Luke Williams offers his impressions of the latest massive Thought Bubble Comic Convention in Harrogate, and offers some advice on anyone thinking of attending next year…
For the uninitiated, the Thought Bubble Comic Festival has been running since 2007, culminating in a convention at the end of the week. Over the last few years, it has taken place in the rather posh, picturesque, historic town of Harrogate, Yorkshire. The convention attracts hundreds of creators and thousands of visitors, all with one thing in common: a passion for the medium.
When my family think of comic conventions, their first thoughts are of cosplay, superheroes, Marvel, DC etc. etc. Thought Bubble has that, but in far better ratio with other genres. The emphasis is on creators and, specifically, indie creators, with a large small press contingent. There are, of course, plenty of well known publishers here, Rebellion (publishers of 2000AD, who sponsored one hall and run a special pitch event for aspiring contributors to The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic), SelfMadeHero, Avery Hill, Cinebook, and The Phoenix; and superheroes are present, but as part of the blend, they don’t dominate. There is a smorgasbord of genres on offer, horror, drama, comedy, biographical: every taste is catered for, and some you may not have heard of let alone considered.
This is your correspondent’s second “T Bubs”. Getting there takes a lot of planning as I live in South Wales, and I’m not going to drive to Yorkshire. It’s pretty much a day’s travelling on the train, but even this year, after the biblical weather, we’ve been having the trip up was relatively uneventful. Harrogate itself is a genuinely lovely town, relatively undeveloped, charming, with lots of old buildings, green areas, places to eat and good transport links.
Arriving at the Convention Centre, your correspondent is rather weary from his half hour brisk walk up and down hill (Google Maps is lying when it says the route is “fairly flat”). Arriving around 9.45, I joined another few hundred in a snaking queue around the small plaza in front of the convention centre.
Looking around, the demographic of attendees is broad, young and old (under 12s and over 65s have free entry). There is a smattering of cosplayers, some attendees are just dressed flamboyantly, there are young families, some middle aged and over. I get in a few minutes after the 10.00am opening time and I’m handed a weekend wrist band pass with a sticky patch that, if you aren’t careful, will act as a depilatory strip, and a very professionally produced map and programme.
Entering the first hall, everyone is smiling, redshirts (the volunteers), visitors and tablers alike. I can feel a grin forming on my face; there is an infectious happy vibe. Everyone is nice, pleasant, warm, friendly, enthusiastic and helpful.
A glance at the map and looking up and across into the first hall, “The Redshirt Hall” makes you realise how enormous this place is. You can do TB without prior planning, but I wouldn’t recommend it. It is vast. It’s useful to carry out at least a bit of research first, and have some idea as to whom you want to see and what you want to do, otherwise it can all get a bit overwhelming.
The organisers have gone to great lengths to make navigating the con as easy as possible, each creator / publisher and stall are alphabetically listed on the map, by the hall they are in. Equally, keep your options and mind open to what you may come across when walking down the massive halls. There is a tendency to visit the creators that you know already, but, like any convention you should take the time to check out some others. Take a punt on a creator or work of whom you haven’t heard before, plenty of recommendations are made in the panels. But also be disciplined with your budget. It’s very easy to spend money here with so much fascinating work on display.
It’s very busy, and there is a lot to see: but If it all gets too much, there are chill out areas and plenty of areas just to sit and buy a snack or a coffee (Do note however that, as you’d imagine, they aren’t cheap).
Panels are many and varied. This year’s topics ranged from 2000AD to a spotlight on creator Joe Sacco to Underground Comix. Equally, the workshops ranged from how to interpret music in comics to activist comics. Panel rooms and workshops are well organised and the sole stage located in the Comixology Hall has headphones available for those attendees whose hearing isn’t what it used to be to hear the panel.
For aspiring creators, there are workshops on how to create your own comics and portfolio reviews by established creators, or for those who just want to meet their favourite creators there are signings, plus of course there is the obligatory cosplay parade.
Bring sturdy bags, an art folder – anything to protect your purchases on the way home. I defy anyone not to come away with at least a small stack of books, or art. If you love comics, you will love Thought Bubble.
Luke Williams
• Thought Bubble Comic Art Festival – The Yorkshire Comic Festival and Thought Bubble – Comic Convention returns to Harrogate next year | Web www.thoughtbubblefestival.com
Events across Yorkshire in November, across Leeds and the whole of Yorkshire, an unmatched celebration of comics
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• Broken Frontier coverage of Thought Bubble 2025 including interviews
• Bleeding Cool’s Rich Johnston’s “From One Side Of Thought Bubble 2025 To The Other”
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Brought up on a diet of Commando, British Boys Annuals and Asterix, Lucas Williams’s day job limits his reading time. Luckily for everyone else this also restricts his writing time.
Categories: Comics, downthetubes News, Events, Features, Reviews
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