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Stop The Bus! Hooper’s Triumphant Return To Small Press Events:”I’m rakin’ it in -luvvly munney!”

Well, it was good to meet Mr Lally and Mr Gherkin on Saturday. Sun shine, a mild breeze and lots of talking -including Mr Lally’s discovery of Bristols “Nordic Gene”! Poor Mr Brown had his back problem so we had to carry him most of the way.

Now, the next day, Sunday, started off badly. The big problem was heavy rain. However, as the day rolled on the sun appeared and things warmed up.  Not that it mattered as we were indoors for the Small Press and Comics fair at Start The Bus.

Tables were spread around the cafe/bar so that zinies mingled with every day folk out to have a drink or dinner. Unfortunately, this meant that, unlike other events, you couldn’t really take photographs -people having their lunch and all that entails.

That said, things started quiet but then gradually picked up. It was the first Small Press event I’ve attended as a “trader” for a few years, selling 1980s/1990s small press books. Was I happy? Yes! I sold about three quarters of my stock.

Darron “Mr Showbiz” Northall decided to scare horrify molest try talking to punters and sorting out the display and looked half decent. Next time I’ll just leave him in charge and sit back!

Mr Brown and Mr Northall then started a discussion about their hairstyles leading to a major “bitch-off”.

Good to finally meet and chat with Gareth Brookes.  Dave Lando seemed quite happy as did the organisers including Simon Morton (Simon -if I got your surname wrong -apologies, but me and names).

Interesting that most buyers were female -especially of the old zines. Quite a few wanted to produce their own while others were studying art so were quite interested (my voice is just getting back to normal).

Simon reckons another event in six months or so. I’m sure the Bear Pit crew will get a date sorted and I’ll let you folks know.

For a first event this was excellent. And I’m happy (they MUST have done something wrong….I’ll think about it!).

Well done all concerned!

The Photos

Above: Mr Brown turns his back while Darron Northall muses:”Nyuck-nyuck. I’ll say I’m checking the change in my pocket” (notice the far off smirk).,

Below:Mr Brown fresh from crying over loss of youth, talks to Darron “Dashing” Northall and some times Black Tower colourist Mike “The Bean” Hooper.

Mr Brown:”Have you SEEN what Northall’s doing??!!!”

Below a quick interior shot before it got crowded.

Below:Behind that column Mr Brown talks to Sir Peter Lally who tells me to Mind My Manners!

Below:Agent o-o-ohhh Darron Northall:”T.H.R.U.S.H. Agents -everyone down!” or “my arm pit is soaking wet” -you choose!

Terry “Mr Money” Hooper showing the scar where they cut his throat in 1983 (it was quite common back then) listens to Mr Northall:”Just move aloooong…I see more lay-dees heading this way.!”

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This entry was written by Terry and posted on September 26, 2011 at 7:59 am and filed under Comic Events. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Post a comment(Latest is displayed first) or leave a trackback: Trackback URL.

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3 Comments so far (Add 1 more)

  1. It reminded YOU of the Fast Fiction/Escape/Zine Zone days?? I was saying that all day to anyone who’d listen! Get yer own spiel, you shame-faced plagiarist!!

    1. Darron Northall on September 27th, 2011 at 3:58 am

  2. Yes, have to agree a very good first event courtesy of Simon, Nick and Dave. I’d be the first to admit that I didn’t expect there to be so many people in attendance,paticularly with the weather. If I had a small criticism it was that the tables were spread at both ends of the venue, but with little in the middle, but I can appreciate the difficulty in trying to occupy space in a busy pub enviroment. At the same time, what was interesting was the number of punters who weren’t aware of the zine event taking place, but got interested, which to me is a far more interesting audience to try to get onside. Here’s hoping this will kickstart a regular Bristol event. It’s great to see that there’s a boom in Zine making and a new Alternative Zine Press taking shape around the country with zine fairs in London, Brighton, Birmingham, Sheffield and Leeds, that does remind me of the whole Fast Fiction/Escape/Zine Zone days of the Eighties.

    It may be worth reiterating that the Bristol organisers also produce Bear Pit Zine, and hold regular meetings each month to discuss zines and Art, and are looking for people interested to go along and submit pieces for the Zine. Anyone interested should go to the bearpitzines website, which I think you’ve posted previously.

    Good to see such an interest in stuff from the Eighties also. It was an intriguing contrast to see how much content,quality and production had changed in that time. Could be the subject of an interesting feature Mr Hooper. Or perhaps a regular feature on the site maybe?- a retro look at a past zine artist or title-”Tales from the Zine Zone” You could introduce it with a picture caption of yourself as “The Zinester” with a giant photoshopped head and wearing a nappy. Then again, you don’t want to lose your readership !

    2. paul ashley brown on September 26th, 2011 at 4:46 pm

  3. Ha ha! Look at Mr Trainset Owner Northall withthe holes cut in his pockets.

    3. Michael on September 26th, 2011 at 10:51 am

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