The Tower King!

Catching up with reading led me to The Tower King, an exciting black and white reprint comic I'd picked up at Enniskillen Comic Festival a couple of years ago - yes I can be that slow!

This was the second edition of an authorised limited reprint from Hibernia Press, reprinting a complete story from the instalments first serialised in the New Eagle #1 to 24 back in 1982. This was a comic’s void period for me after leaving school the year before and having dropped comics as 'childish' as you did back then. I think I picked up the occasional Marvel Conan magazine around that time as, with its sword 'n' sorcery violence and sexual content it was at least considered for mature readers! Other than that though, comics passed me by for almost the whole decade, meaning I missed out on the period when comics grew up! So much of what was published back then remains unknown or new to me, such as The Tower King, a comic arguably more violent and gloomy than the Conan stories I was reading!

I think it was an online mention just before the Comic Fest by the very talented Leigh Gallagher, 2000AD artist on how the Tower King's Jose Ortiz had influenced his art that led me to seek out the issue at the event, that and the fact that the story's writer, Alan Hebden was also going to be in attendance for a rare convention appearance.

As it happened, although the one day event was hugely enjoyable I didn't get a chance to speak to Alan, (or sadly another attending legend, Carloz Ezquerra). I was exhibiting on my own and in the rare time away from the table couldn't commit to standing in line to patiently wait my turn, such are the joys of juggling creating and fandom - don't feel too sorry for me though, my table neighbours were the wonderful Cam and Isobel Kennedy who I was honoured to have a fun wee banter with.

In any case, having not at that time read The Tower King or recalling any of Alan Hebden's countless other comic stories for the then crowded British weekly comics market, I didn't feel too bad about that - in my defence, many of his earlier comic scripts were uncredited and having discovered Marvel comics around 1976, I'd largely moved away from British comics.

Anyhow, now finally reading the whole Tower King story, I can only say that it was my teenage loss; it's a great visceral frantically paced tale. Crammed into punchy 3 page instalments, it's tight script gallops along with no let up as our titular hero plunges from one death defying encounter to another, exploring the anarchic landscape of a London (and World, although we don't venture that far) left without electricity or government control.

Jose Ortiz's artwork is breath-taking, more than keeping up with the frenetic pace as danger and action explode off the page with countless groups of characters and ravagers rapidly introduced and overcome without drawing breath!

The pace is both the episodic story's boon and Achilles heel as, enjoyable as the whole experience is, it leaves no time for only the most basic of back story and characterisation, before coming to a rather abrupt end. But sometimes that is enough and perhaps like the Mad Max Fury Road movie, it's simply a case of going with the flow and enjoying the ride. I'm certainly glad I did, even if it took me a while to get there!

Hibernia's online store doesn't list any copies so probably ebay is your best bet of tracking a copy down or the original Eagle issues themselves? It's possible that the story could be collected by Rebellion under their fine Treasury of British Comics reprint programme, but the reprint credits the Dan Dare Corporation, so I don't know if that would impact on the rights?

Enniskillen - it was all about the Comics (and Subbuteo)!!

Hard to believe that its already a week since I set off to the second Enniskillen Comic Fest but here I am back in wet and windy Manchester after a whirlwind weekend in the South West of Northern Ireland. The whole trip was hugely enjoyable and took me to parts of NI I'd never been to before and the freedom of hiring a car more than justified the costs.

Belfast City Hall view from top floor of the car park!

Having a car and a reasonable knowledge of Belfast from recent visits meant I was soon whizzing my way round the city and parking up to have an Ulster Fry the early flight demanded at the delightful Spires centre. We'd discovered the Spires cafe during one of our first Belfast visits which coincided with the opening of the adjacent Comic Book Guys comic shop which I always try and visit. I caught up with Flanagan senior, Daniel for a good catch up on the shop's imminent move (following the Spire's planned redevelopment) to newly fitted premises further up Gt Victoria Street, and also later with Aaron, who was also going to Enniskillen.

Then it was back in the car and as I was still ahead of time an unplanned stop - prompted by losing a tooth! - I ended up by Portadown Football Club's Shamrock Park ground! This was quite a moment for me as years and years earlier as a wee boy I'd 'adopted' Portadown as 'my' football team as they played in the same red as my hometeam, Aberdeen. Our basic Subbuteo set only came with a red and a blue team so when we were bored of playing Aberdeen against Rangers, we looked for alternatives and (of course) I chose Manchester United and also Portadown with no real understanding of who or where they were. I had a Portadown fixation for a wee while afterwards even inventing my own football team and making football cards for them but that's a story for another day (I think I was only 9!), so for me standing at the ground was really something special!

 

 

With my little detours I arrived at sunny Enniskillen late afternoon and soon found the impressive Enniskillen Castle Museum where the event was to take place. I quickly popped in and the very helpful caretaker, (also Colin), showed where I was likely to be but they still had a bit of setting up to do when the museum closed so I left to check-in at my B&B and grab a bite to eat. It was a little odd having tea on my own but I was tired after my early start and grateful for a bit of 'down time'. The Fest had organised a special 2000AD event at a local theatre that evening which I understand was very successful and busy but I was happy with an early night.

Yep, Enniskillen Castle, venue for the Comic Fest!

The following day after another big breakfast fry I headed to the castle and met Paul Trimble the busy event organiser and his team of volunteers and was soon set up in the visitor centre above the museum entrance. It's always a little strange when you set up in a new unfamiliar venue but any worries soon passed as I discovered that I was to be in the same section as longtime comic buddy, Jenika Ioffreda, who in fact was the one who had recommended the show to me after guesting in its debut last year. Also in our little snug (or greenhouse as some referred to it) were artists, Ian - Rico - Richardson, Davy Francis and one of Scotland's comic legends Cam Kennedy who with his wife, Isobel were a delight to chat to all weekend and get my copies of the Kidnapped and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde graphic novels signed!.
 

 

Cam Kennedy hard at work in our 'snug'

Dan and John both 'Rok' !

Close by too were John Wagner with Rok of the Reds artist Dan Cornwell and the hard working Carlos Ezquerra who had a huge queue all day long, popular chap. This was, truth be told, the only real downside of  'flying solo' while both being a comic fan and exhibiting your own work. You can't sneek away from the table to join a queue for signatories and if you do, then you potentially lose sales so its quite a dilemma. In this case, my travel, accommodation and car hire costs necessitated that I stay behind the table as long as possible which I did until very late in the afternoon when I finally had my first cup of tea and snack of the day, forfeiting the chance to have writers Alan Grant and Alan Hebden sign the books I'd brought and missing out on Steve MacManus book which I heard had already sold out very quickly.

Don't feel sorry for me though I had a great time chatting to the many interested attendees who filed past my table. The event was free admission and had been well advertised locally so, despite the glorious sunny weather outside, there was a fine steady stream of visitors all of whom were interested in what was going on even if not active comic readers themselves. This is testament again to Paul and his team in making the event 'all about the comics' so folk could see and experience actual comics themselves and not be distracted by the merchandise and pop culture noise that can sometimes dominate events.

I did though also venture out early doors, shortly after the event opened for the 'Breaking into Comics' panel which I was pleased to be on along with the aforementioned Jenika, Grainnie McEntee and Ciaran Marcantonio, ably hosted by writer who draws Andy Luke who is one of the few folks out there that can beat Accent UK's independent comics pedigree, being a late 1990's inductee compared to our early 2000's! It was a fun wee panel and I think covered a lot of informed ground for those attending - with its early start, the panel gathered more and more attendees as it progressed which was satisfying to observe.

I did make one very quick run round the site as the charity auction commenced which was a signal for most folk to pack up and was rewarded in catching up with Danny McLaughlin and Nathan Donnell of Revolve Comics , Steven Young and Richard Davidson of Back Pocket Comics, Tim Stampton and David McDonald so as well as catching up on the Irish scene managed to at least grab a few new comics to add to my Cam Kennedy signed ones.

That evening, after I'd dropped off the hire car I had a splendid evening at a downtown bar where the guests, creators and fans had gathered for a wee drop of food and some good old fashioned Irish craic and that, together with the chats at the show with fellow creators and visitors helped remind me what a strong welcoming inclusive community, comics are. So despite the show not being an economic success for me, I had a super time and had a big warm smile on my face as I drove through the sunny countryside the following day, slowly making my way back to City airport.

Happy Comic Chappies all - Paul Trimble, Ciaran Marcantonio & Me!

If I can make the numbers work I would dearly love to return next year and again be part of something which "Is all about the comics!".

My farewell airport gift to myself!

Off to the Emerald Isle!

The next part of my Celtic Comics tour is a real step into the unknown heading deep into Northern Ireland for Enniskillen Comic Fest! I'll be flying into the almost familiar Belfast City Airport then hiring a car to get to Enniskillen which seems the simpler option than the 3 hourly buses!

The show itself promises to be special with an official 2000AD 40th anniversary status so wish me luck.