Stoke Con April 2015
It seemed to have gone from strength to strength. Only a few months ago I heard that a couple of guys (Terry and Rob) who worked at 6 Towns Radio had come up with an idea to hire out Staffordshire University Student Union and Brindley building and hold a convention with people from film, TV and comics.
Rob Legar is a shinning light to organisation. His ability to pull this together with Terry Bosson the people of Stoke on Trent to participate in this brilliant event is a testament to the internet and word of mouth.
In September 2014 1000 people queued on a sunny sunny morning to be part of something new, this year over 2000 people came and experience the same event. This time Cartoon & Comic Arts tried to help and organise the event. To say it was a learning curve is an understatement.
Queues for Stoke Con 2015 far exceeded expectations with over 2000 people turning up to be part of the event .
Above Award Leader for Cartoon & Comic Arts Adrian Tooth who helped to organise the Brindley building and the visiting cartoonist and comic book artist.
Some of the star who attended had already been such as Colin Baker who played the 6th Doctor. But Alongside him was Simon Fisher-Becker from the new series of Doctor Who
Other Guest included Red Dwarf stars Danny John Jules (Cat) Chris Barrie (Arnold J Rimmer) Robert Llewellyn (Kryton) and Norman Lovett (Holly)
The Cartoon & Comic Arts Award ran an artist alley, where students were allowed to sell their work and also a range of visiting professionals were their as well.
Above is a range of the visiting comic book artist who came to Stoke Con. Top Right, Co Founder of Viz Comic and also a comic in his own right Simon Donald. Top Right Marc Jackson and Paul McCaffery both of which work with David Lloyd on Aces Weekly. Below and centre, Lee Townsend and Jon Haward, both MarvelUk artist.
Above at the other end of the artist alley there was John Charles from MarvelUK and cover designer for 2000AD and David Lloyd from V for Vendetta and Aces Weekly digital Comic.
Close up of John Charles working on a commission
Simon Donald
Jason Brindley from 2000AD was a hit with the punters as he has just had his work published in the Judge Dredd Megazine. Copies of his work and signed issues of the comic were flying off his table.
Student Kieran Hayes also turned up to show off his caricature skills and was drawing people at the convention
Here Adrian Tooth stands in for Jason Brindley... I wonder if they will notice the difference? Jason also works at Staffordshire University on the Cartoon & Comic Arts Award.
Gareth Cowlin, satirical and gag cartoonist for Private Eye (and others) is taken by surprise
The convention provided an opportunity for the Staffordshire University to plug their awards as well as Cartoon & Comic Arts 1st Year students were given their chance to work on a stand selling their work.
As you can see above the event was packed, this was even with the addition of the Sir Stanley Matthews Sports Hall.
