Are you ready for “The Return of the Bubble People” a new exhibition by Sean Azzopardi?

By John Freeman on February 16, 2024 • ( 1 )

Independent comic creator, artist and event organiser Sean Azzopardi, the publisher of Phatcomics, has announced an upcoming exhibition of work, “The Return of the Bubble People”, at Brew in Hull.

“The Return of the Bubble People” an exhibition by Sean Azzopardi (2024)

“The Return of the Bubble People” by Sean Azzopardi (2024)

“The Bubble People lived in a home on Prospect Street, then evil property developers kicked them out and closed the building,” Sean informs us. “After a year of hiding in the pages of a screen printed comic book, they’re back. On canvas, in frames and with new family members who exist in 3D. It’s a spectacular return!”

Hosted at the amazing space known as Brew, “The Return of the Bubble People” is an exhibition that no-one should miss.

Sean Azzopardi is a Hull based cartoonist, the publisher of Phatcomics, formed in 2001. Since then, he’s published over 60 mini comics, curated a number of exhibitions and organised several conventions.

A founding member of London Underground Comics and The Crouch End Festival, his Phatcomics published published titles include Twelve Hour Shift and Dark Matters, created with Douglas Noble. Other work includes Necessary Monsters (for First Comics) and 24 Panels (for Image comics), a comic covering issues faced by survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire.

“The Voice of the Hall” by Sean Azzopardi

The Voice of the Hall, a graphic history of Hornsey Town Hall, funded by the Arts Council, was published in 2018 by Soaring Penguin Press. More recently, Sean, a regular guest of events in the UK and beyond and artist in residence in the Hull Library Makerspace, completed The Sea Shepherd, a history of the marine conservation organisation, and Street Art and Protest – A Visual History, also funded by the Arts Council.

“Life’s a Part” by Sean Azzopardi - Touch the Brass Road

He’s been working on a comic called The Ruin, and it’s resulted in all sorts of new work, some of which is model building, reflected in this new exhibition.

• The Return of the Bubble People by Sean Azzopardi 2nd – 12th March 2024 Brew Cafe, 76 Bond Street, Hull, HU1 3EN | Web: brewhull.co.uk | Opening drinks on 6th March from 6.00pm onwards

• Phatcomics is online at phatcomics.co.uk | Follow Sean on Instagram

• Broken Frontier: “Community Growth Continues to Be a Positive Area of Development” – Sean Azzopardi on Taking the Medium to New Audiences and His Own Autobio Comics Practice

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.