Bristol International Comic and Small Press Expo - Part 4

In what may be, I suspect, my final look back on last weekends Bristol International Comic and Small Press Expo I'd like to turn the spotlight on a number of the fantastic independent/small press publications that I picked up over the weekend.

Chloe Noonan: Monster Hunter #1 by Marc Ellerby
Chloe Noonan doesn't have any special powers; she can't lift heavy objects, she can't run without getting a stitch and she's kinda not bothered about saving the world. Oh and she hates the band she sometimes plays in. In fact she hates everything. It's tough being a monster hunter, okay? Especially when it involves getting the bus.
Featuring reluctant 'monster hunter' Chloe and her 'horribly fashionable' friend Zoe I loved this book and I'll be ordering issues #2 and #3: really nice art complementing an enjoyable story - although the subject matter is quite different Chloe Noonan: Monster Hunter has a 'Scott Pilgrim' charm about it.
www.marcellerby.com

Harker #7 by Roger Gibson & Vince Danks
This is the first issue of a new 6 part monthly story-arc set in and around the Grand Hotel, Whitby, North East England. The title character is a Conan Doyle-reading Detective Chief Inspector Harker who is ably assisted by his colleague Detective Sergeant Critchley. When the famous crime novelist Agatha Fletcher checks into the same hotel as the holidaying Chief Inspector things aren't going to end well for someone!
An engaging story, told at a good pace; eye catching, detailed artwork - I'll be picking-up the first collected edition.
www.arielpress.com

Septic Isle by Andy Winter and Mick Trimble
Starring a 52-year old former MI5 agent as he seeks a return to active duty. This is a gripping - and gritty - action-packed political thriller that I found difficult to put down: told across more than 40 pages the story races along. The art is fantastically detailed with some imaginative page layouts.
www.moonfacepress.com

Bristol International Comic and Small Press Expo - Part 3

More sketches and good memories to share with you from the Bristol International Comic and Small Press Expo over the weekend.

Being based at the Small Press Expo for the weekend you can imagine how pleased I was to discover that one of my 'neighbours' was none other than Karl Richardson who's currently producing great covers for Boom! Studios new Planet of the Apes ongoing series.

Karl very kindly agreed to sketch for me and I really couldn't have been happier with what he produced (click to enlarge the image):

I certainly hadn't anticipated three apes in the picture and I love that Karl gave each one a unique look. The detail in the picture is fantastic I'm sure you'll agree - the deep, piercing eyes; mouths twisted with rage; the primitive insignia through the uniform.

Thanks again Karl.


Likewise based at the Small Press Expo I was very happy to spend some time over the weekend chatting with writer and artist Wayne Hughes, as well as picking up an 'Expo Exclusive' sketch cover preview edition of his comic Sabre.

I first met Wayne at the Exeter Expo earlier this year where I purchased a copy of the first issue of Sabre - a fantasy-adventure story staring a young, naive, yet powerful creature who seeks his destiny while defending his 'people' and their way of life.

Here's Wayne's fantastic sketch of the books eponymous hero (again, click to enlarge the image):

Thanks Wayne - I'm looking forward to hearing more about Sabre over the coming months.

Bristol International Comic and Small Press Expo - Part 2

Regular visitors to Escape from Tomorrow will know just how much I enjoy books from publisher Top Cow - Witchblade, The Darkness, Velocity, Magdalena ... the list goes: complex characters in thought provoking stories complemented by some of the finest art you'll find anywhere in comic books.

Imagine my delight, therefore, when I saw that both Matt Timson and David Hine were scheduled to appear at this years BICSPE.

As I was based at the Mercure Holland House Hotel conference centre I tracked down Matt Timson first. I'd met Matt last year at the Exeter Comic Expo where, aside from getting a few books signed, I was able to purchase an extremely limited edition A3 Darkness print.

Matt very kindly agreed to sign a couple more books and to do a sketch for me - I asked for Batman after seeing a really nice Batman sketch he'd posted a little while ago on Twitter.

I popped back an hour or so later and couldn't have been happier with what I saw - Matt was putting the finishing touches to this stunning illustration.

Matt had a brought along a selection of prints of some of his work and, continuing the theme started at Exeter last year, I purchased a glossy, full colour print of his cover from Top Cow's free comic book day offering The Darkness II: Confession that I'll shortly be framing and displaying at home.

I genuinely couldn't have been happier with both the sketch and the print - thank you Matt.

Over at the Ramada City Hotel David Hine was sharing a table with Shaky Kane where, amongst other projects, they were promoting their Bulletproof Coffin collection. David was kind enough to sign copies of Top Cow's The Darkness: Four Horsemen for me and then, after signing some of my Batman books, very graciously agreed to my unusual request for him to record a promo 'bumper' for a forthcoming episode of The Batman Universe Comic Podcast.

Two very nice, and super talented, guys who it really was my pleasure to meet once again.

Bristol International Comic and Small Press Expo - Part 1

This past weekend was spent at the annual Bristol International Comic and Small Press Expo - as I've said previously it was the first time I'd attending both days and, for me, this years Expo was one of the most enjoyable I've attended.

The event, which is staged across two neighbouring hotels, had just about everything any comic book fan could look for: loads of writers and artists chatting, signing and sketching; numerous dealers with longbox after longbox of bargain back issues (I managed to fill a big whole in my Daredevil collection); table upon table of generously discounted collected editions; a full programme of panels and screenings; some fantastic and unique items of apparel (particularly from the lovely folks at Genki Gear); new title launches; Cosplay; Expo Exclusives and not forgetting, at the Ramada Hotel, the now legendary 'Expo lunch pack'.

['... Move along ... move along' - car parking couldn't have been easier at BICSPE 2011!]
This week I'm looking forward to posting a number of short features about my visit to the Expo - some of the people I met; details of some of the [indie] books I picked up and I'll post a couple of the fantastic sketches that I came away with.

I think maybe one of the reasons I enjoyed this years event so much was that, for the first time, I had a 'base' for the weekend - somewhere to leave my bags; take a rest when my legs were feeling like I'd walked for miles and watch the crowds go by ...

Back in February or March of this year I received a very generous invitation from friend of Escape from Tomorrow Simon Breeze to accompany him to the Bristol Expo where he was launching the first collected edition of his comic JessieKane.

As you'd expect I was delighted to accept Simon's invitation and I really enjoyed the book launch and chatting with public and comic-professionals alike. At one point, with Simon busy chatting with one of the independent-publishers in attendance, I even managed to sell a couple of limited-edition prints on Simon's behalf with the buyer mistaking me for the writer/artist - I'm still not sure what I'd have done had he asked me to sign them!

We were based for the weekend at the Small Press Expo which was held at the Mercure Holland House Hotel in Bristol, just a short 4 or 5 minute walk from the Ramada City Hotel which hosted the 'mainstream' Expo. From the moment the doors opened in the morning to pretty much the end of the day around 5pm there was a wave of people coming and going through the two venues and, I was pleased to see for all the exhibitors in attendance, people were doing more than just 'window shopping'.

Congratualtions and thanks for another hugely successful Bristol Expo have to go to Mike at Fantasy Events UK and his fantastic team - I'm already looking forward to next year!

Kult Creations Titles feature in May 2011 Previews

Over recent months here at Escape from Tomorrow we've enjoyed shining the spotlight on a number of fantastic titles from Kult Creations and publisher John A. Short.

Over this time we've reviewed a number of Kult Creation's publications including The Sixpenny Murder and Armageddon Patrol and I'm pleased to say that readers can now pre-order these titles from the May issue of Diamond Previews (UK Section) as well as through the Kult Creations website.

If, like me, you're heading to the Bristol International Comic & Small Press Expo this weekend be sure to stop by the Kult Creations table which will be located at the Mercure Bristol Holland House Hotel.

Coming Soon: Bristol International Comic & Small Press Expo 2011

There's less than 2 weeks to go now until the Bristol International Comic & Small Press Expo 2011 which is being held over the weekend of Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 May and organisers Fantasy Events UK have details of the signings and panels being held at The Ramada Hotel as well as the schedule of events taking place at the Small Press Expo which is being held at the nearby Mercure Hotel.

For the first time I'll be attending the Expo on both days this year and I think I'm as excited by the programme at the Small Press Expo as I am with events at the 'mainstream' Expo.

Full details of all signings, panels and screenings can be found by clicking here.

Bristol International Comic & Small Press Expo
Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 May 2011
Ramada City Inn & the Mercure Holland House Hotels
Saturday 10am to 6pm / Sunday 10.30am to 5pm

International Guests, Interactive Panels,
European Showcase, Big on Small Press, New Title Launches
The Bristol International Comic & Small Press Expo is an all ticket event - details of ticket availability and prices can be found at the Fantasy Events UK website.

Bristol International Comic and Small Press Expo 2011 'IN FIRST' Ticket Offer

Regular readers will know just how much I enjoy the events organised by Fantasy Events UK - particularly the Exeter Comic Expo and its 'big brother' the Bristol International Comic and Small Press Expo.

The event organisers are offering Escape from Tomorrow readers, and all attendees at last years event in Bristol, a fantastic New Year bargain which means that until 30 January 2011 tickets for this years Bristol International Comic & Small Press Expo can be bought at last years prices!

The 2010 event sold out in advance and while the event capacity has expanded for this year demand for tickets is sure to be high once again, so this is a great chance to secure tickets in advance and save money at the same time - what a fantastic offer!

The Bristol International Comic & Small Press Expo takes place on 14 and 15 May 2011 at the Ramada City Inn and the Mercure Holland House Hotels in Bristol city centre. Plans are already underway to bring the usual mix of international guests, interactive panels, European Showcase, Big on Small Press, new title launches and those ever-collectable EXpo EXclusives!

The international guest list already includes RICK VEITCH and RON MARZ Who will be helping celebrate the 40th anniversary of Swamp Thing and previewing the Green Lantern movie!

Also look out for a very special EXpo EXclusive as we wish WATCHMEN a 'Happy 25th Birthday' with DAVE GIBBONS and JOHN HIGGINS, who are together again for the first time on something just a bit special as the event supports its regular charity.

ROGUE TROOPER, the worlds greatest Genetic Infantryman celebrates, his 30th birthday at the Expo thanks to
John McCrea who is producing a signed and numbered limited edition print which will also feature another legend from 2000AD ... you will not want to miss this one, it's the law!

Other top guests confirmed are ALAN DAVIS, CHARLES ADLARD, LEE GARBETT, IAN CHURCHILL, GARY ERSKINE, IAN EDGINTON, DAVID HINE, SHAKY KANE, MIKE PLOOG, DYLAN TEAGUE, AL DAVISON, MIKE COLLINS, JOHN WATSON ... with many more to be confirmed!

EXpo EXhibitors include COMX, ACE COMICS, FORBIDDEN PLANET LONDON, 2000AD, INCOGNITO COMICS, PANINI, REED COMICS, MARKOSIA, PSICOLLECTABLES, THE COMIC MAN, ASTRAL GYPSY, TRIPWIRE.

Also in the New EXpanded EXpo EUROPEAN SHOWCASE, CINEBOOK plus DALEN BOOKS.

This fantastic 'IN FIRST' offer is open now until the 30th Jan 2011.

Click here to secure your tickets.

Full details will be on the websites: Fantasy Events UK and Small Press Expo 2011.

Sean Phillips at the Bristol International Comic & Small Press Expo

If you're a regular visitor to Escape from Tomorrow you might remember my good fortune in discovering that Sean Phillips - Criminal, Sleeper, Marvel Zombies ... - had put a few copies of his book Incognito up for sale on Amazon and that each copy was to include an original character sketch of the buyers choice.

I asked for, as was very grateful to receive, a magnificent sketch of Ava Destruction along with the artist's signature on one of the inside front pages.

However, and at the risk of sounding ungrateful, I later regretted that I didn't have something to hang on my wall alongside the one or two other convention sketches that I own. So when I saw that Mr Phillips was appearing at the Bristol International Comic & Small Press Expo I spotted my opportunity - with comic backing-board in hand I took my place in the long queue for a sketch and waited my turn ...


So now I've got the best of both worlds I think - a unique book and a beautiful piece of original art that I can hang on my wall: each featuring one of my favourite comic-book characters Ava Destruction.

In my final look back to the Bristol Expo I'll be taking a look at one of my favourite smaller publishers that are always in attendance at the show - Markosia Enterprises.

Bristol International Comic & Small Press Expo 2010

I've been attending the 'Bristol Comic Expo', in it's various guises and at a couple of different venues, for the past 5 years or so and it's fair to say that it's become the highlight of my 'comic year'.

This year the event was once again held across two venues - The Ramada Jarvis Hotel and The Mercure Hotel, both just a short walk from the city centre - and taking into account the excellent four-star hotel venues, the format of the show (I'll explain what I mean ...), the range of exhibitors and quality of the guests meant that for me this years Bristol International Comic & Small Press Expo was not only the best 'Bristol' show I've attended but quite possibly the best comic event that I've ever had the pleasure of attending.

First up, the venues - or to be accurate I should say venue as I managed to spend all day, from 10am to 5pm at the Ramada Jarvis 'Mainstream & International' Expo and didn't have time to get across to the 'Independent, Small Press & Manga' Expo at the Mercure Hotel. When the Expo was held at the exhibition hall at Temple Meads railway station it was, for me, a case of get in, do a couple (maybe 3 laps of the hall) and get out: all in 3 hours or so - there was very little space to sit and rest, or to enjoy some refreshment. Situated at the four-star Ramada meant this year I was able to do a couple of circuits of the main hall then take a break in the hotel bar, then head off to one of the signing rooms before once again returning to the bar for some lunch and refreshment ... and so on. The hotel itself was well prepared for the 'invasion' of hundreds (thousands?) of comic fans, exhibitors and creators with reasonably priced hot and cold drinks on tap and with an excellent 'lunch bag' available again at a very reasonable price. As you'd expect for a 4-star hotel the level of customer service from the staff was excellent.

Next, the format of the show. In previous years - certainly 4 or 5 years ago, the show felt like a 'comic jumble' (and I don't mean that as a criticism just an observation): loads of exhibitors selling current and back issue comics, a good range of toys etc, and a number of creators signing, sketching and selling artwork. This year I felt there was a change of emphasis towards the creator and, if I'm right, this was a change that I welcome ...

As much as I enjoy routing through boxes of back issues for a bargain or hidden gem most of my back-issue buying these days is done online from the comfort of my armchair and as such I've lost a little patience for the physical battle that is sometimes required to seek out and find (or maybe not find) that elusive copy of Nightwing. I know many of my friends feel the same and while I wouldn't want the show to lose the 'comic jumble' element it seemed to me that this year the creator spotlight had grown with more writers, artists and publishers than ever before.

Again, whether the format was slightly different or I was just more aware there also seemed a greater emphasis on 'panels' and these also seemed more popular than ever with at times quite long queues forming ahead of the start times. The range and quality of the guests was certainly very impressive - quite rightly justifying the 'International' tag whereas in the past Bristol has felt very much like a 'local and national' event.

Great venue, staff, exhibitors and guests ... all for just £7 entrance charge: great value for money as well.

So, that's Bristol over for another year. Thinking ahead to next year, what if anything would I do differently?

From the organisers - nothing, absolutely nothing: they've found a superb format and I'd like more of the same please!

From me - I think I need to go for a weekend ticket as this year, for the first time for me, there felt so much to see and do.

Well done and thanks to everyone involved.


In part two of my Bristol Expo wrap-up I'll post a couple of the sketches I was lucky enough to pick up and talk about some of the creators that I met.

Footnotes
Fantasy Events UK - organisers of the Bristol Expo - have announced that next years event will take place on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 May at the same venues, while later this year they are organising the Comic Expo Exeter at the Southgate Mercure Hotel in Exeter city centre on Sunday 19 September.

Photographs featured in this post are courtesy of Simon Breeze and are used with his permission.

Bristol International Comic and Small Press Expo

Tickets for this years Bristol International Comic and Small Press Expo are selling well - currently three quarters of the tickets have been sold - suggesting that once again if you don't order your tickets in advance you're going to miss out.

I've been going to the Bristol Expo for a few years now and every year it just seems to get better: the quality of the creators and exhibitors grows every year - as has the free goodie bag! - and I'm particularly looking forward to attending some of the panels over the weekend that have been announced by Geek Syndicate

Saturday 22 May
1115 Attack of the Alien Asparagus
1200 Com.X
1245 Chris Claremont
1345 Pat Mills
1445 The Losers
1545 DC Universe

Sunday 23 May
1130 The Eagle Awards … and Beyond
1200 MMMS the Next Generation?
1245 Claremont & Davis
1345 Vertigo
1445 2000AD

This years Exeter Comic Expo - from the same organisers as the Bristol event - was a great success with a number of visitors reporting that it was the best ever and I'm expecting more of the same at the Bristol International Comic and Small Press Expo - keep checking their website for more announcements.

Bristol International Comic and Small Press Expo
Ramada Bristol City Hotel and The Mercure Hotel
Saturday 22 May and Sunday 23 May 2010

Exeter Comic Expo 2010 / Bristol International Comic and Small Press Expo 2010

One of the highlights of my 'comic year' over recent years has been the annual Comic Expo held in Bristol during the month of May. This week I've received news from Mike Allwood, Producer of the Bristol International Comic Expo, relating to this years event along with news of the Exeter Comic Expo taking place next month.

Exeter first ...The Exeter Comic Expo takes place at the Southgate Mercure Hotel in Exeter, Devon, on Saturday 13 February 2010.

Special Guest at the event is David Lloyd (V for Vendetta, Slaìne, Hellblazer), Mike Ploog (Man Thing, Monster of Frankenstein, Planet of the Apes) is Guest of Honour along with David Hine (X-Men, Brave and the Bold, Arkham Asylum, Spawn), Lee Garbett (2000AD, Midnighter, Dreamwar, Batgirl), Jock (2000AD, The Losers), Rob Williams (2000AD, Star Wars: Rebellion, Wolverine), Shaky Kane (Deadline, 2000AD) and E.J. Tett (The Kingdom of Malinas, Casting Shadows)

Some of the UK’s finest dealers will be attending the event which will also feature Manga and Small Press Spotlight.

Doors open at 11am, entry is just £2 for adults and, while stocks last, visitors will receive a FREE Ace Comics goodie bag.

More details are available at the Fantasy Events UK website.


Moving on to Bristol, the Bristol International Comic & Small Press Expo takes place at the Ramada Plaza and Mercure Hotels in Bristol, Avon, on Saturday 22 May and Sunday 23 May 2010.

Guest of Honour at the event is Chris Claremont (Uncanny X-Men, Fantastic Four) along with an international line-up of first UK appearances for Phil Noto (Batgirl), Ramon Bachs (Red Robin), Jesus Saiz (The Brave and the Bold) and Daniel Acuna (X-Men Legacy).

If bought before 31 January 2010 ticket prices have been frozen at last years prices - just £7 for a day or £12 for the weekend for adults. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here.

As with the Exeter event, some of the UK’s finest dealers will be attending and contributing to some great Expo exclusives including another great - FREE - goodie bag for ticket holders!

I thought that last year the change of venue (from the exhibition hall at Temple Meads Railway Station to the city centre hotels) worked well and, looking at the guests and dealers already confirmed, this years event is shaping-up to be even better.

Again, more details are available at the Fantasy Events UK website.


Two great events taking place in South West England - see you there!