Enniskillen Comic Fest... cancelled

Yet another comic show has very sadly been cancelled due to this blasted virus sweeping the world. The always-enjoyable Enniskillen Comic Fest will not be taking place in May. 

My thoughts to Paul Trimble and his hard working team who always make these shows great fun and who always look after their guests. We will meet again one day my friends! 

Here's the full statement from Paul Trimble:

We've put off this announcement as long as we can but in the end, as the situation continues to worsen, there just is no alternative but to announce that this years Enniskillen ComicFest has been postponed until later in the year. The safety of all involved in the event, and all who attend, is the priority. Our hope is to bring you the award winning Enniskillen ComicFest in the autumn so something to really look forward to. Thanks for all your messages of support and to all our Guests who had agreed to come to Enniskillen in May- we hope to reschedule with you and look forward to having you with us at some point in the future.

Until then remember that Volume 5 of the Judge Dredd Files is available as a free download to enjoy while self isolating
https://shop.2000ad.com/catalogue/GRN281…

And that there is a free Kids Activity Pack available as a download as well to entertain the next generation of Squaxx dek Thargo
https://2000ad.com/news/free-kids-activity-pack/…

Until then- Stay Safe and remember Its All About The Comics!

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New venue for Comic Fest

Northern Ireland's Enniskillen Comic Fest has just revealed its new venue for this year's event. It's to be at Enniskillen Castle. Having never done a comic con in a castle before I'm looking forward to it! As well as me, other guests will include John Wagner, Carlos Ezquerra, Steve MacManus, Nigel Parkinson, Nika Nartova, Colin McNeil, Alan Grant, and Yanick Paquette, with many more to be announced!

You'll find us at the castle on Friday 5th and Saturday 6th May 2017, and it's free entry! For more info, visit the Enniskillen Comic Fest Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/Enniskillen-Comic-Fest-1030761763641321/

Return to Enniskillen

I'm very pleased to announce that I've been invited back to the Enniskillen Comic Fest for their event in 2017. I had a great time at this year's show and I'm really looking forward to flying over there again, meeting the new friends  made this year and meeting new people too of course. 

For next year's show, my Beano pals Nigel Parkinson (artist Dennis the Menace, Minnie the Minx) and Beano colour artist Nika Nartova will also be guests. Joining us will be guests from 2000AD including Steve MacManus, John Wagner, Carlos Ezquerra, Alan Grant (also his second visit) and Colin MacNeill. 

There'll be other guests announced over the coming weeks too, so keep an eye on the Enniskillen Comic Fest Facebook page for news!
https://www.facebook.com/Enniskillen-Comic-Fest-1030761763641321/

If you live in Northern Ireland, or you're visiting next May, I hope to see you there!

Arrival!

Photo © Paul Trimble.

Here's a great photo of our arrival in Belfast last week before boarding the bus behind us for the journey to Enniskillen for the Comic Fest. 
Left to right:
Jenika Ioffreda, Matt Brooker (AKA D'Israeli), Hunt Emerson, Steve Yeowell, Pete Doherty, Phil Winslade, Lew Stringer, Laura Howell, Alan Grant, Clint Langley, Sue Grant. 

A good time was had by all! Thanks again to the mighty Paul Trimble and his team for making us so welcome. 

Back from the Comic Fest!

Batwoman (Joanne Alexander) and some bloke who looks like a darts player.

The Enniskillen Comic Fest was fantastic! My thanks to Paul Trimble and his dedicated team for their warm hospitality over the weekened. Myself and the other guests were well looked after from the moment we arrived in Northern Ireland to the time we left. 

With my traveling companions Laura Howell, Hunt Emerson, Steve Yeowel, Matt Brooker, and Phil Winslade we arrived at Belfast International airport on Thursday evening to be greeted by festival organizer Paul Trimble and his daughter Laura. Then we met up with other guests Jenika Ioffreda, Alan and Sue Grant, Clint Langley, Ryan Brown, and Pete Doherty, and were transported to Enniskillen in a hen night party bus. Which was a first for me I must say. thankfully we all resisted any urge to do some pole dancing. 

The Comic Fest was very much an event for the community and on Friday Laura Howell, Davy Francis, and myself were taken to a local primary school to give a talk and presentation about the basics of creating a comic page. Afterwards we did some fast sketching various Beano characters for the children. The class was very attentive and well behaved; a credit to their school. On Friday night all the guests were taken out for a slap-up feed and a few drinks at the nearby Wetherspoons.  

Saturday was the day of the festival and there was a busy number of attendees. My thanks to all who stopped by my table for a sketch, comic, or just to chat. It was great to finally meet Andy Boal (one of the admins of the Comics UK forum) and meet many others I'd only previously 'met' online. Nice to meet new friends too, including cosplayers who are genuine comics fans and homegrown creators such as Katie O'Kane. It was brilliant to meet up again with my old Oink! pal Davy Francis. A perfect way to end Oink's 30th anniversary week. (Yes, it's been 30 years since Oink! was launched. See my tribute here:
http://lewstringer.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/oink-30-piggin-years.html )

On Saturday night, with the successful festival over, we were again all taken out for a meal, and ended the evening at a nearby hotel to relax with a few drinks.

On mid-day on Sunday it was back aboard the party bus for the trip to the airport and an early night when I arrived home. All in all, a truly memorable and enjoyable weekend. Thanks again to the organizers, fans, and fellow guests for making it such a blast. 

Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/Enniskillen-Comic-Fest-1030761763641321/

My only regret is I didn't take more photos, but here are the few I did. You'll find other pics online by other guests, which I'll link to later. 

It's Davy Francis!

Beano / Regular Show comic artist Laura Howell!

Cosplayers!

Iron Man!

Movie blockbusters collide! Iron Man v Batman!

Cosplayer Joanne Alexander as Marshal Law!

Comic Fest this weekend!

I'll be in Northern Ireland on Friday 6th May and Saturday 7th May for the Enniskillen Comic Fest! It's my first visit so I'm looking forward to meeting readers who may have been unable to get over for the shows in England. There'll be lots of other comic guests there too of course including Laura Howell, Phil Winslade, Glenn Fabry, Davy Francis and more! 

Check out the event's Facebook page for more details:
https://www.facebook.com/Enniskillen-Comic-Fest-1030761763641321/

Next stop, Enniskillen!

I enjoyed the Birmingham Comics Festival yesterday and it was good to see so many familiar faces and to meet new people. The next event I'm attending with be on Friday 6th May and Saturday 7th May when I fly out to the Enniskillen Comic Fest in Northern Ireland. Other guests include Phil Winslade, Glenn Fabry, Laura Howell, Hunt Emerson and more! Details here:
https://www.facebook.com/Enniskillen-Comic-Fest-1030761763641321/

Enniskillen for May

I'm pleased to add another event to my busy convention diary for 2016. I've been invited to the Enniskillen Comic Fest on May 6th/7th. I've never been to Northern Ireland before so I'm looking forward to it! 

I know that some of you can't always make it over to England for the comics shows here so I hope to see you at Enniskillen! For more info, check out their official Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/Enniskillen-Comic-Fest-1030761763641321/