Comic Expo
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Comic Expo is the name given to the UK's largest comic book event. It is held twice a year, in Bristol in the spring and in Brighton in the autumn. The organiser is Mike Allwood of Area 51 the comic shop based in Bristol.
[edit] History
Replacing the previous UK convention, the Comic Festival (which itself had replaced UKCAC), the first Expo was held in Bristol in November 2004, 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 one held in May 2005 in Bristol, was a huge success with guests such as Mike Ploog and Simon Bisley attending. The first Expo to be held in Brighton was in November 2005 at the prestigious Metropole Hilton, the largest conference hotel in South England. This was again successful and with the exception of a few minor criticisms proved immensely popular with those attending.
Comic Expo Bristol 2006 was a huge success, with early attendance figures suggesting around 2000 attendees. The Guest of Honour was Roy Thomas, the former Editor-in-Chief of Marvel (1972 - 1974). Other guests included Geoff Johns and Howard Chaykin.
The Brighton Expo for 2006 has been cancelled so the next Comic Expo is due to be held in Bristol in May 2007. Guests includes Kurt Busiek, Brian K Vaughan and Jeph Loeb and Jean-Pierre Dionnet as the current head-liners.
[edit] The Bristol Preview
In 2006, UK indie comic studio Monkeys with Machineguns ran an online preview online preview for all of the indie press exhibitors attending the Bristol Expo.
A 2007 preview is currently in the works.
