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Wales Comic Con convention at Wrexham Glyndwr University Wales Comic Con convention at Wrexham Glyndwr University
(about 9 hours later)
With thousands of comic book fans expected at a convention in Wrexham on Sunday, Rhodri Owen discovers how fantasy fandom has entered the mainstream.With thousands of comic book fans expected at a convention in Wrexham on Sunday, Rhodri Owen discovers how fantasy fandom has entered the mainstream.
And the geeks shall inherit the Earth: or, at least, a small chunk of north Wales.And the geeks shall inherit the Earth: or, at least, a small chunk of north Wales.
Once they were known somewhat unkindly as nerds, and typified as pale, pimply teenagers debating the merits of Judge Dredd or Hellboy online in darkened bedrooms.Once they were known somewhat unkindly as nerds, and typified as pale, pimply teenagers debating the merits of Judge Dredd or Hellboy online in darkened bedrooms.
Now, following a string of Hollywood blockbusters, the comic book world of fantasy, superheroes and sci-fi has never been so popular - or lucrative.Now, following a string of Hollywood blockbusters, the comic book world of fantasy, superheroes and sci-fi has never been so popular - or lucrative.
On the big screen last year's Marvel Studios movie Avengers Assemble has accumulated more than $1bn at the box office. Iron Man 3 already has the money men salivating, and on TV all the talk is of Game of Thrones.On the big screen last year's Marvel Studios movie Avengers Assemble has accumulated more than $1bn at the box office. Iron Man 3 already has the money men salivating, and on TV all the talk is of Game of Thrones.
A generation after Star Wars, the marriage of screen and magazine has sparked a renaissance in the genre, and comic book fans from a cross-section of society are marching cheerfully into the light.A generation after Star Wars, the marriage of screen and magazine has sparked a renaissance in the genre, and comic book fans from a cross-section of society are marching cheerfully into the light.
Among them is Jaime Milner, the organiser of Wales Comic Con, a fan convention at Wrexham's Glyndwr University on Sunday.Among them is Jaime Milner, the organiser of Wales Comic Con, a fan convention at Wrexham's Glyndwr University on Sunday.
Founded in 2008, the event attracted 3,000 fans last year and, boosted by a celebrity guest list which might put some more established conventions to shame, is expecting 5,000 this year.Founded in 2008, the event attracted 3,000 fans last year and, boosted by a celebrity guest list which might put some more established conventions to shame, is expecting 5,000 this year.
Those offering autographs - for £10 or £20 a time - will include The Lord of the Rings star Billy Boyd, the stars of TV's Red Dwarf and cast members from Games of Thrones, 24, Star Trek: Voyager and Twilight: New Moon.Those offering autographs - for £10 or £20 a time - will include The Lord of the Rings star Billy Boyd, the stars of TV's Red Dwarf and cast members from Games of Thrones, 24, Star Trek: Voyager and Twilight: New Moon.
Top artists will sketch to order, fans can buy comics and memorabilia, dress up or enrol for Jedi training.Top artists will sketch to order, fans can buy comics and memorabilia, dress up or enrol for Jedi training.
"I wanted to host an event that nobody had seen before in Wales and, as a fan of comic books and their movie spin-offs, it seemed the right idea," explains Mr Milner, 28, from Wrexham."I wanted to host an event that nobody had seen before in Wales and, as a fan of comic books and their movie spin-offs, it seemed the right idea," explains Mr Milner, 28, from Wrexham.
"Comic books were never mainstream but have exploded into the mainstream now, with film versions of Iron Man and Spiderman.""Comic books were never mainstream but have exploded into the mainstream now, with film versions of Iron Man and Spiderman."
'Hard to pigeonhole''Hard to pigeonhole'
Mr Milner said tickets had been sold as far afield as Sweden, Holland, Germany, the Czech Republic, the USA, Israel and Japan.Mr Milner said tickets had been sold as far afield as Sweden, Holland, Germany, the Czech Republic, the USA, Israel and Japan.
Among the artists at the show will be Neil Edwards, who has worked on both DC and Marvel Comics, drawing the Fantastic Four and Spiderman. Among the artists at the show are Neil Edwards, who has worked on both DC and Marvel Comics, drawing the Fantastic Four and Spiderman.
"A friend of mine said the geeks are running the world now," says Mr Edwards, 40, and also from Wrexham."A friend of mine said the geeks are running the world now," says Mr Edwards, 40, and also from Wrexham.
"They used to be fanboys in their teens but now they are in positions of power in the film and television industry. And when films like Avengers Assemble rake in $1bn then you can do what you like, can't you?""They used to be fanboys in their teens but now they are in positions of power in the film and television industry. And when films like Avengers Assemble rake in $1bn then you can do what you like, can't you?"
Production companies are producing their own comics to test ideas to roll out into film, TV and computer games, explained Mr Edwards.Production companies are producing their own comics to test ideas to roll out into film, TV and computer games, explained Mr Edwards.
"All the big movies this year are geeky and a lot of the directors have come from comic book backgrounds," he says. "And it's not the male-dominated industry it probably used to be.""All the big movies this year are geeky and a lot of the directors have come from comic book backgrounds," he says. "And it's not the male-dominated industry it probably used to be."
These films clearly still appeal to teenagers but, Mr Edwards says: "These days the fanbase cuts across the board. It's hard to pigeonhole it now."These films clearly still appeal to teenagers but, Mr Edwards says: "These days the fanbase cuts across the board. It's hard to pigeonhole it now."
Married with two children, Mr Edwards got his big career break in 2009 when he met a Marvel editor at a convention in Leeds.Married with two children, Mr Edwards got his big career break in 2009 when he met a Marvel editor at a convention in Leeds.
"When they needed help on a book they came to me. I managed to hit the deadline and they gave me another book and before I knew it I was on an exclusive contract with Marvel."When they needed help on a book they came to me. I managed to hit the deadline and they gave me another book and before I knew it I was on an exclusive contract with Marvel.
"I felt so nervous. I thought I was going to muck it up. I didn't think I was good enough to draw Spiderman. But as soon as I got the first few pages done I was on the treadmill.""I felt so nervous. I thought I was going to muck it up. I didn't think I was good enough to draw Spiderman. But as soon as I got the first few pages done I was on the treadmill."
Asked to explain comic books' appeal, Mr Edwards said: "It's the storylines that drag you in. It's almost like a soap opera.Asked to explain comic books' appeal, Mr Edwards said: "It's the storylines that drag you in. It's almost like a soap opera.
"As a teenager I couldn't wait to find out what had happened in the new X-Men or Wolverine book. You get sucked into the characters more than anything and I've never lost that buzz."As a teenager I couldn't wait to find out what had happened in the new X-Men or Wolverine book. You get sucked into the characters more than anything and I've never lost that buzz.
'Storylines drag you in''Storylines drag you in'
"I've never been classed as a nerd. When people find out what I do for a living they think it's pretty cool.""I've never been classed as a nerd. When people find out what I do for a living they think it's pretty cool."
Fan Dion Jones, 27, from Caernarfon, Gwynedd, attended Wales Comic Con 2012 and will return this year to boost his 200-strong comic book collection. Fan Dion Jones, 27, from Caernarfon, Gwynedd, attended Wales Comic Con 2012 and returns this year to boost his 200-strong comic book collection.
"Having something like this on our doorstep is fantastic," he says. "Normally if you collect comic books you have to travel to London for a convention, but this event is much better than the London one I used to go to."Having something like this on our doorstep is fantastic," he says. "Normally if you collect comic books you have to travel to London for a convention, but this event is much better than the London one I used to go to.
'Like meeting Elvis''Like meeting Elvis'
"Last year they had a lot of the main characters from Game of Thrones which was quite a coup. I got to meet (actor) Mark Addy and kept babbling to him for ages. For me it was like meeting Elvis.""Last year they had a lot of the main characters from Game of Thrones which was quite a coup. I got to meet (actor) Mark Addy and kept babbling to him for ages. For me it was like meeting Elvis."
A fan from the age of 12, he said stereotyping had never worried him.A fan from the age of 12, he said stereotyping had never worried him.
"People normally think of us as Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons - overweight, ponytail, unmarried, bad skin," he says. "But it's really not like that."People normally think of us as Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons - overweight, ponytail, unmarried, bad skin," he says. "But it's really not like that.
"There are more women than you might think, aged anywhere from eight or nine to their 40s, 50s and even 60s."There are more women than you might think, aged anywhere from eight or nine to their 40s, 50s and even 60s.
"And the terms geek or nerd are in fashion now.""And the terms geek or nerd are in fashion now."