Pictured History in the Making

BIRMINGHAM HAS a proud comics related history.

Back in the swinging sixties comics came out weekly costing less than sixpence - Roy of the Rovers, Dennis the Menace and The Spider, drawn by Birmingham's very own Reginald Bunn. There was Batman on the telly while the adventures of Spider-Man and his cape-flowing friends got sent over in dazzling four-colour print as ballast on ships... so kids bought comics by the go-kart load, but unlike before, as they grew up, they didn't stop.

(Left, Staz Johnson drawing Catwoman live at BICS 2007).

In 1968 some youths of the time had a typically off-the-wall Brummie take on the love-ins and crazy happenings that were the current rave. They wanted to celebrate their love of comics and so they put together the first ever UK comics convention.

(Left, Hellboy creator Mike Mignola and Comics International publisher Mike Conroy).

Fans came out of the woodwork, second hand book dealers did deals with those trading in comics and some guys who were working in the comic book industry itself happened to find time to pop along.

Fashions and ideas change but this wasn't a one-off novelty. As the years went by the country's capital city of London subsequently took the reins and produced lavish annual events, the buzz spread Glasgow wanted in.

It branched out here, there and everywhere; Bristol, Brighton, Manchester, the Birmingham Comic Art Shows and more recently the Birmingham International Comics Show (BICS).

Now, the city that started it all is to be host to a comics show again, so I say let's not pull our punches and start waving flags to proudly celebrate our heritage, for even though BICS has been rechristened the British International Comics Show on 3rd and 4th October at Birmingham's Millennium Point it will be the place to be!

Comics entertain first and foremost. They also chronicle the social and cultural times they were created in. Comics from decades gone by along with those of the future on the internet will be seen, revered and purchased all weekend at the show. That is why we should all pop along and become a part of history by joining the many famous writers and artists from around the world that will be attending this important event.

For further information & to reserve tickets visit: www.thecomicsshow.co.uk

Pictures supplied in this feature care of: www.comicshopvoice.co.uk