Free Comic Book Day 2017

FCBD  - Saturday 6th May 2017

I am reporting this a week after the event, but better late than never I suppose?

This is the second year I have attended this particular comics event. I have been following it for several years (getting  a single comic at random from my monthly order comic supplier) but I never got round to attending until recently. It is not really an event as in turn up at one place and take part, but an event that is held in several places around the world and thus can be enjoyed by people no matter where they live. Luckily, here in London, I was happy to see three events sponsored by three comic shops all within a ten minute walk of each other; Orbital Comics, Forbidden planet and GOSH! Comics.

From the demographics of those in attendance at each of the three shops I visited, this is not just an old man's pastime. The age of attendees ranged from junior school kids up to old gits like me. The majority who attended appeared to be in their twenties and thirties, which is good news for comics as a story telling medium.

I have been collecting comics for many years but never really got into the fandom thing until very recently. I mainly go to see what Rebellion are up to with 2000AD and Judge Dredd, and this year they had another special for our delectation...

I also had a list of about seven or eight other titles that I wished to try in addition to 2000AD, and I managed to pick them all up bar one; Attack on Titan by Kodansha Comics, which seems to have not made it over the pond for some unknown reason (distribution issues?).

In addition to those I had short-listed, I managed to pick up several other titles in the random goody bags given away by Forbidden Planet, bringing my total to 22 free comics; not a bad haul for a day's wanderings.

I also managed to queue up to get my limited edition alternate cover Doctor Who issue signed by the writer and artist - bonus! I missed out on the 2000AD signing as I got side-tracked by a couple of nice pubs and a few beers whilst waiting for the queue to go down (see my other blog, The Taplow Horn for more details of that side of my day out).

I have another signing day coming up towards the end of the month for the new Judge Anderson tale. This is being held at Forbidden Planet on the 27th of May and will therefore be situated ideally for another beer and burgers trip.

Salute 2014

It has been a while since I attended Salute for a mooch around. I had a few items in mind to grab hold of, as well as use it as an opportunity to take a look at what else is about at the moment.

Alex and I made our way there a little later than usual (arrived around midday) and avoided the queues and the worst of the morning crowds on the travel system. We decided to take the bus to the O2 and then take the new Emirates Air cable car over the Thames.

Although we had an easy journey there, we missed out on the goody bag when we arrived. I was not too fussed as WW2 is not a period I have really been interested in and the free figure would only have gone to waste anyway. That said, the lack of goody bag means that Salute attendance must have exceeded the organisers' expectations, which can only be good for the hobby.

I was able to grab the following on my meanderings around the cavernous interior of the Excel Centre...

3 pre-made, pre-flocked escarpment-type hills for my battle boards from Kallistra
The latest Wargames Illustrated with free Che figure (another mini I will not have a use for)
The latest Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy magazine
Saga rules, two sets of Saga dice and a warlord figure for Alex's faction from Gripping Beast
A few paints to fill gaps in my collection

I missed out on getting the trees I went for (I saw some nice ones at a particular stand but by the time I had wandered round and tried to refind the stall after my initial circuit the stall was nowhere to be found!) and I was going to grab some sculpting materials so I could have a go at conversions and making some simple items of my own, but the tools I wanted had sold out.

Alex and I enjoyed our sojourn to Europe's largest games show and will undoubtedly go again next year - perhaps to take part in a game or two next time if we go earlier. We decided to chat about our purchases and day out by visiting the Bavarian Beerhouse in Tower Hill on our way home. A fine venue with great Bavarian food and beer (although Alex was on the apple juice!). I have also been to the one in Broad Street, and the annual pilgrimage to Oktoberfest allows me to get my fix ordinarily.

Broadside 2011

Alex and I went to the new show, called Broadside, put on by the Milton Hundred Wargames Club down in Sittingbourne, Kent, on Sunday. This is a new show on the calendar, and luckily just down the road from where I live. It is a small show, held in a leisure centre sports hall, but despite its small size it more than made up for in atmosphere, friendliness and variety of traders. There was a comforting buzz in the hall all day from the 300+ visitors they got through the doors. I will definitely be going again next year, and hopefully with a bit more cash in my pocket. It was only a few quid to get in so that was a major plus point too. I didn't actually get to buy anything there but saw lots that I may get hold of later on - some great scenery items are now on the agenda. Alex bought a pile of second hand Lord of the Rings minis for £1 each.

I was going to write this up yesterday, probably in a bit more detail, but I got a call to go visit my father in hospital almost as soon as I got in through the door. He was in for a routine heart operation that turned out to be a full double by-pass. He is recovering fine physically from the op but has developed a bit of an infection that is making him feel a bit paranoid (a common side effect of the drugs, infection and tiredness from the operation apparently). I had to go in to calm him down a little and explain to him what the doctors were unable. He should be out of hospital in a couple of days after a course of antibiotics and more rest.

I was able to put a bit of paint onto those Eastern Roman spearmen on Saturday, so they are half done now. I also finished off the Dragonewts at long last, who just need shading and varnishing to complete them. I was wondering what to start on next, and think I will get the Rohan footmen done - the ones I was unable to finish last year. There are 36 of them to go with the 24 Riders I painted last year. I also have many elites and heroes to add to them too - a decent sized army methinks. When they are done, I may start on some Norman Knights I bought a couple of years ago - I have about 30 of them to paint up from various manufacturers - and then the Gripping Beast Anglo-Saxons and Vikings to fight against them. Lots to do still, but it'll give me something to write about on the blog!

Salute 2011

I attended Salute yesterday and managed to get the few items on my list that I need to complete a few armies for the future; well, they'll probably wind up on the lead/plastic mountains for a while before I get round to doing anything with them, but at least I have them.

It seemed to be quite busy at the show and the two queues outside prior to kick-off were quite long. Miniature Wargames magazine hired on some pretty young ladies to sell their magazine to the punters in the queue outside the venue, and the juxtaposition between these glamorous young ladies and the majority overweight, middle-aged geeks/chaps (myself included) in the queue was quite funny to behold and I found myself chuckling a little at the thought.

I didn't actually get to take part in any games but did chat to a few manufacturers about future releases etc. Dark Age/Medieval rule books seem to have come out in abundance with Warlord Games's Hail Caesar, another set called Clash of Armies and a soon to be released skirmish game from Gripping Beast which was showcased with a lovely display battle.

This was great for me as I caught up on my Dark Age/Medieval purchases in the form of a couple each of the new Gripping Beast plastic sets (Saxon Thegns and Viking Hirdmen) and a blister of 8 Arthurian archers for Brytenwalda. I will have to read up on the reviews of the above rules to see which set will suit me best and if I'll buy any as a result. I must admit, I do like to buy rules just for the sake of a good read and having something to put up on my bookshelf to look pretty.

I also managed to pick up a set of polyhedral dice in plain black to match in with my GW d6 dice set, so I can start to run AD&D again - I'll probably get a few more sets at the next show as they were only a few quid per set. Whilst at the show I got a reminder call from the wife who said not to forget to get the girls a set of dice each after they had lost all of my old dice enjoying playing games with them. I managed to get them a couple of sets of polyhedrals in pink and in purple - the lady behind the counter empathising with the needs of daughters. When I got home I asked my daughters what their favourite colour was and luckily they chose the colours I had bought them - result!

Finally I picked up all the usual magazines; Wargames Illustrated, Miniature Wargames (albeit not from the girls outside), and the re-released Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy. I am looking forward to reading all of these, especially WSS as the sister publication Medieval Warfare comes out soon.

I am pleased with my purchases and enjoyed the day. I forgot to mention that Alex was with me and he enjoyed the daily equally as much. He had a good look round but his pocket money only went on a set of metal Knights Hospitallers from Perry. We also grabbed a few packs of round slotta-bases in readiness for any new project we have in mind in the next year or so.