Having been wildly successful in 2015 and 2018, the Cork Comic Expo is back for a third time this weekend. Local artist and organiser Will Sliney tells DYLAN O’CONNELL what visitors can expect
THE Cork Comic Expo is returning for a third volume, with Mahon Point Shopping Centre set to host this celebration of pop culture on Saturday, September 16.
A host of big name creators are scheduled to make an appearance, including Cork’s own Will Sliney.
The Ballycotton native is riding the crest of a wave over his work on Spider-Man and Star Wars, and he has a television show called Storytellers on RTÉ. Sliney also revealed earlier this year that his graphic novel series, The Shrouded College, will be adapted for television by legendary producer and Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane.
To see such an event come to life for a third time in his home city is extra special to Sliney, who organises the event with Mahon Point and Big Bang Comics.
“It’s kind of funny that it has been going on for so long now. It is really good fun to do and it is great that Mahon Point do this with us,” said Sliney.
It’s different to other comic-cons because we get to do it in such a public location and that really brings in a different crowd as well as the normal crowd that are used to comic-cons.
“I guess the people that are morbidly curious about comics get to come along and see how nice and welcoming the whole thing is. It is a fab thing to be a part of.”
Sliney is just piece of the team that is working together to make sure that the Cork Comic Expo gets bigger and better with every event.
“It is all being organised with the team inside Big Bang Comics and the team at Mahon Point,” he explained.
“We have a system in place. We know how many tables we have. Myself and Big Bang Comics put up the signal there and asked the guests to see who wants to come down. Everyone usually does, which is lovely.
The calibre of talent of talent is growing massively. We have guests that are working on some of the biggest comics in the world. It’s just a sign of how the comics scene in Cork, and Ireland, is massively changing and evolving which is cool.
The first Cork Comic Expo took place in 2015 and hundreds of people went to Mahon Point to meet creators and talk to other fans. That was followed by another event in 2018, and the third edition has come into fruition after being put on hold over the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021.
The first expo coincided with an explosion in comic-book culture in Cork, with a number of local artists going on to work on titles in the United States.
Sliney’s path was followed by Chris O’Halloran, with the colourist working on titles at Marvel, DC, and Dark Horse. East Cork’s Kevin Keane is the latest name to emerge, with the artist currently working on Spawn with Image Comics.
The pipeline of creators out of Cork - and in Ireland - is real and it shows with the amount of people coming down to Leeside to showcase their work at the Comic Expo.
Olivia Jade O’Sullivan, Harry Bruton, Savannah Bruton and Tyler O’Sullivan, at the last Cork Comic Expo at Mahon Point Shopping Centre, Cork, in 2018.
“It’s still the same place, but we have twice the amount of exhibitor tables than we had when we first started,” Sliney explained.
“There’s just more stuff. The first year was downstairs and the second year we went upstairs as well. Now it is a case of ‘where can we fit extra tables’ which is quite cool. That side of it has grown.
“As I mentioned, the amount of people working in the comic book industry has vastly grown.
We’re still keeping it as the same thing. It’s still free and we have our art competition, people will come along and cosplay, and we’ll try and have some fun prizes on the day if that is possible.
“At the very least, people get to come along and see the creators that are working on these very big books in the comic book industry.”
That’s just part of the itinerary that will be packed with events at Mahon Point. Something will be there for everyone, and the event will cater for children and adults that are fans of comic-books, art, and animation.
“We’re going to have some workshops for kids to learn how to draw. Those are wildly popular,” Sliney explained.
“I’d advise getting in touch in Mahon Point or getting there early so you can get in. I’m not sure if we are going to pre-book them this time.
“There’s going to be a big collection of comic book artists and they usually bring along the comics that they worked on and prints of the characters that they worked on.
“There are fans of big characters like Spider-Man, Deadpool, Batman, and so on. These huge characters. Someone will have worked on all of these amazing characters.
On the show floor, as we will call it, you can go out and check out their stuff and their work and go and meet them.
“One thing that I would recommend for someone that likes to draw, is to make sure to bring your own art. That is the kind of thing that I had to do when I wanted to break into comics, and it got me to where I am.
“Who knows, you could get really good advice to put yourself on a fun path in this world with drawing, comics and animation.”
