This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-22107357
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
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 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 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." |
Previous version
1
Next version