What went down in Leeds: Thought Bubble 2011

As the weekend finished, the fact dawned on me that the comic convention season was officially over for this year. The wallet took a heavy battering in Leeds. Having shared company with roller blade vixens and taken pictures of cosplayers, fans, artists and comic book dealers at Thought Bubble, I got back home completely exhausted and shattered on Sunday evening.

I had a look around the town before the convention. With great comic shops Ok Comics and Travelling Man situated in the town centre, I bought some comics and chatted with the shopkeepers. The staff for both shops were really enthusiastic about the stuff they’re selling which is what you want in shops like these. I spotted a classy Indian restaurant nearby which I was tempted to visit but my diet in West Yorkshire consisted of crisps, fish and chips, chicken royales and Subway sandwiches.

I stayed at the Travelodge which was nearby. Cost wise the price was ok but the accommodation was average. With the con, it was a far more lavish affair than last time, the organisers changed from one day to two days which really worked in it’s favour. The event was spread out over two halls, Saviles Hall and the Royal Armouries, over at Saviles fans queued for Batman artist Tim Sale and pin up artist, Adam Hughes. I spent most of the first day over at the Royal Armouries Hall which was a lot chilled out compared to Saviles on Saturday.

Having queued earlier, you can do things in a queue, you can moan that you hate waiting or have patience. I spent the time regaling with con buddy Milan Kovacs a web designer who’s from Hungary who came with his girlfriend. I also chatted with convention regulars Dinesh Mal and Dean Abraham I met Dean at the Birmingham Comic- con, who was there with his son, Trent. It turned into a family occasion as his wife joined the proceedings in their quest to get sketches from artists there.

Having seen the art collection of Dean I’m really impressed with it. In his spare time he’s also a passionate cyclist and athlete and possibly puts the same kind of dedication with getting sketches from artists. I also met Dom Rand and his son, Dom runs a site called comic conventions which is a handy guide to all the comic conventions that are happening in the UK.
Couple of things fell through over the weekend, I found out that a graphic novel I really wanted was sold out and an interview I wanted to do with an artist didn’t happen but I’m being optimistic that I can set something up soon.

On the sketch front, top artists like Tony Harris and Tim Sale were charging from £30-150 which is a vast amount of money for cash in troubled economic times. I opted for top artists like Marc Laming, Dave Stokes and Dan Mc Daid who do excellent work.
I was content with just getting an autograph from Sale. The idea of artists charging hundreds and sometimes thousands of pounds leaves me stumped. I know most of them do it for accommodation and business reasons but the main reason to deter unscrupulous fans flogging them off on EBay.

Earlier in the year, Adam Hughes decided to auction off convention sketches on EBay after getting sick and tired of people who’d flog his beautifully illustrated images which now go for thousands. Due to time constraints, he didn’t opt for the eBay routine which he normally does at U.S cons but opted to do quick head sketches at T.B.

It was great meeting the man whose renditions of characters like Batgirl and Wonder Woman sets geek’s pulse’s racing. I bought a sketch book off him and I was fortunate to get a quick sketch along with it which I’ll always treasure. With any sketches I get off conventions like these, I’ll never sell any of the illustrations I got from artists like Adi Granov and others in the past. If I did, what’s the point in waiting for artists?

(Not content with setting fire to sketchbooks, Iron Fist artist David Aja tried to eat my sketchbook!)

Apart from talking to fans, I had a natter with some of the indie creators there. I met Jon Lock and no it’s not Terry O’ Quinn from Lost. He’s a talented award winning writer behind Afterlife Incorporated an excellent online strip about a con artist who dies and becomes the C.E.O of a world populated by ghosts. I caught up with past interviewees Barry Kitson, Ian Churchill and Jimmy Broxton who’s currently working on Ashes a crime thriller which is really worth your attention.

As expected for a con there were a lot of artist tables and a few comic dealers. I bought the Thought Bubble anthology which features strips by Duncan (Hellboy) Fegredo and Charlie (The Walking Dead) Adlard. It’s worlds apart from superhero fare. I’m digging Fegredo’s autobiographical strip and newcomer Tula Lotay’s collaboration with Re Animator director Stuart Gordon.

There was a general feeling amongst fans, artists and organisers that this was the best convention to date. Looking back at all the cons I’ve been to this year, the organisers at TB are really at the top of their game. How about getting Arthur Adams and Lee Bermejo next year guys?

Posted: 25/11/2011
Categories: Conventions / Life

0 comments (Add Yours)

Add Your Comment