Comic Expo

Last updated

Comic Expo
StatusDefunct
GenreComics
VenueBritish Empire & Commonwealth Exhibition Hall/Ramada Plaza Hotel (2005–2008)
Ramada City Inn/Mercure Holland House Hotel (2009–2011)
Passenger Shed of Brunel Old Station (2012–2014)
Location(s) Bristol
CountryUnited Kingdom
InauguratedNovember 2004
Most recentMay 2014
Attendance4,000 (2008)
Organized byMike Allwood
Filing statusfor-profit
Website www.fantasyevents.org/bristolcomicexpo

The Bristol International Comic & Small Press Expo, commonly known as Comic Expo or BCE, was an annual comic book convention held in the United Kingdom from 2004 to 2013. The show was held once a year in Bristol in the spring. The organiser was Mike Allwood, formerly of Area 51, [1] a comic shop based in Bristol.

Contents

The convention featured floorspace for exhibitors, including comic book dealers and collectibles merchants. Along with panels, seminars, and workshops with comic book professionals, one of the highlights of Comic Expo was the Orang Utan Comics film night, which was a staple of the show since 2007. The charity event "Draw the World Together" was an annual part of the show. [1] BCE included a separate "Small Press Expo," [1] an autograph area, as well as a so-called "Artists' Alley" where comics artists signed autographs and sold or offered free sketches. Publishers such as Rebellion Publishing, Panini Comics, Markosia, Reed Full Circle, and SelfMadeHero often had presences as well. [1]

From 2004 [2] to 2008, Comic Expo was the host of the Eagle Awards.

History

BCE replaced a previous Bristol-based UK convention, the Comic Festival; retailer Mike Allwood had been involved with managing Comic Festival as well. [3] (Comic Festival itself had been preceded as an annual UK comic book convention by the United Kingdom Comic Art Convention). [1]

The first Comic Expo was held in Bristol on 6–7 November 2004, at the Ramada City Inn. (A so-called "Pro-Con" was held in the same space on 5 November.) Guests included Simon Furman, Mike Carey, and Mike Collins. This was very much a trial run by all concerned. Although not very well attended, it established how future events in Bristol would work.

The next BCE, held in May 2005, was a success, with guests such as J. Michael Straczynski, Michael Avon Oeming, Gary Frank, Dave Gibbons, Alan Davis, Brian Bolland, [4] Mike Ploog and Simon Bisley; as well as over 2,000 attendees. [5] The Just 1 Page charity comic was produced at Comic Expo 2005 and again in 2006 (continuing on from its origins at Comic Festival).

The November 2005 Brighton Comic Expo was held at the prestigious Metropole Hilton, the largest conference hotel in South England. Guests included Mark Millar, Gilbert Shelton, Dave Gibbons, Sydney Jordan, and Harry Harrison. This was again successful and, with the exception of a few minor criticisms, proved immensely popular with those attending. [6]

Comic Expo Bristol 2006 was a success, with early figures suggesting around 2,000 attendees, as well as the presentation of the Eagle Awards. [7]

The 2008 show was the best attended one so far, with more than 4,000 ticket buyers. [1] The Eagle Awards ceremony was held on Saturday, May 10, presented by comedian Fraser Ayres. [8]

The Great Recession hit the 2009 show hard, as only 650 fans attended. [1] The 2012 show attracted only 300 attendees, with many exhibitors reporting losses. Because of this, there was speculation the show might not survive, [9] but attendance increased for the 2013 show. [10] Nonetheless, the final BCE was held in 2014.

Locations and dates

DatesVenueAttendanceOfficial guestsNotes
6–7 Nov 2004Ramada City Inn Simon Furman, Mike Carey, and Mike Collins Eagle Awards presented at CBE for the first time.
14–15 May 2005British Empire & Commonwealth Exhibition Hall/Ramada Plaza Hotel [4] 2,000 J. Michael Straczynski, Michael Avon Oeming, Gary Frank, Dave Gibbons, Alan Davis, Brian Bolland, Mike Ploog and Simon Bisley
19–20 November 2005Metropole Hilton (Brighton)2,000 Mark Millar, Gilbert Shelton, Dave Gibbons, Sydney Jordan, and Harry Harrison Brighton show organized with Dez Skinn [11] [12]
13–14 May 2006British Empire & Commonwealth Exhibition Hall/Ramada Plaza Hotel2,000 Roy Thomas (guest of honour); Geoff Johns, Howard Chaykin, David Lloyd, and Liam Sharp [13] Eagle Awards presentation
12–13 May 2007British Empire & Commonwealth Exhibition Hall/Ramada Plaza Hotel Kurt Busiek, Brian K. Vaughan, Jeph Loeb, and Jean-Pierre Dionnet Eagle Awards presentation, hosted by actor/comedian Norman Lovett [14]
9–11 May 2008British Empire & Commonwealth Exhibition Hall/Ramada Plaza Hotel [1] 4,000 Jim Shooter, Walt Simonson, Jim Starlin, and Dave Gibbons Eagle Awards presentation, hosted by comedian Fraser Ayres
9–10 May 2009Ramada City Inn/Mercure Holland House Hotel650 Dan DiDio and Bob Wayne
22–23 May 2010 [15] Ramada City Inn/Mercure Holland House Hotel1,000 Richard Starkings, Kieron Gillen, Paul Grist, Charlie Adlard, and Ian Churchill [16]
14–15 May 2011Ramada City Inn/Mercure Holland House Hotel Martin Asbury, Paul Grist, Dave Gibbons, John Higgins, Rick Veitch, and Richard Starkings
12–13 May 2012Passenger Shed of Brunel Old Station300 Dennis O'Neil (guest of honor; but unable to attend); Paul Cornell, Ian Churchill, and Mark Buckingham
11–12 May 2013Passenger Shed of Brunel Old Station2,500 Ian Churchill, Ian Gibson, Boo Cook, Mark Buckingham, Ben Oliver, and Lee Garbett
10–11 May 2014Passenger Shed of Brunel Old Station James O'Barr, Arthur Suydam, Michael Golden

Related Research Articles

The Small Press Expo (SPX) is an American alternative comics convention. A registered 501(c)(3) that was created in 1994, every year since its inception, SPX has put on a festival, known as The Expo, that provides a forum for artists, writers and publishers of comic art in its various forms to present their creations to the public and to expose the public to comic art not normally accessible through normal commercial channels. The annual SPX festival is typically held in the fall in Bethesda, Maryland. SPX is unique amongst the various comic conventions as it does not allow retailers to have a formal presence at the convention. Only creators and publishers are allowed to set up at the festival, although retailers can and do attend the show with the general public through paid admissions.

The Eagle Awards were a series of British awards for comic book titles and creators. They were awarded by UK fans voting for work produced during the previous year. Named after the UK's seminal boys' comic Eagle, the awards were launched in 1977 for comics released in 1976.

The United Kingdom Comic Art Convention (UKCAC) was a British comic book convention which was held between 1985 and 1998. As a complement to UKCAC, from 1990 to 1995 the organizers put on the Glasgow-based Glasgow Comic Art Convention (GlasCAC), generally held in the spring.

Fan Expo Canada is an annual speculative fiction fan convention held in Toronto, Ontario. It was founded as the Canadian National Comic Book Expo in 1995 by Hobby Star Marketing Inc. It includes distinctly branded sections, including GX and SFX, and formerly CNAnime. It is a four-day event typically held the weekend before Labour Day during the summer at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC).

Comic Festival was a British comic book convention which was held annually in Bristol between 1999 and 2004. It was devised and produced by Kev F. Sutherland with the help of Mike Allwood of Area 51 Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Apple Comic Con</span> New York City comics & pop culture convention

The Big Apple Comic Con is a New York City comic book convention, the longest-running comic book/speculative fiction/pop culture convention in New York City. It was started by retailer Michael "Mike Carbo" Carbonaro in March 1996 in the basement of the St. Paul the Apostle Church. During its heyday from 2001 to 2008, the Big Apple Comic Con often featured multiple shows per year, with a large three-day "national" convention held in November, usually held at the Penn Plaza Pavilion. The show was owned by Wizard Entertainment from 2009 to 2013, but was reacquired by Carbonaro in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baltimore Comic-Con</span> Comic book-oriented fan convention

The Baltimore Comic-Con is a comic book-oriented fan convention held annually in Baltimore since 2000.

Heroes Convention, or HeroesCon, is a comic book convention that takes place in June in Charlotte, North Carolina. The convention has been held since 1982 and is one of the oldest and largest independent comic book conventions in the United States. The convention has a history of charitable work, donating to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and the Charlotte Firefighters Burned Children's Fund. HeroesCon is organized by Shelton Drum, owner of Heroes Aren't Hard To Find, a comic book retailer just southeast of downtown Charlotte.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Film and Comic Con</span> Movie and comic convention held in London

London Film and Comic Con is a fan convention held annually in London that focuses on films, cult television, gaming, anime, cosplay and comics. It is organised by Showmasters Ltd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phoenix Fan Fusion</span> Speculative fiction convention

Phoenix Fan Fusion is a speculative fiction entertainment and comic book convention held annually in Phoenix, Arizona. It was founded as the Phoenix Cactus Comicon in June 2002, and originally consisted of a one-day six-hour event held in Ahwatukee, Arizona. The convention plays host to comic related panels, programming events, art contests, and autograph signings for all ages. It is a three-day event (Friday-Sunday) held during the summer at the Phoenix Convention Center in downtown Phoenix. On Thursday evening prior to the official opening of the event, there is a preview for professionals, exhibitors, and select guests pre-registered for all four days.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MCM Comic Con London</span> Multi-genre fan convention held in the London Borough of Newham twice yearly

The MCM Comic Con London is a speculative fiction fan convention held at the ExCel London twice yearly since 2002, usually on the last weekend in May and October. The convention primarily focuses on comic books, video games, sci-fi, cosplay, anime and popular media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fan Expo Chicago</span>

Fan Expo Chicago, is a comic book convention held during the summer in Rosemont, Illinois, United States, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. It was traditionally a three-day event, but in 2006, it expanded to four days. It was founded in 1972 as Nostalgia '72, Chicago Comic Con and later as the Chicago Comic and Nostalgia Convention by a local dealer named Nancy Warner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ohio Comic Con</span>

The Wizard World Columbus Comic Con, formerly known as Mid-Ohio Con and then the Wizard World Ohio Comic Con, was a comic book convention held during the fall in Columbus, Ohio, United States, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Initially held in early November, from 1994–2007 the Mid-Ohio Con took place on the first weekend after Thanksgiving. Normally a two-day event, in 2012 it expanded to three days.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pittsburgh Comicon</span>

The Pittsburgh Comicon, later known as Wizard World Comic Con Pittsburgh and since succeeded by Steel-City Con, was a comic book convention held in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, United States. It was founded in 1994 by Michael and Renee George. It was traditionally a three-day event and featured a fan-friendly experience that allowed the fans to interact with comic professionals at all levels.

The Motor City Comic Con is a fan convention held in Novi, Michigan, United States, at the Suburban Collection Showplace. It is traditionally a three-day event, usually held in May of each year. The Motor City Comic Con was founded in 1989 by comics retailer Michael Goldman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Comic Art Convention</span> British comic book convention

The British Comic Art Convention was an annual British comic book convention which was held between 1968 and 1981, usually in London. The earliest British fan convention devoted entirely to comics, it was also the birthplace of the Eagle Awards.

The Dallas Fantasy Fair was an annual multi-genre fan convention held between 1982 and 1995 in Dallas, Texas. From 1989 until the show's demise in 1996, it was the home of the Harvey Award ceremonies. During its heyday, the show was one of the largest comics conventions in the country, third in attendance behind the San Diego Comic-Con and the Chicago Comicon.

OrlandoCon, also known as O'Con, was a long-running comic book and comic strip fan convention which was held annually between 1974 and 1994 in Orlando, Florida. The first comics convention held in the Orlando area, OrlandoCon billed itself as the "Central Florida comic art convention and early TV/film festival." Captain Marvel-creator C. C. Beck was a regular guest of the show; as were many other Golden Age comics creators who lived in the Orlando area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Comic book convention</span> Event with a primary focus on comic books

A comic book convention or comic con is a fan convention with a primary focus on comic books and comic book culture, in which comic book fans gather to meet creators, experts, and each other. Commonly, comic conventions are multi-day events hosted at convention centers, hotels, or college campuses. They feature a wide variety of activities and panels, with a larger number of attendees participating in cosplay than most other types of fan conventions. Comic book conventions are also used as a vehicle for industry, in which publishers, distributors, and retailers represent their comic-related releases. Comic book conventions may be considered derivatives of science-fiction conventions, which began in the late 1930s.

Stumptown Comics Fest was a comic book convention, held annually in Portland, Oregon from 2004–2013. In the model of the Alternative Press Expo and the Small Press Expo, Stumptown was a forum for artists, writers and publishers of comic art in its various forms to expose the public to comics not typically accessible through normal commercial channels.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Gordon, Joe. "For the Love of Comics: A Conversation with Mike Allwood," Archived 2012-01-11 at the Wayback Machine Forbidden Planet International (Aug. 14, 2009).
  2. ↑ Patty, Shawn. "2004 Eagle Awards Winners," Archived 23 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine Comics Bulletin (November 11, 2004).
  3. ↑ Joel Hahn (2001). "National Comics Awards". Archived from the original on 28 October 2007. Retrieved 28 October 2007.
  4. 1 2 "Heroes Swoop In To Comic Expo," Games Industry International (21 April 2005)
  5. ↑ "Comics Expo, Bristol — May 2005," Archived 2013-12-24 at the Wayback Machine DownTheTubes.net. Accessed Dec. 22, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Brighton Comics Expo 2005". (Not to be Confused with) The Truth. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  7. ↑ "Eagle Awards 2006 Nominations". Comics Bulletin. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  8. ↑ Hunt, James (12 May 2008). "A Report from Bristol International Comics Expo". Comic Book Resources.
  9. ↑ Johnston, Rich. "Tim Pilcher Says Too Many Cons, Not Enough Pros," Bleeding Cool (14 May 2012).
  10. ↑ "Bristol Comic Expo 2013 Review". Comic Conventions. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  11. ↑ Carter, Stuart. "Comics Come to Brighton," Emerald City #124 (December 2005).
  12. ↑ Johnston, Rich. "CBR Exclusives: Lying in the Gutters," Comic Book Resources (Aug 15, 2005).
  13. ↑ Singh, Arune. "Bristol International Comic Expo 2006 — May Update," Comic Book Resources (May 4, 2006).
  14. ↑ Official Press Release. "Eagle Awards Website Open for Nominations," Comic Book Resources (Feb 05, 2007).
  15. ↑ Johnston, Rich. "Baking In Bristol – Comics Expo 2010," Bleeding Cool (May 23, 2010).
  16. ↑ Freeman, John. "In Review: The Bristol Comic Expo 2010," DownTheTubes.net (May 24, 2010).
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.