London Comic Festival 2024

Photo by Nigel Wolfin.

 

My thanks to Tony Lee, Amy McGarry-Thickitt , Antony McGarry-Thickitt for the invite to the very enjoyable London Comic Festival at the weekend, part of the London Film and Comic Con at Olympia. As well as their hard work running the event, they always made sure guests were looked after and their thoughtfulness was much appreciated. 

Photo by Colin Maxwell.

 

The major highlight for me this year was being inducted into the London Comic Festival Hall of Fame. An award I'll treasure for the rest of my life. It came as a complete surprise when event organiser Tony Lee made the presentation at the end of a panel discussion on Saturday morning. 

Tony Lee, David Leach, Rachael Smith, me, and Irma Page.

 

The London Film and Comic Con has always invited comics creators from all genres of comics, and always treated humour comics with the same respect as the more "serious" comics so it felt very uplifting to receive an award for my 40 years in the business. Other award winners this year were editor Shelley Bond, artist Simon Bisley, and TV presenter Peter Purves.

 

With actor, artist, entertainer and good friend Jessica Martin. Photo by Nigel Wolfin.

It was a great three day event that may have been a bit smaller than previous summer shows but still filled a massive hall at Olympia with a good balance of comic creators, actors, and exhibitors. Everyone I spoke to at my table said they were enjoying the show. Thanks to all who bought a sketch, a comic, or just wanted to chat. 

Combat Colin No.5 was launched at the show on Friday morning and sold well over the weekend. For those who couldn't make it, it'll be available from my eBay store tonight from 7pm.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?item=203554298786&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562&_ssn=graphite47 

 

The new all-ages comic LoLz was also launched at the show. The new comic from The77 Publications that includes an all new Derek the Troll page by me. You can order it from this link:

https://the77comic.bigcartel.com/product/lolz

With Ben Cullis, publisher of LoLz and other comocs from The77 stable.

 

A big part of any convention is catching up with friends and meeting new people. It was an absolute pleasure to spend time with Emma Vieceli , Jessica Martin and Nigel, David Leach , Petra Manley-leach, Mike Collins , Bernadette Vella, Aly Fell and Rosie, Ian Richardson, Rachael Smith, Peter Hogan and Ellie, Sonia Leong , Nigel Parkinson , Pau Scorpi , Robert Rankin, Rachel Rankin-Hayward , Kit Cox , Irma Page , Mark Buckingham , Steve Tanner , Dave West, Colin Maxwell, Gary Erskine , Yel Zamor , Lee Townsend , Kev Sutherland , Pye Parr , Rob Williams, Ben Cullis , Andrw Sawyers , Marc Laming , Leonard Sultana , Joel Meadows, Hamish Steele, Stephen Baskerville , and many more I've bound to have forgotten in my post-convention weariness. 

I've been going to comic cons for 45 years (40 as a guest) and the positivity, laughs, genuine friendship and mutual respect at the shows are always uplifting. The best of times. 

Here are a few photos taken over the weekend. As always I wish I'd taken more but we were busy and there wasn't always the right moment but I did manage to snap these...

Commando writer Colin Maxwell cosplaying as Combat Colin!

Super artist/writer and good pal Rachael Smith.

Writer Kit Cox

Legendary writer Roberty Rankin and his wife Rachel Rankin-Hayward.

 

It's Dennis the Menace artist Nigel Parkinson!

 

Superb artist Pau Scorpi.

 

Dave West and Steve Tanner of Time Bomb Comics

 

Joel Meadows, publisher of Tripwire magazine

Out for a meal with Peter Hogan and Ellie, David Leach and Petra Manley-Leach on Saturday night.

Early Sunday morning before the crowds arrived.

 

The amazing roof of the Olympia hall.

I've no definite plans for more shows this year as yet but I'll announce them on this blog if there are developments.