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==BotCon basics== | ==BotCon basics== | ||
The basics of BotCon Include a Box set of TF's, some attendee figures, guests, and toy previews | |||
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Revision as of 02:06, 21 February 2011
BotCon is Transformers Nerd Mecca.
It is the annual convention for Transformers fans and collectors. The convention has been held, in one form or another, annually since 1994, changing location from year to year. Though originally "unofficial" (wink wink), in 2002 it became the officially-official Transformers convention, openly and fully endorsed and licensed by Hasbro.
The name "BotCon" comes from both "robot convention", and the names "Autobot" and "Decepticon".
Individual conventions
For details of each convention, click on the appropriate link below.
| {{#if:|[[{{{prev}}}|«]]|}} | style="color:{{{headertextcolor}}}"}}|{{#if:|{{#switch:{{{series}}} | micromasters=Transformers: Micromasters{{#if: | #{{{issueno}}}| }}{{#if: yes|issues:}}[[Category:Micromasters issues{{#if: yes | *}}]] | joevstf1=G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers{{#if: | #{{{issueno}}}| }}{{#if: yes|issues:}}[[Category:G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issues{{#if: yes | *}}]] | joevstf2=G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II{{#if: | #{{{issueno}}}| }}{{#if: yes|issues:}}[[Category:G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issues{{#if: yes | *}}]] | joevstfaow=G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers: The Art of War{{#if: | #{{{issueno}}}| }}{{#if: yes|issues:}}[[Category:G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issues{{#if: yes |
*}}]] | joevstfbh=G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers: Black Horizon{{#if: | #{{{issueno}}}| }}{{#if: yes|issues:}}[[Category:G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issues{{#if: yes |
*}}]] | tfgijoedf=[[{{#ifeq:{{{series}}}|tfgijoedf|Transformers/G.I. Joe: Divided Front|Transformers/G.I. Joe}}]]{{#if: | #{{{issueno}}}| }}{{#if: yes|issues:}}[[Category:Transformers/G.I. Joe issues{{#if: yes | *}}]] | regeneration one=The Transformers: Regeneration One{{#if: | #{{{issueno}}}| }}{{#if: yes|issues:}}[[Category:Regeneration One issues{{#if: yes | *}}]] | {{#ifeq:{{#switch:{{{series}}} | transformers spotlight|transformers: spotlight|the transformers spotlight|the transformers: spotlight=The Transformers: Spotlight | transformers infiltration|transformers: infiltration|the transformers infiltration|the transformers: infiltration=The Transformers: Infiltration | transformers stormbringer|transformers: stormbringer|the transformers stormbringer|the transformers: stormbringer=The Transformers: Stormbringer | transformers escalation|transformers: escalation|the transformers escalation|the transformers: escalation=The Transformers: Escalation | megorigin|megatron origin|transformers megatron origin|transformers: megatron origin|the transformers megatron origin|the transformers: megatron origin=The Transformers: Megatron Origin | transformers devastation|transformers: devastation|the transformers devastation|the transformers: devastation=The Transformers: Devastation | maximum dinobots|transformers maximum dinobots|transformers: maximum dinobots|the transformers maximum dinobots|the transformers: maximum dinobots=The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots | premierecollection|premiere collection|the transformers: the premiere collection=The Transformers: The Premiere Collection | all hail megatron|transformers all hail megatron|transformers: all hail megatron|the transformers all hail megatron|the transformers: all hail megatron=The Transformers: All Hail Megatron | the idw collection|the transformers: the idw collection=The Transformers: The IDW Collection | the transformers|the transformers (ongoing)=The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers vol. 1 | transformers bumblebee|transformers: bumblebee|the transformers bumblebee|the transformers: bumblebee=The Transformers: Bumblebee | wreckers|last stand of the wreckers|transformers last stand of the wreckers|transformers: last stand of the wreckers|the transformers last stand of the wreckers|the transformers: last stand of the wreckers=The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers | transformers ironhide|transformers: ironhide|the transformers ironhide|the transformers: ironhide=The Transformers: Ironhide | transformers drift|transformers: drift|the transformers drift|the transformers: drift=The Transformers: Drift | the idw collection|g.i. joe: the idw collection=G.I. Joe: The IDW Collection | infestation=Infestation (IDW)|Infestation | infestation 2=Infestation 2 | heart of darkness|transformers heart of darkness|transformers: heart of darkness|the transformers heart of darkness|the transformers: heart of darkness=The Transformers: Heart of Darkness | tdoop|death of optimus prime|the death of optimus prime|transformers: the death of optimus prime=Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime | more than meets the eye|transformers: more than meets the eye|the transformers: more than meets the eye=The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye | robots in disguise|transformers: robots in disguise=The Transformers: Robots in Disguise | dark cybertron=Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron | exrid|the transformers (idw) vol. 2=The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers vol. 2 | drift:eos|drift: empire of stone|transformers drift: empire of stone|transformers: drift: empire of stone|the transformers drift: empire of stone|drift: empire of stone=The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone | the transformers: windblade=The Transformers: Windblade | windblade2015|the transformers: windblade vol. 2|the transformers: windblade (2015)=The Transformers: Windblade|The Transformers: Windblade vol. 2 | transformers autocracy|transformers: autocracy|the transformers autocracy|autocracy=The Transformers: Autocracy | transformers monstrosity|transformers: monstrosity|the transformers monstrosity|monstrosity=The Transformers: Monstrosity | transformers primacy|transformers: primacy|the transformers primacy|primacy=The Transformers: Primacy | sins of the wreckers|transformers sins of the wreckers|transformers: sins of the wreckers|the transformers sins of the wreckers|the transformers: sins of the wreckers=The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers | transformers punishment|transformers: punishment|the transformers punishment|the transformers: punishment|punishment=The Transformers: Punishment | transformers redemption|transformers: redemption|the transformers redemption|the transformers: redemption|redemption=The Transformers: Redemption | transformers salvation|transformers: salvation|the transformers salvation|the transformers: salvation|salvation=The Transformers: Salvation | transformers vs gi joe|transformers vs. g.i. joe=Transformers vs. G.I. Joe | combiner hunters|combiner hunters (comic)=An Uneventful Night|Combiner Hunters | titans return|titans return (comic)=Titans Return (comic)|Titans Return | till all are one|transformers: till all are one|the transformers: till all are one=The Transformers: Till All Are One | lost light|transformers: lost light|the transformers: lost light=The Transformers: Lost Light | optimus prime|optimus prime (comic)=Optimus Prime (comic)|Optimus Prime | annual2017|transformers annual 2017=Ghost Stories|Transformers Annual 2017 | revolution=Revolution | revolutionaries=Revolutionaries | action man=Action Man (comic)|Action Man | gijoe5|gijoevol5|g.i. joe vol. 5|gi joe vol 5=G.I. Joe vol. 5 | hasbro heroes sourcebook=Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook | micronauts=Micronauts (comic)|Micronauts | wrath of karza|micronauts wrath of karza|micronauts: wrath of karza=Micronauts: Wrath of Karza | first strike=First Strike | ROM | rom dire wraiths|rom: dire wraiths=Rom: Dire Wraiths | romamn|rom&mn|rom and the micronauts|rom & the micronauts=Rom & the Micronauts | rom vs transformers|shining armor|rom vs. transformers|rom vs transformers: shining armor|rom vs transformers: shining armor=Rom vs. Transformers: Shining Armor | m.a.s.k.|m. a. s. k.|mask mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k. mobile armored strike kommand|mask: mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k.: mobile armored strike command=M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand | scarletts strike force|scarlett's strike force=Scarlett's Strike Force | transformers vs visionaries|transformers vs. visionaries=Transformers vs. Visionaries | requiem of the wreckers|transformers requiem of the wreckers|transformers: requiem of the wreckers=Transformers: Requiem of the Wreckers | transformers unicron|transformers: unicron=Transformers: Unicron | {{{series}}} |{{#ifeq:{{#switch:{{{series}}} | war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic) | fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic) | transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)=Transformers: Prime (graphic novel) | prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Transformers: Prime (comic series) | primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots | beast hunters|transformers prime: beast hunters (comic)=Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters (comic) | fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Full of Fire! | rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic) | {{{series}}} | [[{{#switch:{{{series}}} | war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic) | fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic) | transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)=Transformers: Prime (graphic novel) | prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Transformers: Prime (comic series) | primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots | beast hunters|transformers prime: beast hunters (comic)=Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters (comic) | fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Full of Fire! | rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic) | #{{{issueno}}}| }}{{#if: yes|issues:}}{{#ifeq: | Category | [[Category:IDW {{#switch:{{#switch:{{{series}}} | war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic) | fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic) | transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)=Transformers: Prime (graphic novel) | prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Transformers: Prime (comic series) | primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots | beast hunters|transformers prime: beast hunters (comic)=Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters (comic) | fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Full of Fire! | rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic) | {{{series}}}}} | {{#switch:prime | war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic) | fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic) | transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)=Transformers: Prime (graphic novel) | prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Transformers: Prime (comic series) | primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots | beast hunters|transformers prime: beast hunters (comic)=Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters (comic) | fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Full of Fire! | rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic) | {{#switch:primeadaptation | war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic) | fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic) | transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)=Transformers: Prime (graphic novel) | prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Transformers: Prime (comic series) | primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots | beast hunters|transformers prime: beast hunters (comic)=Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters (comic) | fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Full of Fire! | rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic) | {{#switch:ragedinobots | war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic) | fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic) | transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)=Transformers: Prime (graphic novel) | prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Transformers: Prime (comic series) | primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots | beast hunters|transformers prime: beast hunters (comic)=Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters (comic) | fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Full of Fire! | rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic) | ragedinobots}}=Prime | {{#switch:rid2015 | war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic) | fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic) | transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)=Transformers: Prime (graphic novel) | prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Transformers: Prime (comic series) | primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots | beast hunters|transformers prime: beast hunters (comic)=Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters (comic) | fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Full of Fire! | rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic) | rid2015}}=Robots in Disguise (2015) | {{#switch:{{{series}}} | war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=War for Cybertron | fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Fall of Cybertron | transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)|primeadaptation|prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Prime | primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Prime – Rage of the Dinobots | transformers prime: beast hunters (comic)=Prime – Beast Hunters | fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Prime – Beast Hunters Special | rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Robots in Disguise (2015) | Aligned}}}} issues{{#if: yes | [[{{#switch:{{{series}}} | transformers spotlight|transformers: spotlight|the transformers spotlight|the transformers: spotlight=The Transformers: Spotlight | transformers infiltration|transformers: infiltration|the transformers infiltration|the transformers: infiltration=The Transformers: Infiltration | transformers stormbringer|transformers: stormbringer|the transformers stormbringer|the transformers: stormbringer=The Transformers: Stormbringer | transformers escalation|transformers: escalation|the transformers escalation|the transformers: escalation=The Transformers: Escalation | megorigin|megatron origin|transformers megatron origin|transformers: megatron origin|the transformers megatron origin|the transformers: megatron origin=The Transformers: Megatron Origin | transformers devastation|transformers: devastation|the transformers devastation|the transformers: devastation=The Transformers: Devastation | maximum dinobots|transformers maximum dinobots|transformers: maximum dinobots|the transformers maximum dinobots|the transformers: maximum dinobots=The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots | premierecollection|premiere collection|the transformers: the premiere collection=The Transformers: The Premiere Collection | all hail megatron|transformers all hail megatron|transformers: all hail megatron|the transformers all hail megatron|the transformers: all hail megatron=The Transformers: All Hail Megatron | the idw collection|the transformers: the idw collection=The Transformers: The IDW Collection | the transformers|the transformers (ongoing)=The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers vol. 1 | transformers bumblebee|transformers: bumblebee|the transformers bumblebee|the transformers: bumblebee=The Transformers: Bumblebee | wreckers|last stand of the wreckers|transformers last stand of the wreckers|transformers: last stand of the wreckers|the transformers last stand of the wreckers|the transformers: last stand of the wreckers=The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers | transformers ironhide|transformers: ironhide|the transformers ironhide|the transformers: ironhide=The Transformers: Ironhide | transformers drift|transformers: drift|the transformers drift|the transformers: drift=The Transformers: Drift | the idw collection|g.i. joe: the idw collection=G.I. Joe: The IDW Collection | infestation=Infestation (IDW)|Infestation | infestation 2=Infestation 2 | heart of darkness|transformers heart of darkness|transformers: heart of darkness|the transformers heart of darkness|the transformers: heart of darkness=The Transformers: Heart of Darkness | tdoop|death of optimus prime|the death of optimus prime|transformers: the death of optimus prime=Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime | more than meets the eye|transformers: more than meets the eye|the transformers: more than meets the eye=The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye | robots in disguise|transformers: robots in disguise=The Transformers: Robots in Disguise | dark cybertron=Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron | exrid|the transformers (idw) vol. 2=The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers vol. 2 | drift:eos|drift: empire of stone|transformers drift: empire of stone|transformers: drift: empire of stone|the transformers drift: empire of stone|drift: empire of stone=The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone | the transformers: windblade=The Transformers: Windblade | windblade2015|the transformers: windblade vol. 2|the transformers: windblade (2015)=The Transformers: Windblade|The Transformers: Windblade vol. 2 | transformers autocracy|transformers: autocracy|the transformers autocracy|autocracy=The Transformers: Autocracy | transformers monstrosity|transformers: monstrosity|the transformers monstrosity|monstrosity=The Transformers: Monstrosity | transformers primacy|transformers: primacy|the transformers primacy|primacy=The Transformers: Primacy | sins of the wreckers|transformers sins of the wreckers|transformers: sins of the wreckers|the transformers sins of the wreckers|the transformers: sins of the wreckers=The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers | transformers punishment|transformers: punishment|the transformers punishment|the transformers: punishment|punishment=The Transformers: Punishment | transformers redemption|transformers: redemption|the transformers redemption|the transformers: redemption|redemption=The Transformers: Redemption | transformers salvation|transformers: salvation|the transformers salvation|the transformers: salvation|salvation=The Transformers: Salvation | transformers vs gi joe|transformers vs. g.i. joe=Transformers vs. G.I. Joe | combiner hunters|combiner hunters (comic)=An Uneventful Night|Combiner Hunters | titans return|titans return (comic)=Titans Return (comic)|Titans Return | till all are one|transformers: till all are one|the transformers: till all are one=The Transformers: Till All Are One | lost light|transformers: lost light|the transformers: lost light=The Transformers: Lost Light | optimus prime|optimus prime (comic)=Optimus Prime (comic)|Optimus Prime | annual2017|transformers annual 2017=Ghost Stories|Transformers Annual 2017 | revolution=Revolution | revolutionaries=Revolutionaries | action man=Action Man (comic)|Action Man | gijoe5|gijoevol5|g.i. joe vol. 5|gi joe vol 5=G.I. Joe vol. 5 | hasbro heroes sourcebook=Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook | micronauts=Micronauts (comic)|Micronauts | wrath of karza|micronauts wrath of karza|micronauts: wrath of karza=Micronauts: Wrath of Karza | first strike=First Strike | ROM | rom dire wraiths|rom: dire wraiths=Rom: Dire Wraiths | romamn|rom&mn|rom and the micronauts|rom & the micronauts=Rom & the Micronauts | rom vs transformers|shining armor|rom vs. transformers|rom vs transformers: shining armor|rom vs transformers: shining armor=Rom vs. Transformers: Shining Armor | m.a.s.k.|m. a. s. k.|mask mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k. mobile armored strike kommand|mask: mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k.: mobile armored strike command=M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand | scarletts strike force|scarlett's strike force=Scarlett's Strike Force | transformers vs visionaries|transformers vs. visionaries=Transformers vs. Visionaries | requiem of the wreckers|transformers requiem of the wreckers|transformers: requiem of the wreckers=Transformers: Requiem of the Wreckers | transformers unicron|transformers: unicron=Transformers: Unicron | #{{{issueno}}}| }}{{#if: yes|issues:}}{{#ifeq: | Category | [[Category:{{#switch:{{{series}}} | premierecollection|premiere collection|the transformers: the premiere collection|idwcollection|the idw collection|the transformers: the idw collection=IDW Collection | transformers spotlight|transformers: spotlight|the transformers spotlight|spotlight=Spotlight | transformers infiltration|transformers: infiltration|the transformers infiltration|infiltration=Infiltration | transformers stormbringer|transformers: stormbringer|the transformers stormbringer|the transformers: stormbringer=Stormbringer | transformers escalation|transformers: escalation|the transformers escalation|escalation=Escalation | megorigin|megatron origin|transformers megatron origin|transformers: megatron origin|the transformers megatron origin|the transformers: megatron origin=Megatron Origin | transformers devastation|transformers: devastation|the transformers devastation|devastation=Devastation | maximum dinobots|transformers maximum dinobots|transformers: maximum dinobots|the transformers maximum dinobots|maximum dinobots=Maximum Dinobots | all hail megatron|transformers all hail megatron|transformers: all hail megatron|the transformers all hail megatron|all hail megatron=All Hail Megatron | the transformers|the transformers (ongoing)|the transformers (idw)=IDW The Transformers | transformers bumblebee|transformers: bumblebee|the transformers bumblebee|bumblebee=Bumblebee | wreckers|last stand of the wreckers|transformers last stand of the wreckers|transformers: last stand of the wreckers|the transformers last stand of the wreckers|last stand of the wreckers=Last Stand of the Wreckers | transformers ironhide|transformers: ironhide|the transformers ironhide|ironhide=Ironhide | Infestation (IDW)=Infestation | Infestation2|Infestation 2=Infestation | transformers drift|transformers: drift|the transformers drift|drifteos|drift:eos|drift: empire of stone|transformers drift: empire of stone|transformers: drift: empire of stone|the transformers drift: empire of stone|drift: empire of stone|transformers drift: origins and empires|transformers drift: origins & empires|origins and empires|origins & empires=Drift | heart of darkness|transformers heart of darkness|transformers: heart of darkness|the transformers heart of darkness|heart of darkness=Heart of Darkness | tdoop|death of optimus prime|the death of optimus prime|transformers: the death of optimus prime=The Death of Optimus Prime | more than meets the eye|transformers: more than meets the eye=IDW More than Meets the Eye | robots in disguise|transformers: robots in disguise|ongoing2|exrid|the transformers (idw) vol. 2=IDW Robots in Disguise (2012) | dark cybertron=Dark Cybertron | the transformers: windblade|windblade2|windblade2015|the transformers: windblade vol. 2|the transformers: windblade (2015)=Windblade | transformers autocracy|transformers: autocracy|the transformers autocracy|autocracy=Autocracy | transformers monstrosity|transformers: monstrosity|the transformers monstrosity|monstrosity=Monstrosity | transformers primacy|transformers: primacy|the transformers primacy|primacy=Primacy | transformers punishment|transformers: punishment|the transformers punishment|the transformers: punishment|punishment=Punishment | transformers redemption|transformers: redemption|the transformers redemption|the transformers: redemption|redemption=Redemption | transformers salvation|transformers: salvation|the transformers salvation|the transformers: salvation|salvation=Salvation | marsattackstransformers|mars attacks: the transformers=Mars Attacks: The Transformers | transformers deviations|transformers: deviations=IDW crossover | synergy: a hasbro creators showcase=IDW crossover | transformers vs gi joe|transformers vs. g.i. joe=Transformers vs. G.I. Joe | sotw|wreckers2|sins of the wreckers|transformers sins of the wreckers|transformers: sins of the wreckers|the transformers sins of the wreckers|the transformers: sins of the wreckers=Sins of the Wreckers | combiner hunters|combiner hunters (comic)=Combiner Hunters | titans return|titans return (comic)=Titans Return | optimus prime|optimus prime (comic)=Optimus Prime | annual2017|2017 Annual|Annual 2017=Transformers Annual 2017 | lost light|transformers lost light|the transformers lost light|transformers: lost light|the transformers: lost light=Lost Light | till all are one|Till All Are One|transformers till all are one|transformers: till all are one|the transformers till all are one|the transformers: till all are one=Till All Are One | revolution=Revolution | revolutionaries=Revolutionaries | action man=Action Man | gijoe5|g.i. joe vol 5|g.i. joe vol. 5|g.i. joe volume 5|g.i. joe (vol. 5)|g.i. joe (volume 5)=G.I. Joe vol. 5 | g.i. joe idw collection=G.I. Joe: The IDW Collection | first strike=First Strike | hasbro heroes sourcebook=Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook | micronauts=Micronauts | wrath of karza|micronauts wrath of karza|micronauts: wrath of karza=Micronauts: Wrath of Karza | rom=ROM | rom dire wraiths|rom: dire wraiths=Rom: Dire Wraiths | romamn|rom&mn|rom and the micronauts|rom & the micronauts=Rom & the Micronauts | rom vs transformers|shining armor|rom vs. transformers|rom vs transformers: shining armor|rom vs. transformers: shining armor=Rom vs. Transformers: Shining Armor | m.a.s.k.|m. a. s. k.|mask mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k. mobile armored strike kommand|mask: mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k.: mobile armored strike command=M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand | scarletts strike force|scarlett's strike force=Scarlett's Strike Force | transformers vs visionaries|transformers vs. visionaries=Transformers vs. Visionaries | requiem of the wreckers|transformers requiem of the wreckers|transformers: requiem of the wreckers=Requiem of the Wreckers | transformers unicron=Unicron | IDW (2005)}} issues{{#if: yes | *}}]]}}}}}} | BotCons:}} | {{#if:|[[{{{next}}}|»]]|}} |
{{#if: 1990s:
2000s:
2010s:
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1990s:
2000s:
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BotCon history
The first BotCon was held in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1994. Organized by brothers Jon and Karl Hartman, the convention had 180 attendees. BotCon 1995 was organized by Raksha, a prominent figure in the fan community, and 1996 by Men in Black Productions, headed up by Dennis Barger. During this time, the show primarily took up a single space at the convention center, with the dealer room and panel space in the same area. Botcon 1996 added a small art room just outside the main hall, and had a one-night video event in another small space. Guests were minimal, being mostly only that year's Hasbro representatives.
In 1997, the Hartmans took the BotCon name back (since they owned it and only licensed it out to the previous organizers) and brought fellow fan Glen Hallit into the fold, forming 3H Enterprises (based upon the first letter of all three organizers' last names). In response to the lukewarm-at-best reception to 1996's show, 3H's BotCon 1997 would pile on the improvements and additions, quickly establishing multiple features that have since come to be expected as standard at any BotCon (see below). Each year's show would get bigger and bigger, taking up multiple rooms throughout the weekend. During this era, the BotCon name was also licensed out for several conventions outside of the United States. It was repeatedly stated by the organizers that BotCon was a labor of love, because they sure weren't making any money off it. In fact, it was several years into the life of 3H before they were able to say the convention was "in the black".
What's that? Really?
We now return you to your regularly scheduled convention.
At BotCon 2002, it was announced that 3H had secured the officially-official Transformers convention license (they'd been "unofficially" endorsed by Hasbro for years prior, but this was kind of the "putting a ring on it" moment), as well as licenses to produce comic books and start a fan club. However, the Hartmans were pressured by Hallit out of planning or running the convention, leaving Glen Hallit as the sole organizer. As a result, the BotCon name, which was owned by the Hartmans, ceased to exist for a time, as 3H's convention was called "The Official Transformers Collectors' Convention," or OTFCC for short.
In 2004, BotCon made a comeback as an unofficial convention, which was held in Pasadena, California. The history of the BotCon franchise up to that point was covered in great detail in the BotCon Legends magazine. At the end of 2004, 3H lost all its Transformers licenses, which were soon picked up by Fun Publications, owned by Brian Savage. The Hartman brothers accepted places in an advisory board for the new convention, along with other prominent fans Benson Yee and Rik Alvarez, and the convention became "BotCon" once again.
BotCon attendance has grown steadily over the years, with dramatic increases with the advent of the live-action film series in particular. Though Fun Publications generally does not release attendance numbers, there are casual estimations that between pre-registrants and walk-ins, attendance is somewhere around the 3000~4000 mark for the last few years. (BotCon 2009 in Pasadena is particularly noted for having a massive number of walk-in attendees, with the line easily stretching around the block even on late Sunday.)
BotCon basics
The basics of BotCon Include a Box set of TF's, some attendee figures, guests, and toy previews
Special guests
Over the years, BotCon has featured many individuals who have worked to bring the Transformers multiverse to life, including voice actors, animation staff, comic creators, and design team members from both Hasbro and TakaraTomy. Guests usually have a question-and-answer panel (or two), and are most often openly available for autographs and general talking throughout the show. Fun Publications also sets autograph table schedules for most of its guests.
See also:
Exclusive toys and merchandise
One of BotCon's most popular features is the sale of exclusive toys to the guests. Although the toys are always unique, financial costs prohibit the creation of entirely new molds. As such, the toys are redecos of previously used toys given new identities, occasionally switching allegiances and even gender. Since 2003, various toys have had new toolings added to them, most typically new heads. After the convention, exclusive toys usually become valuable collector's items in the community, particularly among fans who missed the convention.
BotCon 1994 would feature a single toy, Generation 2 Breakdown, which was originally developed for retail but canceled. 1995 saw the first toy specifically made for the convention, Nightracer. 1996 had the first (and thankfully only) dealer-exclusive toy, which was just the regular exclusive Onyx Primal with gold lettering stamped on his back and a new box.
3H then upped the ante in 1997 with two toys sold in a single set. The following year had two toys again, but this time sold individually. Over the next decade the number of toys per year grew steadily, coincidentally enough (wink) as the franchise's retail presence did. In 2003, the convention offered the first (and only) "hotel exclusive", Sunstreaker, which attendees could get by getting a room in the official block at the convention hotel. In 2005 with the changeover to Fun Publications, the number of toys made for the show took a massive jump from 2004's four exclusives to a whopping ten (if you don't count "army-building" duplicates sold in multi-packs); a main "box set" of toys, an "attendance freebie" available only to those directly attending the convention, and multiple additional souvenir sets. Fun Publications had used this model for exclusives for their official G.I. Joe convention since 2002.
The identity and design of the toys were originally kept a close secret until the opening of the convention, although in the later years of the convention the organizers often chose to reveal one or more of the exclusives ahead of time, due to repeated problems with stolen prototypes being sold on eBay, plus the need to hype the convention as awareness of Transformers grew. Currently, Fun Publications reveals the identities of the box set toys months before the show, over the course of several weeks, while keeping its freebie and souvenirs a secret until the first day of the convention (though factory thieves tend to get their hands on production samples and reveal them anyway).
Through most of the 3H run, the toys were —for the most part— available in an "a la carte" method, with the attendee choosing which toys they wanted with their registration... even though the toys were held a secret up until the convention proper, for a while, at least. By OTFCC, 3H began revealing exclusives beforehand in order to push attendance numbers. These toys were available only to attendees; people who couldn't make it were more or less relegated to having an attending friend pick up extras, or dealing with eBay. BotCon Europe's Rook would be the first convention toy made available to non-attendees, partially due to the sheer demand for him outside Europe, and partially because 3H had to order so many just to get the toy made that they were drowning in them. A few other toys would follow suit for the same "overproduced" reason.
The switchover to Fun Publications' model of a big box set that could not be broken up initially caused some contention in the fandom. However, they also offered the box set to non-attendees right out of the gate. In addition, the set also comes in "bagged" form, with just the figures, accessories and bio cards, as an add-on to a boxed set. The attendance freebie and souvenirs are for attendees only... up until the end of the convention. Any unsold stock by the con's end is put on the Club store for members to purchase.
Starting in 2004, a toy customizing instructional class was added to the BotCon schedule, and the first attempt to create a unique toy/character from this event was in 2005. Since then, the customization class exclusive has been the rarest of each year's exclusive toys, limited to roughly 50 pieces. Most of these customization class exclusives have been unpainted samples of production toys, which participants assemble themselves and apply a suggested paintjob. In 2010, Generation 2 Sideswipe was the first customization class exclusive to utilize plastic colors not found in other releases of the toy.
Over the years, a wide variety of non-toy merchandise has been made available as well. Almost every year features an exclusive t-shirt and the occasional ball cap, and in recent years, exclusive posters have become commonplace. The Fun Publications box sets each feature an exclusive pin, plus the first 100 attending pre-registrants get another speical pin. There have been quite a few other more esoteric pieces made, including wristwatches, lollipops(!), pitchers and glass sets, accessory kits, and more.
See also:
Proposed/Unreleased exclusives
A number of toys were planned over the years but never produced, for various reasons. Note that some of these entries are essentially jokes from the organizers' brainstorming sessions, which they then later mentioned to other fans:
- Lickme, a redeco of Spittor as a Poison Arrow Frog. Function: Psychological Warfare. Mentioned at the BotCon '99 Organizers Panel.
- Jai-Alai, a black redeco of Manterror. Function: Ninja. Mentioned at the BotCon '99 Organizers Panel.
- Cataclysm, a green and purple redeco of Transmetal Cheetor. This character actually appeared in the convention storyline and was thought to be the lower priced exclusive in 2000 until Apelinq was revealed instead. It is unclear whether or not Cataclysm was ever truly intended to be released, however.
- Optimal Rodimus Primal, mentioned by the Hartmans at the organizer's panel at Botcon 2000, this would have been an updated version of Rodimus Prime made from the Optimal Optimus mold. Plans were nixed very early on as Primal Prime was going into its limited production run and Hasbro didn't give licensees the leeway they now enjoy. Optimal Rodimus Primal's events in the Wreckers storyline were revised for Primal Prime and Rodimus instead
- Blue Balls Attack Team, from an anecdote shared by Karl Hartman on the now defunct BotCon Beyond message board, a planning session for BotCon had run much later than anticipated and an exhausted Hartman proposed a pair of blue repaints of Beast Wars Retrax. Obviously not a serious proposal.
- Hot Spot, a blue redeco of Robots in Disguise Optimus Prime as a new Autobot leader modelled after the Generation One character. The toy would have featured a new headsculpt for the robot's larger "Defensor" mode. This toy was originally solicited for OTFCC 2004, then pushed back for OTFCC 2005. When the license was removed from 3H Productions, this figure was cancelled.
- Several toys were proposed for the 2005 Official Transformers Collectors' Convention. Due to 3H's loss of the Transformers license these plans never came to fruition.
- Megatron, a red redeco of Robots in Disguise Megatron as an upgraded (and resurrected) Beast Wars Megatron with a new headsculpt.
- Devcon, a blue redeco of Energon Slugslinger as the Generation One character with a new headsculpt.
- Brawn, a green redeco of Energon Strongarm as the Generation One character with a new headsculpt and snap on Energon gauntlets.
- Roadbuster, an orange and green redeco of Energon Strongarm as the Generation One character with a new headsculpt and Energon rifle.
- Sentinel Prime, originally conceived as the Cybertron Defense Hot Shot redeco for 2007. He was dropped in favor of Springer, who fit the mold and the story/theme better.
Exclusive fiction
Fiction did not really play into the first few years of BotCon. While attendees of BotCon 1995 did get an exclusive fanzine, it was just that; a magazine full of fan-written stories and fan-drawn art, none of which was approved by Hasbro.
When 3H took the convention back for 1997, one of the many ways they set out to make the show a real mother of a blowout was by adding an exclusive comic story to accompany the toys, penned by "the" Transformers scribe Simon Furman, with art by Marvel comics artist Andrew Wildman. The hugely positive response to this story (even though it was a stand-alone tale that was irreconcilable with the then-running Beast Wars cartoon that it used as a setting<ref>3H members indicated that the story of how the various non-show characters from later storylines arrived on ancient Earth and why they weren't seen in the show would be later told, but this never happened.</ref>) cemented the need for fiction to bring the exclusive toy characters to life, though it would take some time to settle on a format. 1998 started the multi-year "Reaching the Omega Point" story, which was kicked off with a tongue-in-cheek live script reading, followed up by a series of text stories released online, and ultimately ended in 2000 with a full-color comic that assembled the prior text stories before jumping into the final battle.
From then on, each convention had at least one new comic book featuring its exclusive toy characters in action, with a few pieces of ancillary fiction told in other formats. However, in short order there were three different stories running concurrently across two different books (with a few pieces of online prose and a live script reading in 2004), and the problems from prior years with having stories that were told in installments with nearly year-long gaps between them were amplified to a ridiculous degree. With Hasbro pulling the license from 3H after 2004's convention, all three storylines were left uncompleted. The next convention license-holder, Fun Publications, would later go on to provide conclusions to two of them in their online fan club subscription, but the final, "Primeval Dawn", remains open-ended to this day.
When Fun Publications took control of BotCon, the use of a yearly comic continued under the "Timelines" banner, but with a very important change. Instead of following a single multi-year-spanning story arc, each issue is meant to stand on its own as a single story with a conclusive ending, typically set in a different universe every year. Starting in 2006, each year's comic is made available through Diamond at comic shops a few months after the convention. Some shows would also feature live script readings, plus BotCon 2007 would reveal a CGI-animated short film serving as a prequel to the prior year's story.
Some of the BotCon storylines have been later continued through the Collectors' Club web site and magazine, primarily in the form of prose stories.
See also:
Footnotes/References
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