Thought bubble; 20th November.
It's freezing, not much by northern standards though, and the signposts around Leeds are somewhat baffling. After what seemed like the magical detour of the day I finally stumbled upon a mini army of otaku's kitted out outside Savile's hall, now feeling rather under dressed compared to the crowd who have by far made an extremely impressive effort for the day.
Thought bubble is one of the biggest comic conventions in the north; every year it's hosted in Leeds for a jam packed day of signings, stalls, & workshops. This year they've kicked things off a little earlier, starting with a series of events around the city as part of Leeds sequential art festival where plenty of anime screenings, comic forums, & exhibitions could be found. But this was all leading up to the big day itself, Thought bubble's one day convention.
As a newbie to the convention (having long it missed by a flux of calendar clashes) walking into the busy entrance of the hall was an entirely new experience. I'm used to 8ft tall men on stilts, juggling acrobats, & drag queens on the catwalk at events for Alt fashion so being greeted by zombies on roller skates walking into the venue was somewhat a bit of a slight change. The main event itself was bundled inside past the crowds of cosplayers, zombies on wheels, & many nominal versions of the doctor. Thought bubble is by tradition a comic convention, but the crowd came for all sorts of comic related art; from sci-fi & fantasy shows, anime & manga, to even just a touch of “fruits” inspired style; all forms of sci-fi, rpg, & japanese culture were in abundance.
Thought bubble's one day convention was bundled up in the busy hall, with rows upon rows of stalls featuring independent publishers and comic artists, a selection of the northern quarters best comic shops, & even a handful of designers thrown in for good measure. Buyers could find plenty of new launches, limited editions, & even a few bargainous treats amongst the selection of stalls on the day. With designers who's work featured cosplay, and comic inspired treats; from the adorable fimo jewellery of Chao breeder to a wonderfully geek chic and sweetie inspired range by Tuck shop.
You could even find comic artists whose work is nestled within the alternative scene amongst the stands, from the steampunk witticism of fetishman comics, to the uber goth cuteness of gothy beans.
With plenty to browse and pursue over the day, you could take part in numerous workshops around the venue, get involved in the cosplay competition, or brave the long queues for artist signings.
It was certainly far busier on the day than we'd anticipated, but there was plenty to do with cosplay groups outside the venue also taking part in group gatherings and mock battles throughout the day so you could always brave the cold with a cuppa for a bit of a nose.
It's certainly refreshing to see such a large scale comic venue up north with an abundance of local talent on show. With such a large attendance on the day we can only hope that next year's event is even bigger and as entertaining.
For further info & to keep up with details about Thought bubble visit www.thoughtbubblefestival.com
