Portsmouth Comic Con – International Festival of Comics is gearing up for a spectacular comic extravaganza on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th May at Portsmouth Guildhall.
The events and attractions will appeal to all ages as the biggest family-friendly Comic Con of its kind makes its return with immersive experiences, stars of the film, media and TV, an international line-up of some the greatest writers and illustrators in the industry, alongside cosplay parades, interactive fun, panellists and much more.
Brand new for 2024 is the Strangely Marvelous Wizarding Walk-Through, where you can enter Platform 9¾ and the wizarding world of Harry Potter, visit the home of Stranger Things’ Byers family, and explore the Marvel Universe in a mesmerising experience unlike any other, complete with astonishing photo opportunities and thrilling surprises.
The force will be strong in what is set to be the Con’s biggest experience to date dedicated to the fabled space phenomenon, Star Wars! In a fully immersive experience, you will be able to explore a galaxy far, far away complete with scene set ups, character interaction, photo opportunities, family craft activities, and a live stage featuring a continuous programme of talks, demos and Q&A sessions.
The Jurassic Experience, a huge hit in 2023, is once again inviting dinosaur devotees and fans of the Jurassic Park film franchise to step inside the park gates to a world of fun and fascination.
Visitors will also be able to join in the celebrations of Ghostbusters’ 40th Anniversary, where fans of the iconic film will be able to see a full-size replica Ecto-1 and a host of props and characters from Southend-on-Sea Ghostbusters, as seen in the new Frozen Empire film.
The stars of the screen theme continues with celebrity guests including Doctor Who’s seventh and eighth Doctors – Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann; Hollywood stuntman Oliver Wilson who has featured as a in various films spanning twenty-five years, including body and stunt double for Samuel L. Jackson in three Star Wars films; and Scottish star Michael Carter, known for his roles in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi and An American Werewolf in London, as well as the HBO Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon, and BBC Scotland’s Two Thousand Acres of Sky.
For comic book fans, the line-up for Artists Alley includes such industry heavyweights as Rachael Stott, Tini Howard, and Cian Tormey, giving fans the chance to delve behind the scenes and meet the creators of their favourite works.
Rachael Stott is an award-winning comic book and cover artist based in London. Known for her work on Doctor Who, Star Wars and for Marvel and DC, she’s a huge fan favourite, with a unique and exciting style. Superstar American comics writer Tini Howard is best known for her work on DC Comics’ Catwoman and Marvel’s Excalibur, and she is also currently writing the new Harley Quinn series, with SweeneyBoo! on art. Cian Tormey is an Irish artist whose work on DC’s Injustice with Tom Taylor introduced him to the world of comics as a great talent. Since then he’s drawn a legendary run on Superman: Son of Kal-El, as well as Batman, Catwoman and Nightwing. His new series Alan Scott: The Green Lantern is looking to be one of the best comics of the year!
Fan favourite Comic Con guests including Russell Walks, Troy Alders, Alison Sampson, Gary Erskine and many more will also be making a return, alongside new artists and writers.
The ever-popular cosplay parades – a showcase of creativity and talent – will also be making a return for the under and over 12s, led by Dream Team Portsmouth, who will themselves be bringing their favourite comic characters to life, while interactive fun will be provided by retro and board gaming, Tech:Truck, the Steampunk Society, workshops, and podcast recordings. There will also be an incredible range of comic merchandise and collectables.
Express FM will be hosting Speakers’ Corner, with a continuous programme of guests will give informal insights on the comic industry and behind the scenes of Portsmouth Comic Con. You can also join in on the fun and be part of the audience for Express FM’s live radio show and podcast recordings.
Portsmouth Comic Con will also feature a huge programme of panels, roundtables and drop-in sessions. The panels will cover many varied topics from the world of comics and popular culture, including LGBTQ+ representation, Doctor Who, Disney, horror films, villains and more.
Tickets can be purchased at www.portsmouthcomiccon.com. A sell out in previous years, don’t be disappointed!
