Welcome to Ushicon 4 in beautiful north Austin, Texas! We will begin our report with the ever popular dealer's room. It was quite a bit bigger than last year's. Great turn out, though. I missed Friday's opening as I had to work.

 

Hurray, expensive swag!

 

Aaaargh, Maties! If ye thaht that Oi'd be lettin dis here con go on wi'owt givin ye a taste o me saber... den yer more daft than any land lubber OI know! Now... wark de plank, ye Otaku dogs!

 

Pirates of the Caribbean 3: Otaku's Gold!
As always there are those infamous costumes that easily elude my waning anime list. I'd appreciate an assist, if you'd care to venture one.
This year, there seemed to be a HUGE Naruto theme amoungst the fans. This was only a fraction of the Naruto Ninjas roaming the hotel.
Yet another character that was well executed, but still unknown to the Mangler. Sorry.
I recognize Asuka on the right, but her friend on the left escapes me. Great costumes, though.

TV Boy from FLCL! It looks like he's tuned in the Letterman Show... it's a classic episode, by the looks of it.

You can't see it, but this fella was on stilts about two or three feet off the ground. It was fun watching him venture near the stairs. He never fell, though it would have been a spectacle if he had.

These young ladies were waiting for an elevator when I snapped this shot. Lori loved the pink wig.

I, unfortunately, don't know what show these ladies are from.

^_^'

Ah don't need no stankin badge, sukka! Do you know who Ah am? DO YOU?!

 

This pimp almost had the best costume, in my book- he was missing only the platform shoes to complete this fantastic suit.

 

And the ho's, of course.

Agent Johnson of the Matrix...

we never saw him because he had no beef with Neo or any of the others... he had his own belly dancer!

OMG LOLZ !!!!111!1oneoneone!1

*ahem*

moving right along...
Another view of the expansive dealer's room.
Witch Hunter Robin decided that Ushicon might be turning out some serious witches. She just didn't realize the sheer magnetude she'd be facing. Fantastic costumes, though... really.

A Naruto Ninja with a need to glomp.

This gentleman thanked me for being a security guard and maintaining the peace.

Then he hugged me.

 

You're welcome?

I guess I was giving off a vibe or something, because then THIS young lady decided that glomping the security guard was a cool thing to do.

when asked, why her response was,

" Wusssaaaaaauuuugh?!"

 

(not really, she just made the face for the picture.)

*gasp* could it BE?! IT IS....

Young and Nats!

They were working the Funimation booth in the dealer's room. Young was doing commissions and wearing kitty ears. Woot, Young!

It was so nice to see them that I quickly offered to buy them some ice cream... and you know where to get the best ice cream in Austin, Texas....

That's right! Amy's Ice Creams!

(I did a couple of tricks for them with their ice cream and they didn't seem to mind)

I also introduced these guys to the joy and heaven that IS...

 

Chipotle.

 

Young ACTUALLY finished the entire burrito! I was astonished. None of my other friends have ever been able to wipe out a whole burrito! I think Nats finished hers, too... although I saw some tortilla remnants in her bowl.

Almost, Nats... we'll try again next time! ^_-

Back at the con, I took my youngsters in to see some of the costumes... Guillermo (on the left) is in the middle of a robot fascination, right now... so this REALLY topped his night off.

 

The blinking bicycle lights around the eyes were enough to keep Lorenzo (on the right) from paying ANY attention to the camera.
The dealer's room from yet another vantage point... before the crowd burst in that Sunday.

This poor guy, like most guys at anime conventions, was desperate for some female loving. If you can't make out the sign, it says,

"Will do anything to get a girlfriend. Will also take kisses, hugs, glomps, and phone #'s (Yank my chain). Women Only.

Signed,

Joe"

Did the sign ever work, Joe?

Finally the Paper Wings Cosplayers found their way to my camera!

My wife ADORED the Hello Kitty Theme Ringo was sporting.

As always, their costumes were dynamite.
I'm stumped as to what anime these ladies are representing, but the young lady on the far right had some really awesome wings. You could tell where she was from anywhere in the dealer's room.
A very off fairy, I'd say. SEARCHING FOR SOULS!

And then the Yaoui began. This mob got steadily larger as folks started putting on Yaoui scenes for money. That's when I had to step in and remind them that once they started accepting money, that became solicitation and that's illegal on private property.

They were scared that I was there to spoil their fun. But I was just there to enforce the rules. Bringing the law, that's the Mangler's job.

Well, that was a hoot. I think I'll head home and raid the fridge.

*Yaaaaawn*

See ya next year, folks!
 
all content © Will Rodriguez- so just ask if you wanna use it, okay? I'll come after you if you don't! LOOK OUT!