Part of the London Film and Comic Con, the London Comic Festival took place at Olympia in Kensington as usual, and was a very pleasant weekend indeed. 

Huge thanks also of course to everyone who stopped by my table to buy a comic and/or sketch and have a chat. This was only my second comic con this year and I'd missed the interactions with the readers so it was very much appreciated.

It was so good to catch up with my good friends in the comics industry. Some I've known for decades, some I only met this year. The nice thing about these shows is we're all of different ages and backgrounds which reflects the diversity of the comics biz and even keeps an old fogie like me feeling young at heart.

Far too many people to mention, and I'm bound to forget some anyway, so here's a selection of photos from the Sunday. The only downside is it'll be a while before we meet up again.

I took less comics this time but they all sold very well.

Dennis the Menace artist Nigel Parkinson!

My old OINK! pal David Leach and his fine set of comics.

With artists Chris Geary and, from Madrid, Patricia Martin.

Outstanding cartoonist Roger Langridge!

Actor/comic artist Jessica Martin won a Hall of Fame Award this year!

Wrtiter Simon Furman also won a Hall of Fame Award (not pictured).

Editor/publisher Ben Cullis of The77 Publications

Steve Tanner and Dave West of Time Bomb Comics.

Lee Sullivan, Andrew Cartmel, and Jessica Martin on a panel.

Roger Langridge, me, Ellie Wright, and Nigel Parkinson on a panel.

Adrian Clarke, publisher of SHIFT and other comics.

Pau Scorpi and her fantastic artwork.

End of the show. Mike Collins, Dylan Teague, David Leach and I have left the building.

I don't know when, or if, I'll be doing any more shows this year. Nothing scheduled for the immediate future but hopefully I'll be invited somewhere, somewhen! Follow this blog for updates.

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Dates: Saturday 5th July and Sunday 6th July.

Venue: Olympia, Kensington. 

Where to find me: Lower Grand, Table 21 near the Comic Stage.

The layout looks somewhat different this year so please seek out my table. 

Here's my banner to look out for...

I'll be bringing along my comics plus doing commissioned sketches of any one character on an A4 sheet. (Preferably characters I've worked on, or other humour characters.)   

I'm also scheduled to be on a panel on Sunday morning with Nigel Parkinson, talking about our work. That's on the Comic Stage.

See you there!

More info:

https://londonfilmandcomiccon.com/ 

That weekend still sticks in my mind and I posted about it on this blog five years ago. Rather than repeat that post, here's the link where you'll find it:

https://lewstringercomics.blogspot.com/2019/09/comicon-1979-40-years-on.html

Bitten by the convention bug I'd attend them every year from then on, and as a guest from 1984 onwards. I've met so many valued friends over the past 45 years and the comics community means a great deal to me. I'm not sure when I'll be at another event depending on health and finances but I hope it's not too long.

Meanwhile here's just a few of the fantastic talented comics creators from over the years that I'm proud to call my friends...

Photo by Nigel Wolfin.

My thanks to Tony Lee, Amy McGarry-Thickitt , Antony McGarry-Thickitt for the invite to the very enjoyable London Comic Festival at the weekend, part of the London Film and Comic Con at Olympia. As well as their hard work running the event, they always made sure guests were looked after and their thoughtfulness was much appreciated. 

Photo by Colin Maxwell.

The major highlight for me this year was being inducted into the London Comic Festival Hall of Fame. An award I'll treasure for the rest of my life. It came as a complete surprise when event organiser Tony Lee made the presentation at the end of a panel discussion on Saturday morning. 

Tony Lee, David Leach, Rachael Smith, me, and Irma Page.

The London Film and Comic Con has always invited comics creators from all genres of comics, and always treated humour comics with the same respect as the more "serious" comics so it felt very uplifting to receive an award for my 40 years in the business. Other award winners this year were editor Shelley Bond, artist Simon Bisley, and TV presenter Peter Purves.

With actor, artist, entertainer and good friend Jessica Martin. Photo by Nigel Wolfin.

It was a great three day event that may have been a bit smaller than previous summer shows but still filled a massive hall at Olympia with a good balance of comic creators, actors, and exhibitors. Everyone I spoke to at my table said they were enjoying the show. Thanks to all who bought a sketch, a comic, or just wanted to chat. 

Combat Colin No.5 was launched at the show on Friday morning and sold well over the weekend. For those who couldn't make it, it'll be available from my eBay store tonight from 7pm.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?item=203554298786&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562&_ssn=graphite47 

The new all-ages comic LoLz was also launched at the show. The new comic from The77 Publications that includes an all new Derek the Troll page by me. You can order it from this link:

https://the77comic.bigcartel.com/product/lolz

With Ben Cullis, publisher of LoLz and other comocs from The77 stable.

A big part of any convention is catching up with friends and meeting new people. It was an absolute pleasure to spend time with Emma Vieceli , Jessica Martin and Nigel, David Leach , Petra Manley-leach, Mike Collins , Bernadette Vella, Aly Fell and Rosie, Ian Richardson, Rachael Smith, Peter Hogan and Ellie, Sonia Leong , Nigel Parkinson , Pau Scorpi , Robert Rankin, Rachel Rankin-Hayward , Kit Cox , Irma Page , Mark Buckingham , Steve Tanner , Dave West, Colin Maxwell, Gary Erskine , Yel Zamor , Lee Townsend , Kev Sutherland , Pye Parr , Rob Williams, Ben Cullis , Andrw Sawyers , Marc Laming , Leonard Sultana , Joel Meadows, Hamish Steele, Stephen Baskerville , and many more I've bound to have forgotten in my post-convention weariness. 

I've been going to comic cons for 45 years (40 as a guest) and the positivity, laughs, genuine friendship and mutual respect at the shows are always uplifting. The best of times. 

Here are a few photos taken over the weekend. As always I wish I'd taken more but we were busy and there wasn't always the right moment but I did manage to snap these...

Commando writer Colin Maxwell cosplaying as Combat Colin!

Super artist/writer and good pal Rachael Smith.

Writer Kit Cox

Legendary writer Roberty Rankin and his wife Rachel Rankin-Hayward.

 

It's Dennis the Menace artist Nigel Parkinson!

Superb artist Pau Scorpi.

Dave West and Steve Tanner of Time Bomb Comics

Joel Meadows, publisher of Tripwire magazine

Out for a meal with Peter Hogan and Ellie, David Leach and Petra Manley-Leach on Saturday night.

Early Sunday morning before the crowds arrived.

The amazing roof of the Olympia hall.

I've no definite plans for more shows this year as yet but I'll announce them on this blog if there are developments.

See you at the London Comic Festival (part of the London Film and Comic Con) from Friday 5th July to Sunday 7th July! 

Laura Howell, David Leach, me, and Marc Jackson.

 

With writer Dan Whitehead at the show.

Thanks to all who stopped by for a sketch and/or a comic. Extra special thanks to Ché Michael for giving me a fantastic model of Combat Colin he'd made (see photos), and to John D. Payne for coming along in Combat Colin cosplay! (Thanks also to John for giving me a drawing he'd done of me as Combat Colin!) :D 

Ché Michael with the Combat Colin figurine he made.

John D. Payne as Combat Colin!

It's me as Combat Colin! Art by John D. Payne

It was also the launch day of Goof comic which went down well with all who bought a copy. An all new summer special edited by Marc Jackson, featuring a range of current humour artists. You can order yours at this link:

https://ko-fi.com/s/d7475af5fd 

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