Press release: Leeds THOUGHT BUBBLE festival 9-11 November

News

FESTIVAL TO PUT LEEDS IN THE FRAME AS CITY OF ARTISTIC HEROES

Leeds is about to find out that comics aren’t just about superheroes, as the city gets its first ever festival of the sequential arts.

From November 9th to 11th, Leeds Town Hall is set to be a gateway to other worlds as it plays host to the Thought Bubble Festival, a celebration of sequential art with a packed schedule of events and workshops, along with visits from some of the top names in comics from around the world.

Comics aren’t just for kids and alongside everything from American superheroes and Manga warriors, Thought Bubble will also have educational workshops and events designed to reveal the amazing world of graphic art.

With widespread fears about childhood literacy, the festival will focus on the educational benefits of comics and graphic novels with a series of free workshops for children and adults. As well as one workshop looking at young people and literacy, Annette Taylor from the University of Leeds will be asking how Spiderman can walk up walls and how Superman lifts up cars as she examines the science of superheroes.

But the most important thing is FUN and Thought Bubble will be an incredible weekend with lots of guest writers, artists and fascinating stalls featuring small press, art, crafts, home made toys and Japanese culture. There will also be screenings of some amazing documentaries and feature films about truly inspiring creators and themes from the comic world.

WHAT: Thought Bubble, the Leeds Sequential Art Festival

WHERE: At and around Leeds Town Hall

WHEN: November 9 – 11, with the main convention on November 10 from 10am to 5.30pm

DETAILS: go to www.thoughtbubblefestival.com for tickets and programme information

Lisa Wood, organiser of Thought Bubble, said:

“Thought Bubble is about trying to bring comics into the mainstream and fighting to get them recognised as valid art, good literature and a fantastic educational tool.

“Comics and graphic novels have this reputation for being just for children, but that’s not true.

“We hope people who love art but don’t know about comics will look at our festival and want to know more – our goal is to show everyone there is at least one graphic novel out there for them and that they can be the best piece of literature they have ever read or contain the most incredible art they have ever seen.”

LEEDS GETS ITS OWN
SUPERHERO

What’s that in the sky? Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It’s Leeds’ first ever superhero!

As part of the run-up to the city’s first ever festival of the sequential arts, Thought Bubble, some of the world’s biggest graphic artists have produced their own versions of what a Loiner superhero might look like.

From November 9th to 11th, Leeds Town Hall will play host to the celebration of sequential art with a packed schedule of events and educational workshops designed to reveal the amazing world of graphic art.

One of Britain’s best comic artists, Duncan Fegredo, has eschewed the spandex to show a trenchcoat-wearing superhero swooping over the skyline of Leeds City Hall – but losing his shopping on the way! And the darling of the American small press, Jeffrey Brown, has drawn a not-so-flattering portrait of the Leeds weather – his hero is Leeds Rainy Day Man!

Also attending Thought Bubble will be Adi Granov, who produced designs for the forthcoming film of Iron Man. And British masters such as Staz Johnson, Sean Phillips and Bryan Talbot will be signing and sketching for their legions of fans.

Lisa Wood, organiser of Thought Bubble, said:

“We’re so looking forward to entertaining people like Duncan Fegredo and Adi Granov to Leeds.

“Comic books and graphic novels aren’t children’s art, this is serious adult stuff – you’ve only to look at the gritty art of Sean Phillips or the incredibly beautiful work of Bryan Talbot to see that there’s something out there for everyone.

“And it’s great to see their versions of a superhero for Leeds – the designs have been really funny and hopefully show what a great weekend Thought Bubble is going to be … for young AND old.”

For more information about Thought Bubble, go to www.thoughtbubblefestival.com

ah, the good old Dr Manolis, the original comics Greek. He's been at this for sometime. he was there when the Comics Nexus was founded, he even gave it its name, he even used to run it for a couple of years. he's been writing about comics, geeking out incessantly and interviewing busier people than himself for over ten years now and has no intention of stopping anytime soon.