Thought Bubble Comic Art Festival 2024 has officially ended. Taking place across Yorkshire from November 11th to 17th, and ending with a two-day convention in Harrogate, it was a week of celebration of comics, art and the British community.
There was a wide variety of exciting events throughout the festival, and especially during the two-day convention, as explained in a pre-show preview recently published by The Beat. For this event, three of the convention center’s halls were open to the public for the first time: Bubble Boy Hall, DSTLRY Hall, and Traveling Man Hall. The three halls house a variety of comic professionals, from independent and small press talent like Lucy Sullivan, Molly Ray, and Dennis Menhire to big names like Sean Phillips, Lamb V., and Chip Zdarsky. have gathered. Saturday’s event was completely sold out, with crowds pouring in around noon. It was overstimulated and crowded at times, but the incredibly admirable team of red shirt volunteers always kept an eye on things and helped those in need at every opportunity.
Many retailers, including Traveling Man, set up shop at the event. It wasn’t hard to get comics, as nearly every vendor had their own books as well, and there were plenty of autograph sessions. I brought much of my personal collection to get autographed, and the exhibitors were always very grateful for their expressions of support and admiration. Almost all exhibitors took both cash and cards, but I didn’t have any major issues with card readers like I’ve previously experienced at major conventions. Sure, there was a problem with resellers pulling out suitcases full of comics after shows to sign without personalization or online listings. The ethics of such actions can be debated endlessly, but in order to minimize resellers, many exhibitors offer individuals a small fee for signing more than 10 or 15. I appreciated that they started charging fees.
A sketch drawn for me by Chip Zdarsky.
The Thought Bubble team was very supportive of the press staff and set up a dedicated press room in the Queen’s suite area to conduct interviews. The Beat did two interviews over the weekend, both of which will be published in the coming weeks, and it was incredibly easy to travel as a weekend presser. I had never had a press pass to a convention before. So we would like to thank Harry Ridgway for helping us set up the press pass. They also helped me set up certain interviews. I would also like to especially thank the entire red shirt team for their support. throughout the event.
One of the highlights of the convention was the Steve Dillon exhibit. Celebrating the late great artist behind Preacher, Hellblazer and more, a free-admission exhibition over the weekend showcased original works spanning his entire career. Preacher was an important comic for me in my youth and formative years as a comic book reader, so being able to see its original pages was a great experience. When Dillon passed away, we lost a master of this craft. It was a great gesture to honor him, even if it was a small one.
Image from the Steve Dillon exhibition.
During the convention, I attended a number of interesting and fascinating panels, from discussions about Muslim representation in comics to self-portraits created by terrifying monsters. The range of subjects was excellent, and nearly all of the panels I attended were well-hosted, with interesting guests, well-thought-out and eloquent questions, and high audience participation. My favorite panel of the weekend was about queer horror comics with James Tynion IV, John Harris Dunning, Tini Howard, and Claudia Aguirre in conversation with Jazlyn Stone. The energy in the room was contagious as we talked about finding empowerment as queer people through the horror genre. As a queer person myself, this conversation was incredibly moving. I especially loved Dunning’s insight that young readers need a “window looking out of prison” to help them break away from the way they were raised and find their own unique identities. In a vibrant and diverse scene that brings together creators and readers of all backgrounds and identities, it’s important that panels reflect that diversity, and Thoughtbubble did just that.
Images from the Queer Horror panel.
Food was easily accessible at the convention center, with several restaurants nearby, and coffee was plentiful at the various cafes within the convention center. After Saturday’s event, there was a Mid-Con party hosted by Tiny Onion at a bar called Mojo, featuring DJs Sarah Gordon, Al Ewing, Kieron Gillen, Shane Melisse, Henry Barajas, and Katie. West, Jazlyn Stone.. Admission was free to anyone attending the convention, both guests and convention attendees. Although the space was a little too small for the amount of people coming and going, it was a great experience. Despite my initial concerns about the event, I felt very safe. A particularly memorable moment for me was when cardboard cutouts were passed around on the dance floor, one of the most interesting and hilarious experiences of the weekend, which Gillen managed to capture on video.
Images from Mojo during the mid-con party.
At the heart of the whole convention was the vibrant and welcoming British comics community. Throughout the convention, convention attendees could be seen purchasing comics, prints, and merchandise, even in areas focused on small presses and independent comics. Cosplayers dressed up as characters from hit comics like Lovesick and Ministry of Truth to show how much those stories meant to them. People brought presents to exhibitors and guests, and it was common to see exhibitors supporting each other by purchasing each other’s books and prints. I was lucky enough to sit behind a stall with a manga expert and see first-hand the exchange of kindness and support that creators receive and get a glimpse of what that experience is like. . It was one of my favorite experiences of the weekend.
On a more personal note, I’ve attended many conventions over the years, but none have been as amazing as this one. Thought Bubble focuses almost entirely on manga, rather than movie adaptations, anime, or video games. It champions the art form we all love and seeks to spread that love to everyone who walks through its doors. I felt so wonderfully accepted and supported by the community. Thank you to everyone I spoke to over the weekend: friends, members of the press, and experts. I recommend this convention to anyone who is passionate about comics and wants to see their passion reflected and furthered by a group of people who are more passionate about comics than you can imagine I will.
Image of monster portrait panel.
Overall, Thought Bubble 2024 was a great experience. The UK comics community is passionate, caring and incredibly vibrant, supporting each other and championing the artistry and importance of comics at a time when we need them more than ever. This was a strong showing from the Thought Bubble team. They have proven time and time again that this festival is one of the most important and important events in comics every year, with a focus on promoting talented, kind, and deserving creators . I’m looking forward to next year and can’t wait to see what the teams involved do next and can’t wait to come back for another year. Until next time, Harrogate.
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