DEMONCON (comics/gaming convention Maidstone)

[COMMANDO FORCES]

Don't forget, if any of you are in the Maidstone area tomorrow, why not pop along and have a chat and get some sketches!

[captainskank]

Any other creators going besides those on the poster?

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I shall find out later today 

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I had a great time yesterday and obtained a few sketches and many a new book! I also am thinking of two new commissions from two of these artists and will be in touch soon. Anyway I shall try and write up what happened tomorrow (I have to go to work and Sam wants the computer) and post all the pics but here is just one to wet your appetite!



By Dean Beattie, see what we did Strontium71, are you jealous 

P.S. I also managed to get my hands on a extremely rare book, more of which tomorrow 

[COMMANDO FORCES]

Well, what a great day it was indeed, at the closest convention to my house (only a 7-8 minute walk).

The doors opened at 10 but I turned up early to place a load of framed original artwork on the walls. It was all Dredd apart from one Dante piece.

Anyway, come 10:00 the doors opened and the small crowd that had formed started to enter, after paying their massive £2.

The artist corner was a bloody nightmare with sketches being asked for at a fast rate, I waited for a lull in the afternoon before I commenced with my selection. Plus everyone knew I was going to be there all day, so there was no rush.

The convention was a mixture of comics and gaming and through the day I did manage to have a few interesting chats with the gaming bods about painting and building a scene from Mega City One. I may eventually get around to it, you never know!

Setting up one of the gaming areas, notice the Abnett/Lanning corner behind, with the Insurrection pages above!


Ian Sharman, had a good old chat with him about his books and the convention scene as a whole. He's already looking forward to Hi-Ex!


Top to bottom, Phillip M Jackson, Chris Phillips & Chris Bates and look we had ladies in the fans here as well.


Chris Phillips & Phillip M Jackson starting on my sketches!


Bottom to top Dean Beattie, Jack Lawrence & David Stokes, you'll notice in front of Dean some lovely Strontium Dog and Rogue Trooper art.


David Stokes, Jack Lawrence & Dean Beattie, from the other side.


Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning, Andy brought a load of artwork in and I enquired about Dredd, he said that he has some DC stuff, which he will bring down next time. Also he was doing my Dredd sketch in this photo.


Now I know it's hard to believe but I do buy some things other than Dredd/2000AD, so long as the seller is prepared to do the hard sell on me. So after many an interesting and at many times funny conversation I left with these!


I've read Little Victory and it's all about the beginning of how a small group of people with super powers came about. Travelling the Wolf Road a collection of werewolf tales. Alpha Gods part 3 of a series about a superhero team come about and Hero 9 to 5 which is all an agency that supplies superheroes for the poor (very funny).

The rest I still need to read (so little time) but the rare item is the Abnett/Lanning book. It's a tpb containing a 4 part story but the parts are all in the wrong order. The whole supply has been mulched except for a few that Dan and Andy were given. Notice how Andy has signed this, yes he's put his letters in the wrong order and no it won't be going on ebay!

Now for the sketches -

Best start with the one you have seen already Dean Beattie, I'm up for a commission from him in the near future, especially after seeing a coloured action scene he drew!


Andy Lanning


David Stokes


Peter Ankorn


Phillip M Jackson had a bloody good laugh about this, as he went to get some inspiration from the Dredd art on the walls and then wrote Dread. His mates said they would be ribbing him for ages about it!


Chris Phillips I like his style on his book, Candleman and so am going for a commission from him but he has to get the chain hole on Dredd's badge correct first. I noticed that as he was doing it but didn't say anything, as I like to see how artists that are not in 2000AD envisage the design. Nice chest on Anderson (no PSI badge)


Lsst but by no means least Jack Lawrence who has drawn for 2000AD. He did this last of all and so my collecting was sorted about an hour before the con ended.


I had a bloody good day and I even helped out on the door selling tickets at one stage. It was good to see a lot of children come along, plus I managed to see Captain Skank for a few moments outside. I was also cornered by a very old bloke who was very enthusiastic about 2000AD, especially the early years (I thought it was a set up) and so we had a chat about that and I nudged him into the current stuff.

Anyway, I have had a text today about when the next one is and it's the 6th November. Now I must try and get Graham to add Dredd to the next poster 

[Large48]

Like the Jack Lawrence one, apart from the green shoulder pad.....

[COMMANDO FORCES]

Just had a chat with Graham about the con and he told me that everybody was happy with the amount they made on the day, very profitable all round it seems 

I could think of a few artists on here who could make a few quid doing sketches at the next one in November, if they felt like being a guest and remember, you don't have to be published in the mainstream!

[grinning demon]

OK, So as CF mentioned the date is set for November 6th with a number of guests confirmed and a few others as possibles.

Confirmed Guests:
Marc Laming (American Century, The Rinse)
Tony Lee (Hope Falls, Baker St Irregulars, Starship Troopers)
Dan Boultwood (Hope Falls, MTV's The Gloom)
Garen Ewing (The Rainbow Orchid)
Phillip Jackson (Sequential Art, Little Victory)
Chris Phillips, Chris Bates (Candleman)
David Wynne
Dean Beattie
Jack Lawrence (Lions Tigers & Bears, Tinpot Hobo)
Pete Anckorn
Dave Stokes

Also invited - possible:
Kev Levell (said he'd let us know nearer the time)
Ian Sharman (haven't spoken to recently to confirm but was originally booked in)

Other Invites Sent - Awaiting Reply:
Lee Bradley (transformers)
Sweatdrop Studios

We could probably squeeze in another half dozen artists so if anyone knows of anyone who'd be interested, please get them to get in touch. Tables are free for artists and I believe the show was quite lucrative for everyone involved last time.