I am reminded that WexWorlds, the public SF&F festival in Wexford, Ireland, gets underway in a week’s time. Wish I could have gone. But I do have a press release from James Bacon about comics-related activities at the festival. It sounds like good stuff. Full press release under the fold.

WexWorlds Sci Fi and Fantasy Fiction Festival

Press Release – Free Comics and Comic Exhibitions.

Fri 20th November, – Sun 22nd November, 2009

WexWorlds Sci Fi and Fantasy Fiction Festival in Wexford, Ireland supported by Wexford County Council, Wexford Borough Council and Failte Ireland is delighted to announce the release of The Last Crusader; Through Water and Fire.

The Last Crusader; Through Water and Fire, is a free, limited edition 8-Page comic by Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin, Giovanni Rigano, Paolo Lamanna and Chris Dickey. The team who brought the Artemis Fowl series into illustrated glory have created a special limited edition 8-page comic that will be given away at WexWorlds Sci-Fi and Fantasy Festival in Wexford, Ireland, on the 20th, 21st and 22nd of November 2009. The story is a beautiful mix of legend, history and fantasy, with impeccable artwork, stylish colours and a distinct Colfer and Donkin comic book story line.

This comic, which is FREE thanks to the generosity of Eoin Colfer and the combined artistic efforts of Andrew Donkin, Giovanni Rigano, Paolo Lamanna and Chris Dickey, will be given to all the attendees at two specific events over the WexWorlds weekend.

These will be the discussion between Andrew Donkin and Eoin Colfer about Artemis Fowl, and at the session with Darren Shan and Eoin Colfer in conversation. The comic is a limited edition of 500.

As well as Eoin Colfer, Darren Shan and Andrew Donkin, other professionals attending include:Paul J Holden, Judge Dredd comic artist for 2000 AD and Warhammer; Nick Roche, Comic Artist for Transformers; Oisin McGann, author of Small minded Giants, Strangled Silence; Sarah Rees Brennan, Author of The Demon’s Lexicon; Michael Carroll, 2000 AD comic writer and author of the The New Heroes series; Robert Curley, writer on Freakshow comic and comic book publisher for Atomic Diner; and New York best selling author Herbie Brennan, author of The Faerie Wars.

There will be an number of exhibitions on the weekend. Nick Roche will be a featured artist in D’Lush in the Wexford Arts Centre. There will be an exhibit by the ‘Eclectic Micks’ in Wexford Library, and we will have two ‘Words to Pictures’ exhibits, where scripts and artwork will be on display side by side, as an example of the process, including pieces by by Nick Roche with Simon Furman, Paul J Holden with Garth Ennis, Micheal Carroll with John Cooper and with Gary Erskine and Oisin McGann.

A selection of general free comics will also be given away free in Wexford Library as well as in two fashion shops in Wexford town, Chemical Afflictions and Psychosis.

As well as books and comics, the weekend is a celebration of all fantastic fiction, and there will be workshops on costuming, to light hearted fun sessions with kids and foam weaponry, movie showing, CosPlay disco for teenagers and Sci Fi and Fantasy Fiction Cabaret for adults featuring local and national entertainers (No Vogon poets) and it will coincide with an exhibition by Emerging Visual Artist Vera Klute at Wexford Arts Centre.

For further information on WexWorlds please see www.wexworlds.net or
for reservations Tel: (00353) 053 9123764 Wexford Arts Centre