As well as heavy industry and Black Sabbath, Birmingham was the birthplace of the Birmingham Comic Con, the first ever major British comic event back in 1968. Now, High Vis Festival, continues that tradition, with its second comic convention, a free event returning to Kings Heath on Saturday 19th September – and the announcement of Mark Millar as a special guest, to rival any large-scale show.
Alongside 2000AD alumni such as Phil Winslade (Lawless), Ian Edginton (2000 AD, Scarlet Traces) and John McCrea (The Boys), and Beano artists Laura Howell (The Regular Show) and Hunt Emerson (The Beano, Knockabout), as well as creators Will Potter (Geezer), Ian Richardson (The Judge Dredd Megazine), Paul McCaffrey (Anno Dracula: 1895 – Seven Days in Mayhem), JaKE Detonator (Star Wars: How to Speak Wookie, NME), Lew Stringer (Doctor Who), Sonia Leong (Assassin’s Creed: Awakening) and Kev F Sutherland (The Beano, Romeo & Juliet), High Vis has just confirmed author and producer Mark Millar as a guest.
Quite the guest, actually, given he hasn’t been a guest at a comic convention in nearly a decade. And, we’re told, isn’t planning on doing another one any time soon.
Mark Millar made a name for himself at both DC Comics and Marvel, with such titles as Superman: Red Son, The Ultimates, Civil War and Old Man Logan before creating his highly successful titles as Wanted, Kick-Ass, Jupiter’s Legacy and Secret Service, all of which have been adapted for film or TV, with Kick-Ass spawning two feature films and Secret Service going on to become The Kingsmen and successfully producing there feature films.
Indeed, it was his writing on The Ultimates that as highly influential on the development of the Marvel MCU in the big screen, with his and artist Bryan Hitch’s series’ influence obvious for any fan to see on the silver screen. Mark continues to publish his Millarverse titles, such as his big cross-over comic Big Game as well as new title, Star-Crossed, through Dark Horse Comics, with Image Comics recently announcing a new compendium edition of Kick-Ass coming out later this year, and a third film in the works, directed by Matthew Vaughn.
“He’s never been busier, and with several film projects in development currently, we can’t believe our luck in landing such a big name,” says Kings Heath Comic Con Director Olly Macnamee.
“After the huge success of last year’s show, I wanted to do something bigger and bolder and really put Kings Heath Comic Con on the map in our second year,” he says. And you can’t get bigger than Mark Millar, I’d argue.
“This is big for our comic convention, which really does focus on comics and not TV or film stars, and big for Birmingham. I couldn’t be more excited!”
As well as Mark Millar, High Vis have the return of fan and family favourites, the 501st Legion UK Garrison, Star Wars cosplayers who really made the day at last year’s inaugural convention, and plenty of independent comic book creators, artists and traders all under one roof in the Kings Heath All-Saints Community Centre. And with our new train station, as well as easy routes on buses, it’s a fun day out for families as well as a must for comic book fans too.
Plus, we’ll be running a special in-person-only charity art auction in support of our chosen charity, the Kings Heath Food Bank.
So, why not head to the free High Vis Kings Heath Comic Convention on Saturday 19th September, from 10.00am until 5.00pm? For all the latest news, check out their website at: highviscomic-con.com for on insta @highvisfestival
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as 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.
Categories: British Comics, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events, Film, Other Worlds, Television
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