Comic Mart
Comic Mart | |
---|---|
Status | Defunct |
Genre | Comic books |
Venue | Comic Mart: Rob Barrow /Fantasy Domain (1976–2011) |
Comic Mart is the catchall term for a series of British
Unlike
History
Dobson's "Mini-con"
The first so-called London comic mart was held in 1970, organized by "Godfather of British fandom" and publisher of the
Barrow and Landau
As inheritor of Dobson's interests, Skinn planned another mart for 9 December 1972 — dubbing it the "Christmas Comic Mart"
Barrow and Landau's second London Comic Mart was held 24 February 1973, again at Lyndhurst Hall.[7] Next up on the "convention schedule" was the British Comic Art Convention ("Comicon"), scheduled for the weekend of 21–22 July, at London's Regent Centre Hotel.[8] Comicon, however, was abruptly canceled shortly before it was scheduled, but was salvaged by Landau and Barrow, who managed to put on a one-day version of the show on 22 July at Comicon's usual location of London's Waverley Hotel.[4] A November Comic Mart made it the second one of 1973.
In 1974, Barrow and Landau expanded Comic Mart to become a more frequently held affair. The first Comic Mart of the year was held in January, followed by one on Saturday, 27 April, at
Publisher/editor
With Barrow focusing his energies on Comicon, in 1975 Landau continued the Comic Marts on his own.
The split: Comic Mart vs. Comicbook Marketplace
Landau staged two Comic Marts in 1976, in early October and late November, both at London's Regent Centre Hotel.[12] For the 3 October Comic Mart, an admission charge of 10 pence was levied (largely to discourage petty thieves, who had been making a nuisance of themselves).[12] The largest of the two events took up 6,700 square feet and featured 110 dealer tables.[6] Meanwhile, Rob Barrow (using his corporate entity Fantasy Domain, established in 1972), returned to the "mart scene" in mid-November, organizing a separate "more intimate" mart,[5] entitled "Rob Barrow's Comic Book Marketplace," at Lyndhurst Hall.[13]
Landau staged seven London Comic Marts in 1977, in such locations as the Regent Centre Hotel, Old Town Hall, and the Royal Horticultural Society's Old Hall in Vincent Square. Barrow, meanwhile, staged two of his name-branded marts, both at Lyndhurst Hall.
In 1978, Landau left the mart business when he found a job in the editorial offices of
who put on three editions of his "New Original Comic Mart" in 1978, all held at the Royal Horticultural Society's Old Hall. For his part, Barrow put on two London "Comicbook Marketplace" events in 1978, both at Lyndhurst Hall.1979 belonged to Barrow, as Fantasy Domain put on seven Comicbook Marketplace events that year, all at his favorite venue,
Landau/Titan Distributors and Barrow/Fantasy Domain basically alternated months in 1980, with Titan Distributors staging five Comic Marts — including the special April "convention" — at their favored location, Central Hall Westminster;[17] while Fantasy Domain staged seven Comicbook Marketplace events at Lyndhurst Hall.[18]
In 1981, bi-monthly Comic Marts were being held in Central Hall Westminster,[17] with Barrow's Comicbook Marketplace taking the alternating months. Paul Gravett began his career managing the Fast Fiction table at the bimonthly Comic Marts. Gravett invited artists to send him their homemade comics, which he would sell from the Fast Fiction table with all proceeds going to the creator. The Comic Mart Fast Fiction table lasted at least through the 1987 show.[19]
The Comic Mart of 16 October 1982, featured a "Teach-In and Work-In" sponsored by the Society of Strip Illustration, with a number of creators from 2000 AD talking and presenting about their work.[20]
The 1983 London Comic Mart, held October
Comic Marts held in 1984 included the 2 June event; guests included John Ridgway, Gary Russell, and Richard Marson. The 8 December 1984, Comic Mart was billed as an "Escape Event," and featured the creators of Escape magazine, including Eddie Campbell, Glenn Dakin, Phil Elliott, Hunt Emerson, Rian Hughes, Ed Pinsent, and Savage Pencil.[24]
Both Titan Distributors and Fantasy Domain were still going strong in 1989, when they continued to host competing marts on alternating months. At some point before 1989, Barrow moved his Comicbook Marketplaces from Lyndhurst Hall to Camden Centre. They later moved to the Royal National Hotel.
Regional comic marts
In 1976, Barrow expanded his operation regionally, hosting a September 12 comic mart in Birmingham at the Imperial Centre Hotel.[25] In 1977, he produced four marts in Birmingham[26] and one in Kingston upon Hull (held at the Hull Centre Hotel on 26 February).[13] He returned to Birmingham in 1978, putting on two Comic Marts at the Birmingham Centre Hotel, held on 11 February and 20 May.[27]
Meanwhile, in 1977 in Liverpool, Zephyr Magazines produced two Liverpool Comic Marts, one held on 1 August[28] and one 8 October both at the Bluecoat Chambers concert hall.[29] (The organizers claimed that this was their 10th year producing comic marts in Liverpool.)[28] Zephyr produced three more Liverpool Comic Marts in 1978, on 19 August, 21 October, and 16 December, again all held at Bluecoat Chambers.[30]
In 1979, Peter Lennon took over management of the Birmingham Comic Mart, which was held on 10 March of that year.[31]
The Comic Mart phenomenon spread to
The city of Leeds joined the Comic Mart trend in 1981, with four marts being staged at the Griffin Hotel on Boar Lane,[35] and three more held there in 1982.[36]
A Birmingham "Comic, Film & Fantasy Mart" was held at the New Imperial Hotel on 16 August 1986.[37]
Two Leeds Comic Marts were held in 1988, on 30 July[38] and 26 November, both at the Griffin Hotel.[39]
Six Birmingham "Comic Mart & Film Fair" events were held in 1989 at the New Imperial Hotel: on 18 February, 1 April, 3 June, 29 July, 23 September and 25 November. They were produced by Golden Orbit of
Later marts, controversy
By the mid-1990s, the London Comic Marts became overshadowed by the annual United Kingdom Comic Art Convention, as well as the penetration of the Internet, which made it easier to buy old comics at more reasonable prices. Titan Distributors was sold in 1992, at which point the original "Comic Mart" faded away. Barrow continued to hold Comicbook Marketplaces sporadically, even up into 2011,[41] but without the same fanfare.
In 2012, Barrow was given a one-year prison sentence (suspended) for possession of child pornography.[41]
Locations and dates
London Comic Mart
Event originated by Nick Landau and Rob Barrow, eventually becoming solely run by Landau/Titan Distributors. By the early 1980s, the events (which were generally held on a Saturday) became known as the Westminster Comic Marts.
This section is missing information about dates, venues, and other details .(November 2020) |
Year | Date(s) | Show title | Organizer(s) | Venue | Notes | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1970 | "A Saturday" | Mini-con | Frank Dobson | The Eagle pub | A small group of comics dealers rented out the upstairs room | [4] |
1972 | 2 December | Comic Mart | Rob Barrow & Nick Landau |
Lyndhurst Hall, Kentish Town | Over 250 attendees | [6] |
1973 | 24 February | Comic Mart | Barrow & Landau | Lyndhurst Hall | [7] | |
17 November | ||||||
1974 | Jan. | Comic Mart | Barrow & Landau | [42] | ||
27 April | Holborn Assembly Hall | Evening fantasy film marathon | [9] | |||
20–21 July | Comicon/Comic Mart Summer Special 1974 | Barrow | Regent Centre Hotel | Combined convention; Denis Gifford the only "industry guest" | [4] | |
September | Comic Mart | Barrow & Landau | Holborn Assembly Hall | [43] | ||
5 October | [9] | |||||
14 December | [9] | |||||
1975 | June | Comic Mart | Landau | [44] | ||
August | Central Hall Westminster |
Two-day event | ||||
8 November | Lyndhurst Hall, Kentish Town | [45] | ||||
1976 | 3 October | Comic Mart | Landau | Regent Centre Hotel | [12] | |
28 November | Comic Mart | Landau | Regent Centre Hotel | [12] | ||
1977 | 16 January | Comic Mart | Landau | Regent Centre Hotel | [12] | |
26 March | Old Town Hall, Kensington | [46] | ||||
14 May | [46] | |||||
8 June | Royal Horticultural Society's Old Hall | [47] | ||||
31 July | [47] | |||||
2 October | [47] | |||||
2 November | [26] | |||||
1978 | 22 January | New Original Comic Mart | Mike Conroy | Royal Horticultural Society's Old Hall | [15] | |
10 June | [27] | |||||
10 September | [48] | |||||
5 November | [48] | |||||
1979 | 3 November | Comic Mart | Landau/Titan Distributors | Central Hall Westminster | [17] | |
1980 | 19 January | Comic Mart | Titan Distributors | Central Hall Westminster | [17] | |
19 April | "Convention" | [49][17] | ||||
12 July | [17] | |||||
18 October | [17] | |||||
13 December | [17] | |||||
1981 | 7 February | Comic Mart | Titan Distributors | Central Hall Westminster | [17] | |
April | "Convention" | [17] | ||||
6 June | [17] | |||||
6 August | [17] | |||||
17 October | [17] | |||||
12 December | [17] | |||||
1982 | February 6 | Comic Mart | Titan Distributors | Central Hall Westminster | [50] | |
16 October | "Teach-In and Work-In" hosted by Society of Strip Illustration | [20] | ||||
11 December | [20] | |||||
1983 | 5 February | Comic Mart | Titan Distributors | Central Hall Westminster | [20] | |
15 October | Host convention for the Eagle Awards, presented by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons |
[23] | ||||
10 December | ||||||
1984 | 4 February | Comic Mart | Titan Distributors | Central Hall Westminster | ||
4 April | Guests: "Marvel Bullpen" | |||||
2 June | Guests include John Ridgway, Gary Russell, and Richard Marson | [51] | ||||
8 December | "Escape Event," featuring Eddie Campbell, Glenn Dakin, Phil Elliott, Hunt Emerson, Rian Hughes, Ed Pinsent, and Savage Pencil | [24] | ||||
1988 | 6 August | Comic Mart | Titan Distributors | Central Hall Westminster | [38] | |
October | John Higgins, John Ridgway, Lee Sullivan, and Doug Braithwaite | [39] | ||||
1989 | 4 February | Comic Mart | Titan Distributors | Central Hall Westminster | [52] | |
8 April | [52] | |||||
10 June | [52] |
Comicbook Marketplace (London)
These events, produced by Rob Barrow's corporate entity, Fantasy Domain, were for many years held at Lyndhurst Hall, Kentish Town; at some point they moved to Camden Centre on Bidborough Street in Camden Town. In 1976–1977 the events were titled "Rob Barrow's Comic Book Marketplace;" from that point forward they were titled simply "Comicbook Marketplace." As opposed to the Westminster Comic Marts, these events were usually held on a Sunday.
This section is missing information about dates.(November 2020) |
Year | Date(s) | Venue | Notes | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
1976 | 13 November | Lyndhurst Hall, Kentish Town | Titled "Rob Barrow's Comic Book Marketplace" | [13] |
1977 | 15 October | Lyndhurst Hall | Titled "Rob Barrow's Comic Book Marketplace" | [26] |
10 December | [53] | |||
1978 | 4 March | Lyndhurst Hall | [27] | |
10 June | [27] | |||
14 October | Film showing of Black Belt Jones | [54][55] | ||
16 December | Film showing of Blazing Saddles | [55] | ||
1979 | 17 February | Lyndhurst Hall | Free film shows; free admission | [16] |
24 March | [16] | |||
5 May | [16] | |||
9 June | [16] | |||
4 August | [16] | |||
6 October | [16] | |||
8 December | [16] | |||
1980 | 9 February | Lyndhurst Hall | Free admission | [18] |
8 March | [18] | |||
10 May | [18] | |||
7 June | [18] | |||
9 August | [18] | |||
13 September | [56] | |||
8 November | [18] | |||
1981 | 3 January | Lyndhurst Hall | [57] | |
28 February | [57] | |||
2 May | [57] | |||
25 July | [57] | |||
1982 | 9 January | Lyndhurst Hall | [58] | |
6 March | [58] | |||
8 May | [58] | |||
4 September | [58] | |||
13 November | [58] | |||
1988 | 17 July | Camden Centre | [38] | |
1989 | 5 March | Camden Centre | Free admission | [59] |
7 May | [59] | |||
16 July | [59] | |||
3 September | [59] | |||
5 November | [59] | |||
2001 | 25 November | T.U.C. (Trade Union Centre) Congress Centre | ||
2015 | 6 September | Royal National Hotel | [60] | |
4 October | [60] |
Northwest Comic Marts
Retailer/wholesaler Bob Smart's events in Manchester and Liverpool.
This section is missing information about dates and venues.(November 2020) |
Year | Date(s) | Show title | Organizer(s) | Venue | Notes | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1980 | 5 January | Manchester Comic Mart | Bob Smart and Graham Holt | Piccadilly Plaza Exhibition Hall |
[61] | |
22 March | [62] | |||||
31 May | [63] | |||||
2 August | [63] | |||||
27 September | [63] | |||||
29 November | 20 pence admission charge (includes free raffle ticket) |
[63] | ||||
6 December | Liverpool Comic Mart | Bob Smart | Bluecoat Concert Hall | 20 pence admission charge (includes free raffle ticket) | [33] | |
1981 | 31 January | Liverpool Comic Mart | Bob Smart | Bluecoat Concert Hall | 20 pence admission charge (includes free raffle ticket) | [33] |
28 February | Manchester Comic Mart | Piccadilly Plaza Exhibition Hall | [33] | |||
14 March | Liverpool Comic Mart | Bluecoat Concert Hall | [33] | |||
18 April | Manchester Comic Mart | Piccadilly Plaza Exhibition Hall | [33] | |||
30 May | Liverpool Comic Mart | Bluecoat Concert Hall | [33] | |||
27 June | Manchester Comic Mart | Piccadilly Plaza Exhibition Hall | [34] | |||
25 July | Liverpool Comic Mart | Bluecoat Concert Hall | [33] | |||
22 August | Manchester Comic Mart | Piccadilly Plaza Exhibition Hall | [34] | |||
19 September | Liverpool Comic Mart | Bluecoat Concert Hall | [33] | |||
7 November | Manchester Comic Mart | Piccadilly Plaza Exhibition Hall | [34] | |||
5 December | Liverpool Comic Mart | Bluecoat Concert Hall | [33] | |||
1988 | 12 November | Manchester Comic Mart | Picadilly Plaza Exhibition Hall | [39] |
References
- ^ Plowright, Frank. "Kevin O'Neill," The Comics Journal #122 (June 1988), p. 96.
- ^ Yang, Sam (October 1991). "A Loaf of Bread, A Jug of Wine and Eddie Campbell". The Comics Journal. 1 (145): 62.
- ^ Spurgeon, Tom. "James Robinson: Rising Star," The Comics Journal #199 (Oct. 1997), p. 65.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Skinn, Dez. "Early days of UK comics conventions and marts," Archived 2012-02-01 at the Wayback Machine DezSkinn.com. Accessed Mar. 3, 2013.
- ^ a b DMR. "The Insider Strikes," Bemusing #4: Comic Mart Special (Feb. 1975), p. 6.
- ^ a b c Burton, Richard. "Meditorial," Comic Media News #29 (Jan./Feb. 1977).
- ^ Comic Media & The Comic Reader UK Edition Newsletter#3 (Feb. 1973).
- ^ Roberts, Peter (21 October 1972). "6th British Comicon". Checkpoint (25). Retrieved 2008-09-08.
- ^ a b c d e "Britain's Largest Comic Fan Gathering: Comic Mart," Comic Mart Magazine (Jan. 1974).
- ^ "Comic Mart Summer Special 1974 poster". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
- ^ Willis, Russell. "AN INTERVIEW WITH MARTIN LOCK (PART 1 | THE BEM YEARS)," Under the Stairs (2013). Retrieved Jan. 8, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Sallis, Ed. "Fan-Things," Bemusing Magazine #10 (Aug. 1976), p. 7.
- ^ a b c Rob Barrow's Comic Book Marketplace advertisement, Bemusing Magazine #11 (Nov. 1976), p. 6.
- ISBN 1-905437-22-6), p. 36.
- ^ a b Sallis, Ted. "Fan-Things," BEM #17 (Feb. 1978), p. 5.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Comicbook Marketplace Calendar for 1979," BEM #22 (Jan. 1979), p. 10.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Comic Mart: Britain's Largest Comic Fan Gathering" advertisement, Comicon '79 program booklet.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Comicbook Marketplace Calendar for 1980" advertisement, BEM #26 (Dec. 1979), p. 16.
- ^ "The Best Comics of 2005: Paul Gravett," The Comics Journal #275 (Apr. 2006), p. 62.
- ^ a b c d Comic Mart advertisement, The Comic Book Price Guide for Great Britain. Archived at My Little Underground blog.
- ^ Green, Steve. "This Month," The Birmingham Science Fiction Group #147 (Nov. 1983), p. 2.
- ^ "The Eagle Awards - Results: 1983," Eagle Awards website. Archived at the Wayback Machine. Accessed Jan. 27, 2020.
- ^ a b "News From Hither and Yon: Eagles Return, New Dog Strip, EC Update, Computer Comics," The Comics Journal #84 (Sept. 1983), p. 22.
- ^ a b Comic Mart vintage advertisement, The Comics Journal Special Edition vol. 3 (2003), p. 59.
- ^ Birmingham Comic Mart advertisement, Comicon '76 program booklet, p. 23.
- ^ a b c Sallis, Ed. "Fan-Things," Bemusing Magazine #13 (May 1977), p. 14.
- ^ a b c d Comicbook Marketplace advertisement, BEM #17 (Feb. 1978), p. 8.
- ^ a b Comic Mart Liverpool advertisement, Bemusing Magazine #11 (Nov. 1976), p. 15.
- ^ Comic Mart Liverpool advertisement, BEM #15 (Sept. 1977), p. 6.
- ^ Comic Mart Liverpool advertisement, Comicon '78 program booklet, p. 66.
- ^ Lock, Martin. "News at BEM," BEM #22 (Jan. 1979), p. 2.
- ^ Manchester Comic Mart advertisement, BEM #28 (May 1980), p. 24.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Bob Smart Presents the Northwest Comic Marts" advertisement, BEM #30 (Nov. 1980), p. 30.
- ^ a b c d Northwest Comic Mart advertisement, BEM #33 (Apr. 1981), p. 40.
- ^ Leeds Comic Mart advertisement, BEM #31 (1981), p. 30.
- ^ "Leeds Comic Mart advertisement". Fantasy Advertiser. No. 70. November 1981. p. 15.
- ^ Birmingham Comic Film & Fantasy Mart advertisement, Speakeasy #65 (Apr. 1986), p. 13.
- ^ a b c Doctor Who Magazine #139 (Aug. 1988).
- ^ a b c Doctor Who Magazine #143 (Dec. 1988).
- ^ Birmingham Comic Mart advertisement, Speakeasy #95 (Feb. 1989), p. 53.
- ^ a b Johnston, Rich. "London Comic Mart Organiser Gets One Year Suspended Sentence For Collection Of One Million Paedophile Images," Bleeding Cool (10 January 2012).
- ^ Korock, Jim. "The BEM Story — So Far," Bemusing Magazine #10 (Aug. 1976), p. 18: "Although originally scheduled for the Jan '74 mart..."
- ^ Korock, Jim. "The BEM Story — So Far," Bemusing Magazine #10 (Aug. 1976), p. 18: "Specially for the September [1974] mart..."
- ^ Stangroom, Howard. "Reaction," Bemusing #6: Comic Mart Special (June 1975), p. 2.
- ^ Sallis, Ed. "Fan-Things," Bemusing #7 (Oct. 1975), p. 7.
- ^ a b Sallis, Ed M. "Fan-Things," Bemusing Magazine #12 (Feb. 1977), p. 22.
- ^ a b c Sallis, Ed. "Fan-Things," Bemusing Magazine #14 (July 1977), p. 16.
- ^ a b New Original Comic Mart advertisement, BEM Comic News #20 (Aug. 1978), p. 6.
- ^ Curtis, I. G. S. "Aardvark Comment," Cerebus the Aardvark #33 (Aardvark-Vanaheim, Dec. 1981).
- ^ "Classified ads". Fantasy Advertiser. No. 70. November 1981. p. 29.
- ^ Doctor Who Magazine Summer Special 1984 (Summer 1984).
- ^ a b c Comic Mart advertisement, Speakeasy #95 (Feb. 1989), p. 39.
- ^ Lock, Martin. "Fan-Things," BEM #16 (Dec. 1977), p. 11.
- ^ Lock, Martin. "News at BEM," BEM Comic News #20 (Aug. 1978), p. 2.
- ^ a b Sallis, Ed. "Fan-Things," BEM Comic News #20 (Aug. 1978), p. 3.
- ^ Sallis, Ed. "Fan-Things," BEM #28 (May 1980), p. 35.
- ^ a b c d Comicbook Marketplace advertisement, BEM #31 (Dec. 1980), p. 14.
- ^ a b c d e Comicbook Marketplace advertisement, Fantasy Advertiser #70 (Nov. 1981), p. 6.
- ^ a b c d e "Bigger & Better Than Ever: Comicbook Marketplace" advertisement, Speakeasy #95 (Feb. 1989), p. 41.
- ^ a b Esmond, Antony. "'A Survivor in the Cosplay Age': the London Comic Mart," DownTheTubes.net (Aug. 2, 2015).
- ^ Manchester Comic Mart advertisement, BEM #26 (Dec. 1979), p. 34.
- ^ Manchester Comic Mart advertisement, BEM #27 (Mar. 1980), p. 34.
- ^ a b c d Manchester Comic Mart advertisement, BEM #28 (May 1980), p. 24.
External links
- Website of the current iteration of the London Comic Mart, organized by Showmasters, and generally held at the Royal National Hotel
- Excerpts from a 1988 article on the Westminster Comic Mart from the 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special
- Miller, Glenn. "Whatever happened to the London Comic Marts?", My Little Underground (June 1, 2014)