Here’s another cracking glimpse at early British comics fandom courtesy of the brilliant Classic UK Comics Zines web site hosted by artist and independent publisher David Hathaway-Price – the 1969 ComiCon Booklet featuring a cover by the late, great, Jim Baikie.
London ComiCon 1969 Convention Booklet – Cover by Jim Baikie
Held at the Waverley Hotel, London, this was the second-ever British Comic Art Convention, the first taking place in Birmingham in August 1968, organised by Phil Clarke and Steve Moore.
The May 1969 event – its main guests, Steve Parkhouse and Barry Windsor-Smith, best known then, perhaps, for their work for Oldham’s’ Power Comics Fantastic and Terrific, was organised by Derek “Bram” Stokes, founder of Britain’s first comic shop Dark They Were and Golden Eyed, Frank Dobson and Steve Moore.
The British Comic Art Convention, usually known as Comicon, was an annual British comic book convention which was held between 1968 and 1981, usually in London. The earliest British fan convention devoted entirely to comics, later it was also the birthplace of the Eagle Awards, which launched in 1977.
With a cover by Jim Baikie, the 1969 event’s Convention Booklet was assembled by Frank Dobson, Steve Moore, Alan Willis and Derek “Bram” Stokes, with interior artwork by Dennis Gifford, Vaughn Bodé, Joe Orlando, Al Williamson, Wally Wood, Jeff Jones and Bernie Wrightson, thanks mainly to Canadian fan John Mansfield.
Well wishes to the London ComiCon 1969 on the back of the Convention Booklet from Marvel Comics
This latest snapshot of British comics fandom of yesteryear joins the Classic UK Comics Zines site thanks to Steve Bee, who was one of the seventh – yes, just seventy! – or so attending the event, who kindly scanned his copy.
“Fans were more than happy to travel, we were nearly all teenagers then, so visiting a different city was always an exciting prospect,” recalls publisher Dez Skinn of the event on his official web site. “Ah, such simpler times…”
• Main Archive site and Fanscene PDF downloads here
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
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.
Categories: British Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events
Related Articles
-
John Higgins Doctor Who poster art for Doctor Who Monthly 100 offered for sale
-
Ken Reid, Reg Parlett art and plenty of “Free Gift” comics dominate latest Phil-Comics auction
-
London Book Fair Comic Space announced
-
Monica Ali, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Claudia Piñeiro and Jamie Smart named Authors of the Fair at London Book Fair 2025