Results tagged “Watchmen” from Birmingham Mail - Speech Balloon

A curtain raiser to next month's BICS, the special Watchmen IMAX screening hosted by Dave Gibbons will be hard to top.

The artist was on sparkling form and, through the question and answer session, gave a genuine and, at times, detailed insight into his creation, his work with Alan Moore and his thoughts on the big screen version.

Dave has attended previous BICS here in Birmingham, but is unavailable on October 3 and 4 and so the Watchmen event was born.

One audience member asked about the latest editions of the graphic novel in which the cover has been switched from the iconic blood splattered smiley face to an ensemble picture of the Watchmen characters.

LEGENDARY artist Dave Gibbons is guest of honour at a special screening of Watchmen at Birmingham's IMAX Cinema next month.

Comic fans will get to see the epic film adaptation in all its IMAX glory for the first time in Birmingham.

Dave Gibbons will not only introduce the film, but answer those buring questions from the audience about both his graphic novel and the film.

The one off special event, on September 18, is part of the build-up to the British International Comic Show taking place at Millennium Point in October.

It is Dave's first public appearance in the city since he was guest of honour at last autumn's Comic's Show. He also returns to the IMAX Cinema where he saw the Dark Knight film in summer 2008.

Dave said: "I'm really pleased to return to IMAX Cinema in Birmingham, where I first saw the trailer for Watchmen last year, and it will be great to meet the fans. IMAX really is the best way to experience the film adaptation of the Watchmen comics and I'm sure it's going to be a great night."

Millennium hosts the British International Comic Show for the third time on October 3 and 4 this year. During the Show the IMAX cinema will be screening Watchmen, Transformers 2 and Star Trek.

Tickets for the special Dave Gibbons screening event go on sale Friday 14 August 2009.
Tickets cost £18.50 per person and all visitors will receive a WATCHMEN goodie bag. Dave will also be available to sign books on the evening.

For times and to book tickets visit www.imax.ac or call 0121 202 2222.

Speech Balloons 2008 interview with Dave Gibbons here.

"Frank Miller is bat s**t crazy"

That was the opening gambit from Tony Lee as he constructed a sophisticated case for Miller's Batman:Year One to be considered the greatest graphic novel of all time.

The audience eventually, and perhaps not surprisingly voted The Watchmen the World's Greatest Graphic Novel from a shortlist of 16. Akira came second.

A HIGHLIGHT of the International Comic show next week will be the ticket only Watchmen event hosted by artist Dave Gibbons.

With the Watchmen Hollywood film gearing for release in March and interest in the graphic novel stronger than ever its co-creator Gibbons is soon to become very hot property indeed.

So Speech Balloon was delighted to grab a quick chat with him as he prepares for his weekend in Birmingham where he will be promoting his new book Watching the Watchmen.

The book, published by Titan next month, details his collaboration with writer Alan Moore and the origins of the comic and he says will be stuffed with pages of original scripts, sketches and artwork.

THE Geek Syndicate are a dynamic duo of fanboys who have taken the step of opening their pub banter style dissection of all things superhero, sci-fi and cult to the internet.

They hold those conversations we all have about our favourite comics, books, TV shows and films - only with that added depth only a true obsessive can provide.
Flying the flag for the Midlands is Barry Nugent, from Northampton, while his partner is North London based David Monteith.

ROK Comics, who syndicate comic strips to mobile mobile phone users worldwide, has officially announced the details of its 2008 ROK and a Hard Place Competition.

Those entering the competition have the chance to win a Nokia 9500 mobile worth almost £500, be featured online alongside many other comic creators from around the world, and receive a free pass to this October's Birmingham International Comics Show (BICS).

ROK Comics is part of the global mobile entertainment company ROK Entertainment Group that was founded in 2004. ROK Comics syndicate digital comic strips to mobile phone users worldwide.

In addition to many internationally licensed comics ROK also feature strips produced by independent creators, one of the latest being Curtain Crawlers from award-winning comics artist Chris Reynolds.

Produced in association with BICS, ROK Comics Managing Editor and former editor for titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Star Trek Magazine, John Freeman, explained that the challenge for this year's competition is to create a comic revealing a life changing moment.

"We want people to create a comic strip using the ROK Comics Comic Creator featuring someone telling the story of a difficult choice they've had to make in their life. The theme was the idea of Shane Chebsey, one of the co-runners of BICS and a long-time supporter of Britain's huge independent comics press. We think this challenge will appeal to many creators worldwide, and I'm looking forward to seeing what they come up with."

"We at BICS love the way that ROK Comics is so accessible to both creators and readers," said Shane, "And feel that working together we can help to bring the wonderful medium of comics to a wider readership. Mobile phones are now the most widely used method of communication in the world, so it seems the perfect way to present new comics to more people than ever before."

Around 4,000 fans are expected at BICS this year thanks to a stellar guest list including the legendary Michael Golden from America and from across the English Channel popular French artist Olivier Coipel.

Those who've become hooked on comics due to their popular adaptation to movies, will be delighted that other guests include Hellboy artist Duncan Fegredo, V For Vendetta co-creator David Lloyd and Watchmen co-creator Dave Gibbons, who will be hosting an exclusive presentation of his new companion book Watching The Watchmen, plus there will be host a 20th anniversary Tank Girl presentation and exclusive signing on the Sunday from co-creator Alan Martin and current artist Rufus Dayglo.

The prize-winner for the 2008 ROK and a Hard Place Competition will be announced exclsuively at BICS and ROK Comics is also running a separate competition challenging creators to come up with a humour comic.

For more about ROK Comics visit: www.rokcomics.com

To enter the ROK and a Hard Place Competition visit: www.rokcomics.com/bics_competition2008

For more about the Birmingham International Comic Show visit: www.thecomicsshow.co.uk