Comics Come Home”¦
To the Heart of England!
Great Britain’s first ever comics convention was held in Birmingham in 1968. Since then comics fans have also gathered to celebrate the medium they love in Brighton, Bristol, Glasgow, London and Manchester.
Now comic book fans are preparing to indulge their passion in England’s second city again at the Birmingham International Comics Show and everyone is invited to join in the celebrations on the 9-10th of December.
It promises to be a spectacular weekend featuring some of the biggest and brightest names from the UK along with all-star international guests. There is already an events packed programme of panels, signings, and the finest speciality shops and comic book dealers attending ready to offer some fantastic bargains and rare purchases, plus some extra special surprise convention exclusives!
This major event all takes place at The Custard Factory, the city’s popular arts and media complex. With on-site bars, restaurants, a movie theatre and gallery space there will be room for all and activities to suit all tastes, young and old alike.
Comics Come Home”¦
Pictured History in the Making at Birmingham
Back in the swinging sixties comics came out weekly costing less than sixpence – Roy of the Rovers, Dennis the Menace and The Spider, drawn by Birmingham’s very own Reginald Bunn. There was Batman on the telly while the adventures of Spider-Man and his cape-flowing friends got sent over in dazzling four-colour print as ballast on ships”¦ so kids bought comics by the go-kart load, but unlike before, as they grew up, they didn’t stop.
In 1968 some youths of the time had a typically off-the-wall Brummie take on the love-ins and crazy happenings that were the current rave. They wanted to celebrate their love of comics and so they put together the first ever UK comics convention.
Fans came out of the woodwork, second hand book dealers did deals with those trading in comics and some guys who were working in the comic book industry itself happened to find time to pop along. Fashions and ideas change but this wasn’t a one-off novelty. As the years went by the country’s capital city of London subsequently took the reins and produced lavish annual events, the buzz spread Glasgow wanted in. It branched out here, there and everywhere; Bristol, Brighton, Manchester and the Birmingham Comic Art Shows followed. Each city giving a little of itself.
Now, the city that started it all is back again, pulling no punches and waving flags, proudly celebrating its heritage at the Birmingham International Comics Show to be held at The Custard Factory on the 9-10th December.
Comics entertain first and foremost. They also chronicle the social and cultural times they were created in. Comics from decades gone by along with those of the future on the Internet can be seen, revered and purchased all weekend at the show. That is why everyone is invited to become a part of history by joining the many famous writers and artists from around the world that will be attending this fantastic and important event. Don’t miss out!
Ever Wondered Why
Comics Make Blockbuster Movies?
From Garfield to Batman comics book characters have a pedigree and a history that make them a tried and tested formula to become successful films.
Major movie stars including Nicholas Cage, Halle Berry, Sean Connery and Keanu Reeves now put their names forward to feature in silver screen sagas, confident that they will reach an eager audience. And when at the end of a movie, those screen credits roll on half as long as the actual film itself, consider for a moment that it might take a handful, or less, of creative individuals to deliver similarly exciting adventures on a regular monthly, or even weekly, basis.
On the 9th-10th December some of the best of those writers, artists and editors will be congregating in England’s second city to appear at the Birmingham International Comics Convention.
Alan Davis and Mark Farmer lead the roll call of UK based X-Men artists while Scottie Young jets in from the USA and Esad Ribic embarks from Croatia. Dave Gibbons will answer questions about the new rumours of a Watchmen movie. From Judge Dredd to The Beano’s Little Plumb, there will be comics and creators galore and from all around the globe. With talks, signings, competitions and much more besides it promises to be a show to remember.
If you want to know what’s going to be the next League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Superman, The Crow or even The Incredibles, then The Birmingham International Comics Show is the happening place to be!
Sights with Sounds”¦
At the Birmingham International Comics Show
There’s a lot to sing and dance about at the Birmingham International Comics Show (BICS) and everyone is invited to join in the celebrations!
To mark the comic book festival’s debut Kerrang! Radio has got involved. Word has it there will be live music playing throughout the entire weekend of the 9-10th of December, from acoustic sets to full-on power-charged rock bands.
The world of comics has long had strong associations with that of music, not least when its popular artists are called upon to create iconic album covers. From Robert Crumb’s 60s underground comix art for Big Brother and the Holding Company’s Cheap Thrills vinyl album, featuring Janis Joplin, to American superstar Neal Adams’ superheroic renditions on Who Will Save the World? by The Groundhogs (whose Tony McPhee recently played a solo gig at The Custard Factory where BICS is being held) and Extreme’s hit-filled Pornograffitti just as the age of CD was arriving.
Now we have Timothy Bradstreet illustrating Iron Maiden’s lastest worldwide smashes like A Matter of Life and Death and Chris Western dipping his pen nibs deep to delinate covers for up-and-coming UK rockers Tokyo Dragons”¦ And if your tastes are a lot less heavy with catchier tunes don’t forget that Madness have called upon the talents of Watchmen co-creator Dave Gibbons before now!
This crossfiltering of cultural and entertainment mediums is set to continue at BICS. Along with Mr Gibbons, jetting in from around the world will be Mark Buckingham, Alan Davis, Duncan Fegredo, Michael Lark, Essad Ribic, Scottie Young and a host of others along with more homegrown talent like Charlie Adlard, who was recently on BBC Radio Shropshire with Shane Chebbsey, one of BICS’s principal organisers.
For more about Kerrang! Radio visit: www.kerrangradio.co.uk/
Music to Your Ears”¦
From BICS to Beyond!
News is spreading fast about the Birmingham International Comics Show (BICS) due in the UK this 9-10th of December”¦ not least about whether or not the major rock star who might be turning up actually hails from the second city!
Did we say just one? Birmingham, just like America’s Detroit is famous for both having been a major car manufacturing city and one where great musicians proliferated in the days before music got segregated into styles and classifications – from the white-boy’s blue-eyed soul of Steve Winwood to the much hip-hop sampled bass drum of the late John Bonham who drove the beat that powered heavy rock gods Led Zeppelin.
Likewise, the home grown talent of the comics field is limbering its creative energies up to deliver a mighty performance; sketching and signing all weekend long! From Alan Davis and Mark Farmer ready to spill the beans on Fantastic Four: The End to Ian Edginton telling you all about the daring deeds he plans to script in Dark Horse’s Pirates of the Caribbean adaptation.
Plus all those superstars who wondered into Brum and could never find their way back out of the infamous Spaghetti Junction roadworks – from Beano and Knockabout cartooning maestro Hunt Emerson to Batman and Aquaman’s man of dextrous detail Phil Winslade, they will all be there.
Of course, BICS never promised any major recording artists would be turning up just that they might, but with so much new talent playing live at the show while you rummage through the dealers’ rooms for those rare editions of Lion & Valiant or The X-Men, you just might be listening to tomorrow’s hit makers today.
Wherever you are at the Birmingham International Comics Show there will be someone there ready to entertain you and make your weekend a super one!
The Birmingham International Comics Show promises to be a spectacular weekend of comics, comic book people, and maybe even the odd surprise major rock star happening along so it really is a case of be there or be square!
For further information & to reserve tickets: www.thecomicsshow.co.uk/
For press & media information, photos/art contact: paul@thecomicsshow.co.uk
