Progenitor by Phil Hester & John McCrea, which featured in Aces Weekly Volume 1
Aces Weekly - www.acesweekly.co.uk
- the exclusively digital weekly comic art magazine that's packed with
talent from around the globe - is just one of many British comic enterprises on location the
London Super Comic Convention at the Excel Centre this coming weekend.
Creators Herb Trimpe, David Lloyd, Ben Dickson, David Hitchcock, Kev
Hopgood, Dave Hine, John McCrea, Paul MacCaffrey and many more ace
creators will be on Stand D105, ready to sign, sketch and say hi!
Sample Volume One with a
collectible sketchcard from any artist on hand if you're yet to
subscribe.
Featured guest at the SuperCon include Neal Adams, J Scott Campbell, Lee Bermejo, Brian Bolland, Doug Braithwaite, Neil Edwards, Carlos Ezquerra, Gary Erskine and many more (full 'featured' list here.
British publishers include PS Artbooks, Orang Utan Comics, UK Comics, 2000AD, Soaring Penguin, Accent UK, Eaglemoss, Panini, Time Bomb Comics and more. (List of exhibitors here)
Heritage Auctions, the US-based leading collectibles auctioneer, will once again be exhibiting at the London Super
Comic Convention, with company staff on hand to talk with potential
consigners, bidders and other interested parties.
“Consignments of comics and comic art will be accepted directly at
our table, and you can also stop by to see the catalogs for our latest
auctions and to find out more about Heritage and the auction process,”
says Heritage’s Barry Sandoval.
Orang Utan Comics has announced two big new releases at the London Super Comic Con on February 23rd - 24th, 2013, at the Excel in London.
The first release is a 48 page, full colour, limited edition LSCC Preview Edition of Hero: 9 to 5 - Quietus - available to order now from the company's online store or to pick up at the event.
"This will include the first half of the follow up to the hugely successful 2010 graphic novel by myself, David Gray and Yel Zamor," writer and publisher Ian Sharman tells us, "plus an exclusive four page Thunder Woman story that will not be available anywhere else.
"We are printing these in extremely limited numbers, so make sure to head straight to the Orang Utan Comics booth when you arrive and pick up your copy."
Hero: 9 to 5 – Quietus is set in a world where the rich can afford the best in super hero protection, but the poor have to get by with the heroic equivalent of third party, fire and theft.
The “Lone Knight” returns from the pages of Hero: 9 to 5, but how will The Loner and the finest men and women that publicly funded super hero protection can supply cope when a mysterious figure leaves a trail of unconnected corpses in his wake? How will a young hero deal with the loss of his mentor? And, more importantly, how will Thunder Woman get her groceries when she runs into Lash Lady at the store?
In a world where being a super hero is just another job, what happens when there’s nobody left alive to pay the bill?
Quietus – some men just want to watch the world die.
You can also grab a free copy of the Eagle Award nominated Eleventh Hour Volume One when you buy the Hero: 9 to 5 – Quietus LSCC Exclusive Preview Edition at the convention.
Orang Utan, who publish their books in partnership with Markosia, are also launching a new graphic novel by the exceptionally talented Michael Georgiou, Elemental Micah – Just Exhale, which collects the first four stories of this ununsual hero.
“With no super heroes or super villains, what defines someone with powers?" asks Ian. "Micah’s seventeen with poor eyesight, a broken nose, overweight, apathetic, gay and has the powers of a God. With these new powers, the future has never seemed so uncertain.”
Elemental Micah will be on sale at the Orang Utan Comics booth and also direct from Michael Georgiou at his own table at LSCC.
The London Super Comic Convention, running 23rd - 24th February 2013, has just announced a fourth wave of guests at the event, joining names such as Neal Adams, J Scott Campbell and Brian Bolland previously announced.
The latest comic creators set to attend are:
Dan Slott - Writer of Amazing
Spider-Man, Mighty Avengers, Avengers: The Initiative, She-Hulk, Arkham Asylum:
Living Hell, Batman Adventures, Looney Tunes, or Ren
& Stimpy
Neil Edwards - Artist on Fantastic Four, Squadron Supreme, Captain America,
Mighty Avengers, Herc, Spider-Man Season One and current
artist on Dark Avengers
Kieron Gillen -Writer of Uncanny X-Men, Thor, Journey Into Mystery, Generation Hope. Currently writing Iron
Man and Young Avengers
Jamie Mckelvie - Artist on Secret Avengers, Siege: Loki, Invincible Iron Man,
Wolverine, Ultimate Spider-Man, Generation Hope, and is currently
working on the forthcoming X-Men: Season One Graphic Novel
Simon Furman - Writer of Alpha
Flight, Death's Head,
Doctor Who, Dragon's Claws, Robocop,
She-Hulk, Terminator, Torchwood, Turok: Dinosaur Hunter and What If? He is currently writing Transformers:
Regeneration One,
Al Davison - Artist on Doctor
Who by IDW, Hellblazer, House of Mystery and The
Dreaming
Simon Davis - Artist on covers of 2000AD over the past 20 years, Sinister Dexter', Stone Island and Ampney Crucis Investigates
Ian Edginton - Written Leviathan,
Stickleback
and, The Red Seas as well as
one-off serials such as American Gothic. He worked on Top
Cow's Pilot Season and Stormwatch: Post Human Division
Adi Granov - Has provided covers for X-Men, Nova, Avengers, and interior artwork for Iron Man
Erik Henrix - Writer of SideShows and the upcoming The Evil Tree, Champions of the Wild Weird
West, Deadly Harvest, The Book, The Slave Trade
Peter Hogan - Writer of Crisis and Revolver, Terra Obscura and The
Dreaming. Ongoing adventures
of Tom
Strong and Resident Alien
Kev Hopgood - Artist for Iron Man, 2000AD and Games Workshop
Frazer Irving - Artist on Klarion, The Witch Boy, Azrael: Death's Dark Knight, Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne
and Batman and Robin as well as covers for Bedlam by Image
John-Paul Bove - Colourist on Godzilla, Doctor Who, Transformers, GI
Joe.
Marco Santucci - Artist on Secret Invasion: Spider-man, X-factor, Siege: Spider-man and Captain
America: Forever Allies
Ralph Tedesco - Writer on Se7en,
Salem’s Daughter and Grimm Fairy Tales’ Inferno
Marco Turini - Artist on Squadron
Supreme, Marvel
Comics Presents and a new Top Cow comic to be released in February
Chris Weston - Artist on Swamp Thing, The Invisibles, Starman,
JSA, Lucifer, and The Authority.
More recently he worked on The Filth, Ministry of Space and The Twelve.
The creators of Judge Dredd, John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra, are teaming up once more to attend the London Super Comic Convention in February next year.
The huge event at London’s ExCel convention centre on 23rd and 24th of February 2013 will have a distinctly 2000AD flavour - and not just with a stellar line-up of guests.
It’s been a Dredd-filled 2012 with the release of DREDD 3D and 2000AD celebrating its 35th anniversary, and Wagner and Ezquerra are to be joined by fan-favourite artists Brian Bolland (Judge Dredd), Glenn Fabry (Sláine), and Brett Ewins (Judge Anderson, Bad Company).
Other 2000AD guests already announced include Gary Erskine (Judge Dredd, Flesh), Mike Collins (Judge Dredd, American Gothic), Alan Grant (Judge Anderson), Peter Hogan (Robo-Hunter, Strontium Dogs), and Nick Percival (Judge Dredd, Sláine).
One of 2000AD’s most popular characters, the Celtic warrior Sláine the Barbarian, celebrates his 30th birthday in 2013 and LSCC will be having a special competition along with Sláine-themed cosplay.
London Super Comic Convention has announced our next wave of comic creators for their next show on the 23rd - 24th of February 2013 as follows, including British artist Brian Bolland, whose credits include Batman: The Killing Joke, Judge Dredd and many more.
Other announced guests newly-announced are:
J Scott Campbell - Critically acclaimed co-creator of Gen 13 and creator of Danger Girl
Simone Bianchi - Artist on Wolverine, and known for numerous Marvel and DC books
Lee Bermejo - Before Watchmen Rorschach artist, also known for his work on Daredevil and Joker
Yildiray Cinar - Known for Legion of Superheroes, Fury of Firestorm and currently on Earth 2 as part of the DC 52
Gabriele Dell’ Otto - Painter/Artist on Marvel’s Secret War and Marvel’s Annihilation
David Finch - Famed illustrator on Batman: The Dark Knight, Cyberforce with Top Cow and others
David Mack - Artist and Writer on Kabuki and Daredevil: End of Days, JLA and Alias cover artist
Bill Sienkewicz - Award winning artist, Electra: Assassin, Stray Toasters, New Mutants and many more
Chrissie Zullo - Up and coming artist on Madam Xanadu and cover artist for Cinderella: From Fabletown with Love
These new guests join a line-up to Neal Adams, Mark Buckingham, Peter David, Gary Erskine, Klaus Janson, Bob Mcleod, George Pereze, Matteo Scalera, Roy Thomas and Herb Trimpe makes LSCC unmissable again.
Another 10 guests will be announced next month and so forth until the show dates.
Organisers tell us early admittance to the show at London's Excel Centre, which is available only for a weekend pass will be limited in number. Tickets are selling fast.
Alan Woollcombe reports on the first London Super Comic Convention, held at the Excel Centre this weekend, which had a guest line-up that included Stan Lee (seen above, meeting and greeting, video from BleedingCool), George Perez and other comic creators from both sides of the Atlantic...
It seems churlish to complain about winning a free ticket, but it did typify some of the organizational glitches that hit this inaugural event. A few days beforehand I was sent a flurry of emails, all in triplicate, reminding me to print off my ticket – except that some of the tickets had ‘complimentary’ on them and others said ‘EventBrite completed.’ Then another threesome arrived from VIP Tier 3 (the expensive, have-Stan Lee’s-autograph tickets) telling me to print off my VIP ticket – except I hadn’t paid for one. 20 minutes later yet another trio of emails headed ‘Error please disregard last email from us’.
I printed everything off, mentally preparing for my moment with Stan.
At the entrance I was told by a flustered organizer that I had won a ticket (sadly, not a VIP one) and apologies for not telling me – and no, I couldn’t have a refund on the ticket I had paid for. A small price to pay to avoid a PR triumph turning to a fail, I’d have thought – I’d have given out a VIP ticket in their shoes but I only work in PR, so what do I know?
What the heck – I was there, at my first London con in years. Well, that is after I found it – for those new to the ExCeL convention centre, it is vast, with a main concourse running the length of the building, housing an extended food court. There were four conventions going on at the same time (including the "2012 Zumba Instructors Convention”) and no obvious signage or information booth pointing out where the comics one was. Luckily I ran into David Lloyd on the phone and, with a brief come-see-me-at-my-table, he waved me towards the entrance.
The whole event took place in a giant hangar of a room, with one corner area walled off for the panels and cosplay parades, and the rest given over to dealers’ stalls and artists’ alley. There were two large empty areas, and no boards displaying the days’ events – you had to look in the programme for that information. It was OK, but not ideal. It all somehow seemed a bit shambolic. What I did miss was a proper, old-fashioned bar-cum-lounge area for mingling and chilling between creators and punters. A food court in a huge corridor surrounded by legions of be-leotarded zumba instructors just doesn’t cut it.
But enough grumbles: the Big Draw of the whole shebang was Stan Lee, Captain Marvel himself, back for the first time at a British con since 1973. Stan was having a whale of a time, signing, being photographed, answering questions from the stage – and making eye-watering sums of money in the process (£175 to meet and greet – you’re having a laugh, surely…). The old pro knows what his fans want and gave it to them: Consider yourself no-prized! Just wait till you see my cameo in the new film! Excelsior! The old stories sounded fresh, the voice firm, the mock humility flawless. He’s looking pretty damn good for an 89-year-old.
Not that there weren’t other big names in attendance: George Perez, Howard Chaykin, Bernie Wrightson and a few dozen younger whippersnappers, but many of the big-name Brits had given the event a miss (no Dave Gibbons, no Alan Davis) along with the big-name publishers (no Marvel, no DC, no Dark Horse). Somehow though, many of the stars they had secured weren’t on panels or being interviewed, which was a lost opportunity.
All in all, it showed that this was the first such con. I hope there is another one next year, but the organizers will need to raise their game considerably (more signage, more panels, a bar/lounge area, and no more gouging the fans for getting up close to the star of the show) for it to have a hope of becoming a regular fixture.
Alan Woollcombe wrote Rupert Bear, interviewed 'duck man' Carl Barks on his only visit to the UK, watched a lunar eclipse with one of the original Dan Dare artists, and had a Mexican meal with Frank Miller in LA. Now in exile in Cornwall, he divides his time between journalism and PR, but is open to offers via alanwoollcombe@yahoo.com
Other Coverage
Mainstream
Stan Lee appeared on the BBC's The One Show to help promote the convention on Friday 24th February
• Stan Lee made an appearance on the BBC'sThe One Showto promote the event on Friday night, with Chris Evan unexpectedly sychpophantic and Alex Jones wrongly thinking Stan was an artist
"It was a really great event. It is the first time I have ever been to an event of this size in any capacity, let alone behind a table as a exhibitor and it was a non-stop thrill ride!"
"It was the inaugural event of what I'm sure organizers hope becomes a European San Diego, and while there were a few kinks -- notably the excessively long queues -- it was a good event and featured an impressive array of talent..."
2000AD is to attend the country’s newest comic book convention, the inaugural London Super Comic Convention will take place at the Excel Centre in London on 25th-26th February 2012.
Many of the guests are some of the biggest names to have worked for the House of Tharg, including Brian Bolland, John McCrea, Duncan Fegredo, Paul Cornell, Sean Phillips, Nick Percival and Mike Carey.
The 2000AD booth will be stocked with all the latest graphic novel titles from the imprint, as well as comics and t-shirts.
The event joins the growing list of conventions in 2012 which will see an appearance from the ‘droids’ of, including the SFX Weekender at the start of February, San Diego Comic Con and New York Comic Con.
Matt Smith, editor of 2000AD, said: “We're delighted to be part of the inaugural London Super Comic Convention, which features an impressive line-up of writers and artists attending. It should be zarjaz event that no comic fan should miss!”
“We are delighted that the largest and arguably greatest publisher that Britain has to offer, will be in attendance at our convention,” said a spokesman for the event.
The London Super Comic Convention, announced for February next year (25-26th), is ramping up an impressive guest list, with the likes of US creators George Perez, Howard Chaykin, Bernie Wrightson, Mike Carey, Tony Moore, Bob Layton and more all confirmed as attending.
Many top British creators and other International stars will be confirmed within the next couple of weeks, with Brian Bolland, Mark Buckingham, Paul Cornell, Duncan Fegrado, Sean Phillips already announced from the UK - and the team behind the event say they are not even half way through adding all the creators that will be attending.
"This convention is shaping up to be the largest American Creator driven convention the UK has seen for two decades," say organisers.
With over 600 tables, and Exhibitors traveling from all over Europe and America, stay tuned for the update to the Exhibitors section of the event's web site over the next week, with back issue dealers, publishers, retailers and indie publications from the UK, Europe and America all to be added.
With the U.K.shows featuring only a handful of American creators, the organisers of the Convention say they want to put the Super in Convention, and give the UK the next best thing to being at one of the large USconventions, by bringing those creators en masse across the pond.
• Tickets are available now at £25 for a weekend pass and £15 for a Saturday or Sunday pass. Children 11 and under are free if accompanied by a paying attendee
