He's back! Terminator launches Shrewsbury comic festival
The Terminator helped launched a new festival that is coming to the county town in the summer.
A sculpture of the famous automaton, that has appeared in numerous comics as well as on film, announced the new festival for Shrewsbury in style.
The biggest names in comic art will descend on the town on the first weekend in June.
Some of the world’s finest illustrators and comics writers live in or around Shrewsbury and are giving their backing to the Comics Salopia festival – including Walking Dead artist Charlie Adlard, John Wagner, the co-creator of Judge Dredd and Marvel artist Christian Ward whose work includes Thor and Black Bolt.
UK Comics Laureate, Charlie Adlard, and Shrewsbury's former mayor Jane Mackenzie came up with the idea for Comics Salopia, along with experienced comics festival director Shane Chebsey.
They aim to inspire visitors of all ages with an exciting two-day celebration of comics art and storytelling and hope it will attract thousands of visitors to Shropshire from across the UK, boosting the local economy.
"The vision is for a festival that supports all forms of comics," Charlie said. "Comics are for everyone, aged nine to 99. The perception in the UK is that they are just for kids, but really it's just a different form of reading."
The festival will be supporting the new local charity, Share Shrewsbury, which was recently set up by Jane. All festival proceeds will be given to Share in order to help it to raise awareness about substance misuse, and support local people in recovery.
Renowned
Jane said: "I am delighted that this festival will be helping local individuals, and their families and friends, who are affected by addiction."
From Marvel superheroes to The Beano, Peppa Pig or more grown up material like Hellboy and The Walking Dead, there will be something for everyone. Visitors will have the chance to watch some of the world's most renowned comic artists at work.
For serious comics fans, there will be ticketed master classes and seminars, where some of the biggest names in the film and publishing industry from around the world will share their secrets of success.
The festival will take place in key locations across town with The Dana Prison as a Judge Dredd zone; a whole host of writers and artists from the pages of the iconic 2000 AD comic book will be appearing at the prison during the festival, exhibiting their work and interacting with fans.
Other venues will include The Castle Grounds, Shrewsbury Library, The Town Square, The Museum and Art Gallery and The Guildhall.
There will be inspiring workshops hosted by world famous illustrators and artists for both children and adults, including a special kids’ zone hosted in Shrewsbury Library by Peppa Pig publishers, Redan, who are based here in Shrewsbury and are the biggest publishers of children’s comics in the UK.
Shane added: “It was very obvious straight off the bat that we both shared similar values and aspirations and both cared deeply about Shrewsbury being represented as the hub for innovation, originality and creativity that it really is, on the national and even international stage.”
For more information visit comicssalopia.com
