Hi-Ex 2!

And so it came to pass that the second Inverness Comic Convention, Hi-Ex! was a brilliant success! It's a whole week since the fun of the Inverness show, my feet have finally stopped hurting and I'm taking time out to write down a little report before the call of the deadline grabs me. As usual I took my little pocket digital camera along with me and equally as usual I managed not to take a single photograph the whole time I was away. So all of the accompanying pictures to this post have come from the snap happy reporter from Down The Tubes, Jeremy Briggs who joined me on the trip. Many thanks to him and please check out his report on the convention.

Setting off at 6am the drive up north was clear and trouble free a relief after spending the whole week before listening to various motorway closure reports due to snow on the radio. Arriving just before 9am we had a short wait before we could get access to the One Touch Theatre where we set up in double quick fashion leaving us enough time to wander around and say our hellos to familiar faces and friends. My initial concerns that the exhibitors room, where we where based, and the 'Artists' room and talk rooms being at opposite sides of the venue where soon misplaced as the paying public arrived and started to wander around. The space given to us in the theatre was great, lots of room behind the table for empty boxes and bags and in front of the table there was enough room for people to pass by and still caste an eye over a table without getting in anybody's way. My only gripe about the theatre space was for my longing for natural day light and so with it having no windows you could easily miss the passing of the day outside. However the fact that the convention had grown in size meant that the exhibitors had to be housed in a larger room from before and the theatre was the natural choice.

One of the things I love about Hi-Ex is the genuinely friendly public who seem eager to make the convention a success. So many people stopped by the table to chat or buy. All the sketches prepared before the show sold quickly and the sketchbook that I had made for last years show sold out again. I wish I had had the time to make a new sketchbook for this year but time being short it never happened. It makes such a difference to a convention when everyone is so approachable and interested in art, writing and comics in general if I hadn't had a table again this time I would have gone up purely to attend and look around.

Once again our next door table neighbours where Paul Scott and Ben Clark who helped make the very few quiet moments seamless with great chat and amusement. And to the other side of us we had Time Bomb Comics who where a pleasure and I highly recommend checking out their comics.

Eden Court is a great venue to hold a convention, aside from looking great it has a very warm and welcoming feeling which was helped along by the stormtroopers of the 501st Garrison who where on duty once again this year. Everybody loves these guys and the kids delight in having themselves 'arrested' and photographed. The staff at Eden Court are very helpful, there is plenty of seating, food and drink available for the weary visitor and much more including a cinema which was showing both of the new Batman films as a double feature on the Saturday night.

There where a lot of family's in attendance again this year and a high percentage of them took advantage of the workshops that where running throughout the days. Speaking to the organisers Rich (he of the white suit) and Vicky I was told that the Manga workshop was over flowing out of the room! Also a large proportion of the kids had arrived in fancy dress and we where treated the whole weekend to some amazing outfits. Some of which I'll admit I had no clue who there where supposed to be but the effort involved in creating them was commendable, including the fantastic Davros and Judge Rose costumes. With so many families showing an interest in the convention for the last two years it amazes me that a Scottish company like DC Thomson doesn't at least run a table at the event. How easy would it be for them to turn up with a costumed Dennis the Menace and a pile of T-shirts, annuals and comics and grab the attention of the kids at the show? New kids on the block The DFC could seriously consider the same tactic for next year as their demographic was literally walking about the whole two days!

One person who stopped by for a chat was Dave Wright who is in the process of opening a new comic shop in Kirkcaldy, Fife. With a plan in action that sounds impressive Dave looks set to not only open a shop catering to comic readers and role playing gamers but to start a community eager to experience both. Often I'm hesitant to approach gaming shops as although the content intrigues me often the general chaos of the shop with 'battletop' games actually in progress while you try to look around can be very off putting to the casual shopper. But Dave assures me that all things have been considered and the premises he's after will have an 'events' room where gamers can go and talks, workshops or whatever is considered can be held and peace can reign in the rest of the shop. Sounds great! I must admit that I hope Dave's venture runs smoothly for him as his shop will end up being the closest comic shop to my home and therefore I'll suddenly start suggesting to the wife that we go to Kirkcaldy for the shopping :)

A busy Saturday soon seemed to run its course and the evening beckoned. After dinner everyone seemed to congregate at the Ramada Hotel bar (which if you attend comic conventions in the UK always seems to be the norm) where everyone relaxed, drank and chatted into the early hours.

Sunday arrived and although I was helping out at the portfolio sessions and involved in the rambling talk that was 'Breaking into Comics' it seemed to pass in a flash. More comics where bought and sold, talks held and fun had. When you are standing behind a table for the weekend you end up missing a lot of the convention unfortunately. As much as everyone comes by and says hello you still miss out on any talks you might have fancied seeing or indeed the charity auction this year which raised a brilliant amount for Children 1st. Mind you there was some wonderful pieces in the auction that I would have bid on beyond my means if I had made it along including a Batman comic art page by the legendary Mike (Mick) McMahon. I did however buy lots of comics, mostly small or independent press who to be honest make the convention what it is, it really is the UK's comic industry sitting nicely with US hero market and the UK's news stand publications like 2000AD, The Beano, Toxic and the other picture and puzzle heavy children's magazines. I also did buy heavily from my favoured seller Cinebook and took advantage of their 3 for 2 offer so now I have a pile of books to digest in small amounts.

And then it was over, we packed up at 4pm just as the charity raffle was drawing the crowds and headed of down the road trying to catch the last of the daylight. Thanks to everyone who made it a great weekend, so many names and comics I could mention but it would take an age and I'd miss someone by mistake so I won't even attempt to. Hi-Ex is by far my favourite comic convention and the news that Hi-Ex3! will be on probably at the start of March next year is a welcome mark on my calendar. And so the sketches will begin again just as soon as I finish a certain book I'm working on!