British Comic Art Convention
The British Comic Art Convention (usually known by the moniker Comicon) 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.
| British Comic Art Convention | |
|---|---|
 1968 attendee badge. Art by Mike Higgs | |
| Status | Defunct |
| Genre | Comic books |
| Venue | Waverley Hotel, London (1969, 1971–1973) Regent Centre Hotel, London (1974–1977) |
| Location(s) | Birmingham (1968, 1979) London (1969, 1971–1978, 1981) Sheffield (1970) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Inaugurated | 1968 |
| Most recent | 1981 |
| Organized by | Rob Barrow (1973–1978) |
Most editions of Comicon took place over two days, usually on a Saturday and Sunday. 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 Comicon was the Saturday all-night film show.
History
The first Comicon was organized by 18-year-old Phil Clarke and was held 30 August – 2 September 1968 in Birmingham, England. (Clarke paid £111 of his own money to rent the venue for the show, the Midland Hotel.)[1] The first show attracted both professional and amateur creators of the time, including, Paul Neary, Jim Baikie, Steve Moore, and Nick Landau.[2] It also featured a "fancy dress" contest, in which contestants dressed up as characters from the comic books.[2]
Comicon '69, held in London, was organized by retailer Bram Stokes, "Godfather of British fandom"[2] Frank Dobson, and Steve Moore. The convention booklet featured original illustrations by Vaughn Bodē, Wally Wood, Joe Orlando, Al Williamson, Jeff Jones, and Bernie Wrightson. Films screened included The Black Knight, an episode of the 1954 Flash Gordon TV show, and Heading West, a Durango Kid film.[2]
Comicon '70 was organized by Sam Plumb and held in Sheffield, the convention booklet featured original art by Mike Higgs and Trevor Goring.[2]
Comicon '71 returned to London (where it stayed, except for a one-year return to Birmingham in 1979), and was organized by Bram Stokes and later-Marvel UK editor Dez Skinn.[2] - the convention booklet featured original art by Dave Gibbons, Paul Neary, Jim Baikie and Mike Higgs.
Comicon '72, the fifth annual show, was organized by Nick Landau, later to become publisher of Titan Books.[2] The Comicon '72 program booklet featured artwork by Dave Gibbons, Robert Crumb, Kevin O'Neill, and Mike Higgs. Attendees included comedian Bob Monkhouse and Monty Python member Terry Gilliam; Brian Bolland made his first professional contacts.[1]
Comicon '73, planned and promoted by Bram Stokes and John Mansfield, was scheduled for the weekend of 21–22 July at London's Regent Centre Hotel, with special guests Frank Bellamy and Morris.[3] The show being abruptly canceled shortly before it was scheduled, however, the event was salvaged by Nick Landau and Rob Barrow, who by that time were promoters of the competing London Comic Mart shows. Landau and Barrow managed to put on a one-day show on 22 July at the usual location of the Waverley Hotel.[2] Barrow organized the convention for at least the next four years.
The Comicon '76 convention booklet featured artwork by Dave Gibbons, John Bolton, Kevin O'Neill, Paul Neary, Brian Bolland, Ron Embleton, John M. Burns, Brian Lewis, Martin Asbury, Frank Hampson, John Romita, Sr., Bryan Talbot, and Hunt Emerson.
The tenth anniversary show, Comicon '77, hosted the first presentation of the Eagle Awards, organized by Mike Conroy, Nick Landau, Colin Campbell, Phil Clarke, and Richard Burton.[4] The Comicon '77 program booklet featured interviews with Brian Bolland and Dave Gibbons; and artwork by Hunt Emerson, Leslie Stannage, Frank Frazetta, and John Byrne.
The Comicon '78 convention booklet featured a cover by Frank Bellamy; an appreciation of Don McGregor by Richard Burton; a Michael Kaluta interview by Chuck Dixon; and artwork by Jack Kirby, Frank Thornton, Fred Holmes, Dave Gibbons, Brian Bolland, Brian Lewis, Judith Hunt, Mike McMahon, Frank Humphries, Joe Staton, Trevor Goring, Keith Watson, Ron Embleton, Dicky Howett, Frank Hampson, John Bolton, Walt Simonson, and Hunt Emerson. Films shown during the "All Nite Film Show" were Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, Jabberwocky, Freebie and the Bean, Freaks, Vault of Horror, Monkey Business, and Dr. Cyclops. The Sunday films were the recent James Bond films Live and Let Die and Rollerball.[5]
Comicon' 79, or "British Comic Art Convention 11," was sponsored by Valhalla Books of Ilford, Essex, and organized by Ian Starling, Neville Ferris, and Ian Knox. It took place August 11-12, 1979.[6] (A competing show, U.K. Comic Art & Fantasy Convention, was organized by Rob Barrow's former partner Colin Campbell and was held August 31–September 2 in Comicon's original location of Birmingham.)
Details are sketchy as to whether a 1980 convention took place or not; the final incarnation of Comicon was held in 1981 in London, organized by Dez Skinn and Frank Dobson.[7]
Locations and dates
| Dates | Location | Organizer | Official guests | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 August – 2 September 1968 | Midland Hotel, Birmingham | Phil Clarke | Alan Moore, Paul Neary, Jim Baikie, Steve Moore, and Nick Landau | and Frank Dobson (Godfather of comics) |
| 1969 | Waverley Hotel, London | Bram Stokes, Frank Dobson, and Steve Moore | Steve Parkhouse and Barry Smith | |
| 1970 | Rutland Hotel, Sheffield | Sam Plumb (assisted by Jon Harvey, Dave Fletcher, and Peter D. Parkin) | ||
| 27–28 February 1971 | Waverley Hotel, London | Bram Stokes and Dez Skinn | Frank Bellamy (guest of honor); Frank Dickens, Mick Farren, and Edward Barker | |
| 5–6 August 1972 | Waverley Hotel | Nick Landau | 5th annual show | |
| 22 July 1973 | Waverley Hotel | Nick Landau and Rob Barrow (originally Bram Stokes and John Mansfield) | ||
| 21–22 July 1974 | Regent Centre Hotel, London | Rob Barrow | Denis Gifford | subtitled "Comic Mart Summer Special 1974"[2] |
| 2–3 August 1975 | Regent Centre Hotel | Rob Barrow | Frank Hampson and Paul Neary | |
| 21–22 August 1976 | Regent Centre Hotel | Rob Barrow | Paul Neary, Tony Weare, Dave Gibbons, John Bolton, Kevin O'Neill, Brian Bolland, Ron Embleton, John M. Burns, Brian Lewis, Martin Asbury, Frank Hampson, John Romita, Sr., Bryan Talbot, Hunt Emerson | |
| 3–4 September 1977 | Bloomsbury Centre Hotel, London | Rob Barrow | First annual presentation of the Eagle Awards | |
| 29–30 July 1978 | Bloomsbury Centre Hotel | Rob Barrow and Colin Campbell | Don McGregor (guest of honor); George Pérez, Jim Salicrup, Duffy Vohland, Brian Bolland, John Bolton, Brian Lewis, Trevor Goring, Dez Skinn, Dave Gibbons | 2nd annual presentation of the Eagle Awards |
| 11–12 August | London | Ian Starling, Neville Ferris, and Ian Knox | Jim Starlin (guest of honor) | |
| 1981 | London | Dez Skinn and Frank Dobson | Frank Miller, Alan Davis, Paul Neary, Bryan Talbot, Richard Burton, Bernie Jaye, Martin Asbury, Brian Bolland, John Bolton, John M. Burns, Ron Embleton, Dave Gibbons, Don Lawrence, and Mick Anglo | |
See also
References
- Johnston, Rich. "ComICA – ‘Dark We Were And Golden Eyed’ Panel Report," Bleeding Cool (November 8, 2009).
- Skinn, Dez. "Early days of UK comics conventions and marts," Archived 2012-02-01 at the Wayback Machine DezSkinn.com. Accessed Mar. 3, 2013.
- Roberts, Peter (21 October 1972). "6th British Comicon". Checkpoint (25). Retrieved 2008-09-08.
- Burton, Richard "'The Eagles' are launched!" in Burton (ed.) Comic Media News #30 (Mar-Apr 1977), p. 11
- "Comicon 78 Programme" (1978), pp. 4-5.
- Comicon '79 program (1979).
- Johnston, Rich. "Lying in the Gutters," Comic Book Resources (Aug. 15, 2005).
External links
- David Hine's blog post about Comicon '78
- CLASSIC UK COMICS ZINES: Convention Booklets, including almost all the Comicon programs
- "Bellamy and the British comic conventions," Frank Bellamy Checklist Blog (July 2011)