Salute Salute!

The splendid tote goodie bag given out!

Well that was fun! Just a brief word to accompany a few snaps from last weekend's SALUTE 2020(2021) wargames show at the Excel Centre, London Docklands. 

It was our first time exhibiting and attending and although we were a little nervous as to how comics would be received at a primarily wargaming event, we were pleased with our reception. Lots of curious browsers, interested persons and several surprises of folks recongising us and our titles from other comic conventions or events.

We sold decently given the circumstances and unfamiliarity but had many positive reactions to our comics, particularly my (mainly) historicaly based, Moments of Adventure series and our Asylum Steampunk books, the first of which quickly sold out of the comics I had! 

A closer look at our two 'special guests' !!

It was odd being at the familiar Excel Centre not surrounded by other comic artists, art stalls or cosplayers - although the Excel also hosted a Star Trek convention, so that at least felt 'normal' to me and I wasn't phased at all !!!

A wee look at the hall and one of the games tables

Thanks to the South London Warlords for being to host an event of this type in unusual and challenging circumstances and, while I understand from others that we were experiencing a very different and scaled back SALUTE, we still enjoyed the day and hopefully can return!

 

VE Day

Despite the current strange times we're in, it's been heartening to see respects and tributes paid to the wartime generation who clearly suffered way more than we can imagine and still made it through, usually smiling.

I'm from a younger generation who thankfully never knew war or it's effects first-hand but it has of course been an ever present over our lifes through Remembrance, Momuments and tributes. Funnily enough much of the comics I love which entertained me as a child and still inspire me as an adult were born out of conflict and the Second World War in particular.

The Victor, The Hotspur, Battle, Wizard, Warlord and of course Commando were among the most popular, all relaying heroic tales of derring do to an eager readership both immediately after the war, and through subsquent generations. With modern perspective you do wonder perhaps why these were (and to some extent remain) so popular when the generation who had actually fought and lived the experience themselves largely rarely spoke about it. Maybe it was just such an overwhelming event that it was a way for, mainly, children to understand and process events without directly having to discuss it?

Who knows but reading those comics allowed me to gain a respect for those who had fought and learn a little of the tragic events which impacted the whole world in a way we've thankfully never seen, so it's more than appropriate that we pause to reflect and provide our own thanks.

Colin Mathieson artwork, Matt Soffe colours