History of WTHCon

1995 - Future Team Ninja Producer, Andrew Szymanski, introduces future What the Hell? Con co-Founder, John Davis (aged 13) to bad bootleg hentai. Future What the Hell? Con co-Founder Brian Sinclair (aged 12) discovers a secreted cache of Pornographic Commodore 64 video games. It was a year that would live in infamy.

1999 - Andrew Szymanski moves to Japan, marrying a native and launching his career as Caucasian Man Who Speaks Japanese. Leaves and extensive collection of video with Will Davis (aged 14).

2001 - Brian and John meet for the first time in Bauman 202, during Brian’s Japanese 101 class. That week Brian attends his first Yachting Club meeting in that selfsame room, during which a lengthy discussion on hentai is conducted. Many historians agree this was a sign of things to come.

2002 - The Founders encounter Will David while visiting the Davis family home, who complains about the collections sizeable hentai content. Brian’s offer to take off his hands spurs the lad to dash up and down the stairs, pressing a dilapidated Kroger bag of VHS tapes into his hands. During the drive back to Greensboro the immortal words were spoken for the first time, “Holy shit, there’s enough crap in here to hold a con!”

WHAT THE HELL‽ CON - Featuring 8 guests of honor, the less said about this con the better. Needless to say, it is fun enough to do it again. See also WHAT THE HELL‽ CON 2, 2002 part 2, take two, AKA “The Deuce” - No one involved likes to talk about this one, though John still regrets having missed it, due to studying abroad in Japan. Moving on…

WHAT THE HELL‽ CON 2003 - Through the efforts of John and Brian, and then Yachting Club President Dan Worrall, the first public WTHCon became a reality. Ignorant and lenient campus activities staff allow the first Will Davis Memorial Crapathon in Bryan Junior Auditorium. Hijinks ensue.

WHAT THE HELL‽ CON 2004 - Under Josie Spooner and Greg Black, WTHCon rides again in the Frank Family Science Center. More attentive administrators place boundaries on good taste, and the Bag of Crap is hidden within the bowels of Chateau Sinclair. Thus begins The Conspiracy’s efforts to pull the shroud of mystery over the eyes of congoers.

WHAT THE HELL‽ CON 2005 - John and Brian return to bring the show once more, this time in a new locale, Duke Hall. This year a number of new ideas are experimented with, such as “actual guests,” “websites,” and “non-student attendees,” despite ambiguous directives from above not to advertise off-campus. David Unger’s fantastic quest brings Michael J. Nelson to the con, forever changing the future WTHCon landscape.

WHAT THE HELL‽ CON 2006 - Dani Moran and Matt Reed’s fine efforts cement WTHCon’s position as a favorite small con of webcomic artists, with returning guests and many new faces. The full might of the Crapathon continues to slumber, though its sleep is restless.

WHAT THE HELL‽ CON 2007 - Kass James and Lindsay Lavenhar double attendance, bring back the hentaistic Crapathon, and breath new life into the con, moving it to King Hall, opening a Dealers’ Room, and did we mention letting Brian and John show porn at the Crapathon?

2007 - Team Ninja releases Ninja Gaiden Sigma. Andrew Szymanski, as Caucasian as ever, appears in numerous videos, along with people much shorter than he. All efforts to get in contact with him (even calling his mother) have turned up dead ends.

WHAT THE HELL‽ CON 2008 – Following claims that the origins of WTHCon were “shrouded in mystery,” hundreds of fliers are printed to bring you the TRUTH! Please enjoy your TRUTH and later, cake. Brought to you by Lindsay Lavenhar and Amber Reed.

WHAT THE HELL‽ CON 2009 – Amber Reed brings us to new heights, with attendance of over 400! And plays it oldschool; the original pile of VHS tapes (now in a cardboard box) are played at the Crapathon.

WHAT THE HELL‽ CON 2010 – Tess Crocker continues the trend of increased attendance and guests. And the struggle to keep the con running against all odds, not letting freezing rain or a closed campus stop opening day of the con, and presentation of the Crapathon.

WHAT THE HELL‽ CON 2011 – Lauren McClure produced another fantastic con: The Crapathon continues its' corruption of the innocent, an excellent Geek Auction raised almost $2k for charity, and we hit 450 in attendance.