Illustrator hosts comic festival

Picture perfect illustrator Lisa Wood is putting pen to paper as she prepares to host the UK’s biggest comic arts festival in Leeds.
Comic book illustrator Lisa Wood.Comic book illustrator Lisa Wood.
Comic book illustrator Lisa Wood.

Thousands of comic book fans will descend on the city for the Thought Bubble Festival, which was set up by Lisa back in 2007.

Since its modest start with 500 visitors, it now has a huge following, with 20,000 people attending the event last year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Now it’s set to be bigger than ever, with workshops, competitions, film screenings, reading clubs, book giveaways and talks as well as a ‘cosplay’ parade where fans dress as their favourite characters.

The festival, which runs from November 9 to 15, culminates in a two-day Thought Bubble Convention at Leeds Dock, where visitors get the chance to meet comic book creators and browse 300 stalls.

Lisa, 40, who grew up in Batley, struggled with dyslexia at school and set up the not-for-profit festival in the hope it would raise awareness of how powerful comic books can be for children struggling with reading and learning difficulties.

Lisa, who now lives in Ilkley, also works under the alias Tula Lotay and has worked for DC Comics and seen huge success with the Supreme Blue Rose series.

She said: “Supreme Blue Rose has exceeded my expectations!

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“When it came out I started getting so much recognition, including from my peers, many of whom I’ve grown up admiring.

“It’s definitely been a defining moment in my career and the work offers haven’t stopped since.”

Her projects are also set to hit the big screen soon, as ‘The Wicked and The Divine’ and ‘Zero,’ which Lisa worked on, have been snapped up by big movie studios.

Lisa is also starting work on a new comic book horror series called Heartless, which will be released in 2016.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Tickets are now on sale for Thought Bubble, which runs from November 9 to 15 at Leeds Dock.

Guests at the festival will include Spanish cartoonist Joan Cornella, comic book writer Kieron Gillen and American writer Scott Snyder, author of Batman: Gates of Gotham.

Related topics: