Another Stroll Down Memory Lane

THIS IS another pleasant stroll down memory land, highlighting various career highlights of some of the guests who have appeared at the Birmingham International Comics Show (BICS) since it debuted in 2006.

Photographs were taken and © Martin Tierney and are of the various Phantom exhibitions put on at BICS 2006 that was held at The Custard Factory. Simply click on them to enlarge.

Charlie Adlard has been stirring things up in recent years drawing The Walking Dead at Image while remaining busy and prolific elsewhere.
He is also working for publishers in France, one such project is Le Soufflé du Wendigo for French Soliel.
For more information visit: www.charlieadlard.com.

Michael Collins has written and drawn everyone's favourite time lord for Dr Who Magazine, other high-profile licensed properties including Babylon 5, Star Trek and Harry Potter, countless more popular comics including The X-Men and Batman, he was the Judge Dredd newspaper cartoonist for several years and superbly adapted A Christmas Carol for Classic Comics. For more information visit: www.freakhousegraphics.co.uk.

Doug Braithwaite brought Justice to the printed page at DC, and previously took on Earth X over at Marvel. His skilled draughtsmanship work has been featured at many companies in America and the UK. You can find a recent profile on him here at Speech Balloons.

Alan Davis fans listened enthralled to a career retrospective stage interview with the artist/writer at the debut event as he discussed his work on such major iconic American superhero comics as Batman, The X-Men and The Fantastic Four. The following year they watched the great man sketching, signing and revealing his plans for his the long-heralded return of his own Clan Destine series. He has also been profiled at Speech Balloons recently. For more information visit: www.alandavis-comicart.com.

Nigel Dobbyn has drawn Strontium Dogs, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Billy the Cat! His versatile charismatic art has been published within 2000AD and The Beano, in newspapers, magazines, and for licensing. For more information visit: www.nigeldobbyn.com.

Gary Erskine earned his stripes illustrating Marvel UK's Knights of Pendragon series. Notable recent works include Star Wars, The Filth and City of Silence. For more information visit: www.garyerskine.demon.co.uk.

Mark Farmer is one of the few British creators specialising as an inking artist, he is also one of the best in the world!
From The Incredible Hulk to The Fantastic Four, through to The X-Men to the Justice League, each has felt his brush stroke.
Speech Balloons profiled him with Alan Davis recently.

Dave Gibbons illustrated the debut issue of Dr Who Weekly, continuing his run as it transformed into Dr Who Magazine. He also drew for 2000AD before America's DC Comics snatched him up for Green Lantern. Deserved worldwide acclaim came with Watchmen, soon to be a film, and Give Me Liberty and in The Originals he redefined his creative vision as both an artist and writer. For more information visit: www.davegibbonsfansite.com.

Jon Haward has contributed to such diverse anthologies as 2000AD, Warhammer, the Frank Frazetta Quarterly and Negative Burn, was the main artist on the UK's Spectacular Spider-Man comic for several years and adapted Shakespeare's Macbeth for Classical Comics.
For more information visit: www.jonhawardart.com.

James Hodgkins has worked for DC's licensing department developing Superman and Batman scenarios and characters for anything from a Monopoly board game to a tin of baked beans.
He has illustrated Batman comics, inked Daredevil and Spider-Man and is one of the organisers for BICS.

Staz Johnson was the resident superhero expert on Channel 4's Zero To Hero. His action-packed pencil art has featured in Robin, Batman-Aliens II, Spider-Man, Wolverine and Cable & Deadpool. He drew online episodes of Heroes, baed on the hit CBS American TV show that have since seen print and has illustrated Dracula for Classic Comics. For more information visit: www.stazjohnson.com.

Dave Kendall paints book covers adorning horror and dark fantasy novels, he has also illustrated work for the comics 2000AD, Warhammer and Event Horizon among others. He is currently illustrating a graphic novel for Soleil in France. For more information visit: www.rustybaby.com.

Garry Leach produced the magnificent cover art that fronted Wildstorm's Battler Britton comics and subsequent collection and Titan's reprint of material The Spider: King of the Crooks (featuring art by Brum's Reg Bunn in the 60s).
He re-visualised Marvelman for a modern audience, brought back Warpsmith as the publisher of A1, inked Hitman for a long healthy run, and delivered dynamite artwork within 2000AD during its heyday.

John McCrea was the artist who pencilled Hitman. From his early days on the groundbreaking Troubled Souls within Crisis to a tour of duty drawing The 99 for Kuwait's Teshkeel, he has never shirked from portraying black humour and grim action. He has recently been drawing Transformers for Titan. For more information visit: johnmccrea.com.

Kevin Nowlan made his UK debut at BICS 2007. From Moon Knight to Batman, Superman to Star Wars, onto the weirdness of Dr Strange and ingenuity of Tomorrow Stories ' Jack B. Quick, all demonstrate why Nowlan is considered "an artist's artist". His exclusive Birmingham appearance made it yet another BICS first. For more information visit: members.cox.net/nowlanink/63.html.

Bryan Talbot hit the headlines of the British national press thanks to the resounding critical and sales success of his Alice In Sunderland graphic novel. Back that with the long-term international success of his classic Luther Arkwright series, the imminent release of his new Grandville opus and there's trailblazing innovation from beginning to end. You can find a larger profile on him here at Speech Balloons. For more information visit: www.bryan-talbot.com.

Phil Winslade is adept at portraying female characters possessing powerful inner grace and outer beauty in books such as Goddess, Wonder Woman: Amazonia and Nevada.
His Gotham City takes on a life of its own within Batman while his stint on Howard the Duck shows he knows not to take himself too seriously. He is currently illustrating a graphic novel for Vertigo.

Many other guest have appeared at the shows of course. And to find out more about the Birmingham International Comics Show (BICS) visit: www.thecomicsshow.co.uk