A little bit about Glasgow COmic Con and ECAF.

It started in a church with a few hundred punters and, well, things escalated from there. Back in 2011 at the Mackintosh Church, it was the first comic book convention in Scotland for 15 years - or so the founders say, anyway - more than 600 fans turned up and the event sold out months in advance. It also launched the now annual Scottish Independent Comic Book Award, often shortened to the decidedly catchier SICBA

The convention first hosted local comic book heroes like Mark Millar, Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely – the 2012 convention saw its first international guest in the form of American writer and artist Jim Starlin! – soon to be followed by a host of well-loved 2000AD creators including John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra.

Glasgow Comic Con upgraded to the CCA in 2013, where it quickly spread, expanding into nearby venues, and paving the way for international comic book creators like Gail Simone to visit Scotland for the first time. It expanded into a festival of sorts, hosting workshops and film screenings in the week leading up to the convention. From 2015 - 2019 we enjoyed our time in the quirky Royal Concert Hall.

ECAF started in 2016 at Summerhall before moving to Out of the Blue Drill Hall, falling over Book Week Scotland in November and for 2 years in August as part of Edinburgh International Book Festival. It’s a completly FREE to attend event, with a small programme of free workshops/talks and a comics only marketplace.

Glasgow Comic Con' returned to live events in 2022 at Glasgow Club Bellahouston, and is now back for it’s penultimate show in 2023 and 2024 at Royal Concert Hall before the venue is closed for refurbs for the next few years. GCC still holds the same ethos it did back at the Mackintosh Church in 2011, but now we hold a lot more exhibitors and attendees.