29 Mar
2011

Posted in: Blog, Pictures, Words
By Fanton

Memorable Memorabilia

GUESS WHERE I’ve been, chums? No, not there. No, nor there. No, definitely not THERE. Look, I’ll just tell you, you’re RUBBISH at guessing.

Myself and Amanda Vlahakis (aka Truly Ace Design) ventured to the Memorabilia convention at Birmingham’s NEC on Saturday, to thrill to a day of movie, TV and comic nerdery! (Though I was doing most of the geeking out, I should point out!)

Anyhoo, here are some snaps of the day in question – BEHOLD!

Stormtroopers kept a keen eye on proceedings. This child was arrested and later hurled into the sarlacc pit for losing his ticket. Harsh, but fair.

Further show security was provided by ol' Stoney Face himself, Judge Dredd, seen here arresting a perp for being just TOO geeky.

Batman and the Joker hanging out together, probably talking about which episode of 'Allo 'Allo was their favourite.

When there's something strange, in the NEC, who ya gonna call? GHOSTBUSTERS! This guy's proton pack was awesome, it had flashing lights on it and EVERYTHING.

Great Scott! It's the DeLorean! Sadly, I didn't get a chance to hijack it and go off on a crazy romp through time. Maybe next time!

There was an awesome Evil Knievel display too - I half-expected to see Daredevil Dad from The Dandy there. But he wasn't. As he's not real.

Now there's a familiar Face! It's Dirk Benedict, aka Face from the A-Team!

Russell Tovey from 'Being Human'. His ears were smaller in real life.

I also got to meet up with a couple of cartoonists, which was ace as working in comics can be a terribly isolated experience, so it’s nice to finally meet others in the same line of work!

Firstly I met Timothy Winchester, the chap behind the excellent People I Know webcomic. He was a very friendly and funny guy, and I wound up buying some of his comics and these dead sweet badges:

Look at the cute badges! Awwwwww!

Next, I met up with Laura Howell, the awesome artist behind the excellent Meebo and Zuky in The Beano, and who has just made her Viz debut in the latest issue out NOW. I’ve known Laura for a while now, from when she ran the excellent Cosgrove Hall Ate My Brain site, and I was working on the Carrotty Kid pilot for the studio. I’d never met her in real-life though – until Saturday! HOORAY!

Laura Howell and I doing what we cartoonists do all the time - making silly faces.

Laura was super-lovely and kind, giving me a bunch of her excellent small-press comics for FREE and doing this FABULOUS Carrotty Kid sketch for me:

Laura's CK sketch. REVEL IN ITS AWESOMENESS.

I drew a sketch in return, but as I was unprepared I had to do it in biro. Here I am drawing said sketch!

So, there you go! It was a great day of weird and wonderful madness, excellent people and beer in plastic cups. I’d love to attend more convention-type things – maybe I’ll even get a table one year and do the whole signing thang? WHO KNOWS?

- Fanton

(All pictures taken by Amanda, due to me having nothing but a rubbish camera phone. Gawd bless her!)

Tags: A-Team, Amanda Vlahakis, artists, Back to the Future, Birmingham, Carrotty Kid, cartoonists, cartoons, comics, Cosgrove Hall, DeLorean, Dirk Benedict, drawing, Face, Ghostbusters, Judge Dredd, Laura Howell, Meebo and Zuky, Memorabilia, NEC, People I Know, photographs, Proton Pack, Russell Tovey, Stormtroopers, The Beano, Timothy Winchester, Truly Ace Design, Viz, webcomic

4 Comments

Rick Eades March 29, 2011 at 7:15 pm

I knew it, Russell Tovey’s ears could only have ever been a cruel TV special effect!

Nice post by the way, I met Timothy Winchester briefly at ‘Thought Bubble’ last year, where he showered me with lots of lovely free comics (after I did a strip for Jessica Fletcher Week on his site). Very nice chap indeed! Wizarding Wednesday is a particular favourite in the Eades household.

You should definitely do a table one time, I like the idea of a Fanton Small Press Comic, perhaps a Carrotty Kid collection?

That CK sketch by Laura H is amazing!

Reply
- Fanton March 29, 2011 at 8:03 pm
  
  Yes, I remember your excellent Fletcher strip for the site! It was ACES.
  
  Also, I’m thinking more about maybe compiling some of CK’s adventures into a little comic or something…maybe I will!
  
  Reply
Theresa H Hall March 29, 2011 at 9:32 pm

My dear Andy,

You are a true success just as I predicted you would be. I am always so very pleased to see your progress, and to watch you as you walk the path you are destined to follow. Much continued good fortune and Here are some scrumptious hugs from across the big pond.

Most sincerely,

Theresa H Hall
Author “Sleeping Kitten – Dancing Dog!”

Reply
- Fanton March 29, 2011 at 10:46 pm
  
  AW, thank you Theresa – that’s so kind! Big hugs in return!
  
  Reply

Memorable Memorabilia

4 Comments

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