First it was just an idea, because of Feiuccia telling us she'd be there as a guest in the drawing alley. You have to know that above all the other artists always was my idol of Sasunarusasu-doujinshi and artwork. She's definitely the most important artist in this fandom and that was so ever since. Seeing her coming from Italy to Germany was a once in a lifetime chance for me to meet her. While I was still thinking about it, because I very often plan and then don't go, my good dA-friend also suggested to meet me personally. Suddenly a great idea popped up in my head and I suggested to go to the EpicCon together. Thus I wouldn't draw back and I really wanted to meet her and Feiuccia. After a while of thinking about it she agreed and then made a comment on Fei's page that we'd both visit her at the con. I was happy to see that Fei was really pleased. But Nackmu's next question to Fei let me jawdrop. "How about we meet after the con and hang around, having a drink together?"
I was like WTH? How can she simply ask a celebrity like Fei such a thing? I thought it was extremely reckless, I'd never have dared to even dream about hanging around with Feiuccia, but you know what happened? She agreed. O_O
Okay, this world belongs to the daring ones, I guess. I was really happy she asked, but I didn't believe yet that it would ever happen. Maybe Fei was just polite...

Well, I don't know how, but this example made me kind of daring too. By talking, I suggested to my longterm dA-friends and admired artists and they should join us too. I knew that they're good friends and both visited a con in the Netherlands once, so maybe that would really be an option. And wow, was I lucky, they really agreed to come!
Not only would I meet Feiuccia, the artist who practically brought me to this fandom by her lovely doujinshis "Two Words", "You're never been a Toy" and "In Vino Veritas", not to forget "Reminescence", no, I'd also meet usura-tonkachi, solochely and nackmu, admired artists that I've known for so long that they've become dear friends to me. It was as if Christmas would come early to me this year and that was really the fact.
Just that you know what I mean, I'll point out some works of them.

         

             

       

 

Mature Content

      

So, finally coming straight to the point, we really met in Frankfurt/Germany. We arrived on Friday about noon/early afternoon. Nackmu and me arrived at the central railway station and after a few mishappenings out of technical mistakes finally found each other. In the hotel we waited for solochely and usura-tonkachi. They said they wanted to walk there from the central station, which was possible, but surely no fun. We sat in the lobby and stared out of the window in the direction where they should head from. After a while we went outside to have a better view, but suddenly they surprised us by their appearance from behind. They'd taken a taxi and entered from the other side of the hotel.

I was, of course very nervous about this meeting, because commenting and talking on dA and other social media is one thing, coming to know someone from face to face still is another. Fortunately we all reacted as we'd known each other from ever since that way.
Solochely has a contagious laugh, I'd call her the most active one in our little quartet, usura-tonkachi is the voice of wisdom (sometimes), nackmu is just a lovely person (sometimes daring) and me... well, I'm the calm and planning one, I'd say. LOL

Since everyone was kind of hungry we ate something in a -of course - sushi bar nearby, then I convinced everyone to go to the Christmas market. I had it in my memory as a very nice place, but it had been quite some time I've been there.
It was late, it was cramped, but boy was it fun! I've never seen so many lights in my life before. The old Römerberg was the perfect surrounding with its antique houses and positioned nearby the river. There were a lot of huts in which distributors offered hand-carved woods, ceramic miniature houses, snowballs, gifts and Christmas-decoration and many goods to eat or drink. I bought some cinnammon flavored popcorn. I've never seen that anywhere before. It tastes really good.
Usura-tonkachi and Nackmu tried some glühwein, which is a specially flavored and heated wine. I guess it was the right thing to drink it since it was freaking cold that day.
There even was a roundabout with horses and carriage, it had two floors and was lighted all over by little lamps. People could take a ride on it and we were tempted to do that too, but somehow we got distracted by all the other things there still were to see.

We ended that day in an Irish pub, eating and drinking something. The bartender was really entertaining and nice. Nackmu named hin "Brian" but his real name was Mark. Quite the wrong guess, dear. LOL

The next day, after having a nice breakfast (geez, Solochely can eat a lot for such a small person), we went to the con. We just had to follow all the cosplayers, but we knew the way anyway. Usura-tonkachi was cosplaying the adult Sasuke. She looked great and that glare of her was really threatening. XD
Though already having a ticket, we had to stand in a crowd that spread along all the entrance hall and back. But we were lucky, after a few minutes a new counter opened and we didn't have to wait that long to get on the con.

So what to say about the EpicCon in Frankfurt, Germany? I only can recommend to go there, it's like the name says, epic. We met so many cosplayers with awesome costumes they took really hard work into. One girl told us she'd worked on her costume for 2 years. Such a dedication is really admirable. Another one had a kind of demonic skull-costume and could spread his wings on demand. How cool is that?
      
There were gamers, collectors, sellers, fans, and of course Japanese specialities and items. I even saw an Ikebana and a Kendo stand. The whole convention was concentrated on Manga, Anime and Japanese culture, but there were also some stands with western comic culture like DC and Marvel.
There were collectibles and merchandise in a number and variety that was unbelievable, a real heaven for collectors of anime figures, if you had enough money to afford them, that is. I negotiated hard to get a special figure, usura-tonkachi fell in love with but the price still seemed to high for my taste. But what do I know? I'm out of this collection fever for over 20 years by now. I'm just enjoying the digital side of this fandom. Though I still can relate to that hunting fever from my time as a comic collector.

There was plenty of entertainment on the EpicCon too. We listened to a famous gamer who performed a hilarious speech on the stage, telling about all his experiences starting in the days of Amiga, a.k.a stone age and how to reveal the true character of people by watching them acting in games. It was really funny and oh-so-true.

Nackmu and I took part in a fishing game, we had to use little utilities which were span with rice-paper to fish out some plastic items. The little fishes were easy, but if you tried to fish out some balls or ducks, the paper usually ripped. Never the less Nackmu developed quite a skill at it and won a plushie while I made it just to a wasabi flavored cookie. Anyway it was a lot of fun.
I tried the wheel of fortune and by just 3 attempts won a poster of "One Piece" and two other little prices.

But mainly we were there to support Feiuccia. We met her in the drawer's alley and bought the 2 printed volumes of her lovely doujinshi "A Song for You". I really hope the next volume will be published soon. I'd totally buy it. Fei's a nice and lovely person and I was surprised how much she liked to see us. It was awesome to meet her, talk to her and see her drawing live on the con.
I couldn't imagine doing that just out of thin air. All the artists were drawing live, it was amazing. If I had to write on such a con and people would watch me, I'd probably be like: "Shoo, shoo, go away, I can't write like that! You're disturbing my thoughts." XD
We even drank a coffee together after the con as promised. Feiuccia's such a nice person you only can love.

We had walked a lot on the con and afterward strolled through Frankfurt, so when we finally returned to the hotel, I had walked through my socks. There literally was a hole in one of them as big as my foot. But it was totally worth it. We all enjoyed being there, it was wonderful. I'd always do it again.

The next day we had to go back and we all were so sad about it. Next time I'll visit a con, I'll probably buy a ticket for all three days available since there's so much to see and I really would have liked to say Feiuccia goodbye on that last day instead of the day before.

Nevermind, it was great and I hope to see you all soon some day! Next thing on my list will be visiting the Leipziger Buchmesse and meet , I also consider visiting a con in Denmark to see , should they still be interested to meet me. Just let me know, guys.