My Hasbro Con experience:
First and foremost, meeting SDComics and PantherCult was the best thing about the Con this year. Nothing else compares. I loved putting faces with screen names I have literally been interacting with for what 15 years now? Maybe longer? It could be the shared love of Legends, toys, comics, the Con... I don't know but it was like meeting up with old friends. The three of us instantly clicked. Three strangers who seemed like old college buddies. After several lead ups to the actually reveals during panel, I would turn to PantherCult and try to guess who it was just like a little kid. I would never do with someone I wasn't comfortable geeking out with. Thanks guys and many thanks to TheSameIdiot for creating this wonderful place and adding a PM function!
The Panel:
You could feel the room instantly support Dan as the moderator. It was like a big wave of energy from us went right to him. This was a big moment for him, us and Hasbro to see how well he did - and he did a great job. He was lively, well-spoken and had great banter. Having fewer people on the panel worked better as well in my opinion. Dwight shaving his beard was so wacky. Of course the best part of panel was the most unexpected: the tribute to Ryan. I don't need to explain any further. Just watch the livestream footage. You'll see.
The Reveals:
I'll go into more detail in the General thread, but the reveals were great, everything looked sensational. I was disappointed that at least one of the rumored Inhumans sets would have been revealed, especially since Dan kept pointing out that we collectors wanted teams completed. Hopefully if either set is real and not just rumored, they will appear at PulseCon or NYCC. We did complete two teams and a roster: X-Force with Feral, Excalibur with Rachel and Roger Stern's 1980s run on Avengers with Starfox. That roster lasted a long time. Noticeably absent was a tease or two at the end. That seemed really odd...
The Cards:
This is a biggie for Articulated Thoughts. Jesse LOVED them. They were referenced a few times during panel... and beyond. A guy approached PantherCult and me after the panel and asked what the cards were. I had three other guys ask me in the Hasbro booth. I had my set with me so I showed them off. Dan, Dwight and I chatted about them in the Hasbro booth. Ryan got his set from SDComics and he was so gracious and thankful that we included him. I literally ran into Steve Evans at another panel and explained what they were and apologized that we didn't have a set for him because we didn't know he'd be there. He jokingly said he'll just take Dans set or Dwights set.
There are 24 cards. Two were revealed (Feral and Rachel) and 4 more are in the works according to Jesse.
Hmmberto - you struck gold! Not all heroes were capes... or maybe you do!
The Booth:
This year's booth configuration just sucks. Each different line (Legends, Star Wars, etc.) are just right on top of each other. Conversations kind of have to happen in the middle of the "mush pot" to allow people to look at the figures in the cases. I'm not claustrophobic but if you are, be aware. it's really tight in there. I'll share my brief conversations with both Dwight and Dan a little later.
Overall it was a great Con! I was only there for one day, but what a day it was! Fun panel, great chats, impressive reveals, some fun purchases and I made two new friends!