Bristol Comic Expo 2013: A Creator's View

Peter Rogers offers his 'creators view' of last weekend's Bristol Comic Expo, which we're hearing many good things about, marking a return to form for Britain's longest-running comics event...

They say you always remember your first love, and when it comes to Comic Conventions for me, that means Bristol. Back in 2002 it was the first convention I ever went to, and at the time the UK Comic Festival was the only major event in Britain.  

Some big moments have happened for me in Bristol, in '04 I won the Writer's Pitching Session, in '06 the concept of Orang Utan Comics was born and in '08 our collective of creators attended the Eagle Awards as expectant, but ultimately disappointed nominees. So it seemed the perfect place for my new imprint Dapper Chimp Press to launch our first book Chris Smith and the Nazi Zombies from Hell.

From an exhibitor's perspective, being back in Brunel's Old Passenger Shed by Bristol's railway station made a big difference. The room is brighter, airier and far more welcoming than being in a hotel.  Our stand was at the far end of the hall, opposite the food stall and next to Sgt Mike Battle and my old friends from Orang Utan Comics.

Saturday started very well, with a good number of people in attendance from the minute the doors opened.  But one thing was really noticeable: this was a different crowd, not the same faces you've seen at conventions up and down the country for years. All these new people and fresh blood helped make the atmosphere across the weekend extremely buoyant.  There wasn't even a hint of cynicism, and with so many creators and fans in one place that's quite an achievement. 

Not only were people smiling, they were extremely engaged and I've never had so many conversations from one side of the table to the other. People who said they'd come back and buy a copy did just that, and those who decided the book wasn't for them still found time to ask about the process and to wish us luck.  A younger crowd also meant more cosplay, from superhero and anime characters to genre movie staples, we even managed a Nazi Zombie of our own.

Saturday evening in comparison was a bit of a damp squib,. As night outs go it was good fun but it missed that sparkle of comic convention magic. There was talk of a cosplay event somewhere, but there didn't seem to be an aftershow epicenter. The official hotel, newly refurbished and now known as the Doubletree by Hilton, wasn't busy until after the nearby Wetherspoons closed. At £5.10 a pint it's not hard to see why, especially with no organised entertainment on site. It had me longing for the days of Scandanavian Ska Punk bands and Dez Skinn not realizing Matt Smith from 2000AD was in attendance.

Sunday was relatively quiet, with far less eye contact and minimal conversation from the passers by, meaning sales were relegated to much more of a trickle.  My hangover was actually quite grateful for the respite. The only real negative I can level at the convention was the decision to have the cosplay parade and button mashing contests right in front of the gents' toilets.  I'm pretty sure this Kessel Run of lavatorial journeys wouldn't have made it through even a half-baked attempt at a risk assessment.

In 2013 Thought Bubble in Leeds and the collective might of the growing number of London conventions, seem to have the biggest draw for creators and publishers. Ian Gibson and David Lloyd were among the most luminary names at Bristol this year, and having Vertigo Executive Editor Shelly Bond presenting a panel and reviewing portfolios did elevate proceedings somewhat. 

So, is a Bristol without such stalwarts as Hypotheticals or Bob Wayne's flamboyant shirts still a viable proposition? I definitely think so. This year's Bristol Comic Expo struck me as a totally honest one, proud of its new position as a regional show, complete with a newer, younger and no less enthusiastic crowd.  I'm already looking forward to 2014 and rekindling my love of Bristol once more.

• For latest news on nest year's Expo bookmark www.bristolexpo.co.uk or follow them on Facebook

•  Multi award winning advertising creative Peter Rogers - http://peter-rogers.com - came to comics via a series of screenwriting courses at Raindance in London. 

He burst onto the scene in 2004, winning the Writer’s Pitching Session at the Bristol Comic Expo. In 2007 he co-founded Orang Utan Comics, publishing anthology title Eleventh Hour featuring his own short stories alongside the work of other rising talent. A year later the book was nominated for an Eagle Award. 

In the years that followed he’s had a wide variety of work published about a variety of subjects including soldiers, vampires, vikings, superheroes, footballers and demon hunters. A qualified teacher he also lectures and runs workshops on writing for comics. 

Currently working on a number of mini series proposals to be pitched to publishers later this year. He lives in Cardiff with his wife and daughter.

More Expo Reports

•  Rai at Blargle Fargle
"It was my first real con and a little bit overwhelming if I'm honest - a fairly small room with lots of people in it, though I did enjoy the cosplays dotted about..."

• Comic Bits Online 

• PCG 
"Speaking to various indie press guys and gals it also seemed that while they were enjoying the good natured socialising that accompanies every Bristol Comic Expo, their success rate at selling the fruits of their hard work was down a little on previous years, though those regular attendees with brand spanking new works on sale - Ronin Dogs creator Mark Pearce for one - reported that business had been good."

• The Adventures of ZIP
- Day One Report - Day 2


Photographs

• Tumblr Tag

• Dizzy Dee's Expo 2013 Pics (Facebook album)

• Star Wars Fun (Facebook Link)

Markosia's new British Superteam debut in August

Orang Utan Comics co-founder Peter Rogers’ first graphic novel The Interactives, hits shelves this August from Markosia Enterprises.

scallywag is a guru in the geek community, having developed a very loyal and active online following. When creatures from mythical fantasy fiction start to attack Britain, scallywag has to call on his friends and followers to help keep them at bay. But does having the cult of personality online mean you’ve got what it takes to be a true leader? And are five geeks really ready to take on hordes of angry dragons, elves, orcs, goblins and giants?

"For those missing Captain Britain And MI:13, don't fret," says Rob Williams (Ghost Rider, Low Life) of the new tale. "Your new favourite British superteam are here."

Rogers (Fame: Beckham, Eleventh Hour, FTL) is joined on The Interactives by two rising stars, artist Luciano Vecchio (Cartoon Network Action Pack, Cruel Things) and colourist Yel Zamor (Hero 9 to 5, Alpha Gods).

“Setting the book here in the UK was really liberating” Rogers said. “Knowing the locations so well meant I had more scope to up the ante turning all my wildest ideas and most interesting daydreams into a very modern fantasy adventure”.

“The public are obsessed with reality and the creatures from fantasy fiction fear extinction," says Orang Utan's Managing Editor Ian Sharman. "Dragons, giants, orcs, goblins and trolls one by one they’re all breaking through from The Realm to The Real. War is coming to Britain and only geek blogger scallywag and his online followers stand in their way. Let your imagination run wild and get ready for some inter action….”

The 100 page graphic novel includes superhero back-up strip Seniors, reuniting Rogers with long time collaborator and Eagle Award nominee Azim Akberali.

The first half of the fully painted superhero story appeared in critically acclaimed anthology title Eleventh Hour in 2008.

The foreword to The Interactives is written by Marvel and 2000AD writer Rob Williams.

- To order from your local comic shop, quote Diamond order code JUN11 0783 from the June Previews catalogue. Find out more, follow scallywag on twitter and read the first 15 pages at www.theinteractives.com

Orang Utan Moves to Light Speed

British indie publisher Orang Utan Comics have just released two new comics, both available to order online - and which will be on sale at the Comics Expo in Bristol next month.

FTL#1, available from Indyplanet, is the first issue of their brand new black and white anthology featuring 32 pages of beautifully greyscaled art and new stories by Orang Utan Comics veterans Ian Sharman, Peter Rogers and Trey Wickwire, along with a brand new story from the exceptionally talented Dwight L. MacPherson (creator of the web comic, The Surreal Adventures of Edgar Allan Poo).

The first senses shattering issue of FTL will take you to a future Earth ravaged by a war between humans and robots; you’ll see a young girl seduced and corrupted by the darkness of vampirism:you’ll ride with a group of vampire hunters as they hunt the last true vampire; and you’ll see terrifying beasts return from myth and legend to lay waste to mankind!

Also released today is the Alpha Gods graphic novel, previously available to read online in ebook form. Since its online launch via myebook.com, the in excess of 8,000 views in the three months since its release have persuaded Orang Utan Comics to release the entire 48 page, full colour graphic novel in print.

Wraped in a cover by John Charles, Alpha Gods follows in the foot steps of many a superhero comic, charting the gathering of an all-new superteam to battle threats to the world. Like Marvel's X-Men characters (particularly Nightcrawler and Beast), some are outcasts from society, untrained loose cannons whose mettle has yet to be tested. Against this, writer Ian Sharman weaves an unsettling background tale of fallen gods with Machiavellian plans for the world, with some accomplished if in places still-developing art from Ezequiel Pineda. (The good, I hasten to add, more than outweighing the occasional composition glitch: his design and visual sense is superb, influenced I suspect more by George Perez Teen Titans than the X-Men artists I can think of, although Paul Smith also springs to mind).

This graphic novel is effectively a scene setter for a wider story to come, but it's an entertaining and intriguing scene setter nevertheless, offering a depth to many of the characters often missing from many superteam books.

Both FTL and Alpha Gods will be available at the Orang Utan Comics stand at next month’s Bristol International Comic Expo, and also at the London MCM Expo later in the month. You can also order both titles online via the print on demand service, IndyPlanet (see links below).

“May is going to be a big month for Orang Utan Comics," enthuses Ian. "Not only do we have two great new titles to promote, but we’re also looking forward to getting out and meeting our fans.”

• There will be an Orang Utan Comics panel at the Bristol International Comic Expo next month. The panel will be held at 4.00pm in the Park Suite at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Bristol on Saturday 9th May, where the OUC team will be celebrating their second anniversary of creating what Ian calls “comics for a strange new world."

• Order Alpha Gods from IndyPlanet

• Order FTL #1 from IndyPlanet

• To find out more about Alpha Gods, read character bios and creator profiles, please visit www.alphagods.co.uk

• For more information on Orang Utan Comics visit them online at www.orangutancomics.co.uk