We begin the Trip to this convention only one hour behind schedule, for a change. This quickly becomes a moot point however as we hit the traffic from hell as we enter the Chicago area. So a trip that should have taken only 10 hours took 14.After the long trip we just want to check in and go lay down for a bit, but this is not in the cards as Anime Detour begins showing the common problems of first year cons. It took us a good half hour (and talking to about 12 people) to get checked in at the con, and the Hotel didn't have the room ready when we arrived (at 4:30 p.m. CST). All of these things can be excused however because it is a first year convention, so we continue into the con after a short rest. Despite its lack in many areas the staff at Anime Detour are friendly, willing to help with any problem, and have made an excellent use of the space they have. But as happens at so many conventions, the complaints start rolling in as we hit Artists Alley.

Friday is a bad day for the artists, they can set up their tables, and show their wares, but no money may change hands. It seems kind of pointless to sit at a table where you hope to make money, but you can't take money. I asked around and this wasn't because of some odd law or ordinance, just what the con wanted. Leaving the troubles of Artists Alley behind, I head for the dealers room.

The dealers’ room is cozy, but has a very fine selection. Unlike many of the larger cons this one has many imports and other items normally not available from U.S. distributors.
Continuing onward though the con I come to the Video rooms and Gaming rooms. I pass on watching old anime I've seen already, and head in the Game rooms. A decent amount of platforms are set up here, as well as table top gaming in three of the rooms. From here I head to the Con-suite and the surrounding room parties, where the next major problem arises. Around 1 a.m. the hotel staff makes all the room parties close down, including the Con-suite. Apparently despite the fact that this was the designated party floor, the hotel had booked normal guests on it as well, and they were complaining. So the con closes down for the night and we all get some much needed rest.
Saturday: The big day of the convention arrives, Artists can sell their wares, the complaining guests are awake, and most important of all it's the day of the Cosplay. Unfortunately the name Cosplay is a misnomer. Turns out entrants have 45 seconds on stage, plus 10 seconds for each additional person, oh and at the last minute they're told not to speak. To me this seems more like a Masquerade and less like a Cosplay. But fear not faithful Otaku for a few groups break the mold and pull through with skits good enough to be remembered better than heckling the M.C. .

This group was funny, well paced, and they spoke.

This 8-bit theater group did the best with what they had, and managed to still be humorous.
Of course as we all know there must be a 'worst' for every Cosplay, But for this only there was no clear cut 'bad' skits, but that's because there were mainly walk-ons. So I must then go to costume quality to choose a 'Worst Cosplayer' for this Con, and it is still difficult. In the end though I chose someone who had a well made costume, but it had 2 fundamental flaws.

This is supposed to be Eternal Sailor Moon. Most of the costume is very well done, but with two major flaws. One is the hair, it's not blonde. Normally I don't care too much about wig use, but many people brought this to my attention. Two is the severe lack of wings. The wings are the main thing that make Eternal sailor moon different from her other forms. So to you Sailor moon, don't fret about being the worst from this Con, it's a good pile to be at the bottom of.
Sunday: The closing day of the con is still a rather nice day, few things are left to go wrong, and the Con-suite still has a lot of good food. The con winds to a close without further incident, and we are soon on our long trip home.

My final summation of this Con is as follows: If they wish to draw in people that live no more than a few hours away, they need to change nothing, however if they wish to grow they need to have a real Cosplay, better Anime in the video rooms, and a better hotel.

B.P.