This year's BICS was highly polished and tremendous fun. Any complaints from previous years had been addressed and the event didn't appear to have suffered in the recession. Joining the usual line-up of British greats was the legendry Howard Chaykin from the USA and manga star Michiru Morikawa from Japan.
The nice thing about the BICS is the professionalism, the space and the
atmosphere. Think Tank at Millennium Point in Birmingham is a little way
out of the city centre and is about a 15minute walk from the train station.
There are plenty of car parking spaces nearby and you would be hard pressed
to find a venue more suitable, with plenty of room to keep all the panels,
signing sessions and dealer rooms in one place. There were no real grumbles
from stall holders and the dealer's room seemed to get busier more quickly
and for longer. Usually you can expect a lull in the attendance from the
general public on Sunday but this year it appeared to be busy all weekend.
Howard
Chaykin is one of the plainest speaking professionals in the comic business,
he also happens to be one of the funniest. The fan favourite didn't
disappoint, discussing with Paul H. Birch his previous work and how
he broke into the business. He included his hiatus from the industry
and gave a very honest response about why he moved into television,
which basically boiled down to one thing, money. His time away from
the industry gave him a secure financial future which is was unlikely
to have achieved from staying in the comic business. If you ever get
the chance to attend one of Chaykin's discussions then do so, just be
warned the language might be a little strong so you might not want your
children to hear.
A fascinating man and a joy to listen to.
Every year conventions throw up interesting sidelines and marvels, stands that interest but step aside from the norm. BICS this year was no exception. Towering over the room was a stunning Optimus Prime statue which had been brought from Ireland by Robosteel (www.robosteel.com). It was only when you got up close that you realised it was made of recycled metal and weighed in excess of 550kg. A whole range of sculptures had been laid out on a table next to the statue and the attention to details on those was just as meticulous.
Bryan Talbot's
new book, 'Grandville', was officially released (see review) and available
to buy from the man himself. Always ready for a chat and a sketch Talbot
is a national treasure that brightens up the room with his stories and
warmth, it simply wouldn't be a British convention if he wasn't in attendance.
The general public and media love his work and there is a wave of excited
anticipation whenever his latest offering is unveiled.
Those of us old enough to remember 'Luther Arkwright' have appreciated
that you never know quite what to expect from one of Talbot's books. 'A
Tale of One Bad Rat' was a story about child abuse that was told in a
sensitive way without the need to show a graphic depiction of the abuse
itself.
'Grandville' is part steampunk and part Wind in the Willows or Rupert the Bear. It tells the story of two British police officers who attempt to track down four murderers in France. You soon forget that the central character, LeBrock, is an anthropomorphic badger. The world these characters exist in has been cleverly constructed and makes Grandville a must have buy for anybody who enjoys a good story and fantastic artwork.
Self publishing and the small press have come a long way from the days when photocopied pages stapled together were acceptable. Today's small independents often produce unique stories with striking artwork and good quality paper.
There was a lot going on at the show this year and the BICS is becoming the major comic event Britain, they invite fantastic international guests, they are professional, attendances appear to be up, when there are problems they have been dealt with. The panels have been well thought out, the rooms spacious and comfortable; on so many occasions I have been to conventions where the panels have been hot and cramped with attendees squashed in like cattle.
Take my advice if you are a comic fan then be at the BICS in 2010.
