You know, I kept seeing Kev do these weird interviews all weekend and never got around to asking him what on earth was going on.
This explains it all........
Showing posts with label Birmingham Comic Show 2007. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Birmingham Comic Show 2007. Show all posts
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Birmingham Comic Show 2007 Part 7
Standing in line for Kevin Nowlan I was pleased to finally meet Laura Howell. (pictured below with another of Birmingham's finest Lew Stringer)I knew she was at the show as I'd asked Hunt Emerson earlier about her whereabouts. But hours of wandering hadn't managed to find her. So it was a pleasant surprise to see her stood behind me in the queue. She's very busy at the moment and showed me the fantastic pages for her brand new solo Beano strip. Coming soon. Details as soon as she can on her website.
Laura Howell & Lew Stringer.
And that was it. The second Birmingham Comic Show was over. A grand time had been had by all. Roll on BICS 2008.
One last photo....... Please smile Mr Joker.......
Laura Howell & Lew Stringer.And that was it. The second Birmingham Comic Show was over. A grand time had been had by all. Roll on BICS 2008.
One last photo....... Please smile Mr Joker.......
Birmingham Comic Show 2007 Part 6
Meet the pros .....
More photos of the various artists and writers aroud the show ....
Andi Watson was as lovely as ever, even remembering that I was living up in Yorkshire. Which was nice. Now go and read his books. Glister #2 is out soon.
Lovely Andi Watson
Kevin Nowlan was politeness and hospitality personified. I was queing up for a photo and heard him comment to several people in front that he was afraid he'd only have time to sign stuff rather than do sketches as he and his wife badly needed to get lunch (it was 4 o'clock at this point, so I'm thinking it was a really late lunch). As always seems to happen a queue of three became a queue of ten, most of them clutching sketchpads and looking expectant. Lunch was forgotten, Kevin Nowlan got out his pens and smiled and chatted and sketched his way through the hunger whilst his wife got a quick snack for them both. A genuinely lovely man.
Kevin & Deanne Nowlan
Andi Watson was as lovely as ever, even remembering that I was living up in Yorkshire. Which was nice. Now go and read his books. Glister #2 is out soon.
Lovely Andi Watson
Kevin & Deanne Nowlan
The Birmingham Comic Show 2007 Part 5
Meet the pros....
I did the tour, chatted to old and new friends, talked to the artists and writers, took photos, bought way too much stuff and generally had a good time.
Of those I saw it was nice chatting to the Phonogram boys, although I'm still owed a drink from them by my reckoning.
Jamie McKelvie - One half of the Phonogram team.
Ian Edginton and Matt Brooker (D'Israeli) were extremely busy signing and chatting all day, but, as Ian himself pointed out, a lot of that may have been due to the reflected glory from their next door neighbour at the show, Mike Mignola. Crowds for Mike on the Saturday were huge. So much so that by Sunday a strict roped off queueing area had been made on the show floor.
Ian & Matt sharing a table signing and having fun.
Exactly how long has Ian been practicing that look?
Of those I saw it was nice chatting to the Phonogram boys, although I'm still owed a drink from them by my reckoning.
Jamie McKelvie - One half of the Phonogram team.Ian Edginton and Matt Brooker (D'Israeli) were extremely busy signing and chatting all day, but, as Ian himself pointed out, a lot of that may have been due to the reflected glory from their next door neighbour at the show, Mike Mignola. Crowds for Mike on the Saturday were huge. So much so that by Sunday a strict roped off queueing area had been made on the show floor.
Ian & Matt sharing a table signing and having fun. Exactly how long has Ian been practicing that look?
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Birmingham Comic Show 2007 Part 4
Day 1:
The actual show itself was impressive, if constrained a little by the layout of the venue.
Walking into the place the only access is through a tiny corridor, past the 3 event rooms and the toilets. Then onwards into the main arena.
This was where everything was. Dealers, small press, artists and writers. The works.
And having them all together like that does work. One criticism I kept hearing of the Custard Factory show was that the plentiful small press stands were dumped into a smaller room, effectively turning them into a no-go zone. Happily for the small pressers at this show, they were completely integrated into the main room here and the traffic at their tables reflected this.
The main room. Packed with comics fans and very hot. Not the best combination.
Kevin of FPI shows us his "buy it or I'll run you through" selling technique
It just wouldn't be a show without these brave souls willing to make arses of themselves all day and, given the temperatures in the hall, possibly risk heat exhaustion as well.
One potentially embarrassing thing did happen though. My old, old boss at Nostalgia & Comics was at the show, since being bought out of the comic shop business, he's started selling artwork and seems to be doing alright out of it. He certainly looks better than I remember him looking. We said hello and he asked me what I was doing now. That was when it hit me that the answer should have included the following:
1. Moved to Yorkshire,
2. working at a primary school,
3. reviewing comics for FPI weblog
4. Oh, and writing a blog where I spent a great deal of time and a not inconsiderable number of posts describing some of the terrible business decisions you've made in the past.
Ooops.
Instead I just left out the last bit.
That was probably the first time I was relieved that someone DIDN'T read the blog.
Especially when he then proceeded to tell me that one of the things he was planning on doing in the future was producing another book of comic art, very much like the financial abortion that was Nostalgia About Comics, but this time dealing with 1950s comics. I nodded politely and made my excuses and left. He even had copies of Nostalgia About Comics on sale at the show. God bless him, I wish him well and all that but sometimes it would be nice to think he could learn from the mistakes of the past.
I had meant to take in some of the panels during the day, but hours of wandering and chatting, together with a very late start to the day means I didn't see a thing all day. Which means I missed out on some really interesting panels including: the 2000AD panel, the Mike Mignola interview and the charity auction.
This gorgeous convention cover artwork by Mike Mignola and Kevin Nowlan was the highlight of the auction. One of our very own Nostalgia & Comics customers was in the bidding for it. He went up to £500 but was completely eclipsed by the eventual winner - paying a princely £1400. All in a good cause as they say.
The Erotic Comics presentation was meant to be very good as well, although it ran over terribly late. Possibly cleaning up the mess on the floor? And the Matt Hollingsworth colouring masterclass, although highly technical was a huge draw.
Mike Mignola and Kevin Nowlan were the undoubted draws for the crows. At one point the queue for Mignola threatened to overwhelm the walkway until security stepped in and sorted it out. Very big blokes tend to be able to organise queues of comics fans very quickly.
Weary and with aching feet I headed back for a shower and change of very sweaty clothes - that's the one thing that never changes about these things. There's either no air conditioning or it's completely ineffective. Given that the room is packed to the rafters with comics people this is not the best idea, after a few minutes most of us were wandering round with delightful and very attractive wet patches under arms. Yuck.
Luckily the night out on Saturday was a much quieter affair, for me at least. I had a couple of old friends to catch up with and had a quiet and sedate night out, getting much needed sleep. On the way home we wandered past Bennetts to see more comics folks imbibing lots of beer.
Not something I imagine others managed. The rumour is that the previously mentioned Mr Ben McCool, soon to be comics pro and drinker / networker extraordinaire took a host of pros on an extended drinking and sports session. I imagine he and they were very, very drunk by the end of the night's festivities.
Day 2.
More of the the same. Again, made it to the show a little late. Again, saw no panels until the very end. But lots of wandering, lots of chatting.
Final panel of the day was Ben McCool's Play Your Comics Cards Right with questions set by Nostalgia & Comics own David Dearn. It was, to be kind, slightly disorganised. But in a fun, chaotic, end of show type of way. Mark Farmer, Staz Johnston and Al Ewing were joined on the quiz by a very enthusiastic and slightly out of his comics depth young man. But somehow, after what seemed like an eternity - Ben would have read the rules but he probably wasn't seeing straight after Saturday night - somehow the young lad won the game. We all cheered for the biggest fix of the weekend.
Everyone seemed extremely happy with how it had all gone. Sure, there were a few minor problems, but certainly nothing to put people off. I was talking to James Hodgkins, one of the organisers and he seemed really pleased with it all and positive that it would all be happening again in 2008.
The actual show itself was impressive, if constrained a little by the layout of the venue.
Walking into the place the only access is through a tiny corridor, past the 3 event rooms and the toilets. Then onwards into the main arena.
This was where everything was. Dealers, small press, artists and writers. The works.
And having them all together like that does work. One criticism I kept hearing of the Custard Factory show was that the plentiful small press stands were dumped into a smaller room, effectively turning them into a no-go zone. Happily for the small pressers at this show, they were completely integrated into the main room here and the traffic at their tables reflected this.
The main room. Packed with comics fans and very hot. Not the best combination.
Kevin of FPI shows us his "buy it or I'll run you through" selling technique
It just wouldn't be a show without these brave souls willing to make arses of themselves all day and, given the temperatures in the hall, possibly risk heat exhaustion as well.One potentially embarrassing thing did happen though. My old, old boss at Nostalgia & Comics was at the show, since being bought out of the comic shop business, he's started selling artwork and seems to be doing alright out of it. He certainly looks better than I remember him looking. We said hello and he asked me what I was doing now. That was when it hit me that the answer should have included the following:
1. Moved to Yorkshire,
2. working at a primary school,
3. reviewing comics for FPI weblog
4. Oh, and writing a blog where I spent a great deal of time and a not inconsiderable number of posts describing some of the terrible business decisions you've made in the past.
Ooops.
Instead I just left out the last bit.
That was probably the first time I was relieved that someone DIDN'T read the blog.
Especially when he then proceeded to tell me that one of the things he was planning on doing in the future was producing another book of comic art, very much like the financial abortion that was Nostalgia About Comics, but this time dealing with 1950s comics. I nodded politely and made my excuses and left. He even had copies of Nostalgia About Comics on sale at the show. God bless him, I wish him well and all that but sometimes it would be nice to think he could learn from the mistakes of the past.
I had meant to take in some of the panels during the day, but hours of wandering and chatting, together with a very late start to the day means I didn't see a thing all day. Which means I missed out on some really interesting panels including: the 2000AD panel, the Mike Mignola interview and the charity auction.
This gorgeous convention cover artwork by Mike Mignola and Kevin Nowlan was the highlight of the auction. One of our very own Nostalgia & Comics customers was in the bidding for it. He went up to £500 but was completely eclipsed by the eventual winner - paying a princely £1400. All in a good cause as they say.The Erotic Comics presentation was meant to be very good as well, although it ran over terribly late. Possibly cleaning up the mess on the floor? And the Matt Hollingsworth colouring masterclass, although highly technical was a huge draw.
Mike Mignola and Kevin Nowlan were the undoubted draws for the crows. At one point the queue for Mignola threatened to overwhelm the walkway until security stepped in and sorted it out. Very big blokes tend to be able to organise queues of comics fans very quickly.
Weary and with aching feet I headed back for a shower and change of very sweaty clothes - that's the one thing that never changes about these things. There's either no air conditioning or it's completely ineffective. Given that the room is packed to the rafters with comics people this is not the best idea, after a few minutes most of us were wandering round with delightful and very attractive wet patches under arms. Yuck.
Luckily the night out on Saturday was a much quieter affair, for me at least. I had a couple of old friends to catch up with and had a quiet and sedate night out, getting much needed sleep. On the way home we wandered past Bennetts to see more comics folks imbibing lots of beer.
Not something I imagine others managed. The rumour is that the previously mentioned Mr Ben McCool, soon to be comics pro and drinker / networker extraordinaire took a host of pros on an extended drinking and sports session. I imagine he and they were very, very drunk by the end of the night's festivities.
Day 2.
More of the the same. Again, made it to the show a little late. Again, saw no panels until the very end. But lots of wandering, lots of chatting.
Final panel of the day was Ben McCool's Play Your Comics Cards Right with questions set by Nostalgia & Comics own David Dearn. It was, to be kind, slightly disorganised. But in a fun, chaotic, end of show type of way. Mark Farmer, Staz Johnston and Al Ewing were joined on the quiz by a very enthusiastic and slightly out of his comics depth young man. But somehow, after what seemed like an eternity - Ben would have read the rules but he probably wasn't seeing straight after Saturday night - somehow the young lad won the game. We all cheered for the biggest fix of the weekend.
Everyone seemed extremely happy with how it had all gone. Sure, there were a few minor problems, but certainly nothing to put people off. I was talking to James Hodgkins, one of the organisers and he seemed really pleased with it all and positive that it would all be happening again in 2008.
Birmingham Comics Show 2007 Part 3
Saturday & Millemium Point
Day 1.
Well, technically it was afternoon 1.
I'd like to say it wasn't the copious gins that meant I woke up at 10, instead i'll blame it on the many 3am bedtimes earlier last week. But the alcohol may have played a part.
Off to Nostalgia where I'm presented with the shocking sight of a front counter of three members of staff who I don't know. Horrible. Every time I go in it's a little knife to the heart that I'm not part of the furniture anymore.
At least Dave was there. In body at least. He was feeling the vodka cherry shots and looked possibly as ill as a person can look outside of hospital.
Then, finally, off to the show. This year it took place at Millenium Point, part of the newly regenerated Eastside of the city. That's regenerated as in we've stuck some new buildings in amongst the wreckage of a slum clearance and then seemingly forgotten to finish the job. I know it's an ongoing project but not a lot seems to change, a few new buildings but lots more mess and weeds.
Birmingham's Eastside - new buildings, crappy old car parks and lots of new weeds.
Last year's Comic Show was held at The Custard Factory, the alternative arts centre for Birmingham. But that proved too small and a move to a bigger venue was needed.
Which is a shame in some ways because something like this really should be at the Custard Factory - Birmingham's gorgeous arts hub. (and like the nexus of everything Birmingham arts related this is where Pete Ashton's name crops up again - he's currently redesigning the Custard Factories web presecnce - the man gets everywhere. he is the sand in the underwear of Birmingham's arts scene)
But Millenium Point promised bigger and better things for us comics folk. The whole place is a mecca to modern design. Inside it's all polished chrome and open galleries.
But before you can see the inside you have to get in. This is where the first huge mistake with MP comes in. It's built the wrong way round. The beautifully impressive facade and open square at the front is fantastic. But it's in the wrong place. Most people coming to the place either walk from the city centre or park in the car park. Both ways brings you in via the back entrance, still imprerssive but lacking the oomph that the front has.
The back of Millenium Point - most people's first view of the building.
The front of Millenium Point. Suitably impressive but no-one seems to come in this way. A whole building built the wrong way wrong.
Inside Millenium Point. View from Level G1. All gleaming chrome and open walkways.
Next up - actually getting into the Comics Show.......
Well, technically it was afternoon 1.
I'd like to say it wasn't the copious gins that meant I woke up at 10, instead i'll blame it on the many 3am bedtimes earlier last week. But the alcohol may have played a part.
Off to Nostalgia where I'm presented with the shocking sight of a front counter of three members of staff who I don't know. Horrible. Every time I go in it's a little knife to the heart that I'm not part of the furniture anymore.
At least Dave was there. In body at least. He was feeling the vodka cherry shots and looked possibly as ill as a person can look outside of hospital.
Then, finally, off to the show. This year it took place at Millenium Point, part of the newly regenerated Eastside of the city. That's regenerated as in we've stuck some new buildings in amongst the wreckage of a slum clearance and then seemingly forgotten to finish the job. I know it's an ongoing project but not a lot seems to change, a few new buildings but lots more mess and weeds.
Birmingham's Eastside - new buildings, crappy old car parks and lots of new weeds.Last year's Comic Show was held at The Custard Factory, the alternative arts centre for Birmingham. But that proved too small and a move to a bigger venue was needed.
Which is a shame in some ways because something like this really should be at the Custard Factory - Birmingham's gorgeous arts hub. (and like the nexus of everything Birmingham arts related this is where Pete Ashton's name crops up again - he's currently redesigning the Custard Factories web presecnce - the man gets everywhere. he is the sand in the underwear of Birmingham's arts scene)
But Millenium Point promised bigger and better things for us comics folk. The whole place is a mecca to modern design. Inside it's all polished chrome and open galleries.
But before you can see the inside you have to get in. This is where the first huge mistake with MP comes in. It's built the wrong way round. The beautifully impressive facade and open square at the front is fantastic. But it's in the wrong place. Most people coming to the place either walk from the city centre or park in the car park. Both ways brings you in via the back entrance, still imprerssive but lacking the oomph that the front has.
The back of Millenium Point - most people's first view of the building.
The front of Millenium Point. Suitably impressive but no-one seems to come in this way. A whole building built the wrong way wrong.
Inside Millenium Point. View from Level G1. All gleaming chrome and open walkways. Next up - actually getting into the Comics Show.......
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Birmingham Comics Show 2007
Part 2 Friday night (late)
I hadn't been to a comic convention for many years. I went to a few of the old UKCAC shows back in the day, but circumstances and other stuff (life mostly) had kept me away from the hallowed halls of comics culture. (Or alternatively I realised that working at Nostalgia & Comics and going out drinking at night had the same effect without huge hotel bills).
I even missed the inaugural Birmingham 2006 show because we had just moved Bruton Mansions up the road to Yorkshire. (Crap excuse I know).
But this year, I was determined to get down to the show. Louise and Molly, looking forward to a daddy free girly weekend were even keener for me to go.
Friday night at the comic show was the launch party to be held at Bennetts, a rather large and ornate bar in the city centre. Walking up Bennetts Hill I was greeted by the all too stereotypical sight of comic fans outside Bennetts. Why do we always seem to carry huge bags, carrier bags, dress in black, wear too many layers and look hot, sweaty and out of shape?
The old friends theme of the weekend started immediately: The very first person I met outside was the granddaddy of bloggers Mr Pete Ashton. Even though I haven't seen him in a few years he was instantly recognisable, shaved head, dress down friday look and roll up in hand. Pleasantries were passed, compliments about Pete managing to infiltrate Birmingham's cultural arts scene yet still remaining completely Pete - that sort of thing.
Next up, the lovely Ben McCool, ex of Nostalgia & Comics and soon to be making a big noise for DC when he gets the contracts all sorted.
Ben is perfectly suited for comics; talented, loads of ideas and possibly the biggest pisshead / networker I've ever met. In the heady alcohol fuelled world of the comic convention networking and drinking go together. Ben is the epitome of how to do the networking while drinking thing. He knows everyone and everyone knows Ben.
He also owes them all drinks.
Inside and it was pretty obvious that the Birmingham Show was going to be a massive success. The place was packed. Hunt Emerson's band was pumping out blues standards from the makeshift stage (talking to Hunt later he confirmed what was pretty obvious - he was having an absolute blast).
Hunt Emerson & The Black Country Cats in full flow
pic by the ever-present blogging nexus that is Pete Ashton
I even missed the inaugural Birmingham 2006 show because we had just moved Bruton Mansions up the road to Yorkshire. (Crap excuse I know).
But this year, I was determined to get down to the show. Louise and Molly, looking forward to a daddy free girly weekend were even keener for me to go.
Friday night at the comic show was the launch party to be held at Bennetts, a rather large and ornate bar in the city centre. Walking up Bennetts Hill I was greeted by the all too stereotypical sight of comic fans outside Bennetts. Why do we always seem to carry huge bags, carrier bags, dress in black, wear too many layers and look hot, sweaty and out of shape?
The old friends theme of the weekend started immediately: The very first person I met outside was the granddaddy of bloggers Mr Pete Ashton. Even though I haven't seen him in a few years he was instantly recognisable, shaved head, dress down friday look and roll up in hand. Pleasantries were passed, compliments about Pete managing to infiltrate Birmingham's cultural arts scene yet still remaining completely Pete - that sort of thing.
Next up, the lovely Ben McCool, ex of Nostalgia & Comics and soon to be making a big noise for DC when he gets the contracts all sorted.
Ben is perfectly suited for comics; talented, loads of ideas and possibly the biggest pisshead / networker I've ever met. In the heady alcohol fuelled world of the comic convention networking and drinking go together. Ben is the epitome of how to do the networking while drinking thing. He knows everyone and everyone knows Ben.
He also owes them all drinks.
Inside and it was pretty obvious that the Birmingham Show was going to be a massive success. The place was packed. Hunt Emerson's band was pumping out blues standards from the makeshift stage (talking to Hunt later he confirmed what was pretty obvious - he was having an absolute blast).
Hunt Emerson & The Black Country Cats in full flowpic by the ever-present blogging nexus that is Pete Ashton
The Nostalgia crew were there and from the looks of it had been there quite a while. The drinking would get sillier and sillier as the night wore on -cherry vodka shots? Ouch.
Strangest thing about being there was the feeling I always used to get around Birmingham. I kept getting hellos and nods from all sorts of folks I didn't really remember - that was always the thing about working in Nostalgia for so long - being a member of staff at the best comic shop in the midlands instantly made you a face in Birmingham. I hadn't seen most of these people for at least a year and with my memory being what it is I had no concept of who they were, but polite nods and hellos were exchanged nonetheless.
The pros were also out in force (there was a bar, what do you expect); Bryan Talbot, Lew Stringer, Dave Gibbons, Leah Moore and John Reppion, Micah Wright, Jordan Smith, Hunt Emerson, Esad Ribic, Phil Winslade, Ian Edginton and I'm sure many, many more.
And before you ask I didn't cosy up to Esad Ribic - given that he's a bear of a man with a habit for drunkenly lifting people he likes over his head in a drunken state and I wrote this about his art on Silver Surfer Requiem #1 for Propaganda:
The art doesn’t help the dismal nature of the story either. Veering from very occasional delights (such as the Surfer on page 16) in full flight to absolutely bloody awful. Ribic’s figurative work and his lack of detailing is desperately in need of a good inker. Or maybe just a better artist.
Basically it was the good time had by all and we crawled out of there at closing 1:30? 2am? and made our sorry way home.
Strangest thing about being there was the feeling I always used to get around Birmingham. I kept getting hellos and nods from all sorts of folks I didn't really remember - that was always the thing about working in Nostalgia for so long - being a member of staff at the best comic shop in the midlands instantly made you a face in Birmingham. I hadn't seen most of these people for at least a year and with my memory being what it is I had no concept of who they were, but polite nods and hellos were exchanged nonetheless.
The pros were also out in force (there was a bar, what do you expect); Bryan Talbot, Lew Stringer, Dave Gibbons, Leah Moore and John Reppion, Micah Wright, Jordan Smith, Hunt Emerson, Esad Ribic, Phil Winslade, Ian Edginton and I'm sure many, many more.
And before you ask I didn't cosy up to Esad Ribic - given that he's a bear of a man with a habit for drunkenly lifting people he likes over his head in a drunken state and I wrote this about his art on Silver Surfer Requiem #1 for Propaganda:
The art doesn’t help the dismal nature of the story either. Veering from very occasional delights (such as the Surfer on page 16) in full flight to absolutely bloody awful. Ribic’s figurative work and his lack of detailing is desperately in need of a good inker. Or maybe just a better artist.
Basically it was the good time had by all and we crawled out of there at closing 1:30? 2am? and made our sorry way home.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Birmingham Comics Show
Part 1 Friday night (early)
This last weekend was the second (hopefully annual) Birmingham Comics Show. After not being able to get there for the first one last year it was a pleasure to be there this year.
The weekend started pleasantly enough with the usual jaunt down the motorway. All was clear and as neither Louise or Molly had decided to come to this cultural event, preferring the delights of a girly weekend instead, I was all alone and singing Duran Duran, The The and Cabaret Voltaire at the top of my lungs all the way down.
Yet again I stayed in the Etap on Great Colmore Street. In the promotional stuff it looks like this:
What they don't show you is the neighbourhood surrounding it. To the left you'll view the Romanesque vista that is the ruins of the Dome nightclub; Birmingham's first real superclub from many years ago. Over the road is a dodgy Irish private members club, an dodgy African restaurant, a dodgy Caribbean restaurant, a dodgy Greek restaurant, a dodgy Indian restaurant (you get the idea).
The whole neighbourhood feels like one of those places you only really feel comfortable driving through at speed. And smack in the middle of all this is the bright, blue neon embossed Etap hotel. The actual hotel is very bright, clean and fully functional.
The Etap is just fine. Once you're inside the place.
But getting inside is a problem. When you return from a night out there's a security guard on the door checking your room registration. This isn't normal for hotels as far as I can see. On asking about it last time we were told very matter of factly that they do have some problems with the guests getting a little worse for wear and various characters wandering in off the streets. Oh joy.
So. Leave Pocklington at 7, ready to leave hotel by 10.
But where oh where to go at that time of night..............................?
Oh don't be so daft - it's a comics convention.
There's bound to be a bar full of drunk comics folks.
And there was.
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