Marvel wall lights, Deadpool costumes, a new Captain America-inspired lifestyle collection and Beano-inspired games are just some of the comic-inspired items that will be on display at the upcoming Spring Fair at the NEC Birmingham this coming weekend.
Blackburn-based JWP Ltd launched its 3DLightFX Marvel range of 3D Wall lights last year, promoted across selected children’s television channels in November. Their range, which will be on display at the home and gift industry Fair, includes the complete range of Marvel 3D wall lights: Spider-Man and Iron Man masks, Hulk fist, Captain America’s shield and Thor’s hammer.
JWP says the Marvel range of their cordless, battery operated lights is already highly successful and sales were “remarkable” in throughout 2015 all year and this advert is expected to increase people’s awareness of the product even more, with those retailers who have purchased stock reaping the rewards”.
Also at the industry event will be Bioworld Europe, who will launch their new Captain America lifestyle collection, as well as showcasing their other new licensed ranges which include Nintendo, Zelda, PlayStation, Star Wars, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and Pokémon.
Costume makes Rubies will of course be keen to show off their new ranges for 2016’s most highly anticipated movies including Batman v Superman, Captain America: Civil War, Ghostbusters, Finding Dory and, of course, Deadpool, which debuts in cinemas next week.
Planning ahead in to 2017, Browntrout Publishing‘s huge new calendar range includes the 2017 2000AD calendar, set to rub shoulders with other comics-inspired releases that include Simon’s Cat and Dilbert.
Lagoon Group Beano Footy Match Game
Hype Associates will be promoting their range of greeting cards and gift wrap featuring licensed characters such as Dennis and friends from The Beano, Gerry Anderson’s TV shows (intriguingly focusing not on Thunderbirds but Stingray, Captain Scarlet, Joe 90 and UFO), Hello Kitty, Betty Boop, Beatrix Potter, Bagpuss, Moomin, Mr Benn and more; while the Lagoon Group, the UK’s leading supplier of games and puzzles as gifts will be promoting its Beano and Ladybird-inspired Tabletop Trivia, Puzzles and Games along with their Roald Dajl and Mr Bean ranges.
Perhaps one of the strangest items on display will be a new Batman-inspired ukulele alongside Peppa Pig percussion and Looney Tunes guitar straps from Access All Areas Distribution. Established in 1999, the Scottish company already produces a number of licensed ukuleles, percussion and guitar accessories – but we’d love to see a copy of Batman where he’s playing one of those…
• For more about Spring Fair visit www.springfair.com
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.
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