The rest will follow !

More news as and when we have it.

Saturday was busy busy, Sunday was quieter, numbers slightly down on last time- but the quieter day was a good chance to take more time to chat to people. People loved watching the artists draw, loved the workshops and have been inspired by the panel discussions. Highland Cosplayers have had a rare chance to get together and do some ‘costume play’. The ever popular Stormtroopers and Predator entertained the crowds. The comics based film Electric Man was screened with a directors Question and Answer session. We explored Comics in education, Celtic comics, the perception of comics today, the challenges facing the industry, the opportunity and potential, the relevance for Gaelic and Scots, different comic universes, The Renegade Arts panel on how to get into the comics industry as well as the current comic scene in Britain and Ireland.
We had Montynero’s digital art demonstration, Nigel Dobbyn, Dave Shelton, Inko and Chie’s drawing workshops. A room packed with keen tabletop gamers. Portfolio sessions for artists to showcase and discuss their work with a range of professionals. Filmmaker John Vaughan entertained everyone with his hilarious ‘Vault of Horror’ a dissection of the rather terrible B-Movie ‘The Swarm’.

The guests (who came to Hi-Ex! at their own expense) had  a wonderful time,  loving the family, inclusive atmosphere and enthusiasm of the attendees. Exhibitors sold plenty of their comics and other wares. We had parents coming up to us and thanking us for what this event gives to their youngsters. Creators getting work or cooking up new comic ideas together, friendships and working relationships made over the course of the weekend.
There was the issue about women being represented in comics, well with so many talented and creative women at Hi-Ex! 2012, we don’t understand how other events manage to remain male dominated! It really wasn’t difficult to make sure there was a good balance with no loss of quality! The gender battles instead manifested outside between the irrepressible roller girls and Stormtroopers of the UK 501st Garrison, to the entertainment of us all!

The photographs, reviews and press items are still coming in, we will be uploading these soon. We also have a MASSIVE thankyou list to follow. We got a slot on the regional TV news and have converted a few more folks to comics. This weekend achieved everything we at Hi-Ex! HQ wanted it to and more.

What about the Charity Auction for Children 1st? What about all those wonderful pieces of artwork so generously donated by comics artists, books from writers, goodies from companies? What about the takings from the raffle and the face painting?  We are very VERY proud to announce that you all raised £1907 for Children 1st. This is an incredible achievement for such a small event in austere times. Thanks so much to all of you!

There are already calls for Hi-Ex! 2013. Once we do the sums, tie up all the loose ends, unpack those boxes, catch up on sleep and have some meetings- then we will be trying everything we can to make this event sustainable and achievable on an annual basis. We’d also like to run smaller events throughout the year but all of this is subject to funding and our own workloads. Watch this space!

Stay in touch via twitter @HiExComicCon   www.facebook.com/HiExComicCon and on this website.

And THANKS again to everybody who attended and supported, making running this event an honour and a privilege.

~ Vicky and Richmond~

And Click these links for articles and reviews;

www.breakingnewsnorth.net/hiex.html

www.inverness-courier.co.uk/Whats-On/Theatre/HI-Ex-comics-eventdraws-fans-back-04042012.htm 

forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/2012/things-i-learned-at-hi-ex 

news.stv.tv/scotland/highlands-islands/302373-hundreds-attend-annual-highland-comic-expo/ 

player.stv.tv/programmes/news-at-six-aberdeen-north-full/2012-04-02-1800/ (14.31 in)

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-17582636 

northings.com/2012/04/03/hi-ex-highland-international-comic-expo 

forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/2012/hi-ex-2012-comics-fun-in-the-sunny-scottish-highlands 

www.highland-news.co.uk/Whats-On/Theatre/Highland-role-in-Johns-talking-comics-04042012.htm

www.highland-news.co.uk/Whats-On/Days-Out/Comics-Heavy-Hitters-Annonuced-for-HI-Ex-21122011.htm 

www.flickr.com/photos/woolamaloo_gazette/6888907968 

downthetubescomics.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/comics-creators-at-hi-ex-2012-part-1.html 

downthetubescomics.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/comics-creators-at-hi-ex-2012-part-2.html

graphicscotland.co.uk/profiles/blog/list?user=3nzm3tj6auzjn 

http://gnreid.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/hi-ex-2012-report.html

downthetubescomics.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/in-review-hi-ex-2012.html

comicsanonymous.wordpress.com/2012/04/12/comics-anonymous-at-hi-ex-2012/

It’s hard to accept but we live in a country where we don’t know almost anything about our ‘First Peoples’ and their culture.  Our’s is a nation that was invaded many times and most crucially for us – by Gaelic speakers from the West and English speakers from the South.

We’ve heard about the Picts who were there before all that but who were they? What did they believe in?

Animator and Hi-Ex! guest Leslie MacKenzie grew tired of looking to the Mediteranean  for signs of our roots and decided to look North – to the indigenous Peoples of the Arctic. There the belief systems of nomadic tribes and traces of  those mysterious shamanistic rituals which may have been alive here before Roman and Christian times can still be found.

The indigenous inhabitants of the Arctic have known for centuries that the world of man and nature can only exist in a balance of mutual respect. They consider that all living beings, including animals, plants, trees, rivers, mountains and everyday household items have souls and are capable of motivated action.

Long before the Russian revolution intrepid Russian anthropologists ventured East to document these little known traditions. Among them was Waldemar Bogaras who carried out field research among the Chukchi peoples between 1904-9. He probably recorded on wax cylinders – or by hand in his notebook.  In 1956 the text of one of his more dramatic encounters was re-published in German by anthropologist Hans Findeisen and in  1978 it was reprinted with partial English translations and commentary by Prof.Anna-Leena Siikala, Finland, in The Rite Technique Of The Siberian Shaman.

Leslie came across this book when she was looking for good stories for The Arctic Ring animation Series which was a Scottish-Finnish-Estonian co-production. She loved the characters and, once she had had the German parts translated, started rewriting this entertaining story of shamans at work for animation. Lesley Wilson lent a hand and in 2011 it became a one-off musical drama performance at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh.  Then, when artist Shona Shirley Macdonald agreed to draw the comic, it was rewritten as a comic with the help of  Lochcarron based freelance comic writer Richmond Clements.  Gillebride MacMillan was the Gaelic translator for the comic and has given it a pleasing South Uist touch.

So now an Arctic story appears as a Gaelic comic!  If we DID indeed have shamanistic ancestors wouldn’t they be pleased and interested!  Especially now it will be launched at the Hi-Ex Expo in Inverness this weekend.

 The Gaelic Books Council, Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Highland Leader have contributed to the publishing costs.  The comic can be bought through the Gaelic Books Council www.gaelic-books.org.  You can find out more about Arctic stories on www.bocan.tv.

For more info contact lesmac@westhighlandanimation.co.uk or hiex.comics@gmail.com

With the Plan B Bookstore, we’re trying to show people in and around Glasgow that graphic novels are no longer just comics. Graphic novels can be a way to enjoy an old favourite in a new light, such as the Arthur Conan Doyle, HP Lovecraft, or Shakespeare books crafted in to graphic form; or as an introduction to new artists. We’ll also have talks and other events so readers can interact with the writers and artists that we stock.

We also do great coffee.