| Hi-Ex | |
|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Comics |
| Venue | Eden Court Theatre |
| Location | Inverness |
| Country | Scotland |
| First held | February 2008 |
| Organizer | Richmond Clements, Vicky Stonebridge |
| Official website | http://www.hi-ex.co.uk/ |
Hi-Ex (short for the Highlands International Comics Expo) is the name given to a Scottish comics convention. It is held early in the year in Eden Court Theatre, Inverness. The organisers are Richmond Clements (editor at FutureQuake Publishing) and Vicky Stonebridge.[1][2][3][4]
Contents |
The idea for the convention emerged from the lack of a major comics convention in the area and a discussion Richmond Clements and Vicky Stonebridge had with Eden Court's Judith Aitken, about possibly bringing in a few guest speakers. Through contacts made because of their involvement with the British small press comics they were able speak to a wide number of professional comic creators and the event rapidly grew into full weekend. They also received advice from people with experience in running conventions, including Michael Carroll, who runs Octocon,[5] and the Comic Expo's Mike Allwood.[6]
Hi-Ex has also been used by the BBC as an example of how the Internet has helped facilitate developments in the Highlands and Islands. Clements is quoted as saying "Practically the entire event was organised through e-mail."[5][6]
They also run an outreach program, running workshops at schools involving comics professionals, with funding from bodies like the Highland Council.[7]
The first event took place at and included Cam Kennedy, Colin MacNeil, John Higgins, Gary Erskine and Rufus Dayglo. The poor weather meant Alan Grant was unable to attend and run a script writing workshop but Al Ewing, Declan Shalvey and Ben Clark filled in for him.[8] Also there were the 501st Legion UK Garrison[9] and a Predator.[10]
Hi-Ex was the centre of a range of other events organised to promote comics in the region, including "outreach visits" to schools, involving Kev F. Sutherland, with the help of the The Highland Council and Scottish Arts Council,[8] and an exhibition of comic art in Eden Court's gallery.[2]
The BBC revealed that Frank Quitely and Mike McMahon were booked for the second Hi-Ex, taking place on the weekend of the 14-15 February.[11]
As it coincided with the launch of the Watchmen film, the 2009 event had a general Watchmen feel, with the presence of John Higgins, the colourist, and Alan Moore's daughter Leah, along with other guests like Mike McMahon, Frank Quitely and Leigh Gallagher.[12] As it also coincided with Valentine's Day it included a debate on romance comics, and romance in comics in general.[13]
For the first time Hi-Ex secured Highland Council funding for their schools outreach program that runs in parallel with the convention.[14] The promotional art by Colin MacNeil features Judge Dredd and Nessie.[15]
Northings, the Highlands and Islands Art Journal, described the first convention as "inspirational" and said that "By the end of the weekend I felt like a door had been opened on a whole genre of Art that I hadn’t really engaged with before.".[8] Of those that attended, Gary Erskine declared it a "complete success."[16]