Superheroes head to first-ever Comic Con
Going to have a Marvel-lous time with legends at event
Batman, Iron Man and Spider-Man are all heading for Rutherglen.
There might even be a few crazed supervillains on the streets too, as the Town Hall prepares to welcome the South Lanarkshire Comic Con for the first time.
The event will take place on February 4, and will feature a host of comic book dealers, guests, panels and workshops.
Organiser Ian Bonar, who was born in Rutherglen and grew up in Farme Cross and Fernhill, is looking forward to the show.
He said: “Newcomers can expect a friendly atmosphere that isn’t overly crowded and bewildering.
“Think of something like this as a introduction to Comic Con but without the overcrowding and masses of hardcore fans.
“I was born and raised in Rutherglen so I’ve been keen to bring this to the town for a while.”
Guests on the day will have a Ruglonian flavour, with Fernhill wrestler Jack Jester, Judge Dredd artist Gary Erskine, who grew up in Rutherglen and Burnside comic writer John Lees.
They will be joined by a Scottish comic legend in the shape of artist Frank Quitely, who has worked on titles like Batman and X-Men.
And there will be a fair few characters from comics, film and anime around, as a cosplay contest will take place in the afternoon, where fans dress up as their favourites.
That can lead to some interesting sights, according to Ian.
“Some of my favourites have been the Iron Man cosplayers because any cosplayer that attempts to build an armoured suit normally tends to be very talented and a sight to behold.
“I’m sure there will be a few looks when Iron Man walks through Rutherglen Main Street on a Saturday morning!”
Scotland’s own comics scene has flourished over the years, with many writers and artists like Grant Morrison, Mark Millar and Alan Grant penning stories for publishers like Marvel and DC.
Ian believes that the amount of conventions and events in Scotland are now encouraging even more locals to get involved.
He said: “I believe with the sheer volume of events taking place now it’s encouraging people to try more than ever.
“Scotland has produced some of the best writers and artists in the world and it has always had its own scene.
“But, in the last five to seven years, it has grown to a new level.”
The South Lanarkshire Comic Con will take place on Saturday, February 4.
Doors open at 10am and entry is £1.