Review of 2010: Thought Bubble

It’s Friday and it’s the last entry of my Review of 2010. Wheeeeee… Unless you didn’t enjoy it, in which case…I’m sorry? But yes – it’s the final instalment and it’s about Thought Bubble!!! YEAH!!!!

Thought Bubble, for those who don’t know, if a sort of like a massive high five for comic-makers and comic-lovers…and anyone else in the area I suppose. It’s in Leeds and there are lots of talks and things to get involved in – not forgetting the amazing convention on the Saturday.

I have heard people harping on about Thought Bubble for ages…but due to a bunch of reasons, this was my first time attending. And what a lovely time I had! But where to start?

So, the delightful Philippa Rice and I got the train up to Leeds on Friday afternoon. We found a place to hide our suitcases and talked about hats and other sassy things. Once we got to Leeds, we met up with the lovely Lizz Lunney (cute as a button and twice as useful) and got a taxi to our hotel. I had my own room but there were two beds! I assume the other one was for a ghost or something?

So on Friday evening we met up with some other lovely people and went to the Christmas Market! There was a Nut Man who sold nuts, and some other stuff and then we went to this lovely Mexican place for burritos! They were lovely! It was so nice to hang around with nice people eating nice food (thanks for the eagle-eyes DC!). Then we met up with more nice people and headed back to the hotel.

Saturday was the actual convention. We headed over to the venue to set up and the rest is pretty much a blur. An amazing blur. The whole thing was brilliant. I didn’t have any new items but I met so many new people! From roller-skating zombie girls to bearded gentlemen who teased me for not being able to grow a beard (see the above drawing), Thought Bubble seems to draw all sorts of people together. And there were cosplayers! Here are my favourites!

Professor Layton is ace – but he’d be nothing without his Number One Apprentice!

I have no idea who the one-who-isn’t-Rorschach is, but he made his glove with LOADS of duct tape.

Finally, it’s Princess Peach! I think this lady was a professional cosplayer so that’s why the costume is so fancy – but still, an amazing job! Didn't think much of the guy dressed as Toad though... He must have eaten too much food because he looked so stuffed!!!! Hahahahahaha--

*ahem*

So many people came to chat! Or were bullied into chatting! My obsession with giving out flyers returned with a vengeance so I’m sorry for anyone that ended up with one against their will. And I’m sorry if I wasn’t at my table if anyone came to visit – one of the ace things about Thought Bubble was that I could actually have a look through the convention myself. Not that I couldn’t do that at MCM, but this time I had someone to look after my table (thanks Simon!) – and goodness me, I picked up some amazing stuff! You’ll have to wait until a later blog post to find out what though…

I didn’t get to see any of the talks but I bet they were ace. And next year, maybe I’ll ask if I can run one… although it would have to be on something like “how to be sassy,” or “drawing hands is tough so don't bother.”

So yeah – then it was the evening and after a bit of a kerfuffle (which made me sad) we settled down to eat food before heading over to the casino (!!!) for a party. That’s right – there was a party for comic-people! The dancing was as amazing, if not more so, than you could possibly imagine. There was meant to be a DJ-rivalry or something but I didn’t really understand who to cheer for. What I *did* understand was that they played some brilliant songs: a Beyonce/Ciara mix, Don’t Falter by Mint Royale and Hounds of Love by The Futureheads. They played a bunch of stuff I didn’t know and a fair amount of stuff I couldn’t dance to (I’m quite particular), but I gave it a good go and had an ace time.

Then it was Sunday and I sat around and drew. Well, I was meant to draw but I didn’t do that much really. And before I knew it, it was home time. Philippa was kind enough to sit cross-legged so we could fit my case under the seat – because there was nowhere else to put it. I really need to pack less. Maybe that should be a New Year’s Resolution?

Obviously I’m already looking forward to the next Thought Bubble. I guess it combined two of the things I was already excited about this year – new comic-making pals and adventures to new places, but the fact that it turned out to be just as brilliant as everyone had told me… well, that was just ace. Mega thanks to Clark, Lisa, Mikey and everyone else that helped to organise it. I officially owe you cake or something.

And that’s pretty much it. My Review of 2010 is over. It’s been a weird year but looking back at it like this sort of makes it all feel worthwhile. Hooray!

Oh. I should end on a musical note. Here are some songs I’ve enjoyed this year! They all get honourary mentions in the Review of the Year! Well done guys!

The Piney Gir Country Roadshow

James Yuill

Robyn

Allo Darlin'

Emilie Simon

Review of 2010: Adventures

It's Thursday and it's another instalment in my Review of 2010. This one gets a special mention since I'm typing it on my phone instead of the computer. This is because I went to another Christmas Party and I need to save time! That is two Christmas Parties so far and there is another one on Friday! Anyone might think it's Christmas or something! How will I cope?! Also, typing on the phone is a bit of a pain.

Anyways. Yeah. I've already harped on about how lovely it has been to make comic-making friends and this is sort of related. Because in 2010, I went on a good few adventures - often with those new comic-making pals.

The drawing is about that time my pals and I went to Mount Superfun and saw a lumpy deer. That was great fun! But I went to other places too - notably Caption in Oxford, an exciting work thing in Edinburgh and Birmingham Zine Festival in... well... Birmingham, obviously? There's Thought Bubble too but that still needs a proper entry.

So yes - for someone that rarely ventures out, this year was great for adventures. I saw new places, got creeped out by new things and forgot to take photos of new buildings. I really hope I can do a bit more travelling in 2011 - even if it's within Great Britain. And I wouldn't mind visiting Canada again or California or anywhere you suggest.

I could probably write more but typing on the train is annoying and pretty weird. The guy next to me is sleeping and his head is gravitating to the lady opposite him's lap. I don't think she approves. Awkward.

Review of 2010: Scott Pilgrim

I've already gone on about how much I love Scott Pilgrim... except it turns out I never got round to writing that review of Volume Six. Awkward.

But yeah - 2010 was a big year for whatever Scott Pilgrim fans call themselves. Pilgrims? Scottaholics? Whatever. Yeah - 2010 saw the release of the final volume in the series as well as a sodding movie! The final installment in the epic tale of twenty-something Scott and his slacker life was pretty much brilliant. I'd go through it page-by-page but it's late and I'm not too sure where my copy is. But pretty much the entire thing was amazing - from *SPOILERS* Envy's outfits to Knives' general sassyness. If you haven't read it then we probably can't be BFFs - sorry. But you can fix that by reading it.

And there was the movie too! It was actually fun! I know I'm meant to hate it for not sticking to the comics (where the eff was Lisa Miller?!) but it was still worth watching. Twice, in my case.The soundtrack was cool, The Clash at Demonhead were ace, the fights were epic and I especially love Ramona's hammer making a hard-hitting (chortle chortle) appearance. Like the comic, you should give it a go if you haven't...

And, in case you haven't figured it out, both the comic and the movie made great use of sound effects - as demonstrated in the above drawing. "BOP" is still my favourite (it's somewhere in Volume Four) and I enjoy using it in real life. Or "IRL" as no one says anymore. It's a term of endearment - a sound to be made whilst affectionately (and gently) punching someone in the arm.

Obviously I'll be sad that there won't be any more Scott Pilgrim to look forward to. I'll never get to see Kim Pine fight or how Knives copes with university or what amazing special move Scott is working on next - but I suppose that's the mark of a good book. Someone with an excellent beard once described the Scott Pilgrim series to me as "our generation's Harry Potter," but I disagree - it's our generation's Scott Pilgrim and that's more than epic enough.

UPDATE: I did an interview here! Promise not to laugh!

Review of 2010: Comic-Making Friends!

It's Tuesday and that means...well...it's not Monday or Wednesday or any of the other days of the week? But it also means that it's another day of my Review of 2010! And this is an odd one since it's not so much of a review... rather, it's a sort of 'thank you.'

I've been making comics for a few years. They started off as some pen and paper stuff that bypassed the computer and went straight to the photocopier. I made them for friends and for fun and I'm really happy with how it all went. But it's been something like four years since I made the first issue and only one year since I've had a proper website and been paying it proper attention, and in that one year I've met some really great people.

I mean, I didn't really spend those other years sobbing or anything. Sorry. I have amazing friends! But I *am* really glad that I've had the chance to meet people that like making stuff, just like me. I hope I get to meet more lovely people in the New Year. And the ones I've drawn above - well, you should be able to recognise yourself. Obviously, my drawings are so realistic, how could you not?

So yeah - thanks to everyone who came out for burgers, or played board games or took part in Jessica Fletcher Week or went on a mega walk with me. I really appreciate it!

Review of 2010: Poto and Cabenga

Hello! It's Monday and as promised, it's my Review of 2010 - a week of drawings about things I've enjoyed this year. First up, it's Poto and Cabenga - a computer game drawn/designed by the wonderful Dick Hogg.

I can't urge you enough to go play the game - it's fun and simple but also difficult. You only need one button to play it too! And it's so pretty! Plus, there is a new game on the horizon called Hohokum! Hooray! I think I might start planning a computer game - it sounds like fun.

I had to guess at which one was Poto and which was Cabenga. Either way, I don't think they would be pals with Toby. Sorry Toby! Maybe you should stop crying so much and toughen up? Ha, I should probably take my own advice...

IN OTHER NEWS: The weekend is over! I had a haircut on Saturday and was sadly informed that my lovely hair cutting guy is moving away! Boo hoo. And in the evening I went to a friend's birthday party. On Sunday I just went over my answers for The Comics Bureau. I don't know if/when they'll go online so please don't laugh at me too much. But excitingly, I previewed a page of my new project, If I Was A Wizard... and here's another preview page of it! I hope you like it! It's based on that animation I did a while ago but I've redrawn everything from scratch.