James Bacon headed to Ireland’s capital for the Summer Variant of Dublin Comic Con and had excellent time, meeting an amazing selection of Irish comic creatives and enjoying some incredible cosplay…

The 37 bus ejects me on Bachelor’s Walk, and I grab a quick espresso at the corner of The Quays and O’Connell Street. It’s early, but as I look from this vantage of a view of the fine street, O’Connell bridge and Eden quay towards Liberty Hall as the Liffey gently bends; wondrous colour runs, or walks, across the wide roads, all heading towards the building just on the horizon, past the Loop line bridge: the distinctive cylinder of glass, the CCD.

I too feel the magnetic draw, joining the bright and colourful creative awesome of fans all heading towards Dublin Comic Con. 

Dublin is cooler than London in this year of scorching heat, and rain occasionally occurs still, so the cool breeze along the River Liffey is nice. The dedicated coplayers committed to their craft probably appreciate it, too. We will all enjoy the air conditioning of the CCD, a building dedicated to ecology, the world’s first carbon-neutral constructed convention centre, only using uses renewable electricity. 

There is a definite atmosphere as I get closer: a human, electrical energy of excitement and the shooting stars of colour turn into waves, radiating a kaleidoscope of colour through the refraction of imagination and diffraction of creativity. 

The convention has sold out… there is a waiting list. I’m impressed that the team have been so dynamic and caring to make that effort, where would you find it. 

The Main Hall has an amazing variety. I am impressed that Bandai are here in strength with a large pavilion, a Gundam statue welcoming fans. Toys, models and figures are so popular, who does not love them? Dublin-based comic shop Big Bang Comics have a large presence to fill your shelves, too. The fan aspects are strong, so there are sets and scenes created to immerse fans for the momentary photo into a location, merging the imaginary momentarily. 

The Liffey Hall on the first floor is full of comics, comic creatives line one of the walls, locally made comics, art, books, fill the hall, there’s so much. There’s been a rejig of the layout, and it works well. Like the event itself, there is no shortage of demand for the artist alley tables, but the CCD, while huge, like all venues is finite. 

One wall of the Hall is made up of comic professionals, juxtaposed with the wall on the other side of famous performers of anime, film and TV. 

It’s an amazing line-up for me: there has been wave after wave of Irish comic book brilliance over the decades but here, this is what I consider some of the best this decade. Of course there is balance, too, added as Marvel artist Humberto Ramos is here, along with writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson, adding experience along with Rickey Purdin. 

It’s the chat though, I love hearing what’s next, what’s happening, and of course picking up comics. Ruairí Coleman is doing more Marvel Multiverse RPG work, on Spider-Man – Midtown Mayhem, due for release on 23rd September. His Spider-man art always has a fabulous sense of movement, emphasising the agility that Peter Parker has. Ruairí also has work in X-Men United #7, featuring Bl;ade, one of his favourite characters out in your Local Comic Shop on 30th September.

It has been a really good comic book week for me. I managed to pick up two comics by Debbie Jenkinson: The Pony Kids, which is really lovely, and Significant Other, which is such an insightful and thoughtful comic. I love her painted work. 

There has been a wave of Irish artists successfully entering the professional scene working for American publishers DC, Marvel and Image Comics this decade, and the way DCC celebrates them is noticeable. Entering the industry is a key part and it was amazing to see Rickey Purdin, Director & Talent Relations at Marvel Comics, as a guest, engaging with so many fans who aspire to write or draw. He was so generous with his time during these one-to-one conversations. 

Donegal-based artist Reese Hannigan was selected by Marvel Comics to participate in Marvel Art Atelier, a training and mentorship programme for rising comic book artists, hosted at Disneyland Paris back in March. Reese, Rickey and Humberto Ramos spoke with Seamus Kavanagh of Irish comic collective Limit Break Comics about his own and other experiences, and you could see the keen interest from many who want to work in the industry. Reese had issue #2 of Bishop with him, written by Saladin Ahmed, and issue #3 should be just out in your LCS as I get this review in.

I was delighted to speak with Ellie Wright, who had travelled up from Cork, Ellie is a Ringo Award winning professional Comic Book Colourist, and had a wonderful selection of comics with her. Archie X Army of Darkness is very fun, Epitaphs from the Abyss looked fab, and there was a clear interest in Cruella De Vil – and I was delighted to pick up some comics for my nieces.

An aspect that people really appreciate and love are the number of charities who are facilitate and present. Irish Guide Dogs are here with their lovely creatures and Oxfam Ireland have a massive stand, staffed by Paul and Patrycja from the Ringsend branch who build up the themed items especially for the con. 

The Fan aspect is also very strong. As ever, the team from U.S.S. Cuchulainn were working tirelessly welcoming people onto the bridge of Star Trek’s U.S.S. Enterprise, and it was lovely to see Jonathan East and have a quick chat with him, about just how fun and timeless the Star Trek Bridge seems to be. 

Dublin 2029, a bid to host the Worldcon in three years’ time, were present, and giving away FREE science fiction, fantasy and horror books, and this was very popular. Local conventions Octocon being held in Cork this year and Gaelcon were also there, welcoming fans to consider joining them.

Ella Frehtman had an amazing display in the artists alley, which was very beautifully done, and Katie O’Kane had a continual crowd of fans looking to pick up her work. Paul Carroll had a new novel out, State of Despayre (part of his The Black Pages series), and Seamus Kavanagh had his new short comic collection, Old Game Plus #2 – six comic stories based on games, (and as it is an anthology, there is a fine selection of creatives involved including some favourites of mine, Alice Coleman, John McGuiness, JP Jordan, Marina Leon, Gareth Luby, and Tríona Farrell. 

JP Jordan is currently colouring Dog Tag from Mad Cave Studios, a war comic written by Mark Russell with line work by PJ Holden, and JP has just done a cover, too. Set in World War Two in the last year of the war, it’s a thoughtful and reflective story, following Corporal Tom Fuller from the beaches of Normandy and it was great to see him at the con. 

Tríona Farrell continues to be one of the most productive comic artists in Ireland. Batman: Dark Patternshas grown I feel in popularity and has been recognised as real brilliance, and I was delighted to pick up two comics that Triona has worked on, Justice League: Dream Girls A Pride Event #4. This superb comic contains stories written by Nicole Maines, Klaus Janson (providing an autobiographical story) and Jadzia Axelrod, with art by Brandt&Stein, Klaus Janson Rosi Kämpe Coloured by Dearbhla Kelly and Tríona. It is quite the selection, and I am partial to Janson’s work, and really love Brandt&Stein, so great to see. 

The second comic was the Summer of Supergirl Special #1, which also contained a story drawn by another Irish artist who I was delighted to see at the con, Cian Tormey. Cian just nails the task of presenting beautiful work, and continually delivers with consistency and real clarity, while capturing the action so well, and his oeuvre for DC just continues to grow. It was great to chat with him, as he made time for so many, sharing his passion for comics. 

I also got a chance to speak to Colm Griffin, who is working on Gatchaman Red Impulse, a personal favourite, having grown up with Battle of The Planets, and learned and come to enjoy the Gatchaman series. The comic is written by Steve Orland and Colm did a variant cover for the first issue, which is stunning. 

I was also very pleased with the lovely Absolute Batman homage cover of issue #1 of Fireborn drawn by Patrick Mulholland who was at the con. Fireborn written by Franklin Jonas and Curt Pires and is proving popular, issue #2 going to a second printing.

The standard of cosplay was great, there were a lot of amazing costumes, but also so many people clearly having a good time. There were ample talks, and the community room, gaming room, computer gaming rooms, and items such as Mario Kart with a live band, were all fantastic. There was a lot of excitement for the Anime, TV and Film guests, but everyone here has so much time and passion for comics. 

Finally, I spoke with Danny Earls, another Irish artist who continues his great work, and has been doing quite a few covers of late, and proving hugely popular. I was chuffed that I was able to pick up Absolute Batman issue #8 earlier in the year with the Danny Earls variant cover. As he said himself, “This was such a highlight of last year for me – I was honoured to get to play in the Absolute universe that Scott Snyder and all of his amazing artists created last year! Such fun character designs to draw!”

It is a stunning cover, and Danny showed the process on his Instagram. One of the advantages for me as a fan: I have no need to buy all variants, but when a variant of a comic I am enjoying, and we know how popular Absolute Batman is proving and it is highly recommended, it is an added bonus when an artist I really like, does a variant cover. 

As I walked away from the convention, with a fine selection of comics, it really was an excellent experience. It was busy, for sure, and fair play to Karl and Derek and their extensive team for such a superb event. It was a superb weekend, with no shortage of great comics. 

James Bacon

• Dublin Comic Con is online at dublincomiccon.com

Incoming from the same organisers: Collector Con takes place 11th – 12th September; Cork Comic Con 2026 takes place 4th – 6th October

All photos featured by and © James Bacon unless otherwise stated. Our thanks to the cosplayers and creatives for their time. AmazonUK links are affiliates

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James Bacon

James Bacon (he/him) is an Irish fan, a train driver living in London and much appreciated contributor to downthetubes. A Hugo Award-winning editor of the fanzine Journey Planet, he is a comic fan and enjoys comic art, war comics, Star Wars, Irish aspects to comics and railways in comics or otherwise.

He has been writing about comics for over thirty years and is author of Irish Conflict in Comics in the 20th Century: Rebellion, Nazi Spies, and The Troubles (also available from AmazonUK, Affiliate Link), and  A Sensual Cesspool of Iniquity, available from Limit Break Comics, as well as on Amazon.co.uk (Affiliate Link) | Amazon.com | Amazon.ie

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Categories: Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events, Features, Reviews

Tags: Bandai, Batman, Big Bang Comics, Cian Tormey, Colm Griffin, Cosplay, Danny Earls, Debbie Jenkinson, Dublin Comic Con, Ella Frehtman, Ellie Wright, Events Ireland, Gundam, Humberto Ramos, James Bacon, JP Jordan, Katie O'Kane, Limit Break Comics, Marvel Art Atelier, Paul Carroll, Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Reese Hannigan, Rickey Purdin, Ruairí Coleman, Seamus Kavanagh, U.S.S. Cuchulainn