Red Dwarf and Gareth David-Lloyd at the Wales Comic Con

Wrexham’s annual event promises the stars of page and screen

Sunday 23 September 2012, Glyndwr University, Wrexham

Break out your best Wolverine costume; Wrexham’s answer to the San Diego behemoth is back for more UK-styled geekery.

It’s in the UK and you don’t have to smash your life savings jar to go, and the likes of Jeor Mormont, the Red Dwarf crew and Ianto Jones will be there. Score!

Obviously the annual Wales annual event shares more than its American namesake’s love of comics, although this year’s Comiczone looks especially massive with artists and writers involved with Q&As and events throughout the day-long convention. Not only can you browse the enormous comic book stands and find that pesky issue of Invincible that you can’t quite seem to get hold of, but comic book artists and writers will be holding Q&As throughout the day. Talent such as 2000 AD artist Neil Edwards and Simon Williams of Transformers and Incredible Hulk fame will be making appearances.

Stars of both television and film will be swelling the roster this year in Wrexham. With Red Dwarf‘s new series drawing ever closer, special guests include Arnold Rimmer, The Cat and Kryten – that’s actors Chris Barrie (a close friend of this particular convention), Danny John-Jules and Robert Llewellyn, of course. Also making appearances are veteran British thesps Julian Glover (Indiana Jones, Star Wars) and James Cosmo (Braveheart, Highlander), both of whom also star in HBO’s gritty magnificence Game Of Thrones with Finn Jones (the series’ very own Knight of Flowers: Loras Tyrell). Plus you’ve got to be thrilled about Farscape’s Virginia Hey making her debut at the convention, and prolific voice actor Billy “Fry from Futurama” West will be along for the fun too. Fan favourite Torchwood dogsbody Ianto (Gareth David Lloyd) returns this year and fresh off the success of comedy Life’s Too Short you’ve got Willow star Warwick Davis attending for the first time.

Doors open at 10am (with Earlybird access until 11pm) and don’t close until 5pm. The after show party is a closely-guarded secret, with everything from live DJs to a quiet beer with certain special guests – it kicks off with American Pie star Thomas Nicholas playing an acoustic set. Adult ticket prices range from £7 Earlybird to £5 Standard, and under 14s get in for £3. For more information and full details including all the other great attending actors and activities visit www.walescomiccon.com

Alastair Brown