The registration desk in the lobby of the Radisson Plaza Hotel at Mark Center, on Seminary Road a short distance from the Potomac River and Washington, D.C. While the rest of the nation thinks of the nation's capitol in terms of potential scandal, controversy, patronage and politicking, one special group of people could care less. They're the people who traveled from around the nation to attend Katsucon 4, the anime and manga convention. The 1998 edition of the con moved up the coast from its former headquarters in Virginia Beach to the new location near Washington.

Among the early arrivals was Steve Bennett, artist for Studio Ironcat. The independent comics publisher sent a large contingent to Katsucon to promote their works, and Bennett presented his cel painting workshops. Compare this image of Bennett in 1998 with the 1997 pictures from Anime Weekend Atlanta and you'll note that Steve is more or less clean shaven: he said his wife made him do it.

In keeping with the tradition established at AWA III, we present a fish in our early arrival report. The AWA fish was a toy gift for artist Lea Hernandez; this live fish was in a tank outside the Radisson's seafood restaurant, which serves a fine caesar salad loaded with shrimp and crab meat.

To many anime and manga fans, conventions mean costume play first, so we present those early arrivals, beginning with a young woman who created this Mylene costume - complete with her own furry sidekick.

This costume was impressive for the work the cos-player put into it, including makeup and contact lenses to create the yellow iris effect. "I'm an exhibitionist," he quipped when he paused for the author's camera.

This may be the last place you expect to find a person in full costume; it's the Katsucon registration desk. It's an elaborate Shampoo costume, complete with purple wig. We didn't have the heart to ask the man who created the costume why he wanted to be Ranma 1/2's Shampoo.