The organisers of the planned Tripwire Presents Bristol Comic Con in September have announced its cancellation, and refunded all advance ticket purchases.

In a statement, Joel Meadows, publisher of Tripwire magazine, and the driving force behind the project, revealed response to plans for the event had “been below expectations”, and cited wider issues, affecting the British economy in general, as factors in low take up.

“It is with much regret that we have to inform you all that we have been forced to cancel the forthcoming Tripwire Presents Bristol Comic Con which was due to take place in September,” he said in a statement earlier this week.

“Despite our best efforts in promoting and advertising the show, along with what we considered to be a great line-up of talent and innovative programming, the response has been below expectations.

“We are somewhat surprised as we thought that we had all the right ingredients to make a show like this work.”

The cancellation of the event followed shortly after a statement at the end of last month revealing changes to the guest line up, announcing artists Howard Chaykin and Elena Casagrande, and Valiant senior editor Lysa Hawkins would no longer be attending, as the organisers sought to reduce overall event costs.

“There have been other major mitigating factors as well that have counted against us,” Joel noted in the cancellation announcement, “like the ongoing problems with international travel, cancellations and current events having a considerable impact on the UK economy, especially when the show was taking place.

“We shall of course be refunding in full everyone who has bought a ticket or table. We apologise to those who have booked with us for the inconvenience.”

Joel later stated all ticket refunds had been completed.

Despite the cancellation of the event, the Tripwire team still hope to run an event sometime in 2023.

“We are currently regrouping,” says Joel, “and looking to reschedule and reformat the show in another venue towards the end of next year.”

All other British comic conventions and related events already announced for 2023 are going ahead.

These include Comic Showcase, taking place in Taunton this weekend and Comics Salopia (24th to the 26th June, in Shrewsbury), London Film and Comic Con, ICE Birmingham (September), the Lakes International Comic Art Festival (October, in Bowness-on-Windermere) and Thought Bubble (November, Harrogate).

• Tripwire is online at www.tripwiremagazine.co.uk

• Check out the downthetubes British and Irish comic events guide here

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.

Categories: downthetubes News, Events

Tags: Comics Events, downthetubes News, Joel Meadows, Tripwire