Comics News
Shane Chebsey Talks Comics Assemble A New UK Comic Show Coming In August
An Unconventional Convention?
Shane Chebsey has been a UK comics writer, creator, editor and publisher for many years. Rumour has it that very soon he will be returning to another skillset as a convention organiser. Tripwire’s contributing writer Paul N Neal asked Shane a handful of questions to talk about comic conventions and get to the bottom of his latest project…
TRIPWIRE: Before diving directly into current events would it be fair to guess that, like all longtime fans, you enjoy a good comic convention?
For many of us (of a certain generation) our memories of comic conventions would involve the London UKCAC conventions or perhaps the similar “sister” conventions in Glasgow. Did you attend any of these events? If so do you have any fond memories you may be able to share?
SHANE CHEBSEY: Yes indeed, my very first comic convention was a UKCAC in London around the early 90s.
I was about 20 years old and went along with a friend. The memory is actually very hazy, but I think Frank Miller was there. Later on, I went to one that Alex Ross attended.
I met friends at those events who I still speak to now. But the conventions that really sold me were the early Bristol conventions starting after UKCAC.
I attended and exhibited every year for at least 10 years. I met so many people in the bar over those years… It was a pretty magical time.
TW: In recent years I’ve read several times that a lot of fans feel a great deal of comic conventions focus far too much on various movies or too much merchandising and toys. Would you say that is a fair assessment?
SC: Well, it depends on what you are looking for at a convention.
If you love all of the film and TV stuff those events must be amazing and for the most part they do a great job. They are not comic conventions however, and personally they don’t really interest me.
My love is comics. The thing is I’m not a superhero fan or a sci fi fan as such. I’m a comics fan, although I do enjoy those genres, to me comics are the ultimate storytelling medium.
So, I understand fellow comics fans saying what they say, and I have no problem with the big media events so long as they don’t pretend to be a comic convention.
TW: I believe in the past you have had some experience in organising conventions. Is it the massive challenge it sounds like?
SC: My response to that will likely be different depending on how things are going any given day 😏 It is challenging at times and stressful. It can also be thankless at times.
But when you see it all come together and see the smiles on people’s faces it makes it all worthwhile.
I’ve been doing it 20 years now and it’s been a rollercoaster ride, but I have no regrets and it’s enabled me to meet some amazing people and make lifelong friends.
It’s also very satisfying when you see somebody’s life changed for the better thanks to a portfolio review at a hit show or you are able to help a young fan meet their idol for the first time.
The rewards often outweigh the punishment… I mean I am coming out of retirement after 4 years after all.
TW: To your mind, what makes a successful convention? What are the essential elements involved?
SC: Again, it depends on what your aims are. For some people it’s all about money. And although I don’t like losing money, profit has never been the driver for me.
If everyone, including fans, guests and exhibitors have had a great time, then to me, that’s a successful event. There are practical things of course like good signage, creating a safe environment and everything running like clockwork. Planning, planning and planning 😏
TW: Can you tell me all about Comics Assemble please? When is it? Where is it? How much is it? ..and crucially what does it mean when you have described the event as a “democratic comic convention”?
SC: Comics Assemble is a brand-new innovation that does things a bit differently. It’s happening on 15th August this year at the G1 Centre in Gloucester.
It totally centres around comic creators but also has a healthy number of dealers exhibiting too. I think comics sellers are an essential part of a good comic convention. It’s only £10 for an adult ticket and kids 13 and under get in free. (Must be accompanied by a paying adult though).
Tables for creators and writers are just £100… however the difference with Comics Assemble is that you get much more than just a table.
Every table hire gets you 10 free tickets to sell on. That means you can sell your free tickets and get your £100 back, meaning your table is basically free. You also have the option of giving away your tickets to friends and family.
I want our exhibitors to actually make money at the event not have to worry about taking £100 just to break even. In addition, and this is why the show is democratic, every signed-up exhibitor gets to vote on essential aspects of the event in our Exhibitor polls.
Not only that but they get free promotion on our website and on our socials all year round.
So, we are offering a hell of a lot of value to our exhibitors.
TW: I am guessing it is hard to set these things 100% in stone until the event itself, but what can you say about the guest list at this stage?
SC: In the past my events have had dozens of paid guests. But this event focusses on the exhibitors, many of whom are professional comic creators who want to support what we are doing.
These include Judge Dredd writer and co-creator John Wagner and writer Paul Cornell. However, we do also have some very special guests including Canadian writer and artist Jim Zub, who is doing an amazing job on Conan for Titan Comics.
Also joining us from France is acclaimed cover artist Sabine Rich.
And flying the English flag (in a totally non-threatening manner lol) is Resident Alien writer and co-creator Peter Hogan.
I will be announcing more guests closer to the event, plus a special bonus guest, who I’m delighted to be welcoming.
TW: Will it be the type of event that will feature elements like creator panels or even a costume contest? Do conventions still do such things?
SC: Right now, we have no panels planned. However, I am talking to a possible sponsor that may change all of that… you’ll have to keep an eye on our website and socials for news on that.
Although we recently secured sponsorship for a manga workshop at the event.
More details to be announced this week.
We do welcome cosplayers, but this event is very comics focussed so no costume competitions are planned. Not this year anyway.
TW: Some events these days have a zero-tolerance policy to AI art in any form. For the record can you state your policy toward AI art in regard to Comics Assemble please?
SC: We have a strict zero tolerance on generative AI.
Anyone found to be selling AI images masquerading as art will be ejected from the event.
TW: I have to ask, given your experience being involved with organising various events do you have any family friendly comic conventions anecdotes you can share?
SC: Certainly. Back in 2017 on the eve of one of my most successful comic conventions in Birmingham, myself and one of my crew were having a stroll around the city in the early evening and we were checking out our giant poster in the window of Birmingham’s beloved comic shop Nostalgia & Comics (now bought out by FPI and renamed World’s Apart).
It was great to see the poster on display.
While admiring my own design handiwork, two homeless guys started chatting with us. One was in a wheelchair and the other was his carer. They commented on the poster and said how they loved comics.
These guys knew their stuff. We chatted about 2000AD and Dark Knight Returns and loads of other comics.
During the chat they said how they’d love to go to the show and meet all the guests… (We had John Tyler Christopher, Dan Slott, Freddie Williams and about 30 more top names that year). They said It would be a dream come true, but as they are homeless and had no money it just wasn’t an option.
At this point they had no idea we were the organisers.
We were just four guys talking about our love of comics standing in a comic shop window.
After chatting for about 30 minutes, I revealed that we were the people responsible for putting on the show, and we’d be delighted to offer them both free tickets. I happened to have two VIP tickets on me as I was giving them out to people at the launch party later that evening.
The two guys were speechless, and I think they thought I was having them on.
It was a lovely experience the next day, to greet them both to the show and to see the joy on their faces.
I knew their lives must be so hard. Being homeless in a big city can kill… Especially if you are disabled.
I hope they enjoyed their day as much as I enjoyed treating them to the tickets.
It’s moments like this that make all the stress and hard work worthwhile and it’s moments like this that keep me coming back to making comic shows.
TW: Finally, just like your wonderful story, will your Comics Assemble convention also be a “Family friendly” event?
SC: Yes. Absolutely. Comics Assemble is VERY family friendly.
Bring the kids, bring everyone! It’s an incredibly inclusive and welcoming event. That’s something I’ve always been very proud of with all of my events over the years…
EVERYONE is welcome!
TRIPWIRE NOTE: For information about tickets and more details please do click on the link below:
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