Link: http://www.fantasyevents.org/bristolcomicexpo/

Although Cardiff is my hometown and we now have our very own comic convention, I have to admit that a substantial part of my heart will always belong to Bristol International Comic Expo. It was the first 'proper' comic convention I ever went to (only crappy comic book markets before Bristol), where The Sidekickcast did our first interview with creators and hosted our first ever panel, not to mention all the friends we've made whilst there. This year we're probably only going to be able to make it for the Saturday (14th May) so I thought I'd give you a quick rundown of the things we'll be going to see, what we think looks good and where you can find us during the day...that one is pretty easy actually, we'll be at the bar.

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Today I am pleased to announce another Sidekick exclusive, Simon Wyatt's OGN Unbelievable - The Man Who Ate Daffodils has been picked up by Markosia.

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Link: http://www.insomniapublications.com/

Leading up to the Bristol Expo and during the event itself there was a very definite buzz surrounding one book; Cancertown. Everyone was talking about just how good this book was so I figured I'd pre-order a copy along with Insomnia publication's other offerings Layer Zero vol.3 and Cages, all 3 for 20 quid - special expo bundle, how good is that?! I've been laid up since the expo with a pretty disgusting ear infection, having to lie on my side for most of the day so that my head doesn't explode in a mushroom cloud of yellow gunk I figured I'd tuck into my stack of books I picked up from Bristol and Cancertown was the top of my list.

I really wasn't sure what to expect, I'm relatively new to independent British books normally reading US titles from the big two publishers or at best some IDW or Boom! Studios titles. My first impression was just how polished the presentation of the book was, a stunning cover and a very professionally bound book that wouldn't look out of place next to anything you may find from any of the big American publishing houses.

The book grabs you by the throat right from the start and drags you kicking and screaming into the vividly twisted world of Cancertown. Your tour guide on this journey is Vince Morely, a man on the edge of sanity or does he just see things you can't? He's the sort of hero I can really get onboard with, full of piss and vinegar but with a level of self doubt that very much grounds this engaging character in the likeable range. I've heard him being compared to John Constantine which is a fair comparison, the story itself feeling like a mixture of Hellblazer and Alice in Wonderland. Moorely is more than the sum of his parts though, a truly human champion bringing with him all his own flaws and doubts.

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