Globally renowned comic art festival and convention Thought Bubble has released the second wave of convention guests and speakers for its milestone 20th Edition, which makes it one of the longest-running comic events in the country.
Leading today’s announcement is American comic book writer Matt Fraction, who has written on Hawkeye, The Invincible Iron Man, and The Uncanny X-Men for Marvel, Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen and Batman for DC, and is the co-creator of the critically-acclaimed, award-winning graphic novel Sex Criminals alongside Chip Zdarsky for Image Comics. Sex Criminals is due to hit screens this year as a highly-anticipated Amazon Prime Video series adaptation created by and starring Kumail Nanjiani with Fraction and Zdarsky as executive producers.
Thought Bubble Festival Director Chloe Green said:
This second bunch of guests is such a wonderful mix; we’ve got brand new names and old friends, all of which have stormed the world of comics with their amazing creativity. Hope to see you there!
Joining Matt Fraction as headliners for this latest announcement are Italian artist Erica D’Urso, best known for her creator-owned series Inferno Girl Red for Image Comics and her latest work on Immortal Legend Batman for DC as well as her regular work for Marvel on series including The Mighty Valkyries and The Fantastic Four; Spain-based cartoonist and illustrator Emma Ríos, the co-curator of celebrated comics anthology Island, creator of I.D. and co-creator of Mirror: The Mountain and Mirror: The Nest with Hwei Lim for Image Comics where she currently co-creates the critically acclaimed and Eisner-nominated Pretty Deadly with Kelly Sue DeConnick and legendary British comic book artist Simon Bisley who redefined cult characters like The ABC Warriors for 2000AD and Lobo with DC Comics before his inimitable surrealist style on the celebrated Batman/Judge Dredd: Judgement on Gotham earned him an Eisner Award for Best Artist. His countless iconic painted covers and interior works over the past three decades have been a major influence on contemporary comic art around the world.
Also announced today are award-winning writer, graphic novelist and mythology enthusiast Mohsen Ashraf (Syphon, Pantheon), renowned Spanish illustrator and comic artist Patricia Martín (Wonder Woman, Ripcord, Doctor Strange), UK-based Egyptian indie comic book artist Ahmed Raafat (El-Osba, Quick Stops w/ Kevin Smith, Who Are The Power Pals), British poet, editor and comic book writer Chrissy Williams (Golden Rage, Over the Line: An Introduction to Poetry Comics), British cartoonist and author Clarice Tudor (‘Tis Thee, Not Me, New York Times, The Guardian), Canadian illustrator and graphic novelist Renée Nault (The Handmaid’s Tale w/ Margaret Atwood, Salvage), Hugo and Eisner Award winning American artist Tana Ford (Marvel’s Silk, Black Panther, Star Trek, The Space Cat) and British artist Martin Simmonds, co-creator of Eisner nominated series The Department of Truth with James Tynion IV, Dying is Easy with Joe Hill and Punks Not Dead with David Barnett.
The guests for Thought Bubble announced today join an already stacked roster that includes the likes of critically acclaimed Canadian cartoonist, author and storyteller Kate Beaton; renowned artist and publisher Lee Garbett; British comic, prose and TV writer Simon ‘Si’ Spurrier; award-winning, South Korean born cartoonist Yudori, and many more.
Thought Bubble Comic Convention will be taking place on 14th & 15th of November at Harrogate Convention Centre. One of the most significant events in the global comics calendar, Thought Bubble welcomes leading figures in the industry from comics legends to the most exciting new artists and writers from around the world for a series of panels, conversations, workshops and signings. The convention is set to host over 600 comic-creating exhibitors and welcome thousands of comics fans across the weekend and more guests from the comics industry to be announced soon.
Taking place throughout the first half of November, Thought Bubble Festival will see venues across Yorkshire hosting an extensive programme of academic conferences, art exhibitions, artist and industry Q&As, social events, LGBTQ+ book clubs, as well as thousands of free comics donated by the comics industry and given away to young readers by Leeds Libraries.
Entering its 20th iteration, Thought Bubble is one of the UK’s longest-running conventions and comic art events, founded in 2007 by renowned comic artist Tula Lotay (aka Lisa Wood), who was working in Leeds comic book shop Travelling Man at the time. Encouraged by Travelling Man’s Director and fellow Thought Bubble co-founder, Nabil Homsi, Lisa put together the first Thought Bubble Convention; a one-day event in the basement of Leeds Town Hall that celebrated comics, the creators making them and the fans who love them.
Nineteen conventions later, Thought Bubble is still proudly independent and still delivered by a small team of dedicated comic lovers, having steadily become a cornerstone of the international comics community.
Tickets for Thought Bubble Comic Convention 2026 are on sale now.
For latest programme, guests and events please visit:
https://www.thoughtbubblefestival.com
