Leeds based festival expands

Thought Bubble Festival have announced they will be expanding in their hometown of Leeds with a full festival week of activities celebrating comics taking place from 4th - 13th November. Teaming up once again with LeedsBID, Thought Bubble will present a week of talks, workshops, exhibitions, public art installations, film screenings, venue takeovers and much more.

Opening with a party at Northern Monk refectory on 4th November, Thought Bubble will take over the city centre for the following seven days with appearances from figures including iconic American writer Gail Simone, best known for her work on titles including DC’s Bird of Prey, Batgirl & Wonder Woman as well as comic book creator Hamish Steele, the creator & showrunner of new cartoon series ‘Dead End’, just released on Netflix to rave reviews. Also attending to deliver special talks & workshops are award winning British writer, creator and Thought Bubble mainstay Ram V, and UK comics legend Jock who will be presenting a masterclass on concept design.

Elsewhere the festival will be hosting exhibitions, a celebration of Anime & Manga at House of Fu and an exciting public art installation to be announced soon, while festival mainstays Pints & Pencils, The Rainbow Age, Book Crossing, signings and much more will return.

As Thought Bubble’s festival week comes to an end, its convention, now firmly rooted in its new home of Harrogate Convention Centre, will begin. For two days hundreds of comic creators and thousands of fans will gather for one of the most important weekends in the comics calendar. Tickets for Thought Bubble Comic Convention are on sale now with under 12s, carers and over 65s tickets totally free. Tickets give access to all events within the comic convention weekend; panels, workshops, guest signings, as well as the three huge halls of comic-creating exhibitors, publishers and more, showcasing beautiful artwork from around the world.

With its festival in Leeds and convention in Harrogate, Thought Bubble is on a mission to cover Yorkshire in comic art and make the region an essential place for artists, writers & fans alike. The full programme for Thought Bubble Festival will be shared soon.

Martha Julian, festival director: “We are so grateful to Leeds BID for the support they’ve given us this year, so that we can bring this programme of incredible events to the city. Our aim is to spark a new love of comics in people, while those who already love the medium can meet their heroes and learn from their favourite creators. There’ll be something for everyone!”

Karen Butler, LeedsBID Head of Place said: “LeedsBID is delighted to be working alongside Thought Bubble once again, supporting its return to its hometown of Leeds to present a week-long festival of activities, animating the city centre with all things comic art.”