Portsmouth Comic Con

What a great event. 

It has always been one of my favourites, well run, well attended and a great diversity of comic and toy related stuff on offer.

I arrived pretty early Saturday morning, you can never predict how motorway driving is going to go so I set off pretty early. I know the area around the Guildhall now though and knew the car park near the event that is easy to get stock between the two.

I was so early I interrupted a fox going about his morning business...

He gave me that kind of 'This is my bin, find your own' look.

The venue is well signposted...

and once you've managed to get your pass (a very easy experience (maybe because I was so early) and you're treated by all ECTO 1 and the DeLorean Time Machine (much bigger than my Lego version)... oh.. and Slimer...

and you're in.

I experimented a bit this year, as I was on my own I didn't have to try to persuade anyone, and only took my WesterNoir related books and merchandise, and Quantum comics.

Happy with the simpler look, sometimes I think less is actually more.

The event was great. Had lots of people spot the figures and come across for a chat (and some purchases) and then the usual mix of new customers and customers returning from previous years to pick up the latest issue(s).

I met up with a lot of people and made some new friends.

Some interesting potential future developments, but I won't jinx anything here and now, let's see how things go.

So, full credit to Kurt and the organisers, another very successfully run and fun family event. 

And the queues outside we long and well managed too...

I'll be back next year...

If they'll have me.

Portsmouth Comic Con this weekend.

Yep, not much time to recover from last weekend's MCM in London and we're off to Portsmouth.

I've really enjoyed our visits to this Con, it has a really nice vibe about it. Family friendly with lots to do but still keeping he feeling of being a proper comic con.

Worth a visit if you're in the area.

Convention Season is starting...

I'll be at the Time Bomb Comics stands at both the MCM event in London on the 26th to the 28th May...

and also the Portsmouth Comics Convention the 3rd and 4th of June. 

Can't wait.

Portsmouth Comic Con - A great southern Con.

Well it was a few weeks ago now but I thought I'd write a short summary of how I found it getting back to Portsmouth and, well, getting back to Cons.

This one started with a panel, something I've not done for a while, outside in the Sun.

I must say that David Baillie made us all feel relaxed and involved and I really enjoyed it. Great to be sat next to Kai Wordsmith artist and collaborator Ian Ashcroft.

Two days of great attendance from the public, good engagement with people who stopped at the table and great catching up with other creators and at the end of the weekend I realised what a good time I'd had. 

Not just that I sold a good number of books, always a good thing, but also that's the Con had that family friendly feel to it that a lot of the larger events lack.

Looking forward to doing more in the future.

Portsmouth Comic Con is this weekend.

This weekend I'll be flying solo at the Portsmouth Comic Con.

It's a great Con and I'm really glad to see it back.

Do pop by the table and say 'Hi' if you are there, it's been a while.

Looking forward to my first Con of the year.

 

Portsmouth Comic Con

 ..returns and I've got a table in Comic City 4, which is where I think I was last time around.

It's a great event that grew a little each year and takes place on the 7th and 8th May.

PortsmouthComicCon.

Portsmouth Comic Con

I've a lot of catching up to do, things have been very busy, the day job, life and comics all competing for attention.
May was very very busy for Accent UK, with 3 Cons, which unbalanced my usual balance.
It all started with the second Portsmouth Comic Con.
A Con where I fly solo.
Driving there and back to my flat each day to drive (sorry) down costs.
Last year's event was had all the right signs of this Con growing into something quite special.

And signs were good in that's when I arrived, with about an hour until doors opened, there was already a queue building.

I was happier with my position this year, being in a smaller hall with more independent comic people, rather than the main hall where there were more comic shop and Lego dealers.
There was an extra 'hall' this year, outside in a marquee, which I feared might have a negative effect on sales, but chances were that the Con would attract more visitors, following the good feedback on last year's event, so I kept positive.
Saturday was fairly good. My table was next to Soaring Penguin and it was nice to chat to Tim Pilcher for the first time. Between chats we had plenty of browsers and customers, for me a number of returning customers who picked up issues 5 to 8 of WesterNoir, having bought the TPB last year.
Despite decent sales, the highlight for me was catching up with sculptor Alan Longmore. At least ear's event we had discussed him taking on making a model of Kingdom. I'd not been in touch over the last few months as I don't like to pressure people so imagine my surprise at seeing...

He'd done the job, and brilliantly.
I love his version of Kingdom. A little leaner than Indio! draws him, so its very much Alan's artistic version but having all the ingredients. I love that.

We're looking to get this 3D printed if possible, so if anyone knows a 3D scanner company who aren't too expensive then please let me know.
Saturday night, despite the drive home, was spent chatting comics over a burger and beer, ginger beer as I was driving. I met Chris Sides for the first time that night and spent a nice evening with him, Steve Tanner and Dave Morris.
Sunday was actually pretty much a repeat of Saturday.
Sure the quiet periods were longer but overall sales were pretty much the same and the chat with browsers just as much fun.
Will I go back next year?
I've already sent in my request : o )