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Bristol Comic Expo 2006
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| Bristol, May 13-14 2006. 80's music and indie comics? If you think that sounds like a bad combination, then you obviously weren't at the Bristol comic expo earlier this month.
I must admit, when expo organiser and ABBA star Benny Andersson first suggested an 80’s revival theme for the Bristol show, I was horrified. Yet his enthusiasm was unrelenting. “You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life…” “Yeah,” I replied, “but will we sell any comics?” “Money, money, money, must be funny…” “It’s fuckin' hilarious, Benny. And what if no one turns up? What if indie comics and 80’s pop music have entirely different audiences? We could lose our shirts here!” The affable Swede smiled at me, his eyes glistening like wet jelly babies. “Take a chance on me,” he purred. “That’s all I ask of you, honey. Take a chance on me…” And so, I did. A few weeks later, the doors of the British Isles Empire Total Film and Commonwealth Games Museum Gallery Exhibition Display Hall Building were opened and the party began. There was no shortage of attendees. Although most of Bristol was under construction, the Hall was clearly signposted and everyone in the city was aware of the event.
The champagne flowed. The enormous chandeliers sparkled overhead. Vintage pop stars mingled with indie comics fans and there were even a few people who liked both art forms. Spandau Ballet singer Tony Hadley was a real inspiration. He worked himself into a trance-like state, wailed at the top of his voice and used his thighs as makeshift bongo drums.
The rhythm pounded through the hall and before long the aisles were filled with people bumping and grinding and getting all sweaty, like that scene in Matrix Reloaded. Me, I couldn’t help myself. I felt the beat running through my body and I just had to strut my stuff.
Benny kept a close eye on the proceedings, ensuring that everyone was dancing, singing and generally having fun. A few killjoys refused to participate, but they were swiftly dealt with.
There’s always a few last-minute guest cancellations at these events, and the Bristol Expo was no exception. Billy Gibbons was the only member of ZZ Top who could make it, which was a real disappointment. Another surprise was the appearance of Chesney Hawkes, who decided not to cancel at the last minute, due to a lack of either health problems or family commitments. Chesney said he’d try his best not to make it next year, but as always, there are no guarantees.
Plenty of pop stars are no longer in the public eye. Whatever happened to UB40 front man Ali Campbell? Not much, it turns out.
It was hard to recognise some people. Top artist Mike Collins, for example, was frequently mistaken for Benny Andersson. Mike used this to his advantage, however, attracting numerous female admirers during the show.
Some of the other stars in attendance:
As Tony’s bongo drums got louder and louder, the room literally began to shake. Then, the crowd gasped as one of the huge chandeliers broke free of its chain and dropped towards the ground. Luckily, Siouxsie Sioux’s chest was there to break its fall.
Now, when I say the words “Indie Comics” you probably think of the Bling Twice posse. If you don’t, then maybe you’re just normal. But anyways, those Bonk Thrice maniacs are the life and soul of any party and at Bristol they always rock.
The great thing about Bob is you can put him in any situation and he’ll instantly make it ten times more fun. Allow me to demonstrate:
Talking of Nazis, there were a few eyebrows raised over at the Nuremberg Drawing Room stand. They were selling bootleg Leni Riefenstahl DVDs and Third Reich memorabilia, and that’s really not acceptable at this kind of event, where the focus is supposed to be on indie comics and pop music. Still, I bought a Hitler Youth hunting knife for a fiver. You can’t argue with their prices.
When you hear the words “Underfire Comics”, do you think of cheeky, chirpy chappies with permanent smiles on their faces?
In fact, if you glanced at that picture for more than half a second, you’re no doubt feeling miserable right now. So here’s a nice picture of a girl in a Killer Babe T-shirt:
Oh, you want another Tozzer babe? How about a pic of the first ever Tozzer cosplayer? I know - she looks familiar. Didn't she used to hang out with Meatloaf?
Gilbert Shelton was at the expo, and he didn’t disappoint. I asked him what he thought about the influence of the Freak Brothers on popular culture, and on the acceptance of comics in the mainstream marketplace. His reply was quite revealing:
Tokyopop had an impressive display, but yet again the Tozzers scared them off. One look at our stand and they grabbed the first person they saw, told him to man their booth, and - you guessed it - buggered off down the pub.
It was great to see Marvel UK at the show. Although, one or two people view them as capitalist pigs who are not fit to share the same floor space as the rest of the comics crowd.
The most cunning person I saw was Winston, otherwise known as The Man from Singapore. He arrived with a big suitcase full of comics, and demanded that every artist in the hall sign his books. “I’ve come all the way from Singapore!” he insisted, scrunching up his face like a desperate puppy. So they signed. And they signed. And they signed. He made them scribble away till their eyes bled and their hands were nothing but stumps. Of course, Winston failed to mention the fact that he’d come from Singapore a year ago and was currently living in a luxury two-bedroom flat in East Putney. Like I said – cunning.
After a weekend full of song, dance and comics, it was time for us to leave. Yet the hall was still packed. After careful consideration, we came up with a cunning plan – a plan so cunning that Winston himself might have used it – and soon the building was deserted.
Thanks to Benny for putting on another great show, and thanks to everyone who came over and said hello. If I accidentally offended anyone in this report, then I am truly, sincerely, unreservedly sorry. But if I did it on purpose, tough tit. Till the next time! Rob |
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