Thought Bubble is Go!

Delighted to confirm my attendance at this year's Thought Bubble Comic Art Festival :) 

It really is a special event and one that's grown and grown. I know that demand for exhibitor spaces is high so it must be such a difficult task to decide who is accepted, disappointing many others in the process. But for all comic fans the competition ensures that there is a great variety of tastes and talent to discover in the lovely historic Yorkshire town of Harrogate.

In addition to comic creating exhibitors, Thought Bubble also offers a diverse range of guests from around the world and a packed programme of talks and workshops to entertain, inform and inspire. These are normally announced periodically between now and the festival dates in November so its worth keeping an eye on their website and socials.

Don't delay too long though if you're thinking about going, tickets are already on sale and have come closing to selling out in recent years. Hopefully see you there!

I've also had news confirming a couple more appearances as this year's schedule take shape, so watch this space and I'd best get cracking to finish the projects I'm working on!

Thought Bubble Comic Festival 2025!

 

Yay Thought Bubble Comic Festival in this weekend in lovely Harrogate - let's hope the weather matches the surroundings! This year I'm in the same hall as last year, re-named 2000AD Hall, at Table B46. Please stop by if you can and say hi - I've a few new surprises!

Debuting Books at Thought Bubble!

Thought Bubble have just published a list of many fab debuting books, comics & graphic novels at this year's forthcoming festival - convention weekend on 15th & 16th November!

They've kindly mentioned my latest, WAR COMICS: A Memento with fab colours by Matt Soffe and, all being well, I'll have a few other surprises with me too!

Find me in the Harrogate Convention Centre, the 2000AD Hall (the 2nd or 3rd Hall, depending on which entrance you use - see the festival's handy map here!), table B46.

If you can make it, you won't regret visiting, although your wallet or purse might as there will I'm sure be lots of new tempting comic treats to tempt you!

WAR COMICS!

My latest release is an affectionate exploration of the evolution of British war comics portrayal of military subjects from the 'gung ho' heroism of Victorian story papers, through World War patriotism and eventually the so called 'golden age' of 1970's action and adventure comics.    

The journey is framed from the viewpoint of a news vendor's family experiencing those historical and industry changes first hand and illustrated in the art style appropriate to the publications of the time.

Initially inspired by a commission from the National Army Museum, this was a fun and thought provoking project to pull together and I was delighted to again work with Matt Soffe who did a great job of colouring according to each period's industry practices and available technology.

It's both a nostalgic look at bygone eras but also a reflection on the potential power and influence the comics medium may have on its readers. While war comics may have all but disappeared from British newsagents (hang in there Commando!), there are plenty of graphic novels dealing with the subject of both historic and contemporary conflicts which I highlight and included in my talk at the recent Battles Through History event.  

I had a few advance comics of this at Ardingly which I'll also bring to Wow Comix's 'Spooky-Con' in Sale on Saturday 1st November followed by its official launch at the Thought Bubble Comic Art Festival where I'll be in the 2000AD Hall, table B46!

Thought Bubble 2025!

Delighted to be confirmed for this year's Thought Bubble Comic Convention, the UK's premier (with Macc-Pow and Enniskillen!), pure comics festival. Follow their website for updates!

Denmark Return!

Copenhagen Comics 2025 Poster by Craig Frank

Delighted to have the opportunity to return to our spiritual Comics home this summer!

Martin Flink's distinctive 2004 banner artwork

Since making the initial trip in time for the first 'modern' Danish comic convention, komiks dk, all the way back in 2004, Dave West and I as Accent UK regularly made the trip at subsequent events, (see here for a few of them!) through committee, venue and re-branding changes to Copenhagen Comics until covid, brexit and changes of our own brought things to an end.

I'm further delighted to confirm that Dave West will again be my travel and table sharing buddy as we attempt to roll back the years and try not to bore everyone about the good old days when it felt that we were trailblazing pioneers of British comics or something like that anyway!

Trailblazing Pioneers of British Comics or just a couple of naive chancers?

It was thanks to an encounter with Copenhagen Comics committee members and some old Danish pals  at last year's Thought Bubble Festival that led to Dave and I sharing a pint and discussing the possibility of returning and here we are now confirming plans. It will be different with another new venue and need to showcase samples of our latest endeavours, but we'll look forward to it and seeing who remembers us, Mange Tak for the opportunity!

Thought Bubble Time!

Looking forward to returning to Thought Bubble next weekend, arguably the UK's biggest and best comics convention! Always a firm favourite from its humble beginnings in Leeds Town Hall's basement to its subsequent moves to larger premises at The Royal Armouries, Leeds City Centre before moving to it's present home of Harrogate's Conference Centre. 

It has grown and grown and now attracts comic creators from across the world, attracted by its reputation for showcasing a diverse range of talents and the capabilities of the comics medium. You'll find creators behind the latest polished superhero juggernauts to small press publications telling the most intimate personal stories and everything else in between!

This year I'll be in the DSTLRY Hall (one of an expanded four halls this year!) at Table C45 with my latest releases, art and prints. If you're around please stop by and say hello and if you've never been or not been recently, it's not too late to buy a ticket here!

Thought Bubbled!

Thanks to all who came, chatted and bought comics at Thought bubble, it really was a great one this year, busy and a lot of fun, much of that from catching up with folk and creators you don't often see :)

As usual, took very few photos but did get a chance to have a look round the other halls for a little bit and be suitably impressed and inspired by the high standards of creative talent on show, bravo!

The Zulu Hardcover was very well received with the signed n sketched edition most popular so thanks again for everyone's support and Paul McCaffrey for his great cover and of course Matt Soffe for his glorious colours.

It's taking me an age to get a shop linked to this page but if anyone wants a copy in the meantime just message me below or through Scott's Pops & Comics Facebook page link !

Thought Bubble Beckons!

Always a delight to return to Thought Bubble, the UK's premier pure comics convention and a chance to catch up with seldom seen friends and discover new creators and inspirations.

This year I'm in the Bubbleboy Hall, the last of the three dedicated comics halls in Harrogate's convention centre but all are brimming with talent and temptations.

If you're there please say 'hi' and if not, check out their festival website here and exhibitors list here and consider visiting in the future :)

This year's avatar - a cropped ZULU panel

Winter Campaign 2023!

Jings what happened to 2023? Well it's still here and not over yet, thank goodness! I'm trying to make the most of the forthcoming winter months with a varied selection of events coming up which all promise to be fun.

I've the town wide family attractions Bury Comic-Con where I'm nicely placed in the twon's regimental museum, The Fusiliers alongside Doctor Who and Star Wars actors followed by Thought Bubble in Harrogate, the UK's premier 'pure' comics festival and a great place to discover new works and be suitably inspied, then ending my convention season with the fun packed Steampunks in Space at the National Space Centre in Leicester, a truly 'out of this world' experience!

Links for all can be found on the right so please pop along if you're in the area or need an excuse for a day out, because as someone once said, Winter is Coming!

Look Out?

Look Out indeed as progress continue with a much cherished project! Things are happening and a number of 2023 comic shows and events, including a very unique one are confirmed, but I best get back to work, so thanks again for patience and interest - watch this space!

Floating High on a Thought Bubble!

Well, that was fun! My first Thought Bubble Comic Art Festival since 2018 (and its subsequent move to Harrogate), was simply amazing! Thank you to the organisers, volunteers, fellow exhibitors, creators and everyone I met, chatted to or waved at, you all helped make for a wonderful experience.

Although I'm a show veteran now and, (pre-2018), a Thought Bubble regular, I was feeling a little anxious about this one, being as it had been a four-year break, was, to me, a new location and the first time I was 'flying solo' at the UK's largest and best comics focused event. However, with Scott by my side, (when not attending the retailer special events) and a warm reception from everyone I encountered, I was soon at ease and once again blown away by the sheer creative endeavour on display!

I saw so many familiar faces that I hadn't seen for so long and who don't attend the other events I do, that I spent much of the first day just smiling, chatting and waving at folks from behind my table - don't worry I won't attempt to name them all, but if you were among them thank you and sorry for those I missed. With some 400+ tables and exhibitors and guests, its near neigh impossible to see everyone you want, let alone have a decent look round the three, (yes three!) massive halls themselves.  

The prolific Colin Maxwell 
with a couple of his latest
published Commando titles!

It really was incredible to see the rich diversity of creative talents on display with a warm inclusive atmosphere throughout, it really felt like something special, which of course it was and I appreciated being back and part of it.

Of course, working the show, I only saw a small part of it and heavy Friday traffic meant I missed the launch of the Ian Kennedy Art exhibition which I was planning to see, and finding somewhere to eat in the evenings proved challenging. However, I was able to chat with members of Ian's family and the team who had put on his exhibition, which runs to January and may then re-locate elsewhere, so I should be able to visit at a later date, so didn't spoil an otherwise excellent weekend.

The Red Guard - not a lobster as
I mistakenly called her!

Sale wise, I did better than I expected, given the economics and size of the event, not record sales like I experienced at this year's MCM and Asylum Steampunk events but comfortably my best ever Thought Bubble tally so I'm very pleased. There were some lovely comments about my work, art style and enthusiasm for my next project, which is all very encouraging in the scheme of things so I'm rather upbeat about my comics future at the moment.

A fun pair who recognised me
from the Asylum Festival!

On my little sorties from the table, I also managed to buy or receive a rather decent haul of comic goodies - photo to follow - so I've plenty to keep me quiet in the months ahead, albeit I still missed out on getting everything I'd planned to.

So there we go, didn't get to take many photos or get to the epic mid-show party but I greatly enjoyed the event itself and the company of those I met, chatted and dined with, thanks to all and hope to see you next time!

Thought Bubble 2022 - a Return!

Yay, first time at Thought Bubble since their move to Harrogate, if you're there, please drop by and say hello - I'm exhibiting in the Comixology Hall, table 146 :) 

Thought Bubble Comics Art Festival

Yay! Very excited to return to Thought Bubble, arguably the UK's best pure comics focused event and one of our favourites. Our comics have been represented at almost every festival including its first Leeds Town Hall basement one way back in, was it really 2007? Gosh that seems so long ago now!

The Festival has evolved greatly over the years and grown into an internationally respected event always with comics and inclusivity at its heart. Much thanks and gratitude goes to retiring Festival Director Lisa Wood (artist Tula Lotay) and her able team who consistently deliver an event to be proud of.

This year will be its third time in Harrogate which from reports, appears to offer the event a natural home within a single venue after outgrowing it's various Leeds iterations. Being as it unfortunately clashed with previous re-arranged event commitments for me in 2019 (Art-Bubble in Copenhagen) and 2021, (Salute in London), this will actually be my first time at the Harrogate event, so I can't wait and am very excited for what new material I am planning to bring with me.

My excitement is only tempered by the fact that the event's popularity meant that several folks have missed out which is testament to the quality of comic work out there at the moment. Fingers-crossed that as many as can from the waiting list will find some joy.