I haven't really looked into the 7th episode of starwars (since it doesn't come out till 2015) I'm not a die-hard fan like my boyfriend is but I'd be interested enough to watch it when it comes out. I've seen some content of Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, but I've never actually read the series, is it good?
Conventions are a little expensive, yes, if you make them to be. There's always Anime Midwest that is cheaper and is a smaller convention (1/3rd the size of ACen) that takes place in the same area (just at one of the hotels: the Hyatt-- ACen encompasses the convention hall, the Hyatt, and the Double Tree hotel). I think the least amount of money I spent at ACen was my first year for about 50$, most of it is the ticket, but if you refrain from buying anything else, that's about as cheap as it will get. Last year I shared a hotel room with about 7 other people so that year i spent around 60-80$ total. Honestly though you can see the entire convention within a day (unless you want to attend specific panels or go to their Rave party: the Soap Bubble or their Formal (which costs extra, Soap Bubble is free if you have a badge)). This year I will be spending 0$. I'll just be hanging around outside the dealers hall, and visiting the hotels. In the Hyatt there is an artist circle by the elevators where people literally sit in a circle to draw where I'd likely be networking. Best of all, no lines. 9w9
If Hacheeachkee takes off, I'd like to buy a booth at ACen's Artist Alley or at Anime Midwest and promote my comic. That's my plan, atleast. I wish there were more smaller anime conventions around the area or in my college town, ACen's getting far too big to just run around freely without running into a line or group of snobby-otaku. But that's just my opinion.