Look! Up In The Sky! Superman by Alec Ross
Artwork inspired by writer and publisher Stan Lee and created by artists such as Alex Ross, two of the biggest names in comic books, will be exhibited at this year’s inaugural Portsmouth Comic Con, taking place 5th – 6th May 2018 at Portsmouth Guildhall.
Organised by Portsmouth Guildhall in partnership with Bournemouth’s Westover Gallery, this unique exhibition will present a number of signed limited edition pieces from Stan Lee’s Marvel Collection and artist Alex Ross that Comic Con visitors can view and purchase…
Rarely displayed outside a gallery setting, this is a unique opportunity to see the artwork from one of the most influential and highly-respected figures in the comic book world in an exhibition that is exclusive to Portsmouth Comic Con. The artworks pay homage to the incredible superheroes drawn by some of the greatest artists in the world such as Jack Kirby, John Romita Jr and John Buscema and will captivate visitors of all ages. No one outside of the gallery space has been granted access to these incredible pieces, some of which come from a limited run of nine.
Superman Forever by Alec Ross
The exhibition also includes signed, limited edition Stan Lee commemorative pieces, which were released to celebrate his 95th birthday. 2018 is also the 80th anniversary of the creation of Superman, who forms a significant part of Alex Ross’ works being displayed.
American comic book writer and editor Stan Lee’s Marvel Collection spans over 30 years of comic book history and features some of the most recognised and well-loved characters to appear on the covers of Marvel, including Spider-Man, Captain America, The Incredible Hulk, Wolverine and Iron Man.
Alex Ross masterfully blurs the lines between fantasy and reality, taking a two-dimensional medium and giving it a widescreen feel. His photorealistic approach brought a new perspective and style to comic book illustration that had never been fully realised in the medium before.
Organised in collaboration with Tripwire Magazine, the inaugural Portsmouth Comic Con is set to be the largest event of its kind in the South, offering the best in comic, film, TV and pop culture entertainment. It features a range of entertainment zones alongside a stellar line-up of comic artists and writers who have worked on comic books such as Thor, Fantastic Four, Batman, Superman, Black Panther, Star Wars and many more, as well as films and TV shows including the Harry Potter films, Star Wars, Doctor Who and Red Dwarf, among others.
The two-day programme has been designed to appeal to children and adults alike, and takes visitors behind the scenes of comics and screen through a range of panels, exhibitions, displays and workshops, as well as meeting the stars behind the cameras.
In the Immersive Technology Zone, hosted by The University of Portsmouth, visitors can get to grips with virtual reality and motion capture, watch screenings and game demonstrations, and interact with robots and more in a showcase of state-of-the-art technology hosted by emerging student talent.
The Wonderzone will include British FX artist Gary Pollard, who has worked on the Harry Potter films, Jim Henson’s The Storyteller, Doctor Who and Red Dwarf, demonstrating his amazing talent and skill in prosthetic make-up. There will also be a character illustration workshop, an Ewok exhibition and Steampunk and costume displays.
The Interactive Zone offers the chance to get hands-on with video and gaming, including retro and vintage gaming courtesy of Game Over; a figure-making workshop with Games Workshop; and creative craft activities for kids.
A series of panels hosted by some of the best artists and writers in the industry will include discussions on Star Wars and Doctor Who, as well as providing support for budding artists wishing to break into the industry.
There will also be the opportunity to purchase a fantastic range of comics, art, prints, crafts, toys, collectables, merchandise and more from a huge range of exhibitors alongside leading UK retailer, Forbidden Planet International.
• Tickets are on sale now. For the full programme and to purchase tickets please go to: portsmouthcomiccon.com | Visit the TRIPWIRE website www.tripwiremagazine.co.uk
Superhero images featured in this article via Westover Gallery represent some of their range and may not all be included in the Comic Con displays
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.
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