Thought Bubble Festival celebrates successful move to Harrogate

By John Freeman on November 11, 2019

Thought Bubble Festival 2019. Image: Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble organisers have thanked everyone who came to their Comic Con and Festival in Harrogate.

“We’ve had an amazing weekend in Harrogate and you’ve all made it so special,” the team declared on Twitter. “We love you all!”

Thought Bubble Festival 2019. Image: Thought Bubble

The hugely popular annual Festival moved from Leeds to Harrogate this year and despite appalling weather earlier in the week, causing misery for thousands whose homes and businesses were flooded in other parts of the North. Resulting public transport issues meant some were not able to get to the event, but hundreds did.

2000 AD hosted its annual Art Competition at the event, won by Robin Henley, chosen by Leah Moore, Mike Dowling and Frazer Irving. Robin will now get paid work with the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic.

“I’m so glad I ignored my doubts and took a chance,” she says, “as it was an incredible event to be part of.”

“The Ticket” by Robin Henley

“So good to see so many friendly faces,” commented Lakes International Comic Art Festival co-host Ian Loxam. “The con appeared well run and organised and all sellers we spoke too seemed very happy. Good work.”

Publisher Iron Circus seems to have underestimated the popularity of its books - almost selling out after just one day!

“Thought Bubble is such a towering success,” enthused Politics.co.uk editor Ian Dunt. “It’s a pleasure to be among such an upbeat, diverse collection of comics nerds. A perfect counterpoint to the toxic fandom you see online.

Here’s just a few of our favourite, many, many, social media posts, largely via the #TBF19 tag on Twitter from the successful weekend…

Awesome times had @ThoughtBubbleUK this weekend. Met loads of nice people and made some new comics friends which is always great! Really glad the move to Harrogate worked out, con was super busy and crowds were lovely! Cant wait for next year #TBF19 pic.twitter.com/UdZ9Km9P6z

— MDPenman (@M_D_Penman) November 10, 2019

Nova, our super Draw With The Stars winner from yesterday at the Kids’ Zone! Join us at the kids zone to join today’s competition #TBF19 pic.twitter.com/CIK2qftBS1

— Thought Bubble (@ThoughtBubbleUK) November 10, 2019

Wow. This was a blast from the past! The Oxfam stall at #TBF19 selling a more-or-less complete run of the Punisher UK comic I edited! pic.twitter.com/RFodZn65VH

— Steve White (@sharkbitesteve) November 10, 2019

It’s been so fun doing mini portraits alongside selling my comics / prints at @ThoughtBubbleUK today! So many lovely sitters and brilliant conversations, plus an awesome Squirrel Girl costume! #TBF19 pic.twitter.com/jO1OuvIH0X

— Emmeline Pidgen (@emmelinedraws) November 10, 2019

Selling the Art of Ian Kennedy book & Starblazer to comics legend @CharlieAdlard pic.twitter.com/ReJ8ZNiy83

— Leon_S (@ElStrak) November 9, 2019

Thought Bubble day 1 #TBF19 #tbf2019 pic.twitter.com/ZbZuWp2ZW7

— — @ Thought Bubble (@AbzJHarding) November 10, 2019

Late #TBF19 pic.twitter.com/NgDglruhSv

— Marian Every Day is Halloween Hilditch (@MMortAH) November 9, 2019

Another Thought Bubble in the bag, and a lovely one to boot. Far too many fleeting hellos with people I sincerely love, but that’s the nature of the beast.
More breakout stars of the show than ever, but watch @SquareComic and @GustaffoVargas go thermonuclear, chums. Dazzling. pic.twitter.com/EWSQnknIo9

— Alex Paknadel (@AlexPaknadel) November 11, 2019

That is #TBF19 over for another year – thank you to all the amazing creators who put their art and stories out into the world for me to enjoy!
Thanks to @ThoughtBubbleUK for putting on such an amazing festival! pic.twitter.com/iRdhUKDZh9

— Mary Campbell (@MaryGreens) November 11, 2019

Another highlight of my #TBF19 weekend: stepping to one side to recognise the Two Minute Silence, being joined by this venue Fire Marshall who wins the Six Degrees Game, hands down. (You’ll spot it eventually.) pic.twitter.com/PD8raT9mHC

— An Englishman In San Diego (@EnglishmanSDCC) November 11, 2019

Most successful TBubz I’ve ever had. Thanx tons to the @ThoughtBubbleUK team new & old, all that said lovely things about our new booth, the absurd number of people that bought BUMSTORM Mega Packs, the greatest friends I spent the wknd with & of course: my incredible wife. #TBF19 pic.twitter.com/nXoWpqTUVF

— Luckett @ThoughtBubble Comixology#203 (@robluckett) November 10, 2019

VERY Serious tarot reading with @princess_jem4 and @darren_shill. #TBF19 pic.twitter.com/vwL4VGCsOj

— Lisa Sterle @ Thought Bubble M112 (@lisa_sterle) November 10, 2019

Holy cow, my first experience proper at @ThoughtBubbleUK was so great! Thanks to everyone who came to my table, chatted and bought comics!! See you all next year! #TBF19 pic.twitter.com/TZ5tt3N9w2

— Marc makes comics makes! @TBF2019 Pride Hall T34 (@MARCmakescomics) November 9, 2019

Thank you to everyone who has been buying, picking up & looking at the “Living With Cancer: Our Stories” comics and prints! All sales from these items will be going to Cancer Research UK (@CR_UK) #TBF19 #TBF2019 pic.twitter.com/XKl3BFquhk

— CHIP collective @ ThoughtBubble Ask For Mercy 94 (@chip_collective) November 10, 2019

So did you all have a great @ThoughtBubbleUK #tbf19? We certainly did! Thank you to the TB team, the hardworking red shirts, our #BF6toWatch artists and all our friends in this wonderful comics community for making it such a special weekend. pic.twitter.com/cNZV3MD5oo

— Broken Frontier (@brokenfrontier) November 10, 2019

Huge thanks to everyone who came to see us at TBF this weekend, and of course the amazing @ThoughtBubbleUK team!! ❤️ #TBF19 pic.twitter.com/ZuV7x2cLqt

— Big Brown Eyes (@BBEcollective) November 10, 2019

Last couple of hours to go at @ThoughtBubbleUK
Footfall did not disappoint at the new location in #Harrogate #Comixology Hall Table 149 #writer #ZebraComics @DanWritehead is signing his work
Search #thoughtbubble #TBF19 to check out all the tweets from the week long festival pic.twitter.com/HZtA3teH70

— Carol Ann Whitehead FRSA GGA The Zebra Partnership (@Zebra_carol) November 10, 2019

Wow, that’s @ThoughtBubbleUK over! Thanks to all the volunteers & staff, @Robgog who signed non stop for 2 days (legend), @johnhdunning @marxtafford & @HineDavid for joining in the fun & games, & everyone who stopped by the table – you’re all amazing! See you in 2020 #TBF19 pic.twitter.com/xIc0QaY6kI

— SelfMadeHero (@SelfMadeHero) November 10, 2019

So, #TBF19 is over – it’s been emotional. See you next time, punks! pic.twitter.com/rJYPkwLUP0

— Jess (@makescoolthings) November 10, 2019

THANK YOU to everyone who came to #TBF19 Comic Con and Festival. We’ve had an amazing weekend in Harrogate and you’ve all made it so special. We love you all! pic.twitter.com/vLARKrkYoe

— Thought Bubble (@ThoughtBubbleUK) November 10, 2019

• Thought Bubble is online at www.thoughtbubblefestival.com

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.