A
Review of the multi-media event
Hi
Everyone,
Well,
you can tell how busy it is here at the Keep, because this is the first Blog I
have managed to write since the one I wrote about Jack Kirby way back at the
start of the year in February. Even Bentley has been so busy that he hasn’t had
time to write his Blogs about his family tree, as yet. Well, a recent
convention has made me make time to write one.
A
while ago I received an invitation via Facebook from Darren Wildman, one of the
main organisers, to ask if I would like to attend as a guest at this year’s Preston Comic Con. I had already heard good things from comic creators that had
been to the show in its previous two incarnations and so decided it looked like
something I would enjoy and so agreed to go along there.
Nowadays,
with the workload being split between creating my “Science Fusion” graphic
novel series, Worlds End, creating new products, alongside my new co-created
Creative Curriculum Comics with Joe Mugan and the day-to-day running of WizardsKeep and its many websites and networks, conventions have to fall into a
certain area for me to attend them. Preston sounded like it fell exactly into
that area and this last weekend proved those theories correct and then some.
Unusually,
especially this year in the North of England, the weather on the Friday morning
of the trip over to the Holiday Inn was beautiful – warm and sunny. I only live
about fifteen minutes away from Preston and was surprised when I was asked to stay
at the hotel. Initially thinking maybe they want the comic creators to network
and once there I realised I was right. Not just the comic creators though, but
the actors too – all of us just one great big creative community of like-minded
thinkers.
I
have been to lots of multi-media comic conventions like this one where you are
all in the same event, but all the others bar none have been segregated affairs
with the comic folks in one place and the actors in another and never the twain
shall meet, so to speak.
Well,
Preston was different right from the off. The hotel was great, as were its
staff and I was made welcome from the moment I arrived. As I got out of my car,
having driven the few miles to the next town, or rather city as Preston has
become, I saw fellow comic artist, Kev Hopgood and Femi Taylor, from Star Wars,
getting out of their taxi from the train station.
After
checking in, unpacking, and refreshing, Kev and I arranged to meet downstairs
in the bar for a catch up over a few drinks. As we spoke it became very
apparent just how much time had passed since we both began working in comics.
Well
eventually the afternoon, spent reminiscing, had passed us by and we were
joined by firstly my good buddy, Jack Lawrence, whom I hadn’t seen for a few
years aside from our chats and comments on Facebook and Twitter and the like.
Then, after being joined by my good pal, Bryan Talbot and his wife, Mary and
soon afterwards, Sonia Leong and Laura Howell, we were taken through to the
pre-convention meal, which was tremendous.
Pretty
much all of the actors were there too, just prior to the meal and all of them
were really accessible and all of them said hi. It was just such a great
atmosphere.
After the meal we went back to our table at which we had spent the afternoon
and early evening at the back of the bar and decided to play pool. You can tell
how much time is spent by comic artists upon viewing their abilities… or lack
of them. LOL.
The son of one of the organisers was stood nearby watching and I asked him if
he wanted to join in – well that was all the encouragement he needed and he
joined in the fun until it was time for him to go to bed. My exploits on the
pool table were noticed by, Darren who decided to play in the stead of our
youngest player… a misspent youth, I feel – or rather perhaps a hustler. LOL.
During
our games of pool, former Doctor Who, Colin Baker – yes the very same one that
has sat on my settee (couch) at my home arrived. We spoke briefly and then he
retired to his room and the rest of us continued to play pool.
Folks started to drift off to their rooms to grab some sleep before the
morning’s early rise for the convention and so I went along with Bryan to the
bar area to re-join Jack and Lee Bradley and his partner and met Ross Mullan
for the first time. Ross, originally hailing from Canada, has played many parts
on TV, but it was as the one of White Walkers from Game of Thrones that I was
most interested.
As
folks who know me well will attest, I have been promoting the TV series since
its first episode a few years back, which my good buddy, William Simpson has
been creating storyboards for, following his time as a concept artist on the
show.
Well,
we all chatted Game of Thrones and Comics until one by one they all retired to
their rooms leaving me with one of the organisers, Paul. We chatted together
for another half hour to an hour or so, before deciding to get some sleep
ourselves.
I
awoke a few hours later and saw the sun peeping in through the curtains – it
was another lovely sunny morning with hardly a cloud in the sky. Showered –
repacked to check out of the hotel and ready for breakfast I went down in the
lift (elevator to my American friends) and was shown to the area, which had
been allocated to the convention folks. I chose my table and saw I was sat next
to another Game of Thrones actor, Roger Ashton-Griffiths. Like Ross his list of
credits for appearances on the TV is as extensive as it is impressive.
I
resisted the urge to be a fan-boy and went to get my breakfast from the
help-yourself area. Coffee was brought to my table and as I began to eat, Roger
was joined by Ross, who said hi. As we all three ate breakfast I found myself
amongst lots of actors from shows such as Game of thrones, Star Wars, Doctor Who, Primeval and the like. As I said before the other cross-media type events
have kept the actors and comics folks separate from each other and this was
such a refreshing change for me – if not a little surreal at times.
Here I was, chatting over breakfast with two actors from my favourite TV show.
It was great and I have to admit I really enjoyed the short time that was
available to us to do so.
After breakfast and making a quick pick up of
my things from my room, I checked out and went outside where I switched my stuff
from my car to one of the awaiting taxis that had been provided for all the
guests. I was joined in the taxi by both Ross and Roger and so the chatting
continued.
Upon
arrival at the Guild Hall in the centre of town, a stone’s throw away from the
hotel, and seeing the amount of stuff I was manhandling from out of the boot of
the taxi, Roger and Ross offered to give me a hand with the baggage. Normally I
arrive at the conventions with a two wheel truck and much more gear, so I was
much more concise with the packing this trip, but there was still a lot of
stuff with me for the event.
Ross
and Roger forged ahead of me and I was offered a lift by a comic fan and his
daughter, whom I didn’t catch the name of, but to whom I am eternally grateful
– thank you so much. If it was you, please drop me a line to my email address;
it would be great to hear from you.
Once
inside the venue I was shown where to go and found my stuff ably dropped off by
the two actors already waiting for me at my table. It was a rush to set up, as
we were pretty much the last of the taxis to set off from the hotel. That said
I was soon all ready for the opening of the event to the early bird ticket
holders. The announcement came that the doors were now open to them and the fun
began in earnest. I was sat between Bryan and Andy Fairhurst, whom I had only
met previously on Facebook and Twitter and so any small breaks in the day, and
they were far and few between, was spent in conversation with these guys.
Early
on in the show my good mate, Naz the owner of The Batcave, Blackburn’s resident
comic shop, turned up at my stall to let me know he was with his son in the
hall below us, where he had a table, and so if I needed anything to just drop
him a text and one of them would sort things, which was really nice. Thanks,
Naz, that was a really nice touch, mate. Luckily that wasn’t needed, however as the
organisers had that fully under control all throughout the day.
I
did get chance for a moment or two to speak briefly with Jack, Kev and Sonia,
but that was only in passing as I made my way past them occasionally. In fact I was so busy I took only a handful of photos.
The
fans were fantastic and I had a terrific time speaking to them and of course
selling them my books, which is always a nice way to share the worlds within
those books. We spend an inordinate amount of time working on them, so it is
always great when the response is like this. I cannot thank the folks that took
time out to come along and check out the books and speak to me about them. It
was also nice to see folks bring along old comics that I had been involved with
and to sign them for the folks involved. Some of them looked ‘well-loved,’
which again is a good sign. My little mate, from the pool games the previous
evening, came around asking if I needed water or anything. I thought it only
right to produce a sketch or two for my little pool buddy, which went down a
storm with him – so Deadpool was the order of the day for that lad.
At
lunch time Darren told us that there was a green room for us to go to and eat.
I made sure a couple of comics fans were sorted at my table and then went along
there. It was a lovely buffet spread and again both comics folks and actors
were sat side-by-side chatting away over a brief lunch. I didn’t spend long in
there though, as it was a hive of activity outside in the halls. I met Roger
again and he asked if I had seen the stuff he and Ross had dropped off at my
table for me and I told him I had and thanked him for doing so. Thanks again to
both Roger and Ross for being such gentlemen and helping out an artist struggling
with his wares.
Roger,
Ross – if you ever need your swords carrying on set you know where to come…
Just after lunch a good mate and staunch supporter of mine, John "Gilly" Gillmore the afternoon show host from BBC Radio Lancashire called round to see me and took a photo for inclusion on Twitter - Sorry I spoiled you photo, John, mate. Thanks so much for coming over to see me at my table.
A
little later I needed a loo break and on my way there I saw Hannah Spearritt
looking a little light-heartedly flustered. I asked her what the problem was
and she said she was looking for the room for her interview. I showed her the
rooms that were a part of the event, but added I wasn’t sure, which was which.
Giggling away, she shot off towards one of the rooms I had pointed out. I hope
she made it there in time.
All
day, during the event, the organisers were constantly coming over to check if
we needed water or anything. It was really well organised. Towards the last
third of the day I was pleased to see my Dad’s cousin, David Maudsley, who came
to the show to see me. David we need a proper get-together soon, mate.
I
was gobsmacked at the length of time one comics fan spoke to me, on and off
throughout the afternoon, and even more gobsmacked by the illustration he
showed me on his phone, which he had drawn using biro – it looked
photo-realistic. Needless to say he and a few others are now Facebook and or
Twitter friends with me now. It really was a great event to meet people. I
think his wife was even more gobsmacked and she did try to pull him in a
different direction a few times during the afternoon. LOL.
The
footfall was a constant steady flow of folks all day and there wasn’t much
space between visits from people to our tables. Just after I had spoken with
David, Roger from game of Thrones came past and smiling, as he passed by some
folks looking at my books, nodded towards the opened double-page-spread showing
Worlds End, which I had on show on an easel, adding, “Your artwork is
beautiful.” I cannot tell you how much that meant to me. One of my heroes from
my favourite TV show had not just gone past my table and acknowledged me, but
had endorsed my work to me. It was one of the high-points of the day for me, if
not the highest.
Thanks
again, Roger, that really did mean the world to me and I am still buzzing even
now.
It
was such a busy show for me and so successful that it was over in a flash and
when the announcement came over the tannoy that the show was closed the place
became a whirlwind of activity as the comic creators and vendors in the same
hall began to feverishly pack up their wares. I managed a fond farewell to most
of my fellow comic creators and those that mentioned it to me, I will be in
touch with my best buddies at MaltaComicCon to advise them of your interest in
attending the show over there.
Paul,
came by and made sure I was okay and sorted me a taxi and a helping hand to it
with my gear. I said a few last goodbyes to the organisers and then made my way
back to the hotel to pick up my car and switch over the baggage.
It
was all over in a flash, as I say and tired, but with the adrenaline still
pumping, I was excited to have been asked to be a part of such a wonderful
show, which was due in no small way because of the treatment given to us all by
the organisers.
The
fun didn’t end there, either, as I whizzed off back home to get showered and
changed in time for a family engagement and a few drinks with them all, and to
regale them with my exploits of the last two days.
Before
I sign off there are a few folks I would like to say a massive thank you to:
Darren,
Neil and Paul and the rest of the gang for all you did for me on the run up and
on the day of the event. You really took care of me guys and I really
appreciate all you did for me and the others. Everyone I spoke to said exactly
the same as me, you made our trip well worth our while.
The
staff at the Holiday Inn for a great stay. My stay was just perfect.
The
staff at the Guild Hall for their help in getting me to my place through the
crowds. It’s been a long while since I was in the Guild Hall and my time there
was brilliant.
The
man and his daughter that helped me get the main baggage to the convention
hall. If you read this, please do get in touch.
Ross
(now a Twitter friend) and Roger for taking the time to chat to me and for
helping to carry some of my gear into the convention and dropping it off at my
table. That was a really nice gesture and much appreciated, I can tell you.
Roger
for his lovely words as he passed my table towards the end of the show. It
really was lovely to hear that.
And
all the folks that took the time to drop by and pay me a visit to chat and
especially those who purchased a book, or two in some cases, without you guys
none of this would work. I am lucky enough to continue with my career, chosen
as a child, because of guys like you.
If the organisers of this show run another convention, and I know they are
doing, get yourself along to it – especially if you like having fun and meeting
the stars of Comics and of TV. I can guarantee you won’t regret it. For me this
is THE best convention I have been to here in the UK for many years and as I
mentioned in one of my Tweets last week, it is up there with my favourite
convention on this planet, MaltaComicCon, so you know it must be good.
The
next one that is being hosted by these same guys is going to be Blackburn ComicCon in my hometown of Blackburn – yes in my home town. The first guest has been
announced and I can safely say Blackburn will never be the same again, dig out
your light sabres, look to the Force, because DARTH VADER is coming to town on
Saturday November 26th.
Until
next time, have fun!
Tim…
August 14th 2016
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