The Forbidden Planet International Blog Log

The British International Comics Show, as mentioned previously, was a huge success according to most of the reports I’ve read so far (the Launch Party gets universally panned, but the show itself was much loved). As is my want on Saturday and Sunday I wandered around with a camera, taking some photos. Most of them were awful, which is why I’ve borrowed from across the Internet. I’ve tried to get permission where I could and thanks to those who got back to me. If I’ve messed up somewhere and you want a pic taken down, please get in touch…..

First some general pics of the main exhibition hall and the creator suite – both considerably more spacious this year (and cooler – thankfully – there’s nothing quite as offputting as sweating profusely whilst chatting to people):

(The last two photos, including one of me chatting away to Sarah McIntyre are from Lew Stringer’s report)

There was a very nice mix of stalls this year, with no discernable divide between bigger companies, dealers and small press folks. This meant that, hopefully, the visitors were just as likely to stop at a stall selling the very best in UK small press as they were the latest 2000AD graphic novel. With reports of more attendees than ever from the organisers and a general consensus that it was an extremely successful show for the creators, companies and dealers, this seems a very good way of doing things.

(Olivier and his team at the Cinebook tables were doing great business all weekend and it’s good to hear that Cinebook had their 100th book at the show. Here’s to the next 100)

(Insomnia Publications were debuting several books, including Burke and Hare from Martin Conaghan & Will Pickering)

(The Manchester Comix Collective had a great eclectic table featuring many of their members. Pictured LtoR: Dave Bulmer, Abigail Ryder, Adam Cadwell, Chris Doherty)

(Accent UK- LtoR; Dave West, Colin Mathieson, Marleen Lowe – artist on a great looking new book Whatever Happened To The World’s Fastest Man? )

(Appearing at the Accent UK table was Garen Ewing with volume one of his great series Rainbow Orchid.)

(Vince Danks, and Roger Gibson, looking remarkably like their characters, debuted the collection of Harker at BICS and had excellent sales all weekend)

(Laura Howell, the Egmont boys and Lew Stringer)

(Candleman – just one of the very well presented examples of small press all around the show.)

(Wonderful Hunt Emerson who was proudly presenting his own work and that of his students in Comix From Telford and the Midlands Comix Collective.)

(Bryan Talbot launched his latest book Grandville at BICS – see our review here.)

(Andi Watson – smirking for camera – I’d just told him that Mrs B had demanded I get a photo since, having loved his comics, she had the idea that the man behind them was “fit”. So, what about it? Andi Watson – he may be one of the UK’s best cartoonists, but is he fit like Mrs B thinks?)

As usual, there were strange folks in funny costumes all over the place, with representatives from Star Wars, Dredd, DC Comics and more all strutting their spandex across the show:

(You can see why the couple with their child were waiting for the next lift can’t you?)

(Dalek photo by David Goodman. A great costume – until you get stuck behind it in an aisle. The fox/panda girl was around all Saturday, but I have no idea what/who she’s meant to be.)

And finally, the two men without whom, etc, etc…..

(On the left, the dapper James Hodgkins resting his weary head on a passing Harlequin whilst BICS staffer Chris Ball looks on (Photo by Staz Johnson). On the right, Shane Chebsy (Photo from Comics Bureau). Both men are presumably enjoying a well earned rest right now)

And that was my BICS. Thanks to James and Shane and the host of helpers, volunteers and assorted doers of stuff that made it the best yet. Next year more of the same please (albeit with a different venue for the Launch Party eh?)

More BICS stuff from the FPI Blog
Comic Show part 1,
BICS Links.

Richard Bruton.