| Comic Expo | |
|---|---|
| Status | Defunct |
| Genre | Comics |
| Venue | British Empire & Commonwealth Exhibition Hall/Ramada Plaza Hotel (2005–2008) Ramada City Inn/Mercure Holland House Hotel (2009–2011) Passenger Shed of Brunel Old Station (2012–2014) |
| Location(s) | Bristol |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Inaugurated | November2004 |
| Most recent | May 2014 |
| Attendance | 4,000 (2008) |
| Organized by | Mike Allwood |
| Filing status | for-profit |
| Website | www.fantasyevents.org/bristolcomicexpo |
The Bristol International Comic & Small Press Expo, commonly known asComic Expo orBCE, was an annualcomic book convention held in theUnited Kingdom from 2004 to 2013. The show was held once a year inBristol in the spring. The organiser wasMike Allwood, formerly of Area 51,[1] a comic shop based in Bristol.
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 Comic Expo was theOrang Utan Comics film night, which was a staple of the show since 2007. The charity event "Draw the World Together" was an annual part of the show.[1] BCE included a separate "Small Press Expo,"[1] an autograph area, as well as a so-called "Artists' Alley" where comics artists signed autographs and sold or offered free sketches. Publishers such asRebellion Publishing,Panini Comics,Markosia, Reed Full Circle, andSelfMadeHero often had presences as well.[1]
From 2004[2] to 2008, Comic Expo was the host of theEagle Awards.
BCE replaced a previous Bristol-based UK convention, theComic Festival; retailer Mike Allwood had been involved with managing Comic Festival as well.[3] (Comic Festival itself had been preceded as an annual UK comic book convention by theUnited Kingdom Comic Art Convention).[1]
The first Comic Expo was held in Bristol on 6–7 November 2004, at the Ramada City Inn. (A so-called "Pro-Con" was held in the same space on 5 November.) Guests includedSimon Furman,Mike Carey, andMike Collins. 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 BCE, held in May 2005, was a success, with guests such asJ. Michael Straczynski,Michael Avon Oeming,Gary Frank,Dave Gibbons,Alan Davis,Brian Bolland,[4]Mike Ploog andSimon Bisley; as well as over 2,000 attendees.[5] TheJust 1 Page charity comic was produced at Comic Expo 2005 and again in 2006 (continuing on from its origins atComic Festival).
The November 2005 Brighton Comic Expo was held at the prestigious Metropole Hilton, the largest conference hotel in South England. Guests includedMark Millar,Gilbert Shelton,Dave Gibbons,Sydney Jordan, andHarry Harrison. This was again successful and, with the exception of a few minor criticisms, proved immensely popular with those attending.[6]
Comic Expo Bristol 2006 was a success, with early figures suggesting around 2,000 attendees, as well as the presentation of theEagle Awards.[7]
The 2008 show was the best attended one so far, with more than 4,000 ticket buyers.[1] TheEagle Awards ceremony was held on Saturday, May 10, presented by comedianFraser Ayres.[8]
TheGreat Recession hit the 2009 show hard, as only 650 fans attended.[1] The 2012 show attracted only 300 attendees, with many exhibitors reporting losses. Because of this, there was speculation the show might not survive,[9] but attendance increased for the 2013 show.[10] Nonetheless, the final BCE was held in 2014.
| Dates | Venue | Attendance | Official guests | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6–7 Nov 2004 | Ramada City Inn | Simon Furman,Mike Carey, andMike Collins | Eagle Awards presented at CBE for the first time. | |
| 14–15 May 2005 | British Empire & Commonwealth Exhibition Hall/Ramada Plaza Hotel[4] | 2,000 | J. Michael Straczynski,Michael Avon Oeming,Gary Frank,Dave Gibbons,Alan Davis,Brian Bolland,Mike Ploog andSimon Bisley | |
| 19–20 November 2005 | Metropole Hilton (Brighton) | 2,000 | Mark Millar,Gilbert Shelton,Dave Gibbons,Sydney Jordan, andHarry Harrison | Brighton show organized withDez Skinn[11][12] |
| 13–14 May 2006 | British Empire & Commonwealth Exhibition Hall/Ramada Plaza Hotel | 2,000 | Roy Thomas (guest of honour);Geoff Johns,Howard Chaykin,David Lloyd, andLiam Sharp[13] | Eagle Awards presentation |
| 12–13 May 2007 | British Empire & Commonwealth Exhibition Hall/Ramada Plaza Hotel | Kurt Busiek,Brian K. Vaughan,Jeph Loeb, andJean-Pierre Dionnet | Eagle Awards presentation, hosted by actor/comedianNorman Lovett[14] | |
| 9–11 May 2008 | British Empire & Commonwealth Exhibition Hall/Ramada Plaza Hotel[1] | 4,000 | Jim Shooter,Walt Simonson,Jim Starlin, andDave Gibbons | Eagle Awards presentation, hosted by comedianFraser Ayres |
| 9–10 May 2009 | Ramada City Inn/Mercure Holland House Hotel | 650 | Dan DiDio and Bob Wayne | |
| 22–23 May 2010[15] | Ramada City Inn/Mercure Holland House Hotel | 1,000 | Richard Starkings,Kieron Gillen,Paul Grist,Charlie Adlard, andIan Churchill[16] | |
| 14–15 May 2011 | Ramada City Inn/Mercure Holland House Hotel | Martin Asbury,Paul Grist,Dave Gibbons,John Higgins,Rick Veitch, andRichard Starkings | ||
| 12–13 May 2012 | Passenger Shed of Brunel Old Station | 300 | Dennis O'Neil (guest of honor; but unable to attend);Paul Cornell,Ian Churchill, andMark Buckingham | |
| 11–12 May 2013 | Passenger Shed of Brunel Old Station | 2,500 | Ian Churchill,Ian Gibson,Boo Cook,Mark Buckingham,Ben Oliver, andLee Garbett | |
| 10–11 May 2014 | Passenger Shed of Brunel Old Station | James O'Barr,Arthur Suydam,Michael Golden |