but his dislike for Superman seems greater. *shrug*

Such is life.