Okay so I was back from this years Bristol Comic Expo. The 1st show I ever went to as a fan and eventually as an industry insider.

So what do I think?  I thought it was great.  It was definatley busier than last time, and although I did not hang around for the Sunday last year. This year there were decent numbers on this day, which is a one of the difficult things for any 2 day show.

The Saturday started with being asked to draw a Slag.  A Dinobot Slag that is, after all this was a comiccon!  From there the requests came thick and fast & a nice mix they were too.  Optimus Prime, Game of Thrones, Loki, Hellcat, Wolverine, Deadpool, Quentin Quire, a nice mix indeed.

There of course was a tricky one, there always is. Iron Man, Full Colour, but within his latest movie garb.  Now Iron Man's not a problem but have you seen the level of tech on his new armour?

Yep Tricky.

It worked out just fine though.

Normally at a show I would be locked behind the table for the full weekend.  This time however I was asked to join a panel on Nostalgia in Comics and quite interesting it was too.  I was joined with my good pal's John-Paul Bove & Liam Shalloo for the talk.  We had a few laughs and all found it far deeper than we expected.  The last contributer made the greatest observation. Wether Nostalgia will actually disapear.  As with this internet age, nothing truley disapears and everything is accessable.  So we never really have time to miss or remaniss about anything anymore.  As it is always there, readily available.

Overall this was a good show.  Not as busy or as intense as the larger shows.  But it did have a nice feel to it.  People had time to chat, get sketches, and have a browse around, without being overwhelmed.  I like the direction it is heading and personally think they did a great job.

Long live Bristol Expo!

Last week I was invited over to Germany to promote the release of Iron Man 3.  It was a special 2 Film Event starting with The Avengers leading into it's direct follow up featuring ol' Shell-Head himself.  Although Originally I was supposed watch Both Films & sketch Before, After & during the Interval. As per usual it turned into a Sketchathon until the end of the event.

Quick lucky really as it turned out both films were playing in German with no subtitles. Would have been an interesting experience, but I may have dodged a Bullet there. :D
I can say upon viewing IRON MAN 3 in good old Blighty, it's a Blast!

I had a great experience at the show and everyone was extremely friendly, despite the language barrier.  Big thanks to Stephan Prietzel for acting as my German agent on that one.   It was quite interesting to see the difference in the sketch requests at an overseas event compared to a UK one. Gone was the usual IronMan, Batman, Hulk etc.. here the majority of people wanted themselves as superheroes.  Which was quite fun to do.

I got the odd unusual request such as a full colour Wolverine chilling on a beach while the Silver Surfer rides waves.

Translation:
Comic Legend at the "SpreeCinema"

Hey I don't write this stuff so don't blame me.

One of the nice things about an Event like this is the Experience.  Although I had a Hotel Room booked, turns out I didn't need it.  After the Organizers took us out for a slap up meal. Rump Steak mmmm... & don't forget drinks. We headed back to the Cinema around one in the morning. Pitch Black Outside, up come the shutters & in we go. Cinema Lock-In! Out comes the Whiskey, helpings of pop-corn & whatever I want from behind the counter. 

As well as looking around the Cinema of a night & having a nose around the projection rooms, we chatted & swapped stories over Whiskey & Ice Cream until six in the morning. Great memories and it makes me realize how lucky I am as I get the chance to do things that most people will never get to do.

Then it was time for my flight!

Spree Cinema, be seeing you soon!

The Second Day brought more Fun & what seemed like a different crowd of people.  Many more in costume & a lot of Families dressed up for the event.  There were was Batman & Batgirl out with their kids, Star Wars, Star Trek, & Iron Man showing off his fancy Outfit.

Plus more sketches for me.

I got the chance to meet new people have fun & even have a drink & a bit of banter with Fellow Artists Mike Collins, Dylan Teague, Liam Shalloo & David Lloyd.

Can't say better than that!

My first time back to the Telford show in many a year was a pleasant surprise.

Now you may think otherwise from viewing the photo opposite.... but even the Zombies were friendly.

I arrived early at new street station only to accidentally bump into 2 of of my Comics Village comrades. Andy Doodles Baker & DJosh as he now wishes to be known.  After a short Train Journey to the International Center I was pleased to see a good few hundred people cuing for early entry. This was at least an hour before the doors were even set to be opened.

In they Flooded, Zombies, Assassins, Stormtroopers & I gotta say goodness knows what else. Whatever they were they were certainly colourful. Alas no Transformers though!

The day was busy and as per usual I was locked behind my table for the duration of the event. Starscream, Prime, Deadpool, Batman, the sketches flowed and as always the inability to stand after a day in artistic lockdown.

Telford, see you next year!