Hello, Leonard here. Sorry for the editorialising, completely breaking any rules of responsible journalism, but it’s safe to say this story most certainly falls into my wheelhouse and ticks all my boxes.
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF) traditionally put on one of the must-attend parties at San Diego Comic-Con (this year, Thursday 18th-Sunday 22nd July, Preview Night Wednesday 17th July), especially if you are a member of the comics industry – they often have complete legends of the art form present. No Hollywood celebs per se, which means that in the main the event flies under the radar of most regular attendees; it’s the looser, freer, more fun flipside to the Eisner Awards ceremony, of interest to those who still, y’know, read comics.
This year, however, the party is getting a little more funk in its trunk with some incredible Brit creatives getting involved and theming the whole she-bang. Superstar artists Jock (2000AD, THE LOSERS) and Tula Lotay (SUPREME: BLUE ROSE, BATMAN) will be hosting this years event – held at the Westgate Hotel on the Thursday of the convention – and theming it around a ‘British Invasion’. Told you this would be right up my alley.
Tula is, of course, also known as the creator of the biggest comics-centric comics festival in the UK, the Thought Bubble Sequential Art Festival, and one of the more notorious elements of TBubs is the Mid-Con Party, held on Saturday and often featuring some amazing comics talent, spinning the tunes. And one of the more famous of said spinners is THE WICKED + THE DIVINE / STAR WARS scribe, Kieron Gillen. And Tula has persuaded Kieron to spin at this CBLDF party! OMG, it’s not just a British Invasion, it’s a Thought Bubble Invasion!!
The party is open to the public, free for CBLDF members and requesting a ‘$20 donation’ for everyone else and, with these guys putting out the Pringles, throwing down the beanbags and laying down the slick beats, this promises to be quite the affair. Maybe not as debauched as Kieron and Jamie McKelvie’s WicDiv parties but they’ll do what they can, I guess.
Party on, dudes!!
COMIXOLOGY ORIGINALS PRESENTS: THE CBLDF COMIC-CON WELCOME PARTY
Hosted by superstar British creators Tula Lotay & Jock – With Special Guest DJ Kieron Gillen and friends
“BRITISH INVASION” theme brought to you by Thought Bubble – the party is open to the public and starts at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday July 18, at the Westgate Hotel, $20+ dollar donation at the door requested; free for CBLDF Members!
“Start off San Diego with many of the industry’s best comic creators at the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund’s Comic-Con Welcome Party, sponsored by comiXology Originals and hosted by superstar creators Tula Lotay & Jock in a “British Invasion” theme brought about by the help of Thought Bubble.
Additionally, Kieron Gillen will DJ the party along with Tula Lotay and surprise guests. Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab will be there with a new British Invasion fragrance for CBLDF supporters! The party is open to the public and starts at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 18th, at the Westgate Hotel. Free for CBLDF members, with a $20+ dollar donation at the door requested from all others, with food and cash bar provided. Get your tickets now: https://cbldfparty2019.eventbrite.com
Long known as the best party during Comic-Con, this year the British are coming to put a fresh spin on this free speech fundraiser! With Thought Bubble’s Lotay and Jock leading the charge, CBLDF supporters will also be able to meet top British creators including Richard Starkings, Andy Diggle, Joe Glass and more!
Stemming the tide of the British Invasion, creators and industry luminaries working on comiXology Originals line of exclusive content will be in attendance including; Will Dennis, Kristian Donaldson, Max Dunbar, Clive Hawken, Shawn Martinbrough, Kel McDonald, Hope Nicholson, MK Reed, Mark Sable, C. Spike Trotman, Jen Vaughn, Magdalene Visaggio, and Jim Zub.
CBLDF protects the Free Expression rights of creators and readers everywhere. This year, they are standing up to a rise in identity censorship, including attempts to ban books by and about the LGBTQ+ community, women, and people of color. CBLDF fights censorship by providing legal aid, resources, and education to help protect the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment. Your support at the CBLDF SDCC Welcome Party helps fund this important work!
The fun starts at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 18, at the Westgate Hotel, where CBLDF welcomes you to Comic-Con for a fun night of fabulous creators, astonishing artwork, and outstanding exclusives!
- *Mingle and Meet Great Creators!* In addition to all the creators mentioned already, every year the you can find some of greatest creators in comics dropping in at the CBLDF Welcome Party. Don’t miss your chance to mingle with writers, artists, letterers, colorists, and editors!
- *Get Amazing Gifts! *The first hundred attendees will get an amazing gift bag that includes limited edition The Stone King posters from comiXology Originals!
- *Smell Amazing with Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab! *Our friends at BPAL will be bringing a brand new British Invasion exclusive fragrance to support the Fund’s important work!
- *Get First Dibs on CBLDF Exclusives!* CBLDF has an exclusive assortment of great items promoting intellectual freedom for Comic-Con attendees! We have all-new stickers, patches, and pins that you can get at the party!
- *Preview the Incredible Items in CBLDF’s Comic-Con Auction!* Get a first look at the amazing original art up for grabs at Saturday’s CBLDF Comic-Con Auction, including art by Walter Simonson, Cathy Guisewite, Stan Sakai, J.O’Barr, Frank Miller & more!
Come support free speech and experience the most talked about party at
Comic-Con during the CBLDF Comic-Con Welcome Party, Thursday, July 18, at the Westgate Hotel (1055 Second Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101), from 8:00 – 11:00 p.m.! This party is FREE for CBLDF Members. Non-members: Suggested $20 donation at the door, please. Reserve your ticket now!
About Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is a non-profit organization protecting the
freedom to read comics! Our work protects readers, creators, librarians,
retailers, publishers, and educators who face the threat of censorship. We
monitor legislation and challenge laws that would limit the First
Amendment. We create resources that promote understanding of comics and the rights our community is guaranteed. Every day we publish news and information about censorship events as they happen. We are partners in the Kids’ Right to Read Project and Banned Books Week. Our expert legal team is available at a moment’s notice to respond to First Amendment emergencies. CBLDF is a lean organization that works hard to protect the rights that our community depends on. For more information, visit www.cbldf.org
About comiXology Originals
The comiXology Originals line of exclusive comic book content is available
free to read for members of Amazon’s subscription services, including Prime Reading, Kindle Unlimited, and comiXology Unlimited. Debuting in 2007, comiXology Originals includes a robust line of creator owned series and original graphic novels, high interest manga from previously out of
circulation or never before completed series, and joint efforts with
publishers like Editions Delcourt.
Prime Reading offers Amazon Prime members a rotating selection of over a
thousand top Kindle books, magazines, short works, comic books, children’s
books, and more – all at no additional cost. Kindle Unlimited offers over 1
million titles, thousands of audiobooks, and select current issues of
popular magazines for just $9.99 a month with a 30-day free trial at
http://amazon.com/kindleunlimited. ComiXology Unlimited now offers over 20,000 comics, graphic novels and manga for just $5.99 a month with a 30-day free trial at http://www.comixology.com/unlimited>comixology.com/unlimited All titles are also available asindividual purchases on Kindle and comiXology.
