Official Press Release

For the eighth successive year, the Bristol International Comic Expo (www.comicexpo.net ) is back in 2006, on May 13 and 14 at the British Empire & Commonwealth Exhibition Hall coupled with talks at the Ramada Plaza Hotel. For this first update, a few items on Special Guests and some of the Expo Exclusives available at the show.

Special Guests:

This year we’re proud to have Roy Thomas, Howard Chaykin, Geoff Johns and Tommy Lee Edwards (Star Wars) as special international guests: all four will be signing, talking and mingling with their British and European fans.

In addition, just announced, making his first UK appearance is Arthur Suydam, known for his stunning work on CHOLLY and FLYTRAP, MUDWOGS and the gruesome covers of the current Marvel Zombies series, and each attendee at the Expo will receive a FREE EXpo EXclusive official convention poster by Suydam (produced in association with INCOGNITO COMICS).

Other guests include Transformers writer Simon Furman, bringing along an EXpo Exclusive Andrew Wildman variant cover edition of issue four, and the cream of the current crop of British comics writers and artists.

Charity Project:

This year the Expo has selected Everychild and the Draw The World Together (www.drawtheworldtogether.com ) project as the supported charity. Everychild is an international development charity that works with the most vulnerable and marginalised children in many of the world’s poorest countries to enable them to grow up free from disease, poverty and exploitation as valued individuals within strong communities. Draw The World Together is a collection of comics creators donating their time, their art, their abilities, to raise funds for Everychild, via auctions of original artwork, and providing original sketches to fans at the convention. Full details of the artists involved at Bristol will be provided shortly.

Expo Events and Exclusives:

Hypotheticals (www.hypotheticals.co.uk ) returns after a riotous performance last year, with Dave Gibbons hosting and Lee “Budgie” Barnett writing, featuring a panel of very well known comics names being put through the wringer.

Tokyopop attend for the second time, and follow-up amazing levels of interest last year by bringing along virtually their entire range of UK-available titles, giving away posters and sneak peeks, and discounting their books from the usual price of £6.99 to £6 for one, or just £5 each for two or more.

Top Shelf’s (www.topshelfcomix.com ) Chris Staros will be bringing along a selection of brand new releases, including OWLY: FLYING LESSONS, SUPER F*CKERS, EVERY GIRL IS THE END OF THE WORLD FOR ME by Jeffrey Brown and THE TICKING by Renee French, as well as the fine books TRICKED, THE SURROGATES, THE KING, SPIRAL-BOUND & AEIOU from late 2005.

Strangehaven’s auteur, Gary Spencer Millidge, will be signing the complete works so far, including the new issue eighteen and the Conspiracy TP, as well as his limited edition European Tour t-shirt – a selection of artwork from the series will also be available to purchase.

Just confirmed is Rob van Bavel, the Don Lawrence Collection publisher from Holland who will be at his booth with original art, the books and who knows what else! It’s his first UK convention, and a Don Lawrence panel with Liam Sharp and Chris Weston remains a distinct possibility…

Monkeys With Machineguns (http://www.monkeyswithmachineguns.com/pages/mwmissue1.htm) will have a brand new issue on sale, the first from their new publisher Open Book Press (www.openbookpress.com ), and the whole creative force will be signing too. They’ll also have copies of their charity book, “Hammer of Time” (http://www.monkeyswithmachineguns.com/pages/mwmhammeroftime.htm), which has lots of UK and US indie contributors, including Nicola Scott (who has since exploded since being featured in Wizard).

The End Is Nigh issue three will be a con-exclusive release, scheduled to include some cracking features – including ones by Leah Moore and John Reppion (of Albion fame), artwork by Frazer Irving and Boo Cook, and a cover by Liam Sharp! Issue Two will also be available, this one includes interviews with Alan Moore, John Wagner and Alan Grant. Both of these will be available via mail order at £4.99 each, but attendees at the con receive a £1 discount, per title.

FireballComics.com are first-time attendees and as well as bringing a great range of figures, statues and busts are offering a number of Expo Exclusives: Comics – Buy 4 get 5th one free; 3 posters for £15; 2 t-shirts for £20; 3 trade paperbacks for £20; 3 manga books for £15; Money off voucher website orders with every purchase; and £5 off first monthly order for new subscriptions.

Future Quake Publishing will be launching three brand-new publications: FutureQuake #6, MangaQuake #2, and Something Wicked (an all-new Horror comic), the creators of which will be around for signing and sketching. They are also running portfolio sessions for writers and artists.

Silver Bullets Comics (www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com ) have a table for fifth successive year, and once again will be bringing along a set of “Officially Cheaper Than Amazon!” books and comics, as well as showcasing Paul B. Rainey’s (www.bookoflists.co.uk ) stable of books, plus…new for this year…a Small Press Sampler table, containing a wide variety of UK Small Press talent.

In addition, Bevis Musson’s The Queen Of Diamonds hits issue six at the show, Scar Comics launch their new title at the SmallZone table, Fiction Graphic Productions will showcase their titles Nosferatu, The Boss and Death Police, and Paul Von Scott brings the newest issue of SF comic “omnivistascope”.

Next Time:

More on the talks to be given by guests Roy Thomas, Howard Chaykin and Geoff Johns; more on other EXpo EXclusives; more on the UK Small Press scene; more on the UK guests yet to be announced; and more on the mysterious figure guesting on Sunday…it’ll soon be Time to reveal all.

About the Bristol International Comic Expo 2006

Organised by Mike Allwood of renowned UK comics shop Area 51, the Bristol Expo is the longest-running and most successful comics event in the UK ever. Advance tickets are available through the official website (www.comicexpo.net ) at a bargain price (£5 per day for an adult ticket, children 10 and under FREE, children 11 to 16 just £1). The Ramada Plaza hotel offers special Expo rates, see the website for details.