Isle of Wight partners with Portsmouth Comic Con
When Portsmouth Comic Con – International Festival of Comics takes place at Portsmouth Guildhall on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th May, a number of organisations from across the Isle of Wight will proudly be a part of making it all happen!
Behind a major new addition for the hugely popular event this year are The Isle of Wight Prop Crew and Joker Squad UK. Working with the Comic Con team, the creators of the new Star Wars Walk-Through Experience, guarantee that visitors will feel like they are part of the Star Wars universe as they are immersed in the sights, sounds, props and characters of the desert world of Tatooine and moon of Endor, complete with an interactive Ewok experience.
The Isle of Wight Prop Crew is a small but dedicated group who have been building full size replica Star Wars film sets and large-scale props for over a decade, with their displays seen at major conventions throughout the UK.
Using skills from their day-day professional trades, sets are constructed in modular segments using a variety of materials including steel, wood, fibreglass, plastics, mouldings, fabrics, foam and leather, following months of careful research to ensure everything is identical to the items used in the films with one particular prop taking over 600 hours to construct!
Joker Squad UK, a UK wide Star Wars costuming group with a number of its members based on the island, will add the character element to the Walk-Through Experience and using materials supplied by island company, RWA, the Squad has spent over four evenings creating the interactive Ewok experience that will be featured.
With members ranging between the ages of 15 and 62, Joker Squad UK’s ethos of fun, charity and Star Wars sees the squad attending Comic Cons and events across the country raising money for their chosen charity, Alexander Devine’s Children’s Hospice in Berkshire.
Steve West of The Isle of Wight Prop Crew said “Isle of Wight has a surprisingly large community of comic book fans, cosplayers, costume makers and we even have our own detachment of the 501st legion, the world’s largest Star Wars Costume Club. We can’t wait to attend Portsmouth Comic Con along with many of the fandoms from the island including anime, steampunk, historical, horror and sci-fi! Both the Isle of Wight Prop Crew and Joker Squad UK welcome new members and anyone interested in joining us can find out more on our Facebook pages or come and see us at Portsmouth!”
A partnership with Wightlink, Isle of Wight Ferries has also been crucial in transporting all the modular sets and props that will be seen as part of the Star Wars Walk-Through experience across to the mainland and helping to spread the word about Portsmouth Comic Con to island residents.
Featuring the best in comic, film, TV and pop culture entertainment, Portsmouth Comic Con offers a full and fun day out for all the family in the biggest family-friendly Comic Con of its kind.
With International comic artists, panels, displays, exhibitions, gaming, VR, steampunk, merch and the wonderful world of cosplay, plus more special features including She-Quential – Celebration of Female Superheroes (Saturday) and a World of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Sunday) – there is something for everyone from age 3 to over 100!
If you’re serious about comics, love Marvel/DC and cult series, or are simply looking for a fun day out – this is the event for you.
With tickets selling fast, people are advised to book now to avoid disappointment. Find out more and get your tickets at www.portsmouthcomiccon.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok for updates.