Is the world ready for a brand spanking new comic convention, just as everyone is getting used to the calendar filling back up, post-lockdown? Joel Meadows and the team behind Tripwire Magazine clearly think so as they have released exciting details of their debut event, next Autumn: Tripwire Presents Bristol Comic Con plants its flag on the weekend of Saturday 3rd – Sunday 4th September 2022.
Okay, to be more accurate, this isn’t exactly Tripwire’s first rodeo, so to speak: Joel – the creator and Editor-In-Chief of the site – along with his Senior Editor, Andrew Colman, were the pair that helped steer the necessary talent and experience towards the success of Portsmouth Comic Con during its first couple of years. But now, Tripwire are making a show of their own… and heading to Bristol to make it happen.
Using the DoubleTree By Hilton Hotel as its home base, Tripwire Presents Bristol Comic Con is aiming to be ‘a total fan and collector experience with panels, exhibitions, dealers, cosplayers, and a new addition to the mix: exclusive workshops featuring top international comic names with decades of expertise’. Ambitious, right?
Elena Casagrande 
Howard Chaykin
And when they say ‘decades of expertise’, they really aren’t kidding: guests already announced include – the legendary Howard Chaykin, creator of AMERICAN FLAGG, DIVIDED STATES OF HYSTERIA and the adaptation of Alfred Bester’s THE STARS MY DESTINATION); artist Brian Stelfreeze (BLACK PANTHER, DC Comics’ WEDNESDAY COMICS); and the Eisner Award-winning artist Elena Casagrande (BLACK WIDOW)
Jorge Fornes 
Brian Stelfreeze
Guests also include: artist Jorge Fornes (BATMAN, WOLVERINE, RORSCHACH); Jock (no further introduction needed – the man’s an utter ledge); and Sean Phillips (likewise – Sean’s extensive and multiple award-winning CV speaks for itself).
Rather artist-heavy, for now, but the workshops’ remit implies that representatives of other comics disciplines will be announced down the line – one name that has been revealed is Lysa Hawkins, senior editor at Valiant Entertainment and former editor at DC & Marvel, someone who knows the dark arts of editing comics and heading the flock of sheep that are comics creators well. That’s expertise worth drawing from.
Now, those who pay attention to such things will notice that the show has set up its stall on the weekend of another major comics-centric event, happening the same dates – N.I.C.E., taking place three hours drive up, erm, several roads in Bedford, also does its fair whack at drawing some major guests to its roster which means, on that first weekend in September, UK comics fans will be given a real embarrassment of riches to pick from and could bounce between the two shows. Will Joel and the gang add more to the table to entice people to stay in Bristol the whole weekend? We have ten months to find out.
As more guests get announced, we’ll share the headlines, here on The Convention Collective, of course. And you can find out more and keep abreast of developments by visiting the shows official homepage and Facebook page. Tickets are available now and those who bag themselves an Early Bird pass also land themselves a free show print from THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH artist (and Tripwire Award winner), Martin Simmonds. Very tasty indeed.
Full disclosure: I’ve been invited to attend Tripwire Presents Bristol Comic Con as a panel host for the weekend – as someone who had an absolute blast (even while fighting a demon of a cold) at Portsmouth both years, and knowing what Joel can bring to the table, I’m looking forward to it immensely. Hope to see you there. Leonard x
More details in the official release below:
TRIPWIRE PRESENTS BRISTOL COMIC CON, SEPTEMBER 2022
Tripwire Magazine is delighted to announce a new Bristol Comic Con for Autumn 2022.
Bringing together tech, comics and movies, Tripwire Presents Bristol Comic Con will be a family-driven weekend with activities and events designed to entertain everyone. The show’s remit is to provide a total fan and collector experience with panels, exhibitions, dealers, cosplayers, and a new addition to the mix: exclusive workshops featuring top international comic names with decades of
expertise.
The event will be a hub for social gatherings where fans and industry leaders can mingle, with the intention that this convention should become a regular fixture in the comics events calendar.
Tripwire originally launched as a magazine by Joel Meadows back in 1992, after publishing over fifty issues, Tripwire moved online in 2013. Since then, it has continued to grow in prominence, becoming the go-to resource for insight into British and international genre media – this Comic Con is timed to celebrate Tripwire’s 30th anniversary.
Running across the weekend of September 3-4, 2022 and situated in the central location of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel near Temple Meads, this Comic Con will be a great opportunity for local businesses to spotlight their work and attract new audiences.
The first wave of announced guests is:
- Howard Chaykin (legendary creator of American Flagg!, The Shadow, Hey Kids, Comics and Divided States of Hysteria)
- Brian Stelfreeze (currently art director for 12-Gauge Comics, artist on DC’s Wednesday Comics, Marvel’s 2016 Black Panther)
- Lysa Hawkins (senior editor at Valiant, previously editor at DC and Marvel)
- Elena Casagrande (artist and Eisner winner for Marvel’s current Black Widow series)
- Jorge Fornes (artist on DC’s acclaimed Rorschach book, Batman,Wolverine, attending his first UK Comic Con since 2018)
- Jock (artist and illustrator for 2000AD, Batman, Detective Comics, Shawn Of The Dead and 2012’s Judge Dredd movie)
- Sean Phillips, leading comics artist and illustrator (Marvel Zombies, Criminal, Reckless and DVD cover artist
for Criterion)
Tripwire Editor in Chief, Joel Meadows said: “We are very proud of our line-up for our debut comic con under the Tripwire banner and are very excited to welcome visitors to it next year.
Any businesses who would like to book their space at Tripwire Presents Bristol Comic Con should get in touch with press@tripwirecomiccons.com.
The website for this event can be found at: http://tripwirecomiccons.com/, where 200 limited Early Bird tickets can be purchased now. Purchase of an Early Bird ticket comes with a free Martin Simmonds (Department of Truth) show print.
