Some of the top names in storytelling will be in Bedford this month as part of a new event to showcase the best in comics, serial fiction and Manga.
To Be Continued (TBC) will take over Bedford Corn Exchange and Bedford Central Library on Saturday, 14 and Sunday, 15 September with panels, workshops and signings by internationally known writers and artists.
Organised by the team behind the NICE comic con and Close Encounters on Allhallows, highlights of the convention include appearances by Garth Ennis, writer of The Boys (now a successful TV series), British comics icon John Wagner creator of Judge Dredd and David Hine whose creation Spider-Man Noir was voiced by Nicholas Cage in the Into the Spider-verse movie.
Fiction author M.R Carey, whose novel The Girl With All The Gifts was turned into a successful film starring Gemma Arterton and Glenn Close will be at the event for the whole weekend, as will writer Paul Cornell, whose novels, comics and work on TVs Doctor Who have made him a real fan favourite.
There will also be a special Dr Who panel with writers and artists who have worked on the Whoniverse across the TV show, novels and comics.
Local hero
Local graphic artist, Sam Gilbey, is looking forward to being at TBC, not least because it means he doesn’t have to travel very far from home!
His work has been featured everywhere from billboards, to comics, books and magazines, licensed prints, exhibitions, movie packaging, tv and film, and plenty more besides.
“I regularly have to travel around the UK by car or train to get to great comic-cons like MCM in London and Birmingham and Thought Bubble in Harrogate, so it’s going to be especially nice to have one on my doorstep,” he told the Bedford Clanger.
“Convenience aside, and despite being based locally, there’s an amazing line up of guests and I’m honoured to be among them. It’s exciting to have all this creative talent coming to Bedford, and I can’t wait.”
TBC… UK exclusives
Two guests at TBC are visiting the UK for the first time. Flying in from the USA, Jeff Dekal is one of the most sought-after comic cover artists in the industry. He is joined by Federico Mele from Italy for his first UK convention appearance. This is a chance to meet one of the industry’s rising stars.
Organiser, Bub Chahal said: “Bedford is our home town and the reason why we located the previous convention (NICE) to Bedford was that we saw that we could offer a unique convention experience.
“Bedford is lucky to have a wonderful venue in the Corn Exchange, only a few minutes walk to the scenic Embankment area and creators have often commented what a beautiful venue the show has and how stress-free it is compared to other conventions.
“This year we’re rebranding to ‘To Be Continued’ (TBC) as we’re bringing in genre fiction novelists. The convention will be a celebration of storytelling across all media.”
Tickets are available now from tbcbedford.com/
